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Broken wire at panel

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Scott91370

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Had a squirrel (or two) chew some outdoor wiring (same run feeds the lights in my garage, laundry room and kitchen dining area). Found it when I switched it on and heard the buzzing noise then the lights flickered and went out. Thought it would be a breaker but not that lucky. Even though it did trip the breaker (which moves like it is full of goo and does not lock in the on or off position) the wire that feeds the run got hot enough and melted right where it goes from the box into the conduit (into the wall of a two story house). No tknowing ofr sure if there will be more bad pieces between A-B I'd like to fix it right.
I'm more than likely going to call an electrician but thought I'd ask how you guys would fix it? I think it needs a new run which will require me to get into the space between floors and run the new wire to its first switch location.

Thoughts/comments?
 
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BillK

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Scott91370 said:
H it goes from the box into the conduit (into the wall of a two story house).
Click to expand...

Scott91370 said:
I think it needs a new run which will require me to get into the space between floors and run the new wire to its first switch location.

Thoughts/comments?
Click to expand...

If it goes into a "conduit" then you should not have to get into the wall ?? Just pull new wires through the conduit ?
 
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Scott91370

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BillK said:
If it goes into a "conduit" then you should not have to get into the wall ?? Just pull new wires through the conduit ?
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I call it conduit, it's the PVC that all the wire from the entire house go through to come from the 'wall' area into the box
This isn't my box, but the circled part.
1744734105970.png
dcg9381 said:
Photos would help.
Click to expand...
I'll try to get one but just imagine in the above pic one of those wires being broken with about 1/2" dangling in.


I should have prefaced my original post with, I am far from an electrician and do not know the names of most of the parts for a breaker box.
 
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PCustoms

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Scott91370 said:
I call it conduit, it's the PVC that all the wire from the entire house go through to come from the 'wall' area into the box
This isn't my box, but the circled part.
1744734105970.png

I'll try to get one but just imagine in the above pic one of those wires being broken with about 1/2" dangling in.


I should have prefaced my original post with, I am far from an electrician and do not know the names of most of the parts for a breaker box.
Click to expand...

I'm imagining lots of things, a pic of YOUR box/issue is really needed.
 
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LOW1

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Scott91370 said:
Had a squirrel (or two) chew some outdoor wiring (same run feeds the lights in my garage, laundry room and kitchen dining area). Found it when I switched it on and heard the buzzing noise then the lights flickered and went out. Thought it would be a breaker but not that lucky. Even though it did trip the breaker (which moves like it is full of goo and does not lock in the on or off position) the wire that feeds the run got hot enough and melted right where it goes from the box into the conduit (into the wall of a two story house). No tknowing ofr sure if there will be more bad pieces between A-B I'd like to fix it right.
I'm more than likely going to call an electrician but thought I'd ask how you guys would fix it? I think it needs a new run which will require me to get into the space between floors and run the new wire to its first switch location.

Thoughts/comments?
Click to expand...
If the interior things served by that damaged circuit are just lites they will not need many amps. Perhaps it would be easier to connect them to another existing circuit rather than running new wire to them?

Then run a new wire to the outside stuff?
 
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Scott91370

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LOW1 said:
If the interior things served by that damaged circuit are just lites they will not need many amps. Perhaps it would be easier to connect them to another existing circuit rather than running new wire to them?

Then run a new wire to the outside stuff.
Click to expand...
Everything on this is just lights (all LED) except one ceiling fan. I'd like to keep them on one circuit, but running one or two won't make much difference.

Here is my box with what turns out to be 2 wires broken. Not much left of them to 'lengthen' them so they reach where the breakers sit.
The upper wire is the one the squirrels got ahold of. The lower one was touching the upper when it got hot and melted the insulation which in turn melted the insulation on the lower wire. Both broken spots were right at a bend in the wire.
You can see that is right at the top of the breaker box so unless I can open the wall right above it (it's in the garage so not a huge deal) and put in a junction box with connectors in it, I will probably have to run two new sets.

1744748590092.png

1744748785119.png
 
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PCustoms

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Looks like damage during installation, possibly a panel replacement.

Call an electrician, looks to be a few damaged wires there and maybe some arcing
 
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Scott91370

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Why would it have lasted 20 years if it was damaged during installation?

And you really think a panel replacement for 2 wires? Seems overkill.
 
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PCustoms

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Scott91370 said:
Why would it have lasted 20 years if it was damaged during installation?

And you really think a panel replacement for 2 wires? Seems overkill.
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How did a rodent get inside your panel and chew that?

I think that was damaged when the wires were pulled into that panel, note the other insulation damage, the lack of NM jacket in the panel and the other tape on the wires. I suspect that your panel has already been replaced, and there was likely damage at that time, that finally reared its head.

That break almost looks like it was cut with a saw...
 
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Chuckster in NJ

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PCustoms said:
How did a rodent get inside your panel and chew that?

