A customer came to us with a panel that had burnt because of the breaker, this was due to contractor error. The original contractor installed a panel that was not large enough to fit all the circuits ( that was also a circuit limiting panel.) Since the home required more circuits than allowed by the manufacturer of the panel, the contractor removed the rejection clip that was built into the molded circuit breaker (see pictures). This was done so that the contractor was able to install the additional required circuits for the home, in the spaces on the panel that are UL listed for only a single circuit. By doing this the panel began to arc and caused the buss to burn in certain areas (see pictures). If this was not rectified this panel would inevitably caught on fire.

Once our technician identified that the panel was in the process of burning and our tech was able to provide the customer a solution using a Cutler Hammer panel without circuit limitations. At Gold Standard Electric we only install Cutler Hammer products. Cutler Hammer type CH panels come with a lifetime manufacturer warranty on all buss and breakers. The CH buss is not a tinned aluminum like most other panel manufacturers. It is a solid copper buss with a silver coating, two of the highest conductors of electricity.

In addition to the panel replacement this customer also stated concern of surges in the home due to severe thunderstorms and loss of power. We then installed a Cutler Hammer ULTRA surge suppressor that carries a manufacturer's $75,000 connected equipment insurance policy.