Have you ever heard an annoying buzzing sound coming from your led strip lights before? You may be wondering why this is happening and what to do about it. In this article, we will explore the different reasons for buzzes in your Led strip lights as well as how to stop them!
Why Are My Led Strip Lights Buzzing? Led strip lights will buzz due to;
- The Power Cord To The Led Strip Light Controller Is Loose
- Incompatibility Between Dimmer And Load (lamp)
- Led Strip Light Buzzes Due To Expiration
- Led Strip Light Factory Defects
- The Led Strip Light’s Power Supply Adapter
- Incompatible Or Broken Dimmer Switch
- Poor Quality Lights
- Overloaded Dimmer Switch
It is very common for LED strip lights to have a buzzing sound. The reasons for this are not always clear, so it can be difficult to troubleshoot. We will explore some of the most common reasons for buzzing in led strip lights as well as how to fix them.
1. The Power Cord To The Led Strip Light Controller Is Loose
One of the most common causes for Led strips buzzing is a loose power cord between your controller and led strip lights.
If you have had to move your controller, or it has been dropped, this can cause the power cord to become loose.
If the connection is not completely secure between these two components, you may hear a buzzing sound.
Make sure that the power cord is plugged into both your controller and led strip lights securely, then try turning them on again.
If this does not work, you may want to try plugging your power cord into a different outlet or electrical socket and see if you get the same result.
If your led strip lights still buzz when plugged into a different socket, this can indicate that there is an issue with your controller.
2. Incompatibility Between Dimmer And Load (lamp)
Another common cause of led strip lights buzzing is an incompatibility between the dimmer and load.
This happens when your controller does not have enough power to control the led strip lights, or when your dimmer is set too low for what you are trying to achieve.
If this is the case, you can fix this by either using a different dimmer or increasing the load to be controlled.
To increase the led strip lights load, you can either use longer strips of led strip lights or connect more together.
If your controller is not powerful enough to handle the length and load of your led strip lights, you may want to consider upgrading it with the new LED Dimmer that can be found at Amazon.
It is important to make sure that the dimmer attached to your controller is appropriate for your led strip lights.
If you are using an older dimmer, the compatibility of this may be limited to certain types of led strip lights.
3. Led Strip Light Buzzes Due To Expiration
Led strip lights are an electronic product, just like any other electrical device. As such they have a limited lifespan due to the nature of the components used to make them.
If your led strip lights are vibrating or making a buzzing sound, it may be due to the fact that they are not working anymore.
Unfortunately, there is no way to fix your led strip lights if this is the case unless you replace them.
Make sure you know the lifespan of your led strip lights and be aware that they may need to be replaced at some point.
It is important to note that this can happen with any type of led strip lights no matter the brand or where they are from.
If your led strip lights have been installed for several months and you keep hearing a buzzing sound coming from them, it is likely they have already expired.
4. Led Strip Light Factory Defects
Another common cause of led strip lights buzzing is a factory defect. Led strip lights are made up of many parts, and not all components are always perfect.
In order to prevent this, manufacturers may test each product before it is shipped out. However, if the defect does not appear until after the led strip lights have been installed, you may experience a buzzing sound among other defects.
If you have noticed that your led strip lights are buzzing, but they do not seem to be coming from anywhere in particular and they do not have a specific connection point, it is possible that they may be defective.
If this happens to you, it is important to contact the manufacturer of your led strip lights so you can get a replacement.
5. The Led Strip Light’s Power Supply Adapter
You will in some cases hear the buzzing sound coming from the power supply adapter of your led strip lights, rather than the actually led strip light itself.
Usually, in this case, you will be hearing the buzzing sound around the socket or power source where the led strip light adapter is plugged.
The sound would usually be steady and continuous.
This is common if the led strip light power source adapter’s energy efficiency has decreased or if it simply does not work properly anymore.
If the power supply adapter is broken, you may want to consider replacing it with the new one that you can find at Amazon. This will resolve your issue.
If the same issue keeps happening with your new power supply adapters, you will need to contact the manufacturer of your led strip lights.
