buzzing from shop lights

[metalmagpie]

I have fluorescent fixtures from 2001. Eight of them in my garage (which has never had a car in it yet). And the dang things buzz. They are midpriced fixtures that hold 2 4' T8 bulbs, and have instant on electronic ballasts. It's the ballasts that buzz, of course.

What's the best solution? Cheap new fixtures buzz too, and silent ballasts cost an arm and a leg. And what about rapid start (heated) versus instant?

metalmagpie

 

[gsport]

My lights buzz too, I just live with it....

 

[Northstar]

Mine buzz ytoo, but I think they're older. I just moved into the house in December. Mine do quiet down after a couple minutes.

 

[DoyleDee]

Mine are the cheap 2 bulb fixtures and they buzz a little when I first turn them on...it either goes away after that or I tone them out.

 

[Gary S]

My hearing got messed up in Vietnam. My lights don't buzz.

Be happy you can still hear them.

 

[Zeke]

My hearing got messed up in Vietnam. My lights don't buzz.

Be happy you can still hear them.

Dude, mine too, but the lights are still annoying. So let's hear a solution. Do 8 footers buzz less? I get the idea they do. Why is that?

 

[LoRollinLS]

There are ballasts made for T8's that are supposed to have no audible hum. I've never had any but it would be worth searching on google to see what you can find.

 

[pattenp]

I have 8 footers and 4 footers and that makes no difference. It's all in the quality of the ballast. I have some cheaper fixtures that buzz and some higher quality ones that don't buzz.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Hmmm...all my newer T8s don't make any noise at all. They don't have expensive ballasts, but not the cheapest fixtures out there.

I have some Sylvania Quicktronic T8 ballasts that I got from home depot for $15 that don't make noise.

 

[nehog]

An electronic ballast should never buzz or hum... They do not have the transformer/inductor which is what makes the noise. Either they are hybrid units (those do have a transformer) or magnetic ones.

 

[trboxman]

I put 16 4' t8 fixtures in my garage about 8 years ago and haven't had any issues with buzzing or flicker. Electronic ballasts in all.

 

[toloud4u18]

If you end up changing the ballasts, be sure to get "residential" rated ones.

I made the mistake of getting the more expensive of two choices, and the radio hummed badly every time the light was on.

Turns out the half priced ones were residential, the others were commercial, which means different shielding/noise suppression. Replaced with the cheaper, happy ever since!