GE Generator Systems Units Redesigned with the Homeowner in Mind

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Featuring new airflow technology that provides homeowners with more flexible placement options, GE Generator Systems announces next-generation 17- and 20-kilowatt¹ standby generators.

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The new GE units are designed around the homeowner's protection and tested against the rigorous National Fire Protection Agency standards allowing them to potentially be placed closer to the home. The 17 & 20-kilowatt units are the only ones available in the industry that have a thermally protected fuel system which automatically shuts off the unit in the event of a fire. The unit has an all-steel enclosure and base withstanding temperatures more than double that of aluminum and far beyond that of plastic enclosures. The enclosure's roof slopes from back to front, ushering rain water away from the home's foundation.

"Customers told us they wanted a standby generator with better placement options to blend in with surrounding landscaping," said Amanda Grandy, marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton Standby Power, the exclusive licensee of GE Generator Systems. "Our new 17 & 20- kilowatt standby generators make that a reality for homeowners."

In addition to providing better placement options, the unit's design pushes engine exhaust out the front of the unit and directly away from the home. The airflow design bends emitted sound from the unit making it the quietest 20-kilowatt generator available from GE yet.

As one of the most service-friendly 20-kilowatt generators on the market, the enclosure has three removable service access doors, so technicians can service any part of the unit — including the back — without implementing a complete teardown operation. This reduces service time and expenses for the customer.

Continuing its commitment to power more of a home's appliances with a smaller, less expensive generator, the redesigned units come equipped with the Symphony™ II power management system. The Symphony™ II system manages a home's power needs automatically during a power outage by electronically controlling electrical loads giving customers a true whole-house power solution. Our Symphonyä II power management system provides customers with access to all of their electrical household appliances instead of just selected appliances.

About Briggs & Stratton Corporation

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiary Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC is North America's number one manufacturer of portable generators and pressure washers, and is a leading designer,  manufacturer and marketer of standby power generators, as well as lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris® and Murray® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For more information, visit: www.ge.com/generatorsystems or www.briggsandstratton.com.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health, to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

¹ This generator is rated in accordance with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) 2200 (stationary engine generator assemblies) and CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard C22.2 No. 100-04 (motors and generators).

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation; GE Generator Systems