Showing posts with label 21-inch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 21-inch. Show all posts

Saturday, September 4, 2010

0 Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21-Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking Station

Review Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21-Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking Station


Buy Cheap Friendly Robotics RL1000 RoboMower 21-Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower and Docking Station From Here Now!

Imagine relaxing on your porch with your family instead of mowing the lawn. With the innovative Friendly Robotics Robomow RL1000 with Base Station, you can turn your dreams into an eco-friendly, wallet-friendly reality. This top-of-the-line fully automatic lawnmower cuts grass all by itself, so you can get a vacation from mowing--forever! Just schedule a weekly program for a beautifully manicured lawn.


Robomow RL1000
with Base Station
At a Glance:
  • Automatic lawnmower mows entirely by itself
  • Can be programmed to operate on a preselected day and time
  • Enters lawn from as many as 4 preselected points
  • Fully weatherproof for all-season outdoor installation
  • Grasscycles for a healthier, greener lawn that requires less water
  • 2-year warranty on unit; 1-year warranty on battery


Robomow does all the work so you don't have to.


Docking station and on-board
charging for true automation.
Automatic Lawnmower Does All the Work for You
Designed for lawns measuring from 12,900 to 17,200 square feet, the Robomow RL1000 is an automatic lawnmower that cuts grass all by itself. The RL1000 mows on its own within a boundary that you outline with a thin wire (included).

Once you handle the initial wire setup, all you have to do is schedule a weekly program, and sit back, relax, and mow! The Robomow RL1000 will depart from its Base Station on your chosen days and times, and it will enter your lawn from as many as four preselected points.

When it's done mowing, the Robomow RL1000 will return to the Base Station for charging until the next scheduled operation. With this mower, you can be your lawn will be maintained, even when you're busy or away from home.

User-Friendly Features for a Beautiful Lawn
The Robomow RL1000 is packed with great features, including an exclusive drop-and-go 24-volt battery that lets the mower operate for four hours on a single charge. It also offers on-board charging, an LCD operating panel, a theft-deterrent system, and a docking station for true automation.

To keep your lawn looking beautiful, the RL1000 features knobby wheels that tackle high grass and sloping or bumpy ground, touch-sensitive bumpers, and triple chamber mulching. Easy to set, its 21-inch deck delivers a 1.75- to 3.25-inch height of cut with the high-cut blades and 1.0- to 2.5-inch cut with the low-cut blades. Additionally, the Robomow RL1000 has an edge mode and manual-trim mode for creating a manicured look.

Weatherproof Plastic-and-Steel Construction
Boasting heavy-duty plastic-and-steel construction, this fully weatherproof, all-season unit is UV protected and comes equipped with a rain sensor that will prevent the Robomow RL1000 from coming out of its docking station and mowing during a rain shower. And if it starts raining when the unit is mowing, the RL1000 will immediately return to the docking station.

Eco-Friendly, Wallet-Friendly Choice
Unlike conventional lawn mowers that pollute as much as 40 late-model cars in just one hour of use, Robomow RL1000 offers a way to keep your lawn looking great without sacrificing the environment.

The Robomow RL1000 doesn't simply cut your grass--it repurposes the clippings through a patented process called grasscycling. The mower cuts grass into fine clippings and disperses the cuttings over the ground. These clippings quickly decompose and release valuable nutrients and water into the soil, resulting in a better-looking lawn. Grasscycling also leads to a deeper, healthier root system that increases your lawn's resistance to disease, drought, and insects, and it reduces the amount of water your lawn needs by as much as 85%.

And because the eco-friendly Robomow RL1000 doesn't require gas, oil, tune-ups, or spark plugs, it will save you money.

Dimensions and Warranty Information
The RL1000 measures 26.0 x 12.5 x 35.0 inches (WxHxD), weighs 50 pounds (without battery), and comes with a two-year warranty on the unit and a one-year warranty on the battery.

What's in the Box
Robomow RBL1000; perimeter wire and pegs; sealed batteries and charge pack; 2007 Generation software; docking system and station; and instruction manual.



