Noise from breaker - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Robie · 03-28-2009, 07:45 AM

I take care of a customers summer home. They turn the hot water heater off for the winter season. I flipped the breaker yesterday to turn it back on and heard a faint noise coming from it. I immediately turned it back off. The noise literally sounded like a bowl of Rice Krispies just not as loud.
Any clues why the noise? I've never heard anything coming from a breaker box before.
Thanks.

480sparky · 03-28-2009, 07:54 AM

It sounds like there's something arcing.

Call an electrician.

Robie · 03-28-2009, 08:00 AM

Yeah, an electrician will definitely be called. Just wanted to get some ideas before I call the homeowner, plus I will be the one letting the elctrician in and just getting a little "prepared" here.

480sparky · 03-28-2009, 08:21 AM

What brand is the panel, and how old is it?

Robie · 03-28-2009, 08:27 AM

Didn't pay any attention to the brand. The house is about 20 years old.

480sparky · 03-28-2009, 09:20 AM

If you recall any of the breakers looking like any of these:

you're due for a panel change.

Robie · 03-28-2009, 01:30 PM

Nope...it didn't look like that. It was all black with no other colors.
His daughter and family are coming down next week and he wanted me to turn the hot water heater on ahead of time. Sounds like I should get an electrician in there first...yes?

mrmike · 03-28-2009, 01:33 PM

This was my post in the discussion just last week about a 200 main breaker burning up, but ertains to all breakers.

These breakers are a mechanical switch which under normal conditions, sit there year in & out in the "on" position & when they are exceeded their ampacity for a specified time they are supposed to trip. Well sometimes after sitting there that long they are "mechanically stuck" & don't work, causing this burn out. Yes some brands may fail more often like Federal pacific, but all of them can under certain situations like i described.
Usually they burn on one side, like shown. When they do this it is also a good idea to check for grounds & heavy loading on that Buss.

I got into the habit of closely listening for what I call 60 cycle hum, when I am working on any panel, & if I hear it , I trace it to the culprit & change that breaker out.
This one isn't burned out obviously but I would check the load on the it, and even if the water heater is fine, I would change the breaker anyway

willworkforbeer · 03-28-2009, 01:35 PM

I'm not a liscensed electrician but I was adding a circuit in a house and found an electricuted frog behind a breaker, apparently came up the underground power, maybe that was a frog sizzling?

480sparky · 03-28-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robie

......Sounds like I should get an electrician in there first...yes?

That's your best bet.

Robie · 03-28-2009, 01:45 PM

Thanks guys...the e-mail is on it's way to the customer with the recommendation to get an electrician in.

scourt11 · 03-29-2009, 12:23 AM

The breaker is shoot. Replace it

Robie · 03-30-2009, 06:12 PM

Replaced the 30 amp breaker today and all seems well. The old one was full of, what looked like very thin pieces of metal. They came out when I shook it.
Thanks for the help.

ctiautomation · 04-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willworkforbeer

I'm not a liscensed electrician but I was adding a circuit in a house and found an electricuted frog behind a breaker, apparently came up the underground power, maybe that was a frog sizzling?

LOL. I can relate to that.