I am planning to get a 5,000-or-so watt, 240v portable emergency generator, and I would like to connect an outside receptacle for it to a spare 30 amp breaker in my main 200 amp panel. I have hooked-up borrowed generators in past years using a hot-wired round #8 stranded 3-wire cable to this 30 amp breaker(main breaker off, of course), and it worked fine for days, with one insulated wire to the ground bar and the two insulated hots to the 30 amp breaker. I only run a few lights, a TV, a microwave, the refrigerator, an upright freezer and a small oscillating fan with it. I would like to use this same wire to wire an outside receptacle to plug the generator into on my porch to the 30 amp breaker in the panel. I've done a Search above on portable generators and have seen the other posts regarding different ways to wire portable generators. I know that the hot-wire version works O.K., but do you have any comments about what I'm planning to do before I contact the local Building Inspector about a permit, and he tosses me out? I don't know electrical code. Thanks. Mike

Would it be wise to turn the main breaker off in the main panel if I am adding a new breaker? Not sure if it is adviseable to insert it while hot.:confused: