I performed an inspection yesterday on a early 1980s home and found overheating of the main service conductors in the main breaker panel due to no antioxidant paste to the aluminum conductors. As you can see, the left terminal has oxidized and caused enough resistance to cause it to get very hot and melt the insulation. Of course I stressed heavily in the report to my customer to have this repaired, but also felt I needed to let the seller's agent know also so she could notify the current owners of it's condition for their safety and in case the sale didn't go through. She returned my call today and acted like I was being an alarmist because she had always viewed the antioxidant paste issue as something that is a nit picky item that we chose to throw in our reports. I emailed her the photo and I think she now understands the importance of this paste.

 
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12 Comments on The Importance of Antioxidant Paste

SEP
11
2008
370,489 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Kent... Thanks for sharing this.  I never fully understood the issue with the antioxidant paste until I saw your picture.  That pretty much says it all to me.  I appreciate the education!

9:53am • #1

I've never even heard of antioxidant paste before, but it appears to be very important!   Looks like a large potential fire hazard!  Great information as always - thanks!

11:53am • #2

Good call.

Was that conductor all the way in?

 

4:31pm • #3

Mike,

Yes, it was....the melted insulation shrunk causing more of the conductor to be exposed.

Kent Keith

Fort Worth Home Inspector

5:07pm • #4
SEP
13
2008
2 Featured Posts

Good stuff,

My neighbor had a garage fire from the aluminum entrance wires got loose and hot.  (He was able to catch it before it spread to the home) 

 Even with anti oxidant paste it is a good idea to check the connections to make sure everything is tight.

3:21pm • #5
2 Featured Posts

Was this panel further evaluated and was there an issue with too many amps on that side?

3:21pm • #6

Please do not check those lugs. They are HOT.

Say WHAT? Too many amps on that side???

It is hard to 'load' one leg of a panel in a residential application.

I think it was a loose connection.

3:46pm • #7

I think is it a combination of a possible loose connection along with oxidation. If you look closely on the top of the connection lug, you can see a powdery substance which I think is oxidation from the heating of the aluminum. As far as a loose connection, if you look you will notice the wire in this connector is not a flattened out as the right one, which would make you think that it is not properly tightened, but the lug's screw appears to have the same amount of thread going inward. In any case, it needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

4:00pm • #8
2 Featured Posts

I have seen an electrician's home that ONE side of the service was at 520 Degrees F.  Because he had put BOTH legs of his new hottub on one side.

4:04pm • #9

Jim

Let me understand you.

Was this a 220 breaker or two 110 breakers?

If a 220 breaker two legs are used.

If two 110 breakers on the same leg one of the breakers should have tripped.

4:34pm • #10
2 Featured Posts

It was a real custom job.  It was two 110 on the same leg.  and one did not trip until I noticed the smell of melting insulation and shut it down.

4:49pm • #11
SEP
16
2008
101,244 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Very interesting post and comments, thanks for helping educate us.

10:16am • #12

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Fort Worth Home Inspector Kent Keith

Fort Worth, TX

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Fort Worth Home Inspectors

Address: P.O. Box 470815, Fort Worth, TX, 76147

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