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Your Receptacle is Wired Incorrectly

Top picture shows wires going into the white back section of the receptacleOriginal answer deleted - it was based on my erroneous assumption that this was all 14-50. The green ground and white neutral should be opposite each other, withIt turns out the redhouse connection (inlet and black hot wires on either sideone of the groundcord) is SS2-50 while the generator is 14-50. InsteadNot sure why, black and white are on either side of the groundbut that's what is being installed.

Interlock and breaker connections look OK. The junction box looks OK, though I can't tell foram not sure which way itwhy there is a junction box and not just a single cable run from panel to inlet.

Which leaves testing the extension cord and the receptacle wiring with a multimeter as the next steps. If the generator runs by itself should be(others already suggested checking that) then the remaining possibilities are:

  • Ground in the current position
  • Black and red next to ground
  • White in the current red positionExtension cord - miswired or internal short

or

  • White in the current greenInlet - miswired or internal short (ground) positionunlikely because OP tried two different inlets
  • Black and red next to whiteJunction box - looks OK but some testing wouldn't hurt. And fix up the open cables outside the box.
  • Green in the current red positionBreaker/panel - looks OK, but again testing wouldn't hurt.

but I'm willing to bet it is oneMost of those possibilities. Itthis testing should be pretty clear just by looking at the front and back ofdone using a multimeter to check resistance/continuity with the receptaclegenerator off for safety. AndIf/when you can always check for sure usingfind a multimeterproblem and resolve it, then put everything back together and try the generator again.

Your Receptacle is Wired Incorrectly

Top picture shows wires going into the white back section of the receptacle. The green ground and white neutral should be opposite each other, with the red and black hot wires on either side of the ground. Instead, black and white are on either side of the ground.

I can't tell for sure which way it should be:

  • Ground in the current position
  • Black and red next to ground
  • White in the current red position

or

  • White in the current green (ground) position
  • Black and red next to white
  • Green in the current red position

but I'm willing to bet it is one of those possibilities. It should be pretty clear just by looking at the front and back of the receptacle. And you can always check for sure using a multimeter.

Original answer deleted - it was based on my erroneous assumption that this was all 14-50. It turns out the house connection (inlet and one of the cord) is SS2-50 while the generator is 14-50. Not sure why, but that's what is being installed.

Interlock and breaker connections look OK. The junction box looks OK, though I am not sure why there is a junction box and not just a single cable run from panel to inlet.

Which leaves testing the extension cord and the receptacle wiring with a multimeter as the next steps. If the generator runs by itself (others already suggested checking that) then the remaining possibilities are:

  • Extension cord - miswired or internal short
  • Inlet - miswired or internal short (unlikely because OP tried two different inlets
  • Junction box - looks OK but some testing wouldn't hurt. And fix up the open cables outside the box.
  • Breaker/panel - looks OK, but again testing wouldn't hurt.

Most of this testing should be done using a multimeter to check resistance/continuity with the generator off for safety. If/when you find a problem and resolve it, then put everything back together and try the generator again.

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Your Receptacle is Wired Incorrectly

Top picture shows wires going into the white back section of the receptacle. The green ground and white neutral should be opposite each other, with the red and black hot wires on either side of the ground. Instead, black and white are on either side of the ground.

I can't tell for sure which way it should be:

  • Ground in the current position
  • Black and red next to ground
  • White in the current red position

or

  • White in the current green (ground) position
  • Black and red next to white
  • Green in the current red position

but I'm willing to bet it is one of those possibilities. It should be pretty clear just by looking at the front and back of the receptacle. And you can always check for sure using a multimeter.