Legal requirements for generator installation?
They claim that &quot;code&quot; requires that either we install a generator capable of supplying the entire 400 amps that the home's panel could be configured for (the current service is, if I recall correctly, 320A and this is more a by-product of having the service split into two panels, because we have a detached garage with bonus room above, so there is one panel for each building), or we can instead hire an electrician to install a power monitor for a month and then size the generator based on the results of that monitoring.


No
Sounds like an effort to &quot;upsell&quot;. You can have as small or large a generator as you want. Quite often a generator will be sized for critical loads (e.g., refrigerator, air handler for furnace) + a couple of convenience circuits. Or &quot;everything but the air conditioning and the electric dryer&quot;. Or anything in between. Or &quot;everything&quot;.
It is entirely up to you. Just understand that if you put in a generator that can't handle &quot;everything&quot; and then try to use it for &quot;everything&quot;, you will run into trouble. Which might take the form of &quot;generator turns itself off because it is overloaded&quot; - and then you have nothing running at all.


They claim that, in spite of the statements by the manufacturer (e.g. &quot;Can Be Installed Just 18&quot; From a Structure - Capability to be installed 18 inches away from a structure, ideal for areas with tight lot lines. Generac's is the only manufacturer of standby generators to have 18&quot; offset on most of its residential lineup.&quot;), we will be required &quot;by code&quot; to locate the generator a minimum of five feet from the building.


Maybe
There may be some truth to that. A state, county or local building code may place additional requirements that override the manufacturer's minimum requirements. Or they may be citing old requirements that have been superseded by Generac's 18&quot; capability and they just don't know it. Or they may be just making it up - e.g., perhaps to try and sell you on a separate pad for the generator instead of being able to use concrete already in place next to your house.