Only have power to half my breaker box.

[MossRoad]

Also, some very good advice about consulting a profesional has been given. It seems like that would be prudent at this point.

 

[duke7595]

I'm not an electrician but have done this type of wiring with permits and inspections.

Regarding the white wires connected to breakers in the panel, I looked closely at the picture and it appears they are all on double breakers. Whoever installed them should have painted the ends black, otherwise, it is permitted.

OP, I suggest you start testing and verifying at the generator and work your way toward the breaker in the panel.

Use your volt meter to check voltage at each connection point.

First, as noted before, if you have a 240 / 120 switch on the generator panel, that it is set to 240.
Verify that any breaker or reset switch on the generator is reset.
Use meter to check voltage across the hot leads in the generator socket. Use your generator manual to determine which two are hot and not which is ground and which is neutral.

Next check voltage at the end of the cable that plugs into the box that you put in.

Check the wiring for the male plug in the box that you put in. Verify that each of the 4 wires are wired to the correct terminals and that they are mechanically connected correctly.

Next check voltage on the black and red wire where they are connected to the breaker. Assure that they are mechanically connected correctly.

If all the above checks out, then either the breaker did not get seated to each lug in the panel or the breaker is faulty.

Make any necessary corrections along the way. After making any corrections, continue verify correct wiring to the breaker.

Of course, this requires that you know how to properly use your volt meter. You must be careful in this process, not to short your self across live wires.

If you don't understand what I have said in this post, or why I said it, then seek professional help. I don't think it will cost much to get it done by an electrician.

Thank you you are the first person to understand that a white wire can be used for application on a 240 volt breaker. Some of the others call it scary. I installed this panel back in 1999 it is a 200 amp cutler hammer, updating a older 100 amp panel. I do agree I should have painted the "white wires black", other than that, I believe this
breaker box and all wiring are up to code, even the 120 volt applications are wired with 12/ 2 w/ G/ when 14/2 w/ G would have been up to code.

I will take your advice and test all the circuits again. The only reason I posted was to see if anyone had ever had this type of problem. Furthermore I am not a electrician only a home owner and have seen some very "scary" badly done breaker boxes, but mine is not one, also as stated I installed this panel in 1999 that is 15 years ago and have never had a problem thank the good Lord.

.

 

[duke7595]

With your generator runnng and using a VOM, you should have 220-240volts between Red and Black, or 110-120 between both red and black and nuetral (white wire) I can quite tell but it looks like several breakers have white wires attached. Bit scary regarding the potential for light sockets etc to be hot. Take care.

Bit scary to give bad advice as well, especially when you don't know what you are talking about. White wires are permitted for some 240 volt applications.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Most likely a mechanical connection in the box for the genny cable but best to double check everything.

 

[duke7595]

I vote for you need to get help.

Somehow you are confused, and I'm not sure exactly what the confusion is but I think it has to do with where to put the white (neutral) wire.

For the 240V generator breaker, you should have a red wire connected to one screw lug on the breaker, and a black wire to the second screw lug. I see what looks like a white wire leading to the generator breaker. It doesn't belong on the breaker. It belongs under a screw on the neutral bus--that strip of metal with lots of screws on the upper far right side of your panel in the picture where the other white wires are attached. I even hesitate to say that because god only knows what is on the other end of that white wire with you working on it. Harsh but true.

In truth, the wiring in your panel is downright scary. You don't have any meter or tester, and you don't really understand what you are doing. People are giving you correct advice but you are holding on to your own misconceptions. If you understood the problem, you wouldn't be asking for help--right? I don't think you are letting the help get past your confusion for some reason. You need to reboot.

Please get professional or knowledgeable help. There is no shame in that, especially when dealing with something that can kill or burn your house down.

Thank you for your information but you are very wrong and should not give out bad information, IMHO.

 

[duke7595]

Thank you all for for your advice, some were very good most lacked experience in this field.

Please be advised the problem has been corrected it was a faulty breaker.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Great. Glad you figured it out and got it going.

 

[duke7595]

Great. Glad you figured it out and got it going.

I want to thank you for knowing your "product so to speak" instead of condemning me as so many did. To give one advice when you are skilled is enlightening, but to
arbitrarily mock a person and tell them things that are not so is very sad. Why do some have to make statements without the knowledge to back them
is beyond me. Thanks again GPintheMitten you are a fine individual.

 

[Clint S]

Yeah, glad you figured it out. I knew it had to be something simple like that. Especially when you had no issues off the genny. BTW my parents house is wired like that too with 3 wire for 220 with white wires being hot. Done MANY years ago. Sure the ends should be colored red or black with tape or marker, but if that is the worse of it you are ok

 

[Zebrafive]

Swap the red and black wires on the breaker that will back feed the panel.
If the 1/2 of the panel that was dead now works the breaker is OK. Then you will know problem is from that breaker out to the generator.