Marquee Light Buzz?

FrizzleFried

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My Williams Multigame marquee light fixture has developed a buzz. What component makes the buzz? Strangely, to my ear, it sounds like (and feels like...there is a vibration) it's coming from the base where the starter plugs in to, but that doesn't make sense...does it?

Jon
 
The ballast itself can cause that noise. Sometimes you can dampen it by sticking rubber grommets under the ballast. If that does not work the the ballast should be replaced.
 
And just to explain why.... the windings in a ballast are generally stuck together with a varnish. But sometimes the varnish lets go and windings can come a bit loose.
Due to the alternating magnetic field in the ballast, the windings almost begin to act like a speaker coil and vibrate thus causing an audible 'buzz'.

Not that this helps fix the problem.
 
Thanks guys. I first tried to buffer the ballast with zero luck. Replacing rectified the issue.
 
And just to explain why.... the windings in a ballast are generally stuck together with a varnish. But sometimes the varnish lets go and windings can come a bit loose.
Due to the alternating magnetic field in the ballast, the windings almost begin to act like a speaker coil and vibrate thus causing an audible 'buzz'.

Not that this helps fix the problem.


Great explanation! I have a light fixture doing that too, but also the light won't come all the way on. It is a 14" bulb, so I will be replacing the fixture.
 
had a light fixture over the kitchen sink at my old house do this. I'd just tap on the son of a bitch a couple times and the buzz would go away. :p
 
This was why I was glad to clean out many of the local Lowe's when ballasts could be had for under $1. I still have 23 of them...
 
No. It was just that Lowe's decided not to carry "magnetic" (a.k.a. conventional) ballasts anymore. They've opted to sell the much more expensive "electronic" ballasts which fail five times more often than conventional ones.

Home Depot and Ace Hardware still sell conventional ballasts at normal prices.
 
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