Briggs & Stratton make generators for both residential and commercial purposes. Their quality engines and durability make them a good competitor of Honda and Yamaha. Also, these units are quite affordable. It means you get both quality and affordability at the same time.
Briggs & Stratton is not only popular because of its inverter generators, but the Company also makes high-quality portable conventional and standby generators. Moreover, their customer service is quite excellent.
So, here we are going to review the best portable and conventional generators from Briggs & Stratton. Go through the features of each machine to select the best one that suits your needs.
Award Winner
Briggs & Stratton has won the 2016 BizTimes I.Q. Award for its innovative QuietPower Technology.
This QuietPower Technology was first introduced for lawnmowers, but later it became the part of generators also.
Table of Contents
Briggs & Stratton Generator Reviews
Image | Product | Features | Ratings | Check Price |
 | Briggs & Stratton P2200 Inverter Generator |
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 | Briggs & Stratton 30676 Portable Generator |
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 | Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Inverter Generator |
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1. Briggs & Stratton P2200 PowerSmart Series Inverter Generator – Best Inverter Generator
Generator Type: Briggs & Stratton P2200 is a PowerSmart Series inverter generator. It is a perfect choice for those who frequently do outdoor recreational activities like camping and tailgating.
Fuel Type: It runs on gasoline.
Weight and Warranty: The generator offers a 2-year limited consumer warranty and only a 90-day commercial warranty.
But its 54 pounds makes it easy for the users to carry it to any place.
Engine: Briggs & Stratton P2200 comes with a fuel-efficient 111cc OHV engine. It has a low-oil shutoff feature that automatically turns off the engine because of lower oil levels.
Start System: It only supports the recoil start mechanism. But it generally starts with a single pull.
Power Wattage: With 2200 starting watts and 1700 running watts, you can easily power your electronics or other small appliances at campgrounds and tailgates. Also, you can complete some DIY(Do It Yourself) projects at home.
Total Harmonic Distortion Rating: Briggs & Stratton P2200 produces clean and reliable power. Its TDH (Total Harmonic Distortion) rating is less than 3%. It makes it ideal to power sensitive electronics like tablets, smartphones, laptops, and gaming systems.
Parallel Operation: Another best thing about this generator is that it is parallel capable. Users can link another Power Smart Series inverter to double the starting and running power at the time of need.
Fuel Tank Size and Runtime: It offers up to 8 hours of runtime at a 25% load on a 1-gallon fuel tank.
Quiet Power Technology: Its Quiet Power Technology ensures fuel efficiency, more silent operation, and lower emissions. This technology allows the engine to change its running speed according to the applied load. Thus, the generator offers extended runtime and quieter operation.
Power Outlets: The unit features two 120 Volt AC household receptacles, one 12 Volt DC outlet, and a USB adapter. These outlets help users power electronics, music systems, TV, lights, and other small items simultaneously.
Sound Level: Its operational sound is only 59 dB (A). The Super Lo-Tone muffler helps the generator to maintain this decibel rating.
My Opinion:
Pros: Briggs & Stratton P2200 is quite safe for sensitive electronic items. It offers excellent runtime despite having a 1-gallon fuel tank. Also, it operates quietly and features a low-oil shutdown sensor.
Cons: It cannot be shipped to California because of not being a CARB compliant generator.
2. Briggs & Stratton 30676 Portable Generator – Best RV Generator
Generator Type: It is a conventional portable generator that is an ideal choice for RV camping trips.
Fuel Type: Briggs & Stratton 30676 is a gasoline-powered generator.
Weight and Warranty: It weighs 111 pounds and offers a 2-year limited residential warranty. For commercial use, its warranty is only for 90 days.
Engine: A 208cc OHV engine provides decent output power, but it has no low-oil shutdown feature. So, users have to check oil levels regularly.
Start System: Only recoil start system
Power Wattage: Briggs & Stratton 30676 produces 4375 starting watts and 3500 running watts. This output power allows you to run a refrigerator or freezer, food processor, lights, fans, security system, and more. Or, if you are going to buy this generator for RV use, then this power output is enough to run a 15,000 BTU RV A/C.
