[bav_21]

Thoughts on cause? Only seems to have affected top of the bar bottom was fine. None of the terminals seemed loose.

 

[drspec]

Thoughts on cause? Only seems to have affected top of the bar bottom was fine. None of the terminals seemed loose.

loose connection

 

[MTW]

A hack installer.

 

[Magnettica]

Could be loose connections and/ or improperly connected MWBC's. Either way a panel upgrade is in order. And the rust! Ughck.

 

[bav_21]

I was just surprised to see so many burnt up. I've seen it more localized to one or two.

 

[bav_21]

Also it was like the bar itself heated up one of the wires insulation was touching the top of the bar and it had a bit of melting at that point

 

[Magnettica]

Also it was like the bar itself heated up one of the wires insulation was touching the top of the bar and it had a bit of melting at that point

Are you experienced enough to determine if it could possibly be a poco problem? I'm not trying to put you down either , I just have no idea how much experience you have troubleshooting.

 

[Shockdoc]

I see rust on the bottom plate, did water get in there and cause corrosion ?

 

[bav_21]

It's possible this was found after a big ice storm and power was off for several days... However when I metered hot/ neutral/ grounds two days after power was restored everything was good

 

[bav_21]

Oh and that's not rust in the bottom that's the buss I think my phone picked it up funny

 

[Shockdoc]

That's been happening for a while , I'll bank that at some point water got on that bar and caused that white corrosion to form on those connections.

 

[8V71]

Also it was like the bar itself heated up one of the wires insulation was touching the top of the bar and it had a bit of melting at that point

The bar did heat up from one or more loose connections. Cut back the damaged wires and replace the bar or the problem will keep coming back.

 

[Chris1971]

Thoughts on cause? Only seems to have affected top of the bar bottom was fine. None of the terminals seemed loose.

Loose connection or over tightened.

Possibly a surge or a lightning strike at one time.

 

[MTW]

Loose connection or over tightened.

What is "GOMB"? :001_huh:

 

[Chris1971]

What is "GOMB"? :001_huh:

........

 

[MTW]

........

 

[Shockdoc]

........

I like that:thumbsup:, I got one to apply to the Jersey crowd, LMN.:laughing:

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I don't think the screws were ever tight...look at how high they are above the top of the bar. As far as "seeming loose", once they heat up like that they are very difficult to turn, even when they are not putting the required contact pressure on the wire. Also it looks like there may be more than one conductor under the screw. That requirement, while being new to the NEC, has never been permitted by the panel standards.

 

[gnuuser]

ive seen damage like that after a lightning strike.
but loose screws and intermittent contact can do that also.
question the home owner about the circuit behavior(lights flickering, outlet seeming to lose power off and on, or static noise on the tv or radio)
this could have been going on for a long time:laughing:

 

[220/221]

MWBC's on the same phase?

I have seen the same thing once before with no obvious cause and I chaulked it up to "one of those things"

Repaired and moved on.

Pics were from a few years ago and I have no idea if anything was in the empty spot.?? Maybe an overheating AC breaker and I pulled it out of my way??? That wouldn't make sense because, I remember walking away, wondering what caused the burning.