Cordless electric lawn mowers

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 05:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

I recently replaced my mower with a Neuton Cordless mower. It is really wonderful. It is very quiet and does an excellent job. I got the accessories package and really like the edger. They also give you 6 months to try it out. Go to: www.myneuton.com/mower or call 1-800-865-0784. Let me know if this will work for you.
jgillas

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 05:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

I recently replaced my mower with a Neuton Cordless mower. It is really wonderful. It is very quiet and does an excellent job. I got the accessories package and really like the edger. They also give you 6 months to try it out. Go to: www.myneuton.com/mower or call 1-800-865-0784. Let me know if this will work for you.
jgillas

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 06:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

When I had a lawn, I used a Sears 24Volt cordless lawnmower, and it worked well.

But...

How about getting rid of that fertilizer- and water-intensive monoculture for plants native to your area (that is, if you own the place and can make changes)...? You'll probably end up with lots of butterflies, hummingbirds, etc. in your yard, and won't even have to worry about which lawnmower to buy!

 

My wife mows our lawns (lucky me!), front and back. She hated the noise and fumes of the gas mower, so we bought a Black and Decker Cordless. She can do both front and back yard on one charge (backyard is ~3,000 sq. ft., front is ~ 1/4 of that). Hopefully tomorrow I will remember to go out to the shed and get you the model number.

My wife mows our lawns (lucky me!), front and back. She hated the noise and fumes of the gas mower, so we bought a Black and Decker Cordless. She can do both front and back yard on one charge (backyard is ~3,000 sq. ft., front is ~ 1/4 of that). Hopefully tomorrow I will remember to go out to the shed and get you the model number.

My wife mows our lawns (lucky me!), front and back. She hated the noise and fumes of the gas mower, so we bought a Black and Decker Cordless. She can do both front and back yard on one charge (backyard is ~3,000 sq. ft., front is ~ 1/4 of that). Hopefully tomorrow I will remember to go out to the shed and get you the model number.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ May 16 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]443801[/snapback]</div>

I agree. We are in the process of replacing the front yard (grass) with xeriscaping. My wife has been diligently studying the subject. There is alomst too much information, but we hope to end up with flowering plants, with low water needs, ulitmatel.y with low maintenance. Even an electric motor requires use of energy, and there is some energy cost to the water use. So, see if you can help break the mold of green front lawns, and move to an alternative.

I hope in some months we will have some pretty pictures to share.

 

If your yard's not that big I recommend being even more environmental and get a corded mower. It's cheaper, you don't need to store it near a plug, and there's no battery to dispose of. I have a medium sized lawn and after I few times mowing I figured out a good system of handling the cord and now it's not a big deal at all.

After my old gas mower died I borrowed my neighbors cordless a couple times and prefer the corded because it's much lighter and therefore more manuverable.

 

How about a push mower? They're quieter and cheaper than an electric (corded or rechargeable), and the reel gives a better cut than the rotary blade. I've used one for years and think it's great.

 

I've been using a Black and Decker cordless electric mower (CMM1000) for 6 years on my front and back yard. Looks like there's a new model CMM1200 out now.

I replaced the battery in my CMM1000 this spring, and now I can recyle my old battery. I've replaced the blade twice. It's a good mower - sure a heck beats mowing with a gas-powered mower (at least for my lawn size). I don't smell like exhaust and gasoline after mowing, don't need to change oil, don't need to keep a canister of gasoline in the garage, etc.

Good luck with your quest.

 

I'm w/ Pinto's philosophy on killing any turf you can get away with and planting flowers, grasses, vines, trees and shrubs that are native to your area. They require no fertilizers or pesticides and they promote an ecosystem that'll attract beneficial insects. They birds and butterflies are an added bonus.

Ironically, I just received my neuton cordless electric mower today. It's amazingly lightweight. The removable battery is as heavy as the mower itself. I'm happy to see that the blades rotate horizontal to the ground, so I'm assuming that it'll provide a much more efficient cut than my push reel mower. I was looking forward to mowing tonight but the manual says I have to charge the battery for at least 12 hours. I'm still reading the manual, but the assembly doesn't appear cumbersome and it looks very easy to start. Slip in the safety key, push a lever to the side and pull the lever up. That's it!

I have a couple things on back order. I ordered a blade sharpening kit and a mulcher.

They're very helpful so if you have questions, just call them and they'll spend whatever time you need ensuring that you're well informed.

I have a push reel mower and I don't like it. You have to mow much more frequently as the mower cannot handle longer grass. In this case, it'll just push the blades down and pass right over them. Also, it doesn't cut through twigs that may be laying about. These will constantly get crammed up in the blades forcing you to an abrupt halt. It's a pity as I'd prefer using no energy to electrical energy. I'm hoping that they make these more efficient machines one day.

Good luck w/ your decision.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

I have been using a Task Force from Lowes for two years. It is just like the Black & Decker but with a steel deck instead of a plastic deck. It was about $100 less than the Black & Decker. I have a small yard that takes about 20 minutes to mow. I mow 3 times between a charge. It has a set of leds that let you know the battery level. I looked at the Nutron, but it is much smaller - the Task Force is 20" and Nutron warned about using it on St Augustine - a very thick grass. I have no probelm with the Task Force.

 

Here are excerpts from Consumer Reports re electric mowers. Looks like the best run time on a full charge is 40 minutes.

"Manual-reel mowers. Pushing these simple mowers turns a series of curved blades that spin with the wheels. Reel mowers are quiet, inexpensive, and nonpolluting. They're also relatively safe to operate and require little maintenance other than periodic blade adjustment and sharpening. On the downside, our tests have shown that cutting performance is typically mediocre, and most can't cut grass higher than 1 1/2 inches or trim closer than 3 inches around obstacles. Some models have cutting swaths just 14 to 18 inches wide--another drawback. Consider them for small, flat lawns a quarter-acre or less.