Power Surge Alternator: It is also equipped with a power surge alternator. It produces 25% more starting power to operate large home appliances and tools at the same time.
Fuel Tank Size and Runtime: A 4-gallon metal tank fully loaded with fuel gives up to 8 hours of runtime at 50% load.
Power Outlets: There is a 120 Volt RV outlet to power an RV. Also, its control panel includes two 120 Volt GFCI household outlets.
GFCI is a circuit breaker that protects users from electric shocks.
My Opinion:
Pros: Briggs & Stratton 30676 is an RV-ready generator that gives decent output power. It features a Power Surge Alternator and offers 8 hours of runtime at half load. Also, the unit is quite easy to transport.
Cons: No electric start system.
3. Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Quiet Power Series Inverter Generator – Most Powerful Inverter Generator
Fuel Type and Power Output: The unit produces 6500 starting and 5000 running watts. This gasoline-powered inverter is one of the most sought-after machines from Briggs and Stratton and is the most powerful inverter in the market.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: The machine has a 5-gallon tank capacity. It can run for 7 hours on a 50% load and up to 14 hours on a 25% load. The runtime is impressive compared to the fuel capacity.
Engine Specifications: The inverter is built around a 306cc Briggs and Stratton engine. The engine is powerful and delivers a punch when you put high loads on the unit.
Outlets: Briggs and Stratton make sure that you get all the outlets you need. It reduces the need for adapters and power extensions. You get one 120/240V 30A twist-lock outlet, four 120V 20A outlets, and two USB outlets on this model.
Safety Features: It comes with CO guard technology. This feature monitors the amount of carbon monoxide in the surroundings and automatically shuts down the unit to keep you breathing air safely. You also get low oil shutdown, surge voltage protection, and protection from overloading.
Control Panel: It has a simple control panel and lacks a data center and LED indicators. The control panel options are recoil rope, output indicator, choke, fuel gauge, and on/off button. Please keep in mind that it is not an electric start model.
Dimensions, Weight, and Portability: A telescopic handle and rear wheels make this machine highly portable. You can even move it on rough terrains. The weight is 145 pounds, and the unit measures 25.5 x 21.1 x 21.4 inches. Such features make this machine your best friend for camping, tailgating, RVs, and other recreational uses.
Noise Level: It produces 65 dBA sounds. It operates silently because all the parts are enclosed.
Warranty: Briggs and Stratton gives a 1-year warranty for commercial and 2-year for residential use.
My Opinion:
Pros: The machine offers excellent runtime. It is highly portable than other brands in the same power range. Its fuel efficiency is better than a lot of top brands.
Cons: It is not a CARB-compliant model. The machine must have an electric start and a data center in this price range.
Buyer’s Guide
Before buying any Briggs & Stratton generator model, it is necessary to focus on some of its essential features. So, what are those features? In this buyer’s guide, we are going to highlight them.
Inverter vs. Conventional
Briggs & Stratton has both inverter and conventional generators. It depends on your needs to select any generator type.
The inverter is the right choice to get clean and stable power. These machines are lighter in weight, fuel-efficient, and operate without making much sound. You can either go for QuietPower Inverter Series or PowerSmart Inverter Series generators.
On the other hand, if you need higher output power, go for a conventional portable generator. These units are more decadent than inverter machines, but they come with wheels and handles for easy transportation. With these powerful generators, you can run various major home appliances, RV appliances, and power tools. Briggs & Stratton Elite Series is a perfect example of it.
Power wattage
Before selecting any Briggs & Stratton generator, make a list of things you need to power at home, RV, camping, or job site. It will help you to find out the total output power you need.
For appliances like refrigerators, coffee makers, and dishwashers along with fans and lights, you just need a 4000-watt generator. Keep in mind that we are talking about running watts, not starting watts. A generator with 4000 running power will have more than 5000 watts of starting power to operate motor-driven appliances.
