Review of the Briggs & Stratton 030741 Elite Series 8000 Portable Generator
10000 Starting Watts, 8000 Running Watts on Gasoline
Electric Start: Yes
Weight: 224lbs
Noise: 74dB
Should You Buy It?
This powerful portable generator could be a great buy for you to be able to keep your home powered up during an outage or emergency.
It's easy to set up and no noisier than any other open frame models in this category.
It's easy to set up and no noisier than any other open frame models in this category.
Alternatives to this model
Alternatives to this model include the Briggs & Stratton Elite 7000, the WEN DF1100T, the DuroStar DS10000E, the Westinghouse WGEN7500 and the Champion 100813.
Key Points about the Briggs & Stratton Elite 8000
Powerful
Easy to set up and get going
Comes with a wheel kit and oil
Auto Carbon Monoxide shutdown
Quite noisy (normal for a big unit)
Heavy (also normal for a big unit)
Technical Support outsourced
Overview of the Generator
The Elite Series 8000 watt portable generator is a more powerful version of the Briggs & Stratton 030740 7000. It too is a fully featured model with enough power to keep more than just your essential appliance and equipment running during a power outage or natural disaster. It incorporates CO Guard® technology, designed to warn you of potentially lethal levels of carbon monoxide detected in the generator's operating area and shut the engine down without any intervention on your part.
Controls and Features
The control panel is clear with a minimum of necessary controls. A key operated electric start is powered by the supplied battery. There is also a manual pull recoil starter. The panel includes an hour meter, but there is no voltage meter. A fuel gauge is located on top of the generator body.
The Elite 8000 is equipped with a feature (CO Guard) that monitors for the presence of carbon monoxide in the vicinity of the generator and shuts the engine down automatically if it detects the levels are too high for safe operation.
For electrical connections there are 2xGFCI duplex 120v household outlets and one 120/240v 30A locking outlet. With a compatible transfer switch, this generator can be connected into your home's electrical system allowing you to select appliances on any fused circuit.
A low oil protection sensor stops the engine if the level is insufficient for safe operation. You won't be able to (re)start it until the oil is brought up to an acceptable level.
There is no evidence that we can find to suggest this generator is CARB Compliant or has EPA approval, which would preclude its ownership and use in California. It does have a spark arrestor, so it can be used in National Parks and camp sites
The generator runs for up to 9 hours at a 50% load on its 7-gallon gasoline tank.
Briggs & Stratton include a 3-year warranty on this model for residential use and 1-year for commercial use.
You can find a manual for this product here.
WARNING: Although this generator has a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor you must not operate it in any enclosed environment.
The Elite 8000 is equipped with a feature (CO Guard) that monitors for the presence of carbon monoxide in the vicinity of the generator and shuts the engine down automatically if it detects the levels are too high for safe operation.
For electrical connections there are 2xGFCI duplex 120v household outlets and one 120/240v 30A locking outlet. With a compatible transfer switch, this generator can be connected into your home's electrical system allowing you to select appliances on any fused circuit.
A low oil protection sensor stops the engine if the level is insufficient for safe operation. You won't be able to (re)start it until the oil is brought up to an acceptable level.
There is no evidence that we can find to suggest this generator is CARB Compliant or has EPA approval, which would preclude its ownership and use in California. It does have a spark arrestor, so it can be used in National Parks and camp sites
The generator runs for up to 9 hours at a 50% load on its 7-gallon gasoline tank.
Briggs & Stratton include a 3-year warranty on this model for residential use and 1-year for commercial use.
You can find a manual for this product here.
WARNING: Although this generator has a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor you must not operate it in any enclosed environment.
Power Output
Powering this generator is an OHV 420cc engine outputting 10000 starting watts and 8000 running watts.
These power output levels are dependent on where you intend to operate the generator. Climatic conditions and altitude can have a significant impact on the unit's performance. High altitude adjustments may be needed to mitigate less performance, more fuel consumption, and greater emissions. For your information, we look a bit more closely at high altitude operation here.
Although Briggs & Stratton say the generator outputs clean power, this does not mean it can be compared with the clean power outputs of an inverter generator. If you intend to connect sensitive electronics, then you should consider using a line cleaner/UPS beforehand.
These power output levels are dependent on where you intend to operate the generator. Climatic conditions and altitude can have a significant impact on the unit's performance. High altitude adjustments may be needed to mitigate less performance, more fuel consumption, and greater emissions. For your information, we look a bit more closely at high altitude operation here.
Although Briggs & Stratton say the generator outputs clean power, this does not mean it can be compared with the clean power outputs of an inverter generator. If you intend to connect sensitive electronics, then you should consider using a line cleaner/UPS beforehand.
What Most Buyers Like
In general, the Elite 8000 is highly rated for the ease in first setting it up. It is powerful and in one case was able to power an 1800 square foot home with a 3-Ton central air conditioner.
What Some Buyers Like Less
It's a noisy generator and the level is "a bit much" according to one buyer. The company does not appear to have its own dedicated technical support, instead referring customers to repair centers.
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Model Number | 30741 |
| Engine Brand | Briggs & Stratton® |
| Running Watts | 8000 |
| Starting Watts | 10000 |
| Volts | 120/240 |
| Running Amps | 66.6 |
| Engine Displacement (cc) | 420 |
| OHV Engine | Yes |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (gal) | 7 |
| Run Time @ 50% load | Up to 9 hours |
| Alternator | Power Surge™ |
| Start Type | Electric/Recoil |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes |
| Muffler | Super Lo-Tone™ |
| Fuel Gauge | Yes |
| Hour MeterDigital Display | Yes |
| Wheel Type | Never-Go-Flat |
| Wheel Diameter | 12 |
| Automatic Voltage Regulation | Yes |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes |
| Width (in) | 22.3 |
| Weight (lbs) | 224 |
| Height (in) | 36 |
| Length (in) | 34.8 |
| Consumer Warranty (Product) | 36 Months |
| Commercial Warranty (Product) | 3 Months |
