(RETESTED) The Briggs & Stratton Q6500W Inverter Generator Review

[@86dieselman]

I bought one of these in 2019 when there wasn't nearly as many larger inverter generators on the market as there are today, basically it was this or spend a absurd sum on a Honda. I wanted it for the clean sinewave. I have always ran it with the quite power switched on. I power my whole house off of it including clothes dryer, 2 HP well pump, computers, freezers, refrigerator, TV, and high end stereo equipment. I have never had a problem with any electronics failing. It does often idle or run slightly above idle when nothing high draw is calling for power.

[@sequoia464]

Love your reviews - I'm pretty much generatored out right now (four of them) but I still enjoy watching your reviews. You are by far the most comprehensive of anyone that I have seen doing these reviews. You might have just saved someone from some major expenses and grief with this review.

[@GeneratorReviews]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate your support

[@robfrischkorn9405]

Yes, a few weeks ago I found this model brand new in box listed at an incredible price of $650🤯! I spent a bit of time researching because it was such an incredible find at $650 for a 6500…After watching Gavin’s previous video and another, I decided to keep looking. Thanks Gavin. P.S., wouldn’t you need to use a bonding plug in one of the outlets for the Watchdog surge protector to work?

[@GeneratorReviews]

@@robfrischkorn9405 yes but not on the bonded generators

[@RobertJohnVenable]

I would love to hear a response from Briggs about this.

[@williamjames3304]

Thanks for putting this test together. I was going to get the Briggs and Stratton for my RV but not now, thanks to you.🙂 Thanks for the help.

[@tristanschaper281]

Super job on your review Gavin. That Briggs is worse than I ever thought. Most of the bad reviews over the last 4 years were fit and finish. Now we see that the power output is actually terrible. What a shame that Briggs has their name on this.

[@mjmohn]

Definitely a defective inverter. Notify the manufacturer, hope they are watching this. You have discovered a major manufacturer recall. Great job.

[@GeneratorReviews]

Yes!! Agreed

[@davidrosado4358]

Definitely..👍🏻👍🏻

[@ryanzanow8221]

Great job Mr. Gavin! I recently came across your channel...your content and presentation hooked me, and reeled me in. Love the geni stuff, and I look forward to each review you release!

[@GeneratorReviews]

Thanks 🙏🏾 I appreciate you watching buddy. Thanks Ryan

[@davidyummus6259]

Aussie Dave in PA here man,... Been chatting in comments with you about some of the Chinese stuff. Thanks for the follow up video, look forward to a Pulsar 1800/2300 watt review soon ;)

[@juanpereznet]

Mine was producing around 102v and dipping like 95 when a load was applied. I adjusted the idle set screw (plastic) and brought it up to steady 106v with qpt on. Once I add a light load (fan) it goes up and maintains 121v and remains there. Adding a fan is not ideal but heck it's blowing cool air to the generator itself. In summary qpt works if a light load is present.

[@Anointed_Bone]

I think you got a lemon there. I’ve one of these for 6 years. They started making them around 2017.I have no complaints so far. Don’t use Eco until you load everything. I turn the generator on first then I add loads one at a time. After everything is running I turn Eco on.

[@geoffmolyneux9173]

Now the clipped wave form you are seeing is because the DC voltage that is being made is is less than the 120 volt AC peak to peak. So inverter does not have any more DC voltage to supply the inverter output. If you speed up the Generator idle, or it is missing a magnet on rotor of alternator. More magnetic flux lines per second more voltage. That is why non economy mode puts out 120VAC

[@GeneratorReviews]

I did turn the idle screw all the way up same results

[@Bacongrease00]

Right the DC bus voltage is sagging. Maybe it’s a flaw in this design.

[@snarlsbarkley5083]

Another great review. You definitely have all the tools for a very thorough review. Briggs and Stratton has always made really good reliable small motors so it’s a shame they put their name on this piece of junk. With so many generators you’ve reviewed, who would ever choose this one?

