skip to main content

Electrical Wiring

breaker warm/hot and buzzing

16 years ago

in my previous post about dryer problems as i was shutting off the dryer breaker i noticed a slight buzzing sound in the breaker panel. after i removed the cover, i noticed that the breaker for the water heater was the culprit. it is a new breaker, new wiring and a fairly new water heater (2 yr old). the top half of the breaker was warm/hot to the touch and every other breaker in the box was cool to the touch. we have a timer for our hot water and when i shut the timer off the breaker cooled off after about 10 min. i checked all the wiring and no problems. the breaker was tight in the box with no play.

any ideas?

Comments (3)

bigbird_1
16 years ago
The breaker may be tight in the hot bus, but is the wire coming out of it tight? Is the bus itself corroded? Shut the breaker off, flip it back on, and observe again. Does it still buzz? Once you answer these questions you have started troubleshooting.
arichard21
Original Author
16 years ago
bigbird,

i checked all the connections all the way to the water heater and they are all tight. i did notice when i removed the cover on the top of the WH it was wet, there was a pipe above it that had a bit of condensation on it that was dripping into the top of the WH. would that have an effect?

i also tried turning off the breaker then back on and it stopped when it was off then started when i turned it back on. also like i mentioned in my OP, the HW is on a timer, and the breaker only seemed to be like this when under a load. the timer was on at that point and i shut it off and the breaker seemed to be fine when the timer was off.
Related Discussions
Pump buzzing
Q
Comments (3)
Even the best of pumps require maintenance. A pump that begins to buzz is telling you something is impeding movement. While it might be an electrical problem or bearings, you can't tell unless you dismantle it and see if something is wrapped around the impeller shaft or if there is something jammed in the casing around the shaft. This is like running the car engine as fast as possible while standing on the brake. You don't need to open the motor. That is permanently sealed. just remove the cover around the shaft and check to see that the shaft and the well around it is clear. Once I found long blond hair that I had to cut with an Exacto knife( I have short red hair) and another time it was leaf debris and small gravel from a pot the raccoons had dumped in the water. This year I am fighting a squirrel that likes the quilt batting filter material. I think he wants it for his nest. Small pieces are sure to wind up around the impeller. It's always a surprise what turns up. I regularly check it every year and anytime the water flow seems to slow or if the pump feels warm or noisy. It should just hum at the most.
...See More
Buzzing Breaker
Q
Comments (3)
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.
...See More
Looking for 200-ampere main breaker
Q
Comments (41)
For example if a breaker is rated for 15 amps and you see it's output is 25 amps, then why hasn't the breaker tripped? Well, it could be a defective breaker. Or, it could be because it hasn't been carrying 25 amps for long enough. That kind of overload isn't dangerous for a few minutes, and most breakers are designed to allow some overload for some time. The amount of time before they trip is typically inversely proportional to the size of the overload. This is under the control of a thermal device, so overheating of a terminal can fool the breaker into tripping early. If you know the breaker's specifications, then you can better judge whether it should have tripped under the circumstances.
...See More
Razor only power outlet buzzing sound
Q
Comments (9)
I never heard of a razor-only outlet so I looked it up. Interesting idea to use a transformer before GFCIs were widely available. From another site: "In many older homes, you will find that they have a “razor only” receptacle in the bathroom. These usually have a polished silver plate, mounted in a 4” X 4” box, and the outlet has only two prongs. These were designed to isolate you from the grounded electrical system in your house by limiting the amount of current that could flow in a fault condition." TB, pharkus has lent his good expertise to many, many questions on this forum. I would take him seriously. Sometimes people misread stuff. In my experience, it usually hurts to be too spicy in my posts.
...See More
bigbird_1
16 years ago
Then try swapping out the buzzing breaker with a known good comparably sized breaker. If the buzzing is still there then consult a pro. If it's gone then you had a bad breaker. Condensation inside the water heater from the cold water entering a warm environment is normal. The water would have to drip down a long way to contact anything electrical, and even then it shouldn't have any effect.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Warm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors

By Tiffany Carboni

If your bathroom floor is leaving you cold, try warming up to an electric heating system

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 12 Naturally Beautiful Hot Tubs

By Laura Gaskill

Prefer a no-plastic look for your patio or yard? Wood, stone and concrete make these hot tubs fit right in with nature

LIVING ROOMS Drop In on a Hot Comeback With a Sunken Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

Take the plunge into a new kind of practicality with an interior design feature that has a rich history

EVENTS 5 Big Trends From This Week’s High Point Market

By Becky Harris

Learn the colors, textures and shapes that are creating a buzz in interior design at the market right now

COLOR Color of the Year: Off-White Is On Trend for 2016

By Jennifer Ott Design

See why four paint brands have chosen a shade of white as their hot hue for the new year

GARDENING GUIDES Welcome Sweat Bees to Your Garden Throughout the Growing Season

By Pollination Press LLC

Look before you swat! These friendly sweat bees will feed on your sweat on a hot summer day, but their main buffet is flowers

KITCHEN DESIGN What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen

By Becky Harris

One-of-a-kind lumber warms a room and adds age and interest

FLOWERS AND PLANTS Vitex Agnus-Castus Fills Gardens With Fragrant Blooms and Foliage

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Spikes of purple flowers adorn chaste tree’s aromatic foliage throughout the warm season in Southern gardens

RUSTIC STYLE 10 Cabin Rental Basics for City Slickers

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Stay warm, dry and safe while you’re enjoying winter cabin life with this valuable advice

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS To-Dos: Your September Home Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

As life transitions back indoors, bring elements of nature in with you and make your spaces cozy and warm

Sponsored

Davidson Builders

1 Review

Franklin County's Full-Scale General Contractor

More Discussions

Glow effect on portico ceiling

14

South Wire Romex brand 14 -22 Vs Republic Wire Inc brand 14-2 wire?

2

undercounter power strip and lighting

3

How much is reasonable to replace an exhaust fan in a bathroom?

15

Is Hubbell the only UL listed pop-up outlet for NYC Kitchen island?

4