Is this main leaking?

[GerryB]

Is this main leaking? 100 amp older Murray. Has an oil like substance on the factory wires from the main to the bus. Just an age thing?

 

[kwired]

Just what do you suspect it may be leaking?

My guess is insulation that appears "oily" is having some kind of deterioration going on - may or may not be from external influences, could be heat in the conductor or at a termination is what got it started.

 

[ptonsparky]

Some of the older insulation had this problem. I don't remember the term for it. Someone here will.

 

[GerryB]

Here is another photo of what I may clean up for him if I get the job. As far as I know there is nothing to "leak" from the breaker, that is why I asked. Overall he has a lot going on. The AC box is tapped off the mains. Then to the right of the AC box just out of the picture is a welding outlet tapped off the AC. Above the AC box is another 2 circuit box tapped also off the AC box. One of those bx cables from the upper box is feeding a two circuit fuse box, the other one if feeding another fuse box with about 7 circuits in it. I want to change his panel and get rid of all the small boxes, refeed the other ones from the new panel, etc.

 

[kwired]

Some of the older insulation had this problem. I don't remember the term for it. Someone here will.

I kind of recall discussion here on same topic, can't remember what the term was either, but something in the plastic is breaking down from what I recall.

 

[SceneryDriver]

I'd guess the plasticizers in the insulation are leeching out of the plastic. Many older PVC plastics turned out not to be stable over the long term in warm ambient temps.

http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Electrical Distribution/0110DB0301.pdf

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=157248




SceneryDriver