I am in the midst of trying to wrap up my system upgrade/install before nationals and have hit a small snag and was looking for some input.
I am running two separate charging systems. See here for details http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,145377.0.html
The issue I am having is in regards to the second system (running off the Nations Alt) it was supposedly a 250A alt. but only tested at 207A peak. When I called nations out on it they asked for the serial # off the alt and it turns out they sent me a 220 by mistake. Since it was already installed and my my gorilla math, I was only going to need about 195 I opted for a partial refund.
Here's where I'm at today. I have a run of 1/0 OFC cable run to the battery, from there to a Stinger 200A breaker and then back to a distribution block supplying 1/2 of the system, a Kicker KX1600.1 for 1 sub and a RF R600-4D for some of the Mids and highs. The 1/0 run from the battery through the breaker and back to the block is 17'9" total
My RMS total is 2400 watts (1779 from the 1600.1 and 621 from the R600-4D). They're both putting out slightly above their factory ratings
By my calculations, my total draw should be right at 189A (12.7 watts generated per amp given the length of the cable) 2400 watts/12.7 = 188.9A
Here's the problem. On test hits, I'm popping the breaker on that side of the system. On the other side, there is no issue, but the draw is less, only 161A
Under normal playing conditions this wouldn't be an issue, but at max, I don't want to have to worry about popping the breaker.
I measured the output of the alt at 207.4A today and sure enough, on a test hit @56Hz. the draw soared up over the 199A mark and popped the breaker.
My question is in relation to the safety of swapping out this 200A breaker to a 250A. According to the manufacturer of the cable I am using, at a length of 18 ft. the max allowed amperage should be 238, which my alt is incapable of producing, so I don't think is would be an issue. But 250 is more than 238 and I don't want to (and not sure if it's even possible) jeopardized the entire system, or AV for that matter by switching to a breaker that is above the specs of the cable.
In all actuality, I should only be able to get about 8 more amps to the back anyway since that's all the generation I have. But the way it sits right now, I need those 8 amps, as I am clearly drawing over 200A back at the distribution block.
Thoughts?
I am running two separate charging systems. See here for details http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,145377.0.html
The issue I am having is in regards to the second system (running off the Nations Alt) it was supposedly a 250A alt. but only tested at 207A peak. When I called nations out on it they asked for the serial # off the alt and it turns out they sent me a 220 by mistake. Since it was already installed and my my gorilla math, I was only going to need about 195 I opted for a partial refund.
Here's where I'm at today. I have a run of 1/0 OFC cable run to the battery, from there to a Stinger 200A breaker and then back to a distribution block supplying 1/2 of the system, a Kicker KX1600.1 for 1 sub and a RF R600-4D for some of the Mids and highs. The 1/0 run from the battery through the breaker and back to the block is 17'9" total
My RMS total is 2400 watts (1779 from the 1600.1 and 621 from the R600-4D). They're both putting out slightly above their factory ratings
By my calculations, my total draw should be right at 189A (12.7 watts generated per amp given the length of the cable) 2400 watts/12.7 = 188.9A
Here's the problem. On test hits, I'm popping the breaker on that side of the system. On the other side, there is no issue, but the draw is less, only 161A
Under normal playing conditions this wouldn't be an issue, but at max, I don't want to have to worry about popping the breaker.
I measured the output of the alt at 207.4A today and sure enough, on a test hit @56Hz. the draw soared up over the 199A mark and popped the breaker.
My question is in relation to the safety of swapping out this 200A breaker to a 250A. According to the manufacturer of the cable I am using, at a length of 18 ft. the max allowed amperage should be 238, which my alt is incapable of producing, so I don't think is would be an issue. But 250 is more than 238 and I don't want to (and not sure if it's even possible) jeopardized the entire system, or AV for that matter by switching to a breaker that is above the specs of the cable.
In all actuality, I should only be able to get about 8 more amps to the back anyway since that's all the generation I have. But the way it sits right now, I need those 8 amps, as I am clearly drawing over 200A back at the distribution block.
Thoughts?