A circuit breaker should never overheat but it does stay at a constant warm temperature.
Electric panel warm.
It should feel just as warm as a running appliance or electronic.
The wiring into a breaker must.
Fuse box fuse panel circuit breaker panel today most homes have what is officially called the electrical service panel or simply the service panel a circuit breaker panel is not exactly the same as the fuse box because it has mechanical toggle switch circuit breakers not fuses but.
So it is quite warm in that area.
A hot breaker switch when accompanied by flickering lights or intermittent power on the circuit indicates a bad breaker.
Circuit breaker service panels and fuse boxes.
Plus it was 95 degrees yesterday and you can feel that heat where the panel is.
Meanwhile electric ranges take 40 to 50 amp breakers and such things as the air conditioning system may be served by an even larger breaker or a subpanel.
If the breaker box burns when attempting to touch it or it is emitting a burning smell something is wrong with the wiring or items connected to the wiring.
Also there was no burning smell or buzzing around the warm breaker.
This is not a diy project for most homeowners.
This is a common problem with certain types of breakers such as federal pacific stab lok and zinsco sylvania but it can happen with breakers from other manufacturers as well.