Battery Power for Lawn equipment -- is it time?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Stevewoods, Jan 24, 2018.

  1. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,956
    1,955
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    We had a corded 18" dual blade mower when I was a teen in the 1950's. It had a great feature, the handle flipped over so that the power cord always stayed on the same side which made cord management easy.

    JeffD
     
    bwilson4web, bisco and Mendel Leisk like this.
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    61,072
    41,989
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Neighbour had one of those, I was impressed: get to the end of the row, flip the handle, go the other direction. This was in the nineties.
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,640
    12,708
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I remember Black & Decker having a model with the flipping handle. The downside was in not having a bag.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,801
    52,469
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    thanks!
    any fire risk? his links are around $1,000. materials?
     
  5. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,521
    2,516
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    No, there is not any mire fire risk than with lead acid batteries. LiFePO4 batteries are a lot safer than the lithium ion batteries used in cars like Teslas.

    You don't need a 100 ah battery. A 50 ah LiFePO4 battery has more than twice the capacity as the original look lead acid batteries.

    I got an Eco worthy 48 volt 50 ah battery off of Amazon for less than $400.

    The new charger was less than $100.

    71meyboMO9L.jpg
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    28,914
    16,396
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I have thought about a 120 VAC to 80 VDC power supply that would fit in the battery socket. Corded for bulk mowing and then battery for edges.

    Bob Wilson
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,640
    12,708
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Or get a corded mover and a battery 'generator' sized for use where the cord is a hassle.
    Think I'll stuff one of those battery power supplies into a backpack if I ever decide to ditch the extension cord instead of replaced my corded tools.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,801
    52,469
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Thanks,
    I watched a pretty comprehensive video last year, but there was a lot of custom work.
    My level of diy would require some sort of kit and tutorial.
    Or at least links to all the required parts.
     
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,521
    2,516
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The conversation is absolutely easy. I did extensive research. I did no drilling or cutting.

    All I needed was a 13 and 14mm socket and the same two sized combination wrenches.

    Almost any YouTube video covers the most complicated part of the conversion, which is the disassembly.

    The toughest part was lifting and transporting the four 65 pounds each lead acid batteries to the city recycling yard.

    The only other thing I used were some wire ties, an 8 ft long luggage strap and a roll of 3M double stick tape.

    The new LiFePO4 battery weighs 58 pounds, but has two convenient carrying handles with one on each end.

    A smart LiFePO4 charger is available to directly plug in the original charging port. Only two plastic tabs need to be snapped off with a pair of needle nose pliers.

    That's the entire conversion on the basis of my experience.

    Before my retirement, my expertise was to find the simplest and least expensive method to service aerospace components and systems.
     
    #989 Georgina Rudkus, Apr 24, 2026 at 12:26 PM
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2026 at 12:36 PM
    bisco likes this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,801
    52,469
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that puts you way above my pay grade! :)
    does the battery or charger have a compatible bsm?
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    61,072
    41,989
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    If I was going to start with cordless, the first one I might consider is hedge pruner, this sort of thing:

    upload_2026-4-24_11-34-18.png

    I've lost count of the number of times I've "cut the cord". I'm careful as heck now. :unsure:
     
  12. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,521
    2,516
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    61nAJUOz1eL._AC_SX425_.jpg
    Yes. The Ezgo golf cart battery charger shown in this picture for about $100 works perfectly with the LiFePO4 Eco Worthy battery conversion.

    A company called Delta Q made the original charger for Ryobi with a variation of the Ezgo 48 volt golf cart charging port.
     
    #992 Georgina Rudkus, Apr 24, 2026 at 3:50 PM
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2026 at 4:08 PM