Bus bars

[William E. Siegel]

Came across this is a home today. The left bus bar looks fine. The right bar appears to be tarnished. Any thoughts.

[jking2]

The right one looks like a normal copper bus. The left one looks like it could be a nickel plated copper bus, but Iv'e never seen both in one panel.

Jim King

[Marc D. Shunk]

It could be as simple as the left buss had more oil film from manufacturing left on it, protecting it from the dampness more. I do note the bit of rust forming on the keyhole slot in the panel's backpan, which is what causes me to think it might be a bit damp inside the panel. Just a guess. Hard to say really.

As an electrician, if I was faced with a panel who's busses had a great color disparity like that, I might unclip all the breakers off that right hand buss just to make sure no bad breaker clip was heating up. Because of the fact that I would do this as an electrician as a matter of prudence, if I was a HI, I'd at document it as an item to be reviewed by another.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Is that GFI brkr double-tapped? One white, one black..(not counting the pigtail)

[wward]

Doug, you have the white from the circuit going to the breaker and the white from the breaker "pig tail" going to the bus.

[William E. Siegel]

Doug

Looks like it, but it is not.

[William E. Siegel]

Mark,

Interesting observation on the keyhole. I missed that. This box was in the garage, so moisuter really should not be an issue here.

[rcooke]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

It could be as simple as the left buss had more oil film from manufacturing left on it, protecting it from the dampness more. I do note the bit of rust forming on the keyhole slot in the panel's backpan, which is what causes me to think it might be a bit damp inside the panel. Just a guess. Hard to say really.

As an electrician, if I was faced with a panel who's busses had a great color disparity like that, I might unclip all the breakers off that right hand buss just to make sure no bad breaker clip was heating up. Because of the fact that I would do this as an electrician as a matter of prudence, if I was a HI, I'd at document it as an item to be reviewed by another.

I agree with Marc no big deal.
One buss could be two seconds longer in the silver plating vat .
They do not want to use to much silver.
Roy Cooke

[William E. Siegel]

Thanks guys - I always enjoy the answers and discussion here - and I learn a thing or two or three.