Burnt GE Panel?

[Sparro]

Hello everyone,

I’ve come across quite a few GE panels where the main feeder from the meter enclosure of the all-in-one attaches to a lug on a bus bar that feeds the main breaker. In many cases, that bus bar looks corroded or overheated.

With GE panels there’s usually enough visible burning to make replacing the panel an easy decision. But in this case, the bus bar is the only component that looks compromised.

I mentioned this to my vendor, and he suggested GE may have dipped those bars in a varnish, which could explain their appearance.

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge or documentation that could confirm what’s actually going on here?

 

[LarryFine]

It looks like a non-issue to me, no missing metal.

 

[infinity]

It doesn't look burnt to me. GE is know to have bus with this coloring. This is a GE panel with properly torqued connections.

 

[Sparro]

Thank you for the picture and the reply Rob, what causes the metal to look like that? I didn't think it was overheating because all the plastic connections to the can look good but the coloring always throws me off.

 

[ramsy]

what causes the metal to look like that?

Pull breaker to inspect bus stabs.

 

[ptonsparky]

They look good from here but do a Fall of Potential test to ease your mind.

You will need a meter capable of millivolts. Use a hairdryer for load.
Check from the incoming conductor to the respective load side busbar.
Move the load to the other side and repeat. The VD should be similar and less than 100mv.

Handheld noncontact thermometers are cheap and are a bit safer.