Why Do Fluorescent Lights Make That Buzzing Noise?

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[@Cokepencilpsd]

im about to noclip out of reality into the backrooms

[@kotonoshi9257]

T H E B A C K R O O M S

[@surythecat9993]

Enter at your own risk.

[@IHTGINT]

A

[@IHTGINT]

Are you sure you wanna be in dabackrooms

[@darknessgaming2952]

I went there and that place was scaaaaaaarrrrrryyyyyyy!

[@MicrowavedCarrot]

Natural lighting is beautiful. I wish there was technology that could closely mimic it.

[@SomeRandomPiggo]

Some LEDs are!

[@NXEAFrenchie]

Go to the _backrooms_

[@sinkbug]

This is uncanny until you read the post date

[@_dudepro]

@@NXEAFrenchienah bro you’re going to die there if you encounter an entity

[@KEROSENE_08]

There is. It's called a nuclear bomb

[@blooba]

Just replace all of your lamps at home with lava lamps. I don't know how that helps anything, but it looks cool.

[@sprsae9003]

Domina Maxima that would be dark as hell

[@Yelawolf269]

Domina Maxima that would be some nice lights but it wouldn’t be very bright in your house

[@dankerplains943]

"If you're not careful and you no-clip out of reality in the wrong areas, you'll end up in the Backrooms, where it's nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, the endless background noise of fluorescent lights at maximum hum-buzz, and approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in. God save you if you hear something wandering around nearby, because it sure as hell has heard you"

[@Niko-rq7ie]

Linear fluorescents are not Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL).

[@AlltimeNumbers]

Have always wondered about this! Thanks BrainStuff!

[@BrainStuffShow]

You're welcome. We love your channel!

[@BrainStuffShow]

Alltime Numbers Totally! I think someone mentioned this to us recently... but we should make plans!

[@TheSoxmania]

Actually, it's a tad more complicated than *just magnetostriction*. If you have a fairly recent well built fixture, the noise is very minimal. pretty much to the point it's almost completely unnoticeable in a dead silent room. The reason a fixture which was once silent would become noisy and create that hum has a couple reasons. 1, the ballast itself gets quite hot when in operation. enough to cause fairly significant thermal expansion of the core. 2, the ballast likely undergoes many heat cycles from being switched on and off and 3, the forces of magnetostriction cause the core of the ballast to vibrate a bit when in operation. combine the temperature cycles and the high operating temperature of the ballast with age (say, a good 15-20 years on a well made ballast) and you end up with a failure of the adhesive that holds the iron core's laminations together, which can allow them to resonate against each other due to the magnetic field generated by the coil. this is where you get that loud and obnoxious buzzing noise from. It's also worth noting that electronically ballasted fixtures (which pretty much all recent ones are) don't exhibit these behaviors as their inductors are much smaller and operate at frequencies inaudible to the human ear. not to mention they don't rely on electromagnetism exclusively for current limiting.

[@josephrostkowski8631]

Forgot to add that the switch may not be compatible with new bulbs introduced on the circuit. Humming is a resistance issue especially caused in led retros on a non capability switch not designed to old designs to handle the semiconductor of the led produced.

[@Taks214]

What I love about your videos is that they're nice and short. Also, yay for graphics (because my brain likes pictures)! Keep it up guys :)

[@BrainStuffShow]

Thanks!

[@LesMiserables999]

This was a great explanation of fluorescent lighting, thank you so much!

[@jenniferlewter1596]

Thank you for your informative video!

[@andrewplummer804]

Beautiful video, I loved this.

[@ijulesy]

this guy is confusing CFLs with normal fluorescent lights

[@GoldViolinFlutist]

CFLs, or Compact flurolecent Light bbs, don't really buzz, at least in my experience. Josh keeps confusing between CFL and FL, which are different. CFL is the twisty bulbs that fits into the traditional light sockets. They are pretty silent. In my experience, it is the Flurolecent bulbs, which are the straight stick ones, that buzz. But the worst Buzz I've encountered are from school's gym lights. Not sure what they are

[@heatherjohnson6672]

Actually, all I have are CFL's in my house and some of them do buzz.

[@alextheobserver1573]

Jim lights are florescence. The tube is just U shaped and they fit inside of a metal box. However the problem is that Metal box off in times amplifies the already loud light, so you wind up with an angry light that is about 20 dB louder than it supposed to be. As for compact florescence it really depends on what kind you get. The cheaper ones do buzz a little, but they are not nearly as loud as the U shaped or the straight tubes. Also the wider the tube The louder the buzz.

[@robertsitch1415]

I have occasionally observed humming from 20th century made florescent light fixtures that used electromagnetic ballasts instead of modern electronic ballasts.

