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#1
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems.
Should the box be replaced? -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#2
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Thursday, August 15, 2013 9:44:01 PM UTC-7, catnip wrote:
Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups Go through each of the breakers and list every single receptacle, light, machine etc. that it controls in every wall of every room. That’s what the guy who installed your service panel in the first place was supposed to do in the first place and if you call an electrician he’s going to charge you a whole lot of money to do it for you. |
#3
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I would phone your local electrical utility to see if they can send someone out to check it.
One side shouldn't be any warmer than the other. Maybe phone the electrical inspector and see if they'd charge anything to check it. Last edited by nestork : August 16th 13 at 06:58 AM |
#4
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/15/2013 11:44 PM, catnip wrote:
Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Put your ear up close to the panel and listen for any sizzling sound which can indicate arcing cause by a defective breaker or a bad connection on a breaker. If you cut the breakers off one by one until the sizzling sound stops, that will be the problem breaker and time to call an electrician. ^_^ TDD |
#5
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 07:54:52 +0200, nestork
wrote: I would phone your local electrical utility to see if they can send someone out to check it. One side shouldn't be any warmer than the other. Maybe phone the electrical inspector and see if they'd charge anything to check it. DONT USE THE PHONE, (unless it's a cellphone). Adding the electrical power needed to operate the phone will surely overload the electrical system and cause a fire. Use a cellphone, or drive to the electric company. |
#6
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Naah, you should get a Usenet provider, and usenet reader. This is
Usenet, not a web forum. .. Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus www.lds.org .. On 8/16/2013 12:44 AM, catnip wrote: -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#7
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? *A little warmth is not unusual, but if it is too hot to touch there may be a problem. Feel each individual circuit breaker to see if any one of them is significantly warmer than the others. If so there may be a problem with that circuit breaker or it just may have a large load on it such as your air conditioner. Age, overall condition, brand (FPE) and room for expansion are the usual determining factors on breaker panel replacement. You could call a professional electrician to come in and have a look inside to be on the safe side. |
#8
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:44:01 -0700, catnip
wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? *IF* you have only standard breakers, I'd worry. However, if you have a slew of those new breakers to satisfy the 'arc over' problem; naw. They self heat and make the area warm. |
#9
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Any special instructions if the Moaners Hub
poster has FPE Stabloc panel? .. Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus www.lds.org .. On 8/16/2013 9:32 AM, RobertMacy wrote: *IF* you have only standard breakers, I'd worry. However, if you have a slew of those new breakers to satisfy the 'arc over' problem; naw. They self heat and make the area warm. |
#10
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/16/2013 9:59 AM, bud-- wrote:
On 8/16/2013 1:11 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote: On 8/15/2013 11:44 PM, catnip wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Put your ear up close to the panel and listen for any sizzling sound which can indicate arcing cause by a defective breaker or a bad connection on a breaker. If you cut the breakers off one by one until the sizzling sound stops, that will be the problem breaker and time to call an electrician. ^_^ TDD You can also hold a relatively small long screwdriver so the blade touches a breaker and the handle is 'in' your ear - a stethoscope. I agree sizzling is from arcing, and bad. Humming is normal. My guess is the right side has 2 pole breakers that were loaded when the OP noticed one side was hotter. Or maybe random. I have an infrared thermometer I use to scan a panel and back in the late 1980's I was working for an electrical contracting company that had gotten into using an infrared video camera to scan electrical panels at industrial sites. Non contact thermometers have become inexpensive compared to 10 years ago when I bought my first one. You can get one at the normal male's favorite toy store. ^_^ https://tinyurl.com/p8ov754 TDD |
#11
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/16/2013 1:11 AM, The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 8/15/2013 11:44 PM, catnip wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Put your ear up close to the panel and listen for any sizzling sound which can indicate arcing cause by a defective breaker or a bad connection on a breaker. If you cut the breakers off one by one until the sizzling sound stops, that will be the problem breaker and time to call an electrician. ^_^ TDD You can also hold a relatively small long screwdriver so the blade touches a breaker and the handle is 'in' your ear - a stethoscope. I agree sizzling is from arcing, and bad. Humming is normal. My guess is the right side has 2 pole breakers that were loaded when the OP noticed one side was hotter. Or maybe random. |
