Originally Posted By: hgordon
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Originally Posted By: rmoore
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Looks like someone arc-welded their screwdriver. My guess is you’re seeing the remnants of that.
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: hgordon
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No…I thought the same…but look at the waire as well.
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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the conductor looks burnt, but not for long enough to melt the insulation. I’ll stick with one quick nasty flash.
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: Guest
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I agree w/Richard. Copper doesn’t rust.
Originally Posted By: Bob Badger
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I also agree it is a flash, I will even go so far to say it looks more like a wire (probably a bare ground) hit this terminal while some one was working in the panel.
It would be tough to have done this with a screwdriver, there is nothing grounded around this for the screwdriver to "short to" or ground to.
Call CSI 
Bob
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Bob (AKA iwire)
ECN Discussion Forums
Mike Holt Code Forum
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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It LOOKS like rust, but rust does not account for the missing corner off the screw head.
A little bit of arc welding accounts for that, though.
But what about the 'rust' looking stuff back behind the screw? Could be molten copper spatter?
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: hgordon
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Back to the think tank…but thanks Jerry!
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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I think U can find a screwdriver that would match that photo
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: rmoore
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Before I suggested the arc-welding back at the top of this thread, I was scratching my head trying to figure out the configuration of this particular breaker and the angle of view of the photo. I’m still unsure what the “white square” with the screwdriver (sticking to my guns here
) shaped mark is, other than it appears to be metal.So...question for Harvey. What brand of breaker and/or panel was this?
Second question is for the electrical gurus. I'm sure this breaker tripped very soon after the "Big Bang" as it was designed to do. Putting aside the rust on the terminal, my gut reaction would be to recommend replacement for safety. Thoughts on that?
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Richard Moore
Rest Assured Inspection Services
Seattle, WA
www.rainspect.com
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Ohhh but the breaker may not have tripped…
so true!As far as that white stuff goes.....your guess is as good as mine....sorry.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Typically, if I have a breaker that has tripped, I do recommend that it be replaced. Especially if it is a FPE and the homeowner does not want to upgrade it. There are some after market manufacturers of FPE type breakers that one can use. I do believe Challenger makes one.
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln
Originally Posted By: jpeck
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Dennis,
You've actually had an FPE breaker trip? ROFLMAO
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Jerry Peck
South Florida
Originally Posted By: jhagarty
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Joseph Hagarty
HouseMaster / Main Line, PA
joseph.hagarty@housemaster.com
www.householdinspector.com
Phone: 610-399-9864
Fax : 610-399-9865
HouseMaster. Home inspections. Done right.
Originally Posted By: dbozek
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Joe…
Jerry....I would be a liar if I said I never did.......and needless to say, I've seen more fail
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You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should and could do for themselves. Abraham Lincoln