View Full Version : Panel losing power
danielchristison
Feb 29, 2008, 07:14 AM
Can anyone tell me if the breaker panel has weak spots is it going bad. If I move a breaker down one space it dims everything if I move the same breaker back up one spa\ce the power is fine. The lower I go down the panel it semms I loose power more.? Should I replace the panel Alreadt tried to replace the breakers to no avail.
Stratmando
Feb 29, 2008, 07:57 AM
Usually the buss that the breaker plugs onto is pretty solid, I would look at where breaker plugs onto and see if it is burnt, also look at the breaker contact.
danielchristison
Feb 29, 2008, 08:35 AM
Ifit is burnt does that mean I needf to replace the panel?
I have replaced aall the breakers in the panel and still have the same problems
Stratmando
Feb 29, 2008, 08:45 AM
If the place where the breaker plugs onto was burnt, new breakers will shortly fail. Please look at where breaker plugs onto, IS it Burnt?
Sometimes the connection can be repaired, Even if you bought a new Panel, I would only change the "Guts" (the breaker buss).
Don't change panel until you look at the buss. If it is good, you don't need to change. You will Have to LOOK at it.
hkstroud
Feb 29, 2008, 10:21 PM
Sounds more like you don't have an even distribution of you load between the two legs of you service.
The 1st, 3rd, 5th etc, breaker on the left side is on one leg. The 2nd,4th,6th,etc is on the other. Same on the right side except reversed.
When you move the breaker down one space you moved from one leg to the other.
Sounds like one leg is more heavily loaded than the other. Move the breaker down two spaces and you will stay on the same leg.
Stratmando
Mar 1, 2008, 06:52 AM
Hk, they mentioned further and further down, it is lower and lower, and lower.
If it was a phase thing, It would show high, low, high, low etc.
hkstroud
Mar 1, 2008, 07:27 AM
Bob
Missed that part. What I can't quite imagine is how a copper strap could have progressive resistance.
Stratmando
Mar 1, 2008, 07:37 AM
Does it look burnt?