I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of strings of
lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size bulbs). Here's the
problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my yard
sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the living room.
Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and goes when the
Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light sleeper from
a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of course, outdoors near
the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm wondering:
does this sound like an overloading problem, or more likely some sort of
simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of fire, if everything I can get
to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a tester on
it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who wants to
advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm wondering:
does this sound like an overloading problem, or more likely some sort of
simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of fire, if everything I can
get to seems cool?

I'd say it is probably a harmonic vibration. How hard is it to disconnect
the timer? Just take one wire off.

Merry Christmas to you also.

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Jim Beaver" wrote in message

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm wondering:
does this sound like an overloading problem, or more likely some sort of
simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of fire, if everything I can
get to seems cool?

I'd say it is probably a harmonic vibration. How hard is it to disconnect
the timer? Just take one wire off.

I can unplug it. But it's outside in the rain, so I've been nervous. Also,
doing so deletes the various sector sprinkler timing, a nuisance even bigger
than the hum...IF the hum is safe.

Thanks.

Jim Beaver

Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of strings of
lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size bulbs). Here's the
problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my yard
sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the living room.
Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and goes when the
Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light sleeper from
a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of course, outdoors near
the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm wondering:
does this sound like an overloading problem, or more likely some sort of
simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of fire, if everything I can get
to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a tester on
it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who wants to
advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver



I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.

If letting it hum damaged the system, wouldn't that be more trouble than
reprogramming the timer?

You could kill the power at the breaker box before unplugging it, but
unplugging it in the rain probably isn't dangerous. In the days when
footwear had leather soles that could be salty from sweat, 110V could be
very dangerous if you stood on a wet surface. Synthetic soles seem to
offer better protection.

A tingle is possible with rubber footwear. At the farm, my sister would
get a tingle each morning at dawn when she unplugged a light from an
outdoor extension cord, although she wore rubber footwear. By the time
her husband woke up, the grass and cord would be dry, and he'd tell her
there was nothing wrong. The only defect I found was mildew which, when
damp, could carry enough current for a tingle. Washing the ends of the
cords cured the problem. He happened to be right that it wasn't
dangerous. She was right that it should not have been ignored.

"E Z Peaces" wrote in message
.. .
Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of strings
of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size bulbs).
Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my yard
sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the living
room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and goes when
the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light sleeper
from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of course, outdoors
near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm wondering:
does this sound like an overloading problem, or more likely some sort of
simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of fire, if everything I can
get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a tester
on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who wants to
advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.

I discovered this morning that the hum doesn't happen in the daytime. Which
leads me, genius that I am, to conclude that it's not the sprinkler timer
but the low-voltage outdoor lighting system timer. I have no idea whether
this affects matters much in terms of safety, etc.

Jim Beaver

Jim Beaver wrote:

"E Z Peaces" wrote in message
.. .
Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of
strings of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size
bulbs). Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my
yard sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the
living room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and
goes when the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light
sleeper from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of
course, outdoors near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm
wondering: does this sound like an overloading problem, or more
likely some sort of simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of
fire, if everything I can get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a
tester on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who
wants to advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.

I discovered this morning that the hum doesn't happen in the daytime.
Which leads me, genius that I am, to conclude that it's not the
sprinkler timer but the low-voltage outdoor lighting system timer. I
have no idea whether this affects matters much in terms of safety, etc.

Jim Beaver

My idea light is flashing! Does an electric eye turn on the outdoor
lights? Maybe the eye is exposed to one of the outdoor lights as well
as light from your tree in the window, and together they hit it with
enough light to shut it off. That brings the light below the threshold
and it turns back on. The frequency of the hum would depend on how long
it took the outdoor filament to heat white hot.

On Thu 25 Dec 2008 04:53:05p, E Z Peaces told us...

Jim Beaver wrote:

"E Z Peaces" wrote in message
.. .
Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of
strings of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size
bulbs). Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my
yard sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the
living room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and
goes when the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light
sleeper from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of
course, outdoors near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm
wondering: does this sound like an overloading problem, or more
likely some sort of simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of
fire, if everything I can get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a
tester on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who
wants to advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.

I discovered this morning that the hum doesn't happen in the daytime.
Which leads me, genius that I am, to conclude that it's not the
sprinkler timer but the low-voltage outdoor lighting system timer. I
have no idea whether this affects matters much in terms of safety, etc.

Jim Beaver

My idea light is flashing! Does an electric eye turn on the outdoor
lights? Maybe the eye is exposed to one of the outdoor lights as well
as light from your tree in the window, and together they hit it with
enough light to shut it off. That brings the light below the threshold
and it turns back on. The frequency of the hum would depend on how long
it took the outdoor filament to heat white hot.


Maybe I've missed something here, but why belabor this situation? Just
plug the lights into a socket that's on a totally different circuit.

