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Photograph of Photograph of a water pump pressure control switch with the cover offRelay Switch & Contactor FAQs
Q&A on clicking chattering relay switches in Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Water Pumps, & other controls

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about contactor switch or relay switch noises in mechanical systems used in buildings or building air conditioners, heat pumps, water pumps or other equipment

Control relay switch chattering noise diagnosis and repair Q&A.

This article series discusses control relay switch chattering or rapid, repeated clicking noises, their cause, meaning, and repair. Relay switches are widely used to control equipment found in or on buildings including air conditioning system or heat pump compressor/condenser unit compressor motors, fans, and in an air handler the blower fan used in forced air heating and air conditioning systems.

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Clicking or chattering electrical relay switch FAQs

White Rodgers ran relay switch (C) InspectApedia.com These questions and answers about clicking or chattering electrical control relays were posted originally at RELAY CONTROL SWITCHES - be sure to see the diagnosis and repair advice given there.

 

On 2018-05-07 by (mod) - every 30 seconds it tries to turn on

Sounds like excessive head pressure, maybe a stuck TEV

On 2018-05-07 by Compressor

I just installed a new compressor on a heat pump. The compressor was working fine then it stopped and won't turn on. About every 30 seconds it tries to turn on for a sec then nothing for 30 secs then tries again.

On 2018-01-10 by (mod) - A chattering relay is most likely failed or failing;

Mike

A chattering relay is most likely failed or failing; in an emergency a short term repair is, with power off, to try to clean the contacts but it's difficult. SOME techs can replace a relay; most replace the whole control.

This illustration https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Honeywell_R8182D_Internals.jpg shows the two relays in a typical aquastat, one for the burner and one for the circulator.

The L1 L2 are the power or LINE-IN terminals

The C1 C2 are the wires that control the circulator

Those are shown in the lower right of the illustration found at this article:

That image is discussed at https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Aquastats.php our article on AQUASTAT CONTROLS

That article includes links to PDF files that describe the installation and use of the aquastat.

Bottom line: you probably need a new relay or a new control.

On 2018-01-10 by Mike C - circulator relay trouble in Minnesota

@Paul,
I've got the same issue up here in northern Minnesota. So, I'm waiting for a response too. What image of the control system are you referring to in regard to the L1 L2 line and C1 C2 control?

On 2018-01-04 by Paul

I have a hot water boiler for radiators and the circulator pump only runs when the burner is on. I want to be able to manually over-ride the contactor/relay with an external switch to have the ciruclator run continuously during very cold outside temps. Can I simply add a typical single-pole light switch between the L1 L2 line in and the C1 C2 circulator control? If not, how else to do this?

On 2017-12-03 by (mod) - replace wet relays

FOR safety turn off electrical power to the pump, then ask your electrician to replace the wet switch. And of coirse, fix the leak.

On 2017-12-03 by Ronald Williams

My water pump leaked for along time where the pressure gauge is and then my water pressure just stopped period no water at all. I'm getting power but no water, wires are everywhere relay switch isn't connecting to turn pump on ethier. HELP.

On 2017-11-30 by (mod) -

Katherine, also see our discussion of clicking relays in the page bottom COMMENTS about clicking aquastats at AQUASTAT CONTROLS inspectapedia.com/heat/Aquastats.php

On 2017-11-26 by (mod) - when the air turns on I hear a continuous non stop clicking sound

That's doesn't sound normal to me. I would ask for an investigation in repair by the service technician

On 2017-11-12 by Katherine

An air conditioner repair man replaced the relay switch for a 24 VAC coil in the heating unit. Now whenever the air turns on I hear a continuous non stop clicking sound from the part. Is this normal or does it need to be fixed?
Thanks.

On 2017-01-29 by John - water pump won't come on

I installed new well pump pressure control switch. Yet now, when I turn off power, at circuit box, to well pump (to leave for periods of three weeks at a time) the pump will not come on upon my return and switching breaker "on". I have to crawl under house to flip lever on the new pressure control switch to "jump start" the well pump. I did not have to do this before installing new pump switch. What can I do to fix this?

On 2017-01-28 by Evaporator coil in air handler makes high speed chattering noise

Evaporator coil was installed in residential heat pump system 12/2015 and 12/2016 it began making high speed chattering noise. Tech cannot find the cause. Installed new thermostat, checked for foreign body in system which may cause valve to not close but none found,

Where do I find solution, only makes noise when system is set to heat cycle.


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