If you want to err on the side of caution, remove one of the breakers and take it to your local electrical supply house (not Lowes or Home Depot). They'll be able to tell you if it is anything you should be worried about.
Contributor
If you want to err on the side of caution, remove one of the breakers and take it to your local electrical supply house (not Lowes or Home Depot). They'll be able to tell you if it is anything you should be worried about.
Member
Are these by chance the counterfeit Square-D breakers I've heard about lately?Originally Posted by Robert Reece
Carl
Contributor
They are Siemens.
Guest
Seeing as the OP hasn't been back, I'm going to hazard a guess that the white powder was, in fact, anthrax.
Contributor
I realize that you were joking, but his profile says he was on this morning around 8:00 a.m. This was his last post, though.
[OP]
Member
It was indeed anthrax and I am sending this message from the beyond!
Just kidding of course ... Thanks everybody for the responses and sorry for not responding for so long. I got caught up in a some other stuff (kitchen cabinet install) and forgot all about this issue.
I put that panel in myself about 4 years ago, although the breakers may be older since all my sub panels are Siemens. It has never seen a drop of water. Chinese drywall crossed my mind, but none of the copper wires are corroding. I don't know where my drywall came from, so it is a possibility. I don't think nearby chemicals are to blame since this panel is in my 2nd floor utility room, adjacent to my bedroom.
The whole reason I was in that panel was because I had an arc fault breaker go bad, so I was replacing that. I am not sure if it's related to whatever condition is occurring in this panel.
I think for now I will keep an eye on it. I am not going to be too happy if I have to replace 30 breakers. I think I'll also pull the cover to my other panel and see if those breakers are doing the same thing.
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