Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower - 5000/6500W Inverter Generator
The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower (30761) is a portable inverter generator with a rated wattage of 5,000 W and a starting wattage of 6,500 W. (Read full specs)
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Zoro | Price history for the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower |
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| Highest Price $1,367.78 Lowest Price $1,367.78 Current Price $1,367.78 |
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Description
Designed to give you quiet confidence during power outages, the Q6500 QuietPower™ Series inverter generator is more than 60% quieter than standard generators and can deliver 6,500 starting watts of reliable backup power.
Zoom on the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower
In a few words, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower is a portable inverter generator perfectly suited for:
- RV travellers who wish to upgrade their experience to another level
- Occasional participants of outdoor events, competitions, concerts and festivals
- Food truck owners who want to ensure that their business is fully self-contained and does not rely on potentially unreliable external power
- Homeowners in need of an emergency backup power for their essentials
- Professionals in need of safely powering high-intensity work or lighting equipment
The subsequent sections will explore in detail its power characteristics, the diverse outlets it provides, its overall portability, and the supplementary features it offers.
Power & Run Time
The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower
Running on gasoline, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower utilizes a 306 cc Briggs & Stratton OHV 4-stroke engine to deliver 120/240V, offering a running wattage of 5,000W and a starting wattage of 6,500W.
Rated for 66 dBA (less noisy than background music), the inverter generator's starting mechanism relies on a classic hand-operated recoil starting mechanism.
Thanks to its 5 gallons fuel tank, the Q6500 QuietPower can run continuously for up to 14 hours on a full tank (with an average fuel consumption of approximately 0.36 GPH).
Delicate electronics can be plugged in the AC outlets safely, as the Q6500 QuietPower generates a clean sine wave, reaching a <3% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD).
Outlets
The control panel features the following 5 AC outlets:
Furthermore, it showcases 2 DC outlets: there's two 5V USB ports with which charging of electronics like mobile phones and tablets is made convenient.
The Q6500 QuietPower's twist-lock L14-30R receptacle makes it transfer switch ready, enabling hassle-free connection to your breaker box for powering your home during outages.
Portability
As the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower is an inverter generator, its encased design (L24.8 x W21.2 x H21.5 in) offers more aesthetics than a conventional, open frame product. The generator has a contemporary design, convenient for recreationally generating power.
Despite its 139 lbs, the generator falls under the category of 'portable,' signifying its movability, although its weight may hinder easy portability. Nevertheless, it can still be moved quite conveniently with the help of its set of 2 wheels (⌀8") and its telescopic handle, once it is placed on the ground.
Features
The Q6500 QuietPower's control panel
The Q6500 QuietPower's status and activity may be monitored conveniently via the control panel, as it features power use LEDs that can both display the power output and the amount of hours the generator has accumulated.
In addition to this info, when the generator is overloaded, the generator is ready and its oil levels are insufficient, you will be informed by the featured light indicators.
A built-in fuel gauge allows for a quick, easy and convenient check of the fuel level of the inverter generator.
The unit benefits from Briggs & Stratton’s Quiet Power Technology (QPT™), a feature designed to greatly improve its noise levels, emissions and fuel consumption. When the switch, located on the control panel, is turned ON, the engine speed increases as electrical loads are connected, and decreases as electrical loads are removed.
Regarding security, the generator comes with an overload protection (circuit breaker) and an automatic low oil shut-off, providing peace of mind during operation.
The Q6500 QuietPower also benefits from Briggs & Stratton’s CO Guard™ (opens in a new tab) carbon monoxide shutdown. This new patent-pending technology uses advanced algorithms to shut down the generator when harmful levels of carbon monoxide accumulate in the generator's operating area.
Beyond the standard documentation and an owner's manual (opens in a new tab) to assist with setup, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower ships with supplementary accessories: oil and funnel. An official storage cover is also available, as a separate purchase.
Product Videos
The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower versus other generators
The following charts are provided to give you an idea of how some of the key specs of the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower compare to inverter generators of similar power (between 4500 and 5500 W).
- As its weight is 139 pounds, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower falls in the expected weight range of the inverters in the 4500-5500 rated wattage category. if you wish to prioritize weight, the Pulsar PGX60BiSRCO is one of the top contenders in its power category, weighing only 93.5 pounds.
- Because this inverter generator emits noise as low as 66 dBA, it can be considered to have a pretty average expected noise rating for a device of its power. If you wish to prioritize minimal noise, the Honda EU7000iS stands out as one of the quietest options among generators of similar power, with a rating of 52 dBA.
- As for its autonomy, the Q6500 QuietPower, with an autonomy of up to 14 hours at a 25% load, is placed on the low end among the generators of its kind. If concerned with autonomy, one of the products of a comparable power output, which offers the highest run time, is the Champion 201532, boasting with up to 18 hours.
