12-3 wire on a 30 amp breaker??

[Hot shot]

Don’t think that is good
The ice storm has put a hurting on power lines
We have been out of power since early Saturday morning
I have a generator
My next door neighbor finally found one generac 6500-8000
They just moved in a year ago
The setup his house has is 12-3 wire connected to a 30amp double pole breaker in house panel
4 prong plug on other end that plugs into generator
Pretty sure he should have at least 10-3 wire
It’s not the flat yellow wire used in houses
It’s white insulation
My guess is it has been like that since the house was built in 1999
Should he be careful about what he powers

 

[esvee]

It depends.

That breaker is probably made for an A/C unit specifically, which would fall under NEC, Art.440, Section III. 430.22E also specifies certain motors requiring a 30A breaker but can be wired with a 12AWG conductor.

https://www.mikeholt.com/mojonewsar...ning-and-Refrigerating-Equipment~20040102.htm

To make that breaker support whatever he wants to plug into it with the assumption there is 30A on the other side then yes the conductors should be 10AWG.

 

[walrus]

There was time when Romex was one color, white, so don't go by color of jacket to know if its 10 or 12 gauge.