#12
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 07:18:42 -0700, The Daring Dufas
wrote: https://tinyurl.com/p8ov754 Arrrggg! that tiny URL did NOTHING for my systme, would you post the 'long' version too? I can always unwrap it. |
#13
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Friday, August 16, 2013 5:42:16 AM UTC-6, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Naah, you should get a Usenet provider, and usenet reader. This is Usenet, not a web forum. Nasty person...here is the long version requested: http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...html?hftref=cj |
#14
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
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#15
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 02:11:31 -0500, The Daring Dufas
wrote: On 8/15/2013 11:44 PM, catnip wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Put your ear up close to the panel and listen for any sizzling sound which can indicate arcing cause by a defective breaker or a bad connection on a breaker. If you cut the breakers off one by one until the sizzling sound stops, that will be the problem breaker and time to call an electrician. ^_^ TDD It could be arcing or inductive heating. Inductive heading happens when the neutral is not in the same (metal) raceway as the hot. If you do have inductive heating, (as someone else suggested) turning off the right breaker will cause the humming to stop. |
#16
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/16/2013 12:04 PM, RobertMacy wrote:
On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 07:18:42 -0700, The Daring Dufas wrote: https://tinyurl.com/p8ov754 Arrrggg! that tiny URL did NOTHING for my systme, would you post the 'long' version too? I can always unwrap it. My system jumped right in there but here's the long link. ^_^ http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...html?hftref=cj TDD |
#17
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
The Daring Dufas wrote:
On 8/16/2013 12:04 PM, RobertMacy wrote: On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 07:18:42 -0700, The Daring Dufas wrote: https://tinyurl.com/p8ov754 Arrrggg! that tiny URL did NOTHING for my systme, would you post the 'long' version too? I can always unwrap it. My system jumped right in there but here's the long link. ^_^ http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...html?hftref=cj TDD Hmmm, I bought similar thing on eBay for 12 bucks. Works well. If OP has Amprobe it'll be handy. Al. wiring by any chance? Any loose connections? Any smell? |
#18
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to catnip, catbyte wrote:
catnip wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Thank you for your responses. More info: I listened to the breakers as advised. There is no sizzling sound. I noticed that all of the warm breakers were labeled AFCI. Does that give a clue to the problem? Thank you very much for your help! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#19
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
"catbyte" wrote in
message More info: I listened to the breakers as advised. There is no sizzling sound. I noticed that all of the warm breakers were labeled AFCI. Does that give a clue to the problem? Yes! The AFCI breakers contain small power supplies for the electronic components that live inside them. That could easily account for the heat. -- Bobby G. |
#20
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Your problem is using a web forum to invade Usenet.
.. Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus www.lds.org .. On 8/16/2013 8:44 PM, catbyte wrote: Does that give a clue to the problem? Thank you very much for your help! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#21
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/16/2013 7:44 PM, catbyte wrote:
replying to catnip, catbyte wrote: catnip wrote: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Thank you for your responses. More info: I listened to the breakers as advised. There is no sizzling sound. I noticed that all of the warm breakers were labeled AFCI. Does that give a clue to the problem? Thank you very much for your help! If the panel cover was hot enough to burn your hand, that would indicate a real problem. It must be fairly new to have arc fault circuit breakers installed, a type breaker which trips when an electrical arc is detected in any circuit connected to the breaker. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc-fa...it_interrupter If you're really worried call your electric company to find out if a tech for them would come out and check the temp of the panel at no cost to you. The power company here is really good about that sort of thing and the fire department (don't dial 911) may have a fire marshal willing to drop by and assuage your fears after checking the temp of the panel. The ones I know would rather find out that a citizen has a problem that needs fixing rather than meeting him outside his burning house. If it really has you worried, there are electrical installation and repair companies that will send someone by to check it for you at no cost as a way to get you as a customer. The honest service companies are out there, ask around to find someone who will check it for you. Your peace of mind will let you sleep at night. Be safe. ^_^ TDD |
