the wall mount ad-dc transformer for my cordless phone started buzzing today---does this mean its on its way out?? i know why flourescents and incandescants and dimmers buzz sometimes, but why a tranny???
-chris
-chris
Hello ZX3Chris,
Transformers have many windings wrapped around a metal or ferrite core. During manufacturing these windings are dipped in varnish or a similiar material to stop the individual windings from buzzing/humming/ringing.
It is possible that the varnish like material is breaking down on the windings, a shorted transformer is likely in your future.
Thanks
KevinLee
Transformers have many windings wrapped around a metal or ferrite core. During manufacturing these windings are dipped in varnish or a similiar material to stop the individual windings from buzzing/humming/ringing.
It is possible that the varnish like material is breaking down on the windings, a shorted transformer is likely in your future.
Thanks
KevinLee
ZX3Chris,
I have stopped buzzing in transformers by spreading some silicone on the loose windings with my finger and letting it set up for 24 hours.
This will not always work but it will work most of the time. Oh yeah, make sure it is unplugged first.
KevinLee🙂
I have stopped buzzing in transformers by spreading some silicone on the loose windings with my finger and letting it set up for 24 hours.
This will not always work but it will work most of the time. Oh yeah, make sure it is unplugged first.
KevinLee🙂
Safety
If this is a sealed wall-wart type, and if it did not buzz before, I suggest checking for overheating before attempting any kind of fix. In other words, it could be buzzing because heat may have broken down the basic construction of the transformer, and you could be running a chance of a fire, small as it is. (wall-supplies are cheaper to replace than houses).
If this is a sealed wall-wart type, and if it did not buzz before, I suggest checking for overheating before attempting any kind of fix. In other words, it could be buzzing because heat may have broken down the basic construction of the transformer, and you could be running a chance of a fire, small as it is. (wall-supplies are cheaper to replace than houses).
PMiczek,
Very good point on the safety issue.
I would not suggest the above fix unless the diy-er is sure it is only loose windings not another problem.
KevinLee
Very good point on the safety issue.
I would not suggest the above fix unless the diy-er is sure it is only loose windings not another problem.
KevinLee
The buzz on transformers......
Maybe a bee or some other flying bug crawled into the housing. As likely an explantion as some I have read here.
Maybe a bee or some other flying bug crawled into the housing. As likely an explantion as some I have read here.
The three reasons I can think of for a transformer to emit noise:
1) Loose windings vibrating
2) Core delamination, causing laminations to vibrate together
3) Magnetostriction in the core (the metal of the core deforming under the magnetic forces)
1) Loose windings vibrating
2) Core delamination, causing laminations to vibrate together
3) Magnetostriction in the core (the metal of the core deforming under the magnetic forces)
Transformer hum
Fred,
Have any other explanations that would apply to a small wall transformer & DC converter?
PM
(I've heard "it hums because it does not know the words already")
Fred,
Have any other explanations that would apply to a small wall transformer & DC converter?
PM
(I've heard "it hums because it does not know the words already")
a bee....is it possible, that more than one bee can cause such a sturrr....? perhaps different kinds of beeeeezzzzz......
sorry, it was a very nice red syrah from chile followed by a carlsberg.....
sorry, it was a very nice red syrah from chile followed by a carlsberg.....
At least bees do not usually cause house fires. Not so sure about a Carlsberg/wine cocktail though, especially red syrah from Chile... Isn't the electron spin reversed down there or something?
But seriously folks........
The core laminations are usually what buzzes as they are thin sheets of steel usually held together by varnish. I have seen the bobbin the windings are on, buzz if not attached to the core very well. The buzzing is usually worse when the line voltage is high or DC or low frequency garbage is on the line. I would replace it if it was bugging me. Wall warts are cheap and a bitch to open up without damaging the transformer or blades that go in the socket.
Transformer theory for poets*
http://www.federalpacific.com/university/transnoise/chapter1.html
* What we techno-nerds call college science courses for non science majors.
The core laminations are usually what buzzes as they are thin sheets of steel usually held together by varnish. I have seen the bobbin the windings are on, buzz if not attached to the core very well. The buzzing is usually worse when the line voltage is high or DC or low frequency garbage is on the line. I would replace it if it was bugging me. Wall warts are cheap and a bitch to open up without damaging the transformer or blades that go in the socket.
Transformer theory for poets*
http://www.federalpacific.com/university/transnoise/chapter1.html
* What we techno-nerds call college science courses for non science majors.
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