flooded basement

[formula1]

I recently had a customers basement flood up to the windows and completly cover the electrical panel in water this basement had over six feet of water and the panel remained hot, with not even one breaker tripping. I would be very intrested to hear opinions about this.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

My opinion is that it might be dangerous to go wading down there. Sorry-- I couldn't resist-- I'll leave the real response to the experts-- Water is not a great conductor but gee whiz-- I am surprised by this one.

 

[mdshunk]

I saw a power strip underwater in a flooded basement with the little red neon light in the switch still glowing. Not a single breaker tripped that time either. Depending on what all minerals were in the water, there might not have been enough of a conductive path to reach the trip threashold.

Oh, by the way, that homeowner duped me an might have gotten me hurt. The orignal service call was for "sump pump receptacle not working". They'd have been more than happy to let me walk down into a flooded dimly lit basement, with energized cords and power strips under water. Be your own safety advocate!

 

[allenwayne]

Was ir flooded with distilled water.sorry couldn`t resist.When working in NYC for the NYCTA.This happened alot nobody ever answered why just get the work done was all that was said.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

In general, water is not a good conductor. The resistance of the water works in the same principle as air... the current will not push through the water, so the equipment works pretty much the same in the water as it would normally.

As Mshunk mentioned, safety should be first. When a basement or other area is flooded, do not assume that the power has been terminated, expect it to be energized.

 

[tallgirl]

Circuit breakers measure load, not water level

I saw panels in New Orleans where none of the breakers opened, despite the water being up to the roofline. Those of y'all who remember this photo

might remember me mentioning (I think I did, at least) that there was evidence that the panel remained "hot" long after it had been flooded.

In the case of that panel, it was fairly salty water from the Gulf of Mexico. If being submerged in saltwater doesn't put enough load to open a breaker, I don't know what does ...

 

[brian john]

I have been involved in many fllooded electric rooms, most stayed on line 277/480 and 120/208, one was a sewage backup and the equipment was steaming. I will tell you this, once the equipment is de-energized do not turn it back on. Our testing showed the equipment was trash (DUH as the kids say)

 

[problemsolver600]

Who's afraid of a little water?

Who's afraid of a little water?

Boiler room in a church in Chicago Heights, IL, 5 and a half feet of fast moving storm water, sump pump still running, Service Master sucking up one inch of water in class rooms with lights on and outlets "fully functional".
Main panel, meter, emergency panel, and one of three lighting panels under water.
Since the power stayed on, insurance adjuster suggested they were OK.
I asked him to show me, as a licensed electrician, where they were "rated, approved, listed, or labeled for use under water!" Then I showed him print outs from FEMA, and he agreed to add not just the breakers, but the whole panels. Of course, the new panels were cheaper than the obsolete ITE's they replaced.

gary

 

[jim dungar]

If a breaker tripped every time a hot conductor and a neutral conductor were both submerged in water we would not need GFCIs.

 

[tallgirl]

If a breaker tripped every time a hot conductor and a neutral conductor were both submerged in water we would not need GFCIs.

You've apparently never seen the videos from Joe Todesco where he submerged a GFCI-protected blow dryer in a sink full of water. The blow dryer continued running (!) and Joe demonstrated what happened as he emptied and refilled the sink.

Let's just say that I was impressed in a non-positive way ...