rusted terminal on bus bar

[tcbrightjr68]

I have a Main distribution panel with a lot of issues. Need suggestions on what to do short of replacing the whole thing. The neutral bar is broken and swinging in the wind. all the lugs on the bus bar are rusted or getting there. I am trying to hook up two 6 awg wires to the bus bar. This is an old square d box. 600 v coming in from the top to a 200 amp disconnect. I need to get the lugs unfrozen, but i think i am fighting a loosing battle. Very limited on funds.

 

[Norcal]

I don't see any way of saving it, as it is pretty far gone the severe corrosion makes any idea not doable, I sorry to be the bearer of bad news, it looks like it was left exposed to the weather.

 

[WildBill]

Unfortunately those are probably going to twist off if you put enough force on them to get them free. You could try hitting them with an impact driver, just quickly bump it back and forth between tighten/loosen and hope they move. That's worked for me on some pretty crusty lugs before. But that could also just speed up their demise, they look pretty bad.

 

[mike93lx]

Bonded neutrals? Just buy another bar and screw it to the case for that, but I think you are screwed on the lugs... That's thrashed... Hope you can get it replaced at some point

Hold on... 600v? You are just reading the wire insulation, right?

 

[walta]

Too my eye that looks like something likely to start a fire!

I understand it will be hard to find the short money to replace that panel. If it burns down the building where will the big money to rebuild come from?

The way I see it if you touch that panel and there is a fire you have taken totally responsible. How good is your insurance?



Walta

 

[P0234]

Yeah how much is a new panel? Skimp on anything else not this.

 

[PCustoms]

Hold on... 600v? You are just reading the wire insulation, right?

@tcbrightjr68 call in a pro, this replacement is likely well beyond your ability

 

[Dagny]

Is it hot?

 

[sparky 1971]

Looks like 120/240 to me and...it's junk. There's no way those lugs are coming loose. I've run in to many lugs that were seized, it took a couple of times before I learned my lesson of leave it alone. The only possible outcome of trying to get them loosened up is that it's going to get broken worse. Walk away from it while you still have power and wait until the funds are available for replacement.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I need to get the lugs unfrozen, but i think i am fighting a loosing battle. Very limited on funds.

Penetrating oil and prayer are your only hope. You won't be able to apply enough heat to free those lugs

Not sure what you can do for the broken neutral bar. The rest can be disassembled and cleaned. I hope you have a lot of spare time !

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Bonded neutrals? Just buy another bar and screw it to the case for that, but I think you are screwed on the lugs... That's thrashed... Hope you can get it replaced at some point

Hold on... 600v? You are just reading the wire insulation, right?

@tcbrightjr68 call in a pro, this replacement is likely well beyond your ability

Theres no way this is a 600v panel. The clearances are not wide enough

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Penetrating oiland prayer are your only hope. You won't be able to apply enough heat to free those lugs

Not sure what you can do for the broken neutral bar. The rest can be disassembled and cleaned. I hope you have a lot of spare time !

Penetrating oil in a breaker panel? NO WAY!

 

[sparky 1971]

Theres no way this is a 600v panel. The clearances are not wide enough

But, but, but, the wire clearly says 600v on it.... It also says THW. That m'fer is old.

 

[nadogail]

Call a real Electrician, you are way in over your head.

 

[PCustoms]

Theres no way this is a 600v panel. The clearances are not wide enough

I know that, you know that, Mike knows that.

The OP doesn't know that.

Most of us also see that immediately as a lost cause where any attempt at servicing will likely cause further damage. This is one of those times when calling a pro to fix (replace) properly will put you way ahead in the long run.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Penetrating oil in a breaker panel? NO WAY!

I was not clear. Kill the power. Penetrating oil. Prayers. Break the lugs loose.

REMOVE PANEL. CLEAN. REASSEMBLE.

 

[Norcal]

I was not clear. Kill the power. Penetrating oil. Prayers. Break the lugs loose.

REMOVE PANEL. CLEAN. REASSEMBLE.

Don't give bad advice, it's doubtful there is any way to disconnect power without calling the PoCo, & it's unwise to go spraying chemicals in a panel, the corrosion is so bad that there is no way to clean it.

 

[PCustoms]

Looks like a 1 post wonder that spent all of 2 minutes on the site.

Thread should be closed.

 

[mike93lx]

Looks like a 1 post wonder that spent all of 2 minutes on the site.

Thread should be closed.

It was only posted last night, so I want to give some benefit of the doubt, but I also expect this was a ghost

 

[PCustoms]

It was only posted last night, so I want to give some benefit of the doubt, but I also expect this was a ghost

I'm more cynical

 

[mike93lx]

I'm more cynical

 

[Norcal]

Looks like a 1 post wonder that spent all of 2 minutes on the site.

Thread should be closed.

I suspect the reason is they are not getting the answers they wanted, I see no way to save that mess, it's too far gone.

 

[LukeOresk]

What kind of panel is this? I’ve never seen a panel that has large bus bar lugs like that at the bottom of the panel

 

[Norcal]

What kind of panel is this? I’ve never seen a panel that has large bus bar lugs like that at the bottom of the panel

Feed through or mobile home panel.

 

[walta]

Time to stop feeding this troll!

The OP made one post and has not logged in since.



Walta