B737-700
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 394; Flight Crew Type 11000
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On initial climb out the FO smelled a faint electrical odor that seemed to be coming from the overhead panel or overhead map light area. I could not smell it on my side of the aircraft. The FO could only smell it when he was close to the overhead panel. We proceeded to climb for a while to see if the smell would disappear. After several minutes; the odor would intermittently come and go. We discussed our options and decided the safest course of action would be to do a precautionary return to ZZZ. Dispatch and Maintenance Control were advised; and the release was amended to return to ZZZ. An emergency was not declared. The flight back to ZZZ was normal; except for a smooth overweight landing. Logbook entries were made per standard operating procedures.
On climbout from ZZZ; I detected what seemed to be an electrical odor coming from the FO side overhead panel. The odor was intermittent and was only detectable if I raised up out of my seat to position myself closer to the panel. Climbing through about 15;000 feet; I smelled it again. The odor could not be detected from the Captain's side of the cockpit or anywhere else on the aircraft. The Captain and I talked about our options and decided to land back at ZZZ as a precaution. All operations where normal except for overweight landing. Dispatch and Maintenance were involved.
B737-700 flight crew reported electrical odor from First officer's side of overhead; which resulted in a decision to return to the departure airport.