Power outages have changed from an occasional inconvenience into a serious concern for many homeowners. Severe weather, aging electrical infrastructure, high household electricity demand, and our increasing dependence on connected appliances mean losing power can affect much more than the lights.
Refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, well pumps, sump pumps, internet equipment, security systems, medical equipment, and home offices can all depend on reliable electricity.
That's where a permanently installed Briggs & Stratton home standby generator can make a significant difference.
The latest Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect™ standby generator lineup gives homeowners several options for matching backup power to their actual electrical needs, including 13kW, 18kW, 22kW, and 26kW home standby generators.
But choosing the right generator isn't simply about buying the largest model.
Let's look at what makes the PowerProtect lineup different, how the various sizes compare, and what homeowners should consider when choosing a whole-house generator.
What Is a Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect Standby Generator?
A standby generator is a permanently installed backup power source designed to work with a home's electrical system.
Unlike a portable generator that must typically be moved into position, connected, fueled, and started manually, a properly configured standby-generator system can automatically respond when utility power fails.
A typical installation consists of three major components:
Utility Power → Automatic Transfer Switch → Home
When utility power is interrupted:
Briggs & Stratton Generator → Automatic Transfer Switch → Home
The automatic transfer switch detects the loss of utility power and transfers the electrical load to the standby generator according to the system's configuration.
When utility power returns and stabilizes, the system transfers the home back to utility power.
That means backup power doesn't have to depend on someone being home when the outage begins.
Meet the Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect Generator Lineup
Briggs & Stratton's residential PowerProtect lineup covers several common whole-home backup requirements.
The lineup includes:
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PowerProtect 13kW
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PowerProtect 18kW
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PowerProtect 22kW
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PowerProtect 26kW
The right model depends on the home's electrical loads rather than square footage alone.
A smaller home with several large electrical appliances can sometimes require more generator capacity than a larger home using natural gas for heating, water heating, and cooking.
That's why generator sizing should always begin with the equipment you want to operate.
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 13kW: Compact Backup Power
The Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 13kW standby generator is particularly interesting for homeowners who want permanent backup power without necessarily needing to run every electrical load simultaneously.
Briggs & Stratton designed the 13kW model with a compact footprint and front-exhaust configuration, making it useful where installation space may be limited.
Despite its smaller capacity, Briggs & Stratton rates the unit at 37 kVA of motor-starting capability.
That's important because appliances containing motors and compressors can require significantly more power for a few moments during startup than they consume while operating.
Potential backup loads might include:
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Refrigerators
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Freezers
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Furnaces
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Lights
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Internet equipment
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Sump pumps
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Well pumps
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Selected household outlets
With appropriate load management, a homeowner may be able to prioritize the circuits that matter most rather than purchasing a substantially larger generator simply to cover occasional peak loads.
Who Should Consider a 13kW Generator?
A 13kW standby generator may make sense for homeowners who:
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Want permanent automatic backup power
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Primarily need essential household circuits
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Have limited installation space
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Use gas appliances that reduce electrical demand
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Don't need every major electrical appliance operating simultaneously
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Plan to incorporate load management
For a more detailed sizing comparison, read our 13kW vs 18kW vs 22kW vs 26kW Standby Generator Guide.
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 18kW: A Step Up in Capacity
Moving up to the PowerProtect 18kW gives homeowners additional capacity for larger electrical loads.
This is where standby generators become particularly interesting for homes that want more than essential-circuit backup.
Briggs & Stratton's current 18kW PowerProtect model is rated to deliver 18kW on both liquid propane and natural gas.
That distinction matters.
Generator model names don't always tell the complete story about available power when operating on natural gas.
Briggs & Stratton developed its NGMax™ technology specifically around maintaining strong power output when operating on natural gas.
For homes already connected to a natural-gas utility, that can be an important specification to compare.
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 22kW: More Whole-Home Capability
For homeowners with larger electrical requirements, the Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 22kW standby generator offers another substantial increase in capacity.
Briggs & Stratton rates the current model at 22kW on natural gas as well as liquid propane.
The company also specifies 45 kVA of motor-starting capability for the 22kW PowerProtect.
Why should homeowners care about motor starting?
Because your home's biggest loads aren't always the ones that consume the most electricity continuously.
