Challenger Panel

[kwb]

Does anyone here know if the root cause of the problems with the challenger panels was the breaker them selves or the buss-bar in the panel?

I have a panel that has a breaker that has arc burns and need to know if replacement with the BR style breaker for all the breakers is where I can go or if I need to do a full meal deal and replace the whole shooting match.

 

[gasaxeman]

I would say it would depend on the condition of the bus in the panel.
The heating caused by loose connections at the bus to breaker can cause damage to adjacent breakers and the bus detail.

 

[kwb]

The bus has minor burns but I can clean that up if replacing to new style breakers solves the problem.

What I don't want to do is drop the cash on repopulating with BR breakers then need to change out the panel anyway.

 

[jeff000]

It's the breakers that are the issue, too large a gap in the contacts.
But personally I would get that pos out of my house/shop/garage/shed/etc.

 

[Norcal]

If the bus is damaged then the panel should be s@#%canned, the Eaton/Cutler-Hammer BR breakers are UL classified replacements for Challenger, for anyone unlucky enough to have a Challenger panel, before they were Challenger Electrical Equipment Corp., they were known as Zinsco, & Sylvania.

 

[Mustang51js]

The bus has minor burns but I can clean that up if replacing to new style breakers solves the problem.

What I don't want to do is drop the cash on repopulating with BR breakers then need to change out the panel anyway.

Spend the money and swap it out, it's a temp fix and over time the new breakers will start arcing and doing same as old ones. It's not that much money for a new panel unless you go with cutler hammer or sq d QO series.

 

[C96]

If your referring to the old Zinsco, most definitely **** can the entire panel. They are notorious for meltdowns.

 

[Norcal]

If your referring to the old Zinsco, most definitely **** can the entire panel. They are notorious for meltdowns.

http://www.ismypanelsafe.com/images/zinsco_burned_02.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Challenger used Zinsco mains, but the bus is different, different branch breakers.

Zinsco became GTE Sylvania, & GTE later sold their Electrical Equipment Group & it became Challenger.

Companies who used Zinsco mains include Challenger, Westinghouse (BR),Unicorn, which was bought by Milbank & I think they still use the Zinsco style breaker.