[@alextheobserver1573]

Robert Sitch The electronic ones appear to be a little quieter. You haven’t heard a loud light until you have heard the one inside of an old trailer at the high school that I used to go to. The trailer was built in the 60s so they still use the old balists. This thing would start out very quiet, nothing more than a little hum, however if the air-conditioning came on or if any kind of loud noise was made this thing would suddenly start this ear splitting buzz that could be heard from 100 feet away. And that measurement is actually if you are approaching it from outside with both doors shut. If one of the doors was open it would spread even farther. The trailer was kind of by it self in the back of the school so on a calm day outside you could hear it about 20 feet before you approach the ramp to walk in. It could be heard well in the main room, but that wasn’t where it was located it was actually located in the little room in the back.

[@xtubejr]

LED was indeed the light of the future.

[@pauldeddens5349]

I use a fluorescent light in my basement since i use a computer alot, and a light that would leave streaks of light in my eyes when i blink wouldnt be desirable (Also since the design of them lights up more space) Whenever i have my headphones off, that noise drives me absolutely insane, even with them on, i can hear it loud and clear You can hear it through the floor into the living room, and whenever im talking to someone via skype, they cant hear me at all

[@shocksamvs7602]

I actually like the hum of florescent lights

[@NC_Isro_64]

I dont like it

[@hosteyele]

Why don’t you like it?

[@serhedfeyzullah7266]

Because of that creepypasta...

[@Rudofaux]

1) Shows a linear fluorescent but proclaim as being a CFL. 2) Electronic ballast don't create hum & replaced magnetic ballast for around a decade now.

[@Felix2417425]

I love ballast buzzing, at 50Hz it's more pleasing. :D

[@jpierre329]

In a building I manage I have vanities that take 4 bulbs. In one particular installation we have gone from incandescent to LEDs (60W) in trying to get rid of the humming sound, but to no effect. There is only a simple on/off switch in the cct. CFLs have shown to have a similar sound after warming up. Might you be able to tell me 'what's up with that?' thank you

[@josephrostkowski8631]

Make sure the switch is capable of the retrofit bulbs, if the switch is old and you retrofit leds it could cause electrical noise due to resistance interfering.

[@IchaoticsI]

his last name is strickland? hehe propane..

[@Bylga]

Amazing video =D

[@charlesboyle4115]

You guys should do a video on why a ship is a ship and a boat is a boat, and why its completely different. that'd be interesting because one of my favorite jokes is the "Its not a boat, its a Ship!" joke

[@howstuffworks]

This week's BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks video asks: Why do fluorescent lights make that buzzing noise?

[@puterami123]

HowStuffWorks First one that I have watched from you. Excellent!

[@Razorboi4670]

I LOVE THAT SOUND

[@Rickmakes]

CFLs barely deserve a mention since modern CFLs use electronic ballasts.

[@websonic1000]

Ballast ( or choke) does not serve to limit current. Actually it serves to rise voltage to achieve to "breaking" point from filament to filament. Once that point is achieved you have plasma which regulates it self (R C circuit effect)

[@ACESOFTHESKY1]

amazing!

[@happymonk4206]

I worked at a business college for a time and as I am not a young lad any more l couldn't always hear that annoying buzz but the younger students could. It wouldn't be present at first but the longer the lights were on, the more it would buzz. I did indeed replace many florescent lights in my time. The noise is like a tiny critter is in your head and is sliding a knitting needle in and out of the ear really slowly. 😩

[@khadijahdickey-williams8983]

Good stuff

[@sonicdash3818]

the considerate amount of voltage is about 25kv or higher depending on the type of fluorescent starter and ballast, also the buzzing doesn't come from the tube itself, it comes from the ballast, much like when you hear the hum or buzz from the transformer in some electrical appliances and devices. one of the ways I know this is mainly because I looked into lighting for a decent sized portion of my life.

[@user-cu5fq1nl3s]

Does this noise stop. Is it dangerous.

[@karebu2]

So how do CFLs die and why do they turn black at the ends when they are about to?

[@BrainStuffShow]

I'll add that to our list of future topics. But there seem to be a lot of electrical/lighting experts here in the comments. Anyone know the answer?

[@Yelawolf269]

karebu2 as the bulb strikes on (powers on) the filaments heat up and when the bulb finally strikes and lights it blows a tiny amount of the metal on the filaments off onto the side of the lamp and of course since it’s AC power the light is off and on 50 or 60 times a second causing it to wear out and fail I hope this explains that well enough -SomeRandomGuyWithAChannelOnKZbin

[@THEBULBHOME]

I actually prefer far beyond fluorescent than LED. I think the greatest thing you can do if your ballast is humming is replacing it with an electronic one, which may not last that longer than a magnetic one but shure it will not hum, maybe at all!

