Modern Flames Challenger Electric Fireplace
The Modern Flames Challenger is the entry to the line: a flush-mount linear electric fireplace in 50 or 60 inches, 6 inches deep, that installs into a finished opening in a 2x6 wall or hangs on the wall. Ten flame colors with a matching glacier-crystal ember bed, five brightness levels, three heat levels from a 5,000 BTU heater, and a timer up to 7-1/2 hours, all from the touch panel on the front or the remote. Plug it in and it is done.
- Sizes: 50 and 60 inch, both with a 12-inch-high viewing area.
- Installs: recessed into a finished opening in a 2x6 wall, or wall mount. Indoor only.
- Power: plugs into a 120-volt outlet.
- Heat: 5,000 BTU, three levels, up to about 400 sq ft.
- Lighting: 10 flame and ember bed colors, 5 brightness settings.
- Media: glacier crystals.
- Made by: Modern Flames, Phoenix, Arizona.
Who it's for
Right buyer. You want the least expensive Modern Flames fireplace for a rental, a bedroom or a basement: a plug-in linear unit with ten flame colors, three heat levels and a remote, recessed into a 2x6 wall or hung on it.
Wrong buyer. You want a thermostat, an app, an outdoor rating or a flame that fills a wide wall. The Spectrum is a small step up in price and a large one in flame and controls.
Will it fit?
Dimensions from the specification sheet
The 60-inch Challenger uses the same 45 by 12 inch screen as the 50 in a wider face; both take the same framing width.
| Model | Width | Height | Depth | Framing, W x H x D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 inch (CEF-50B) | 50‑3/8" | 21‑1/2" | 5‑3/4" | 47‑1/4" x 20‑1/2" x 5‑1/2" |
| 60 inch (CEF-60B) | 59‑7/8" | 21‑1/2" | 5‑3/4" | 47‑1/4" x 20‑3/4" x 5‑1/2" |
The Challenger is 6 inches deep and made for a 2x6 wall. Send us the width, height and depth of your opening, or the wall space for a wall mount, and we will check it against Modern Flames' spec sheet for the size you want before you order.
Clearances
| Clearance | Minimum |
|---|---|
| In front of the heater, to curtains, furniture, bedding | 36" |
| Sides, top and back, to wood framing | 0" (the fireplace is designed to be framed in wood) |
| Floor | 0"; no hearth required |
Heat and power
Plug it into a 120-volt outlet. The heater gives up to 5,000 BTU in three levels, enough to take the chill off a room of about 400 square feet, and the flames run with or without it.
Installation
Plug-in, or hardwired, on a 120-volt circuit; the heater draws 1,500 watts, so give it a 15-amp circuit of its own.
- Recessed: cut the framing opening from the table above in a 2x6 wall, put the outlet inside it, and slide the fireplace in; the face overlaps the wall.
- Wall mount: hang it on the bracket, no opening needed.
What arrives
- The fireplace with front glass, glacier crystal media, remote and mounting hardware, with a 120-volt plug.
Before you order
- Indoor use only. Not for bathrooms, laundry rooms or anywhere it can get wet.
- It needs its own dedicated 20-amp circuit. Nothing else on the breaker, and never an extension cord or power strip.
- Keep curtains, furniture and bedding at least 3 feet from the front. The heater blows out of the top front.
- It is a supplemental heater for one room, not a home's main heat.
- The front is glass. Large sizes take two people to lift and to remove the glass.
- Built-in installs: frame the opening from the table above, run the electrical to the top right of the framing, and double-check the fireplace against the opening before cutting stone, tile or veneer.
How it performs
The Challenger is the plain version of the same idea: a flush-mount linear box, ten colors, five brightness levels, three heat levels and a timer. It is honest about what it is, a budget fireplace for a rental, a bedroom or a basement, and it does that well. The 60-inch is the 50-inch screen in a wider frame, which is worth knowing before you pay for the bigger one.
Trade-offs to know
- No thermostat, no app, no ember-bed control separate from the flame.
- 2-year warranty against 5 on the Orion.
- Both sizes show 45 inches of flame.
Living with it
Plug it in, set the timer, forget it. The touch panel is on the front glass and reacts to fingerprints as any glass does. Wipe it, and the crystals, occasionally.
Specifications
| Models | CEF-50B, CEF-60B |
|---|---|
| Type | Linear LED electric fireplace, flush mount |
| Installs | Recessed into a finished opening in a 2x6 wall, or wall mount |
| Heater | 5,000 BTU, 3 levels |
| Electrical | 120 V plug-in |
| Depth | 6 in |
| Viewing height | 12 in |
| Lighting | 10 flame and ember bed colors, 5 brightness levels |
| Controls | Front touch panel, remote, timer to 7‑1/2 hours |
| Manufacturer | Modern Flames, Phoenix, Arizona |
| Viewing area, 50 inch (CEF-50B) | 45" x 12" |
| Viewing area, 60 inch (CEF-60B) | 45" x 12" |
Warranty
| Component | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Fireplace, parts and workmanship | 2 years, limited |
| Source | Modern Flames dealer warranty statement, 2026; confirm with the registration card in the box |
Questions people ask
Challenger or Spectrum?
The Spectrum is the newer plug-in fireplace with Hybrid-FX flames, a 2x4 depth, a thermostat and a 5/8-inch trim. The Challenger is simpler and lower priced, 6 inches deep, with basic flame colors and three heat levels. If the budget allows, most people choose the Spectrum.
Can I run the flames without heat?
Yes.
Can I return it?
Electric fireplaces are large, glass-fronted and shipped by freight. Check the opening with us before you order, and contact us before returning anything.
Is the 60 inch a bigger fire?
No. Both sizes use a 45 by 12 inch screen; the 60 is a wider face around it.
What is the warranty?
Two years, limited, registered with Modern Flames.
Can it be hardwired?
Yes, plug-in or hardwired on a 120-volt circuit that carries 1,500 watts.
How much power does it draw?
1,500 watts on high heat, 15 amps, so it wants a circuit to itself; the flames alone draw a few watts.
Does it have a thermostat?
No. Three heat levels and a timer up to 7-1/2 hours; the Spectrum adds a thermostat.
Manuals and drawings
If you have any questions about this product, please let us know by filling out the form below, and we will contact you as soon as possible.
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