AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

Post Reply
Old 01-10-2008, 1:06 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
owain_thomas's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester, England
Experience Points:
8,739, Level: 22
Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 79, Got 75
Posts: 1,886
rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

We are just going through a bit of a revamp of our house and seem to have come upon a bit of a weird problem, when the kitchen lights (12v halogen DLs) are dimmed (using a rako in-ceiling dimmer) the socket that the microwave is plugged into buzzes quite noticeably, but only if the microwave is on.

I've had rako kit for a couple of years now and not had any issues like this, any ideas why it may be happening?
  Quote
Old 01-10-2008, 9:28 PM   #2
vex vex is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London, Home Counties & North West
Experience Points:
10,368, Level: 24
Points: 10,368, Level: 24 Points: 10,368, Level: 24 Points: 10,368, Level: 24
Activity: 4.2%
Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2% Activity: 4.2%
Thanks: Gave 27, Got 252
Posts: 2,567
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

That is 'buzz'ar (excuse the pun)

I have copied this to someone to see if he has any idea.

HTH

V.
  Quote
Thanks from:
owain_thomas (01-10-2008)
Old 01-10-2008, 9:31 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
owain_thomas's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester, England
Experience Points:
8,739, Level: 22
Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 79, Got 75
Posts: 1,886
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

thanks vex, look forward to hearing any suggestions
  Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 8:13 AM   #4
New Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Kent, United Kingdom
Experience Points:
5,894, Level: 18
Points: 5,894, Level: 18 Points: 5,894, Level: 18 Points: 5,894, Level: 18
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0
Posts: 15
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

Hi,

Could you confirm the 'buzz' is coming from the socket the microwave is plugged into, as this does seem really quite bizare. There is nothing inside a socket (or plug) that should buzz, the only thing that could make a noise is if a terminal is loosly clamped onto a wire.

Regards

Paul
  Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 9:32 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
owain_thomas's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester, England
Experience Points:
8,739, Level: 22
Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 79, Got 75
Posts: 1,886
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

hi Paul,

thanks for the response, I was a bit surprised as well, at first I thought it must be the microwave itself but on closer inspection it's definitely the socket.
  Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 4:39 PM   #6
Assured Advertiser
 
hornydragon's Avatar
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Where ever you want me to be.
Experience Points:
63,997, Level: 61
Points: 63,997, Level: 61 Points: 63,997, Level: 61 Points: 63,997, Level: 61
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 102, Got 1,406
Posts: 28,088
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

OWain where are the lights in the kitchen wired from? Are they on a lighting circuit? Which Rako unit controls them?
  Quote
Old 02-10-2008, 7:21 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
owain_thomas's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Manchester, England
Experience Points:
8,739, Level: 22
Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22 Points: 8,739, Level: 22
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 79, Got 75
Posts: 1,886
Re: rako dimmer causing power socket to buzz when microwave on?

hi HD,

the kitchen lights are wired on a lighting circuit AFAIK, the electrician who did the work has not been around for a couple of days so I haven't been able to check with him but the plan was always for the new build part to all be on its own circuits. the lights are controlled with a standard 500W in ceiling dimmer.
  Quote
Post Reply



Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off