main breaker on when says off
- Thread starter jgorm
- Start date
Katodog
Well-known member
It's in upside-down...
7thDimension
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2013
- Messages
- 83
Why does your meter show over 300 volts!?
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Can u post a pic that is zoomed out? I cant see where youre reading from...
The meter shows mV to me thats phantom voltage and NOT indicative of the breaker being on. My fluke has done that before...
The meter shows mV to me thats phantom voltage and NOT indicative of the breaker being on. My fluke has done that before...
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
First off the breaker labeling is wrong. By code a vertically switched breaker needs to be OFF in the down position and on in the up position. However, the breaker IS off in the down position....looks like just a labeling issue!!
What brand of breaker is that? I dont quite recognize it...
What brand of breaker is that? I dont quite recognize it...
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Sounds like "ghost voltage".
Aceman
Well-known member
That panel is stuffed!
How many spaces and circuits is that panel rated for, it should say inside the door? 20/20, 20/40, etc?
How many spaces and circuits is that panel rated for, it should say inside the door? 20/20, 20/40, etc?
justsam
Well-known member
I think that is a Zinsco breaker, which could explain a lot!
Could it be that just the small plastic piece under the double handle, with the ON/OFF etching has been installed incorrectly?
Mustang51js
Well-known member
I agree,that black peice is upside down not the breaker
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
I cant stand those panels with the small space for wire...
If the main IS a Zinsco, the panel doesnt look to be Zinsco...
Had a customer that wanted me to change out a panel smaller than that with the same small space for wire on the right. Unfortunately, like the OPs its recessed in stucko and would have been a PIA and exprnsive to change...
If the main IS a Zinsco, the panel doesnt look to be Zinsco...
Had a customer that wanted me to change out a panel smaller than that with the same small space for wire on the right. Unfortunately, like the OPs its recessed in stucko and would have been a PIA and exprnsive to change...
ishiboo
Well-known member
I think the main breaker has a metal locking device over it for a padlock, which was installed upside down. Remove that and I bet the breaker is labeled correctly.
The panel is a Challenger or Westinghouse BR, they both used a Zinsco design main for 200A, one would hope that the breaker escutcheon is reversed,as said by others just reverse it to get the correct ON/OFF markings.
Challenger, and Westinghouse, BR panels were the same since Westinghouse owned Challenger, and Challenger, was a Zinsco/Sylvania successor, hence those infernal Zinsco mains.
Challenger, and Westinghouse, BR panels were the same since Westinghouse owned Challenger, and Challenger, was a Zinsco/Sylvania successor, hence those infernal Zinsco mains.
nehog
Well-known member
300 mV is leakage, less than a 1/3 of a volt. Probably capacitive coupling.
None of you have VOMs that display phantom voltages with no connection? All of mine see to do that. It will read 0 if I go ground to ground, but when there is no connection is just drifts around in the mV range.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
nehog
Well-known member
Absolutely! I use my trusty Triplett (http://www.triplett.com/shop/model-630/) if I don't want to be bothered by this.
You're basically connected to all that wiring in the house, a big antenna!
Zeke
Well-known member
If you look at the breaker trim, surround, lock out, whatever you want to call it, the stamped labeling is such that it can be read in both positions. I'm not an expert but I'll 2nd that it can be flipped around and all is good.
6t7gto
Well-known member
It's not a Zinsco panel only the main is.....
My box is a Challenger box.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Yeah Zinsco is garbage...
But on the other hand, Challenger was the successor to Zinsco/Sylvania. 
GTE sold their Electrical Equipment Group in the early 1980's & it became Challenger, who was later acquired by Westinghouse they rebranded Westinghouse/Bryant breakers as Challenger which continued until the Westinghouse electrical div. was bought by Eaton, who sold Challenger to T&B...
GTE sold their Electrical Equipment Group in the early 1980's & it became Challenger, who was later acquired by Westinghouse they rebranded Westinghouse/Bryant breakers as Challenger which continued until the Westinghouse electrical div. was bought by Eaton, who sold Challenger to T&B...wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Just how on earth do u remember all the brand acquisitions...
Elginz
Well-known member
Second that, All I see is bla, bla bla. Not that it is not interesting, and I like the answers. It doesn't seem that late. Keep up the good work everyone.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Your reply is pretty bla, bla bla too isn't it?
nadogail
Well-known member
In my humble opinion, Zinsco is only half of the name of the subject circuit breaker.
Their whole name, as they are called by electrical journeymen of my acquaintance is "F___ing Zinsco".
Their whole name, as they are called by electrical journeymen of my acquaintance is "F___ing Zinsco".
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Kind of useless information,but good for garage journal
