Cordless lawnmowers advice

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#2994224 10-Nov-2022 07:59

Thanks for all those replies and insights.

The main takeaways for me are that the landscaping tools benefit from the higher voltage batteries which are not often compatible with the handheld power tools, so it should be fine to invest in a separate ecosystem (e.g. EGO) rather than try to maintain compatibility across a single range. It also sounds like lifespan can be pretty good (5-10 years), maintenance is low to nil, and plastic decks aren't as fragile as they might seem to be.

I detect a fair bit of love for EGO, which carries a bit of a premium but sounds like it justifies itself. Then there's Ryobi, Makita, and AEG. I suspect there are pros and cons to each brand, and it will probably come down to personal preferences and specific needs/use cases.

I may take a look this weekend in store and see what I like.

jonathan18

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#2994236 10-Nov-2022 08:43

One thing to note is that long grass really does chew through the battery; I don't have a particularly large lawn area and sometimes I have to charge twice (so 2.something in terms of charges) to get through all the lawns - this is with a Ryobi 36v/6 Ah battery). I'm definitely keen on picking up a second battery, but they are damn expensive ($369 for another 6 Ah).

If you have a sense you may end up wanting/needing a second battery, perhaps investigate the cost at the outset and/or see if any kit comes with two (or can get a good deal if purchasing alongside the mower).

I recall Ryobi used to do a 36A version that used two 18A batteries, the key advantage being the batteries could be used in their lower-voltage equipment; don't believe that's the case anymore.

MikeAqua

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#2994427 10-Nov-2022 18:02

jonathan18:

One thing to note is that long grass really does chew through the battery;

Our Ego mower scoffs at long wet grass. Simply inhales stuff that would have stalled the old petrol mower. The boy calls it Lawnzilla.

I use to deal with light prunings as well e.g. hydrangea branches, fugitive bark from the garden.

Mike

kendog

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#2994469 10-Nov-2022 21:41

Another Ego fan here.
Got the leaf blower, mower and multi head with edger, line trimmer, chainsaw and hedge trimmer.
They are all nice and easy to use and work really well. Our section and trees have never looked so good.

Senecio

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#2994538 11-Nov-2022 03:59

Another happy EGO user here.

4 tools and 3 batteries. Mower, Trimmer, Blower & Chainsaw with 1.5Ah, 4Ah and 5Ah batteries. The 1.5Ah battery that comes with the blower is starting to show signs of degradation now after 5yrs of heavy use. The other two batteries are in great health. I'm going to have a go at repacking that 1.5Ah battery soon as it's so light and versatile especially in the trimmer and blower.

Unless I move onto a much bigger section I will never go back to petrol garden equipment. Battery is just so convenient.

beddy

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#2994823 11-Nov-2022 18:08

I've got a whole bunch of the EGO tools, including the mower, and they're all awesome.

They've currently got a redemption promotion on.

psychrn

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#2994833 11-Nov-2022 18:48

We have been a Happy Ryobi 36 V mower for a few years now. 4 ah battery. Plus we have the edge trimmer with the 2.6 ah battery.

Have possibly noticed a slight degredation with the 4ah battery now. ie not last as long

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Lizard1977

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#2994940 11-Nov-2022 22:55

So it sounds like EGO are a pretty good bet for a cordless mower. Looking at Mitre 10, there are three options at the lower end of the range:

EGO 56 Volt Cordless Lawn Mower Kit - Electric Lawn Mowers | Mitre 10™ - 42cm deck and 5Ah battery

EGO 56 Volt Cordless Lawn Mower Kit - Electric Lawn Mowers | Mitre 10™ - same as above, it seems, but with a larger 52cm deck

EGO 56 Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Kit - Electric Lawn Mowers | Mitre 10™ - middle of the three in deck size at 47cm, but is self-propelled.

How big of a deal is self-propelled, given that most of my property is flat (barring a small bit at the front which is on a gentle slope)? Is it worth it for the drop is deck size from 52cm to 47cm? The cheapest of the three has the same battery size at 5Ah, but it has a smaller deck. Does it make much of a difference?

johno1234

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#2994954 12-Nov-2022 06:20

Depends on the size and slope. They’re easy to push so if a small to medium flat lawn I’d get the cheapest one. If large and sloping I’d get the 52cm self propelled.