Readmore

Technical Details

- Robotic lawn mower and docking station; touch-sensitive bumpers and theft-deterrent system
- 5-1/2 horsepower engine, 21-inch deck; set to run on own (at specified time) or using manual controller
- Durable plastic and steel construction
- Includes sealed batteries and charge pack
- This item is not for sale in Catalina Island
See more technical details
Customer Buzz
 "3 Great Years But Service is Awful" 2010-07-03
By ReadAllDay (Round Rock, Texas United States)
We had three great years with our mower, which we named "RoMo." (It's more fun if you name it.) Yes, it got stuck sometimes, but we have a very complicated yard, and we didn't have to use our hand mower for the last 3 summers. However, in January of 2010, the mower had a problem. It is now July 2010, and that problem was fixed in June. Now we need a new battery, which is understandable after almost 4 years.



The problems we have had getting the mower serviced have been extremely annoying. It took from January to the middle of June to get a part replaced. OK, they were getting a shipment from overseas. But, when I took the time to call every few weeks, they always told me to call in another 2 weeks. Finally, they admitted to an error. Finally they got their shipment of parts. They had said they would call me when the part arrived; they did not call me. I finally called them and got our machine in their queue for repair. Then the wrong estimates of when our machine would be fixed started again. When they told me our machine was "on the bench" and would be examined that day, it still was several more days, and they never did call; I called them and they checked and put together the estimate while I was on the phone. Every interaction seemed to be like this. I never received a call back or an email answer. I got the distinct impression I was being told what they thought I wanted to hear, even though it would be proved false within the next few days. Either they were lying or they had very poor control over their work flow.



The last straw was today. We paid $186 for new batteries to put into the power unit. The instructions were the wrong ones. Now I have to wait through the long weekend to get the right instructions to put together the battery pack...and it's rainy...and the grass is too long for Romo.



I am giving 3 stars; one for each good year before we had to work with the service company, Probotics.

Customer Buzz
 "Impressive" 2008-10-08
By Gamer911
I found this mower to be very impressive.



I have a lot about 100" x 25', generally flat with a mild slope down the length of the yard, and filled with small divits between clumps of grass. I generally don't have many bushes or trees in my property, so the deviations in my wire-line were few. I also have two dogs that commonly use the yard.



The set up was fairly simple; a single perimeter wire layed the groundwork along the fence. It rounds a few bushes and trees along the fence line.



I found the system set-up easy enough to only require a light read of the manual. When I started the mower I hadn't cut the grass in about 2-3 weeks (which is probably not recommended), but the mower cut through the 1' grass length without many problems. While tackling this length of grass it did stall in a few spots because of a lack of traction, so it needed a few nudges to continue. As it cut the lawn, however, the wheels were able to grab better and better traction and soon resolved the grass to the proper length. I don't believe I'll need to fill any of the divits to allow the system to run from here on in without my watching it.



I set it up to cut the grass to max power for every day of the week, however I will probably reduce this because the cut-time is certainly long enough to handle the backyard every few days (beyond 2 hours so far). I would recommend setting up the docking station on a flat stone surface (I'll probably lay cinderblock slabs beneith it later) as the mower will not be able to cut along the edges of the docking station very well.



My dogs at first were curious about it, but the quiet mowing sound wasn't at all intimidating, so they simply sniffed at it a few times and left it alone. Also, with the mowing sound lower than the general street traffic, mowing at any time of day would likely be fine.



Outside of that, my only regret is that I didn't buy this mower earlier in the year. That would have saved me a lot of time. I look forward to reducing my workload in the backyard going forward. All in all, I'm satisfied.

Customer Buzz
 "Very pleased so far." 2007-12-29
By Lonnie A. Marlowe
I got this guy off-season and got him set up, running through multiple "shake-down cruises." Very few problems so far; a bit of a learning curve in setting up the perimeter, etc. But, jeez-o-pete, is he ever so cool! I may design and build a home for him, to simplify the winter storage process, but I can't wait until spring so I can truly turn him loose and see how well he performs in real life.



The docs are accurate, though a bit sparse, so far. There is a growing community of dedicated users more than happy to share their thoughts and experiences, which is a huge asset.



I wish I knew how to build a body-mod for him so he would look like the chomping turtle on the Flintstones!



A very positive experience so far.

Customer Buzz
 "This Mower worthless" 2007-11-28
By Khaled Shah (nc, usa)
You have to have a flat lot, and not many trees in there for Friendly Robo... to work. It will get stuck right by the trees, and if it rained, then you cannot use it because it gets stuck. It can not cut tall grass, and leaves some grass here and there. The worst part is the service. Mine had problem the second week, and when I called the tech. the only way he would look at it is for me to ship it to them. That is 80 to 100 dollars in shipment, and he didn't know how long it will take. You are dealing with Middle Eastern company, so don't expect good customer service.

