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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

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.

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

Sounds like excessive head pressure, maybe a stuck TEV

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?

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

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 a tAQUASTAT 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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