Any Advice on Electric Lawnmowers

[ashdigger]

ashdigger, that sounds like a deal breaker. I feel like I would store the mower and battery indoors, since I don't have a good outside lock-up, but you're telling me this is a serious fire hazard, especially when charging the battery. That really puts me in spot.

It seems like there should be a ruckus about the fire hazard, but I guess it just hasn't been quantified and publicized.

Is it primarily when charging that the fires occur, or also during storage?

More to worry about. But I appreciate the knowledge. Thank you for all the input. And I'd be pleased with any other posts on this subject.

Fires generally occur during the charging phase. If they are sitting, not charging, you should be good.

Only use the charger the device comes with and never use an extension cord to power the charger.

If the battery swells, it toast. If you damage the case, it toast. If you use an aftermarket battery in the device, you could be toast.

 

[Briar Lee]

ashdigger, that sounds like a deal breaker. I feel like I would store the mower and battery indoors, since I don't have a good outside lock-up, but you're telling me this is a serious fire hazard, especially when charging the battery. That really puts me in spot.

It seems like there should be a ruckus about the fire hazard, but I guess it just hasn't been quantified and publicized.

Is it primarily when charging that the fires occur, or also during storage?

More to worry about. But I appreciate the knowledge. Thank you for all the input. And I'd be pleased with any other posts on this subject.

Don’t buy the Wan Hung Lo model from Harbor Frieght.

But like your old gas lawnmower, from an abundance of caution don’t fuel (charge) it inside, and don’t leave batteries on the charger.

Battery Safety : Top 5 Reasons Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Catch Fire — ION Energy

If a lithium-ion battery fails, it will burst into flames and can cause widespread damage. Which is why battery safety is a key function of a BMS.

www.ionenergy.co

The revolution in battery powered power toys has led to the basic lithium battery cell being ten times cheaper today than a decade ago. A Tesla uses just over 7,000 18650 cells and every power toy uses some variation of the same battery tech.

Everything You Need to Know About the 18650 Battery

What is a 18650; protected versus unprotected cells; best 18650 battery, charger and flashlight; and top picks for best 18650 battery.

commonsensehome.com

If I were the king I’d decree every outdoor power toy had to accept the same slots for the battery the same way, a D cell flashlight from a 100 years ago is still usable today.

But I tells and tells the sunsabeeches but they never listens to me, you know?

 

[mso489]

OK, so charging is the hazardous time. My outdoor outlets are mounted on the house. Is the cord on the charger long enough to get the charging battery away from the house without using an extension cord? I'm just trying to visualize how this would work without an obvious fire hazard.

Otherwise, it sounds like I could store the mower and the charger in the house, as long as the battery wasn't charging. Stick with the battery provided. If the battery swells, get it outside and call the fire department?

This is something none of the lawnmower makers discuss, of course.

 

[Briar Lee]

OK, so charging is the hazardous time. My outdoor outlets are mounted on the house. Is the cord on the charger long enough to get the charging battery away from the house without using an extension cord? I'm just trying to visualize how this would work without an obvious fire hazard.

Otherwise, it sounds like I could store the mower and the charger in the house, as long as the battery wasn't charging. Stick with the battery provided. If the battery swells, get it outside and call the fire department?

This is something none of the lawnmower makers discuss, of course.

Assume you have outside outlets.

It seems every cordless lawnmower runs about as long as a gas mower does on a tank of gas.

In the spring take the charger and battery outside and charge it up.

You don’t mow in the rain. After mowing charge the battery outside and then next week you’re good to mow again. If you charge inside then babysit the operation.

I’ve kept my gas cans for power toys outside the garage for forty years.

 

[didimauw]

the electric ones i had didnt last but a year or so , i went back to gas

My Ryobi is 2 years old now, and my battery is bad. Battery is also dead on my riding mower. 54" Husqvarna rider battery is about 60 dollars. The smaller battery for my Ryobi 20" basic push mower...289.00

And full charge after 12 hours, only gets me 3/4 of my tiny yard mowed.

We bought the Ryobi because our new yard is so small. But I guess tomorrow I'm getting a new battery for my Husqvarna and putting the mower deck back on...

 

[Sam Gamgee]

I’m on my third year with a Greenworks fully electric mower (cordless with two batteries) and it works great, holds charge, and has been a good buy. Only downside is I can’t figure out how to get the blades off, so I have to sharpen them while attached (PITA and not very effective). I bought it on Amazon, as well as an extra battery. I have an average size city lawn and never have to use a third battery. I rotate them every use though.

I’m not mechanically-inclined and have no patience for a gas-powered mower. I used a corded mower for a while. Huge hassle. Not going back to that. YMMV.

 

[briarfoxx]

I’ve had a Ryobi 40V 21" with 2 batteries for just under a year now. I’ve owned a couple gas mowers at previous houses before. My gas mowers were more effective cutters overall. I got sick of having to go out and get gas, add fuel stabilizer, and store it. I also had repair issues on both my previous gas mowers, some repeatedly.

The Ryobi with both batteries are just enough juice to get through my current yard—if I had to guess the yard is somewhere around 5k or 6k square feet. I’ve found that this battery powered motor likes to leave random or longer blades of grass uncut as I pass over it. Sometimes I have to pull back and go over it again. I did not have that issue with my previous gas mowers. While that is annoying, not having to deal with getting and storing gas is a huge upside to me.

 

[mso489]

Lots of good information here, and first hand experience. That really helps me visualize this transition. I was a happy gas mower guy for decades, but it just isn't working for me now.

I especially appreciate info on the safety considerations. At least that gives me a fighting chance.

Any other accounts of electric mowers or info about them will be valued. Thank you for these posts.

 

[briarblues]

mso, I bought a Ryobi battery powered lawnmower 3 years ago. Still running well. It is a self propelled model.

