Replacing outside breaker

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 06:41 AM

The breaker on the outside of my building is tripping when my silk screen dryer and flash dryer are on. Never used to.

Anyone ever change the breaker on a main box? Do I have the e- company turn off power to it?

masraum · 01-19-2014, 07:37 AM

i don't think they are a big deal to replace, but someone with more knowledge can confirm. i think just make sure that everything they feed is off and replace. But don't take my word for it, wait for an expert.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Is there a main breaker upline from that 3 pole 100 amp?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 07:55 AM

Craig, I think this is the main breaker. Wires go from the pole to a huge steel conduit at the top of the building, that runs down to the box and meter.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

If that's the one that's tripping I'd call a professional, that's a lot of juice to get hit with!

Hugh R · 10:39 AM

I'd have the e-company pull the meter, you may just need to take a stiff wire brush to the buss bars.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 08:18 AM

Thanks. E-company will only turn off juice. I don't think they will do it if I call and tell them too. Will call tomorrow and see.

Hugh R · 10:39 AM

E-company turns off juice, its dead, you take wire brush to the buss bars, and inspect/replace the breakers. Price out those breakers first, they could be no longer available. They look old and breakers, especially, old ones ,are known to fail just from taking them out and futzing with them.

Oracle · 01-19-2014, 08:24 AM

100 amp!! That will kill you if you don't know what you're doing. Please hire a professional.
IMO the breakers get old and trigger all the time when the load is close to limit.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 08:38 AM

Great information, thanks. I'm hoping the E-company will turn off the e- with only my call.

this one looks similar

Siemens Q3100 100-Amp 3 Pole 240-Volt 10-Kaic Circuit Breaker - Amazon.com

mikesride · mikesride's Garage

My house is 100 amp, its no big deal to add a new breaker with power on. They clip in and out, about as dangerous as flicking a light switch.
BUT......the breaker may just be doing its job!!!!
It is important to call someone in to insure that you do not have an electrical issue down the line that is causing the breaker to pop.
This happened everytime I turned on the toaster at home....
Then the toaster tried to electrocute me!!!! The issue was the worn out toaster not the breaker.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 09:12 AM

OK, Mike, I'm taking you out of my will.

carambola · carambola's Garage

call an electrician, will your insurance company cover you if you do it incorrectly?

VINMAN · 01-19-2014, 09:29 AM

Shaun, being an electrician, the best advice I can give you is to have an electrician look at it. The breaker is tripping for a reason.

DanielDudley · 01-19-2014, 09:41 AM

Last time I screwed with the main breakers I wound up replacing the service panel and it took a day. Twas shot.

rick-l · 01-19-2014, 10:11 AM

Are your dryers 3 phase? I am just curious how they balance the loads.

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

What Vin said. Replacing a breaker, even a 3 pole is easy. Done it many times. You need to now WHY it's tripping. Better to have a pro verify the load. Be safe.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

Are your dryers 3 phase? I am just curious how they balance the loads.

The main dryer is 3-phase, the stand alone unit is just 110 in the wall on a 30A circuit.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 01-19-2014, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Shaun, being an electrician, the best advice I can give you is to have an electrician look at it. The breaker is tripping for a reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icemaster

What Vin said. Replacing a breaker, even a 3 pole is easy. Done it many times. You need to now WHY it's tripping. Better to have a pro verify the load. Be safe.

I'll see what I can do. It cost $4K to have an electrician install all this stuff, it's worked for 4 years now. the box outside gets constant weather exposure. I think it's just old.

I'm going to take the box cover off tomorrow and see what's in there. Can't hurt.

look 171 · 01-19-2014, 11:00 AM

Shuan,

I don't think its the Breakers, but I have been known to be dead wrong. It might be something else that's tripping it. Cheap enough to change out the breakers and see if its still doing it. Hire someone to change out the breakers because it should be cheap enough to do if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself. Its a 5 minute job.