Equipment such as:
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Central air conditioners
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Heat pumps
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Well pumps
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Pool pumps
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Refrigeration equipment
can place substantial temporary demand on a generator when their motors or compressors start.
A generator needs enough capacity to handle those starting events without sacrificing the other loads you're depending on.
Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 26kW: Whole-Home Backup for Larger Loads
At the top of the air-cooled residential PowerProtect lineup is the Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect 26kW home standby generator.
This model is designed for homeowners with larger backup-power requirements, including homes where maintaining air conditioning during an outage is a priority.
Potential loads can include:
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Central air conditioning
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Refrigerators and freezers
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Furnaces
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Well pumps
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Pool equipment
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Lighting
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Home offices
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Security systems
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Kitchen appliances
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Selected additional household circuits
Briggs & Stratton describes the PowerProtect 26kW as capable of supporting demanding whole-home applications and emphasizes its ability to start large equipment such as air conditioners.
That doesn't mean every home automatically needs 26kW.
It means homeowners with significant simultaneous loads have another option before moving into much larger commercial-style generator systems.
13kW vs 18kW vs 22kW vs 26kW Briggs & Stratton Generators
Here's a simple way to think about the lineup:
| Generator | Best Starting Point For |
|---|---|
| 13kW PowerProtect | Essential loads, smaller homes and managed backup power |
| 18kW PowerProtect | Moderate household loads and increased backup capacity |
| 22kW PowerProtect | Larger homes and more simultaneous electrical loads |
| 26kW PowerProtect | High-demand homes and more comprehensive whole-home backup |
This table should be treated as a starting point rather than a sizing calculator.
The correct generator depends on your actual electrical loads, starting requirements, fuel source, HVAC equipment and desired level of backup coverage.
Read our complete 13kW vs 18kW vs 22kW vs 26kW Standby Generator Guide before deciding which capacity makes sense for your property.
NGMax Technology: Why Natural Gas Output Matters
One of the most important Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect features is NGMax technology.
Here's why.
Standby generators commonly operate using either:
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Natural gas
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Liquid propane (LP)
The rated output of a generator can vary depending on fuel.
That means a homeowner shopping based only on the large kW number in a generator's model name may not necessarily be comparing equivalent natural-gas performance.
Briggs & Stratton developed NGMax around providing strong generator output when operating on natural gas.
For example, the current PowerProtect lineup includes 18kW and 22kW models rated by Briggs & Stratton to deliver their respective 18kW and 22kW outputs on natural gas.
For homeowners planning a natural-gas installation, this is an important specification to examine when comparing standby generators.
Why Motor-Starting Power Matters for Air Conditioning
This is especially important to AC Units For Less customers.
An air conditioner doesn't consume electricity at exactly the same rate every second.
When the compressor starts, the system can temporarily demand considerably more electrical power than it requires once running.
The same principle applies to many motor-driven loads.
Examples include:
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Central air conditioners
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Heat pumps
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Well pumps
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Pool pumps
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Sump pumps
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Refrigerators
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Freezers
This means generator sizing can't be based solely on adding together running watts.
Starting loads matter.
A generator might appear large enough based on continuous electrical consumption but still struggle when a large compressor attempts to start while other equipment is already operating.
Briggs & Stratton emphasizes motor-starting capability throughout the PowerProtect lineup for exactly this reason.
Can a Briggs & Stratton Generator Run Your Central AC?
Potentially, yes.
But the answer depends on your specific air conditioner and generator.
You need to consider:
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AC tonnage
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Voltage
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Compressor characteristics
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MCA
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MOCP
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Starting requirements
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Generator capacity
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Other loads operating simultaneously
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Load-management equipment
For example, asking whether a 22kW generator can run a central air conditioner doesn't provide enough information.
The better question is:
Can this generator start and operate my specific HVAC system while simultaneously supporting the other loads I consider essential?
That's the calculation that matters.
For larger properties and commercial systems, see our Standby Generator Sizing Guide for Commercial HVAC Equipment.
Power Management Can Change the Generator Size You Need
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming whole-home backup means every electrical appliance needs to operate simultaneously.
Usually, it doesn't.
Consider a house with:
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Two air conditioners
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Electric oven
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Clothes dryer
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Pool pump
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Water heater
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Refrigerator
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Freezer
The homeowner may want all of these appliances available during an extended outage.
