noisy fuse box. Any electricians here?

vibe666

I know this isn't the right place for this, but I couldn't find a better category for it.

The fuse box in my apartment is very noisy at certain times of the day.

I think I've tracked it down to the storage heaters coming on at night (usually about 11.30pm) and staying on till about 8am.

The damn thing is so noisy that if we are asleep it can actually wake both myself and my girlfriend up and keep us awake some nights.

If I trip the storage heater switch on the fusebox the noise stops, but that's not really a solution as it gets really cold if it's off.

Anyone have any ideas, apart form just calling a sparks out?

GuanYin

Whats this got to do with Science?

vibe666

Originally posted by vibe666
I know this isn't the right place for this, but I couldn't find a better category for it.

can you think of a better category for it?

Mods feel free to move the post if you can find somewhere better for it, but I couldn't, so here it is!

GuanYin

Lets see
Technology maybe?

Or bettter yet

Society> Gardening/DIY

jeez!

vibe666

Originally posted by sykeirl
Lets see
Technology maybe?

only has computer related stuff in it.

Society> Gardening/DIY

there isn't one!

GuanYin

Mneh, After Hours has it I think

daveg

I'd say the thread is good here as gardening/DIY/Technology. After all electronics is a part of science.

Vibe sounds like it's a high current running though the fuseboard when it's feeding the storage heaters. Could possibly need a new fuseboard/wiring. I'd advise getting an electrician out to have a look unless your handy yourself ?

vibe666

i'll probably get a sparky to look at it.

i kinda figured it was something like that (storage heaters are notorious for power useage).

thanks for the advise anyway dave, it's always nice to have somoen else tell you anyway. you know what it's like.

anyway, i'll get someone to have a look.

ta.

daveg

np for a fellow scubadiver

Victor

Turn off the Main and check that no one has done anything dodgy with the fuses.

davelerave

it's just the noise off the contactor energised nothing to worry about ,unless your main fuse is sizzling which is unlikely (checktosee if its hot whenthe the heatings on)

Specky

Hmmm...interesting to see so many people agonising over whether it's in the right category or not but nobody really answering the question...:p

It's pretty common these days that your consumer unit (modern name for fuse box) is actually full of miniature circuit breakers or MCBs instead of fuses (hence why it isn't called a fuse box any more!):D


The buzz comes from either one of the MCBs or the RCD (residual current detecting circuit breaker which protects you from electrocuting yourself if you grab hold of the mains somewhere in your house....one of these is a legal requirement these days everyone will be relieved to know)...the buzz usually occurs under heavy loads.

It isn't really dangerous (unless the noise drives you mad and you end up poking a set of pruning shears through your playmates eyeballs in a moment of psychotic disconnectedness) but can be annoying.

The fix is simple, but shouldn't be attempted by anyone who doesn't have a clue about electricaltrickery....an electrician will fleece you so I'd suggest asking around until you find a friend who knows enough about it not to kill themselves...and let's be honest here, it ain't difficult!! Parents teach children to be afraid of electricity at a very early age, probably with sound reason, but it results in many people having a completely irrational fear of the stuff for the rest of their lives.

Anyway, identify the breaker making all the noise. If it's not labelled then wait until the noise starts then switch each MCB off and on again until the noise stops (phewww this is hard....)

Read all the little numbers off the front of the offending MCB and go to a shop...not a shoe shop or a fish shop, but a shop that sells MCBs (there are a lot of them) and see the man behind the counter, showing to him the small piece of paper upon which the numbers are written.

He will then give you a new one with which you should run home....only pausing long enough to pay the nice man in the shop...and set to work with a screw driver and a cheeful whistle.

Within minutes you will either be dead or will have a silent consumer unit which you can then show to all of your friends when they come to visit.

If you have no friends it may not be worth fixing the buzz.

It may be company for you in the long winter nights to come.

On the other hand you could record it in MP3 format and post a thread on the music board offering to send copies of it to people who would like to hear your new song and they can argue about whether you've posted it on the right board or not.

