I just talked to HO who said his breakers are arcing. He said he change a few and the breaker shows signs that been arcing. What would cause breakers to arc in panel? I know if they are not seated properly, they will arc but what else. I am on my way over there to check it out and will get back to let you know what I find. Thanks ahead of time.
Breakers arcing
- Thread starter guschash
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sguinn
Senior Member
- Location
- Blue Ridge, Ga
Besides being seated improperly there are only a couple of things that I can think of, a loose conductor connection or improper breaker.
Well, panels and breakers are mass-produced, so maybe a bus bar or breaker was just made wrong. QC isn't 100%
Moisture can also cause problems. Water dripping down in a panel in a basement can corrode connections.
Maybe the wrong breaker was installed, and not listed for that panel.
Then again, where in the panel are the arc? Between the breaker & bus, or at the conductor termination?
Aluminum wire, maybe?
Main? Or branch circuits breakers?
Moisture can also cause problems. Water dripping down in a panel in a basement can corrode connections.
Maybe the wrong breaker was installed, and not listed for that panel.
Then again, where in the panel are the arc? Between the breaker & bus, or at the conductor termination?
Aluminum wire, maybe?
Main? Or branch circuits breakers?
stew
Senior Member
- Location
- federal way,washington
are they zinsco breakers?0r maybe ge thins
sguinn
Senior Member
- Location
- Blue Ridge, Ga
stew said:
Good one, whether you meant it to be or not.
FPE Breakers were held in by the cover. If the cover is not properly adjusted (actually you adjust the panel "guts" to the cover) the breakers would not be held in place correctly. I once had a customer that thought their house was haunted. A circuit would go out and by the time he would get to the basement to restore power, that circuit would come on and another would go out. Then by the time he got back upstairs the 2nd circuit would come back and the original circuit would be out again! Adjusted the panel and the problem was solved. Have to think that there would be signs of arcing in that scenario.
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