Briggs & Stratton is an American-based company, which was created in 1908 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as an informal partnership between Stephen F. Briggs and Harold M. Stratton.
Today, Briggs & Stratton is a Fortune 1000 company and has become among the renowned brand names in the power industry and is the largest manufacturer of gasoline engines and outdoor power equipment.
The engines manufactured by Briggs & Stratton are commonly used in generators, lawn mowers, pressure washers, etc. The engines were originally made of cast iron that were sturdy and durable; however, later they moved to aluminum engines, which were extremely lightweight.
Briggs & Stratton is a trusted name worldwide and the equipment they manufacture are dependable, reliable, efficient and affordable too. Briggs & Stratton products are manufactured, marketed and serviced in around 100 countries and 6 continents across the globe.
Briggs & Stratton quality is something that you can trust and Briggs & Stratton generators are built to last a lifetime. The large service network ensures that if you have any problem with any Briggs & Stratton generator or engine you have purchased, you won’t have any problems having it serviced anywhere.
Also, Briggs & Stratton offers a 2-year limited consumer warranty and will replace or repair any part that has material or workmanship defects, and on commercial use, the company offers a 1-year limited warranty on the repair and replacement of any defective parts.
All the repairs under the Briggs & Stratton warranty are to be done only by the authorized service centers of the company. The transportation costs to send or receive the parts will be borne by the customer. The proof of purchase of the product is required for the warranty, as the warranty is applicable from the date of purchase mentioned in the invoice. If the receipt of purchase is not available, then the manufacturing date of the particular product is taken to ascertain the warranty period.
In-Depth Briggs & Stratton Generator Reviews
| Image | Generator Reviews | Max Continuous Running Watts | Max Starting Watts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Briggs & Stratton P3000 PowerSmart | 3,000 | 2,600 | Check Price |
  | Briggs & Stratton Q6500 | 5,000 | 6,500 | Check Price |
  | Briggs & Stratton 30676 | 3,500 | 4,375 | Check Price |
  | Briggs & Stratton 30664 | 8,000 | 10,000 | Check Price |
 | Briggs & Stratton 30553 | 1,600 | 2,000 | Check Price |
Briggs & Stratton P3000 PowerSmart Inverter Generator: Best Dependable Inverter Generator
The generator has a fuel gauge and 7 power outlets that allow you to connect almost whatever appliances you want. The generator also features a StatStation easy-to-read LCD display that indicates low-oil, the power used, unit hours, air filter, spark plug and oil change reminders, etc.
The generator has a recoil start, which makes the starting very easy and the generator has a microprocessor that determines the power required by your appliances. The auto idle mode makes the generator very fuel-efficient. And, if you need more power, you can simply connect two PowerSmart generators to double the power.
The best part about the Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart Generator is that it is very easy to transport, thanks to the air-less wheels and telescopic handle. The twin-lift handles at the top of the unit make it easy for two people to lift the generator. The setup of the generator is very simple and you can start using it right away. The 4-stroke engine does not require any mixing of gas and oil.
Not only does the Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart Generator pack a punch in terms of excellent and quiet performance, it is probably one of the most good-looking models around and provides power when you require it.
Features of the Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart Generator
- 3000-watt surge power and 2600-watt continuous power.
- 7 power outlets (4 120 volts outlets, 1 12 volts DC outlet, 1 120 volts RV outlet and USB port).
- Weight: 94 lbs.
- StatStation, easy to read LCD display.
- Provides 10 hours runtime at 25% load capacity.
- Comes with a 2-year limited warranty for consumers.
- 6-inch wheels and telescoping handle facilitate easy transportation.
- Quiet Power technology.
- Produces 58 decibels at ¼ percent load.
- The generators equipped with the Quiet Power Technology which saves fuel, adjusts the noise of the engine and provides longer runtime.
- Provides sufficient power to start a regular RV air conditioner unit.
- Easy to transport.
- Overall, the generator can be noisy when running.
Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Inverter Generator: Best Portable Generator for Home Backup
The 6500 watts consistent power produced by the inverter generator is sufficient to keep all your essential electronic appliances and devices running. The generator has 4 GFCI 120-volt outlets, 1 120-240-volt locking outlet and 2 USB outlets. The generator is equipped with the QuietPower Technology that automatically adjusts the speed of the engine to reduce the noise level.
