Marietta
A breaker burned at the bus bar
A breaker in the home's electrical panel had overheated and burned. That is the condition the customer was living with. It is also a troubleshooting job, not a default panel replacement.
What we found
The breaker came out so the landing could be seen. There was heavy heat damage where it clips onto the panel’s bus bar. The casing was melted and cracked. The metal connection clip was burnt and corroded. The bus bar and the neighboring breakers were checked for the same heat damage.
What we did
The burnt breaker was removed. The bus bar was confirmed sound. A new breaker went in. The circuit was tested under load.
Why this path
A breaker that has burned at its connection cannot be reused. The bus bar has to be checked too. A damaged bus bar will burn up a new breaker the same way. Replacing only the handle, or resetting the same device, does not repair a cooked clip.
What to take from it
Power was restored safely. A breaker can overheat at its connection without ever tripping. A burning smell, buzzing or crackling at the panel, a warm panel cover, or flickering lights are reasons to call an electrician right away instead of resetting the breaker again.
Related: electrical troubleshooting and panel upgrades when the bus or the can itself is the problem. Work in Marietta.
