GerryB
Senior Member
- Location
- woodbridge, ct. USA
I went to a HO today whose main tripped a couple times in the last few weeks. It's a newer (3 yr old) 100amp GE 32ckt panel. She said it was hot and smelled last time it tripped, she turned it off, let it cool, turned it back on and it was ok.
It was cool when I checked it today. The conductors were not loose but I was able to tighten 1 turn. I was able to remove the breaker and physically it looks good.
Two things: She said it happens when the dryer is on. So we ran the dryer about 10 minutes, nothing heated up, I read 27-29 amps on the legs before they dropped to about 6.
The other thing, the strain relief is broken at the attachment point, so the service conductors are pulling directly on the crimps to the service entrance conductors. (I told her call the POCO and have them fix that)
So I don't know if one of those things could cause the main to heat up or if the breaker is bad itself.
She hasn't had any other problems that you would associate with the main power coming in.
She will be doing laundry tomorrow and checking the breaker periodically.
Any ideas? Thanks
It was cool when I checked it today. The conductors were not loose but I was able to tighten 1 turn. I was able to remove the breaker and physically it looks good.
Two things: She said it happens when the dryer is on. So we ran the dryer about 10 minutes, nothing heated up, I read 27-29 amps on the legs before they dropped to about 6.
The other thing, the strain relief is broken at the attachment point, so the service conductors are pulling directly on the crimps to the service entrance conductors. (I told her call the POCO and have them fix that)
So I don't know if one of those things could cause the main to heat up or if the breaker is bad itself.
She hasn't had any other problems that you would associate with the main power coming in.
She will be doing laundry tomorrow and checking the breaker periodically.
Any ideas? Thanks