The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Inverter Generator is almost 30% more fuel efficient than a regular portable generator, which can result in savings. The 8-inch wheels and telescoping handle of the generator make it very easy to move around and the compact and lightweight build allows convenient storage of the unit.
The completely enclosed shell that is also impact-resistant, helps to reduce noise and its compact and lightweight design make this generator a really great buy.
Features of the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Inverter Generator
- 306cc integrated alternator/engine.
- Powered by QuietPower Technology.
- Delivers around 14 hours of runtime at 25% capacity on 5-gallons of fuel.
- Impact-resistant housing and all-steel frame.
- Lightweight design,
- Telescoping handle.
- Muffler and balancer reduce the noise.
- Comes with a 2-year consumer warranty and 12-months limited commercial warranty.
- The powerful generator that is reliable and easy to use.
- Telescoping handle and lightweight, compact design makes it easy to store and transport the generator.
- Well-designed and compact generator.
- Quiet when running.
- Not CARB-compliant.
- Does not have an electric start.
- Parallel connection is not possible.
Briggs & Stratton 30676 Gas Powered Generator: The Most Affordable Generator for Homes
The generator monitors your home’s power connection to the local power utility and in the case of a power outage, the generator automatically starts powering your home and when the power is restored, the generator automatically shuts off. The high-quality engine of the Briggs & Stratton 30676 Generator provides excellent performance, durability and reliability. The generator can deliver a runtime of around 14 hours at 50% capacity without requiring refueling.
The generator features a power management system that allows you to manage the power of your entire home with just a small generator and at the same time, it reduces fuel consumption and reduces the installation, operation and maintenance cost of the generator.
Overall, the Briggs & Stratton 30676 Generator is the most efficient and economical generator that delivers hassle-free power at the smartest price.
Features of the Briggs & Stratton 30676 Generator
- 4375-watt surge power and 3500-watt continuous power.
- 208cc OHV engine produces 14 hours runtime at 50% capacity without refueling.
- 7-inch never-flat wheels.
- Control panel featuring 1 RV outlet and 2 household outlets.
- Comes with 2-years limited warranty.
- Reliable and good performing generator.
- Affordable price.
- Easy to assemble and start.
- Is a bit noisy.
- Does not have a low-oil indicator.
Briggs & Stratton 30664 Gas Powered Portable Generator: Most Heavy-Duty Generator
The generator has an impressive 7.5-gallon large capacity metal fuel tank that allows a runtime of around 9 hours of continuous runtime at 50% load. The 12” never-flat wheels allow you to move the generator around very easily. The generator has 4 120V outlets and 1 120/240V outlet with a circuit breaker and safety covers for the rubber outlet for additional protection.
The Briggs & Stratton 30664 Generator has several features such as hour meter and a fuel gauge that allows you to monitor the gas levels, electric start and remote choke to start the unit from a central location and a lo-tone muffler.
Features of the Briggs & Stratton 30664 Generator
- 10000-watt surge power and 8000-watt continuous power.
- 420cc OHV engine that gives a runtime of 9 hours at 50% capacity on 7.5 gallons of gas.
- 12-inch never-flat wheels.
- Unit comes with oil, operator manual and quick start guide.
- CSA and PGMA rated.
- Comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
- Bluetooth App lets you monitor the running of the generator.
- Reliable.
- Smooth running generator.
- Fairly quiet when running.
- Good shock absorption reduces noise and increases the life of the generator.
- Some users found the generator heavy.
Briggs & Stratton 30553 Gas-Powered Inverter Generator: Best Camping Inverter Generator
The Briggs & Stratton 30553 Inverter Generator delivers instant and clean power to keep all your small appliances and devices powered when you’re outdoors, out on a camping trip or at home during a power outage. The generator is quiet in operation and easy to use.
The generator can be operated on two modes – standard and economy, which adjusts the fuel consumption as per the requirement. The Briggs & Stratton 30553 Inverter Generator is around 45 percent lighter and 38 percent more silent compared to other camping generators, which makes it ideal for use on crowded campsites. The generator has a 12-volt charging outlet and 2 standard outlets, all which are protected from being overloaded by circuit breakers.
