Substance on breakers?

[Trent Tarter]

Just wondering if anyone may know what this substance is on the circuit breakers. It was only on a few of the breakers. It's is an older Murray brand panel.

[Bruce Ramsey]

Its the magic leaking out.:cool:

Looks like arcing to me.

[Phil Brody]

It was my understanding that repeated cycling of high temperature in the wire would cause out gassing of some of the insulators chemical composition. Don't know what specific chemical it is.

[Roger Frazee]

Trent

It is possible you may have this going on with the main breaker. That's an older MD200V main breaker and they are IMO the worst main breakers ever produced for residential load centers. I would highly recommend to ask for consideration of a change out of the entire panel.

More about this at his thread....

http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/electrical-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/18845-new-main-breaker-under-old-main-breaker.html

http://media6.dropshots.com/photos/440526/20100320/010413.jpg

[William Galbraith]

Could be due to a fault in the 200 amp breaker causing an electromagnetic situation. Check all screws for tightness. Probably are ok.
Replace the 200 Amp breaker.
If you want to get technical, analyze the white deposts.