BrokerJane
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- Mar 13, 2013
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which is better a generac 17k generator 200 amp vs a briggs and stratton 16k 200amp. and is it noiser
Generac vs briggs and stratton stanby generator 2
- Thread starter BrokerJane
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Manufacturer specs should give you the decibel levels of each of those units. They will both be noisy. I really don't know much about any of the newer B&S engines, but I did go through Generac factory service training and I wouldn't spend good money on one. I would either look at a Kohler or find something that runs at a lower RPM like the old Onan's did.
stingray1966
Well-known member
I had both sold the briggs kept the generac generac is a little less noisy and is much better uint than the briggs
mitchtr25068
Well-known member
i have a neighbor who's an electrician, and a few years back when i told him i was in the market for a whole-house standby generator he strongly recd briggs & stratton over generac. and it wasn't because he was getting the sale, since he knew upfront i was going to order it online and just have him do the install. 3+ years later, have never had a problem, and the unit has been put into action 3-4 times for extended periods, and goes off in test mode every sunday for 20 mins. fac quieter than my neighbor's generac, i think, as well. my vote is for briggs & stratton
mitchtr25068
Well-known member
btw, i also have the 16kw unit, and it has more than ample capacity to run everything in the house, plus the swimming pool pump and central air. i bought mine from norwall power systems, which is a great online supplier of all of these different brands at lowest possible price with no tax (no financial interest, btw)
First welcome to GJ. There are a quadrillion YouTubes out there on generator comparisons and live running gensets.
Both will be noisy as both are gasoline/NG/propane high RPM engines.
Only way to get quiet genset is diesel low RPM. Those are available as well as whole house standby generator. Some have their own built-in ATS (automatic transfer switch). All comes down to money.
Generac also have nearly proprietary ATS so can't mix-n-match their stuff with other generators. Thus some support techs for generators might not be specifically qualified for Generac. Good luck with decision.
Both will be noisy as both are gasoline/NG/propane high RPM engines.
Only way to get quiet genset is diesel low RPM. Those are available as well as whole house standby generator. Some have their own built-in ATS (automatic transfer switch). All comes down to money.
Generac also have nearly proprietary ATS so can't mix-n-match their stuff with other generators. Thus some support techs for generators might not be specifically qualified for Generac. Good luck with decision.
ishiboo
Well-known member
A brand-name diesel 16kw generator in enclosure is nowhere near the price of one of these inexpensive home units, a more realistic option if "quiet" is your game is to look at a 1800rpm LP/NG higher-end model from the likes of Kohler or Cummins. I'm sure you could throw enough money having a sound attenuated enclosure built for a 3600rpm cheapie and still be at half what a high-end unit would cost... the bigger advantage to the 1800rpm units is they last longer.
For the purpose of answering the original question, both will be noisy, perhaps the Briggs a bit more than the Generac, but you won't want to hang out near either. They're for emergency use and exercise only
The advantage to LP over diesel is it keeps practically indefinitely, and natural gas is "limitless" until something worse happens with the natural gas supplier... most local emergencies that backup generators are utilized for do not affect the natural gas supply, though on occasion some do. Of course LP is "less attainable" than diesel for the homeowner since you have to call someone.
Agree that Quiet versus optimal fuel storage is a trade-off.
Most people will be satisfied with NG or Propane standby generator that is inside an enclosure to help keep noise down. Also, during worst case crisis situation like hurricane or ice storm that creates long-term outage, the best fuel source will be NG or Propane. Long-term the most likely low cost fuel would be NG.
Diesel would be more appropriate if you demand most quiet machine, and were willing to maintain fuel supply and deal with supply issues during an emergency. This is a lot of work so most people avoid diesel . . . not to mention that diesel is EXPENSIVE at around $4 / gallon.
Most people will be satisfied with NG or Propane standby generator that is inside an enclosure to help keep noise down. Also, during worst case crisis situation like hurricane or ice storm that creates long-term outage, the best fuel source will be NG or Propane. Long-term the most likely low cost fuel would be NG.