Fun fun fun

ozmo

Originally posted by Specky


..
He will then give you a new one with which you should run home....only pausing long enough to pay the nice man in the shop...and set to work with a screw driver and a cheeful whistle.
...

Remembering of course to turn off the Master Power MCB (Big one) while removing the dud MCB ..

Zaap! =:O zmo

Magaly Dado

"I think I've tracked it down to the storage heaters coming on at night '

I have to agree with Mr Lerave's contactor deduction (and childhood experience) from the information given. If you have the older, larger contactors (black boxes) definately. These are electromechanical switches with a magnetic coil.

The newer, slim ones, which fit in beside the MCB's are much better, and your system can be converted to these.

davelerave

Originally posted by Magaly Dado
"I think I've tracked it down to the storage heaters coming on at night '

I have to agree with Mr Lerave's contactor deduction (and childhood experience) from the information given. If you have the older, larger contactors (black boxes) definately. These are electromechanical switches with a magnetic coil.

The newer, slim ones, which fit in beside the MCB's are much better, and your system can be converted to these.

they're called modular contactors the newer ones,if it's keeping you awake get someone to replace it,sometimes you get a noisy one

vibe666

nice one, thought it would just need replacing anyway.

it looks like a fairly new box anyway, and tha apartment block itself is probably only 10 years old, so I'm guessing on it being the newer type.

I'm also guessing that being fairly comfortable p[laying with electrics I could probably do it myself anyway, as long as I turn off the main MCB and do it all by torchlight.

I've had a couple of 240v shocks (in my youth) so I know enough to know that I don't want another one so I think I'll be alright, although standard disclaimers about not being held responsible if I cook myself obviously apply.;)

I'll keep you posted.

thnx again.

conorb56

You need an RCD for a pond pump, so there! ow that's gardening!

derek99

hi sparks here

two things too look for, in fuse board, mcb-trip switch arking may occur across loose connection supplying mcb to storage heater which you think is the problem. If not, contact in fuse board which relays power onto mcbs may be faulty. Easy way to find out, take cover off fuse board, look for browning of cables or browning of mcb-below switch. Came across similar situations in my job, normally a small fault to fix. From my professional experience (I'm an electrician) it should cost anywhere from 60 to 90 Euro to fix. Give a local sparks a call to have a look.

davelerave

just to add. a loose contact on top of mcb usually isn't loud enough to keep you awake ,some contactors are just noisy from the off because the magnetic circuit isn't making due to dust or mechanical problem and should be swopped

Beëlzebooze

I've had a couple of 240v shocks (in my youth) so I know enough to know that I don't want another one so I think I'll be alright, although standard disclaimers about not being held responsible if I cook myself obviously apply.

a shock from the socket is very different from a shock at the fuseboard, watch yourself, the live coming into the fuseboard can be 80Amps, not protected by an ELCB. 80 Amps WILL kill you.

davelerave

Originally posted by Beëlzebooze
a shock from the socket is very different from a shock at the fuseboard, watch yourself, the live coming into the fuseboard can be 80Amps, not protected by an ELCB. 80 Amps WILL kill you.

100milliamps can kill you

vibe666

warning duly noticed, thanks for letting me know.

Anyway, as the weather has got much more mild and we don't need the heating at all I've actually flipped the trip switch on the noisy one, so it's not keeping anyone awake any more.

thanks for the help and advise though. Appreciated as always.

I'll keep you posted come autumn

Beëlzebooze

as a matter of interest, my curcuit board was humming a while ago, and it was the main fuse (old style) the contact had worn a little, so when alot of current was being drained, it arced.

If I was you I wouldn't wait 'till autumn, you might have a powersurge during the summer (washing machine, kettle and something else on at the same time for example) And this kind of thing is what can cause fires.

get an electrician in, pronto.

davelerave

i've had to go back to people and replace loads of main switch fuses on new boards because of faulty design .they're the type where the main fuse slides into the holder

vibe666

it's one of the newer ones, so i don't think it'll be a problem, although, I will be taking a look at it and maybe replacing it whenever I get the chance.