That doesn't necessarily mean they need all of them operating at exactly the same time.
This is where load management becomes valuable.
Briggs & Stratton offers its Symphony® Choice Power Management System as an optional solution that works with the automatic transfer system to prioritize electrical loads.
The principle is straightforward:
Power the loads you need when you need them instead of sizing the generator for every possible load operating simultaneously.
Depending on the home, this can potentially allow a properly designed system to use generator capacity more efficiently.
What Is Eco-Cise Weekly Test Mode?
Standby generators need to remain ready even when they haven't been required for an actual outage.
Briggs & Stratton's Eco-Cise™ weekly test mode performs a short exercise cycle designed to verify that the generator remains operational.
Briggs & Stratton specifies a 16-second weekly test cycle on applicable PowerProtect models.
The shorter exercise period is designed to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and noise while still routinely exercising the generator.
For a permanently installed machine that may spend most of its life waiting for an outage, routine automatic testing is an important part of system readiness.
Natural Gas vs Propane for a Briggs & Stratton Standby Generator
Both fuels can make sense.
Natural Gas
Natural gas can be particularly convenient when the property already has utility gas service.
Advantages can include:
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Continuous utility fuel supply during many outages
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No propane tank to refill
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No gasoline storage
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Automatic generator operation
However, natural-gas availability can depend on the property and local infrastructure.
Liquid Propane
Propane can be useful for homes without natural-gas service.
Advantages include:
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On-site fuel storage
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Availability in many rural areas
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Independence from natural-gas infrastructure
Tank capacity becomes an important consideration for extended outages.
The right choice depends on fuel availability, expected runtime, installation requirements, and the generator model.
Don't Forget the Automatic Transfer Switch
The generator itself is only one component of a complete standby-power system.
A properly designed installation may include:
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Briggs & Stratton standby generator
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Automatic transfer switch
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Load-management equipment
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Fuel connection
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Electrical wiring
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Generator pad or approved mounting system
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Appropriate clearances
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Permitting
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Professional installation
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Commissioning and testing
The automatic transfer switch (ATS) is especially important because it controls the transition between utility and generator power.
When an outage occurs, the standby system can detect the loss of utility power, start the generator and transfer the appropriate electrical loads.
When utility power returns, the system transitions the home back to utility power and the generator shuts down according to its control sequence.
Home Standby Generator vs Portable Generator
A portable generator can be an excellent solution when you need temporary backup power at a lower initial equipment cost.
But it requires more homeowner involvement.
Depending on the configuration, you may need to:
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Move the generator outdoors
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Connect it properly
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Manage fuel
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Start it
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Manage electrical loads
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Shut it down
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Store it afterward
A standby generator provides a fundamentally different experience.
It is permanently installed and designed around automatic backup operation when properly paired with the required transfer equipment.
For homeowners who travel frequently, operate businesses from home, rely on well pumps or medical equipment, or simply don't want to manually set up a portable generator during severe weather, automatic standby power can be particularly valuable.
What Size Briggs & Stratton Generator Do I Need?
Don't choose based on square footage alone.
Instead, make a list of everything you want operating during an outage.
Start with critical loads:
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Refrigerator
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Freezer
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Furnace
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Well pump
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Sump pump
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Medical equipment
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Internet
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Security system
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Essential lighting
Then add comfort and convenience loads:
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Central AC
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Heat pump
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Water heater
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Kitchen appliances
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Washer
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Dryer
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Pool equipment
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Home-office equipment
Next, determine which loads must operate simultaneously.
That's the important part.
A household that wants one central air conditioner, refrigeration and essential circuits may have very different generator requirements from a house with two HVAC systems, electric water heating, pool equipment and multiple large appliances.
For a deeper comparison, read the AC Units For Less 13kW vs 18kW vs 22kW vs 26kW Standby Generator Guide.
Is a 26kW Generator Better Than a 22kW Generator?
Not automatically.
More generator capacity can provide more flexibility, but purchasing more capacity than the property requires may increase equipment and installation costs without providing a meaningful benefit.
Likewise, undersizing a generator can create problems when large electrical loads start simultaneously.
The goal should be:
Enough capacity for the loads you actually need, with appropriate allowance for starting demand and load management.
That's better than simply buying based on the largest kW number available.
Why Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect Is Worth Comparing
Homeowners comparing standby generators frequently focus on brand name and generator size.