[@babayaga6680]

You just saved me from spending almost a grand on a bad product. Thank you.

[@GastonPCNZ]

Hey Gav, thanks for this video. I have been looking around for good quality reviews for this product as I am just about decided to get this as a cost effective alternative to the Honda Inverter generators. As this is a 2 yo video, was wondering if you have had any new knowledge or developments on this? Have Briggs&Straton engineers corrected this fault?

[@GeneratorReviews]

Not that I’m aware of, but I was not the only one to come to this conclusion with this particular Generator and I tested over two units same problem.

[@modemer]

I ran into the same thing with some ryobi generators years ago. My single eu2000 could start RV A/C but a paralleled ryobi of similar wattage couldn't start. I found it was the voltage drop before the ryobis could Rev up.

[@Khaymen223]

While I appreciate all the knowledge and quality vids, I really wanna stress the fact that you need to get that RV out. Forget KZbin for a bit, and get camping. Build that fire, and pull up that chair. Spend some time with the family, and roast some marshmallows. Enjoy the fruits of your labor Gavin!

[@GeneratorReviews]

Yep 👍🏾 yea that’s the plan I don’t show that part. Thanks Brandon

[@davidgroves8049]

If its not a broken unit, then Briggs has some explaining to do and untll this issue is taken care of no one should be using these. ist a hazard! Great Job Gavin. Now only if AIMS would make that a duel fuel I would get one for my rv!

[@GeneratorReviews]

Agreed👌🏾

[@rosspt7126]

Eco is to make it conform to their quiet low noise statement. It won't give you full power in Eco. Maybe If you ran a cathode ray tv and had used a real light globe, instead of that non current draw type you may have forfilled the commenters statement. Mine works well, but that could be because I'm in Aus, running at 240v. Yours Could be a totally different beast as you're running at 120v, I couldn't say.. An LCD TV and small lights like that would be better served running on a 12v circuit OR using a smaller generator. 6500 is good for power hungry appliances. Not so good running little 80w products in Eco mode.

[@props-model-shop]

Wonder if the plug itself is wired in correctly.... or a bad regulator power head.

[@GeneratorReviews]

I spoke to someone with the exact same generator when it’s on eco-mode on the exact same problem and I tested the idle speed and the inverters connected properly

[@GeneratorReviews]

When eco-mode is off in high idle it works perfectly who buys an inverter generator to run it wide open Thanks Greg👍🏾

[@glenkuhne7175]

Thanks for the video. In summary, is this just a poor quality generator? Is it defective? What's the scoop? Thank you.

[@GeneratorReviews]

I think it’s just a poorly built generator not the first one I’ve encountered with exact same problem.

[@athenanimbuss6826]

Thank you for another great review! 👍❤️🙏

[@theconnectedcamper]

Gavin, I love your videos. I just picked up one of these with a bad low oil sensor and it behaves similarly! It isn’t as low as yours but does put out 112v, just low enough to cause problems! Ugh! I wonder if a new inverter module would fix it? Did you ever solve this??

[@GeneratorReviews]

Yes I did! Returned it ASAP

[@chaorenliang]

Did the Briggs Stratton P4500 you reviews earlier have similar behavior when the QPT was active?

[@GeneratorReviews]

No it didn’t have this same problem but it also wasn’t perfect

[@bubbatime]

Thanks for the retest. Wonder if this is a one off problem, or wide spread?

[@GeneratorReviews]

Hopefully It not wide spread, if Briggs and Stratton is watching this they’re welcome to send me another unit for retesting.

[@suppaman12]

@@GeneratorReviewsdid they ever reach out to you in any way? I’m not buying this just bcs of your video. I was about to grab one tmrw

[@williamcohen3351]

You might just have a defective unit. If not Briggs & Stratton needs to go back to the drawing board and fix this. Still you did a great review of this product.

