[Joefixit2]

OK so I knew that would get some attention.

I got these pics from a home inspection, I have to go look at it and give an opinion. It's an outdoor all in one (very common here). Besides the white powder there is signs of heat on the bus. I see rust coloration between some of the breakers in one of the pics also. My guess is water intrusion. I have seen slight deposits of the powder before in outdoor panels, always right there at the terminal screw, but never this much. Anyone familiar with it?

 

[RFguy]

You found their stash. Collect cash to keep it quiet.

 

[jza]

Meanwhile, at the breaker factory.

 

[FrunkSlammer]

Taste it and see.

 

[RFguy]

Some type of salt? What are the environmental conditions like? Is there any powder in the bottom of the can, or just on the breakers?

 

[Joefixit2]

Some type of salt? What are the environmental conditions like? Is there any powder in the bottom of the can, or just on the breakers?

Dry desert. Don't know if it's in the bottom of the can till I go out there. I think if there was any in the bottom of the can the HI would have mentioned it.

Like I said I've seen small bits of it before right at the breaker screws, but never this much. Seems like it's always ITE/Siemans/Murray type breakers too. I will probably tell them water intrusion, and that I cannot guarantee anything short of a panel replacement.

 

[micromind]

I'm going to guess that this isn't heat, but rather some sort of chemical vapor.

If the bus got hot enough to become discolored, it would have melted the plastic behind it.

Odd as this may sound, was the garbage can below the panel?

The discoloration of the bus looks sort of like a weak attack by hydrogen sulfide gas.

This is not the absolute truth of course, it's just one possibility.

 

[RFguy]

Maybe sacrifice one breaker and cut it apart to see if it appears to be originating from inside the breaker?

 

[Service Call]

I've seen similar discoloration right out if the box, although not to that extent. As for the white powder, I'm guessing maybe Borax or something like that. Possibly just a pest control product applied by an overly anal pest control guy.

 

[Pastor Hogg]

It is more than likely coming from inside the breakers I see it a lot here in tn and I've taken some apart and that's been the culprit or source of the problem

 

[Service Call]

It is more than likely coming from inside the breakers I see it a lot here in tn and I've taken some apart and that's been the culprit or source of the problem

If that's true then that just reinforces my thought that Siemans/ITE are crap.

 

[Service Call]

One other thought. It's the scrapings from a screwdriver used to tighten the connection. There's a white compound at the screw location in the breaker.

Although that is a lot of stuff.

 

[Switched]

I see the same thing on those breakers here too. If you get a new one, the white powder is solidified right where it is coming from. I'm not sure why it does that, maybe a good question to pose to Siemens/Murray?

 

[fistofbolts]

them crazy tweakers

 

[Meadow]

Skipping ahead Ive seen that before. Its the cement used to hold the adjustment screw. For some reason on some breakers it cracks into a powdery residue. Replace the breakers and let the Company know.

 

[Meadow]

I see cutler hammer breakers in an ITE box, could explain the heat damage:whistling2:


Just to add the powered isn't from water damage or heat but rather a chemical defect for those breakers.

 

[The_Modifier]

It appears to be burning bakelite from what I have seen. in the past. Go ahead open on up and you'll see what I mean.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I agree with Switched. I would get the local Siemens rep's email address and send those pictures to him with WTF?

 

[sparky970]

It is a Meth lab?

 

[wendon]

Is there any way moisture can get in there? I've seen that on outdoor panels etc. It's looks like oxidized aluminum.