All this effort for a temporary lighting situation seems like a huge waste
of time and effort, or do you just enjoy puzzles?

--
Wayne Boatwright
(correct the spelling of "geemail" to reply)
************************************************** **********************
Date: Thursday, 12(XII)/25(XXV)/08(MMVIII)
************************************************** **********************
Today is: Christmas
Countdown till New Year's Eve
5dys 3hrs 23mins
************************************************** **********************
Heute die Welt, Morgens das Sonnensystem!
************************************************** **********************

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Thu 25 Dec 2008 04:53:05p, E Z Peaces told us...

Jim Beaver wrote:
"E Z Peaces" wrote in message
.. .
Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of
strings of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size
bulbs). Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my
yard sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the
living room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and
goes when the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light
sleeper from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of
course, outdoors near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm
wondering: does this sound like an overloading problem, or more
likely some sort of simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of
fire, if everything I can get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a
tester on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who
wants to advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver
I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.
I discovered this morning that the hum doesn't happen in the daytime.
Which leads me, genius that I am, to conclude that it's not the
sprinkler timer but the low-voltage outdoor lighting system timer. I
have no idea whether this affects matters much in terms of safety, etc.

Jim Beaver
My idea light is flashing! Does an electric eye turn on the outdoor
lights? Maybe the eye is exposed to one of the outdoor lights as well
as light from your tree in the window, and together they hit it with
enough light to shut it off. That brings the light below the threshold
and it turns back on. The frequency of the hum would depend on how long
it took the outdoor filament to heat white hot.


Maybe I've missed something here, but why belabor this situation? Just
plug the lights into a socket that's on a totally different circuit.

All this effort for a temporary lighting situation seems like a huge waste
of time and effort, or do you just enjoy puzzles?

Can you explain how the Christmas tree is affecting the outdoor lighting
in a way that running an extension cord to another room would prevent?
It sounds like a huge waste of time and effort.

"Wayne Boatwright" wrote in message
5.247...
On Thu 25 Dec 2008 04:53:05p, E Z Peaces told us...

Jim Beaver wrote:

"E Z Peaces" wrote in message
.. .
Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of
strings of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size
bulbs). Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my
yard sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the
living room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and
goes when the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light
sleeper from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of
course, outdoors near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm
wondering: does this sound like an overloading problem, or more
likely some sort of simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of
fire, if everything I can get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a
tester on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who
wants to advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

I haven't been able to imagine how the lights could affect voltage or
current in the timer.

Are there valves near the timer? Sometimes a solenoid valve can hum
loudly.

I discovered this morning that the hum doesn't happen in the daytime.
Which leads me, genius that I am, to conclude that it's not the
sprinkler timer but the low-voltage outdoor lighting system timer. I
have no idea whether this affects matters much in terms of safety, etc.

Jim Beaver

My idea light is flashing! Does an electric eye turn on the outdoor
lights? Maybe the eye is exposed to one of the outdoor lights as well
as light from your tree in the window, and together they hit it with
enough light to shut it off. That brings the light below the threshold
and it turns back on. The frequency of the hum would depend on how long
it took the outdoor filament to heat white hot.


Maybe I've missed something here, but why belabor this situation? Just
plug the lights into a socket that's on a totally different circuit.

All this effort for a temporary lighting situation seems like a huge waste
of time and effort, or do you just enjoy puzzles?

Hate puzzles. Just trying to avoid running a twenty-foot extension cord to
the nearest receptacle not on this circuit. Christmas is dangerous enough
without decking cables down and across my halls. Also, I find a house
without extension cords running across major thoroughfares to be more
elegant than one with such obstacles.

Jim Beaver

Just thinking out loud:

Overloading the timer, what is it's rated capacity and what
is the total load?

Bad neutral problem?

Is this on a Ground Fault circuit?

Jim Beaver wrote:
I've got my Christmas tree set up in my living room. A couple of
strings of lights (not those mini-lights, but the finger-tip size
bulbs). Here's the problem:

When I turn on the lights, a loud hum arises from the timer for my
yard sprinklers. This timer is mounted on the outside wall of the
living room. Obviously it's on the same circuit, as the hum comes and
goes when the Christmas tree lights are turned on or off.

The hum is loud. Probably loud enough indoors to wake a light
sleeper from a nap if it suddenly came on. It's even louder, of
course, outdoors near the timer.

The power cords, plugs, and receptacles all seem cool. So I'm
wondering: does this sound like an overloading problem, or more
likely some sort of simple harmonic vibration? Am I in danger of
fire, if everything I can get to seems cool?

I don't know anything much about electrical testing or I'd use a
tester on it somehow. But I don't really know what to look for.

Anyone NOT doing something more interesting on Christmas Eve who
wants to advise me here?

And with that in mind, happy holidays to all here. Thanks.

Jim Beaver

Extension cord to a different circuit.