Check Out This Panel

[Dennis Alwon]

I didn't think we had this problem here in NC. My understanding was it was mostly south of us. I am sure some of you know what's happening here.

 

[Sierrasparky]

you talking about the old style ground wires wrapped around the screw? or is that the fiber strain relief in the cable landed on the neutral ground bar?

 

[rambojoe]

aside from the obvious anti segregation :/ how come the blacks look like 16 awg? zip cord branches?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Those black wires are equipment grounding conductor's. I believe this is the result of the chinese sheetrock that came in years ago. Most of it was in the deep south and caused havoc in the homes on plumbing wiring and air condition coils. The sheetrock is emitting a sulphur gas that causes the blackening of the conductors. Look closely at the grounded conductors and they are all coated with black at the terminations

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

I believe I came across the same scenario about three years ago. All the equipment grounds were black. The panel was located in the basement.

 

[junkhound]

Had to read responses to know what was wrong,

Being color blind, in the photo those black wires looked DARK green to me, so all looked to be OK..

 

[mopowr steve]

I sometimes come across this in Ohio also.

seems to be more likely with homes in the country on well water that has some sulfur.

 

[roger]

Those black wires are equipment grounding conductor's. I believe this is the result of the chinese sheetrock that came in years ago. Most of it was in the deep south and caused havoc in the homes on plumbing wiring and air condition coils. The sheetrock is emitting a sulphur gas that causes the blackening of the conductors. Look closely at the grounded conductors and they are all coated with black at the terminations

Dennis, I seem to remember there were some issues with the Chinese sheetrock in NC.

Roger

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Dennis, I seem to remember there were some issues with the Chinese sheetrock in NC.

Roger

I guess so. This is the first I have heard about it here

 

[growler]

Well I hear the Chinese have done a lot of building in the last few years so I wonder how they deal with the problem of Chinese sheet-rock. :lol:

 

[romex jockey]

The sheetrock is emitting a sulphur gas that causes the blackening of the conductors. Look closely at the grounded conductors and they are all coated with black at the terminations

Now i wonder what their lungs look like.....~RJ~

 

[mopowr steve]

Now i wonder what their lungs look like.....~RJ~

I don’t think it’s like a coating like cigarette smoke but more of a chemical reaction at the surface of copper and sulfur gas.

 

[Coppersmith]

I had a Chinese drywall job recently where I was asked to replace all the devices and strip back the wire to get clean copper.

 

[ptonsparky]

I had a Chinese drywall job recently where I was asked to replace all the devices and strip back the wire to get clean copper.

I hate to ask, is the Sheetrock still there?

 

[drcampbell]

... I wonder how [the Chinese people] deal with the problem of Chinese sheet-rock. :lol:

Maybe they only export the high-sulfur variety and don't use it themselves, much like the bogus bolts of twenty (?) years ago.
(were I a lot more cynical, I might suspect they were deliberately exporting a high-sulfur variety as part of a vicious trade war)

 

[Coppersmith]

I hate to ask, is the Sheetrock still there?

No. They removed and replaced all the Sheetrock. As is my normal practice, I took photos of every wall when it was open studs which was very helpful to find several boxes the installers covered up.

 

[Coppersmith]

Maybe they only export the high-sulfur variety and don't use it themselves, much like the bogus bolts of twenty (?) years ago.
(were I a lot more cynical, I might suspect they were deliberately exporting a high-sulfur variety as part of a vicious trade war)

I avoid buying products from China especially food. They can't be trusted to not adulterate it. Chinese toys arrive here with lead paint and jewelry with metal lead. Here's one example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal