rotten food vapor on electrical panel?

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electricalperson

electricalperson

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massachusetts
does anybody know if the certain gasses that come off of rotting onions can produce corrorsion on electrical parts? im just trying to think why this panel, after being off all winter suddenly had a fire in after they used the dryer.

there was a bag with a rotten onion hanging right near the open fuse panel

does this sound stupid or make sense?
 
electricalperson said:
does anybody know if the certain gasses that come off of rotting onions can produce corrorsion on electrical parts? im just trying to think why this panel, after being off all winter suddenly had a fire in after they used the dryer.

there was a bag with a rotten onion hanging right near the open fuse panel

does this sound stupid or make sense?
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They burn the heck out of my eyes, I know that. The fresh ones, I mean. I assume they were fresh when they were hung there.

It is possible that if the panel got damp and the 'tear gas' from the onions acted upon the moisture causing some deterioration of the connections.

If you find that out to be the case, let me know. I hate onions and any ammunition I can get to keep them out of the house will be appreciated.
 
K8MHZ said:
If you find that out to be the case, let me know. I hate onions and any ammunition I can get to keep them out of the house will be appreciated.
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:grin::grin:


I work in a lot of produce prep areas and as nasty as they smell I don't see any damage to the equipment other then what you would expect in a consistently damp area.
 
electricalperson said:
does anybody know if the certain gasses that come off of rotting onions can produce corrorsion on electrical parts? im just trying to think why this panel, after being off all winter suddenly had a fire in after they used the dryer.

there was a bag with a rotten onion hanging right near the open fuse panel

does this sound stupid or make sense?
Click to expand...

Hydrogen suflide?

Chemical Composition
Onion contains protein, sugars, cellulose, minerals, a fixed oil, an essential oil and over 80 per cent water. The amount of essential oil is very small but it contains the aromatic and tear-producing properties associated with onion. These are caused by sulphides which are produced by the reaction of the enzyme alliinase on an amino acid. These substances are normally in separate cells in the tissues, but when the onion is cut and bruised, rupturing the cells, the reaction takes place. Cooking has the opposite effect, preventing the enzymatic action and thus milder and less pungent flavours are produced. The chemistry of the Alliaceae family, including garlic, shallots etc, is very similar. The calorific value of raw onion is 38 calories per 100g, or roughly 20 calories for a 3oz onion.
 
weressl said:
Hydrogen suflide?

Chemical Composition
Onion contains... ... The calorific value of raw onion is 38 calories per 100g, or roughly 20 calories for a 3oz onion.
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Looks like the definitive answer has arrived. Cool answer--as I always say, I learn something new every day on here.
 
below the panel is an open spot that goes right to the basement. the basement floods and was about 2 - 4 inches deep at the time we arrived. so its possible for the humidity caused by the flooded basement and the rotting onion could of produced hydrogen sulphide and corroded the connections of the panel?

last time last year they were at the house everything worked fine. they come back and a fire starts first night they arrive by a fuse catching fire.


it sounds like the hydrogen sulphide was the problem.

the metal pieces were covered in white crusty stuff. it was all over the busbars and every piece of current carrying metal. it looked like aluminum but im not sure. it was a fuse panel from the 50s or 60s by square d
 
electricalperson said:
below the panel is an open spot that goes right to the basement. the basement floods and was about 2 - 4 inches deep at the time we arrived. so its possible for the humidity caused by the flooded basement ~ and corroded the connections of the panel?

last time last year they were at the house everything worked fine. they come back and a fire starts first night they arrive by a fuse catching fire.


the metal pieces were covered in white crusty stuff. it was all over the busbars and every piece of current carrying metal. it looked like aluminum but im not sure. it was a fuse panel from the 50s or 60s by square d
Click to expand...

I assume this is some sort of vacation residence? Not used much of the year?

I'm here to save you from sounding like - well.... Forget about the onions.... A 40-50 year old panel in a humid location is just enough alone to cause the breakdown of aluminum components - and the tell-tale signs are that white stuff, and an increasing resistant of connections - eventually arcing. It could have been happening of the last few decades - or even in a year. Sometimes I see it begin in a few months in my salted marine fog ladden wonderland. A basement of concrete leaching lye, or just plain old water could do it.
 
e57 said:
I assume this is some sort of vacation residence? Not used much of the year?

I'm here to save you from sounding like - well.... Forget about the onions.... A 40-50 year old panel in a humid location is just enough alone to cause the breakdown of aluminum components - and the tell-tale signs are that white stuff, and an increasing resistant of connections - eventually arcing. It could have been happening of the last few decades - or even in a year. Sometimes I see it begin in a few months in my salted marine fog ladden wonderland. A basement of concrete leaching lye, or just plain old water could do it.
Click to expand...

thanks. i tend to over think sometimes
 
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