Most people know that water and electricity do not pair well. But you might not realize how damaging even small water leaks can be over time.
When a bus duct fails, the damage can be sudden, but the cause often builds quietly over years. One of the most common and costly culprits is water intrusion.
Even small leaks or prolonged humidity exposure can wreak havoc on bus duct and riser systems. Because water and electricity don’t mix, we continue to see the same pattern time and again — rust, corrosion, and insulation breakdown that eventually lead to catastrophic failure.
Case in Point: Restoring an ITE XL-X Bus Duct
A local testing company brought Circuit Breaker Sales NE (CBSNE) a severely damaged ITE XL-X 600 V, 2000 A bus duct section. The unit had been in service far longer than it should have been — despite years of water damage and even evidence of nesting rodents inside the enclosure.
By the time it arrived at our facility in Seymour, Connecticut, it was in complete disarray. The internal components were corroded beyond recognition, insulation had deteriorated, and much of the original structure was unsafe to reuse.
Stripping It Down and Building It Back Better
Our shop technicians got to work immediately. Multiple shifts worked around the clock to:
- Completely disassemble the bus duct down to its bare components
- Remove corrosion and rust through cleaning, blasting, and refinishing
- Repaint and replate components to restore protective coatings
- Design and fabricate new parts to replace those that were no longer serviceable
- Rebuild and test the section to ensure like-new — or better — performance
In the end, CBSNE’s customer had a fully remanufactured bus duct section, better than new, ready to go back into service with improved reliability and longevity.
Why Water Intrusion Is So Dangerous
Bus duct and riser systems are designed for long service lives, but they depend on a dry, sealed environment. When water enters through cracks, unsealed joints, or building leaks, it can have devastating effects. In addition to accelerating metal corrosion, water can degrade insulation resistance, promote tracking and arcing, and ultimately lead to unexpected outages or safety hazards.
Regular inspection and maintenance are essential to prevent small problems from becoming major outages.
Fast Response, Proven Results
When failure strikes, downtime can be costly. That’s why the Circuit Breaker Sales team is equipped for rapid response and turnaround on bus duct, switchgear, and circuit breaker repairs.
Whether you’re facing an emergency or planning preventive maintenance, we deliver expert repair, remanufacturing, and testing services that help keep your electrical distribution systems running safely and efficiently.
Contact Circuit Breaker Sales today for both your emergency restoration and blue-sky reliability projects. When water and electricity meet, you want experience on your side.