# Sticky Black Coating On Cu Grd Wires IN Panel **URL:** \ **Category:** Electrical Inspections\ **Created:** [November 22, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618 "2012-11-22T17:47:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pcampbell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/pcampbell/32/1621_2.png) [@pcampbell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/pcampbell)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/1 "2012-11-22T17:47:31Z")
1996 house in Palm City, FL. The drywall is original. Anyone know what might be on the bare grd wires? ![pics 087.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/6/8/689972139511fa3711d48dcd731bbb4eaa5ee456.jpeg) ![pics 089.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/d/f/df6bcb8b8f4c84c5e414f1e5e089a9448b3f72e5.jpeg) ![pics 086.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/8/4/8430e8cd9bf11253fa74410a9c15b68e8d954ed2.jpeg) ![pics 088.jpg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/3X/0/8/0837be7e67fcf37dea1a57b39d8f19edd61aeb0e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![rmeier2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmeier2/32/59909_2.png) [@rmeier2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmeier2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/2 "2012-11-22T18:16:28Z")
Since it’s bare copper it’s some sort of reaction. At first I thought of Chinese drywall but I don’t believe that the problem goes back to the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![jmoore5](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/jmoore5/32/57038_2.png) [@jmoore5](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jmoore5)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/3 "2012-11-22T22:50:10Z")
Where is the panel located? Any corrosive material stored nearby? ---
**Author:** ![jwhitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f4b2a3/32.png) [@jwhitt](https://forum.nachi.org/u/jwhitt)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/4 "2012-11-24T15:15:46Z")
> [@pcampbell](#): > > Anyone know what might be on the bare grd wires? Something Black? Did I win? :roll: ---
**Author:** ![gmathias1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/gmathias1/32/194308_2.png) [@gmathias1](https://forum.nachi.org/u/gmathias1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/5 "2012-11-24T16:11:41Z")
> [@jwhitt](#): > > Something Black? Did I win? :roll: No, you didn’t call it sticky!!:mrgreen: On a side note, I ran into this a while back and asked the same question on the MB. Came to the conclusion that because it was in the laundry room the bleach and other corrosive products were attracted to the bare metal. Check it out: > **[Black film on copper wiring in main panel](https://forum.nachi.org/t/72445)** > > Need a quick answer. I don’t suspect Chinese drywall. Is there another reason for copper to be black like this? Can’t seem to figure out how to put a picture from my phone in. On some of the neutrals it looked almost crusted on. ---
**Author:** ![dandersen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dandersen/32/59398_2.png) [@dandersen](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dandersen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/6 "2012-11-24T18:33:22Z")
I would think that generally it would take some electrical current to generate this type of thing. There is all kinds of exposed copper in laundries with no black sticky stuff around! My want to have the ground checked. ---
**Author:** ![pabernathy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/pabernathy/32/178230_2.png) [@pabernathy](https://forum.nachi.org/u/pabernathy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/7 "2012-11-25T15:29:47Z")
Copper Oxide ---
**Author:** ![dandersen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dandersen/32/59398_2.png) [@dandersen](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dandersen)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/8 "2012-11-25T18:23:16Z")
Caused from? ---
**Author:** ![rcooke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rcooke/32/57038_2.png) [@rcooke](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rcooke)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/9 "2012-11-25T19:25:55Z")
> [@dandersen](#): > > Caused from? Could be a simple as a battery backup sump pump. I think this also could be from Washing chemicals . A cat litter box or possible manufacture of illicit drugs??? ---
**Author:** ![wblackmon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wblackmon/32/1317_2.png) [@wblackmon](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wblackmon)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/10 "2012-11-25T20:23:54Z")
Chlorine bleach is a strong oxidizer. ---
**Author:** ![pcampbell](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/pcampbell/32/1621_2.png) [@pcampbell](https://forum.nachi.org/u/pcampbell)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/11 "2012-11-28T01:20:18Z")
The 2 main panels were in a garage mounted on an exterior cmu wall with drywall partition on the int. There was no evidence of any corrosive items stored, and the laundry room was in the house. The immediate area adjacent to the panels was prev used for cabinet fabrication. So, we have unfortunately gotten nowhere yet on this one.☹ ---
**Author:** ![wblackmon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/wblackmon/32/1317_2.png) [@wblackmon](https://forum.nachi.org/u/wblackmon)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/sticky-black-coating-on-cu-grd-wires-in-panel/73618/12 "2012-11-28T01:36:24Z")
> [@pcampbell](#): > > The 2 main panels were in a garage mounted on an exterior cmu wall with drywall partition on the int. > > There was no evidence of any corrosive items stored, and the laundry room was in the house. > > The immediate area adjacent to the panels was prev used for cabinet fabrication. > > So, we have unfortunately gotten nowhere yet on this one.☹ Then it probably is down to sampling and testing.