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#42439 09/20/04 08:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
W
Junior Member
Just got back from a service call. H.O. had a 100amp Murray panel that was half under water this weekend, but main never tripped. In my mind it should have , as both bussbars were shorted together. Am I missing something here, or is Murray not as good as I once thought?


Patrick
#42440 09/20/04 10:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
Quote
Am I missing something here, or is Murray not as good as I once thought?

I guess it depends on how good you thought Murray once was. I never thought it was any good. It is now part of Seimens, which is German for crap. We had a 20 amp Seimens breaker with a dead short on it, it would buzz for several seconds until the Cutler Hammer(CH line) 200 amp main would trip.

#42441 09/20/04 11:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
W
Junior Member
I never thought Murray was that great, but good for lower end equipment. So maybe I should suggest to the owners that I replace their panel with something else, like a Suquare D QO ? I still say the main should have tripped. That's the main thing. Now that I've had my hands in this liability is a concern. I have a goodly ammount of insurance, I just don't want to have to use it.


Patrick
#42442 09/20/04 11:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 681
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Don't blame the quality of the equipment for the overcurrent device not opening.

Water is not a good conductor of itself. If the water around that panel was pretty clean, then you can expect the device to not open.

Nema has a good document on their website dealing with water damaged equipment. www.nema.org then try the search for water damaged equipment.

Pierre


Pierre Belarge
#42443 09/20/04 11:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 466
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Please also see the post titled "panel under water". This may give you a better idea of what you are dealing with.

#42444 09/20/04 11:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 308
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Member
in in basic operation.
If there is not enough current flow then the OCPD will not open.
If the OCPD is not opening that does not mean it is a bad equipment. It might simply be that there is not enought current to activate the OCPD.

That is my understanding.

Edward


Thanks
Edward
#42445 09/21/04 03:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 241
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I think the breaker sees the water as a load, and not a direct short. I've been using Murray for a long time, with no problems. They've re-designed the panels. In industrial work, we use GE bolt on style breakers, and panels. How did the water get there? Water main or flood?

#42446 09/21/04 03:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
W
Junior Member
It was compliments of Ivan. A lot of things flooded here in PA. I just moved my office to my basement. I'm glad I checked it Saturday morning. My new computer was almost afloat.


Patrick

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