What makes a fluorescent light noisy and how do you stop it?
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The noise from a fluorescent fixture usually comes from the ballast, or transformer, used to supply the proper voltage and current to the bulbs. It could be that the ballast is loose, but usually it is an internal humming noise that is inside the ballast itself. Generally, the noise cannot be stopped, unless you replace the ballast. More than likely, you can buy a replacement at Home Depot, or Lowes. Write down all the information on the ballast itself, like input voltage, amps used, and how many bulbs of what length, and wattage. You can then match up a new one easily. Don't forget to get some small wire nuts to connect the new ballast wire to the old fixture. The orange ones work well. You simply cut the power to the light, open the fixture, and disconnect the black, and white wires going to the ballast. Then cut the colored wires close to the ballast to give you plenty of wire to work with. Remove the old one, and put in the new one. Then strip the wires you just cut, and reconnect the same colored wires together. It doesn't matter which red you connect to which red, and so on, just match colors to colors. Reconnect the white, and black wires. Reassemble the fixture, and lamps, and give it a smoke test! (turn it on, if it smokes, you did it wrong, LOL) It shouldn't though, unless the new ballast is bad, or there is a wrong connection.
Good luck.
Stevo.
push the bulbs in tightly. they may be vibrating
it may be the bulb is going bad, or the ballast is going bed. try new bulb first. go to lighting store locally to see if you might be able to order ballast for that particular fixture
it is usually the internal ballast -(enclosed inductive coil) vibrating tighten the fixing screws
Flourescent lights use a type of electrical transformer called a ballast, to raise the house voltage to the level necessary to cause ionization of the gas inside the tube. This is what creates the light.
Over time these transformers begin to degrade and you get humming noise that is at frequency of 60 hertz or some multiple of that. You can eleminate the noise by changing the ballast.
The ballast is usually bolted to the light frame and is sometimes hidden under a white cover so as not to reflect light.
These ballasts come in different sizes so you will need to write down the information off the old one and take it to your local hardware store. You might also take the old ballast down to the hardware store with you and compare it. If you buy the wrong size it won't last as long or might not even work at all.
Be sure to label the wires as you take the old ballast out of the light.
If you would like a more technical explanation, I've attached a link to wikipedia that describes this problem.
All the previous answers are correct, although there is one more possibility. A loose ground or no ground can also cause this. The house wire that enters the fixture has three wires, black (hot), white (neutral), and a green or bare copper wire (ground). Make sure the ground wire is attached securely to the metal of the fixture.
this site tells you there are 3 noise levels for ballast ,,
1-church/library
2-home
3-commercial
neat site
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