Push Mowers, Battery Vs. gas

[Grumpycat]

Coal is burning somewhere to make those batteries charge.

Good!

Coal is dirty to get on your face but for some reason you don't mind powering your computer with it. Running your air conditioner. Keeping your beer cold.

A Tesla Model 3 "emits" the same quantity of "pollution" per mile "burning" coal-fired electricity as a gasoline automobile at 40-50 MPG. Yet the Tesla (or battery mower) can effortlessly use electricity from any source available. The gasoline (or diesel) ICE requires a very precise blend of fuel to meet emission requirements.

 

[rontaki]

Motor power (watts) is a product of volts times amps (current). Power loss in the motor's windings is a product of the current flowing against the resistance of the wire. Increasing the voltage gives higher power without increasing the resistance loss. For the same power, higher voltage uses less copper or aluminum wire in the motor, has less heat loss, weighs less and is less expensive to make than a motor of the same power running on less voltage.

I have an EGO string trimmer, one of their first models. I've taken the battery pack apart, and found that EGO uses a thermal wrap around each cell to help keep them cooler, both in charging and in use. I believe this is why the battery pack has lasted so long, and can deliver a lot of current as needed. Turned out the problem was with the outlet the charger was plugged into, so put pack back together and still use it.

In the other brands of battery packs I've dissembled, the batteries are packed close together, making thermal degradation of the cells more likely than in EGO's packs. This also limits how much current they can safely supply for the given amount of cells. Kudos to EGO!

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Good!

Coal is dirty to get on your face but for some reason you don't mind powering your computer with it. Running your air conditioner. Keeping your beer cold.

A Tesla Model 3 "emits" the same quantity of "pollution" per mile "burning" coal-fired electricity as a gasoline automobile at 40-50 MPG. Yet the Tesla (or battery mower) can effortlessly use electricity from any source available. The gasoline (or diesel) ICE requires a very precise blend of fuel to meet emission requirements.

I'm all for burning fossil fuels. How much pollution does it take to make ethanol? How much mining equipment to get lithium? 20 years in Afghanistan was all about lithium. Is nuclear worth the danger? Nuclear waste? Where do we put it? The greenies are nuts.

 

[Richard001]

Motor power (watts) is a product of volts times amps (current). Power loss in the motor's windings is a product of the current flowing against the resistance of the wire. Increasing the voltage gives higher power without increasing the resistance loss. For the same power, higher voltage uses less copper or aluminum wire in the motor, has less heat loss, weighs less and is less expensive to make than a motor of the same power running on less voltage.

You are assuming that the manufacturer kept the same wire size when going to a higher voltage unite as was used in the lower voltage unit.

Most likely, they changed the wire size to a smaller size when going to the higher voltage. Its all about cost and profit. If the manufacturer reduced the size of the wire in the motor, then there will still be I X R loss equivalent to that of the lower voltage motor.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/03/29/tips-shopping-electric-lawn-mower/

Grass is growing again around here.

 

[Grumpycat]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/03/29/tips-shopping-electric-lawn-mower/

Grass is growing again around here.

That was an article of little content on The Washington Post.

Nothing wrong with a plastic mower deck if it is designed right. Was looking at my EGo the other day and noted it was manufactured in 2016.

 

[crashz]

I bought my brother the 40V Ryobi 21inch mower. He wants to convert to all electric and has no mechanical ability so it works great for him. He also has a 1/3 acre yard of the thickest grass I have ever seen. You'd swear he is growing shag carpet. Every week or so he cuts the grass and its been great. He bought the string trimmer too.

The trimmer can go nearly all season on one charge. If he cuts weekly, he can get two cuttings out of a charge, but usually he lets it go and is chopping through cabbage the whole time, so he re-charges each cutting.

 

[two_bit_score]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/03/29/tips-shopping-electric-lawn-mower/

Grass is growing again around here.

Looks like weekly mowing is right around the corner.

 

[tradosaurus]

For small engines like lawn mowers and weed eaters use non-ethanol where possible or treat with fuel additive. And definitely keep out of the rain.

 

[jyoutz]

I was about 10 minutes short of heading out to HD to pick one up. I gave my Husqy gasser one last chance and it started so I could mow what needed mowin'.

Still hoping to get through this season before biting the battery.

I have a Husky gasser push mower. I used to have fuel issues every spring until I started using ethanol free fuel. And for some reason it can be hard starting occasionally, but I remove the air filter and it starts perfectly. This is a mystery to me because the the air filter is clean, and it runs fine after I start it and then replace the air filter. Once the mower is running, it works well, but can be stubborn starting. Maybe it’s just the Husky design? I’ve not had so much difficulty starting my previous gasser mowers.

 

[Diggin It]

Mower's OK so far. I don't push mow much area, just a few places around the house where the riders won't fit well. And I don't usually do it all at once. I've run one battery down a few times, but just switch to the other. Wish they had a better way to do that.

It'll bog down in taller, thicker grass, but my gassers did that too.

Best thing is starting. No yankin' and yankin'. Squeeze a lever, push a button. Less than half the noise too. I can mow at Sunrise and not bother the neighbors a half mile away.

How long will it last? I guess we'll see.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Mower's OK so far. I don't push mow much area, just a few places around the house where the riders won't fit well. And I don't usually do it all at once. I've run one battery down a few times, but just switch to the other. Wish they had a better way to do that.

It'll bog down in taller, thicker grass, but my gassers did that too.