#22
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On 8/16/2013 8:48 PM, Robert Green wrote:
"catbyte"caedfaa9ed1216d60ef78a6f660f5f85_7968@ex ample.com wrote in message More info: I listened to the breakers as advised. There is no sizzling sound. I noticed that all of the warm breakers were labeled AFCI. Does that give a clue to the problem? Yes! The AFCI breakers contain small power supplies for the electronic components that live inside them. That could easily account for the heat. I agree that is probably why the breakers are "warm". |
#23
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to Robert Green , catbyte wrote:
robert_green1963 wrote: "catbyte" wrote in message Yes! The AFCI breakers contain small power supplies for the electronic components that live inside them. That could easily account for the heat. Thank you for your help Robert! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#24
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to The Daring Dufas , catbyte wrote:
the-daring-dufas wrote: If the panel cover was hot enough to burn your hand, that would indicate a real problem. It must be fairly new to have arc fault circuit breakers installed, a type breaker which trips when an electrical arc is detected in any circuit connected to the breaker. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc-fa...it_interrupter If you're really worried call your electric company to find out if a tech for them would come out and check the temp of the panel at no cost to you. The power company here is really good about that sort of thing and the fire department (don't dial 911) may have a fire marshal willing to drop by and assuage your fears after checking the temp of the panel. The ones I know would rather find out that a citizen has a problem that needs fixing rather than meeting him outside his burning house. If it really has you worried, there are electrical installation and repair companies that will send someone by to check it for you at no cost as a way to get you as a customer. The honest service companies are out there, ask around to find someone who will check it for you. Your peace of mind will let you sleep at night. Be safe. ^_^ TDD Thank you for your further help Daring Dufas! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#25
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
"Roy" wrote in message
... On Friday, August 16, 2013 5:42:16 AM UTC-6, Stormin Mormon wrote: Naah, you should get a Usenet provider, and usenet reader. This is Usenet, not a web forum. Nasty person...here is the long version requested: http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...html?hftref=cj Isn't it sad? SM could have just politely answered the question but instead took an unwarranted jab at our new guest. Why? All because *SM* doesn't like Homeowner's Hub. Who cares *what* you like, Stormie? Worse, still he constantly reminds us how polite "his kind" is in post after post and how rude everyone else is while being nasty to a newcomer for no reason. Matthew 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? It means "actions speak louder that words." It means that no matter how much SM carps about how civilized his friends are, it's the ACT of slapping a new guest in the face twice that tells us who he really is, not his claims of piety. SM seems to have taken pride in both ignoring Catbyte's question AND insinuating that Catbyte has no right to be here unless they came via Usenet and a newsreader program. That tells us the kind of man he really is. A real man might realize he should apologize for such a poor welcome to a stranger. It also suggests he's obsessed with trying to tell others what do to, a noticeable problem with a lot of religious people. Catbyte doesn't care about SM's hard-on for HH. The question was good and germane to the AFCI upgrading that many people are doing. The answer might help and number of Google searches in the future. Catbyte ended up basically solving the problem for themselves by noting they were AFCI breakers. But Stormie's got to bitch, bitch, bitch: "Oh, you're not doing it right!! Go away and come back after you do what *I* told you to do, invader!!!" Typical actions of a serious control freak and someone not quite properly socialized. (Catbyte, if you're reading this, come back and visit through any portal you like. We'll keep the self-appointed captain of the neighborhood Portal Police at bay. Sorry you had to read about any infighting but this has been an ongoing problem of bad manners exhibited, ironically, by someone who constantly brags about how polite he is.) -- Bobby G. |
#26
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to Robert Green , catbyte wrote:
(Catbyte, if you're reading this, come back and visit through any portal you like. We'll keep the self-appointed captain of the neighborhood Portal Police at bay. Sorry you had to read about any infighting but this has been an ongoing problem of bad manners exhibited, ironically, by someone who constantly brags about how polite he is.) Your kind support and articulate defense are much appreciated. Many thanks!! Catbyte -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#27
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to bud-- , catnip wrote:
