Have you got a battery lawn mower? how's it going?

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andrewNZ

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#269893 13-Apr-2020 11:33

Looking at getting a new mower for a fairly large section. I'm considering the possibility of a battery mower.

I'd like to hear about your experience with battery powered mowers.
What are the drawbacks you have come across, what's your runtime like, etc.

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#2460416 13-Apr-2020 11:53

Have a Ryobi 36V 46cm one.

Love it so far. Uses about 1/2 the battery (5Ah) to do my place.

Usually about 6 catchers worth.

Only drawback is the stupid catchers these days being fabric!

I see the latest ones have a plastic top.

I modified mine with riveted alloy strips on the bottom, front to back, to stop the stupid thing sagging.

Far better now.

It's quicker, quieter, cleaner.

Don't regret it so far.

I donated my old 4 Stroke to a transferee at the SO's work, whose rental has a lawn and no mower.

He and his SO were so grateful, and couldn't believe I wanted nothing for it!

It was worth it to see their smile.

jonathan18

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#2460423 13-Apr-2020 12:02

Have you had a read of any of the numerous threads on electric mowers here on GZ?

If not here's a starting point for you!

I'd not go back to either a plug-in electric or petrol mower, but would certainly find a second battery useful. Many times when the grass is fairly long I require a charge mid-cut, which is annoying, especially if there's not much to go (as such I don't think I'd need two large-capacity batteries; the second could be smaller for sure).

One of those earlier threads I mention my mower dying, but the guarantee on the Ryobis is long (5 or 6 years?), and it's a full replacement one.

Inphinity

2780 posts

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#2460428 13-Apr-2020 12:09

For a large section, definitely go a 36V or 48V one, we have an 18V one and it's great but it would be tedious to swap batteries a bunch if we had a large lawn (plus it's a fairly narrow body so not a massive cutting area).

Jase2985

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#2460440 13-Apr-2020 12:22

Have a Ryobi 36V 46cm one.

I have about 350sqm of lawn and a 5ah battery doesn't quite do the whole thing, but i have 3 batteries, 2x 5ah and a 2.5ah one. this allows me to do the edges with a Expandit edger, then use the Expand it line trimmer, mow the lawns, then use the Expandit blower attachment.

I do find if the mower is set quite low it does clog a little, and is not great on long, wet grass. but if you keep onto of it then its normally fine.

Gordy7

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#2460470 13-Apr-2020 12:42

I bought Gardena R80Li Robotic Mower back in October 2019.

https://www.gardena.com/nz/products/lawn-care/robotic-mower/r80li/967271203/

Rated for 800 sq m. I have 550 sq m of lawn.

Mulches, so no catcher.

Self docks in charger base station.

Need to use a line trimmer around lawn edges about every 4 weeks.

Biggest part of the installation was a couple of days installing boundary and guide wires at the start.

Mower is rated for 400m boundary wire, but the installation kit was only supplied with 200m of wire so had to order extra wire.

Good conversation topic with the neighbours who are fascinated with the random mowing process!

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

BlinkyBill

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#2460471 13-Apr-2020 12:45

I got a stihl 36v battery a few years ago. Super awesome, especially like the light weight, no petrol 2-stroke to mix or purchase etc. I also have a stihl hedge trimmer and line trimmer which uses the same battery. Excellent value for money and convenience if you have need for several tools.

stihl quality is excellent and worth the (slightly) premium price.

am considering getting a chainsaw as well, the new battery ones beat petrol for other than professional use. Same battery.

andrewNZ

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#2460497 13-Apr-2020 13:14

jonathan18:
Have you had a read of any of the numerous threads on electric mowers here on GZ?

If not here's a starting point for you!

Yes I have. The newest is a year old now.

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Jase2985

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#2460512 13-Apr-2020 13:35

andrewNZ:
jonathan18:

Have you had a read of any of the numerous threads on electric mowers here on GZ?

If not here's a starting point for you!

Yes I have. The newest is a year old now.

its was started then, but if you look at them you will see a couple of have been regurally updated with comments and newer models.

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=224169

that one has all you need in it.

CoolDannyT

6 posts

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#2460513 13-Apr-2020 13:42

I bought a Ryobi 36v 46cm this summer. No regrets and I can't imagine going back to a petrol mower.

I mow a medium sized thick kikuya lawn and another house with a medium sized mix of fescue/couch/kikuya. The 5.0ah battery can get through both lawns with a little bit of power left over. Mower is light and easy to get around with. No downsides really.

BlinkyBill

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#2460520 13-Apr-2020 13:50

BlinkyBill:

am considering getting a chainsaw as well, the new battery ones beat petrol for other than professional use. Same battery.

interestingly, I could buy a chainsaw and get it delivered, but not a lawnmower.

rp1790

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#2460525 13-Apr-2020 13:57

I've had one of the 18v Ryobi's and had 2 x 4Mah and 2x 5Mah sets of batteries and that was barely enough to do my lawn. Also not very much power, not really enough unless you mowed regularly. So, I decided to upgrade to a self-propelled, electric start mower with a 175cc engine, big mistake. Then decided to go to an 82v Victa mower and it's brilliant, as much power as the 175cc Briggs and Stratton petrol mower and 10 x easier to use.

Soo good and so powerful I've bought, and use, every one of the Victa 82v tools.

kotuku4

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#2460627 13-Apr-2020 16:18

Great, retro fitted electric power head to existing mower. Mower was 7 years old but well looked after, sold the used engine to help offset cost.

Lighter, very quiet and more enjoyable to use. Charged off solar. Can mow anytime, no one is disturbed.

Run time is fine on single internal battery, can add second battery for larger lawns.

jakeman2020

2 posts

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#2460653 13-Apr-2020 16:40

I had bought the Ozito Brushless 18V x 2 Steel Deck Lawnmower a few months back; and I am very impressed with it, in comparison to my past battery mowers.

This mower(it is very powerful for a battery mower) does my lawn in less than half the time I needed in the past with my smaller petrol and battery mowers.

Here's some good review from Youtube, if you would like to take a look: https://tinyurl.com/tbenxop

All the best.

richms

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#2460677 13-Apr-2020 17:07

Watching with interest as I probably will when my petrol one has issues again. Last time it wasthe self propel mechanism was failing to grip and I had it at a mower shop for that. I can see that would be much easier to do on electric with extra motors rather than a silly clutch mechanism.

Richard rich.ms

michelangelonz

115 posts

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#2460690 13-Apr-2020 17:33

+ 1 for the Stihl 👍

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