7.2kW - Continuous?

[Jerome10]

I think I know enough about electrical code to be dangerous… but I’m prepared to be wrong

My understanding is that loads can only run continuously at 80% of the breaker rating. So if you have a 30 Amp breaker your continuous current draw can only be 24 amps.

Does the 7200 Watt PPoB allow 7200 watts of continuous running? 30 amp draw full-time?

If 30 amps is possible full time then does that mean the truck will trip the breaker at approx 37.5 amps?

Or does the truck allow only 7200 watts starting with 5760 watts continuous? Truck will trip at anything over 30amps?

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[turbopilot]

I think I know enough about electrical code to be dangerous… but I’m prepared to be wrong

My understanding is that loads can only run continuously at 80% of the breaker rating. So if you have a 30 Amp breaker your continuous current draw can only be 24 amps.

Does the 7200 Watt PPoB allow 7200 watts of continuous running? 30 amp draw full-time?

If 30 amps is possible full time then does that mean the truck will trip the breaker at approx 37.5 amps?

Or does the truck allow only 7200 watts starting with 5760 watts continuous? Truck will trip at anything over 30amps?

I have not done it myself but I have seen reports of PPoB running as high as 6.8 kW continuous. No reason it should not be able to support 7.2 kW. The Lightning supports 9.6 kW with PPoB.

I have been testing other bounds of PPoB and the PowerBoost engine. Last week I was in Denver for some meetings with my Airstream in tow. Denver was very hot at 102F midday and I wanted to keep the Airstream cool during the meetings. I was using about 2.6 kW from PPoB to run the air conditioner and base loads of the trailer.

I left PowerBoost continuously running at idle supporting the PPoB load for over 5 hours in that heat. The PowerBoost coolant never exceed 190F idling in those hot temperatures. I have growing confidence PPoB is a very robust generator.

 

[tsigwing]

I don't know about the ones on the powerboost, but circuit breakers can be rated for 100% usage.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Several years ago I remember another forum member doing extensive tests on the 7.2KW inverter to see just how robust it is. One of these tests included multiple hour sustained high level output at or near the inverter's max and it performed flawlessly.

 

[Jerome10]

Appreciate the feedback. Definitely helpful.

For purposes of my wiring in the trailer I'm working on, I'm then going to assume that the truck can supply 30amps continuously to my trailer load center.

Pretty sure my actual limitation is just going to be the 15 or 20 amp breakers I install in the load center anyway.

More curious if I were to somehow draw continuous 29 amps on the F150 if the truck would eventually shut off the PPoB. Sounds like I should be capable of something close to that despite probably never having a real-world case of it.

 

[tbeneteau]

Appreciate the feedback. Definitely helpful.

For purposes of my wiring in the trailer I'm working on, I'm then going to assume that the truck can supply 30amps continuously to my trailer load center.

Pretty sure my actual limitation is just going to be the 15 or 20 amp breakers I install in the load center anyway.

More curious if I were to somehow draw continuous 29 amps on the F150 if the truck would eventually shut off the PPoB. Sounds like I should be capable of something close to that despite probably never having a real-world case of it.

I ran my house when we lost power for almost 3 days continuous pulling between 2KW and 6KW depending on whether the A/C was on or not. Didn't miss a beat. Engine would just come on for a bit, then shut off for a bit. Burned approx. 8 gallons of fuel. Drove the wife's car to work. Neihbors thanked me for not running my gas generator at 110 decibels all night for 2 nights!!

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Appreciate the feedback. Definitely helpful.

For purposes of my wiring in the trailer I'm working on, I'm then going to assume that the truck can supply 30amps continuously to my trailer load center.

Pretty sure my actual limitation is just going to be the 15 or 20 amp breakers I install in the load center anyway.

More curious if I were to somehow draw continuous 29 amps on the F150 if the truck would eventually shut off the PPoB. Sounds like I should be capable of something close to that despite probably never having a real-world case of it.

Aside from charging an EV or another use case specifically designed for this type of power requirement, it's a little unrealistic to expect to see a constant high level draw to electronics even on a trailer for a prolonged period of time. In most cases there will be run cycles that will cause the load to fluctuate when devices are in operation.

When the load on the inverter exceeds a total of 3500-3800 watts the system will likely run the ICE continuously as the HV battery would not be able to maintain this level of draw without putting an excessive number of charge cycles on it. When in this state the truck uses the hybrid drive motor to supply the needed power to the in inverter directly as well as uses the HV battery to supplement the inverter demand as well as run other other systems on the truck should power draw increase suddenly. The entire system is designed to maintain the PPoB 's rated output pretty much indefinitely when in generator mode, but just know that most reports show that running it at 5–6kW sustained is closer to what we see in real-world use cases. Well provided there's fuel in the truck that is.

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