[james]

OK, this is not exactly about Insights, but it is about saving gas and improving air quality, so might be of interest.

A couple of weeks ago, my old lawn mower bit the dust: threw the rod and put a fist-sized hole in the crankcase. So I went shopping for a new one, and saw this Black & Decker battery powered one. I was a bit skeptical, but it went home with me anyway.

Anyway, it works great. No fussing with gas or pulling to start, noise is much less than a gas one, and it will mow for at least half an hour on a charge (more than I want to mow at a time).

 

[goat961]

what kind of batteries does it use?

i've heard black & decker is useing some new lithium ion batteries that charge in 5 minutes in a new line of power tools.... i don't think they're availabe yet hough

 

[bug_girl]

I still have my 1996 Toro cordless mower. I love it. I did have to replace the battery last month, but hey--10 years! pretty good

 

[james]

The batteries in mine are lead-acid. Cheaper, I suppose, and they do the job. Not sure just how much lawn there is: the lot's an acre, but much of it is gardens & shrubs.

Now if I could only convince the neighbors to replace their gas mowers, I could enjoy the quiet

 

[Aaron Cake]

Aside from when my brother and I cut lawns years ago, our family has always used a corded electric mower. It's so nice being able to smell the grass instead of unburned hydrocarbons. I've been hoping to find an old cordless electric in a dumpster somewhere as I can get batteries easily and cheaply. Getting rid of the cord would be nice and we have a fairly small yard that could easily be handled by batteries. Or if I find a decent motor I could convert our existing electric to battery power...

 

[Kevin Dougherty]

Interestingly enough, I bought my first electric (corded) mower on E Bay last week.

I felt that the battery jobbies where overkill for my small lot.

 

[james]

I thought about a corded one earlier (before the gas one died), since they're much cheaper. Figured I could use it near the house, and save the gas one for the places where I'd need 300 ft extension cords.

 

[gomarlins3]

30 minutes wouldn't even do my front yard. Nice idea, but I am sticking with my Honda for now.

 

[james]

The mower will go longer than 30 minutes - just how much longer, I may never know, since so far I've run out of either ambition or grass before it runs out of charge

 

[Resist]

I've been imterested in electric mowers for years but none have enough power or endurance at this point in time to be worth the expense.

 

[Aaron Cake]

I've been imterested in electric mowers for years but none have enough power or endurance at this point in time to be worth the expense.

Have you tried a corded electric? Much more powerful then it's gas alternative...Though I guess this would not work if you have an exceptionally large yard...

 

[kari]

I'm not sure what size a yard y'all are talking about (except gomarlins3 with the big yard!), but have you considered a reel mower?
http://www.reelmowerguide.com/
saves gas, air quality, AND your hearing!
[/url]

 

[dan]

Thanks for the review James. I’ve always wondered about the cordless models. I used to run a corded model with a 100’ (12g) extension cord. The cord gets to be a pain, although the starting/maintenance/noise level is very sweet. I highly recommend one for someone with a relatively small lawn close to a power source. You really shouldn’t go longer than a 100’ extension cord; for both line drop and physical reasons. (I assume you were kidding about 300', I include these comments for any one else that may be considering it).

Push mowers are nice also for small lawns, particularly if you can “overshoot” the ends (ie run out into a driveway or something) they don’t work so well when you have to be very careful around the edges as they work best when they get “up to speed”. Better exercise than working out on a treadmill, and you can double your energy savings!

 

[james]

Nope, I wasn't kidding at all about the 300' extension cord. That's about what I'd need to reach the longest distance between an electric outlet and the edge of the lot. Now I hasten to say that very little of that is actual lawn. though. Much is either native praire-type areas, or weeds that need to be mowed a few times a year to keep them from going to seed.

 

[dan]

I think you would need to use at least a 10g cord (or three of them) to prevent burning up the mower motor due to low voltage. They would cost >$100 (for 3) and weigh > 50#.

 

[grnmachine]

Electric Mowers v. Human Power

Boy is this topic current with me. Not wanting to join in the usual neighborhood Sunday racket caused by everyone tending to their lawns with huge polluting machines, I bought a Black and Decker electric (corded) mower less than 3 years ago. It was great and quiet for nearly 2 summers of mowing my rather large lawn. But soon it blew up. Made the sound a car does when it bites the dust. It's unfixable and a piece of junk. I would not recommend this machine to anyone.

OK, so now the lawn is growing, what to do? I borrowed an old, and I mean REALLY old push mower from an old farmer down the road. Within an hour or so I had mowed my entire lawn, got a great workout, and didn't contribute to the air or noise pollution. I got the same sense of pride I do crusing down the road in Greeny. Forget the old school thought that these mowers are only for postage stamp sized lawns, they're quick, clean, easy, and you don't have to worry about plugs, gas, oil, or noise...only the odd looks of amazement of those driving by.

I assume many of us drive hybrids as a way of doing our part to help the environment, if so, we should carry this to our lawn care (less or no chemicals), and what we eat (more veggies, more organic locally grown produce). It's all part of the equation.

 

[Dgate]

You guys need to think outside the box,I have three sheep that keep my grass cut!
For anyone with a small plot try a movable cage of Guinea pigs :lol:

DGate
Not all hybrids are equal

 

[james]

Those are all good ideas for someone in the right situation. (I really want a chicken tractor myself ) Unfortunately, I spend long periods away from home, so I need a lawnmower that the kid down the street will use.

 

[Dgate]

Err,whats a chicken tractor?

DGate :?

 

[james]

A chicken tractor is basically a movable pen with chickens inside. You move it around, chickens eat the weeds and fertilize the ground. You can find more by doing a web search.