Price range: $100 to about $400.

Electric mowers. These push-type, walk-behind mowers use an electric motor to drive a rotating blade. Both corded and cordless versions start with the push of a button. They produce no exhaust emissions, and, like reel mowers, require little maintenance aside from sharpening. Most offer a side or rear grass catcher, and many can mulch--a process where clippings are recut until they're small enough to hide unobtrusively within the lawn. But electrics are less powerful than gas mowers and less adept at tackling tall or thick grass and weeds. What's more, their narrow, 18- to 19-inch swaths take a smaller bite than most gas-powered mowers at 21 inches. Both corded and cordless electrics have other significant drawbacks. Corded mowers limit your mowing to within 100 feet of a power outlet--the typical maximum length for extension cords. Cordless versions, while more versatile, weigh up to 30 pounds more than corded models and typically mow just one-quarter to one-third acre before their sealed, lead-acid batteries need recharging. Both types of electrics are mainly suitable for small, flat lawns of a quarter-acre or less.

Price range: corded, $125 to $250; cordless, $400 or more."

CORDED ELECTRIC PUSH MODELS Overall "Score"
Black & Decker MM875 $230 63
Worx WG712 $200 58
Homelite UT13120 $200 56
CORDLESS ELECTRIC PUSH MODELS
Black & Decker CMM1200 $400 64
Homelite UT13122 $300 60
Neuton EM 5.1 $350 56

 

I hope to get an electric (I'd go with the cord, It's gotta be cheaper and I don't mind the cord hassle).
But for now, my 12 year old Toro just keeps on running. It only uses about a cup of gas per week.
My lawn is also still pretty big, as I've only been there a little over a year and have only just begun to replace grass with raised bed gardens. I have plans for an entire corner of the front yard to be an orchard and another large section to be zeroscaped. Then I want to expand the garden in the back to about 1/3 of the yard. Another 1/3 will be fabric and mulch. If the ole Toro lasts till then, I'll go get my electric mower for mowing the rest. I'm quite proud that despite 6 mature trees and many bushes, I did not dispose of ANY yard waste last year. All of it was mulched or composted and the massive amount of wood I had to thin out is in use as pathways around the gardens (over fabric) or neatly stacked as firewood.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darwood @ May 17 2007, 01:27 PM) [snapback]444318[/snapback]</div>

You can also consider just leaving your yard messy with the twigs, stems and leaves as the will be utilized by wildlife for nesting material. I had a huge pile of cut bluestem from last year's growth that I laid out for them and it's gone. The birds are going so far as to pluck any of last year's growth that I may have missed.

 

I had a corded Black and Decker mower for 7 years. It was very reliable, and yes, if you think about power cord management while mowing it's no big deal . . . unless you have several trees in the yard to contend with.

I would have kept that mower except a friend was moving into a condo and sold me her Black and Decker cordless mower for $50. I then sold my corded model to a brother with a dying gas mower for $25.

The cordless is easier to use - not having to drag a cord around verses having to plug it in to charge, but, if I had to buy a new mower today, I think I would save my money and get another corded model.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 06:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

A few years ago I had one with a 12V battery or maybe 24V, but can't remember. It worked OK if the grass was fairly short but it couldn't cope with longer grass as a petrol mower can. I got rid of the cordless because I had to buy a new battery every couple of years and they were expensive (about £80 each ($160) at the time as I remember). I now have a petrol mower - far more powerful if you neglect the grass too long or if it's a bit wet. Of course batteries may be better now but the sales people won't warn you that heavily used batteries have a short life.

 

With the Sears mower I used (regularly for at least 4-5 seasons with no problems whatsoever), the important thing was to plug it in right after you're done with mowing the lawn, and make sure it *remains* plugged in all the time between mowings.

I never had to do anything to the battery, and the little charge indicator on the mower itself wasn't noting much of a change in capacity, even after five years. It was a really nice mower, actually.

As far as the manual reel mower, I'd suggest staying away from that unless your lawn is one of those *really* short ones. Mine was this dark green Fescue; the reel lawnmower I tried before buying the electric one never had a chance.

Cut was uneven and it was a terribly laborious process that yielded mixed results at best. I think the reel mowers are best for putting greens and absolutely flat areas that you make sure to *always cut regularly.* Miss a week or perhaps two, and there's no way the reel mower will get through!

I'd definitely look for 24volt batteries vs. 12volt, if you have the choice. My 24volt ex-mower cost $350 from Orchard Supply in 1998. One time I actually let the lawn go for the entire winter(!) and it still was able to give a pretty good cut with one pass...the battery still had lots of extra capacity when I was done.

 

I grew up using a professional Trimmer mower (heavy duty, reel and catcher in front). With air quality concerns I have moved on to an electric, rechargeable Neuton http://www.drpower.com/. Convenient, quiet, battery good for 40 to 60 minutes of use.

http://www99.epinions.com/NEUTON_Cordless_...wn_Mower_EM_4_1

 

Those of you who have the Neuton cordless mower, could you let me know:
What model (year) you have?
What size lawn you cut?
The type of grass you cut?

My county is doing a mower exchange where I can trade in a gas mower for a Neuton mower and only pay $199. That's a pretty huge savings, and includes the bag and mulching kit, plus free shipping (they say a $452 value)

I have about 6/10 of an acre and cut a mix of centipede and fescue, and am tired of my gas mower which is going to need some repair anyways.

Thanks in advance!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(briloop @ May 16 2007, 11:02 PM) [snapback]443757[/snapback]</div>

You must get a robot one. Lots of brands here.
http://www.robotmatrix.org/Lawnmowerrobot.htm