Reader AK wrote:
This is from the electric pedestal outside of my mobile home. It happened June 2nd after my husband and I had been experiencing extremely high Utility bills and redundant replacement of outlets porch lighting but resulting in loss of power to one side of the mobile home ultimately.
As homeowners we attempted to solve the issue assuming it being a 1970 mobile home we were likely the cause snd at fault for an old electrical system.
After losing power everywhere but one room we had contacted the utility company to find it was the main breaker that had burned. Since then the property manager had a random employee of a contracting companies do a simple swap with no inspection.
Bills continued to rise, and the smell of burnt plastic or rubber was starting to happen at random times. How can I get an inspection or a professional recommendation on what the cause may have been for this? I do have court coming.
... Anyhow, I hope these photos are helpful to you regardless it would just be nice to find a place that could recommend the proper process for these events and maybe a nation wide regulator.
Publisher (DF) Replied:
I'm traveling between countries so my initial reply has to be a bit brief. I'll look at this further and perhaps I can make some more details suggestions.
Basically it's extremely dangerous to have someone untrained and proper electrical work or electrical inspection examining and pretending to fix electrical services in the circumstances that you described. The risk is of course of a serious building fire with the losses but could then occur.
The actual underlying cause of the burn up of the main breaker could be aluminum wiring, or other improper wiring or improper installation. That's perhaps the most critical circuit breaker in the system since it's the one that provides all of the power to your home.
It would be helpful to know the brand of electrical panel that's installed because some brands are known problems.
And it will be helpful to know whether you're building or service entrance includes aluminum wiring.
Trained license and experience electrician should be able to inspect this installation and give you a reasonable opinion of the underlying cause as models of what repairs are necessary.
But your message certainly suggests that simply swapping breakers when the breakers are burning up is an extremely dangerous thing to do and not only puts property and lives at risk but, as you might suggest that the property manager puts them at risk for assuming liability in such a case.
Reader AK Follow-up:
This is all I can see, I don't have any information of the age or installation date. They won't likely allow me to have it anyhow. I own a 1970 trailer and have an idea of the wiring inside of the trailer but they have been less then descriptive on any information.
I was told by an electrician that diagnosed the breaker needing to be replaced by the landlord that flickering lights and bad outlets being replaced time and time again were common with the bad breaker.
Also the high utilities were likely from the arching to the power box and you can actually see the burn hole on the front of the meter where the breaker switches are located on the outdoor panel. Forgive me, I am trying to educate myself on terminology to prevent confusin you and myself.
I was curious, he has these old meter don't have enough power for all the appliances. I thought the meter was a 200 amp service but there is only one sticker indicating that where the main breaker is. The side that burned out had no sticker on it and we were told it was 100 amp.
I was thinking maybe we were drawing to much power from all of the appliances and electronics opposed to the previous tenant who was an elderly woman who lived alone with a TV a fridge and a couple of air units. I don't have nearly enough education to dispute anything.
I just am trying to inform you best I can from what a electric technician a maintenance man and a journeyman electrician have stated about the high bill the arching the bad outlets and wiring and amperage. I have no idea what happened beyond this but I will try to gather any information I can. I do believe they have processes that they are legally supposed to follow for this kind of thing.
Moderator (Daniel) Replied:
I'm still traveling between countries so my replies are but partial.
Watch out: But for a 1970s trailer it's really important that you find out whether aluminum electrical wiring was used for the branch circuits. If so and if it hasn't been repaired, that's a serious fire hazard.
Flickering lights and intermittent electrical failures can be a sign of that problem.
It's easy to determine. Just have your electrician look inside the electrical panel that contains the branch circuits for your home.
Reader AK Confirms: Aluminum Branch Circuit Wiring Found
I wanted to tell you thank you once more for taking time out of your day to respond. When I initially sent the photos and message, I wasn't really expecting much so when you responded I took the time to look at your bio and resume and I was honestly shocked at the credentials you have and thought wow, no way. I can't believe he actually responded. My husband was intrigued and I have to admit much more savy in the construction world then myself. This is all foreign to me, I have had no business tinkering with most trades especially electrical.
I try , I try I do what I can if possible. He told me it is aluminum wiring that branches and I said I would mention it to you and that you had been traveling but I think it best if there are any other questions and for accuracy sake he take over. We are both very appreciative you responded especially with a busy schedule. It helps to have someone with proven credibility to give advice narrowing it down. At your earliest convenience and if you have an opportunity feel free to reach us anytime if you can.
We currently have gotten in a position to prove management neglected to send work orders or an electrician but the utility company has gone as far as to avoid me until I hounded long enough mentioned court dates coming, then continue to give me the run around about the name being under the wrong email and account and sent 8 other individuals an email to proceed to send the mayor an email.
They knew what happened and closed my account with in 30 days permanently with no notice sticking firm to finalized for non payment. Now since it has been 90 days it can't be turned back on without an inspection but when it caught fire nobody wanted to look at it. Aside from already damaged wiring and smells of burnt plastic or rubber when it is actively powering the house we just couldn't afford the bill any longer and had no resolve at that point in time.
Moderator (Daniel) Replied: what to do if your home has solid conductor aluminum electrical circuits
Bottom line: solid conductor aluminum wire branch circuits are a very serious fire hazard, repairable by pigtailing short lengths of copper wire to the aluminum wire using special connectors.
But watch out: the fire hazard might even be increased if improper repairs are made or if repair attempts are made using the wrong connector.
So to repair your home properly, from the electrical panel onwards throughout the home will require an electrician who is familiar with aluminum wire hazards AND with the only correct repairs. So you can tell, even as an amateur, if the electrician is NOT the right person if she or he wants to use "wire nuts" - a twist-on connector, to do the copper pigtailing.
The more you can stand to read about this topic the better you can judge if your repair electrician is the right person for the job.
See at the very least:
This page that summarizes the repair options, of which the current most-used is method #3 on this page, the AlumiConn
To understand the issue, see Dr. Aronstein's article at https://inspectapedia.com/
Or this web page version of that information: https://
And if anyone tells you that your aluminum wired circuits, if they have not been "repaired" as described above are "safe" they're wrong - as we explain at
You are welcome to give all of these documents to your electrician. My advice is DO NOT permit any other repair methods - as they're not safe.
If there are other older mobile homes or trailers where your home is located, particularly homes built in the 1970s, you'd be doing your neighbors a very good service to advise them to have tiehri wiring checked too. Mobile home fires are among the most dangerous.
IF FIRE OCCURS (from any cause) - homes with Aluminum Electrical Wiring or in Any Home
KNOW WHAT TO DO IF FIRE OCCURS. HAVE A PLAN. DISCUSS IT WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. SEE YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR GUIDANCE.
INSTALL SMOKE and CO DETECTORS in your home. EARLY WARNING IS VERY IMPORTANT.
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