What is causing my breaker contact to glow red?

Richard Kershaw · Mar 9, 2021

Hello,
I own a 1971 Mobile Home with Aluminum Wiring. Recently I had trouble with corrosion causing arcing at the metal clip area of my old breaker. I decided to buy two new breakers. I installed two new original equipment 15 Amp Breaker (aftermarket as original company is no longer in business) in my bedroom, and changed all receptacles to CU/ ALR. The wiring is done correctly. My understanding from research is that with this model box, these breakers do not clip strongly enough into the box and often have arcing problems because of insecure contact points. The two 15 Amp Breakers shown on either side of the Main Breaker easily flop left to right, and I felt I solved the problem for one by a small piece of wood used as a brace. That action seemed to have solved the problem of securing it. On the left side if I plug in an electric oil radiator and turn it on 1500 watts the contact point begins to glow red (and I immediately shut it off). I did not have this problem with the wood secured breaker. Perhaps a brace on the left breaker would help the situation. Also I did gently sand the contact points on the box for both breakers to ensure corrosion was less of a factor. Perhaps I did not remove enough corrosion from the left breaker. You can see the condition of one of the old ones in the photo. Also included are specs for the electric oil radiator, showing 600 watt switch and 900 watt switch, one or the other on at a time or both producing 1500 watt load. All I had on in my bedroom with the radiator was a ceiling light.

What can I do to stop this glow from occurring?

[ElectriciansForums.net] What is causing my breaker contact to glow red?

westward10 · Mar 9, 2021

Putting a piece of wood in place as a support is not the way forward. If you have arcing to the extent that the connection point is glowing red then it is beyond help as irreparable damage has been done. The board needs replacing before you have disastrous consequences.

Darkwood · Mar 9, 2021

As above, a full replacement is now the only solution, if metal gets to glowing its characteristics will changed too, any tracking/arcing may have also carbonised materials which were originally insulators and may now be causing the problems you face, this is both a fire and shock risk so remove all power immediately until you have replaced the board.

Maji236 · Mar 10, 2021

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments from darkwood & westward10. Panel should be changed out. Which can be a particular hassle because AL wire is somewhat fragile. I would also add, your electrician should check your grounding electrode or equivalent.
Be careful.

Marvo · Mar 10, 2021

When arcing occurs it damages both the circuit breaker and the rail or busbar it clips onto. You replaced the breaker but you didn't replace the bar it clips onto. The previously arc-damaged bar will in turn cause damage to the new breaker. You need to replace both items.

It's the same with appliance plugs, sometimes one of the plug pins will burn due to arcing or overload. When you replace the damaged plug you also need to replace all the sockets it's been plugged into because they will also have internal burn damage. Again...failure to do this will result in repeated arc damage to the new plug.

Pete999 · Mar 10, 2021

Marvo said:
When arcing occurs it damages both the circuit breaker and the rail or busbar it clips onto. You replaced the breaker but you didn't replace the bar it clips onto. The previously arc-damaged bar will in turn cause damage to the new breaker. You need to replace both items.

It's the same with appliance plugs, sometimes one of the plug pins will burn due to arcing or overload. When you replace the damaged plug you also need to replace all the sockets it's been plugged into because they will also have internal burn damage. Again...failure to do this will result in repeated arc damage to the new plug.

As above

telectrix · Mar 10, 2021

is it just me or do all american panels look like they were made before 1950?

Marvo · Mar 10, 2021

telectrix said:
is it just me or do all american panels look like they were made before 1950?

We have a similar form factor in South Africa called Samite. The breakers are slimmer than DIN mount breakers.

Mike Johnson · Mar 10, 2021

telectrix said:
is it just me or do all american panels look like they were made before 1950?

Oh don't be silly America, did not have any electricians then, did they even have electricity. ?

Megawatt · Mar 16, 2021

Richard Kershaw said:
Hello,
I own a 1971 Mobile Home with Aluminum Wiring. Recently I had trouble with corrosion causing arcing at the metal clip area of my old breaker. I decided to buy two new breakers. I installed two new original equipment 15 Amp Breaker (aftermarket as original company is no longer in business) in my bedroom, and changed all receptacles to CU/ ALR. The wiring is done correctly. My understanding from research is that with this model box, these breakers do not clip strongly enough into the box and often have arcing problems because of insecure contact points. The two 15 Amp Breakers shown on either side of the Main Breaker easily flop left to right, and I felt I solved the problem for one by a small piece of wood used as a brace. That action seemed to have solved the problem of securing it. On the left side if I plug in an electric oil radiator and turn it on 1500 watts the contact point begins to glow red (and I immediately shut it off). I did not have this problem with the wood secured breaker. Perhaps a brace on the left breaker would help the situation. Also I did gently sand the contact points on the box for both breakers to ensure corrosion was less of a factor. Perhaps I did not remove enough corrosion from the left breaker. You can see the condition of one of the old ones in the photo. Also included are specs for the electric oil radiator, showing 600 watt switch and 900 watt switch, one or the other on at a time or both producing 1500 watt load. All I had on in my bedroom with the radiator was a ceiling light.

What can I do to stop this glow from occurring?

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Richard that is a very old panel and the breakers are not your biggest problem it is the main buss that they snap into. It has lost its ability to conduct electricity. It needs to be replaced by a licensed electrician and never use wood or nothing else to stabilize breakers. Wood catches on fire. That is a severe code violation

norcal · Mar 21, 2021

A ancient Zinsco American Switch panel & aluminum wiring in a mobile home are not a good combination as said by others it needs to be replaced, those twin breakers were problematic throughout it's production life under 3 different brand names, Zinsco American Switch, GTE Sylvania, & Challenger, at least they were not the infamous & reviled Zinsco/Sylvania (there were 2 different designs).