Quicksilver 6.5kw Generator's Circuit Breaker keeps popping out

Sundancer_340

Member
Sep 3, 2012
68
Washington DC
Boat Info
1996 Sundancer 450
Engines
Twin CAT 3116
Inboards
Kohler 8.5Kw genset
Someone please help me! Over the weekend I was using my Quicksilver 6.5kw Generator (QS-6.5G) to run the A/C and stuff. Ran fine for 5-6 hours, and then in the middle of the night (3am) the circuit breaker popped out, killing the power and generator. In the morning I pushed the circuit breaker back in, started it right up, ran for an hour or so until i could make coffee and cool down the cabin, and it popped again killing the generator.
What could be causing the circuit breaker to trigger and keep popping out?
Could it be a bad circuit breaker, or something else? :huh:

Thanks!!
 
Circuit breakers can get weak over time but it is pretty rare. Next time you are on shore power with no load on the genny, run her for a while and see if she trips off.
Most circuit breakers work off of bi-metal heating. two metals of different type are welded together as current flows through them, they heat up. if they heat up too much(too much current), because of the different types of metal they start to bend, effectively breaking the circuit.

If you can, the simplest thing would be to swap it out with a known good unit. Another possibility is that you are, in fact, over loading the circuit. Hunt down an electrician or somebody with what is called an 'amp clamp' to see what kind of current you are really drawing.
 
ok thanks, I'll try those this weekend and see what happens!

Circuit breakers can get weak over time but it is pretty rare. Next time you are on shore power with no load on the genny, run her for a while and see if she trips off.
Most circuit breakers work off of bi-metal heating. two metals of different type are welded together as current flows through them, they heat up. if they heat up too much(too much current), because of the different types of metal they start to bend, effectively breaking the circuit.

If you can, the simplest thing would be to swap it out with a known good unit. Another possibility is that you are, in fact, over loading the circuit. Hunt down an electrician or somebody with what is called an 'amp clamp' to see what kind of current you are really drawing.
 

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