Corrosion at breaker connections

[Allen L. Catterton]

I did an inspection today and found corrosion at a double breaker for the clothes dryer--40 amp. The corrosion is at the 3rd terminal form the top in the attached photo. A portion of the cable sheathing appears to have melted. I ran the dryer for 20 minutes and neither the terminal nor the cable overheated. Can anyone give me a reason for the corrosion and the previous overheating?

[Thomas J. Brady]

May be from previously loose connection at the terminal on te breaker that may have caused an arcing condition that melted the sheathing - Ask the current owner if any recent repair has been conducted to the dryer or branch circuit -some wire/cables can loosen from expansion & contraction or not enough torque on the terminal to fasten cable in place

[jkogel]

Regardless, it needs a repair by a qualified electrician.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

[Allen L. Catterton]

Thanks for your replies and I did recommend that an electrician inspect, clean and repair the deficiency.

[Jim Port]

Did you note that the breaker was incorrecly sized for its purpose? In 30 years I have never seen a residential dryer that required more than 30 amps at 240 volts.

[scorcoran]

Also shouldn't the white wire next to it be marked with electrical tape as hot?

[John Allingham]

What guage is that burnt wire. Looks small.