6. Incompatible Or Broken Dimmer Switch
When connected to a dimmer switch, some led strip lights will begin to buzz. The two main reasons for this are that the dimmer switch is not compatible with your led strip lights or the dimmer switch is broken.
If the led strip lights are not compatible with your dimmer switches, you will need to replace them in order to resolve the issue.
If your dimmer switches are broken, you may need to replace them as well and check that they were not the cause of the buzzing sound.
If you are having this issue with your dimmer switches, make sure to check if they are compatible first by looking at the manual for your led strip lights.
If you are using dimmer switches that are no longer working, or they were never compatible with your led strip lights in the first place, you may need to replace them before connecting your led strip lights.
7. Poor Quality Lights
If the buzzing sound is coming from your led strip lights itself, it may be because you are using low-quality ones.
This can happen due to a number of reasons. For example, if your led strip light was made in China and not tested properly before being shipped out to you, it may be defective.
The same goes for if your led strip lights are not made of the right material, or they simply do not have enough wattage.
Poor quality materials can also cause them to break down faster than usual and result in a buzzing sound among other issues.
8. Overloaded Dimmer Switch
Last but not the least, another reason why your led strip lights are making a buzzing sound is that the dimmer switch itself may be overloaded.
This can be from your installer or just from your use of the dimmer switch.
It is important to remember that when using a dimmer switch, you should never exceed 80% of the led strip lights’ maximum load.
If your dimmer switch is overloaded, it may not be able to handle all of the electricity running through it and the buzzing sound may result.
In this case, you will need to either replace your dimmer switch or remove some of the led strip lights that are connected to it.
If this does not fix the issue, you will need to contact your installer for further assistance.
How To Fix The Buzzing Sound On Led Strip Lights
Now the obvious question remains – how to fix the buzzing sound on led strip lights? Here are a few important tips that will help you resolve this issue.
Get Third Party Power Supply Adapters
Make sure to buy adapters that are not just compatible with your led strip lights, but also made by reputable brands.
This will ensure that you get a high-quality power supply adapter and one that will last for quite some time without any issues.
You can go a step further to get adapters with built-in overheat protection, current limiting control, and short circuit protection as well.
Don’t Overload Dimmer Switch
As previously mentioned, it is important to avoid exceeding 80% of the led strip lights’ maximum load.
This means that if your dimmer switch is already at 80%, you should not add any more led strip lights to it.
Make sure that the dimmer switch itself is compatible with your led strip lights as well.
If they are incompatible, you will need to replace the dimmer switch or use another one that is compatible.
Lastly, never try to replace a dimmer switch with a wall outlet as your power supply – this is not safe and will only risk your safety as well.
Use High-Quality Led Strip Lights
By using high-quality led strip lights, you can ensure that they will not overheat and result in a buzzing sound among other issues.
Make sure that you are getting your led strip lights from a reputable brand as well.
While it may be tempting to buy the cheapest ones on the market, you will likely save money in the long term by buying high-quality led strip lights from a reputable brand.
Use A Power-Line Filter
You can also use a power-line filter to help reduce the buzzing sound from your led strip lights.
This will ensure that your led strip lights are receiving a steady supply of electricity and will also help to prevent them from overheating as well.
Final Thoughts
Ask yourself the question again and see if you can find the answer. I have shared the reasons why the led strip lights might be making a buzzing sound.
It may happen due to several different factors – such as if they are defective, or if they are not made of the right material, among others.
The important thing is that you resolve the issue as soon as possible to ensure that your led strip lights last for a long time.
I hope this article helped you understand why are my led strip lights buzzing.
FAQ’s
Q: What is a power-line filter and when should I use one?
A: A power-line filter will help to reduce any buzzing sound that you hear from your led strip lights and will ensure that they are receiving a steady electricity supply.
Q: What type of dimmer switch should I use?
A: It is important to only use a dimmer switch that is compatible with your led strip lights. This will ensure that you do not overload the dimmer switch and risk any safety issues as well.
Q: What is the maximum load I can place on my dimmer switch?
A: It is recommended that you never exceed 80% of the maximum load on your led strip lights. This will ensure that they are receiving a steady electricity supply and do not risk overheating due to the load being too high.