Standby generator sizing & permit checklist

Plain shopping and permit desk for homeowners considering a permanent standby generator. Critical-circuit worksheet, high-level transfer notes, fuel tradeoffs, and a hire-a-pro path. No DIY wiring or gas-install how-tos.

How to use this desk

1. List what must stay on during an outage (fridge, well, medical devices, heat, WFH) on the sizing worksheet.
2. Decide fuel path at a shopping level: propane / natural gas / diesel.
3. Skim transfer options at a high level (ATS vs interlock notes) — then stop DIY at “call a pro.”
4. Walk the permit / inspection path and find your local AHJ.
5. Optional: browse the gear shopping list (Amazon placeholders only).

Pages

• Sizing worksheet

  Critical circuits vs whole-home. What to write down for your electrician — no fake amp math.

  Sizing worksheet →

• Permit path

  High-level electrical / mechanical / inspection steps. WA-flavored notes + how to find your AHJ.

  Permit checklist →

• Fuel options

  Propane, natural gas, and diesel tradeoffs for shopping conversations — not install instructions.

  Fuel options →

• Gear checklist

  Generators, CO alarms, inlet boxes — Amazon href="#" placeholders only.

  Gear checklist →

Hard stops (safety-first)

• No backfeeding through a dryer outlet or temporary cord into the panel. That can kill lineworkers and neighbors.
• Permanent standby needs a proper transfer method (typically an automatic transfer switch) installed to code.
• Interlock kits are a portable-generator conversation — not a substitute ATS for a whole-home standby unit. Your AHJ decides what is allowed.
• Do not size from panel amp alone (e.g. “200A panel → buy X kW”). Load habits and motors matter. Your electrician runs a real load calculation.
• Gas / diesel piping and tanks belong to licensed gas fitters / fuel contractors — not this site.

Transfer notes (high-level only)

• Automatic transfer switch (ATS): Usual pairing with a permanently installed standby generator. Senses outage, starts the unit, switches loads, returns to utility when power is back.
• Manual transfer switch: You flip switches for a pre-wired set of circuits. More hands-on; still professional install.
• Interlock kit: Mechanical lock so utility and generator breakers cannot both be on. Common with portable generators where the AHJ allows it. Not the same product category as a standby ATS.

This site stops at definitions. Wiring diagrams, breaker swaps, and gas-line work are out of scope — hire licensed trades.