Heating Help

Clicking Noise Coming From Weil Mclain Gold Oil

The actual noise is coming from a box on the side of the unit.
The box is labeled "ARGO TECH" and also says temperatue indicating equipment.
There are a couple relays in the box.
2 of the relays are for upstairs heating and when they are called on it gives a single click, then fires.
But the relay coming from the basement single pole line voltage thermostat, it clicks on and off multiple times (a spark can be seen through a window in the relay box) but still fires the burner.
Is it normal for this relay to click on and off sometimes up to a minute and other times only 5 seconds?
What should I look for to make sure there is no problem?

Chattering Relay

What you have is a chattering Ice Cube Relay.  This is an easy change out.  Most techs keep extras on their van. 

I do not know of a place where they are available to the general public.  The long term issue is that the contacts inside the relay will either stop making (no heatin that zone) or they will weld shut and the heat will "run away" on that zone.

Have it changed.  Good Luck.

" Ice cube " relays

These so-called "Ice cube " relays are very common in industry, mostly for control applications. Those of us that have been around manufacturing/ maintenance for a certain number of years can relate to them.. Now they are harder to find, as they have been replaced by PLC's.
( programmable logic controllers ) . One can easily find these relays from commercial industrial catalogs .. : Grainger , McMaster , MSC etc etc .. Several things to know before searching ,.... Coil voltage , number of contacts , mounting type ( pins or blades ) . If one can find a direct replacement , then the base can remain in place ,all wired and simply "plug in " a new "ice cube " top .. If not ,then a relay and mounting base should be purchased and transfer the wires to the new base ..good luck .

meplumber is bang on......just a side note

make sure theres no loose connections and you have enough voltage, transformer low voltage 24 or a little more

do you have

zone valves or circs tied into it? 

Line voltage thermostat

Also check the contacts on the line voltage thermostat driving the relay. The thermostat contacts can be dirty, causing the relay to chatter.