Recommend an electric residential lawn mower

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Recommend an electric residential lawn mower

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

20574 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2209388 2-Apr-2019 12:54

mdf:

You can come mow my lawn to "test" the Ryobi 1900W any time! 😀

You joke, but if you're in Wellington I might come have a look next time you mow your lawn!

(I forget where everyone lives, and it's not in profiles)

jonathan18

7413 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2209399 2-Apr-2019 13:15

timmmay:

@jonathan18 what model of mains mower did you use that wasn't as good as the 36v Ryobi?

I had a cheapish Victa mower, then replaced that with a mid-level Morrison (I think). I'd rate them 2/10 and 4/10 respectively, vs perhaps an 8/10 for the Ryobi - just to emphasise it's not just a little better!

Yeah, I would certainly look at trialling the mower if you do indeed still want to go for a plug-in model - while it may be a cheaper outlay, if it ends up not being adequate for your needs you'll either have a poor product or end up spending more in total if you replace it.

timmmay

20574 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2209404 2-Apr-2019 13:21

jonathan18:

timmmay:

@jonathan18 what model of mains mower did you use that wasn't as good as the 36v Ryobi?

I had a cheapish Victa mower, then replaced that with a mid-level Morrison (I think). I'd rate them 2/10 and 4/10 respectively, vs perhaps an 8/10 for the Ryobi - just to emphasise it's not just a little better!

Yeah, I would certainly look at trialling the mower if you do indeed still want to go for a plug-in model - while it may be a cheaper outlay, if it ends up not being adequate for your needs you'll either have a poor product or end up spending more in total if you replace it.

I have a cheap Victa Lawnkeeper 360A, almost 10 years old and it cost about $300. It's almost good enough, just not quite enough power in long grass. I'd rate the model you give 2/10 as 6/10, but I haven't used a petrol mower in 20+ years so I'm used to lower power mowers.

I guess I need to find someone who's tried the Ryobi battery and mains models, but I doubt many people have used both.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2209413 2-Apr-2019 13:56

One of these because come on just look at it much better than a mower.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

mdf

3512 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2209786 2-Apr-2019 21:21

timmmay:

I'm puzzled why battery models are reported as being so much better than cord models. Surely the 1900W Ryobi is pretty powerful? <snip>

I'm guessing somewhat here (vainly trying to recall 5th form phyics and Electromboom) but most mains powered tools will have a universal motor, while most battery ones (certainly the higher-end ones) will be brushless DC. Brushless DC motors have quite a few advantages, including (generally speaking) better torque and speed control. If you hit a tough patch, a brushless DC motor can adjust its settings to power through, while that's much harder with a universal motor.

So even though the raw power ratings are lower for battery (e.g. the 1900W mains Ryobi vs a 1200W battery Victa mentioned above), you might get better performance if the torque is better lower down the power curve.

But as also noted, brushless DC motors are themselves much more expensive before you even begin to account for battery dollars.

One of the more engineeringly minded residents hereabouts (paging @fred99) might be able to advance on my guesswork.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2209930 3-Apr-2019 08:10

Wrong guy - I'm more chemical than engineered.
I do laugh a bit at the Victa ad, claiming 1/2 hour fast charge for the 2AH 82V battery and two battery set sold with the mower gives the ability for constant interruption-free operation of a 1200 watt motor powered device, when arithmetic tells me that under full load (probably only when heavy duty cutting) a battery charge should last a bit over 8 minutes, but that's griping, under normal use Consumer NZ found that a battery charge lasted 34 minutes, which is pretty good, even if wording of their ads could be a little misleading.

The only thing that really bothers me about these battery tools is battery cost and lifespan. I've got 18V Milwaukee (M18) tools, professional grade range from the same company that sells Ryobi etc. There's a 5 year Trade-use warranty (ie CGA doesn't apply for commercial use) but only IIRC 2 years for batteries. Both 4AH batteries died just past the warranty expiration, my son (sparky) has the same M18 tools, and had exactly the same experience. Worse, presumably because of demand for lithium cells for cars etc, replacement batteries got more expensive, IIRC they went up by about 20% in price (bonus is the replacement batteries are larger 5AH but the same physical size). I think the replacements cost me $140 each. The Victa replacement batteries are priced at $349 each at Bunnings. If you need 2 replacements (almost certain in the future), then $700 worth to keep an $850 mower going...

I use a Morrison Vinaro self mulching mower I bought on special at Mitre 10 about 4 or 5 years ago. It starts first time, over 5 years it's used perhaps $25 worth of petrol, the B&S 4 stroke motor is quiet, it's got a cheap steel chassis which is lightweight (the main reason I bought it as I had to lift it to different landscape levels) which hasn't rusted, it cuts well with the catcher in any condition, and self mulches very well so long as the grass is reasonably dry and not too long. It cost me $300, less than the price of one 82V Victa battery.

As for perceived "environmental" benefit for a battery mower. I guess the 10 litres of fuel or so that it's used is about or less than 0.1% of our home fossil fuel use (including transport), less than I use in our gas bbq, and I'm not trading that for an electric bbq, let alone a battery electric bbq if someone's silly enough to make and market such a thing.

timmmay

20574 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2209934 3-Apr-2019 08:19

I have no major objection to a petrol mower, other than weight, maintenance, and noise. I really just want to upgrade the electric mower to a better model that had a bit more power without spending too much money. The 1900W Ryobi is the leading candidate right now. I may go mow mdf's lawn one weekend to try it out!

