Electrical Systems

This thermographic image depicts a circuit breaker in the main electrical panel with a surface temperature elevated above adjacent breakers under lower electrical load. A significant temperature differential, such as exceeding 104°F or a delta of >68°F above ambient or adjacent breakers, could indicate an overloaded circuit, loose connection, or impending component failure, necessitating further diagnostic testing with a multimeter or clamp meter. In this case the hot circuit is the dryer and upon further investigation the circuit was OK. I have in the past discovered overloaded circuits with an infrared camera.

Common causes of circuit breaker overheating, as detectable by an infrared camera, include:

1. Overloaded Circuit: Excessive current draw beyond the breaker’s rated capacity.

2. Loose Connections

3. Corrosion or Oxidation

4. Faulty Breakers

5. Short Circuits or Ground Faults

6. Harmonic Distortion: Non-linear loads

7. Ambient Conditions: High panel temperatures due to poor ventilation or external heat.