Also check the redemption deal. Maybe if you spend a little more you can get a spare battery.

openmedia

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#2995167 12-Nov-2022 16:00

tchart:

I have the smaller brushless 18V Ozito from Bunnings. Works great - $299 with battery and charger.

Brushless makes a huge difference (as Ive noticed with my other tools)

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-pxc-18v-brushless-lawn-mower-kit_p0207447

The deck is a bit narrow but as per the photos is nice and light and can be picked up with one hand. Have had no issues and owned for about 3 years now.

I've got the older 36V Ozito from Bunnings which has a great warranty and is sufficient for our lawn and lightweight.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-pxc-2-x-18v-telescopic-lawn-mower-kit_p0207446

If I was buying again I'd probably go for the more recent brushless 36V model.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Scott3

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#2995340 13-Nov-2022 01:23

Lizard1977:

Thanks for all those replies and insights.

The main takeaways for me are that the landscaping tools benefit from the higher voltage batteries which are not often compatible with the handheld power tools, so it should be fine to invest in a separate ecosystem (e.g. EGO) rather than try to maintain compatibility across a single range. It also sounds like lifespan can be pretty good (5-10 years), maintenance is low to nil, and plastic decks aren't as fragile as they might seem to be.

I detect a fair bit of love for EGO, which carries a bit of a premium but sounds like it justifies itself. Then there's Ryobi, Makita, and AEG. I suspect there are pros and cons to each brand, and it will probably come down to personal preferences and specific needs/use cases.

I may take a look this weekend in store and see what I like.

Don't get to hung up on voltage. What really is important is the capacity of the batteries (which gives you run time), and the peak discharge power, which gives the tool it's grunt.

A tool with a say 100Wh battery will proform similarly regardless if the battery is arranged for a higher or lower voltage (all cells in series vs cells paired together to form half the length of series string)

Yes you get a little more efficiency due to lesser losses in wiring, motors etc, in higher voltage platforms, but the impact is small.

Also, note that some brands will state maximum voltages rather than nominal voltages so they can put bigger numbers on the box...

On synergy with power tool battery eco-systems, the issue is that a 10 cell - 18650 size (typically 18v 5ah) batteries are about the limit of weight you want on a one-handed tool like a drill or driver. these are about 90Ah. Bit this is a bit weak for the likes of a lawnmower, and the trick to get around and maintain compatibility this is to have the lawnmower take two batteries at once.

But even with this trick you still fall short of higher end outdoor power equipment batteries. For comparison ego's biggest battery is 56V, 10Ah (approx 560Wh), clearly that would be comically large and heavy to put on a drill...

If you have lighter needs, going with a 2x power tool battery mower could be a good bet to allow battery overlap with your other power tool batteries.

But if you have heavier need's, you will likely need to run a higher voltage battery system (ego, stihl and the likes).

Consider what other (larger) outdoor power equipment you are going to buy. and pick out a battery ecosystem that will accomidate.

If you are just after a mower (and are in Auckland) I think the $999 greenworks pro at costco delivers some of the best bang for buck.

But other than the $799 blower + string trimmer + battery & charger kit, you are buying into a platform not sold in NZ, so if you suddenly wanted a chainsaw, you would need to import it yourself or use a different battery system.

On the value of battery power tools over petrol, a lot of it is not financial. Quieter, no pull starting, no need to take for service's, no need to handle / store fuel etc.

Myself, I have the $230, 1500W ozito corded mower, and a 35m extension cord.

tweake

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#2995383 13-Nov-2022 10:31

Scott3:

Don't get to hung up on voltage. What really is important is the capacity of the batteries (which gives you run time), and the peak discharge power, which gives the tool it's grunt.

On synergy with power tool battery eco-systems, the issue is that a 10 cell - 18650 size (typically 18v 5ah) batteries are about the limit of weight you want on a one-handed tool like a drill or driver. these are about 90Ah. Bit this is a bit weak for the likes of a lawnmower, and the trick to get around and maintain compatibility this is to have the lawnmower take two batteries at once.

