Electrician advice? Buzz from circuit breaker?

HoosierBuddy · 10-31-2009, 09:41 PM

Hey guys,

I was down in the basement this afternoon and needed to turn off a circuit to do a little work. I noticed, for the first time that I can recall, that there was a slight buzz coming from my breaker box.

I went through the box and flipped breakers one at a time, and the buzz stopped when I turned off breaker 18 (20 amp). I flipped it back on, the buzz came back. Off - silence. On - buzz.

Is that something I need to be concerned about? The buzz can't really be heard unless you are standing in front of the breaker box, within a few feet.

Phil

joe69 · 10-31-2009, 09:57 PM

I'm no electrician, but that would concern me Phil.

Joe

Tungsten · 10-31-2009, 10:00 PM

They are not hard to replace. Try picking a new one up and snap it in. See if that fixes it.

camachinist · 10-31-2009, 10:02 PM

Did the affected breaker feel warmer to the touch than the other breakers? Also, was there a live load on the breaker at the time? Lastly, does the service panel look period to the home and, if so, how old is the home?

dennisgill · 10-31-2009, 10:17 PM

I would replace it, last time I had one starting to buzz it was on its way out. Just pick one up and pop it in.

HoosierBuddy · 10-31-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camachinist

Did the affected breaker feel warmer to the touch than the other breakers? Also, was there a live load on the breaker at the time? Lastly, does the service panel look period to the home and, if so, how old is the home?

No. It didn't feel warm.

I don't know if it had a load on it or not.

Ehhh...The home was built in 1918 and it's a 200 amp box. IIRC, the PO's had it installed in the late 80's.

Phil

camachinist · 10-31-2009, 10:27 PM

Yep, I've got a Sylvania panel from the 60's and a Federal Pacific one from the 50's at my two houses. Where does one pick up a breaker for those?

Diagnose, then replace, if necessary, IMO. Also, one of his busses could be corroding in the area of that breaker. I had that happen in the utility area of my main panel and had to get the utility to cut power so I could manufacture a new weatherhead downfeed lug on the meter connection.

Hey, Phil our posts crossed..... figure out which circuit that breaker feeds and put a load on it and compare. Also, if you have a clamp-on ammeter, put it on each of the 110V leg wires with the breaker off and see what you read. Then, flip the breaker on (no load) and compare. Then load the circuit and read again.

If it's a late 80's 200A panel, there's a good chance you can get replacement breakers. My opinion would be to get a selection of them in case others need replacing in the future. Learn from my pain

HoosierBuddy · 11-03-2009, 10:28 AM

Mine's a GE panel.

I'll look for a new breaker.

Phil

**obsidianspider** · 11-03-2009, 10:32 AM

Trying to install aircraft landing lights in place of the standard motion sensor floodlights Phil?

camachinist · 11-03-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoosierBuddy

Mine's a GE panel.

I'll look for a new breaker.

Phil

Pop the suspect breaker off and examine the buss contacts and bars. Take the breaker down to the electrical supply house to match up.

FWIW, I had a GE 200amp single phase panel in the shop (I have seperate 3-phase and single phase panels), which was built in '83 and there were no replacement breakers available for it, so I had to buy a new panel. I bought a selection of extra breakers at that time. Breakers are cheap but whole panels are a bear to replace

buening · 11-03-2009, 03:09 PM

I too recommend bringing the breaker in when you get a new one. I have bought one for my breaker and found out it was the wrong style. There are two styles that the local box stores carry, and naturally I brought the wrong kind home

Brittle · 11-04-2009, 09:24 PM

I'm an electrical contractor and advise all customers to replace FPE panels. Do a Google search and you will find alot of issues and fires. Not to alarm you just make it a priority to remove it. Replace the buzzing CB. PM me if you have questions.

67 Evil Eleanor · 11-04-2009, 09:45 PM

+1, more than likely the buzzing sound is from a bad contact, either in the breaker itself or the blade (on the bussbar) where the breaker sits. Anyway, its a serious problem and a fire hazard. All too often have I seen breakers "fit" but the stationary contact just touches the buss blade as they are made different, "SO CHECK IT CLOSE". Often they melt. Also you need to do a load check on the circuit with everything turned on that is on that circuit. 12 ga solid (for us) is 20 amp. 14 ga allows 15 amp. So don put a 20 amp CB on a 15 amp wire. If you are unsure, this is a good time to call in a pro.