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

wlgtraderx

18 posts

Geek

#2210995 4-Apr-2019 22:04

I’ve bought the green works 40v mower from trade tested and the strimmer skin which can share same battery and have been very happy with it. Brushless motor on mower and mulches as well and catch or discharge which I like. Pretty cheap too https://www.tradetested.co.nz/brands/greenworks.html

once you go battery it’s hard to consider coreded again

TENKAN

314 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2217251 15-Apr-2019 10:12

Possibly check this out, could be the one everyone is looking for!
https://hondanews.eu/gb/en/cars/media/pressreleases/134565/its-backmeaner-louder-and-faster-meanmower

Dynamic

3866 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2217367 15-Apr-2019 13:13

Dynamic: I've just bought one of these to do the little bit of lawn at work for $400 on special (plus i bought an extra battery, both 4ah). It's good but not fantastic. The lawn is pretty flat and takes less than 15 minutes to mow, but cutting it every two weeks, the mower still gets bogged down and stops maybe half a dozen times when the front wheel dips into a small rut. I understand the 36v ones have more grunt to make this less of an issue.

Good for a bowling green lawn, but for anything else, 36v would definitely be the way to go.

(Sorry OP to hijack your topic - just wanted to mention this for people searching in the future)

I mowed the lawn again over the weekend... exactly 2 weeks after the last mow but this time there was 'spring growth' with the damp weather and warm temperatures..... the 18v mower is going back. I lost count of the number of times it bogged down, but I pretty quickly started seeing red. 36v here we come...

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

Paul1977

5039 posts

Uber Geek

#2217411 15-Apr-2019 13:27

I'm looking for a new mower as well as we will soon be building and will have a proper lawn (we currently don't). The consensus seems to be that the 36V Ryobi is better than the 18V one, which you would expect.

But how is the 18V one on a typical small to medium suburban back yard?

I already have a couple of 18V One+ batteries (1x 5.0Ah & 1x 2.5Ah) for other tools so if the 18V mower will do the job I'd rather not go 36V and have to fork out for another battery and charger.

Ideally we'd like it be able to handle mowing the empty section occasionally before we start the build as well. This is nowhere near as smooth as a nice lawn, but we would do it on the highest length without a catcher (if that makes a difference?).

What are peoples thoughts on the Ryobi 18V for this?

Dynamic

3866 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2217416 15-Apr-2019 13:41

I've PM'd you... and also I think some of the Ryobi 36v ones use 2x 18v batteries.... so you could potentially buy another 5ah battery and a 'shell only' mower to give yourself a suitable battery pair. I suspect a 5ah and a 4ah battery would be OK too. The 2.5ah would not be any good (based on my reading a few weeks back).

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

Paul1977

5039 posts

Uber Geek

#2217429 15-Apr-2019 13:53

Dynamic:

I've PM'd you... and also I think some of the Ryobi 36v ones use 2x 18v batteries.... so you could potentially buy another 5ah battery and a 'shell only' mower to give yourself a suitable battery pair. I suspect a 5ah and a 4ah battery would be OK too. The 2.5ah would not be any good (based on my reading a few weeks back).

Thanks for that.

I've read about the 2x 18V models, but I can't see anywhere in NZ that sells them unfortunately. Which is a shame because it would definitely be the way to go.

Being Ryobi I presume you purchased it from Bunnings? I'll be interested to hear how they are with exchanging it for a 36V. My preference will still be to try the 18V simply because it is less of an monetary outlay since I'm already in that ecosystem, but it would be nice to know how Bunnings handle it if I find it inadequate.

Would also be keen to hear how the 36V compares if you do end up exchanging it.

Thanks for your feedback.

rp1790

738 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2217434 15-Apr-2019 14:01

Paul1977:

I'm looking for a new mower as well as we will soon be building and will have a proper lawn (we currently don't). The consensus seems to be that the 36V Ryobi is better than the 18V one, which you would expect.

But how is the 18V one on a typical small to medium suburban back yard?

I already have a couple of 18V One+ batteries (1x 5.0Ah & 1x 2.5Ah) for other tools so if the 18V mower will do the job I'd rather not go 36V and have to fork out for another battery and charger.

Ideally we'd like it be able to handle mowing the empty section occasionally before we start the build as well. This is nowhere near as smooth as a nice lawn, but we would do it on the highest length without a catcher (if that makes a difference?).

What are peoples thoughts on the Ryobi 18V for this?

The Ryboi One 18v mowers are ok if you mow your lawn regularly. I had one and I'm not as regular at mowing the lawn as I'd like so the 18v was not good enough, it's not bad though. Having said that, go for the 36v Ryobi or the Victa 82v, you won't regret more power.

mecow

145 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2217442 15-Apr-2019 14:09

I have the AEG 58V Brushless Lawn Mower and it is fantastic. Don't have too much lawn to mow really but with the two batteries I could get 6 full mows in before charging.

The auto load sensing works well and folds up nice and tight for my small shed - the fact you can stand them up is such a space saver vs a petrol mower.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4