To help you figure out your power needs, we have given an example below.
| Appliances | Starting Wattage | Running Wattage |
| Refrigerator | 1400 | 300 |
| 1/2 HP Furnace | 2350 | 875 |
| TV | 400 | 400 |
| Lights | 300 | 300 |
| AC | 1800 | 1200 |
| Total | 6250 | 3075 |
For such a setup, you will need 6250 watts to start all the appliances together and 3075 watts to keep them running at one single time. What you need to do is load management and start motorized appliances one by one. To reduce the load drawn from your generator, you must turn off the appliances not required at a particular time. It will keep the running cost down. If your power needs are in the same range, Briggs & Stratton 30676 Portable Generator is the best option for you. It will also provide you some cushion to adjust other loads.
Control Panel
Once you have decided the type and power output of your required unit next up is the control panel. A fully advanced control panel will feature an odometer, power outlets, on/off buttons, and a choke. All Briggs and Stratton units come with advanced control panels.
Power Outlets
Make sure that the generator has all the power outlets you need. If you are buying an inverter, you will need to run the appliances directly on the generator. Therefore, it is a must-have USB outlet and car adapter outlet along with AC/DC plugs.
Runtime
A generator that gives long runtime is always the best. Briggs & Stratton has several models that provide excellent runtime despite having smaller fuel tanks. It depends on selecting a fuel-efficient inverter generator or going for a powerful conventional generator with a big fuel tank to get a decent runtime.
Sound Rating
No matter whether you are camping, living in an RV, or doing some work at home during a power outage, it would help if you needed a generator with lower decibel ratings. Sound pollution is harmful to everyone, so a quiet generator is the best thing to get. Also, noisy generators can disturb your neighbors; therefore, you must select a lower dB generator (A).
Starting Mechanism
All the Briggs and Stratton generators on our list come with a recoil starting mode. Recoil generators are less costly than electric start models. The recoil starting mechanism is also easier and cheaper to repair.
Portability
Don’t worry about the portability features if you are buying a generator from the list above. The inverter generators come with carrying handles, and the conventional models have high-quality wheels along with push/pull handles.
Paralleling Capabilities
Inverters from Briggs and Stratton are parallel capable. You can connect two same models and double the power output and the number of outlets.
Warranty and Certifications
Briggs and Stratton’s generators are covered by a warranty of 2-3 years. They offer excellent after-sale customer service and repair. All the units come certified from EPA.
Price
Briggs and Stratton’s generators offer high quality and excellent features. Therefore, they have a high price tag on them. When you buy a Briggs and Stratton unit, you get the value of money in the shape of reliability, durability, and excellent features.
FAQs
Can I run commercial tools on Briggs and Stratton generators?
Yes. You can run commercial tools or residential appliances on your generator alike. If the tool’s starting wattage is lower than the maximum output of the generator, you can run it without any issues.
Is Briggs and Stratton best for RVs and camping?
Yes. Briggs and Stratton’s generators produce very low sound while running. You can use them without any worries.
Which is the best oil for Briggs and Stratton Generators?
The company recommends Briggs & Stratton SAE 30W generator oil. It is best for temperatures between 40F and 100F.
How to maintain and safely use my Briggs and Stratton generator?
For maintaining your generator in a mint condition, make sure you change the oil timely, inspect the spark plugs and keep the air filter clean. Always store your generator with an empty tank or use a fuel stabilizer and cover the unit with a generator cover. For a safe experience, never refuel or move a hot unit and keep a safe distance of at least 15 feet from your home. Ensure that you have provided ample space for exhaust heat exchange and never run your generator near windows or doors. Always connect the generator to your home with a transfer switch.
What’s the best deal; two smaller units or one large generator?
If you have smaller power needs and want independent units for your home/RV or office, go for smaller inverters. You can connect them to double the power output and increase the number of outlets. However, if your power needs are limited to one site only, and you need more power, then a large generator will be excellent.
Where are Briggs and Stratton’s generators manufactured?
Briggs and Stratton’s generators are the epitome of North American craftsmanship. The headquarters are located in Wauwatosa, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
What are the limitations of a Briggs and Stratton generator?
They are costly and generally heavier than other models with the same power output.
Conclusion
We have reviewed the best generators from the house of Briggs and Stratton. Buy one with confidence, and don’t worry about power outages. Briggs and Stratton units will go a long way with you.