Now, if you are really cheap ba$tard and you want to wire you home for a temporary generator in an emergency situation,
This only works with small, 'Portable' Gensets, and this IS NOT the 'Proper' way to do things, and it's NOT TO CODE!
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TURN OFF THE MAIN BREAKER AT THE 'TOP' OF THE PANEL!
Get yourself a 30 amp side-by-side breaker intended for a 220 volt appliance, like a water heater, ect.
And leave it OPEN (nothing connected to it) in the breaker box.
LEAVE THE BREAKER TURNED 'OFF'!
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BUY AND STORE WIRE LONG ENOUGH TO REACH FROM THE GENERATOR TO THE FUSE PANEL,
AND BUY A 220 VOLT PLUG (Male) THAT FITS YOUR GENERATOR.
Virtually all the generators larger than the suit case size ones have a 220 volt outlet, make sure your plug fits that outlet.
USE AT LEAST 10/3 GAUGE WIRE!
That means 10 Gauge conductors, 3 insulated Conductors, and a bare earth ground wire.
Flexible wire is MANDATORY if you are going to use the generator for longer than a few days,
Solid wire is OK for a day or two, but the generator vibration will eventually stiffen and break the wire conductors.
Install the plug on the wire.
Wiring options will be...
Black, Red, White, Bare.
Black & Red are conductors, or 'Hot' legs and connect to the two breakers you installed in the box.
White is 'Neutral' and will need to be connected to the bar in the breaker box where the other 'White' wires are.
Bare will be EARTH GROUND, and must be connected to an EARTH GROUND ROD.
Black, White, Green, Bare.
Black & White are conductors, or hot legs and connect to the two breakers you installed in the box.
Green would be the 'Neutral' and gets connected to the same place in the box as the 'White' wires from other circuits,
Bare would be the Earth Ground.
When you have turned 'OFF' the main breaker,
Then, and ONLY THEN, do you start the generator,
And then you can turn the double breaker you installed in the box on for power to your panel.
If you EVER turn the main breaker on with the generator attached to the system, you stand a very real chance of electrocuting line workers trying to fix the power,
AND,
As a double bonus, you stand a pretty good chance of burning your house down or burning the generator up right where it sits!
BOTH MUST BE OFF BEFORE THE OTHER IS TURNED ON!
AND BOTH CAN NEVER BE ON AT THE SAME TIME!
I don't recommend this, it's dangerous, not up to code and I'm NOT trying to sell it as a home game!
If you don't fully understand how the breakers and electrical system works, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS!