vic wrote:

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 wouldn't just assume that the appliances are in fact overloading the
breaker and tripping it.

One of the ways that a breaker can trip is from higher than normal
temperatures in the breaker itself. And THAT can happen if the
breaker "stab" connections have high resistance. And *that* type
of failure at the stab is a hallmark of the FPE design.

In my opinion, a double 40Amp (thin) in one of those panels
is simply asking for trouble.

How will you find out? With an Amprobe clamp-on meter,
measure the actual current draw. If it's below the rating,
then you can assume the breaker/panel is at fault.

Plan "B": Open the piggy bank to have a new panel installed.

Jim