ground bar screw sparking

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df3557

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I recieved a phone call last night from a friend saying a ground screw on the ground bar in the panel is sparking unless he loosens it up. Also he said there is no wire in that particular screw. I told him to make sure everthing was tight , but he said it made no difference. Does anyone have a suggestion of what could be the problem. I have not seen it first hand yet. He does not live close and it will be a freebe so I just wanted some suggestions before I head over there. Thanks
 
If he's not a qualified electrical professional, he shouldn't be inside his panel in the first place, especially one that is energized. There are too many questions and too many possibilites to troubleshoot a possible problem via an internet Forum.

"Sparking" or smalls arcs between two conductive objects is caused by the flow of current over the loosely connected terminations or joints. If current is flowing over grounded parts, there is a problem.
 
I am interested in knowing the source and terminal recipient of current through a screw threaded in a busbar [grounding or otherwise] that has no wire attached.
Maybe we can get a photo?
 
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Sparking

Sparking

Does this ground bar have a stap tied to a netral bar or something that would cause it to be a completion in a circuit in this panel? Is this ground bar empty of all conductors minus the ground screw to the can?
Please advise so we can possibly determine what is looking for a neutral.
 
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