A 1-gallon tank of the generator can deliver 6 hours of runtime at 25% capacity. The generator is equipped with technology that is computer-controlled and adjusts the speed of the engine according to your power requirements. The inverter technology of the generator delivers efficient, consistent and quiet power and powers only the appliances and devices you require and also provides increased runtime and fuel savings.
The lightweight design and convenience provided by the twin handles makes it very easy to move the generator around as needed. At just 56 decibels of noise level and the ability to power several appliances, the Briggs & Stratton 30553 Inverter Generator is a fantastic camping generator.
Features of the Briggs & Stratton 30553 Inverter Generator
- 2000-watt surge power and 1600-watt continuous power.
- 6 hours runtime on 1-gallon fuel at 25% capacity.
- Low-oil indicator and alert system for overloading.
- Comes with 2 120 volts outlets and 12-volt DC charging outlet.
- Inverter technology (less than 3% harmonic distortion).
- Comes with 2-years limited consumer warranty.
- 45% lighter and 38% more silent than a regular generator making it ideal for use outdoors.
- Produces clean current and can be used for your sensitive devices and appliances.
- Quite inexpensive.
- Fuel-efficient.
- Does not have a fuel indicator that lets you know how much fuel is remaining in the tank.
- The generator cannot be connected to another generator to increase the power output.
So, if you’re looking to buy a generator for your outdoor camping, RV-ing needs or for power backup at home during an outage or an emergency, you can definitely consider buying one of the many generator models from Briggs & Stratton.
Conventional vs Inverter Generators
Today, users have the option of choosing between a traditional generator and an inverter generator. Both have their specific uses, advantages and disadvantages and it is essential that you understand the differences between the two and your specific power requirement before deciding on the best option for your specific needs.
The first thing that we must understand is the difference between the conventional and inverter generator. Conventional generators have been in existence for several decades and essentially is a gas-powered or propane-powered motor that produces AC power when it is attached to an alternator; some motors also generate DC power. The frequency of the power generated by a regular generator fluctuates depending on the RPM, which makes this unsafe to be used to power sensitive electronics and appliances as the power spikes can cause damage to the electronics.
On the other hand, inverter generators make use of an inverter alternator and produce a 3-phase AC current that is converted to DC current and then inverted back into AC current. The power produced in this manner has a total harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 3 percent, which makes it extremely safe to power sensitive devices like laptops, computers, mobile phones, large screen TVs, etc. If the THD is more than 6%, the sensitive electronics will be damaged.
Advantages of Conventional Generators
Conventional generators may be larger in size compared to inverter generators and they also have bigger fuel tanks. Typically, most inverter generators have 1-2 gallon tanks. In a conventional generator, filling the tank once in a day is sufficient to run the generator for 24 hours, whereas an inverter generator may have to be filled 2-3 times in a day.
If you require plenty of power, then you may have to look for a generator that is of a larger size. Rarely can you find a generator that has a power of more than 4000 watts. However, conventional generators are available in larger sizes of 10,000, 20,000 or 50,000 watts of power, that can run an average household and power all appliances. An inverter generator will not allow you to run more than a refrigerator and an air conditioner. Also, conventional generators are much cheaper compared to inverter generators.
Advantages of Inverter Generators
These generators have an idle or low-power feature that allows you to run the generator at a lower level when the load is lesser. So, an inverter generator can run at half or quarter the power if the load is less and this leads to saving fuel. In contrast, conventional generators allow you to run only on full power.
When the inverter generator is running at less than its load capacity, it is much quieter than conventional generators. Inverter generators are smaller, more compact and lightweight compared to conventional generators, making them more portable. Some inverter generators may even weigh less than 50 pounds.
Other Considerations
All inverter generators generate 110 volts of power without an adapter as they have an inverter circuit that produces an output current which is compatible with all electronic appliances. Inverter generators provide several outlets for you to plug various things such as a regular 3-prong plug for appliances, 12V DC plug and USB port.
Most of the inverter generators can be linked with a similar unit in order to double the power capacity. Many have parallel kits available that can help you do this. You cannot do this with conventional generators.
There are many models of conventional generators that work on flexi-fuel mode, which means that they can run on gasoline, diesel or bio-diesel, whereas in the case of inverter generators, they can run only on either on gas or propane. Some of the expensive models of inverter generators for RVs can switch from gasoline to propane.