Need help this is driving me mad!

[liammc]

I'm no sparky but in looking for an answer my brother suggested a forum and I found this place.

The problem is in the last few months I'm getting a clicking/buzzing/fizzing noise which has a sort of 'rythm'.

This noise is coming from the Tellys,Microwave,Heating Timeswitches and Thermostats. It happens constantly throughout the day and stops at about 7.00pm. I dont know exactly when it starts in the morning but its before 6.00am.

My first reaction was that it must be related to the timeswitches if its starting and stopping the same time every day. So I have checked the times on the timeswitches and neither (I have 2, one for UFH and one for CH/HW) have times on them which coincide with this problem. Also they are set to automatic all the time anyway.

Can anyone suggest where to start looking before having someone come in costing a small fortune.

I had thought I should test to voltage at th consumer unit, would this be a good start?

Many thanks for reading.

edit: Just to add the house was completely rewired 4 years ago when it was extended. All work by a reputable professional sparky.

 

[Tag]

Did the sparky test and certify? Get him to come back and look at it - he shouldn't charge as it's his work. Sounds dangerous to me...

 

[Mac]

As Tag said,i would definitely get the spark back pretty sharpish.Have you tried turning all yhe MCBs off and turning them on 1 at a time.

 

[liammc]

Yeh, I isolated each ring at a time but still each one does it.

 

[Mac]

Could be outside interference,have you spoke to the company that supplies your electricity

 

[ian.settle1]

Mac Tag,

Can not see it being anything to do with the spark who wired the place as it was 4 YEARS ago and the problem has only started in the last couple of months.

Are any of your neighbours having a similar problem? if they are sounds like a supply problem.

 

[liammc]

Not yet as I feel I need to narrow things down, as especially with the electric services if they come out and start charging fees cos they say its not a problem from their end etc.

Gonna speak to a neightbour tonight. Might even take the tv round and plug it in at his house.

 

[Tag]

all equipment runs at 230v 50 htz, sounds as though the equipment is getting more than that, how this is possible...I don't know

 

[liammc]

I measured across the main terminals in the DB 3 times and got readings from 242.1 to 244.5 volts.

Its constantly changing up and down, not between the readings above but up and down bewteen .5 volts at a time. I will check again tonight when the noise has stopped then we will see the difference.

This was using a borrowed' Fluke True RMS' multimeter.

Heres a little movie clip from inside the microwave. Turn up the volume and you can here the clicking. This is a similar noise everywhere else with the exact same timing.

 

[m4tty]

spooky u got ghosts

 

[liammc]

lol, ghosts who clock off at 7pm

Well I checked the voltage last night after the noise stopped and it was the same as before so thats that ruled out.

 

[kduck]

Have you asked your neigbours if they have the same problem?
do your lights flicker when its happening?
do you no how close you are to the sub main?

 

[liammc]

No lights flicker, and i'm yet to ask the neighbours. I dont think there is a sub station anywhere nearby. The power comes in overhead from over the street.

 

[Mac]

No lights flicker, and i'm yet to ask the neighbours. I dont think there is a sub station anywhere nearby. The power comes in overhead from over the street.

I'd still speak to the DNO.

 

[acvc]

Hi LiamMc.

Yeah I'd go with Mac the Goonar's advice, definitely get the DNO in, but also try to confirm that the neighbours have/have not got the same issue.

One more avenue. If your house was rewired by an NICEIC spark, then their work is under warranty for six years I believe, so no extra cost should be forthcoming. Either contact the electrician yourself, or go through the NICEIC, and also us the NICEIC Technical Helpline, full contact details are online.

Lastly, keep an eye on equipment getting unusually hot to touch, lamps blowing etc.

Good luck. sounds semi-urgent.