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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

 
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  #1  
Old 7/30/07, 12:35 AM
Jeffrey R. Pope's Avatar
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Default For My Buddy Duffy

Nothing really "wrong" here, but you were asking for it. . .

The top bus bar is a bit warmer than the lower, but nothing I considered abnormal.
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my-buddy-duffy-p7290009.jpg   my-buddy-duffy-ir_0114.jpg  



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  #2  
Old 7/30/07, 2:24 AM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpope
Nothing really "wrong" here, but you were asking for it. . .

The top bus bar is a bit warmer than the lower, but nothing I considered abnormal.
Oh Lord..............

121?...no of course she's fine.... ........I bet it won't be very long before we see temps in the 160-200 Range................ ....From Santa Zinsco Clarita........

I think the hottest breaker I scanned (found) with the IR Therm. was 190......
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  #3  
Old 7/30/07, 1:05 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

It looks like the insulated conductors are touching the live bus. That's not good.



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  #4  
Old 7/30/07, 1:10 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

What's considered a "normal", and what's considered "excessive" for the temerature range?



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  #5  
Old 7/30/07, 4:24 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

That's a difficult question to answer Mark.

Temperatures of 150 and below don't usually get my attention, but it really depends on other factors as well. When there is discoloration to the breaker, wire, terminal or bus bar, regardless of the temps, there is something "not right."

A high temp reading (IMHO) should generally be considered as a means to "confirm" a problem, rather than to "diagnose" a problem.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
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  #6  
Old 7/30/07, 4:25 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Quote:
Originally Posted by gwells
It looks like the insulated conductors are touching the live bus. That's not good.
They were close (very common with Zinsco), but not touching. . .



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
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  #7  
Old 7/30/07, 7:19 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Jeff;

Pardon my French, but would not a 40 amp breaker drawing 30 to 35 amps at the time you took the camera shot explain why the temp. reading is such as it was?

Marcel
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  #8  
Old 7/30/07, 7:33 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

That was the circuit for the condensing unit of the A/C after about 15 minutes of operation. The house was vacant, so no other circuits were in operation at that time (except the FAU).



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  #9  
Old 7/30/07, 8:17 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Jeff, Did you move your position with the camera to determine whether it was a heat related problem or a reflection?
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  #10  
Old 7/30/07, 8:37 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Yep. I always look from several different angles.



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
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  #11  
Old 7/30/07, 9:52 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

I don't know about this one you guys!

I think you should change the emissivity setting in your software and see what that low emissive bar is actually kicking out there!

I understand that this is a hot panel, but the temps your camera is showing is for 97% emissivity? What happens at 23%? Aluminum is from .10 -.40 depending how corroded it is. That bar could be from 250-300 degrees F.
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  #12  
Old 7/30/07, 9:55 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Quote:
Originally Posted by dandersen
That bar could be from 250-300 degrees F.
I'd bet my left arm Jeff checked the bar temp with his IR Therm also...........
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  #13  
Old 7/30/07, 10:21 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Quote:
Originally Posted by dduffy
I'd bet my left arm Jeff checked the bar temp with his IR Therm also...........
What a guy!
Sacraficing "unused" body parts.
You are a righty, right?



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  #14  
Old 7/30/07, 11:07 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dduffy
I'd bet my left arm Jeff checked the bar temp with his IR Therm also...........
Quote:
What a guy!
Sacraficing "unused" body parts.
You are a righty, right?

Big B...... .......

Hey...I bet Nick a years salary he didn't land a couple hundred thousand foreclosure inspections, so I'm down to body parts until Nick PAYS up..!!!..................


http://www.nachi.org/forum/showthrea...nd+foreclosure

...................................... .......................................
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  #15  
Old 7/30/07, 11:12 PM
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Default Re: For My Buddy Duffy

My digital thermometer read 120 degrees, which is awful close to what the BCAM shows. I don't consider this to be abnormal by any means.

I'm still a beginner with my BCAM, but I have a little experience with the rest of my tool box, and I'm certainly no stranger to likes of Zinsco. . .



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE ®
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
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http://www.MyInspector.net


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