Pulled a 200 amp panel swap in Phoenix last July and the main lug melted off

I was swapping out an old Zinsco panel for a customer off 35th Avenue. The breaker didn't trip but the lug was glowing red before I got the cover off. Turns out the terminal was loose from the factory, torqued it down and the whole thing pitted. Had to reterminate the feeder and put a new lug kit on before I could even button it up. Has anyone else seen a factory defect like that on a new panel?

2 comments

2 Comments

parkerk561d agoMost Upvoted

Nah, that sounds like installer error man. Check your torque wrench.

sethb451d ago

Bro, "check your torque wrench" lol. I get what you're saying about installer error being the usual suspect, but this was one of those times where the lug itself was pitted from the factory. Like the metal was bad before I even touched it. I double checked my torque after the re-kit and it held fine, so it wasn't me being lazy with the wrench. Definitely a fluke, but it happens more than people want to admit with the cheaper panels nowadays.