Connecting a 110 Volt 300 watt generator to a 220 Volt panel

As hot water over 125 degrees F represents a scalding hazard.

That is why thermostats were invented.

heating 448 pounds water at 70 to 120F requires 50 x 448 or 22,410 BTU's.

The generator gas tank will be empty before a 54 gallon WH would begin to boil, if there was no thermostat involved.

You're the one making a statement about not wiring in a thermostat.

ASSumption... that you're starting out HW filled with 70 degree water.

Which is an improbable event to reoccur more than once.. Most people won't tolerate 70 degree shower for very long. Hot water in the heater isn't going to magically cool down to ambient overnight.

For how many days???

After Wilma's eye wall hit us hard (twice).. Our area was without grid power for 13.5 days ! Next block over was without grid power for 17 days !!!

Each morning I ran genny for 4 to 5 hours, make Breakfast & lunch.. power frig's, charge bat's..

And another 4 to 6 hours in evening, power frig's, make dinner, hot water(for morning showers), charge bat's, watch some TV.

For the most part, it took 110v mod running w/genny just a couple of hours to bring a 30 gal WH back to it's thermostat set point and disconnect.

ASSumption.. that you have a small fuel tank and you don't refill it. ASSumption.. that you are always aware of the temperture of water in HW heater.

Bypassing critical safety features is a good way to hurt someone..

Oh!

I see the problem, you misunderstood.

"Why wouldn't a pigtail 110 VAC receptacle wired across the lower element/thermostat be sufficient as a connect point if the main breaker

and the WH breaker are both in the OFF position? "

The thermostat WOULD be in control.

Sorry.

That's telephones, not AC power wiring.

A 300 watt gen? whats it powered by a weed eater motor. Even 3000w would be overtaxed