[zachs]

I am buying a DuroMax XP10000E 10,000 Watt gas Generator which has a 120v/240v 50 Amp Heavy Duty Outlet (NEMA 14-50 3 Pole 4 Wire).

I will install a 50-Amp Power Inlet Box just inside the garage door & connect the generator to the inlet with a 50-Amp (10 Foot) Generator Power Cord w/ Straight Blade.

I will connect the 50-Amp Power Inlet Box to the main panel in the basement by running a 6/3 from the inlet box to the main panel.

Since the neutral & ground Bus is shared, it won’t matter which side of the panel’s Bus the neutral & ground is connected to.

Since each side of the panel is separate and must be energized individually, I need to know which breaker do I use?

Options may include:

1. Using 2 - 50AMP double pole breakers & feeding only one positive (red or black) to each of the breakers, one on each side of the panel.
2. Using 2 – 25AMP single pole breakers & feeding one positive (red or black) to each of the breakers, one on each side of the panel.
3. Other – explain.

In advance, thanks for your help.

[stanfortyman]

There is no positive and negative in AC wiring.

You need a 50A 2-pole breaker. That's it.

You do not add up the poles, meaning a 2-pole 25A breaker is not a 50A breaker.

[Missouri Bound]

As stated you are proposing an illegal installation. You need a transfer switch or an interlock mechanism. You aren't providing any protection for backfeeding the line. Just what are you thinking?

[Kyle_in_rure]

You just need a 2-pole 50 amp breaker, as others have said. Red to one side, black to the other, white to neutral bus, and ground wire to ground bus.

You really should install an interlock kit to prevent accidental line backfeeding. Besides being illegal, you could kill a lineman or damage your generator depending on the circumstances. You may remember to turn off the main breaker, but others in the future may not. They are relatively easy to install, might want to look them up.