[@WalterKnox]

i can put up with a bit of hum, especially since if the ballast is in good shape they hardly hum at all. i have some old fluorescent lights from the early 50s that still have the original ballast and they hardly make any sound at all unless you put your ear up to them. electronic ballasts normally struggle to last even 5 years.

[@hyenaedits3460]

Because of the buzzing fluorescent lights, I failed two of my finals. So yes, it does get to me.

[@jonathanmears1]

I have tinnitus. So I hear a buzzing all the time thus I don't even notice it

[@kingemocut]

question, what about the UK, since we run on 50 herts, and my house's kitchen light is a long Fluorescent tube-based light that doesn't audibility buzz, despite being there since we first moved in over 14 years ago?

[@BrainStuffShow]

Interesting... I don't know the answer. Anyone else from the UK know?

[@scivids1999]

BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks Older ballasts tend to humm more. However, mounting the ballast on a surface that absorbs the vibration eg a kitchen ceiling makes the sound almost inaudible. However, having a floating fitting that can resonate causes the sound to be very clearly audible!

[@BrainStuffShow]

Peter C Thanks for clarifying Peter!

[@magnushederstjerna5975]

Nice to know...

[@obone8015]

Are you sure the Mercury is Liquid ? I was under the impression it was in a powder form, which electrically excited, forms a gaseous state when charged. Its basically the same thing, but I wasn't aware of the mercury being in a liquid state. Nice Video though. Well presented and well scripted. Shame you didn't have any examples to demonstrate. Would love to know a bit more about what physically causes the ballast to vibrate so. I have a set of ( former ) kitchen strip lights I mounted to a picture frame as a sunglass compensator/work light. One of the buggers buzzes. They must have the ballast built into the housing. Tried swapping the bulbs about. But its from the unit itself. Might rewire to see if running them in parallel works better than series ( last one is the buzzer )

[@Calico-fw6li]

In prison lock up these stay on 24/7. Its so fuckin bad bruh 😂😭😭

[@hadleymanmusic]

Can a broke pin be put back in?

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Long, straight tubes are not CFLs as they are not COMPACT. The buzzing only happens with older magnetic ballasts and not the newer instant-start electronic ballasts, which don't flicker or buzz, but must be used with new thinner T8 bulbs. If you replace the bulbs and the ballast, it won't "go bad" as you have replaced 100% of the functioning part of the fixture (or Lumiere). Side note as an electrician: leave new bulbs on (and replace as a set) for 24 hours for longer life and faster starting. Then, use as desired.

[@Yelawolf269]

BariumCobaltNitrog3n as the ballast wears down there is a slight chance it will buzz quietly but it’s not a big deal

[@WalterKnox]

i can put up with a bit of hum, especially since if the ballast is in good shape they hardly hum at all. they dont flicker either. and the instant start on electronic ballasts just wears the tube out quicker. i have some old fluorescent lights from the early 50s that still have the original ballast and they hardly make any sound at all unless you put your ear up to them. electronic ballasts normally struggle to last even 5 years

[@gman7359]

What about if the light is turned off?I hear a humming noise between midnight and dawn.

[@znek4288]

No i mean that weird satisfying buzz i hear when its early in the morning

[@ExplorationOnMars]

I got an ad for fixing fluorescent light bulbs before this video began.

[@countryclublawnandtree9767]

I used to hear it only it was noticeably LOUDER.

[@user-rk6nj7wc8e]

I Feel Now By Preheat Start Electronic Ballast For Fluorescent Long Life Just Amazing~~

[@mauricemcdonald292]

Question. Is sugary beverages as destructive to the body as alcoholic beverages, long term?

[@BrainStuffShow]

Interesting question Maurice. I'm trying to drink less soda myself, so I'd like to know the answer too! We'll add it to our list.

[@SouthernRailfan]

It's the ballast that makes noise.

[@bobajake]

i want a video on led bulbs!!!

[@StanwoodSpartans]

How come plants can be grown using CFL bulbs? I don't get it. Is it because it converts electricity into ultraviolet light?

[@SomeRandomPiggo]

btw a cfl and fluorescent tube are different.

[@amysmith5116]

I like the brightness but hate the buzziness!! Thanks . But most of it went right over my head++++get it?!?! Amy

[@chanakyasinha8046]

It buzzes and bee haunts the house

[@Coolkeys2009]

There was no real reason to mention CFL's in this video apart from the fact they may be the solution to the low frequency buzzing problems and the cause of high frequency buzzing problems :-).

[@JungleRAT]

Nautilus on his shirt? Do I smell... LEAGUE OF LEGENDS!?

[@zanimljivastruja7511]

I like buzzing of T12 lamps.

[@barondeficit1081]

Sis that sound comes from the backrooms

[@JackOfAllTradersOriginal]

that buzz actually helps me focus

[@cappy6666]

Then you should go to the backrooms

[@cruzmontelongo9615]

Just reminds me of I’m at venue somewhere with a vending machine

[@Disciple_of_God.]

0:41 If you're not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you'll end up in the Backrooms, where it's nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, _the endless background noise of fluorescent lights at maximum hum-buzz_ , and approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in. God save you if you hear something wandering around nearby, because it sure as hell has heard you.

[@riipjosh]

Leave your backroom comments here

[@thunderwolf234]

I was waiting for them too!

[@Tatsumaki9238]

What does it means when the buzz is really loud,very loud.

[@evilmaya]

Hey Brain Stuff this video is great! If you could make a video about why looking at a computer or TV screen in the dark is bad for your eyes, I would really appreciate that!

[@BrainStuffShow]

Sure thing. We'll add it to our list of future topics to cover!

[@evilmaya]

BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks Thanks! :)

[@nataflet]

Got on this video by mistake. 2 months ago my dad mounted a new light bulb in my room, is like a circle and it flashes for 4-5 seconds, then it turns on and makes a noise, didnt checked why this makes sound. I throught it was because it was cheap (10 USD) but now I know why it hurts my ears. Gonna ask him to replace it asap.

[@BrainStuffShow]

Do you hate buzzing fluorescent lights as much as we do? Jonathan explains why they keep annoying us.

[@Holobrine]

So is a black light a fluorescent without the phosphorus coating?

[@itstobystic]

I also will like to know if light is the reason why bottles of malt drinks are always brown. I listened to your podcast but I dint get the email to address questions

[@BrainStuffShow]

Tobi Oto Hi Tobi! I'll add your question to our list of future topics to look into. Thanks!

[@akatsuki6714]

I listen to some music so I cant hear it and this is my first youtube account... and im not little im a 13 year old avid student

[@THEBULBHOME]

+Holobrine Is not. A fluorescent without the coating makes a blue light -which is in another spot on the light spectrum- that actually is dangerous for you because of the shortwave radiations that it produces. Fluorescent black lights also needs phosphorus coating in order to produce "black" light and not that bluish glow that low pressure mercury gives off I hope this helps! :)

[@maggiep9007]

Tell us about propane and alcoholism Mr Strickland

[@SangoProductions213]

interesting. I had many hypotheses, but this was not one of them.

[@jollyjoyjesus346]

I like a different kind of buzz

[@ruturajpokemon1]

Is there any reason why CFL bulbs have those twisty shapes?

[@GoldViolinFlutist]

More tubing in less space?

[@pieter1102]

GoldViolinFlutist Right.

[@oafkad]

GoldViolinFlutist That's also why your brain is all squiggly.

[@LeonardGreenpaw]

Electricity moves very efficiently. It will travel between the positive and negative terminals in the shortest path possible, this would mean it doesnt spend a lot of time in the actual light bulb, so it doesnt produce much light. The twisted shape is so the electricity is forced to move around and around, doing more work, and making more light before reaching the exit. The old light bulbs has a similar process, though instead of moving through a gas, electricity moving through the small twisted coil of metal which light up as it was heated

[@Leonelf0]

Leonard Greenpaw the old bulbs also used that to let the winds heat up each over, for an overall more balanced light

[@kashiffiaz977]

can thay make tv's look better. like wat u see in a shop

[@BrainStuffShow]

Kashif Fiaz Fluorescent bulbs won't necessarily make your TV look better than incandescents. TVs look so good in stores for a couple reasons: employees optimize each TV's display settings (usually to look as bright as possible), and the TVs are lit with indirect, cool-colored light. This blog post has some ideas for improving your home setup that sound pretty legit: www.howtogeek.com/213464/how-to-decrease-eye-fatigue-while-watching-tv-and-gaming-with-bias-lighting/

[@DaisyHead666]

Idk why, But i can never hear this "buzz" Is it because i have hearing damage? Or do i never notice it?

[@WalterKnox]

even the old magnetic ballasts hardly buzz unless you put your ear up to them, the only reason they buss loudly is if they have been run too long with a bad lamp, or have overheated for some other reason.

[@lazymations1778]

And why do 230volt ones not hum

[@geoforconsulting]

They also hum. The one in my italian bathroom does. Blink blink blik! Huuummm... Trust me.

