Inverter generators are an extremely popular and reliable backup power supply. They are quieter, more fuel-efficient and are much more suitable for running portable electronics than conventional generators.
A 3000-watt inverter generator is an excellent choice for most applications including camping, RV as well as home backup power supply. These portable generators are powerful enough to run most of the crucial equipment smoothly.
Briggs and Stratton are one of the well-known manufacturers of portable generators in the US. Briggs & Stratton 30545 P3000 is currently the most popular inverter generator the company has got on offer. It is a very versatile and well-designed generator that in our opinion is a good choice for any user.
In the following Briggs and Stratton P3000 review, we are about to dive more into its features. We’re also about to found out what are some of the major pros and cons of this great inverter.
Briggs and Stratton P3000 – Tech Specs
- Wattage: 3000 Starting / 2600 Running Watts
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 1.5 gal
- Run Time: 10h @ 25% load
- Outlets: 4 x 120V AC , 1 x 12V-5A DC, 1 x USB port, 1 x parallel port
- Weight: 96 lbs
- Dimensions: 26 x 14 x 21″
- Engine: 171cc 4-stroke OHV
- Starting Method: Manual Recoil / Electric
Functionality
The first thing you can notice about this generator is its user-friendly control panel.
It has a nice little handy LCD screen displaying the various info about its performance and reminders about maintenance.
The panel has got a large number of outlets – more than many other 3000 watt inverters.
It has 4 x 120V outlets for home use, allowing for plugging in multiple appliances.
In comparison, one of the main competitors of Briggs & Stratton – Honda EU3000iS comes only with two such outlets.
There is also a 12V DC outlet and a dedicated USB port for portable electronics.
Finally, the control panel has got a fuel gauge and an hour meter – nice handy additions giving you better control over the generator.
You will also find a parallel port that allows you to use this generator in parallel with another Briggs & Stratton inverter via a dedicated parallel kit.
In case you find yourself in a need for more output wattage, paralleling the generators is by far the best solution.
The generator weighs 96 lbs.
This certainly makes a bit too heavy to carry on.
Fortunately, it comes with a comfortable telescopic handle and 6-inch wheels allowing for easy transportation.
Moving this generator feels not much different than walking around the airport with a heavy suitcase.
It is much lighter than conventional 3000-watt open frame generators.
The generator offers 3000 starting watts and 2600 running watts of total power output.
That makes it a good choice for RV as this amount of power is sufficient to handle even the most consuming appliances.
These include a 15,000 BTU air conditioner found in the larger travel trailers.
Advantages of Briggs & Stratton P3000
Quiet Operation
Briggs & Stratton comes equipped with a Quiet Power Technology. You can turn this function on and off with a single switch.
It will automatically optimize the motor speed according to the current load.
Just as the name suggests, this lowers the noise level produced by the generator engine a lot.
At 25% load, the generator makes only around 58 dB of noise – a number comparable to a lively conversation between two people or an idling car engine.
That makes it an ideal choice for RV and camping – the situations where the low noise level is a must.
Tailgating is another occasion for which this inverter generator is a great solution.
Inverter Technology
Briggs & Stratton P3000 Powersmart is an inverter generator.
That means it uses modern inverter technology which converts the raw DC power to AC power, resulting in cleaner electricity.
It is hence much more reliable and safer to use with portable electronic equipment.
Inverter generators offer several other benefits such as quieter operation, lower gas consumption and finally – the parallel capability.
One downside of inverters is the higher price tag you have to pay.
However, taking the fuel savings and other benefits into account – an inverter generator like Briggs & Stratton P3000 is IMHO a much better and more economical choice in a longer perspective.
Good runtime
The fuel consumption optimization mechanism also gives you better control over how much fuel the generator consumes over time.
This not only means massive savings for you in a longer perspective but also makes a great impact on the generator’s runtime.
The fuel tank has got a total capacity of 1.5 gallons.
You can run this generator continuously for around 10 hours at 25% load on one full tank.
Even at higher loads, you should still be able to get a few hours of constant operation without having to refuel again.
Disadvantages
There is not much to complain about this generator.
For a 3000-watt inverter generator which usually sells for way less than $1000, Briggs & Stratton P3000 offers a good bang for a buck.
Unfortunately, it is not CARB compliant which means that you can’t legally use it in the state of California.
While there have been some reports online of the generator failing to start, those issues were usually quickly resolved by the customer service provided by Briggs & Stratton.
The company is a serious American manufacturer and they take things like warranty very seriously.
If anything happens to your generator, they should be able to fix it in an instant.
Conclusion – Is It Worth Your Money?
In our opinion, Briggs & Stratton did good with this generator.
It is one of the best 3000-watt inverter generators out there.
It easily beats most of its competitors not only with its quality but also the lower price.
You will found it hard to find another 3000-watt inverter generator that good for less than $1000.
If I were to buy a reliable inverter generator for an RV or other uses and wouldn’t like to pay two grand for a Honda EU3000iS – I would seriously consider getting the P3000 Powersmart.
It has all the necessary features and the quality performance to make it one of the best generators of its kind in this price range.
Overall – highly recommended.
