got a service call today on a house with two yr old siemens pannel with two arc fault breakers that were tripping i took the breakers out and water dripped out of the breakers i checked the other breakers in the pannel and they were all dry there was no sign of any moisture in the pannel itself. what could cause the arc fault breakers to have had water in them?
ARC FAULT BREAKERS
- Thread starter domnic
- Start date
- Status
In operation for two years? A recent minor leak in Noah's ark? Trace where the conductors lead, you may find the leak.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Could it be condensation-- the old afci were notorious for producing lots of heat?
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
A picture of panel and its surrounding might help.
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
Why would heat produce condensation? I always thought it was the other way around. How would the breakers be cooler than the surrounding air, to the point of water forming?
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
I would double check for any dried moisture. Look for stains, waterlines, etc.
The only way water could have got directly into the breaker from outside was if it was installed with water in it, or it was sprayed with a direct hit afterward. (Sometimes HO's leave out little tidbits like breakers getting soaked from powerwashing or hoses and or pipes leaking.)
If the water leaked in through the panel or cables, there should be some evidence of that......you may have to look closer.
T
T.M.Haja Sahib
Guest
Higher the air temperature,greater is its ability to absorb moisture.On cooling down (low load times),it sheds its excess moisture.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Maybe these are liquid cooled and they blew head gaskets
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
If they had enough water in them to drip, and all of the other breakers were dry, I would say somebody was there before you and replaced the original ones with some they had laying in the back of the truck. Customers will lie from time to time. I had one that swore up and down that an outlet at the front of the store worked a couple of weeks ago. When I pulled it out, there was no wire to the outlet, and the conduit run ended at the top of the wall. The installing electrician had never completed the install when the building was built 3 years earlier.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Copper (and steel) thieves:happyyes:
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Store had never been closed for business, auto parts store, I think they knew the outlet never worked, but had to convince corporate they were using it and needed it in order to get it fixed. :roll:
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
Typical combination breaker.
It combines hydrogen and oxygen out of the air to form water.
- Status