What causes an electrical current to buzz?

Does it ever indicate risk?

When you turn on a light, turn on the television, or even walk near power lines, you may experience the unmistakable hum of electricity. But what is that buzzing noise? What's more, does it ever indicate potential danger?

 

"Mains hum" is the term for the noise created by electricity, and it is a natural byproduct of the process by which it is generated. Most of the electricity we use is generated by power plants, which is referred to as alternating current (AC) because the direction of the current changes frequently.

 

It is country-specific according to how often the current switches direction each second (opens in a new tab). The United States, Canada, and a number of Central and South American countries all use 60 hertz, or 60 cycles per second, of AC power. The frequency of this alternating current is typically 50 hertz (or 50 times per second) in the remainder of the world.

 

Gary Woods, a professor in the practice of electrical and computer engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas, says that the hum you hear is often around twice the frequency of the AC power being used. That indicates the frequency of electricity in the United States is 120 hertz, or two octaves below middle C, between a B and a B flat. The European version of this sound oscillates at 100 hertz, or two octaves below middle C, between an A-flat and a G.

 

We need to know what vibrating is to make that hum. Typically, this is an internal magnetic component. A transformer, an electromagnetic mechanism designed to reduce the voltage of electricity as it flows from power plants to houses so that the high voltage does not damage electrical appliances, may be audible if you happen to be in the vicinity of power lines.

 

According to what Woods said to Live Science, "an inductor is just a magnetic element—an electromagnet" inside a transformer. "It's a hunk of metal with a winding of wire around it." Every transformer has one of them inside.

 

Woods told Live Science that "for reasons of electrical engineering," an electromagnet must be housed within the circuitry in order to achieve the desired effect. These magnetic elements are similar to miniature magnets, and they are powered by electricity. So, they're cycling through 60 on/off (polarity-reversing) cycles each second. That means they're genuinely trembling slightly.

 

Woods claimed this phenomenon was present in many forms of electrical appliances.

 

Another phenomenon, corona discharge, may be the source of the hum coming from electricity lines (opens in a new tab). This buzzing, or energy discharge, occurs when the electrical field around the power lines is strong enough to initiate the flow of electric current from the power line to the air. Water enhances the conductivity of air, so weather conditions can affect the likelihood of that happening. Most up-to-date power lines are made to function correctly even in dry weather. There is evidence that corona discharge can produce harmful chemicals like ozone, which can hurt human lungs if inhaled. Hence, its occurrence should be avoided at all costs.

 

But should you be concerned if your electronic devices emit a mains hum?

 

Woods remarked that the word "danger" might be too harsh. That buzz is typically unremarkable and inherent to the operation of technological devices. On the other hand, it may be the first indicator that anything is awry.

 

According to Woods, "if it has never hummed before and suddenly starts to hum and gets louder and louder, that probably suggests that there is some part inside the gadget that is likely to fail."

 

"My AC unit started emitting a 60-hertz hum once," Woods remarked. Therefore, I had to call an AC technician, who assured me that the problem was insignificant. 'Well, no, I know a 60-hertz hum when I hear it,' I responded. Some ailments have arisen. Therefore, they extracted it, and sure enough, there was a flawed component, "Woods declared."

Reference : https://www.livescience.com/electricity-humming-noise

Image source : https://pixabay.com/id/photos/bolam-ide-kreativitas-basis-lampu-3104355/

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