Home Page link

Federal Pacific Circuit Breaker Box with Challenger breakers???

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 3 of 3       << first < 1 2 3 Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Federal Pacific Circuit Breaker Box with Challenger breakers??? vic 02-20-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by John Grabowski on February 21, 2007, 8:02 am



> Just moved into an eighteen year old condo that has a federal pacific
> electric breaker panel with challenger circuit breakers.
>
> I have an 1988 vintage GE electric combination electric range/oven
> with an integrated over the range microwave.
>
> Every time I use the electric range, its oven, and the microwave
> together, the range circuit breaker in the panel box trips. This
> circuitbreaker is double breaker that has 40 on its two tandem
> switches which I assume is an 80 amp double breaker.
>
> I am looking for professional opinions
>
> Is it possible the 80 amp breaker is bad??
>
> Would the total draw of the range its oven and the micro on at the
> same time cause an 80 amp rated breaker to trip??
>
> Thanks for your help
>
> VIC
>

I've seen a number of those combo stove/oven/microwave units in my area.
The builders installed them in condos and townhouses. It is one unit fed by
a single 40 amp 230 volt circuit. The most simple thing to do is replace
the circuit breaker and see if that corrects the problem. What I don't
understand is how you have Challenger circuit breakers in a FPE panel? I'm
wondering if a previous owner pulled a fast one and swapped out the FPE guts
for Challenger innards. If so it is not an acceptable set up. To my
knowledge Challenger never made circuit breakers that were compatible with
FPE. Challenger is no longer in business, but a Siemens type BR circuit
breaker should work.


John Grabowski
http://www.mrelectrician.tv


AppliancePartsPros.com, Inc.
Posted by dpb on February 21, 2007, 8:36 am


> Just moved into an eighteen year old condo that has a federal pacific
> electric breaker panel with challenger circuit breakers.
>
> I have an 1988 vintage GE electric combination electric range/oven
> with an integrated over the range microwave.
>
> Every time I use the electric range, its oven, and the microwave
> together, the range circuit breaker in the panel box trips. This
> circuitbreaker is double breaker that has 40 on its two tandem
> switches which I assume is an 80 amp double breaker.
>
> I am looking for professional opinions
>
> Is it possible the 80 amp breaker is bad??
>
> Would the total draw of the range its oven and the micro on at the
> same time cause an 80 amp rated breaker to trip??
...

As others noted, that's a 40A breaker, not 80A.

At first thought was one of the GE "radar range" combination units w/
microwave in the oven but gather that isn't the case. Have one of
them of same vintage also w/ FPE panel. Don't have book handy to
check but just happened to be working on the range the other day (self-
cleaning unlock thermostat) and noticed it is on a 50A breaker.

But, as someone else said, don't change breaker w/o ensuring wiring is
adequate and while like yet another poster said I've never had a
problem w/ the FPE breakers/panels in 40-some years, wouldn't hurt to
check the breaker for temperature (does it feel warm? Shouldn't) and
if comfortable messing around in a panel, check the breaker itself for
connection. Wouldn't hurt to check the connections to the breaker and
the other end as well -- possible they might have run an AL cable for
the size at that vintage and there's some oxidation on terminals. If
can't find something obvious, probably best bet is to then get an
electrician in to look things over. Obviously, try to find the manual
for the range and see what it recommends. If don't have it and can't
find it on the back of the oven, check w/ GE direct contact or a GE
appliance outlet (not a BORG, a real dealer who also services and will
have information can look the older unit up or know).


Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 21, 2007, 10:19 am


As to FPE stab lock. I am the unfortunate owner of one of those panels
and am planning on replacing it this spring for SAFETY reasons.Would
of done it sooner lack of $$$ need to upgfrade to 200 amps. Existing
is 100 amp service here.

I accidently shorted a wire and watched it vaporize and explode:(

The #$@%$ breaker never tripped. Once a stab lock breaker trips ONCE
its 33% less likely to EVER trip again. Just search this panel and you
will understand........

The company falsified tests and went out of business over the mess.

Its a real fire hazard!!!!!!!


Posted by Stormin Mormon on February 23, 2007, 1:42 pm


I've heard of problems with FPE, but this is a really graphic
first hand report.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

: As to FPE stab lock. I am the unfortunate owner of one of those
panels
: and am planning on replacing it this spring for SAFETY
reasons.Would
: of done it sooner lack of $$$ need to upgfrade to 200 amps.
Existing
: is 100 amp service here.
:
: I accidently shorted a wire and watched it vaporize and
explode:(
:
: The #$@%$ breaker never tripped. Once a stab lock breaker trips
ONCE
: its 33% less likely to EVER trip again. Just search this panel
and you
: will understand........
:
: The company falsified tests and went out of business over the
mess.
:
: Its a real fire hazard!!!!!!!
:



Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 23, 2007, 2:42 pm


On Feb 23, 1:42=EF=BF=BDpm, "Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61-
&spambloc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I've heard of problems with FPE, but this is a really graphic
> first hand report.
>
> --
>
> Christopher A. Young
> =A0 You can't shout down a troll.
> =A0 You have to starve them.
> .
>
>
> : As to FPE stab lock. I am the unfortunate owner of one of those
> panels
> : and am planning on replacing it this spring for SAFETY
> reasons.Would
> : of done it sooner lack of $$$ need to upgfrade to 200 amps.
> Existing
> : is 100 amp service here.
> :
> : I accidently shorted a wire and watched it vaporize and
> explode:(
> :
> : The #$@%$ breaker never tripped. Once a stab lock breaker trips
> ONCE
> : its 33% less likely to EVER trip again. Just search this panel
> and you
> : will understand........
> :
> : The company falsified tests and went out of business over the
> mess.
> :
> : Its a real fire hazard!!!!!!!
> :

I stood in awe of what I saw:(

That got me googling FPE and its terrible history.


Page 3 of 3       << first < 1 2 3
Similar ThreadsPosted
Federal Pacific breakers January 11, 2006, 2:02 am
skinny Federal Pacific breakers April 1, 2008, 12:34 pm
Compatible Ckt Breakers For A LX112-24 Box by the Federal Pacific Electric Co. ? August 3, 2005, 7:50 pm
Breakers compatible with Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Load Center April 16, 2008, 4:30 pm
"Federal Pacific" Breaker box November 7, 2006, 8:42 am
Federal Pacific Fuse Panel September 18, 2006, 4:29 pm
Bargain on Federal breakers! March 16, 2008, 10:50 pm
A/C Unit Keeps Tripping Circuit Breaker - How to test breaker before calling repair man? August 25, 2005, 4:47 am
circuit breakers December 27, 2006, 9:10 pm
Two breakers, one circuit October 27, 2008, 6:25 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap