Briggs & Stratton 30651 P2200 Review – Big Power In A Small Package

Briggs & Stratton – just seeing this brand’s name slapped across a generator might be all it takes for someone to decide on a purchase. After dominating the market of small engines over the past century, Briggs & Stratton sells some 10 million compact power solutions annually, putting their brand in the coveted American Fortune 1000 and 500 lists.

The billion-dollar enterprise is big on quality power products, offering a range of choices that satisfy every discriminating taste and distinct need. In this Briggs & Stratton 30651 P2200 review, we’re looking into the outstanding inverter – a compact, reasonably priced workhorse that comes in a practical, portable package.

Touted as a small yet powerful engine, the P2200 is often considered a smart choice for emergency power interruptions, outdoor excursions, tailgating, or minor handiwork. The question is – is it the right solution for your situation? Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Specifications

Features

As one of the leaders in compact power solutions, Briggs & Stratton doesn’t joke around with their releases – even the smaller ones. With that, you can expect the P2200 to come out on top as one of the most richly designed portable power generators, delivering excellent performance through its impressively wealthy list of features.

1. OHV Engine – Designed for long-lasting performance, OHV engines are compact, efficient, and easier to maintain. Briggs & Stratton uses industry-leading technology to produce their carefully engineered OHV engines, promising sustained power that’s built to lasts. The resilient little engine minimizes the need for maintenance efforts with its unique anatomy permitting efficient lubrication across all of its working parts.
2. Compact, Handsome Design – Let’s be real – the P2200 is perhaps the best-looking compact generator in its segment. The appealing combination of gray and red paired with the generator’s clean lines and contemporary exterior make the handsome little device especially attractive. Its quaintly compact build weighs in at just 55 pounds, letting you carry the machine anywhere with relative ease.
3. Versatile Application – Need back-up power for those sudden power interruptions? Or are you looking for a nifty companion for minor jobs or camping trips? Whatever your purpose, the P2200 promises to meet your needs for power. Its smart design was built for a variety of applications, giving you an all-in-one solution that works well for a range of different settings.
4. Quiet Operation – Generators – even the smallest ones – can produce loud, thrumming noises that can disrupt an entire village. Fortunately, the P2200 uses an inverter engine fitted with a Super Lo-Tone muffler that produces a modest 59 decibels of noise which is comparable to the volume of an average, everyday conversation.
5. Inverter Technology – Inverter technology changed the game when it stepped into the market way back in 1980. This revolutionary tech, when incorporated into a power generator, helps produce clean energy that’s less prone to fluctuations and surges. For you, that means stable power that’s perfect for more delicate devices like smartphones and laptops.
6. Parallel Capable – One of the more intuitive features that the P2200 comes with is its dedicated parallel connector port. The feature lets you hook two P2200’s or a P2200 with a P3000 generator for more power without having to sacrifice an outlet for your gadgets and appliances.
7. Fuel-Efficient – Using just 1 gallon of gasoline for an 8-hour runtime, the Briggs & Stratton P2200 can see you through 24 hours of use with no more than 3 gallons of fuel. Of course, that depends on how much you hook up to the machine. But if you’re using just a few lights and some of your personal electronics, then the P2200 makes a long-running companion.
8. Quiet Power Technology – Inside the P2200 is an intuitive computer control unit that monitors your usage over the generator’s runtime when you switch on the feature. This works to regulate the power generated, adjusting operation to meet your needs in order to extend runtime, reduce noise, and protect your engine from being overworked.
9. EPA-Compliant – Tested and certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, the P2200 is a minimal emissions generator that’s perfect for all sorts of applications. With negligible carbon monoxide release, the machine is rated safe for use in all states except that of California, where generators need CARB approval for legal use.
10. Straightforward Control Panel – At a glance, the P2200’s control panel looks clean and well-organized, showcasing everything you need in an uncomplicated, straightforward layout. Outlets, reset buttons, and three indicator lights bring you everything you need in order to run your generator with little fuss.
11. Solid Construction – What you’ll notice about a lot of the smaller portable inverter generators is that they tend to use exterior casings that lack that premium feel. The P2200 does away with that issue, boasting best-in-class construction that uses high-impact materials to keep all internal parts well-protected against the elements.
12. Spark Arrestor – Hoping to take your generator into a public park or forest? The P2200 makes the ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts thanks to its spark arrestor. This feature inhibits and minimizes the risk of fires, making it legal for use in public camping spaces throughout the country.
13. Widely Available Parts and Accessories – Perhaps one of the best-selling points of the P2200 – and any Briggs & Stratton generator for that case – is that parts and accessories are incredibly easy to source. Being that the manufacturer is particularly popular and accessible, it’s especially effortless for their patrons to locate the necessary purchases for repairs and upgrades.

