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Originally Posted by Qbranch
Hey, on the note of OSHA:
While I was buying some parts for a robot I'm building for fun, I ran across the electrical specs for that red main battery connector FIRST uses. Did you know its only rated for 50 amps?! 
That means that there is a 120 amp breaker behind a 50 amp connector...
anyone else thinking this is stupid and is a safety/fire hazard?  |
This has been noted before. The basis for using a connector that is seemingly underrated is that, in 2 minutes, 120 amps could not compromise the connector. The key here is the time factor. If matches where significantly longer, then a lot of rules surrounding electrical safety might have to change.
In fact, if you looked at the average amount of current pulled over the whole two minutes, I bet it would be under 50 amps.
The connector is capable of carrying much higher currents over a 2 minute time span then it's rating would otherwise suggest. There is no danger from a properly cared for connector. You can use higher rated connectors if you wish, assuming rules don't change, as long as inspectors are satisfied that they meet all the requirements that the kit Anderson meets.
-Andy A.