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06-06-2012, 09:45 PM
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#1
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 8
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Neutral bus corrosion
I have a 30 year old 100 amp Murray service panel. The screws in the neutral bus bar (aluminum) are corroded, not horribly, but obviously. What should I do at this point?
TIA
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06-06-2012, 09:47 PM
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#2
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Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
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Neutral bus corrosion
What is the location of the panel?
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06-06-2012, 09:48 PM
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#3
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Licensed Electrical Cont.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,158
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Neutral bus corrosion
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffT
I have a 30 year old 100 amp Murray service panel. The screws in the neutral bus bar (aluminum) are corroded, not horribly, but obviously. What should I do at this point?
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Nothing until it fails.
If there is obvious water infiltration then you should find the source and fix it.
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06-06-2012, 10:38 PM
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#4
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Electrical Contractor
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Granville, NY
Posts: 1,917
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Neutral bus corrosion
I would turn the main breaker off clean up the connections and add some ox guard to the connections. Bad neutrals can cause all sorts of undesireable effects.
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06-07-2012, 01:28 PM
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#5
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 8
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Neutral bus corrosion
Quote:
Originally Posted by IntexInspector
What is the location of the panel?
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It's in a very dry basement. Really, there are such things in New England. They're just RARE . . .
Last edited by JeffT; 06-07-2012 at 04:25 PM.
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06-07-2012, 02:51 PM
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#6
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Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 15
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Neutral bus corrosion
What type of basement,concrete block,poured concrete,stone? Is there laundry in the basement?
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06-07-2012, 04:26 PM
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#7
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Newbie
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 8
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Neutral bus corrosion
Quote:
Originally Posted by IntexInspector
What type of basement,concrete block,poured concrete,stone? Is there laundry in the basement?
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Fieldstone. 100 years old. I just added laundry, vented to the outside . . .
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06-07-2012, 05:45 PM
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#8
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,086
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Neutral bus corrosion
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffT
Fieldstone. 100 years old. I just added laundry, vented to the outside . . .
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Im sure the humidity is a lot higher than you think, run a dehumidifier... most stone foundations i've worked in all have panel issues with corrosion...
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06-07-2012, 08:01 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Nashua, NH, USA
Posts: 6,736
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Neutral bus corrosion
Loosen and then retighten each screw and set screw that holds wires in place in the panel. This cleans and therefore improves the connection.
Do not use tremendous force.
Should something break in the process then it was too far gone, corrosion wise.
Each neutral (white) wire must have its own hole and screw in the neutral bus bar. Two ground wires (green or bare) of the same size can share a hole.
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06-07-2012, 08:19 PM
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#10
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E2 Electrician
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Litchfield, CT
Posts: 3,086
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Neutral bus corrosion
Quote:
Originally Posted by AllanJ
Loosen and then retighten each screw and set screw that holds wires in place in the panel. This cleans and therefore improves the connection.
Do not use tremendous force.
Should something break in the process then it was too far gone, corrosion wise.
Each neutral (white) wire must have its own hole and screw in the neutral bus bar. Two ground wires (green or bare) of the same size can share a hole.
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You might want to suggest they turn off the breakers before loosening any neutral connections...
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