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Electrical Wiring

Buzzing Breaker

17 years ago

When I woke up this morning, there was a pretty loud buzzing coming from the electrical panel. It was comming from the 50a double breaker for the house's heating system (inside air handler). It was not tripped, just buzzing. I also noticed that the breaker for the outside condenser was tripped. After I reset it, the first breaker continused to buzz but much less. So little, in fact, that I would have never noticed it. It is also slightly warm. I think I'll replace the breaker this evening (I didn't have one at home this morning). I was just wondering what might be causing this? Aging breaker? Heavy load on the breaker? Other? These are Siemens QP breakers, about 15 years old. Thanks!

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Comments (3)

brickeyee
17 years ago
Heavy load.
There is probably nothing wrong with the breakers at all.
magic
17 years ago
I have this symptom also with my dryer breaker when the dryer is going. it's not that loud but you can hear it through the panel door if you stop to listen.

brickyee: is this normal? is this a hazard? what's the solution to get rid of it?

thanks!!
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brickeyee
17 years ago
It is the magnetic field around the breaker causing the panel to vibrate at 120 Hz.
If the noise is harsher like an arc the breaker contacts are damaged. This is actually pretty rare unless the breaker has been abused (used as an on/off switch when not marked with an 'SW' on the handle. Switch rated breakers cost more since the contacts must be more robust to withstand the repeated on-off cycles of switch use.

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