follow up on power panel mystery goop
- Thread starter kgdrb
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Re: follow up on power panel mystery goop
took another look at the picture j its interesting, ive got a growth ,growing on a tube of latex adhesive caulk about three inches long that got mildew inhibitors in it . the caulk is put out by white lightning .i thought i might have put an aluminum nail in the spout but it wasnt . it might be related and maybe not.but when i saw the growth i thought id mention it to pass along .thanks .....keith
took another look at the picture j its interesting, ive got a growth ,growing on a tube of latex adhesive caulk about three inches long that got mildew inhibitors in it . the caulk is put out by white lightning .i thought i might have put an aluminum nail in the spout but it wasnt . it might be related and maybe not.but when i saw the growth i thought id mention it to pass along .thanks .....keith
Re: follow up on power panel mystery goop
I'm not a chemist or biologist, but I think this looks like a fungus. Square D has an optional fungus proof treatment available for their safety switches. I'll quote from their catalog:
"The treatment consists of a moisture and fungus resistant varnish applied to all non-metallic parts. This treatment is intended to retard the absorption of moisture and inhibit the growth of fungi. Not UL Listed."
It sounds like moisture is the catalist for fungi growth, so a de-humidifier may also help stop it.
Steve
I'm not a chemist or biologist, but I think this looks like a fungus. Square D has an optional fungus proof treatment available for their safety switches. I'll quote from their catalog:
"The treatment consists of a moisture and fungus resistant varnish applied to all non-metallic parts. This treatment is intended to retard the absorption of moisture and inhibit the growth of fungi. Not UL Listed."
It sounds like moisture is the catalist for fungi growth, so a de-humidifier may also help stop it.
Steve
Re: follow up on power panel mystery goop
thanks steve, i appreciate the info on the sq d fungi repeller . that could be good knowledge to know. i to thought it could be moisture related as my little growth has been out in the garage since last fall. however it seems to have stopped growing but it could be the moisture inhibitors finally kicked in on mine. ....keith
thanks steve, i appreciate the info on the sq d fungi repeller . that could be good knowledge to know. i to thought it could be moisture related as my little growth has been out in the garage since last fall. however it seems to have stopped growing but it could be the moisture inhibitors finally kicked in on mine. ....keith
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
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- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
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- EC
Re: follow up on power panel mystery goop
Not fungus but aluminum oxide. It's what happens to aluminum when it comes in contact with an alkali. Looks to me like the unprotected ends of some of the runs (the ones with the growth on them) were submerged or pulled through (during installation) an alkali containing solution. This would be wicked into the cable for quite some distance and would remain even if the cable were cut back. I think what you are seeing is the effects of the liquid in the cable escaping from the jacket and reacting with the aluminum.
This is typically what happens to aluminum conduit if you expose it to concrete or an alkali rich soil. After awhile I like to say it turns to tooth paste.
-Hal
Not fungus but aluminum oxide. It's what happens to aluminum when it comes in contact with an alkali. Looks to me like the unprotected ends of some of the runs (the ones with the growth on them) were submerged or pulled through (during installation) an alkali containing solution. This would be wicked into the cable for quite some distance and would remain even if the cable were cut back. I think what you are seeing is the effects of the liquid in the cable escaping from the jacket and reacting with the aluminum.
This is typically what happens to aluminum conduit if you expose it to concrete or an alkali rich soil. After awhile I like to say it turns to tooth paste.
-Hal
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Re: follow up on power panel mystery goop
...My experience with it is that it turns green
sometimes. But that horse has a white tail.
Depends on what's chasing it This looks familiar to me because it's exactly like what I've seen left of aluminum conduit that was run under concrete. The concrete was outside and the alkali leached out because of rain, settled in the soil beneath and attacked the conduit. Not much was left except a white crusty paste like in the picture. That's aluminum oxide.
I surmise something similar is happening here. When an unprotected end of a cut cable (or a nick in the jacket)is submerged in a liquid, the liquid will be sucked into the cable by capillary action and will travel great distances. The liquid will be "pumped" out of the ends due to temperature variations and variations in atmospheric pressure.
This contamination could have happened anyplace, but possibly the conduit was flooded with water from the concrete pour and the cables then pulled through it? Apparently some were protected at the ends, others were not and it is those that are having the problem.
...My experience with it is that it turns green
sometimes. But that horse has a white tail.
Depends on what's chasing it
This looks familiar to me because it's exactly like what I've seen left of aluminum conduit that was run under concrete. The concrete was outside and the alkali leached out because of rain, settled in the soil beneath and attacked the conduit. Not much was left except a white crusty paste like in the picture. That's aluminum oxide. I surmise something similar is happening here. When an unprotected end of a cut cable (or a nick in the jacket)is submerged in a liquid, the liquid will be sucked into the cable by capillary action and will travel great distances. The liquid will be "pumped" out of the ends due to temperature variations and variations in atmospheric pressure.
This contamination could have happened anyplace, but possibly the conduit was flooded with water from the concrete pour and the cables then pulled through it? Apparently some were protected at the ends, others were not and it is those that are having the problem.
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