But even with this trick you still fall short of higher end outdoor power equipment batteries. For comparison ego's biggest battery is 56V, 10Ah (approx 560Wh), clearly that would be comically large and heavy to put on a drill...

the simple issue is low voltage means high amperage, which means bigger cables, connectors, motors and electronics. thats makes it less efficient, heavier and more expensive. plus batteries have limitations on current output. bigger batteries tend to give higher current outputs which gives you more output of the tool (eg 18v 5ah drill makes more torque than 3ah does). every brand has gone up in voltage rather than increase current. voltage is really only limited by insulation. 56v mowers have been around overseas for 5+ years now, nz is kinda behind the ball game a bit.

so higher voltage means higher power.

a lot of garden tools can be powered by 2x18v batteries. tho there is the 40v range.

lawnmowers do tend to be a bit different due to higher power needs and long run times.

DamageInc

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#2998298 19-Nov-2022 09:32

openmedia:

tchart:

I have the smaller brushless 18V Ozito from Bunnings. Works great - $299 with battery and charger.

Brushless makes a huge difference (as Ive noticed with my other tools)

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-pxc-18v-brushless-lawn-mower-kit_p0207447

The deck is a bit narrow but as per the photos is nice and light and can be picked up with one hand. Have had no issues and owned for about 3 years now.

I've got the older 36V Ozito from Bunnings which has a great warranty and is sufficient for our lawn and lightweight.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-pxc-2-x-18v-telescopic-lawn-mower-kit_p0207446

If I was buying again I'd probably go for the more recent brushless 36V model.

Hi there, Ive searched the Bunnings website for the 36V brushless, cant find it. Was seriously looking at the link you provided, is that not brushless?

Pop! OS

Lizard1977

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#3002628 28-Nov-2022 13:57

To close off this thread, I pulled the trigger on the EGO 42cm self-propelled mower. 56V with a 5.0Ah battery. I'm very impressed. It was boxed well, looks like a 60s robot, and has a really sturdy, well-built feel to it. The 9-year old in me gets a thrill from the size/weight of the battery, and the act of slotting it into the top of the mower, and then inserting the safety key, makes me feel like I'm operating a nuclear sub or something like that!

I mowed my whole lawn (~300sqm) with fairly tall grass, using the catcher and the height on the fourth setting, and finished it with one bar of battery left. I then charged it up for 30 mins while I had lunch and lowered it to the second setting and used the mulch plug to finish it off. My plan is to not let it get so long next time, so I think I should easily mow it on a single charge.

It's not as quiet as I hoped - there's a big whoosh/whine when you turn it on, but then I wasn't expecting it to be silent. It's probably a little quieter than an ICE mower, but I still wouldn't mow the lawns at 6am on a Sunday...

The self-propel function is interesting. I used it intermittently (so it's hard to work out how much drain it was on the battery), and it helped a little to get through some thicker stuff, or on the gentle slope at the front of my property. But I noticed that the left rear wheel would lock up occasionally if I wasn't using the drive function. When that happened I gave the drive a little blip and it started moving normally, but I did find it a little annoying. Not sure if it's a fault or a glitch.

Clean up takes a little longer, using a damp cloth rather than blasting it with a hose, but it's probably better long-term care.

All up, I'm very pleased. I feel like I might even be inclined to mow more frequently because it's *almost* fun to use. Now I just have to work out what I want for my redemption bonus - an extra 2.5Ah battery, a line trimmer skin or a hedge trimmer skin. I already have a (cheap, corded) hedge trimmer which I don't need to use very often and works fine (when the blades are sharpened); my petrol powered line trimmer is okay (when the line doesn't disintegrate) though the line feed has never worked properly. I would have automatically gone for the spare battery (it's worth a little more than either of the skins if I was to buy them later on), but getting through my lawns on a single charge makes me think I should grab another skin.

Senecio

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#3002633 28-Nov-2022 14:05

Is the blower skin an option for redemption. If you need a blower to clear paths, decks or driveways then the EGO blower is fantastic. Seriously it outperforms any residential petrol blower that I've used in the past.

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