[@GeneratorReviews]

Thanks William💯

[@duskyman1]

That's cute you think Briggs and Stratton designs stuff. They just buy something Chinese and have it labeled Briggs & Stratton ..... Is my guess. That's what most manufacturers do today..... Just pick a product out of a chinese catalog and put your name on it. Maybe have the vendor customize it a bit. It probably has a Briggs & Stratton engine which is a strike against it from the start. I would take a Chinese honda clone engine over a Briggs & Stratton any day.... At least then you know the basic design is good

[@locoseamonkey204]

would it be safe to assume that the Briggs and Stratton 4500 size would have the same issue when using the QPT mode?

[@GeneratorReviews]

Yessir

[@user-lp9ye1po3w]

I bought this generator this week brand new from a local wholesaler for $600. I was aware of the mixed reviews and everything you say here is true. I think QPT is poorly designed for sure causing this low voltage and problem and probably most of the complaints that this generator can't power what it says it can. Ideally it would work as other inverter generators do, but it's very much debatable this could actually damage anything. Low voltage is certainly bad long term for anything since it means increase amps but large loads have to deal with quick voltage drops at startup even when they are on utility power. It's super common to see lights flicker when AC kicks on or you are running a laser printer etc. All small electronics are going to be behind a AC->DC power supply which are typically rated to operate completely normally between 100v-240v and are generally very resilient to various input voltages. I would certainly be disappointed and return this at a higher price point but if you find it for the right price the flaws are completely tolerable.

[@duskyman1]

Well I had a similar problem on my generator recently and what it was was a switch that made a bad contact. There was enough voltage loss in that switch ~1.5 ohm, to drop me to 90v with only a 2200 watt load running. With no load it was 120 volts and everything was great. I changed out the $8 switch from Amazon and problem solved What seems like a big problem can be just at a small part like that sometimes. If I hadn't put my knock off kil-a-watt meter on it I probably would not have realized how fart the voltage was dropping, and that's something was wrong and needed to be fixed. Everything seemed to still work and run

[@chuckmarkham9303]

What did you end up doing on the Briggs?? Did you send it back? Are all Briggs 6500 units like this?

[@GeneratorReviews]

I sent it packing right after this video this was the third one of BS Never again 😩

[@TheCumminsturbo2]

Seems like the idle is set to low on the carburetor and governor

[@chaorenliang]

Thanks for you video. This is very interesting and I'd like to test mine q6500 to see if such problem exists on mine as well. One quick comment, have you noticed the same behaviour on the 120v outputs as well?

[@GeneratorReviews]

Yes if you look in the video I’m actually testing both outlets the 240v 30 amp and 120v exact same results

[@chaorenliang]

I don't have oscilloscope like yours but I will measure mine with a multi meter. I have go find a cable with NEMA L14 plug first. Will keep you guys updated.

[@chaorenliang]

@@GeneratorReviews I can confirm your finding with my Briggs Stratton q6500 purchased in Canada. When there is no load and the QPT is active, the output voltage is 105V. As soon as a load is applied, the RPM revs up and the output voltage is back at 120V again. We need B&S to explain whether this behavior was by their design or there is a serious problem with their inverter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/emmVY5-Mes2Lm7c

[@FirstSuiGeneris]

Interesting! I was wrong in my thinking about that Briggs! It is screwed up, and maybe some trickery is being done by Briggs to save money?

[@GeneratorReviews]

I really have no idea on this one

[@martindesbiens2730]

Can You review the Briggs & Stratton 2400w inverter

[@GeneratorReviews]

I will try and get one to review

[@martindesbiens2730]

@@GeneratorReviews that will be Great .. Thank You !

[@tonyb3676]

What do you recommend for a 5000w generator?

[@GeneratorReviews]

Genmax makes a great 5500 W inverter generator kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHXCeX95eMmqaZYsi=yN93xLwJIfHdhh4p

[@tonyb3676]

Using it for a food truck. 15k a/c, 1750w toaster, 1300w water heater. About to buy this genmax 5500i but want to make sure it's my best option for a quiet generator. Thank you

[@1reesedude]

Great job!

