Same problem, panel 6.8.23 on ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS(Py3.7.8)
At first I thought cron on ssl, but it starts at 00:10, and the load rises at 00:00.
Restarting the panel process solves the problem until the next 00:00
By the way, panel 6.8.19 on Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS(Py3.7.8) does not have this problem.
Looking at the rate (3 seconds), there is a suspicion that the problem lies in the launch of the function:
def panel_status():
time.sleep(1)
panel_pid = get_panel_pid()
while True:
time.sleep(5)
if not panel_pid: panel_pid = get_panel_pid()
if not panel_pid: service_panel('start')
try:
f = Process(panel_pid).cmdline()[-1]
if f.find('runserver') == -1 and f.find('BT-Panel') == -1:
service_panel('start')
time.sleep(3)
panel_pid = get_panel_pid()
continue
except:
service_panel('start')
time.sleep(3)
panel_pid = get_panel_pid()
continue