Customer Buzz
 "A good user-friendly machine" 2007-04-25
By Uncle Mike (Saint Paul, MN)
I bought my Robomower about a year ago, and decided I've probably had it long enough to make a comment.



My wife and I moved from our house in the city to a place in the suburbs with a half-acre lot. I spent our first summer using our walk-behind mower, but quickly decided that was for the birds. It took hours. All my neighbors had riding mowers, but I didn't want one of those. It seemed a little too stereotypically suburban. So in researching mowers I discovered the Robomower.



Now, I am not an early adopter by any means. I don't go for the latest gadget. But I learned that the Robomowers have been around for about ten years now, and have been much improved since the early models. And the Robomower cost about the same as a riding mower. So after doing a lot of research I decided to take a chance on it.



Someone else left a comment here saying that the Robomower comes with poor documentation. I really disagree. The manuals were well-written, and I was surprised how easy and straightforward the set-up was. The most monotonous part was laying the perimeter wire. That probably took me three or four hours -- but then, I have a rather large yard.



Once the wire is set and the docking station set up, you just let the mower charge up and then -- off you go. It runs pretty quietly, and sounds very much like an electric weed trimmer (the three blades underneath the mower deck look quite a bit like trimmer blades, actually).



One of my neighbors came over to see what I had trolling around the lawn. "My wife and I saw it but didn't know what it was," he said. "One day I said to her, I think it's cutting their grass -- I don't see him out there with the lawn mower anymore".



In terms of the quality of the cut, I think it does pretty well. Your lawn won't look like a golf course, but I'm not that picky. Looks pretty much like it used to when I cut with the gas mower. Robomower has soft bumpers on the front and back so that if it runs into a tree it will simply toddle off in the opposite direction. It doesn't seem to hit very hard, and I haven't noticed any damage to the bark. When the mower battery runs low, it automatically goes back to the docking station. Once in a while it had trouble finding the station, or had trouble docking on its own, but it would usually make it by itself. Worst case scenario, you can simply use the manual controller to drive it back to the station.



You can run perimeter wire around a tree to keep the Robomower from hitting it. I will need to do that for one of the trees, as Robomower keeps running up on one of the tree roots and getting stranded -- its wheels keep turning but it doesn't get anywhere. Then I have to walk out and drag it off. But generally, if it gets a wheel stuck in a chuckhole or something, it will just beep loudly and start off in the other direction.



There is a manual setting that allows you to use it as a conventional electric mower, ostensibly for doing small areas that don't fall in one of your zones. You simply pull out the control panel (it's connected to the mower by a 4-foot line) and work the manual controls as you walk behind the mower. However, this is not very easy to use. You have to hold two buttons down simultaneously (one to move the wheels, one to run the blades) as well as manipulate the direction controller. My hands tended to cramp up within a couple of minutes.



If you start with grass of a reasonable length, Robomower will do a good job maintaining it. But it has a hard time cutting overly long grass. Because the mower is heavy (it's about 80 pounds with battery) it tends to flatten down long grass before the blades get a chance to shear it off. So you probably don't want to give away your gas mower - you may need it once in a while.



The literature says Robomower can work in the rain, but I wouldn't recommend it. The tires can get kind of gummed up with wet grass clippings and tend to slip. It will mow at night (you can see the blinking light on the top even if you can't see the mower), but I really haven't bothered. Usually, I start it up on a weekend, when I'm doing other stuff around the house.



Overall, it cut the grass trouble-free throughout all of last summer, and it was a snap getting it set up again this spring.



Robomower handles different zones, but be aware that model that comes with docking station can only be used for one zone. There's a battery-powered perimeter switch that can be moved from zone to zone, but that's not included with this.



Overall, though, this was a good purchase for us. If you're thinking about buying one and are on the fence, I'd recommend you go for it.




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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

0 Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Review Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower


Buy Cheap Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower From Here Now!

