On Feb 20, 8:33 pm, "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??
....

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).