remove.budnews wrote: You can also hold a relatively small long screwdriver so the blade touches a breaker and the handle is 'in' your ear - a stethoscope. I agree sizzling is from arcing, and bad. Humming is normal. My guess is the right side has 2 pole breakers that were loaded when the OP noticed one side was hotter. Or maybe random. Thank you for your help! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#28
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to John Grabowski , catbyte wrote:
jgrabows1 wrote: *A little warmth is not unusual, but if it is too hot to touch there may be a problem. Feel each individual circuit breaker to see if any one of them is significantly warmer than the others. If so there may be a problem with that circuit breaker or it just may have a large load on it such as your air conditioner. Age, overall condition, brand (FPE) and room for expansion are the usual determining factors on breaker panel replacement. You could call a professional electrician to come in and have a look inside to be on the safe side. Thank you for all the info! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#29
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to bud-- , catbyte wrote:
remove.budnews wrote: I agree that is probably why the breakers are "warm". Thank you for your input! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#30
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to Metspitzer , catnip wrote:
Kilowatt wrote: On Fri, 16 Aug 2013 02:11:31 -0500, The Daring Dufas It could be arcing or inductive heating. Inductive heading happens when the neutral is not in the same (metal) raceway as the hot. If you do have inductive heating, (as someone else suggested) turning off the right breaker will cause the humming to stop. Thank you for the info! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#31
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
replying to RobertMacy , catnip wrote:
robert.a.macy wrote: On Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:44:01 -0700, catnip *IF* you have only standard breakers, I'd worry. However, if you have a slew of those new breakers to satisfy the 'arc over' problem; naw. They self heat and make the area warm. Thank you for your help! -- posted from http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ch-759574-.htm using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface to home and garden related groups |
#32
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
"catbyte" wrote in
message oups.com... replying to Robert Green , catbyte wrote: robert_green1963 wrote: "catbyte" wrote in message Yes! The AFCI breakers contain small power supplies for the electronic components that live inside them. That could easily account for the heat. Thank you for your help Robert! You're very welcome. You actually answered your own question when you noticed they were all AFCI breakers. The answer to this question also made me realize that an AFCI breaker "stuffed" circuit panel might attract more bugs and other vermin than a normal panel because it's mostly sealed up and warm in such areas. The last mouse we had lived in the basement near the water heater and traveled from there all the way to the kitchen and back stockpiling all sort of kitchen detritus in the nest. No mice since we got a little dog, though! -- Bobby G. |
#33
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
catnip wrote in
roups.com: Everything works but I am worried that the heat may indicate problems. Should the box be replaced? Yes. Surprised you are not a crispy critter already. posted from http://www.BlowOwnershub.com/ |
#34
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
Thank you for clarifying the wrongdoings of SM. I found this thread on a google search, it was very helpful, and I appreciate the civil replies. I am Mormon and all I can say is that SM is likely either trying to give Mormons a bad name, or is not living by the precepts of his stated religion. I know no one is perfect, but one should not wear his religion on his sleeve unless he is going to try to live it just as publicly. I am sorry for his discourteous behavior and I just want you to know that not all mormons are of "his kind".
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#35
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
On Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 4:19:26 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Thank you for clarifying the wrongdoings of SM. I found this thread on a google search, it was very helpful, and I appreciate the civil replies. I am Mormon and all I can say is that SM is likely either trying to give Mormons a bad name, or is not living by the precepts of his stated religion. I know no one is perfect, but one should not wear his religion on his sleeve unless he is going to try to live it just as publicly. I am sorry for his discourteous behavior and I just want you to know that not all mormons are of "his kind". Thank you for reviving a dead thread on AHR from 14 years ago, replying as if these posts were made yesterday and not quoting anything so we can even follow whatever it is that you're bitching about. And no need to worry about Stormin, he won't be bothering you anymore, he passed away recently. This is another excellent example of the value added by posters digging up ancient threads. Now we're getting ones that don't even touch on the original subject, but instead the alleged personal wrongs of posters who are dead. |
#36
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The right side of my breaker panel is warm to the touch.
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