any electricians here?

[xkotyx]

my breaker box in my trailer started making a buzzing sound recently. like an unusual amount of electricity is going throught it. does it about every 30 min to an hour most of the time. i was just concerned, as it just starting doing this the other day....

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Can you relate the buzzing to an appliance. How old is the water heater turn off the breaker to it and see if it goes away. Also if you feel confident in pulling the cover off the breaker box look for any burnt wires or connectors. Check all the lugs on the breakers and make sure they are good and tight.

 

[xkotyx]

Can you relate the buzzing to an appliance. How old is the water heater turn off the breaker to it and see if it goes away. Also if you feel confident in pulling the cover off the breaker box look for any burnt wires or connectors. Check all the lugs on the breakers and make sure they are good and tight.

i dont know what to relate it to. its like the sound you can hear with current flowing through a transformer or something. we actually just replaced the water heater around 4 or 5 months ago. this evening ill try turning off the breaker for it and listening out. ill also pull the cover and inspect everything.

each time i put my hand on it just to make sure it isnt getting hot lol

 

[Nhaz]

If you can track down the sound of the 60 cycle buzz down to a specific breaker it could mean that breaker is on its way out. They can and do fail over time.

It could also be something as simple as a lose screw.

If you can use a laser temp meter you can check each breaker without touching them. They do warm up under load, so warmer then body temp is normal if they are loaded down but not over loaded, but if it looks hot either by meter or by feel its probably too hot and you need to look into why that may be occurring.

In any case if its a breaker thats buzzing . Make sure that its not under excessive load and its well screwed down to the panel. (remember that the screw is LIVE even if the breaker is off) Check them all. 1 lose screw is all it takes it doesn't even have to be in use to rattle.

If its a too hot breaker check its load via a Amp Clamp meter. if the load is under the rated amount and its still hot and or buzzing. replace the breaker.

And of course if you are pulling a constant 20 amps on a 15 amp breaker then the breaker is bad.

 

[IndianScout]

^^ as he said, sounds like a breaker going bad..

 

[xkotyx]

^^ as he said, sounds like a breaker going bad..

thanks guys. i give it a look this evening

 

[cody93]

that buzz is a similar buzz to a welder and other devices that create a spark. its either a loose wire arcing the terminals or the insides of the breaker is worn out, kinda like a bad starter relay makes that noise when its worn out, make sure the breaker can handle the load of the new water heater, if not, get a bigger one.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Make sure no computers are on and turn them off 1 at a time, could there be a transformer like for a doorbell near it making the noise. Or maybe put a long screwdriver on them 1 at a time and put your ear up to the handle. Poor mans stethescope just put it on the switch handle not on anything metal.

 

[xkotyx]

Make sure no computers are on and turn them off 1 at a time, could there be a transformer like for a doorbell near it making the noise. Or maybe put a long screwdriver on them 1 at a time and put your ear up to the handle. Poor mans stethescope just put it on the switch handle not on anything metal.

no doorbells or anything. ill try the computer thing tonight. i cant pinpoint the sound so i think ive got a family friend coming this weekend to look. im just a novice at electrical things