Best thing is starting. No yankin' and yankin'. Squeeze a lever, push a button. Less than half the noise too. I can mow at Sunrise and not bother the neighbors a half mile away.

How long will it last? I guess we'll see.

I'm on my third season with my DeWalt battery powered push mower.

https://www.authorizedtooloutlet.co...cQiUkhdxknoLZOojSJMCE4T_BKoLX9xxoCixsQAvD_BwE

No problems so far and they use the DeWalt tool batteries I already have.

I'm almost hoping something does break so I can buy the new self powered model.

https://www.authorizedtooloutlet.com/products/dewalt-dcmwsp255u2-2x20v-max-xr-brushless-cordless-21-1-2-in-rear-wheel-drive-mower-kit?variant=42664514715870&currency=USD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw14uVBhBEEiwAaufYx4e7SykC01RGzcQJmOELSbWvlo0FWhWB4EBAGN7FYN0To_URubHIgxoCJ8MQAvD_BwE

 

[ultrarunner]

No mention of Stihl
Battery equipment?

I looked at mowers but since mine used for property rental property maintainence last until the deck rusts through I figure I have time.

The $99 Craftsman bought new in 1984 mowed almost 20 years going weekly from property to property one day each week… the wheels wearing out every 5-6 years biggest expense.

Bought a $199 Honda powered Husky and 18 years no issue yet.

If the time comes most likely go Stihl since I have batteries and charger.

My thought on Stihl is it will be around unlike some of the battery drills that are like new but only way to work is to rebuild battery pack.

Moms Mothers Day Present in 2001 was a professional Honda Aluminum Deck no stop gas mower because she would need to start and stop many times to empty catcher and with the professional Honda motor stays running.

Go to any Mower Shop and you see they have no inventory as much of what they sold no longer is sellable in California and this is across the board.

Prices on what’s available increased significantly…

 

[2manyrocks]

Reminds me of the days when Wal-Mart sold Murray push mowers for maybe even $89. As long as you kept the oil changed, seemed like they would run forever.

Just bought a ryobi 40v mower mainly to see how it really performs. I doubt it will be running in 20 years. But it is quiet and easy to use. So I can see the appeal for small yards.

 

[bmaverick]

How about NEITHER !

No gas and no electric !

Get a full REEL MOWER instead.

Modern unit for under $90.
https://www.amazon.com/Greenworks-RM1400-Mower-14-Inch-Green/dp/B089Q1XH9B

Or go big with the 20-inch cut!

Save the gas and work your as... behind off and cancel that gym membership.

Some of the best fairway greens are only done with reel mowers.

Don't get stuck paying a buck to the rising energy costs to line their pocketbooks.

Now, you can still go around and use an electric weed-trimmer to finish it all off.

 

[Grumpycat]

How long will it last? I guess we'll see.

I'm still on my original 56V 7.5Ah EGo battery from 2016.

 

[ultrarunner]

How about NEITHER !

No gas and no electric !

Get a full REEL MOWER instead.

Modern unit for under $90.
https://www.amazon.com/Greenworks-RM1400-Mower-14-Inch-Green/dp/B089Q1XH9B

View attachment 749611


Or go big with the 20-inch cut!

View attachment 749612

Save the gas and work your as... behind off and cancel that gym membership.

Some of the best fairway greens are only done with reel mowers.

View attachment 749613

View attachment 749614

View attachment 749615

Don't get stuck paying a buck to the rising energy costs to line their pocketbooks.

Now, you can still go around and use an electric weed-trimmer to finish it all off.

I was waiting for someone to post… started by career at 8 mowing neighbors lawns with a push 5 blade reel mower and then picked up a 7 blade reel for Bent Grass of one very particular neighbor… she was demanding but when you did it Exactly the way she required also paid the best.

Problem was on lawns cut every other week I really had to lean into to mower handle down low just to push it!

I felt like I had arrived when I bought my first gas mower!

3.5 Briggs motor and still running strong after 20 years averaging 6-7 hours every week year round… or roughly 6,000 hours with only oil change every 300 hours.

 

[Grumpycat]

B&S doesn't make them like that anymore.

 

[ultrarunner]

B&S doesn't make them like that anymore.

Tiny little thing but best ever…

Easy to start, not bad on fuel and light weight mower that I ran the wheels off several times with recoil pull rope on engine not handle bar…

Somewhere down the line my brother bought a 5.5hp mower with single handle to adjust all 4 wheel height at a time.

His 5.5 would guzzle fuel…

 

[Grumpycat]

Tiny little thing but best ever…

Easy to start, not bad on fuel and light weight mower that I ran the wheels off several times with recoil pull rope on engine not handle bar…

Somewhere down the line my brother bought a 5.5hp mower with single handle to adjust all 4 wheel height at a time.

His 5.5 would guzzle fuel…

About 8-19 years ago bought a Snapper with B&S engine and larger gas tank than my Husqvarna with Honda 5.5. The B&S was a big disappointment. The larger tank was not enough to finish my lawn, but the Honda was plenty. The B&S gas cap was designed and positioned such that it was near impossible to open without grass clippings falling in. Was oriented on the mower so that clipping dust blew around the gas cap. The cap was designed to trap dirt underneath so dirt could fall in the tank when the cap was removed.

Have similar problem with current EGo 56v mower. 7.5Ah battery will not cover the whole lawn, but just about the same was the big tank on B&S Snapoer. No problem with clippings falling into the battery.