-
Circuit Breaker on Generator
Over the course of the last year, one of the circuit beakers on the side of the generator trips when the amps get around 40. It has progressively happened more often so I figured the breaker is getting week. I ordered a new one from Powertech and it is a two pole 70 amp breaker. When I took mine apart, it is clearly labeled 50amp. Jeff in service at powertech said my generator would never have been built with a 50 amp and all 17,500 units are 70 amp. I just want to be sure 70 amp is correct and safe to put in?
-
6 Replies
-
Take a picture and send it to him…to show it said 50 Amps.
-
He did not doubt that it said 50 amp, he said someone else has put it in because they did not build them with a 50 amp breaker.
-
Now I am even more confused. I took apart the other two pole breaker on the generator and it is a 20 amp breaker. I would replace the 50 amp breaker that trips, but powertech only sells a 70 amp or higher to fit and I can’t find one that matches the size in a 50 amp anywhere? Suggestions?
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
A 50 amp coach would be able to provide 100 amps (50 amps each) to the 2 separate circuits. 100 amps is 12,500 watts. A 17,500 watt generator would produce 145 amps so a 70 amp breaker (70 amps to each leg) would be the correct breaker for the genset and the coaches dual 50 amp breakers would protect the coach.
-
The breaker protects the wire downstream of it. Just because the generator can produce a given number of amps does not necessarily mean the breaker should be that size. Check the wire size that is on the breaker that feeds your transfer switch. If its number 8 or 6 depending on wire type, someone may have changed the wiring to the transfer switch. That would explain the 50 amp breaker. The 20 amp breaker is probably for the radiator fan.
-
Thank you for the replies. I understand how it is wired now. One breaker goes to the transfer switch and the second one does run the fan to the generator.
Log in to reply.