[@jimmyhunsucker5212]

So what do you think of the onin

[@GeneratorReviews]

😬

[@dannydunford3681]

Weeeew... i dont want that.. maybe thats a bad new generator..... THANKS Galvin for testing it on a small load... ( FAIL ) I had thought with a small load of 100 watts or so it would adjust the voltage to 120..... ( I WAS WRONG ) but even the sine wave was chopped. that can wipe out a appliance power supply... Give that Generator to someone that you dont like...LOL.......

[@GeneratorReviews]

Lol 😂

[@nbookie]

Will be hitting pass on the B&S. What a shame!

[@YukonHawk1]

That model of Briggs are nothing but trouble. My local dealer stopped selling them because of the crappy workmanship and components.

[@gusaguire9182]

how you make the meter

[@GeneratorReviews]

I plan on making a video showing how to make this meter

[@KuntalGhosh]

It looks like the generator is low on power. Like the rpm is low and so the generator head is making low voltage and it's clipping the sinewave cus the dc is lower than what's required for the peak of 120v ac. Clipping sinewave can cause overheating in inductive loads , switching powersupplies or resistive loads do not care about whats coming in as long as the voltage is within their range it will keep making power. Dc or ac they don't giv a shit... What i suspect is poor quality control. U may look for a potentiometer in the inverter board and turn it up if it restores voltage.

[@GeneratorReviews]

I tried adjusting the idle screw all the way in with no change

[@KuntalGhosh]

@@GeneratorReviews yeah the generator is low on power. The output waveform is looking exactly like when u drive your car amplifier hard and they hit the rail voltage so the top and bottom of the wave gets flat.. Here the rail voltage is dropping with load as the engine is not spinning fast enough to make enough voltage. There should be at minimum 170v dc coming out from the stator , the waveform looks like the stator voltage has gone down to 140-150 .. poor quality control by briggis. They used to make good stuff. Pretty sure they getting this from some chinese oem and sticking their name on it selling for a markup to make profit.

[@GeneratorReviews]

@@KuntalGhosh yessir I will contact them and see if they want to send a replacement generator. I doubt it but we’ll see what happens. Buddy thanks for this I appreciate your feedback. I may have to keep in touch.👍🏾

[@massa-blasta]

I want the GenMax 6000 but it's too expensive.

[@jamesjudd6577]

bad inverter on that generator. hopefully someone from B&S is watching this

[@rockystelone21]

You get what you pay for

[@ernestbart4377]

save me from buying a piece of garbage thx

[@Critical-Thinker895]

duh Take it out of eco mode if you really want to test it. To say it must stay there because that's how you run yours is not testing it. Obviously there is something wrong with the current sensing that would normally cause it to move to operational mode but you don't want to hear that. All your fancy looking gadgets and you don't even know how to use them.

[@thomasjozwiak9905]

I have one of these generators. Last time I ran it in eco mode, I ended up with a blown furnace motor capacitor. I cant pinpoint whether the generator caused it or if it was just coincidence. I did test it with a Killowatt meter. In eco mode it definitely drops way down when a load is applied. If not in eco mode, it is rock solid. So I guess I will keep it off eco mode when using it for now. I'll contact Briggs but not holding my breath on that one. Will have to sort out if I stay with this or spend the money for a better generator. We don't use it much. We loose power once or twice a year.

[@DabblelyDiddly]

Never really been a fan of briggs. their electric outdoor power stuff looks good but that is about it. the EX mower engines are absolute junk.

[@Rockrewls]

wow Junk!!!

[@roberthernandez4047]

Really bad mixed reviews

[@nathan3306]

That BS is straight up hot garbage. The reviews from the time it was released and even up to now..

[@GeneratorReviews]

Hey Nathan I agree with you! It’s funny how Everyone has an opinion on how to fix it I shouldn’t have to fix anything it’s brand new it should work.