High Pitched Whine - Breaker Box

[90vert]

My breaker box started making a high pitched whine. Started off as a constant tone then went to a pulse. The house was built in 1991, box is located in the garage, and meter is on the external wall behind it. One of those smart meters, no noise outside, just inside. Any ideas?? Fire hazard?? TIA

[STANGGT40]

My breaker box started making a high pitched whine. Started off as a constant tone then went to a pulse. The house was built in 1991, box is located in the garage, and meter is on the external wall behind it. One of those smart meters, no noise outside, just inside. Any ideas?? Fire hazard?? TIA

it could be a loose connection at the breaker, causing a constant arcing or even a loose connection between the breaker and the buss...it's hard to tell without opening it up and checking.

[90vert]

When I open it up what am I looking for?

[Misfire]

you either have a breaker going bad or a circuit is maxed out on amps. turn them off one by one til it stops to idenify which one it is. if you have an amp meter see how many amps its pulling.
if you absolutely illiterate to electricity id recommend having someone else check it out.

[90vert]

you either have a breaker going bad or a circuit is maxed out on amps. turn them off one by one til it stops to idenify which one it is. if you have an amp meter see how many amps its pulling.
if you absolutely illiterate to electricity id recommend having someone else check it out.

So... since I have not added anything in the house then I'm not maxed out, right? I just need to find the one making the buzzing noise and replace it with the same amp breaker?

[STANGGT40]

When I open it up what am I looking for?

if it's a loose wire at a breaker terminal, for instance, you should be able to see an arcing and/or hear it arcing....same for if it's a breaker. if it's the actual breaker, where it connects to the buss, then it may still make a noise when you turn the breaker off. you should still be able to tell where the problem is. if it's the breaker, you may be able to push in on it and see if the noise stops. these are just wild guesses, though, as i can't see what you're dealing with. do you know what panel you have? (brand/type)

[90vert]

if it's a loose wire at a breaker terminal, for instance, you should be able to see an arcing and/or hear it arcing....same for if it's a breaker. if it's the actual breaker, where it connects to the buss, then it may still make a noise when you turn the breaker off. you should still be able to tell where the problem is. if it's the breaker, you may be able to push in on it and see if the noise stops. these are just wild guesses, though, as i can't see what you're dealing with. do you know what panel you have? (brand/type)

The box says Challenger. No noise today.

[STANGGT40]

The box says Challenger. No noise today.

i've seen a few challenger panels (and a few others) with bad breaker connections that cause arcing, which causes a noise. that's a possibility...if it is, then you need to get it fixed. arcing causes quite a bit of heat, which can cause several other problems.