[@intuitknit]

maybe mention right off if it is a hazard when that happens. Thats all I came here for

[@kroneyt1493]

Apparently the sound of buzzing fluorescent lights bothered me as a child in school but now I have to be honest with you, I doubt I'd really notice it. I'd just block it out most likely. Actually, using it as a background white noise would likely help me sleep.

[@CaseyGpdx]

I thought it was just me because I thought it had to do with my hearing aids

[@CG-1000-T]

There is a LED light bulb in my dad’s closet and it makes a noticeable buzzing noise. It is not a fluorescent since I changed it out.

[@vinisyhaa1798]

Fluorescent and Led are much more better than incandescent but i must agree that Led are better than fluorescent

[@theDeitz]

I got rid of the buzz by retrofitting to direct wired LED lights. If you are not a DIY person just get the LED tubes that are sold to replace your existing fluorescent bulbs.

[@WalterKnox]

no

[@itznotthatserious]

the high pitched noise I hear gives me nausea and headaches

[@BlindLibrary]

CRT tv's also made a high-pitch noise but unless you're a bat you won't hear it anymore. Even that was annoying.

[@BrophyMC]

Why do dogs have flat tongues ?

[@trakstar012001]

for some reason i didnt expect you to sound like that. you look like you should sound like stone cold steve austin.

[@MrXManQ]

420 ayyyy

[@electroimpex8897]

Or just Use good German Ballasts :D They never fail and buzz or humm. Or just Use Electronic Ballasts

[@abhinav470]

In India almost 60% people started using LED lights .

[@hysteria67]

Yes, my classroom has a buzzing fluorescent light it’s actually annoying.

[@TechnicallyaNomad]

The circuit diagram is wrong...

[@Yelawolf269]

Owen Robinson it is probably one of those rapid start or instant start lights (I have that type throughout my house)

[@sprsae9003]

led got a big downside too.. bigger downside than some buzz, they’re expensive as hell..

[@happymonk4206]

Light bulbs are a bright idea... Watt?

[@LadyPashta]

I still prefer incandescent bulbs, the light is warmer (literally and the color) and you don't need a haz-mat crew to clean it up if it breaks nor do you have to throw them out carefully, to a recycle center. CFLs are _terrible_. I agree LEDs are much better, but still, not a warm light and the color is off.

[@GoldViolinFlutist]

I thought color warmth or cooless are available in all 3 types of lights...

[@LadyPashta]

GoldViolinFlutist That's what they say, but it's not true.

[@dadabg]

With LEDs you can get whatever color you want. Just most people prefer pure white.

[@Jonisgay24]

But a 100 watt incandescent bulb uses much more energy oppose to a 5 watt LED bulb. But I guess it's personal preference. I use the incandescent bulbs because I'm cheap and when I see the price tag I think of the cost at the register rather than the savings on the electric bill.

[@LadyPashta]

Cole Johnson I have children, it IS enough to harm their brains. We shouldn't be using them. Just because you can't see immediate effects, you think it's ok??

[@alcbaz]

Took him nearly 3 minutes to get to the point about the buzzing noise and I still don’t know how to fix it. Got bored of this video

[@Mzpixz]

I just got a new bulb why is it still buzzing

[@scarcat2469]

Any sound designers in here?

[@DeFraans]

Why does the US have 120V/60Hz while the EU has 240V/50Hz? It seems smarter to have a higher voltage and less current for the same power, since it's the current that induces voltage loss over distance and also creates more heat in power appliances. Was it purely because of history?

[@Yelawolf269]

Lord Thanksalot The US does have 240V/60Hz it’s just split into 2 phases in the panel each phase is 120V/60Hz and there are times that use both phases to get 240V/60Hz like the drier stove electric water heaters and electric furnaces (some gas water heaters 120V/60Hz and all gas furnaces use 120V/60Hz)

[@DodgeCharger251]

what if your fluorescents hum?

[@BrainStuffShow]

+ethanthemacman That's the same thing we're talking about here. ^___^

[@DodgeCharger251]

BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks ooooh ok

[@SeraphX2]

Kids should be seen and not heard in any era.

[@gigihtafdlylan]

I prefer Home Alone... Get rid Buzz! #mccaulkin

[@rohitkalelkar6599]

Is he Steve Austin

[@user-un7ei8hm7d]

-нет-

[@HackAttackeRR]

heh

[@mandyporras07]

I just got a lamp from Walmart. That you can charge your cell phone on too. This sound is annoying. I can’t stand it.

[@LMarsR]

Haha. A writer got fired.