asihi Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Hi everyone. I did a forum search and couldn't seem to find and answer to my question. I did a job on an early 80's condo that had a FPE Stab Lok panel installed. Instead of FPE breakers, someone installed all Challenger breakers. The problems with the Stab Lok panels and breakers are well documented and I always recommend upgrading then when I find them, but I can't seem to find much information about the reliability and function of replacement breakers. To me, this set up still has the same poor connection at the bus bar, but I'd like to get other opinions. Would you still recommend replacing these panels when the breakers are replaced? Thank you in advance. Tony Click to Enlarge 43.05 KB A quick edit; after looking at some of the pictures that I took, I noticed that it not only says Challenger on the face of the breaker, it says Stab Lok as well. Are these the same crappy breakers as the orange handled Stab Lok breakers? Click to Enlarge 84.37 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 I've never heard of Challenger breakers as a solution to the FPE issues, so that wouldn't stop me from writing it up. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Jones Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 I am fairly certain, that the same company that made the FPE Stab Lok breakers, also made the Challenger breakers. Either way, I am with Marc, write it up and recommend it be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 The newer FPE Challenger breakers are assembled in Mexico. The original, bad FPE Stab-loks were made in New Jersey, AFAIK. I have no other info to provide. Canadian Federal Pioneer Stab-Loks are very popular here, not the same product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI in AR Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 The breakers may be different internally, but the same crappy connection exists where they "stab" into the bus at an angle so the problem still exists where they can loosen/arc over time. I'd write it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caryseidner Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 It's tough to say from those tight pics, but it could be a Challenger retrofit. Everything in those shots look very new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asihi Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 It's tough to say from those tight pics, but it could be a Challenger retrofit. Everything in those shots look very new. The building was built in 1989 and the panel was very clean. It definitely was a FPE Stab Lok panel. I was surprised to find the Challenger breakers when I opened the cover. It seems that Challenger made these breakers specifically for Stab Lok, with the Stab Lok name printed on its identification sticker. I can't seem to find any information on these breakers at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Jones Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 I found this article which mentions the Challenger breaker being manufactured by the same group that made the Stab Lok breakers. http://www.bankselectricllc.com/Panel_U ... %20PDF.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asihi Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 I found this article which mentions the Challenger breaker being manufactured by the same group that made the Stab Lok breakers. http://www.bankselectricllc.com/Panel_U ... %20PDF.pdf Great article. Thanks Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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