portable genset OCPD

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grantcool said:
I've got a Coleman Powermate 5/6.25KW portable generator with 25A breakers. Can i go up to 30A without doing any damage? I know it's pointless to try and ask Coleman.
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If your 30A breakers are after your 25A breaker, the 25A will (most likely) trip before the 30A.

If you're asking if you can change the 25A to 30A, then I guess it really depends on your skills. Physically you probably can, but is it code compliant? Probably not. Will it work? Maybe for a little while ... you may start to pull your frequency or voltage down though.
 
grantcool said:
I've got a Coleman Powermate 5/6.25KW portable generator with 25A breakers. Can i go up to 30A without doing any damage? I know it's pointless to try and ask Coleman.
Click to expand...

I doubt that merely changing the breaker to 30A would do any damage. But running it at a higher current level probably would over time. The breaker is partially there to protect the generator from running with too high of a load.
 
I'd be replacing the Coleman factory breakers on the unit itself with the next size up. Then my transfer switch will have a 30A breaker in it. Constant load will not be a full 30 amps, but might be more than 25amps. I just want to know if the generator can handle UP TO to 30 amps.
 
grantcool said:
I'd be replacing the Coleman factory breakers on the unit itself with the next size up. Then my transfer switch will have a 30A breaker in it. Constant load will not be a full 30 amps, but might be more than 25amps. I just want to know if the generator can handle UP TO to 30 amps.
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Problaby not. I would guess the 5/6.25 means the generator is rated at 5000 watts (5KW) and 6250 VA's (6.25KVA).

That's a maximum of 26 amps at 240 volts.
 
grantcool said:
I've got a Coleman Powermate 5/6.25KW portable generator with 25A breakers. Can i go up to 30A without doing any damage? I know it's pointless to try and ask Coleman.
Click to expand...

You mean Powermate 5000 Watt (constant) 6250 Watt (peak power) generator? Or the 6250 Watt (constant) model? Whichever- What matters is CONSTANT/ CONTINUOUS output rating. That's what it can run safely at (safely means not self destructing).
PEAK output is only for non-continuous motor starting surges (frige, oil burner,etc), short bursts of higher output,. Try running it at the PEAK rating for a longer time, you'll fry it (probably pretty quick).
I wouldn't change built-in breakers to higher amps unless generator was free and you have another to replace it with when it burns up.
 
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