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

Others have covered this pretty well BUT...
I just went through the exact same scenario and found it was the "stab"
which sticks up from the main bar in the breaker box, and sends juice
into the breaker was badly burnt - had all kinds of crud burnt onto it.
Had to replace the breaker (obviously part of the problem) AND had to
file the burnt crap off of the stab. Very important as otherwise the
contact will remain poor and the thing will fail again shortly. Also, I
could not find an exact replacement for the breaker and wound up getting
a quad breaker (40/30). Was lucky in that I had space. My house was
built in 1990. Remember to turn off main power before messing in there!!!

Lou