Item number 10759-45, Grading is cover/record: EX using Goldmine standards. 196?,wlp,garage Please see seller profile for abbreviation descriptions.
Readmore

Technical Details

- Most advanced electric motor technology equals more power and longer run times
- 7 position height adjustment from 1.5-inch to 3.5-inch
- Removable Batteries Featuring On-Board And Off-Board Charging
- Push Button Start With LED Battery Level Indicator
- 2 Year Limited Warranty
See more technical details
Customer Buzz
 "Mean Green Grass Cutting Machine" 2010-06-22
By Jay M. Shaffer (Golden, CO United States)
I finally got fed up with my gas mower and it's associated hassles. No more trips to the gas station, no more spilled gas while filling, no more ozone and gas emissions, and no more fouling the air with curses while trying to start the beast.

I settled on the Utopia brand cordless electric mower because it is self-propelled and rear wheel drive . I have a large (1/2 acre) hilly lawn and the grass had grown to 6 inches, a tough job for any mower. I did also purchase an extra set of batteries, which is another reason I like the Utopia. Having easily replaceable and recyclable batteries should be a requirement for cordless mowers.

The bottom line is that this mower tackled a large yard with tall grass and I got 40 minutes on the first set of batteries. Now the grass is a more manageable height I can can get 45-50 minutes from the first set of batteries.

The only minor complaints I have is the self propelled clutch is crude compared to the Toro self paced system I was used to, and that the handle padding is tearing.

I am currently charging the batteries from the grid, making the mower a coal/electric hybrid, but soon I'll be setting up a solar charging station. Then this mower will be truly emission free.

I heartily endorse and recommend this mower. In fact I think there should be a national law outlawing gas mowers under 6.5HP and replace them "cash for clunkers" style with these mowers.



Customer Buzz
 "Battery BS" 2010-06-16
By JimVT (VT)
I wanted an Electric self-propelled mower to get some exercise after surgery limited my mobility for a while.



This looked like the best deal at $500 and free shipping.



There are a few minor bugs: Manual clarity, wrong information on handles, extra parts with no explanation, etc



But the claim to cut 7 to 10K sq ft on one charge is BS.



I have .39 acres or 16,000 +- sq ft with space used for a two story home, shed, gardens, bushes and trees which nets out to 8 to 10K SF or 5k each for the front and back yards.



The back was still moist when I cut it so I'll give them an OK on that but the front was dry as a bone and the mower quit at about 75% complete.



So now I guess I can plan to take 2+ days to cut the lawn waiting for recharging rather than 4 hours with the gas mower (which I kept, thank goodness)



The service rep was very nice on several questions but had to refer to someone else and keep me on hold for others.



Bottom line: an extra set of the batteries is $100 PLUS $25 shipping!



No bargain here.

Customer Buzz
 "A diamond in the rough." 2010-06-01
By Flybob (oh, usa)
UPDATE 30 June 2010:



-If mulching is your thing, try somewhere else; this thing would not be able to mulch its way out of a wet paper bag. It is advertised as a 3-in-1 (ie bag, discharge, mulch) but it is more like a 2.1 in 1 (bag, discharge out the side, discharge out the bottom in clumps). The only way this thing can claim to mulch is if you never let the grass grow more than 1/2 inch between mowings (every 2 days in a rainy summer?). Any taller and you get large piles of clumped grass coming out of the mower. Also the mulching plug is very flimsy and holds a pile of grass that will rot over time, you should probably remove it and empty it after each mowing.



-I have used the mower 5 times now. Battery life is still adequate, but the linear LED indications I experienced in my first mow were evidently a fluke; the average is more like: 5 LEDs for 18-25 minutes, 4L for 4-8m, 3L for 0-2m and I have never used up the last segment. It is still consuming between 380 and 410 Wh per mowing ($0.05 in these parts). Btw, for the technically curious, 400Wh in 35 minutes means it is actually producing just under 1HP; but 1 electric HP (when measured by actual "work" performed) is probably the functional equivalent of a gas engine rated at 3.5HP (measured by reading the label on top). This last mowing, the grass was higher than normal, thats where the 410 came from. The whining it makes when the "key" is inserted is really annoying, they should give you at least a full minute without it so that you could empty the bag.



-Flimsy wheel/axles. As I mentioned below, the hardware looks shaky and it is turning out to be so. My left front wheel has a distinct starboard list. Oddly, it still seems to track straight. The drive does not seem to leap into action when you pull the handle like it used to, maybe the belt is starting to stretch.



