Overloaded Main Breaker Panel?

Marjorie
Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 290 Feedbacks

February 13, 20080 found this helpful

My advise is to hire an electrican. What you don't need is a house fire.

Working on a electric panel is no job for amateurs. Do your self a favor and for piece of mind hire an electrican.

My friend is an electrician,he said "get it checked out." The fact that it was hot from overload could have caused a breakdown. I had to get mine changed out and it wasn't cheap ,but worth it...Jan in NC

I just googled "westinghouse main breakers." There are numerous online places to get them. I hope this helps. Take Care! Jan in NC

Susan Sanders-Kinzel
Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks

February 14, 20080 found this helpful

That old breaker is no longer a predictable protection for the house and should be replaced.
Personally, I would replace the entire panel with a modern SquareD panel. They are really cheap compared to the house burning down and the insurance not paying, because the electrical system was not up to date.

The reason I recommend SquareD is because the panels are roomy and have enough space so that even an amateur can do a neat job.

If a new panel is not in the budget, Westinghouse breakers are still available at
www.bestcircuitbreakers.com/.../

As a general rule of thumb:
It's quite OK if a breaker feels hot. What feels hot to a human is barely warm to the materials used in a breaker. However, if they smell or smoke, they have to be replaced, because some of the solids have gone and all precision has been lost.

Especially with old breakers it is important to tighten the connections once a year. Quite often the heat is generated in a loose or corroded connection.

Have FUN!
DearWebby
www.webby.com/.../

You guys are great with great suggestions. Keep them coming they really help us out!

You still have to worry about the load coming from the whole panel, depending on the whole size of the main.