Briggs & Stratton 30651 P2200 Review

Hot on the heels of the success of the P2000, Briggs & Stratton refreshed some of its top-selling portable inverter generator’s features to come up with the improved P2200. Compared to its predecessor, the updated P2200 boasts a higher running wattage, parallel capabilities, and better fuel efficiency, to name a few.

As the brand’s crowning jewel in the portable power department, the P2200 doesn’t disappoint with its impressively compact body. Small and lightweight, the tiny machine weighs in at just 50 pounds making it easy to set up, transport, and store. The H-shaped handle lets users carry the engine in a number of different ways, also opening up the potential for a two-person carry without the trouble of complicated body mechanics.

The exterior of the machine is also impeccably designed. Combining the brand’s signature colors, the P2200 stands out in a portable power generator line-up. Its attractive streamlined body looks clean and sophisticated, exuding the quality of premium alternative power that comes from a reliable brand. The casing that envelopes the engine is especially durable, made from high-impact high-density material that’s resistant to heat and cold.

Inside the attractive exterior is a compact yet powerful inverter workhorse. The 110cc OHV engine is small and efficient, producing 2200 peak watts and 1700 running watts of clean power to bring your basic necessities to life. The inverter technology puts a cap on surges and fluctuations, giving you a little extra confidence in knowing your delicate electronics won’t be damaged by sudden power bursts.

With 1700 running watts, you could power up a freezer, a fridge, a window-type air-conditioning unit, hand-held electronics, countertop appliances, and a range of power tools that you’d typically find at a job site. Of course, it pays to know that while each of these devices requires less than 1700 watts of power, you can’t hook them up to your P2200 all at once.

For instance, if you’ve got a 900W window-type air conditioner, you’d have around 800W of remaining power at your disposal. It’s also worth knowing that the closer you are to the maximum running wattage, the faster your fuel burns up. At 25% of the P2200’s max load – which is around 425W – you can expect the engine to run for about 8 uninterrupted hours on just 1 gallon of gas.

Now, if you find that you need a little extra power, the P2200 features a dedicated parallel connection outlet that lets you connect two of the same machines together. This gives you around 3400 running watts of power, doubling up on the generator’s capacity and giving you a chance to potentially power your entire household – given it’s on the smaller side of the household size scale.

Aside from serving the purpose of the parallel connection, the dedicated outlet also works as an RV connection. This lets you hook the generator up to your recreational vehicle, allowing easy and seamless power on the go without having to use up a household outlet on the control panel interface.

If there’s any way to describe the P2200 portable generator, it’s that it’s almost perfect. Yes, we say almost because it does have a few kinks here and there that the brand might be keen on improving later on as they continue to upgrade their premier portable power generator.

The first thing that might raise your eyebrow is the filter plug that seals the fuel tank. The removable filter sifts whatever enters the tank, ensuring that nothing other than gasoline makes its way into the chamber. While that might be rather clever from the perspective of maintenance, it obstructs your view when filling up the tank. With minimal visibility, while the filter is in place, overflow becomes a very real possibility.

In the same way, the engine oil valve also poses the same problem. The plug is placed along one of the generator’s side panels. Unscrewing the protective plate reveals the valve, which provides a minimal view of the oil chamber inside. Emptying the little bugger can also be a pretty tedious chore, requiring that you tilt the machine on its side to get the used oil out. Expect a few spills here and there.

Another thing worth noting is the lack of an hour meter and fuel gauge, which are both pretty much industry standard inclusions. The absence of these essential indicators adds a little guesswork to the entire process of running the machine. However, the brand does offer the accessories as after-market purchases. So, if you were hoping to make your generator a little more intuitive to use, then shelling the added cost should be worth considering.

And finally, we do have to talk about the machine’s certification. While all of Briggs & Stratton’s small engines are EPA-compliant, the P2200 lacks CARB approval. That means that the generator will not ship to California and isn’t legal for any sort of use within the state’s borders. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly safe design backed by a 24-month consumer warranty and a 12-month commercial warranty.