-I finally used the bag. I had to - it was making such a mess of (not) mulching the above average tall grass this week. Seems like one of the reviewers mentioned there is an optional mulching blade (which seems disingenious to be an "option" on a mulching mower), but that it consumed more power (makes sense since it is doing more - TAANSTAFL). They should ship all paid customers one of those for free with a written apology and include it with the unit in future sales. The bag looks tiny, but holds more grass than I expected. Pretty easy to attach, remove and empty.



Those things said, it is still a kick to just push the button and go and have it run so quietly (and cheaply - although it will never break even with the cost premium over a gas mower), so Ill probably keep it and be careful to mow often. Now I need to come up with electricity in my shed to recharge it with.



--------------------------



I read all the reviews on this site before ordering the item; my experience coincides pretty well with the average of what I read. I would have been upset at the (lack of) build quality and packaging if the reviews had not prepared me ahead of time.





Synopsis:

CONS:

-bad packaging

-improperly assembled and nonfunctional as received

-weak documentation

-belt drive transmission

-costs more than equivalent gas mower (approx 25% premium)



PROS:

-quieter than gas mower

-cheap to run

-simple to use

-adequate charge duration for (my) entire lawn





Shipping/Unpacking:

If I had not read the reviews I would have assumed I had been sent someone else's returned unit. The box looked like it had rolled downhill all the way here, there were only 2 pieces of packaging inside the box and they were not actually protecting anything, and the batteries were just flopping around loose without even having the terminals covered; one of them was upside down when I opened the box, good thing they are sealed batteries. If UPS knew how poorly these things were packaged they would probably refuse to accept them.



Upon unpacking I was also faced with the near absence of assembly instructions. There is a thick book of exploded view diagrams but only a single sheet of actual instructions with 4 vague steps - very similar to the instructions on the package for putting together the balsa wood rubber band powered airplanes I flew as a kid. Fortunately the device is basically assembled, all you need to do is put the batteries in, unfold the handle and put in a couple of bolts.



At least that's the theory. Fortunately I was prepared for the reality that it would not function out of the box. The electronic control box on the handle (ie the "on" button) had been slapped together with the pieces out of order so they did not fit (ie "tab A" was stuck on top of "slot B" instead of inside it), and were so far out of whack that 2 of the 4 screws holding it on had fallen out or were never installed, and 1 of the 2 remaining ones had stripped the plastic housing threads.



Once I repaired that and was ready to operate, the mower would not start. The cable running from the "dead man" bar (that lever the US government requires push mowers to have that causes the blade to stop when you let go - you know, that thing that you get so used to holding in place at all cost such that if you ever DID actually fall under a mower you would probably still instinctively be holding it in place to your last breath as the mower ate you into little pieces) into the control box was slack and only just came taught when the bar was pulled all the way tight. In this condition the only way to get it to run was to grab the cable by hand and pull it even farther out the box and hold it that way - not practical for use.



Looking into the control box to troubleshoot, I discovered it is a convoluted mechanism with several springs and little plastic doohickies, which use magnets to switch a relay on and off in conjunction with pulling the "dead man bar" and pressing the button. Working under the assumption that all the necessary parts were actually in the unit (not necessarily a given), I was able to move the cable attachment from the middle doohickey to the far doohickey and when I put it back together the unit actually ran.



Operation:

Now that it was ready to run, I recharged the batteries. It comes with an external AC adapter which can be plugged right into the mower or plugged into a saddle that fits on the batteries (requires 2 at a time) externally.



The Epic mower seems fairly basic. Just generic parts: four individually adjustable plastic wheels, a simple metal deck, the motor pod, the handle and the accessories - a grass discharge chute, and a small grass catcher bag. It comes configured for mulching and thats the only way I have used it so far.



The Epic mower weighs pretty similar to my gas push mower - a 1991 Honda HR215HX 4.5HP OHV 3-in-1 with Blade Brake Clutch, Hydrostatic Transmission and aluminum deck (which if adjusted for inflation probably would have cost 4x what this did, so I do not expect the same level of quality with the Epic. At least I keep telling myself I dont expect that) and it has about the same form factor, cutting heights and swath.



The manual makes a big fuss telling you NOT to sharpen the blade; and then saying if you do, to make very sure the blade is balanced when you are done. I am guessing that this is because the motor weighs very, very little compared to a gas engine and the stress of an off-balance blade could damage it; whereas a gas mower already has a heavy flywheel and a piston bouncing around all over the place so the blade balance is insignificant.



