I had a 240V feed arc out on me while installing a new panel in an old Chicago bungalow last month

The main lugs weren't fully seated from the factory. When I went to torque them down, one sparked and popped. I shut everything down at the meter, pulled the feed, and found a tiny burr on the lug. Filed it smooth, reinstalled, and torqued to spec. No issues after that. Has anyone else run into factory defects on new gear like that? What's your go-to check before landing the lines?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles6781d ago

Always check for burrs on new lugs, even straight from the box. A quick visual and a feel with your finger can save that surprise arc flash.

mason_foster681d ago

Wait, you're telling me brand new lugs can come with burrs right out of the package? That's crazy... I just assumed they were good to go. Good looking out @charles678, I never would have thought to check for that. A surprise arc flash is the last thing anyone needs when they're just trying to get a job done. I'm definitely adding that quick finger check to my routine now.