Briggs & Stratton 13,500/8000 watt Generator $419 at Home Depot B&M

Briggs & Stratton Electric Start 13,500/8000 watt Generator $419 at Home Depot B&M YMMV. I found this at the Princeton NJ HD. Used a Lowes 10% coupon and got it down to $377.10 SKU e740-191c. Was originally marked $999.00.

Similar to this at Amazon but does not say "Elite Series". http://www.amazon.com/Briggs-Stratton-Generator-Compliant-030210...

Sounds like a great deal if you can find one. Do you have the B&S model number?

Model #030426

Just call a local store and give them the sku mentioned above. They can check availability for all the stores in the area. BTW, none to be found in the Charleston, SC region.

Two different Home Depot stores told me that e740-191c was not a SKU, and couldn't find it by model number.

blaster668 said: just give them 740-191 as the SKU the letters do not work in the system.

Thank you, they were much more helpful this time.

Quite a few in stock in my area (Philly), but all listed at $799.

oharag1 said: This is not the type of generator that can tie into your house electrical power to supply every outlet is it? also, does it have a mechanism to sense when power goes out - and automatically turn on??? newbie here.

You would need buy and install a transfer switch (ATS / MTS) to feed your outlets from a different power source ($500-$1500). The difference in price between a generator like this, and something like what you're talking about is a couple thousand dollars (whole house automatic standby generator).

Sounds like an excellent done if it's doable for the rest of us.

Could you, in theory ... hang a 110v outlet directly off of your electric panel running 10-2 wire and then use a heavy (and short) cord plug the outlet from the generator into the outlet that runs to the panel and that would then be feeding your home?

Obviously you would need to turn off your main power feed. This would, in theory, let you run your refrigerator and furnace and maybe a lamp in emergency situations.

Seems plausible - thoughts?

boggsie said: Could you, in theory ... hang a 110v outlet directly off of your electric panel running 10-2 wire and then use a heavy (and short) cord plug the outlet from the generator into the outlet that runs to the panel and that would then be feeding your home?

Obviously you would need to turn off your main power feed. This would, in theory, let you run your refrigerator and furnace and maybe a lamp in emergency situations.

Seems plausible - thoughts?

buy the transfer switch and have it installed.

Just realized I put the receipt in my wallet.

You have under the generator line, an NLP savings of $340....I have never seen this before. Did you have to do something special to have that show up?

just picked up the 5500w generator on clearance at costco for 300 bucks...but for less than a hundred more i'd totally upgrade for 8kw. If you're careful, you should be able to power a whole house (excluding an electric stove and similar) on this.

Yes, you need a transfer switch or similar. You can buy a cheap one at Home Depot for about 300 bucks but ... probably want to have an electrician install it. You get a 220v input socket installed outside that runs tot he transfer switch. You plug in the generator, start it, warm it up, then go downstairs and flip the transfer switch and bring up each circuit.

Just remember to have plenty of (FRESH) gas handy. The big generators with a decent load will chug a fair bit of gas in a day.

For 400 bucks you can't beat it even if you're in an area prone to power failure ... the ~$2k minimum (plus install) buy-in for the bigger whole-house automated ones seems like a big jump.

brokenspark said: boggsie said: Could you, in theory ... hang a 110v outlet directly off of your electric panel running 10-2 wire and then use a heavy (and short) cord plug the outlet from the generator into the outlet that runs to the panel and that would then be feeding your home?

Obviously you would need to turn off your main power feed. This would, in theory, let you run your refrigerator and furnace and maybe a lamp in emergency situations.

Seems plausible - thoughts?

Buy a 240 volt 60 amp circuit breaker for your panel, install it. Buy a 60 amp rated twist lock plug end and receptacle, install it with 6 awg cable to the new circuit breaker. Buy an appropriate length of 4 conductor 6 awg SO type cord, kinda expensive. If the gererator has bare terminals then mount one end to generator, or buy another plug to match the 240 volt output receptacle on the generator. Install the first plug on the end going to the panel and wait for an outage. 2 things to remember: always turn off all the breakers in your panel before turning on the generator and have someone who is qualified look over the system when done.

Someone who is qualified will beat you over the head for doing such a thing. Seriously.

Now, I'm not one to always play by the rules...and I understand completely what you're trying to do...and if done right it would be dangerous but probably work. Heck, i might even do similar. BUT unless you actually understand WHAT and WHY you seriously should not even contemplate it. A generator is easily enough to electrocute a person...especially during bad weather when everyone wants to use one.

BTW what you suggested would not be correct. I'm not going to encourage those with a screwdriver and a desire to cause mayham...but for the sake of safety three critical corrections. 1) after you turn off the breakers...turn off the MAIN BREAKER. perhaps counter-intuitive for someone who doesn't know their way around a breaker box. 2) you want 2x 30AMP breakers or a double-gang 30AMP. NOT 60AMP. 3) Don't let ANYONE for ANY reason enter the breaker room but you unless you have a lock-out panel (which would also imply you could install a proper transfer switch).

figured I would chime in on this as I have a transfer switch....spent 200.00 on a good switch and another 120.000 to have it professionally installed...

I have this one Reliance Controls 31406CRK Pro/Tran (nice kit; check Amazon)...they have gone up in price a bit...100ft of 10 gauge 30amp power chord out to my shed/generator......runs 6 circuits (the heater fan takes 2)...any other way and you not only endanger yourself/house but the power-man working in your neighborhood to get the lights back-on....if he taps into your line and you have the genny running???

I was able to get the Warren, OH store to match the $419 price but they would not combine the 10% Lowes coupon with it. Still one heck of a deal for this generator. The one I bought is the same SKU, but the box labels it as a Guardian / Generac brand. I will post model numbers and such when I get a chance.

Why can't I just get to "generators" from that page? I can get to "BestSellers in Generators".....I know I could start over from home page or search...but why oh why isn't there a "link" on that page. I'm stuck in "Bestsellers".

mshen11 said:

if he taps into your neighborhood line... nothing will happen. your generator wouldnt be working long before that: think about it... you are trying to power your entire neighborhood w/ your little generator. whats going to happen to the poor generator?

but thanks for the transfer switch. have been shopping for one.

it is called backfeeding and it is very dangerous....do a quick google search for:generator safety backfeeding and you will find thousands of hits and most of them are from power companys asking you not to connect generators without transfer switch....