The self-propel is powered by an internal belt off the mower motor, and it has no blade clutch, so it can not propel itself without the cutting blade running. The forward speed is about the same as my Honda is at maximum (which itself is just a little slower than I would wish for) but it is not adjustable for speed other than to let the belt slip by releasing the handle partway. It took a while to get the hang of pulling DOWN on the blade handle yet UP on the drive handle (on the Honda, the handles move the same direction and overlap each other. That might have taken some getting used to, but after nearly 2 decades using the same unit I dont remember)



The Epic makes about 33% less noise while mowing than the Honda does (of course, the Honda is already the quietest gas mower I have ever used). It is quiet enough that I felt comfortable mowing at 0800, which I would not do with the gas mower for concern of annoying my neighbors. I am not sure if the blade turns quite as fast as the Honda and when I look at the grass after it is cut I feel it may not look quite as crisply cut as it did with the Honda. It could be that the blade is going slower and not slicing off each grass blade as cleanly, but I cant prove it; it may be my imagination, or it may be the season of year.



It took me about 35 minutes to mow my lawn (1/3 acre lot; approx 8,000 sqft of grass after house, driveway, shed, trees etc are accounted for). I have some substantial slopes (which is why I need self-propel in the first place) otherwise I would probably have gone for some roomba-like autonomous mowing device. I had nearly a full charge when I started. There are 5 LEDs on the control box (3 green, 1 orange, 1 red) which extinguish in that order as the batteries run down. They dropped off at approx 8 minute intervals. The orange one went out at the ~32 minute mark, red was still on when I finished. The motor ran at a constant speed throughout with no noticeable variation due to battery discharge state. I am guessing that I had 5-12 minutes of run time left. Upon completion I could find no component that was more than lukewarm.



After mowing, I recharged the battery. The charger drew ~60W for 4 hours then tapered off after that and "finished" in <8 hours. They want you to leave it plugged in all the time, but I dont have electricity in my shed. I may check into the solar panel for the "cool factor" but it wont be worth it financially, taking >60 years to break even, which is much longer than the functional life of a panel so it would never pay for itself.



The total power consumed in recharging after a single mowing (according to a P3 Kill-a-Watt that seems fairly well calibrated) was 400Wh, or about $0.05 worth in Dayton, OH; probably 1/4 of what I paid for gas mowing; not counting oil, spark plug and air filters. If this unit lasts 10 years Ill be pretty happy. Suprised too, as the wheel attachments feel a little flimsy. Of course my beloved Honda broke a wheel attachment too, but that was when someone (not me!) drove into a concrete wall with it - not its fault.



Side note: there is a warranty registration card included that says if you do not fill it out and return it within 10 days, your two-year warranty will drop to zero. I thought that was unlawful under US law, I want to check into it. Of course they already have my address anyway since they shipped it to me, so no biggie, I assume they have already sold my personal info.





If anything untoward happens with the unit I will post an update.





Customer Buzz
 "Comparison and FAQ..." 2010-05-18
By Y. R. Wu (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
I've used three different cordless mowers and based on that experience I have to say I'm skeptical that 24 volts will work well with a 21" blade. I Have the 20" Toro with 36 volts which works very well and a 19"/24V B&D, which I found to be adequate 80% of the time - with only 24V it struggled with tall grass. The Greenworks 24v/18" self propelled mower may be a better bet.





I've put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won't let me put prices in my review, sorry!



MOWER............Path/Volt/Watt-hr......WT............COMMENTS



Neuton CE5.3............14"/24V/240......48#....Plastic deck, Removable batt.

B&D CM1836..............18"/36V/NA.......64#....Plastic deck

Greenworks 25092......18"/24V/480......95#....Self Propel, Removable Batt

Worx ECO WG780.......19"/24V/408......80#....Removable Battery

Haussmann CLM46NU...19"/24V/NA........94#....Haussmann who?? Metal deck

B&D CMM1200.............19"/24V/432......76#....Update to our old CM1000

B&D CM1936...............19"/36V/360.......72#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt

Neuton CE6................19"/36V/360.......88#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt

Earthwise 60120..........20"/24V/480......92#....Metal deck, Removable Batt

Toro 20360.................20"/36V/432......77#....Metal deck

Solaris/Epic EP21H........21"/24V/NA......106#....Rmvble batt, self propel, steel







>>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. No fumes or exhaust- because gas mowers don't have catalytic converters, they can pollute as much in a year as 43 cars!!!!. They aren't necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is basically NO maintenance. (We spent $80 over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a cheaper but having a cord is a pain.



