Loud Dimmer Switches

Moonguy:

Basic dimmers are usually designed to work with line voltage incandescent loads. If you are using them to drive transformers (such as MR16 lamps or other halogen), they may buzz.

A dimmer designed for inductive (transformer) loads will be better, but some loads may still buzz. If you are using low voltage in you room, it would be best to locate the transformers remotely.

Hope this helps.

Ron

02-06-08: Don_s
I have had several Lutron dimmer switches (slider model) burn out. I get tired of replacing them. They were quiet. None of them made any audible noise.

Don you may hay been overloading them. Dimmers are usually rated in Watts. Best not to load them more than 80%.

Jea48, I was at 87% due to the limited choices in flood lamp watt ratings.

Thanks guys, hooked up the Lutrons tonight and they are dead silent, no hum what so ever

I had the same problems with the same dimmers.

The trick...put much lower wattage bulbs in. If you start to get anywhere near 500 watts it puts to much strain on. I think I have mine near 250 watts and its now silent.