The specifications deserve just as much attention.
The PowerProtect lineup gives buyers several features worth comparing:
NGMax Technology
Designed to provide strong output when operating on natural gas.
Strong Motor-Starting Capability
Particularly relevant for homes with central air conditioners, heat pumps, pumps, and other motor-driven equipment.
13kW to 26kW Residential Range
Multiple capacities make it easier to match generator size to actual electrical demand.
Eco-Cise Weekly Exercise
A short automatic weekly test helps keep the generator ready while limiting unnecessary exercise time.
Load-Management Options
Symphony Choice can help prioritize electrical loads rather than requiring everything to operate simultaneously.
Installation and Maintenance Access
PowerProtect models incorporate removable panels designed to simplify access for installation and routine maintenance.
Shop Briggs & Stratton Standby Generators
Once you know your home's backup-power requirements, the next step is comparing generator capacities and configurations.
Shop Briggs & Stratton Standby Generators at AC Units For Less to explore residential and commercial backup-power solutions.
When comparing models, don't look at generator capacity alone.
Consider:
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Natural-gas output
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Propane output
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Motor-starting capability
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HVAC requirements
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Automatic transfer switch
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Load management
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Installation requirements
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Warranty
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Serviceability
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Future electrical needs
The goal isn't simply to buy a generator.
It's to build a backup-power system that matches how your home actually uses electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Briggs & Stratton Standby Generators
What Sizes Do Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect Home Generators Come In?
The residential PowerProtect lineup includes 13kW, 18kW, 22kW, and 26kW models, giving homeowners several options for matching generator capacity to household electrical demand.
Can a Briggs & Stratton Standby Generator Run a Whole House?
Potentially.
Whether a generator can provide whole-home backup depends on the generator's capacity and the home's electrical loads.
A properly sized PowerProtect generator combined with appropriate transfer and load-management equipment can support substantial household loads.
Can a Briggs & Stratton Generator Run Central Air Conditioning?
Yes, appropriately sized PowerProtect systems can support air-conditioning equipment.
However, compressor starting requirements and simultaneous household loads must be considered when sizing the generator.
What Is NGMax?
NGMax is Briggs & Stratton technology designed to maximize generator power output when operating on natural gas.
This is important because generator output can differ between natural gas and liquid propane.
What Is the Largest Briggs & Stratton Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator?
The PowerProtect 26kW sits at the top of Briggs & Stratton's current air-cooled residential PowerProtect lineup.
Is 13kW Enough for a House?
It can be.
A 13kW generator may provide substantial backup capability when loads are carefully selected and managed.
The answer depends on the home's actual equipment rather than square footage alone.
Is 22kW Enough to Run Central AC?
Potentially, but AC tonnage alone isn't sufficient to answer the question.
The generator must handle the HVAC system's running and starting requirements along with other electrical loads operating at the same time.
Does a Standby Generator Turn On Automatically?
When properly installed with compatible automatic transfer equipment, a standby generator system can detect utility power loss and automatically provide backup power according to the system configuration.
Does a Standby Generator Need Maintenance?
Yes.
Standby generators require periodic maintenance according to the manufacturer's schedule. Oil, filters, battery condition, fuel system, electrical connections, and overall system operation should be inspected as required.
Should I Buy a 13kW, 18kW, 22kW, or 26kW Generator?
Choose based on the equipment you want operating during an outage, its running and starting requirements, your fuel source, and how many loads need to operate simultaneously.
For a detailed comparison, read our 13kW vs 18kW vs 22kW vs 26kW Standby Generator Guide.
Plan for the Next Power Outage Before It Happens
The best time to think about backup power isn't when the lights have already gone out.
A properly designed standby-power system can help keep refrigeration, HVAC equipment, pumps, communications, security systems, and other essential household equipment operating when utility power is unavailable.
The Briggs & Stratton PowerProtect lineup gives homeowners multiple capacity choices from 13kW through 26kW, along with technology designed around natural-gas performance, motor starting, load management, and automatic backup power.
Before purchasing, determine your essential electrical loads, account for your HVAC system, calculate starting requirements, select the appropriate transfer equipment, and have the final system evaluated and installed by qualified professionals.
Then shop Briggs & Stratton standby generators at AC Units For Less to compare generator options for your home's backup-power requirements.
