Breaker Bad - What's That Buzzing Sound? (Updated Video Available)

[@tsbrownie]

Updated/remixed version with annotations restored: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJnafH94or6aY5o

[@condor5635]

'Wasn't tightened by the last electrician'... yeh the 'Professional'. That's why I prefer to do as much as i can by myself. Tightening connections with the main off was the first thing on my mind that i was going to attempt. Don't require a 'pro' to do that

[@lgoamity]

Got a very noticable buzzing from Across the Room when One or Both of a couple QO 30 Amp 2-Pole Breakers (Water Heater and Dryer) are running (Maybe others too hope to check soon). 50 year old 200 Amp Square D QO Panel... All Electric Home so basically Majority of Panel is just 2-Pole Breakers for Baseboard Heaters, AC, and Appliances. The 120V Lighting and Outlets are relegated to Tandems... Last Major Renovation was in 2011 with addition of a QO Sub-Panel for a Kitchen Remodel. I personally upgraded 4 - 120V Breakers in that panel in the last couple years to AFCI, along with adding a Sense Power Monitor, and where Practical (since QO does not offer Tandem AFCI Breakers) updated Outlets/Runs to AFCI or AF/GFCI... So its a blend of Original Breakers ("Old" Square D Tandems are "stacked" Horizontally, Left to Right vs Vertically, Top to Bottom on more recent ones...Likely installed in between the 80's and 90's when Solar (Heating) and AC Units were added into the mix)

[@condor5635]

great idea... i narrowed mine down to my microwave when in use. I turned it off and then back on and it went away. Need to check again in a few days and if it returns will replace the breaker. Tube idea is a great idea thanks!

[@tsbrownie]

@@condor5635 Thanks, I learned it from a car mechanic.

[@mrfyisms]

Breaker boxes aren't numbered like that. Odds on the left, evens on the right. You could also save a lot of walking by flipping off one at a time until the buzzing stops. Or feeling the front of the switch to see which one is warm.

[@tsbrownie]

You are right. This one came in the house. I was to unmotivated to renumber them all. None of them were warm, not enough load I suspect. Just a handful of CFL bulbs. The buzzing seemed to come and go, I am guessing because the wire contact would change as the wire heated and cooled with the arcing, but just guessing.

[@trista2686]

\üüü

[@dougchaffin2608]

First thing I saw.

[@BrickedMusic]

My DC MCB also producing a bit of buzzing sound

[@oldkid6]

When you google; Is a slight buzzing sound from electrical panel normal? All the responses I found said it was totally normal because there's obviously electrical current always running through the breakers and panel. From the information I found it said that unless the breaking is tripping or arcing then a light buzzing sound is very typical.

[@tsbrownie]

I guess it's a matter of degree. Our breaker box is about a meter from where I normally do my computer work, yet I can't hear any of the 27 breakers. Sure, if I open the door and stick my ear against the panel I can hear it, but the sound in this video was clearly audible when the door was closed and I was several meters away. I used the tube to determine which one was buzzing before I called in the electrician.

[@oldkid6]

@@tsbrownie I think the electrician was trained to to upsell me on allowing him to do a "panel refresh" is what he called it, rather than do a complete panel upgrade, which btw he quoted me around 6 grand. So when he said it would just be $1700 for the refresh it would seem like a great deal. My breakers are cool to the touch, never trip, and I can't hear any buzzing sound.

[@tsbrownie]

@@oldkid6 Our house is now almost 30 years old and 14 years ago we had a serious upgrade, but we reused many of the old breakers. About 5 years ago we went back through the box and replaced the then 25 year old breakers. It's not a bad idea. I've seen electrical fires because of mismatched breakers that were in service 50 years. Even a small fire is expensive and messy.

[@oldkid6]

@@tsbrownie I don't have mismatched breakers, they're all D Square and the panel was upgraded at some point, maybe 10 years ago is a guess, I've only been living in my house 3 years...but the panel and wiring is clean. I hear what you're saying and it will be upgraded when needed, right now I just need to get whole house surge protector to at the very least keep my electronics from potentially getting fried.

[@zackdepalma6184]

So it’s normal for them to have slight buzzing noise even though they never did b4

[@maynardjohnson3313]

At 240 volts or even 480 volts you might be smelling burnt phenolic plastic but you won't be smelling ozone until you have a corona discharge upwards of a 1000 volts.

[@tsbrownie]

That's good to know. Thanks.

[@radodimitrov8310]

Why not just switch on and off, one by one, all the brakers and just hear when one off, the humming dissappears?

[@tsbrownie]

First you have to make sure things like computers are off. Then afterwards you have to go reset all the clocks, microwaves, TVs, ... in the house.

[@coryc5768]

Mine i just noticed is making that exact same sound.

[@scatdog1]

Why wouldn’t you just shut breakers off until the buzzing stops ?

[@tsbrownie]

It won't stop if it's going bad.

[@scatdog1]

@@tsbrownie 👍🏻👍🏻got it !!

[@almondgates5084]

I get buzzing when I turn on the kettle

[@tsbrownie]

Buzzing from the switch or burner? In either case you need to call a repairman soon. That's a bad thing.

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

"BEE'S NEST in PANEL"

[@radodimitrov8310]

Actually I tried to find the warm one and it worked. Thank you for the advice! :)

[@tsbrownie]

Glad it helped.

[@sharonroesch9097]

How much did that cost

[@tsbrownie]

A circuit breaker is only a few dollars depending on brand, size, etc.

[@agvvga3534]

Thank you

[@fefetegs8994]

tysm❤🛐

[@tsbrownie]

yasw

[@tsetanwangchuk8710]

My house gas buzzing sound

[@tsbrownie]

You should call the gas company right away.