- While run time matters, it's heavily influenced by the fuel tank's capacity. Hence, it's important to consider fuel efficiency alongside. In fact, this inverter generator is not one of the most fuel-efficient options in the aforementioned wattage range: its estimated gasoline consumption at 25% load is around 0.36 GPH. If not satisfied with the afore-mentioned fuel consumption, you may wish to check out the DuroMax XP7000iHT. With a fuel consumption of as little as 0.19 GPH, it is one of the most efficient generators currently on the market.
Here's a list of the most popular specific comparisons:
Price comparison
As you can see from these interactive charts, when compared to other 4500-5500W inverter generators, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower is on the average side of the price range.
Therefore, this generator nicely fits in the expected budget for this kind of product.
The bottom line
- In the expected price range
- CO Guard™ technology
- GFCI Outlets
- Inverter
- Decent weight (139 lbs)
- Acceptable noise (66 dBA)
- No electric start
- No parallel ports
- Relatively low run time
- Low fuel efficiency
Do you own the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower and agree (or disagree) with these strengths and weaknesses?
Let us know and write your own review.
Features and Specifications
| Inverter | Yes |
|---|---|
| Parallel capable | No |
| RV ready | No |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Engine | 306 cc Briggs & Stratton OHV 4-stroke |
| Starting system | Recoil |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Voltage | AC: 120/240V 60 Hz, DC: 5V |
|---|---|
| Running watts | 5,000 W |
| Starting watts | 6,500 W |
| Running amps (@120/240V) | 41.7/20.8 amps |
| Peak amps (@120/240V) | 54.2/27.1 amps |
| Run time @50% load | 10 h |
| Run time @25% load | 14 h |
| GFCI outlets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Covered outlets | Yes |
| Automatic Voltage Regulation | Inverter |
| AC outlets |
|
| DC outlets | 2x 5V USB port |
| Data center | Power & runtime hours LEDs |
| Indicators | Low oil, overload and output ready |
| Fuel tank | 5 gal |
| Fuel gauge | Yes |
| Weight | 139 lbs |
|---|---|
| Approx. dimensions (L x W x H) | 24.8 x 21.2 x 21.5 in |
| Noise (lower limit) | 66 dBA |
| THD | < 3% |
| Compliance | EPA, ANSI/PGMA G300-2023 |
| Security | Low oil and overload protection, CO monitoring |
| Spark arrestor | Yes |
| Neutral | Bonded to frame |
| Accessories included | Oil and funnel |
| Series | QuietPower |
| Other model numbers | 30761 |
| UPC | 011675307615 |
We've taken extra care to research and verify each of the specifications above. That said, occasional mistakes or omissions are still possible. If you spot any missing or inaccurate information, feel free to suggest a correction so we can address it.
About Briggs & Stratton
Founded in 1908, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Briggs & Stratton is a well renowned American based gasoline engine manufacturer. While the company mainly focuses on engines – including outdoor, power tool, karting, cast iron and aluminum models, power generators are a crucial component of their portfolio as well – Briggs & Stratton provides both portable and standby solutions for casual users with full support, including installation. The company operates on a global scale, with 13 facilities spread across all the of the continents.
Warranty Information
The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 QuietPower is covered under a warranty for up to 2 years. This warranty may be limited and may not cover all parts of the generator.
For more information about the warranty of Briggs & Stratton generators, please consult Briggs & Stratton's warranty policies stated in the user manual (opens in a new tab). Alternatively, you can also contact their Customer Support : 1-800-743-4115.
Questions & Answers
What can it power?
| Item | Running Watts | Starting Watts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home | Sump pump (1/2 hp) | 1050 | 2150 |
| Furnace fan (1/2 hp) | 875 | 2350 | |
| Refrigerator (energy star) | 192 | 1192 | |
| Hair dryer | 1800 | 1900 | |
| Set of 5 LED light bulbs | 55 | 55 | |
| Cell phone charger | 20 | 20 | |
| Total | 3992 W | 5467 W | |
| For camping | Radiant heater | 1300 | 1300 |
| RV refrigerator | 180 | 600 | |
| Hair dryer | 1800 | 1900 | |
| Rice cooker | 650 | 650 | |
| Set of 5 LED light bulbs | 55 | 55 | |
| Total | 3985 W | 4405 W | |
| For work | Table saw | 1800 | 4500 |
| Grinder | 1400 | 2500 | |
| Drain cleaner | 250 | 250 | |
| Electric fence (25 miles) | 250 | 250 | |
| Bug zapper | 80 | 80 | |
| Total | 3780 W | 6480 W |
Is the Q6500 electric start? (Asked February 26, 2020)
This unit only has a classic recoil start.
Couldn't find the right answer for you? Ask your own question.
User Reviews
Impressive performance. I had purchased the generator about 3 months before being hit by Hurricane Laura. It had not been used. I ran the generator continuously for 10 days and it ran flawlessly. Very fuel efficient consuming only 9 to 10 gallons of gas a day compared to similar wattage of my non-inverter generators that were consuming 16 to18 gallons per day.
No major complaints. I Just wish that it was possible to run this unit in parallel with another 6500. I would then be set.