Discolored Copper Wires

[Mark P]

Inside this cuttler-hammer panel in the basement of a 1904 farm house all the exposed copper wire has turned to a pale grey color. I suspect fertlizer was stored in the same room causing the discolorization. This is the 1st time a can remember seeing this, but have read about it and understand it can be caused by swiming pool chemicals, drug labs, chinese drywall, etc. Do you have any information on discolorization and if it is known to cause any problems.

This is an after the fact finding missioin for me, because I'm calling for a sparky to take a look as there were a few other problems as well and my client is a relocation company.

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[hausdok]

Hi Mark,

Was there a laundry area in that basement? I'm thinking chlorine bleach. Saw the same thing yesterday on a panel stored in a laundry room with a noticeable chlorine bleach odor.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Tom Raymond]

Household cleaning chemicals are nasty, the hinges on the cabinet I keep mine in are corroded badly. Look again at the third pic, that neutral cable is introducing water into that panel.

[Mark P]

No Mike, not a laundry room, however, the laundry is directly above this room and the dryer vents into this room. Lint everywhere.

Thanks Tom, I noticed that.

[inspector57]

Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner. High humidity and vaporized chemicals pumped into the space enclosing the electric panel.

[Bill Kibbel]

That particular color on copper is from sulfates. Hydrogen sulfide gas reacting with water is one likely possibility. Ammonium sulfate is second. It's found in insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizer.

[robert1966]

I have seen discolored copper from chemical vapors, one time it even corroded the cabinet hinges next to the panel.... There appeared to be brass hinges as well. Chlorine and other chemical vapors can cause severe corrosion and discoloration.

[msteger]

Good catch. There's no way to know if any of that corrosion exists at the important connections, so report it and recommend a licensed and qualified electrician fully evaluate the panel's components to check each connection.