Consumer unit - how to sound proof it?

[Tigger90]

I have a Heatstor Ekectric Thermal Storage Combi Boiler that has 3 6kw immersion heaters that are switched on and off 3 times over 24 hrs, whilst using my local electricity companies "superheat" tariff. The only problem is the switches in the consumer unit "clunk" on indivually and they are rather loud. As the unit is not boxed it just attached to a block wall, I was thinking of building it a nice cupboard with loads of soundproofing?

Do you think this would work?

The boiler is like this one.... http://www.dhs.gg/ecostor.htm

 

[Steve]

Do not insulate those contactors. I expect they get rather warm when running.

Also, if it were fixed to a wooden board, it would be 10 times louder.

The reason its loud is because the sound travels through the wall. Insulating will have little effect.

 

[Tigger90]

Oh, thats that idea out the window then!
Could the unit be fitted on a board that is fitted to the wall with some rubber feet or something like that? The kids are not best pleased with the early morning wake up calls they get with the boiler starting up..

Could it still be put in a cupboard? It is not the best feature on my study wall!!

 

[Steve]

Oh, thats that idea out the window then!
Could the unit be fitted on a board that is fitted to the wall with some rubber feet or something like that? The kids are not best pleased with the early morning wake up calls they get with the boiler starting up..

Could it still be put in a cupboard? It is not the best feature on my study wall!!

Rubber feet are a good idea. The electricity boards used to mount their meter boards with rubber feet, dont think many bother now. Also put plenty of slack on the cables, maybe make a loop in them all as they cross the gap to the CU.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The kids are not best pleased with the early morning wake up calls they get with the boiler starting up..

Don't knock it.

When they get older you will long for the days when you could wake them as easily as making the noise of a contactor several rooms and walls away.

 

[dextrous]

Perhaps you could get advice from the bloke on handymantips.co.uk. He knows a thing or two, eh BAS?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I didn't look at the soundproofing one.

50mm of Celotex, wasn't it?

 

[dextrous]

I didn't look at the soundproofing one.

50mm of Celotex, wasn't it?

Nah, more like newspaper and polystyrene.

Have tried to get one of the plumbing ones off youtube - the one about soldering pipework is a disgrace.

Sorry for the temp hijack op.

 

[ericmark]

You can get solid state contactors. However do remember they can't be used as isolators.

 

[Tigger90]

Ban all sheds - the kids are teenagers, so amazing they wake up!

ericmark - eh? solid state contractors? The unit has just been fitted and passed by the local lecky board. I don't think i can go changing anything on it..

 

[bernardgreen]

The same problem here with the contactor for our sewage pump. But one of those jobs that gets left as it is not ( for me ) a major problem.

It might be possible to re-fix the board to the wall using anti-vibration mountings ( like rubber feet but designed to prevent the vibration crossing from board to wall ). You need to avoid a screw linking the board to the wall as the vibration will go along the screw and into the wall.

A photo of the board would help with devising a way to fit anti-vibration mounts without having to disconnect anything.

 

[Tigger90]

Still need to sort my noisy board, I have since been told its the "relays" that cause the clunk!.


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[ban-all-sheds]

You were told that half an hour after your original post back in December '09....