Is this where the magic smoke comes from?

[doojus]

I was running a sub from my ancient main panel and noticed some white **** above the lugs in nearly all of the ancient breakers in the panel. On the new breaker I put in there is just a square with plastic film over that area so I'm guessing this is some type of corrosion and probably bad. Can someone fill me in on what it is and whether I should replace the breakers or not?

 

[Pcbship]

Not sure what it is. But it is supposed to be there. They are fine. I see them like that all the time. Never cared to find out what it was.


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[toplessHO]

its a chalk like compound used to seal the breaker
no its not corrosion,yes its supposed to be there

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Its called bakelite! Yes its suppose to be there...

 

[DenisG]

The coating might be covering the adjustment for the trip point of the breaker. I think that it's a seal for when it was set at the factory.

 

[toplessHO]

Its called bakelite! Yes its suppose to be there...

no bakelite is what the molded case is made from

 

[doojus]

Good deal, thanks guys.

One more question, I pulled this stuff out of the attic, it has 3 individual 8 AWG conductors and then a 10 AWG bare ground, but it looks like the cable is smoked. I can't even tell if it's pure copper or copper clad aluminum, but most of the conductors have this black stuff on them. Should I toss it?

 

[Mustang51js]

Looks good to me unless you like to waste money lol

 

[G_P]

I'd use that wire. If you are concerned, scuff up the stripped ends to remove any of that black stuff before making your connections.

 

[DenisG]

Metal oxides have different colors. Probably is copper (II) oxide:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_oxide

Doesn't look too bad. I'd worry more about the condition of the insulation.

 

[Milton Shaw]

The element Sulphur will do that to copper. It will eat the copper in a refig like crazy. If you have sulphur water all the copper in the house will turn black. This is where you need to use plex and plastic fittings if you can find them.

 

[toplessHO]

its just a little tarnish
will be fine as is
If you really want to use a dab of no oxide on the connections

 

[wyliesdiesels]

no bakelite is what the molded case is made from

Good to know. Someone years ago told me that...

Good deal, thanks guys.

One more question, I pulled this stuff out of the attic, it has 3 individual 8 AWG conductors and then a 10 AWG bare ground, but it looks like the cable is smoked. I can't even tell if it's pure copper or copper clad aluminum, but most of the conductors have this black stuff on them. Should I toss it?

Looks good to me. As someone else said, i would be concerned with the insulation as it looks a little baked...

 

[Pcbship]

If it is just blackish, the wire probably just got wet at some time, no big deal. If the wire has a goldish appearance it may have been overloaded and then overheated. Overloading will also make the insulation brittle. Just make sure it is not powering a load that is too much for the wire.


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