Last year I bought another Ryobi battery powered lawnmower for my girl friends house. A smaller width and it also works well.

The only issue I have is the front wheels are fixed straight. If they would turn it would be a near perfect pair of machines for the job. I get a solid 45 minutes from the 40 v battery.

Mike

 

[captpat]

OK, so charging is the hazardous time. My outdoor outlets are mounted on the house. Is the cord on the charger long enough to get the charging battery away from the house without using an extension cord? I'm just trying to visualize how this would work without an obvious fire hazard.

Otherwise, it sounds like I could store the mower and the charger in the house, as long as the battery wasn't charging. Stick with the battery provided. If the battery swells, get it outside and call the fire department?

This is something none of the lawnmower makers discuss, of course.

The risk of a battery fire is present but IMO fairly small. If you follow the manufacturer charging guidelines you should be just fine. After all the probability of a fire in the lawnmower battery is about the same as for a modern cell phone, flashlight, etc.

 

[FurCoat]

Charge them outside. Away from your primary residence.

There’s your fun tip of the day, brought to you courtesy of the Lithium Ion Network

Lots of apartments burning in New York from electric bicycles. I won't even park near an electric car.

 

[Briar Lee]

Lots of apartments burning in New York from electric bicycles. I won't even park near an electric car.

Let’s suppose in an alternate historical scenario the lithium ion battery has been invented in the late 1800s and only in the last few years the spark plug was perfected.

There is no way, the do gooders and safety nannies would ever allow highly explosive benzine fuel to be carried around so close to a spark plug ignition source.

Think of the danger, you know?.

 

[aspiring_sage]

Note: I personally have two large gas mowers and a lot of grass to mow.

I've never heard someone, 1st hand, regretting their switch to electric (mowers).

 

[mso489]

Lots of good input on this thread. I really appreciate it, and will take all safety advice seriously. At least I have an idea what the safety pointers are. Anyone else with ideas, experiences? This really helps.

 

[woodsroad]

Lots of good input on this thread. I really appreciate it, and will take all safety advice seriously. At least I have an idea what the safety pointers are. Anyone else with ideas, experiences? This really helps.

Robot Lawn Mowers Are (Finally) Getting Good. But Are They Worth the Hefty Price Tag?

Early adopters had to manage complicated installations and live with cuts in random patterns, but manufacturers say they’ve worked out all the kinks. Our writer put a $2,899 new model from EcoFlow to the test in his own backyard.

www.wsj.com

 

[Briar Lee]

To update this thread, my son went to Utah to ride dirt bikes and didn’t weed eat and his mother was not pleased, not at all.



Then Mama requested me to weed eat, and was even more displeased to find our gas weed eater once again was broken.

I was given orders to go buy a good cordless weed eater so that she might use it to weed eat.

That was more than enough hint I was to go buy a cordless weed eater and trim the lawn, before the sun set.

I went to Lowe’s and bought the best one they sold, a $299 E-Go with a 56 volt 4 amp battery and two speeds, electric line spooling, and it has a computer that feeds string, so there’s no bumping.



Oh my goodness, oh my.

I’m giving away my gas weed eater to somebody I don’t like.

I will never again use a gas weed eater in town on my lawn. It’s powerful, quiet, and the battery really does last about an hour. If electric cars are this good I want one. No bumping, two speeds, and it winds up the line itself. Such a toy!

The kid at Lowe’s that sold me the gadget said the 4 amp battery is guaranteed three years, and a replacement is about $250



So if the battery goes bad out of warranty, he recommended buying some other E-go power toy and scabbing the battery.

That’s a future problem, I reckon.

Today I’m enjoying my new electric lawn toy.

 

[Briar Lee]

The battery on my Ego super duper whiz bang weed eater outlasted me.

Maybe an hour. It was hot. I’m not young anymore. I did the worst part on the North , East, and South.

Then I sat and rested from my arduous labors and drank a Coke and smoked a pipe, while the battery recharged.

It was down to a flashing red light, on the gauge, but it never once sputtered or slowed down.

It took a few minutes to cool, before it charged again.

I put on new line.

Check this out, willya? Insert a pre cut 14 foot section of line, and push the green button.

New video by Van Adams

photos.app.goo.gl

Then I did the back part to the West, after about 40 minutes of charge put the battery back to 80%

It’s worth $300 to watch it wind the line!

It still had 20% or more left after about 45 minutes more work.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

We've been getting lots of rain and my backyard takes a long time to dry out, where my front yard will dry out in one sunny afternoon. I think it's because my back yard is heavily shaded and surrounded by a tall fence, making it hard for the breeze to help it dry.

Anyway, my back yard was getting pretty tall and thick and my electric mower would've had a helluva time getting it cut, so I borrowed my neighbor's gas mower. Man, such power! I had forgotten how much more powerful a gas mower is than my electric. I'm sure there are electrics that powerful but mine is not.

I knocked out the back yard in short order and the gas mower barely got tired. I still won't go back to a gas mower but I can see the benefits.

 

[didimauw]

So since my post earlier in this thread, I've been using our 54 in Husqvarna riding mower for our tiny tiny yard. It now only takes me 30 minutes to mow and weedwack.

Those batteries are so damn expensive. However, if you look around you can find deals. I just found (but haven't bought yet) another battery for my push mower, that comes with a weed eater ( already have 2) for cheaper than the price of just the battery new. I just don't want another weed eater. Lol

So both me, and my father in law bought different brand battery mowers last year, and both of our batteries stopped working.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Tom, why not go the eco route and buy a goat? Tether it to a large tyre that you move every day and bingo.

It fertilizes as it mows the lawn and once fat enough you can eat it, then you buy another .

Regards,

Jay.