Diesel would be more appropriate if you demand most quiet machine, and were willing to maintain fuel supply and deal with supply issues during an emergency. This is a lot of work so most people avoid diesel . . . not to mention that diesel is EXPENSIVE at around $4 / gallon.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
With a bit of common sense and you can build a "sound barrier" that will reduce the noise a lot. Of course the key is plenty of air flow. (Hint - only birds hear noise that is going straight up)
Herb67SS
Well-known member
This is a never ending debate, much like "Which is best, Ford or Chevy?". There are success and horror stories re both. I'm a Chevy guy, and a Generac LPG owner. Have had no issues or complaints with my 14kw unit, used MANY times in 5 yrs and never failed. Sound is not objectionable and it's located against the house. If it were located 30 to 50 ft away, it would be even quieter. I like the fact I can go to numerous places locally for repair service or parts if needed as it is a very widely distributed brand. There are numerous on- line sources to buy these things without tax and free shipping, (www.onsitepower.com is one) as they are all drop shipped from the mfg to your door. I tried to give my local dealer my sale if he would be within $200 of the on line price and he couldn't do it. Said he couldn't buy it for what I was buying it for, delivered to my door. He still had to provide any warranty service (none was needed). He told me to go ahead and buy it on line and he would help me install it if I needed him to ( I didn't). That's the result of good friendship from buying locally for 30 yrs.
My advice, regardless of which you choose, step up one model , 18kw vs 16kw, etc if you can and use a single ATS for the main feed vs multi-circuit switch. The small extra purchase cost will be offset be the install cost and convenience of having the whole house transferred.
Chances are whichever one you choose it will function fine and be the right choice ;-)
My advice, regardless of which you choose, step up one model , 18kw vs 16kw, etc if you can and use a single ATS for the main feed vs multi-circuit switch. The small extra purchase cost will be offset be the install cost and convenience of having the whole house transferred.
Chances are whichever one you choose it will function fine and be the right choice ;-)
Helix
Member
Generac and Briggs generators use the same air cooled engines. A diesel genset is not required for low noise operation. Briggs, Kohler, and Generac make 1800 RPM liquid cooled gaseous units that are about as noisy as a refrigerator when running. And much cheaper than a diesel. I've always been impressed by how quiet they are.
Every Briggs residential ATS I've worked on was built by Generac using the same type of control wiring.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
This is something I have been looking for solid evidence of for a long time ! Externally the look the same but are they really ?
From Wikipedia
Perhaps Generac is buying the same engines directly from Mitsubishi without the "Vanguard" brand name ?
Not to surprised by this.
Last edited:
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
This is my opinion as well. I think a more important issue will be the quality of service and support from the local suppliers for each brand.
Helix
Member
I was just looking on B&S's website and there's a claim that there's no affiliation between B&S and Generac, although there were some interrelated business dealings in the 1990s. Looking at pics of the Vanguard and the OHVI, there are a lot of similarities. IIRC, there are a few of the unworded Briggs logos on some cast engine parts.
I should have some time with a Guardian next week. I'll do a little more looking.
jamespforbes
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Generac V.S. briggs and stratton
Both are fairly quiet units and not enough of a difference to make your decision based solely on sound(db.)
You should look at it from a maintenance point of view. Research common problems and decide with an informed mind. That being said. I'd go with Generac...and not just because im a dealer for Generac but because i've been a generator service tech for 25 yrs and know that right now Generac has a better system.
I installed a 20kw Generac in my new home 5 years ago. About a year ago we had a thunderstorm and low and behold we lost power and the generator was not powering the house. It was running, but no electricity. I called Generac and explained that the first time I needed the generator it didn't work. Took a couple of days, but they repaired the unit (labor and material, free of charge. Repair tech told me that Generac started buying Chinese made rotors and stators for a period of time (my was chinese), but experienced too high a failure rate. New equipment is suppose to be American Made. Customer service was great. They stood behind a generator that was three years out of warranty.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
Had you never tested it to see if it would carry the house load?
I know this is an old thread, but I had to ask the question since VETTE FAN's post is new.
I just installed a generator inlet on a water well the HOA owns. I carried both my Northstar 6500 diesel generator and the HOA's 10K watt Dayton (Genrac) up there to test it out. My 6500 watt (27 amp) didn't even sound like it was working hard, considering I had measured the amp draw previously while the pump was running on the POCO at between 28 and 29 amps.
The Genrac has issues, seems to be starving for fuel and died under load after about 3 or 4 minutes. I cleaned the tank completely and replaced the fuel hoses and filter last year, and cleaned the carb out, and filled with fresh fuel and stabil, but it still acts up.
Charles
Mustang51js
Well-known member
Your talking a different type of generator,what they are talking about is natural gas or propane stand by generators, not portable ones that use gas. But I've hooked up a bunch of generac stand by gens and never had a problem,as long as you change oil as recommended they are good. As far as the gas powered ones I couldn't say if one is better than the other.
When I had my house wired, I installed two-200 amp panels on a 400 amp service, one for non-emergency, and one for emergency (connected to the generator and ATS). The generator was tested with anticipated load during a power outage, and everything worked well. The issue was that during its weekly programmed start/test cycle, the copper winding came apart. There were 100's of pieces of copper wire on the back side of the enclosure.