Annoying buzz from downlighters

[shaman]

Does anyone know a cure for a couple of problems which are really annoying me.
When downlighters are on in our kitchen I get a buzzing sound through my speakers.
Also, when our cooking range fires up there is a crack through the speakers too.
What can be done to eradicate this issue.
Grateful for any advice.

[hifinutt]

https://reductionrevolution.com.au/blogs/news-reviews/118469381-possible-solutions-to-led-lights-causing-electromagnetic-interference-emf-rf

is the range electric powered ?

[shaman]

Hi Phil, it's run on oil but fires up using electricity

[YNWaN]

Get one of those Earth leakage/continuity testers and check each socket.

[RothwellAudio]

The downlighters are producing a lot of RF noise which is being picked up somehow. When the cooking range switches on a spark is generated which is also a source of RF noise.
There are two ways to tackle the problem. The first is to stop the RF from being generated in the first place by snubbing the spark/noise. The second is to block the RF at the input to the sound system, ie with an RF filter. Most amps have an RF filter at the input anyway, but it may not be strong enough. I suppose a third category of cure would be RF shielding, but RF shielding is standard practice (and an EU regulation) and your equipment should have it already.

Unfortunately, RF problems like you describe are notoriously difficult to eliminate.

[struth]

Buy a new cooker and lights lol
Maybe if you had a separate mains run for the audio

[RothwellAudio]

Buy a new cooker and lights lol
Maybe if you had a separate mains run for the audio

New cooker and lights isn't such an insane idea. Lighting dimmers are well-known for causing problems which can be easily avoided by simply not having any lighting dimmers - prospective recording studio designers take note!

Separate mains is not the answer. If RF is being generated and picked up by the system, having the generator powered by separate a mains supply won't make any difference. I'm sure Radio 1's transmitter isn't powered from the same ring main as your hi-fi, but that doesn't stop you from picking it up.

[Pharos]

I don't know what "Downlighters" are, but if this refers to dimming switches I can add the following.

When I rebuilt my extension a few years ago I wanted to have dimmable lights above the dining table, and researched the potential for RF noise because I have a studio and Hi-Fi in the lounge.

There are two distinct types of dimmer switch, leading edge, and trailing edge, this referring to the part of the AC waveform which is 'chopped off'.

Leading are noisy, and trailing are not, but are more expensive, and I used the latter and have had no problems.

Other than that a particular noise emission is as stated above dealt with by supressing its emission from source, (Radiospares make encapsulated CR networks for this purpose), ie spark suppression, and then also maximum screening to prevent RF emission.

The screening principle also applies to the 'receiving' equipment.

[hifinutt]

I recently spent many months agonising over my amp which was making static like noises , only when using rca output . we are pretty sure that mains noise was causing this as once I caught it doing it with the washing machine being turned on

the valve amp repairer found everything to be absolutely brilliant and working but that noise was getting in via the rca output. so he made me a little cable to attach to the other rca output and ground to the chassis and its been sounding fabulous ever since .

hope yours is rectified soon as it drove me BONKERS

[shaman]

Not just driving me bonkers!
The rest of the family having to do stuff in the dark in the kitchen is driving them mad too!

[Clive]

Are the lights LED? Some LED lights and their smps dish out terrible RF to the point where it swamps the signal for mobile phones. If you've something like this going on it could easily bleed into the hifi too.

[shaman]

Yes they are LED Clive
It just occurred to me though that it wasn't noticeable when using the Salvation t/t with Verus rim drive
Currently using a Lenco G99

[Clive]

Have other brand LEDs you could try? Might be the power supplies though...could be either. Should have stayed with the Salvation!

[shaman]

Still have the Salvation Clive plus Lenco G88, Garrard 301 and 401
I like turntables!

[RothwellAudio]

Yes they are LED Clive
It just occurred to me though that it wasn't noticeable when using the Salvation t/t with Verus rim drive
Currently using a Lenco G99

Does the problem only occur when using the turntable? If so, what is the cartridge?

[jostber]

Got some problems myself with the downlights at the kitchen which has a dimmer. Yesterday they made a strange sound after being turned, and these have a been a bit unstable previously with some of the lights now working. The previous house owner was a bit too happy with these kind of solutions. I suspect them to send some noise into the power. I aim to get all these dimmers removed shortly and have contacted a electrician to check it.

[Mixc]

Have you considered a "Grounding box" ???:lol:

Can you pin it down to the amp or one of the inputs then work from there.