Need help from someone who has already done this or from a wire nut (electrician)
I bought a gas generator to use here at the homesite if we lose power. I am ~1/2 mile from the main road and the only house on this leg of the power pole. I will most likely be without service for a long time during a ice storm or if a tree falls over my power drop.
I sized it to run the fridge, washer, some lights and few small appliances. Checked the amp draw on the fridge and used a online calculator to figure out the rest.I bought a portable 6500W start up and 5500W idle output generator and I want to feed it into the existing breaker panel to use during outages.
Questions are;
Per the state code I have to put a interlock on the breaker panel so that the MAIN and the breaker for the generator can't both be on at the same time. This is so we don't back feed power down the line and kill a lineman. I'm fine with that part and can install the interlock myself.
1) the breaker for a 6500w generator should be 50 amp and 5500W should be 40amp (using online calculator for this)- do I size the breaker input for start up amps or for idle amps?
2) Since the generator has its own circuit breaker is the breaker I install in the panel to tie the generator into really just a switch or does the breaker sizing matter that much.
3) I planned to hard wire in 8 gauge wire initially but now I am finding 10 gauge wire with ends already on them, is 10 gauge going to be enough?
4) The existing plug in on the generator to use the pre-made cable is 240v. I sized everything using 120v is this going to matter when I'm using the generator to feed power into the home breaker panel?
Im grateful for help, thanks in advance.
BoF