Briggs & Stratton · model 040806
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP
~$6,970approx. list price
26,000 W running — sustains the whole home with central air tier.
Best forLarge homes that want whole-house air-cooled backup with the longest warranty in the class, and have a Briggs installer nearby.
Briggs' answer to the Generac Guardian 26kW and Kohler 26RCA, and the only one of the three that ships with a 10-year comprehensive warranty. It uses the same 993cc Vanguard as the 18kW, tuned to 26kW on propane and 24kW on natural gas, with 65.5 kVA of motor starting at a 35 percent voltage dip. That is enough to run a 5-ton AC or two units on a whole-house transfer switch with load management. At 65 dBA it is the quietest PowerProtect on the spec sheet, though still a loud neighbor. The price is $6,970 before a transfer switch, and a 200-amp switch with install is where the real money goes. It is rated for off-grid and demand-response use and can sit 18 inches from a building where local code allows. The catch is the same as for the whole Briggs line: a smaller dealer network than Generac.
From the spec sheet
26kW LP / 24kW NG·65.5 kVA motor starting·10-year comprehensive warranty
At a glance
At a glance
Head to head
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
22,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Natural-gas homes that want maximum NG output per dollar and a longer warranty than the big two.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 68 dB
18,000 W · up to whole home with central air
Best for Owners of 2,000-3,000 sq ft homes who run central AC and want full rated power on natural gas.
Home Standby Generator · NG/LP · 69 dB
13,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Best for Owners of mid-size homes with a narrow side yard who want a 7-year warranty that covers labor, and can live with 69 dB.