After hearing it for years, and never seeing it happen, it finally happened to us.
We are named as defendants in a lawsuit right now against an insurance co. that doesn't want to pay out for fire damage to a customers premises. The customer is on our side and has been one of our most loyal customers for YEARS.
In any case, I don't think it's going to end well.
Insurance companies are in this to collect premiums, not pay claims. As such they have a team of lawyers at their disposal.
You better be 100% before you change that breaker. Personally, I would only do it with a document from the generator manufacturer giving us their blessing.
Cow
The
bum steer could sway someone to the dung heap.
The circuit breaker that comes with generator is meant to protect the conductors that deliver power to the intended load.
Not intended to protect the generator itself.
OP stated that the wire 2/0 is good for 175 Amps.. . . and it is-- according to NEC Tables.
Clearly, based on the output power of the generator-- which is rated 100 kW-- the max current that will go through these conductors (not even considering the power factor of .80 ) is far less than the 2/0 wires can handle.
100000/460*sq rt 3=125.65
If we apply the .80 power factor--we would come up with 100 Amp current that will travel through the wires at full load. Much less than the wire ampacity.
Changing the breaker from 125 Amp to 175 Amp would not cause fire.
Here's why:
Most consumer type generators are the closed loop model that are equipped with self-excited field rotor. When I say self-excited it means no independent source for excitation.
In the event that overload or short circuit occurs-- the output of the generator will bog down and stop due to the collapse of the excitation voltage to the field rotor.
Without excitation power to the rotor --no voltage would be generated to cause fire.
This is one reason why NEC won't even bat an eye regarding "oversized" circuit breaker.
As long as the electrician is in his right mind and would not attempt to install a protective device that will exceed the conductor ampacity, AHJ won't give a damn.
Look it up in Art 700 if you find any restriction.
If what you are saying here were to be trusted. . .you need a good Electrical Engineer as expert witness that will take the stand and your attorney--that this is more than just a play of legalese.
This is more science and common sense than anything else.
You need your attorney to explain this to the jury (or judge). . . and even your knowledge of the electrical trade would help.
Attorneys are not engineers.
I'm not an attorney but I've been in lawsuits similar to this. . . not that I've been sued.
My hands are clean. LOL