I think that was damaged when the wires were pulled into that panel, not the other insulation damage, the lack of NM jacket in the panel and the other tape on the wires. I suspect that your panel has already been replaced, and there was likely damage at that time, that finally created its head.

That break almost looks like it was cut with a saw...
Click to expand...
"IF" a squirrel or rat did this damage there would be a body or "gut stains" inside the panel……. It is ugly!
IMHO (and I could be wrong) the wire was damaged during installation or another time and it finally "opened up" due to an overload, vibration, expansion/contraction.

BTW! This should be an easy repair with a length of wire and wire nuts.
 
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Chuckster in NJ

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PCustoms

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Or

Gardner Bender 25-086 WingGard Twist, 22-6 AWG, Electrical Nut, 25 pk, Red Wire Connector, 25 Pack, Count https://a.co/d/5xezrtC

(I prefer ideal but this is a smaller package)

But call an electrician. This falls under "if you have to ask..."
 
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Scott91370

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The squirrel was not in the panel, it was outside wiring that it chewed (post #1).
I haven't seen the mom squirrel since the incident (babies are still around) but I know she isn't dead near the chewed wiring, I have already opened that up and no carcass. But the mess from nest and chewed wire insulation was amazing.

PCustoms said:
How did a rodent get inside your panel and chew that?

I think that was damaged when the wires were pulled into that panel, note the other insulation damage, the lack of NM jacket in the panel and the other tape on the wires. I suspect that your panel has already been replaced, and there was likely damage at that time, that finally reared its head.

That break almost looks like it was cut with a saw...
Click to expand...

The panel hasn't been replaced since we bought the house and it was new construction. Did they screw something up and have to replace it during the process? Anything is possible.
All of the jacket stops inside the grommet, I thought that was normal - all 3 of our houses were that way. The tape is from me, I was keeping wires together.

The break is where the insulation was melted and when I pulled the wire it tore the rest of the way through.

Chuckster in NJ said:
BTW! This should be an easy repair with a length of wire and wire nuts.
Click to expand...
That's what my brother thought too so we tried it. Popped the breaker right away. Which also leads me to believe there is more damage that we cannot see.

Thanks for all the input. An electrician is in the VERY near future. As mentioned, I'm worried that there is more damage to wire inside the walls I can't see that will cause real problems.
Thankfully the areas where the lighting doesn't work isn't a big deal and I and live without it for now.
 
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theoldwizard1

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Scott91370 said:
You can see that is right at the top of the breaker box so unless I can open the wall right above it (it's in the garage so not a huge deal) and put in a junction box with connectors in it, I will probably have to run two new sets.

1744748590092.png
Click to expand...
Not required !

You can make splices inside the breaker box.
 
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Scott91370

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Follow up...

The breaker that controls the garage, laundry room, dining area and rear porch is the one that was demolished by the squirrel. This was one of the wires that melted just inside the [anel. It was traced to just above the garage to house entry door where the black wire melted the insulation and welded itself to the ground wire - thus not being able to use a wire nut to repair the break in the panel.
A new run was made from panel to switch, then he connected each of the other rooms one at a time and everything is working as it should.
The outside wiring that was chewed was not hooked up. This will all be replaced before being connected.

The upstairs only had the break on the wire right inside the panel which was able to be repaired by using a wire nut and extending from the breaker wire to the breaker.

He did use two new breakers as well.


Thanks again for all the input!!
 
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mm08822

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Why is the wiring exposed vs being contained within the wall? If it needs to be " exposed", then emt or pvc conduit seems like a necessity.
 
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PCustoms

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mm08822 said:
Why is the wiring exposed vs being contained within the wall? If it needs to be " exposed", then emt or pvc conduit seems like a necessity.
Click to expand...
This


But, that entire description made little sense. Sounds like it is "chewed" in multiple areas
 
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Scott91370

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mm08822 said:
Why is the wiring exposed vs being contained within the wall? If it needs to be " exposed", then emt or pvc conduit seems like a necessity.
Click to expand...
PCustoms said:
This


But, that entire description made little sense. Sounds like it is "chewed" in multiple areas
Click to expand...

None of the wiring is exposed. Apparently you've never dealt with squirrels - they will find or, in this case, make a way to get to wherever they want.
I'm calling it outside wiring because it's not in the house.
 
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mm08822

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Scott91370 said:
None of the wiring is exposed. Apparently you've never dealt with squirrels - they will find or, in this case, make a way to get to wherever they want.
I'm calling it outside wiring because it's not in the house.
Click to expand...
I have......a pellet rifle works wonders. It might be after the damage occurred, but their party stops soon after.

I can't help you with Webster's definitions.......:rolleyes2
 
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PCustoms

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mm08822 said:
I can't help you with Webster's definitions.......:rolleyes2
Click to expand...

This is more of a Sesame Street situation I think....

I've dealt with squirrels. They shouldn't have random access to wiring your house. It either needs to be in conduit (if it's "outside" the house) or inside a wall cavity.

If they're knawing on everything inside the walls you might have bigger issues...
 
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