Why doesn't the dual-male extension cord trick for generators trip the breaker?
First off, I don't do this. I have a proper generator hookup for my panel with an interlock switch. But I do have friends who do the old trick of making an extension cord with two male ends, plugging one into the generator and one into an outlet, opening the main, and powering the house.
What I don't understand is why this doesn't trip the breaker for the circuit you plug it into. Say it is a 20A circuit you've plugged into... as soon as you try to pull more than that in via other circuits, it should trip, right?