My electric panel seems to be buzzing. Is this the result of an overload?

Yikes! Buzzing from a circuit panel is not good. Check around the house to see if there are to many lights and appliances are running on one circuit. Chances are it's not an overload. The panel should be checked for overheating,loose breakers,loose connections, defective breakers or bus bars. The work must be done very carefully as the buzzing could be from a faulty connection.

Buzzing can be caused by arcing at a loose connection, which is the possibility that raises concerns

Some other causes of buzzing are contactors and transformers - if any are installed in the panel, and sometimes (more common with cheap breakers) humming of the coil of the magnetic tripping mechanism inside the breaker, even at currents below it's current rating



For a start. flip things off to find out which one is buzzing, if its' a breaker at all

Check if it's hot to touch on its front surface

Check what load is powered from it and whether it is an overload for this breaker

Open the panel user cover (that hides the connections) and inspect if there is any sign of burning on this breaker inside, at the wire terminals. Sniff it....

In US style panels with the phase busbars located at the back of the breakers, there may be also bad connection between the breaker and busbar. With the main power switched off and absence of voltage verified, remove the breaker from the busbar and inspect it's connections there (i guess it is held in place with some lug tightened with a screw or "clicks in" in some way ?)

Try to switch it on/off, see if it reacts normally and doesn't seem to stuck mechanically inside...

There's a chance it's relatively harmless. The fast-trip mechanism relies on a solenoid in series with the load. This may make audible noise at higher load and still be safe - similar mechanism to how older transformers are sometimes noisy. As others have pointed out, I'd still recommend looking for hot spots. Thermal cameras are great for this, but a IR thermometer would still help in a pinch.

Yikes! Buzzing from a circuit panel is not good. Check around the house to see if there are to many lights and appliances are running on one circuit. Chances are it's not an overload. The panel should be checked for overheating,loose breakers,loose connections, defective breakers or bus bars. The work must be done very carefully as the buzzing could be from a faulty connection.

I am not exactly sure, but I think the buzzing is coming from a GFCI breaker. When I trip it, it still buzzes.

I am not exactly sure, but I think the buzzing is coming from a GFCI breaker. When I trip it, it still buzzes.

Sounds like that breaker is defective and needs to be replaced.
To be sure turn off all of the other breakers except that one. If you still hear it buzzing that's most likely the problem and that it should be replaced ASAP.
What brand of panel is this? Any ideas on how old it is?

Sounds like that breaker is defective and needs to be replaced.
To be sure turn off all of the other breakers except that one. If you still hear it buzzing that's most likely the problem and that it should be replaced ASAP.
What brand of panel is this? Any ideas on how old it is?

Actually, it might be the double pole 60 amp breaker above the GFCI. Is this even worse? I'm not sure who made the panel but all of the breakers are Square D.

Actually, it might be the double pole 60 amp breaker above the GFCI. Is this even worse? I'm not sure who made the panel but all of the breakers are Square D.

it's worse in terms of safety as this breaker is for a circuit that pulls considerable current. Is this breaker for the AC/furnace? In terms of replacing it, it's no more difficult to replace than the GFCI. Does the breaker feel very warm? Again you can try what I mentioned in my previous post to see if the buzzing is coming from this breaker. Since all of the breakers are Square D that means that this is a Square D panel as they are not interchangeable with other brands. The Square D QO panels/breakers are very reliable, probably the best there is but the homeline series isn't the greatest. There may be a label or on the breakers themselves if they are QO or Homeline. If you have a picture I could easily tell by looking at the breakers and you don't have to remove the cover.

it's worse in terms of safety as this breaker is for a circuit that pulls considerable current. Is this breaker for the AC/furnace? In terms of replacing it, it's no more difficult to replace than the GFCI. Does the breaker feel very warm? Again you can try what I mentioned in my previous post to see if the buzzing is coming from this breaker. Since all of the breakers are Square D that means that this is a Square D panel as they are not interchangeable with other brands. The Square D QO panels/breakers are very reliable, probably the best there is but the homeline series isn't the greatest. There may be a label or on the breakers themselves if they are QO or Homeline. If you have a picture I could easily tell by looking at the breakers and you don't have to remove the cover.

Here it is: https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=0&pid=187549

As Ash said , it could also be a transformer inside the panel . I have seen doorbell transformers mounted inside the panel before .

As Ash said , it could also be a transformer inside the panel . I have seen doorbell transformers mounted inside the panel before .

My doorbell transformer is across the room from this panel inside the tiled ceiling. Isn't it a code violation to have things like that in a panel?

My doorbell transformer is across the room from this panel inside the tiled ceiling. Isn't it a code violation to have things like that in a panel?

Why it should be?

Plus the buzz may come from other electromagnetic devices:
A contactor (controlling water heaters to operate with low tariff time,...) can buzz a lot, when the pole shielding ring breaks or when there is a dirt within the magnet...

My doorbell transformer is across the room from this panel inside the tiled ceiling. Isn't it a code violation to have things like that in a panel?

I know that there are variations to what is and is not allowed between here and the States, but our doorbell transformer was designed to fit in a panel or as we call it a consumer unit.

My doorbell transformer is across the room from this panel inside the tiled ceiling. Isn't it a code violation to have things like that in a panel?

The transformer is not permitted to be inside the panel, however the code does allow it to be on the exterior of the panel by attaching it to one of the knockouts.

The transformer is not permitted to be inside the panel, however the code does allow it to be on the exterior of the panel by attaching it to one of the knockouts.

This is our consumer unit, and the transformer is on the far left.