Power Garden Tools

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Power Garden Tools - battery?

ubergeeknz

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#207842 16-Jan-2017 15:10

Anyone had experience with battery powered garden tools - eg. hedge trimmers? I want a pole hedge trimmer and considering the Black and Decker Li-Ion offering so as to not lug a cord about or muck about with petrol. Anyone used one of these and can comment on how long they will run on a charge?

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#1704168 16-Jan-2017 15:15

I've got the Ryobi one plus line trimmer, get around 20 minutes from a full charge on the middle sized battery, think its the 2.5 and it handles the weed eating in my garden fine, anything more and I swap to another battery.

ubergeeknz

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#1704184 16-Jan-2017 15:32

Hmm I think 20 minutes is not going to do much. Although I imagine trimming a hedge is less load than a weed whacker.

I just remembered though I have an older ryobi weed whacker (240v) which I think fits the attachments, so I might suck it up and use an extension cord with that :/

richms

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#1704212 16-Jan-2017 15:37

Depending on the power of the plug in ryobi it may suck with the attachment pole saw thing. I have now got 3 of the ryobi ends, and the oldest one is a couple of 100 watts less than the newer ones, and struggles. But the new ones when weed whacking get hot and stink and shut off after about 20-30 mins so that power clearly comes at a cost.

Richard rich.ms

Benoire

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#1704213 16-Jan-2017 15:38

I'm not sure about the black and decker setup but the Ryobi has three different battery sizes; two of the big ones will power the lawnmower for around 40 minutes for example (no experience, just recalling so may not be fully accurate). If you need longer time, then just up the battery.. Or buy some more and swap them out when done.

richms

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#1704219 16-Jan-2017 15:46

Black and decker dont have the range of tools that ryobi do. In saying that the 18v weed sprayer is a bit crap.

Richard rich.ms

mikebails

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#1704226 16-Jan-2017 16:01

I have the Ego mower and weed wacker. Using the battery that comes with the mower on both I can do my whole lawn (300sqm) on a single charge. It works out to be about 45 minutes run time on both.

I'd definitely recommend it to someone wanting to move away from petrol/cords!

nunz

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#1704270 16-Jan-2017 16:45

richms:

Depending on the power of the plug in ryobi it may suck with the attachment pole saw thing. I have now got 3 of the ryobi ends, and the oldest one is a couple of 100 watts less than the newer ones, and struggles. But the new ones when weed whacking get hot and stink and shut off after about 20-30 mins so that power clearly comes at a cost.

I've a B&D multi function drill - i give it heaps. Because it has a fast charge battery - I can get almost continuous running by swapping and charging. Maybe that's the answer here?

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ubergeeknz

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#1704294 16-Jan-2017 17:07

Thanks for the input, please keep it coming as I need to make a decision soon. Although I may just borrow a hedge trimmer for the small bit of work I need to do right away and defer my purchase.

@richms from memory the ryobi powerhead I have is 1100w? Any numbers on yours?

nunz

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#1704298 16-Jan-2017 17:13

ubergeeknz:

Thanks for the input, please keep it coming as I need to make a decision soon. Although I may just borrow a hedge trimmer for the small bit of work I need to do right away and defer my purchase.

@richms from memory the ryobi powerhead I have is 1100w? Any numbers on yours?

I deliberately got a mains powered hedge trimmer - stronger and dont run out of batterys. Worked wonders until someone who will remain nameless cut through my industrial strength, 30amp power extention cord.I guess tha tprives the powered versions are tough.

Line trimmers i got a petrol one. just to easy to do lots of work and the power is awesome. Plus I'm a petrol head.

vexxxboy

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#1704312 16-Jan-2017 18:00

i have a B&D hedge trimmer with a 1.7 Ah 18 v battery and it lasts me long enough to do my 40 metre long 10 foot high hedge but it needs charging after finishing

Common sense is not as common as you think.

richms

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#1704314 16-Jan-2017 18:09

ubergeeknz:

Thanks for the input, please keep it coming as I need to make a decision soon. Although I may just borrow a hedge trimmer for the small bit of work I need to do right away and defer my purchase.

@richms from memory the ryobi powerhead I have is 1100w? Any numbers on yours?

One is 1000w, 2 are 1200w. The 1000w one was my first that the shaft of the weed whacker part dropped out of it so I bought another whole machine rather than try to deal with the bunnings special-needs order desk. Got the third to use at another place. Both 1200w ones cant go for long, so its not a single unit fault. The 1000w old one was able to go all day if needed.

Richard rich.ms

blakamin

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#1704367 16-Jan-2017 20:44

Ok... I have some Ryobi One+ experience... I also have Bosch, but as you can see, I made some decisions. :D

Hedge trimmer, line trimmer, blower, hammer drill, torch, angle grinder, circular saw, chainsaw, hand trimmer, impact driver, probably some more I've forgotten.

Love them.

4Ah batteries are the minimum tho.

I cut down 3 of these.... (this was the smallest)

With this... No overheating, no issues at all.

ubergeeknz

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#1704432 16-Jan-2017 23:16

Awesome, thanks all! Certainly a lot of good info, why they don't simply give expected run times for the different battery options with the tools, I don't know.

Based on budgetary considerations (with a new set of batteries, etc taken into account) I went with the Ryobi expand-it articulated hedge trimmer, plus an extension.

I've put them on my ELT1100QFA weed trimmer (1100W mains motor) which has been pretty reliable to date.

The nice part of this system is that I can get a battery or petrol motor later, and use the same attachments!

MikeAqua

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#1704474 17-Jan-2017 08:57

I have the Black and Decker pole trimmer.

We have a Pittosporum hedge 30m x 2.4m. I trim it twice per year, knocking as much as 30cm off the top and end plus a general trim of our side.

I also do light trims of a Photinia hedge 20m x 1.5m and a small Griselinia hedge.

I use one and a bit batteries to do this.

Mike

ubergeeknz

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#1704542 17-Jan-2017 10:33

Quick update - used the trimmer this morning (had to clear space around our water tank access for someone to come and clean the tank) - worked very well, the 1100w motor had no trouble at all chewing through the hedge.

Only trouble is I will need a longer extension cord to do the rest of it, or a petrol/battery power head :P I'll need that pruner attachment too...

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