I am using a ground fault sensor in conjunction with a controller to protect from stator ground fault on a generator. I have come across several that say they are rated at 10, 20 and so on amps. (the system shuts down only when stator ground fault occurs.)

What I am wondering is what would happen when the current is overloaded beyond what the CT switch is rated at. If you look at the diagram it will show that very high currents can flow while in many other ground fault applications, it is only small fault currents that will flow. Will the saturation cause a regular ground fault CT to be damaged?

Do I need to consider something else for what I am doing?

I have attached a diagram.

 

I don't know what your generator is rated for, nor your load.

Square D used to test their breakers to 1,000% overload or more.

I don't know what they do for testing nowadays. I don't know what other manufacturers do as far as testing, either. However, the old Square D breakers could handle it.

 

It is more a question of whether the CT can take it without burning up not so much whether or not the breaker can handle it. I think it has to do with the VA rating of the CT switch.

 

You are working around very dangerous equipment, Minimum
O.S.H.S. Standards regulation1910.333-N.E.C.-11016 you need to stay
away from this equipment ,let your safety supervisor deal with these problems
if you want to continue to live. VERY DANGEROUS TO BE NEAR- DON'T
RISK YOUR LIVE- LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERT WITH P.P.E. EQUIPMENT.

 

You are working around very dangerous equipment, Minimum
O.S.H.S. Standards regulation1910.333-N.E.C.-11016 you need to stay
away from this equipment ,let your safety supervisor deal with these problems
if you want to continue to live. VERY DANGEROUS TO BE NEAR- DON'T
RISK YOUR LIVE- LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERT WITH P.P.E. EQUIPMENT.

seriously?

I'm pretty sure OP is asking what happens to a breaker when the current grossly exceeds the rated current.
and that depends on the current....
On the back of the circuit breaker it will tell you what the short circuit current rating is, and most breakers are rated to 10,000 amps. this means that if I send a 10,000 amp current through the breaker, it will not explode.
And by explode i mean send parts flying through the 16 gauge sheet metal circuit breaker panel.

The short circuit current may indeed be that high if powered from a step down transformer of around a 100-1000KVA rating within a hundred feet or so. And I've heard stories of entire circuit breaker panels launching themselves across the room, or a bus bar bent, or vaporised, never had the chance to see it happen though

In the case of a generator of a few kilowatts, the peak current available is only a few hundred amps, and only for a short amount of time, as the voltage drops so does the excitation.