breakers near a house fire

[wyboy]

After a house fire, all the breakers in a panel near the fire were tripped. While the conductors were damaged none had shorted. Did the breakers trip due to the ambulant high temperature or heat conducted on the conductors?

 

[zog]

How can we possibly know thst? You done any testing?

 

[petersonra]

After a house fire, all the breakers in a panel near the fire were tripped. While the conductors were damaged none had shorted. Did the breakers trip due to the ambulant high temperature or heat conducted on the conductors?

They tripped because the trip elements got hot. How the heat go to them is anyone's guess.

Does it really matter?

You are going to have to do pretty much a gut job of the electrical equipment that was exposed to the heat anyway.

 

[Jraef]

They tripped because the trip elements got hot. How the heat go to them is anyone's guess.

Does it really matter?

You are going to have to do pretty much a gut job of the electrical equipment that was exposed to the heat anyway.

Yes, please don't get cheap abut safety and set up the next fire.

 

[Npstewart]

We couldn't possibly know why they definitely tripped. The only advice I can give you is to do what the experts do first in other disasters of similar or greater caliber, look for the black box. Its usually located under the left wing, near the tail.

 

[jxofaltrds]

After a house fire, all the breakers in a panel near the fire were tripped. While the conductors were damaged none had shorted. Did the breakers trip due to the ambulant high temperature or heat conducted on the conductors?

Yes heat. Ever see melted plastic on the other side of a home when the fire (flames) were 50' away?

 

[broadgage]

They might even have been turned off by the firefighters, or even by the occupiers as they left.
I would agree that all the breakers, and anything else exposed to potential heat damage should be replaced.

 

[petersonra]

They might even have been turned off by the firefighters, or even by the occupiers as they left.
I would agree that all the breakers, and anything else exposed to potential heat damage should be replaced.

The OP said they were tripped, not turned off. Presumably being a professional in the electrical field he would know the difference and would not say "tripped" when he really meant "off".