>>Why SHOULDN'T I get a cordless mower? They weigh a LOT more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don't have as much power as gas and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ½ acre you may want to reconsider.



>>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature.



>>What is a watt-hour? It's basically how big your gas tank is - the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.



>>Is the cutting path a big deal? Yes - for two reasons. 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider that you have to overlap each pass by ~3", a 20" blade now effectively cuts 13% more on each pass. If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18" Also, my measurements show most mowers overstate their blade size by 1/2" (Our 20" measures 19-5/8, our 19 measures 18-1/2)



>>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, this means you can have a second battery charging while you are using the first. A second battery typically costs $100-$150 but it can make the difference between going electric or not. Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn't have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.



>>How long will my batteries last? That depends on your climate and usage. We had a small lot for many years and were religious about recharging right after use. We also live in a cooler climate (Michigan) so it's cooler and the mowing season is shorter. Our batteries lasted ~7 years. Most people should get 3-4 years easily but if you're careless and live in Arizona, you might be able to kill the batteries in a year or two.



>>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.



>>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it's not an issue. Plastic ends up giving you a more stuff to trim since you can't cut as close to fences, etc.



If you've found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!

Customer Buzz
 "Great Mower; Bad Accessory Availability/Support" 2010-05-12
By Greg Moreau (Vermont)
First, I love this mower. It powers through some very tough Vermont grass and steep grades. I have about two acres, and it does an excellent job. The problem is the battery aspect. They last about 45 minutes, give or take, depending on how much the wheels are engaged. I'm fine with that, I need more juice, so I bought a spare "two battery pack." The problem is the lead time required for charging. It's 12 hours. And unless you have a few chargers, and a few battery packs, you'll have to wait for the charge. This leads me to my biggest complaint: The "rapid chargers," which take a few hours to charge the battery packs, are never available. I asked for the company last year and the company told me that they were sold out for the season. Okay, fair enough. So, I contacted the company again--today, in mid-spring--and was told that the rapid chargers were sold out "for the season." Apparently all the lawn care/landscaping companies have snatched them up (again). The thing is, there's a clear demand for these chargers unlike, say, the "solar" charging stations, which take literally *days* to charge up your batteries. If, in May, their manufactured quantity has been sold out basically for the year, shouldn't that tell you that they need to stock up and manufacture more? I have no idea why this is the case, but it's annoying, and speaks of bad logistical management. I would have given the mower 5 stars had it not been for this pretty egregious failing on the company's "part"...






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Buy Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Now
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Thursday, May 27, 2010

0 Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Review Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower


Buy Cheap Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower From Here Now!

Item number 10759-45, Grading is cover/record: EX using Goldmine standards. 196?,wlp,garage Please see seller profile for abbreviation descriptions.
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Technical Details

- Most advanced electric motor technology equals more power and longer run times
- 7 position height adjustment from 1.5-inch to 3.5-inch
- Removable Batteries Featuring On-Board And Off-Board Charging
- Push Button Start With LED Battery Level Indicator
- 2 Year Limited Warranty
See more technical details
Customer Buzz
 "Comparison and FAQ..." 2010-05-18
By Y. R. Wu (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
I've used three different cordless mowers and based on that experience I have to say I'm skeptical that 24 volts will work well with a 21" blade. I Have the 20" Toro with 36 volts which works very well and a 19"/24V B&D, which I found to be adequate 80% of the time - with only 24V it struggled with tall grass. The Greenworks 24v/18" self propelled mower may be a better bet.





I've put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won't let me put prices in my review, sorry!



MOWER............Path/Volt/Watt-hr......WT............COMMENTS



Neuton CE5.3............14"/24V/240......48#....Plastic deck, Removable batt.

B&D CM1836..............18"/36V/NA.......64#....Plastic deck

Greenworks 25092......18"/24V/480......95#....Self Propel, Removable Batt

Worx ECO WG780.......19"/24V/408......80#....Removable Battery

Haussmann CLM46NU...19"/24V/NA........94#....Haussmann who?? Metal deck

B&D CMM1200.............19"/24V/432......76#....Update to our old CM1000

B&D CM1936...............19"/36V/360.......72#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt

Neuton CE6................19"/36V/360.......88#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt

Earthwise 60120..........20"/24V/480......92#....Metal deck, Removable Batt

Toro 20360.................20"/36V/432......77#....Metal deck

Solaris/Epic EP21H........21"/24V/NA......106#....Rmvble batt, self propel, steel







>>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. No fumes or exhaust- because gas mowers don't have catalytic converters, they can pollute as much in a year as 43 cars!!!!. They aren't necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is basically NO maintenance. (We spent $80 over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a cheaper but having a cord is a pain.



>>Why SHOULDN'T I get a cordless mower? They weigh a LOT more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don't have as much power as gas and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ½ acre you may want to reconsider.



>>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature.



>>What is a watt-hour? It's basically how big your gas tank is - the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.



>>Is the cutting path a big deal? Yes - for two reasons. 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider that you have to overlap each pass by ~3", a 20" blade now effectively cuts 13% more on each pass. If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18" Also, my measurements show most mowers overstate their blade size by 1/2" (Our 20" measures 19-5/8, our 19 measures 18-1/2)



>>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, this means you can have a second battery charging while you are using the first. A second battery typically costs $100-$150 but it can make the difference between going electric or not. Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn't have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.



>>How long will my batteries last? That depends on your climate and usage. We had a small lot for many years and were religious about recharging right after use. We also live in a cooler climate (Michigan) so it's cooler and the mowing season is shorter. Our batteries lasted ~7 years. Most people should get 3-4 years easily but if you're careless and live in Arizona, you might be able to kill the batteries in a year or two.



>>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.



>>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it's not an issue. Plastic ends up giving you a more stuff to trim since you can't cut as close to fences, etc.



If you've found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!

Customer Buzz
 "Great Mower; Bad Accessory Availability/Support" 2010-05-12
By Greg Moreau (Vermont)
First, I love this mower. It powers through some very tough Vermont grass and steep grades. I have about two acres, and it does an excellent job. The problem is the battery aspect. They last about 45 minutes, give or take, depending on how much the wheels are engaged. I'm fine with that, I need more juice, so I bought a spare "two battery pack." The problem is the lead time required for charging. It's 12 hours. And unless you have a few chargers, and a few battery packs, you'll have to wait for the charge. This leads me to my biggest complaint: The "rapid chargers," which take a few hours to charge the battery packs, are never available. I asked for the company last year and the company told me that they were sold out for the season. Okay, fair enough. So, I contacted the company again--today, in mid-spring--and was told that the rapid chargers were sold out "for the season." Apparently all the lawn care/landscaping companies have snatched them up (again). The thing is, there's a clear demand for these chargers unlike, say, the "solar" charging stations, which take literally *days* to charge up your batteries. If, in May, their manufactured quantity has been sold out basically for the year, shouldn't that tell you that they need to stock up and manufacture more? I have no idea why this is the case, but it's annoying, and speaks of bad logistical management. I would have given the mower 5 stars had it not been for this pretty egregious failing on the company's "part"...





Customer Buzz
 "bad packaging- not bad product" 2010-05-11
By Jeff A. Van Es
the box was open the batteries were just sitting in bottom of box the mower deck was bent the 1st time I started mower blade hit the deck but i bent deck out so blade would go around once I got thru all the bad stuff I really like the mower it has a lot of power good self propelled I have a small lawn but hilly and the batteries last real good

Customer Buzz
 "Great mower." 2010-05-09
By Coach Larry (Ohio, USA)
I have had this mower for about a month now. It is the model that is self-propelled.



First impressions: The mower is a little light-duty compared to my conventional Toro. The deck height adjusters, wheels, bagger and controls all seem a little cheap. Time will tell if they will hold up.



I have to say it was great not having to pull the rope to get the thing started. Just press a button. Pretty cool. It is about half as loud as my 6HP Toro.



Battery installation was very simple. I purchased a spare pair of batteries.



Two main things I was worried about was cutting power, and duration of the battery charge. It is Spring in Ohio, and you have to cut the yard every 5 days or so with all of the rain, etc. The grass grows fast and thick. This mower has been keeping up just fine. My lot is .26 acres. I use the self-propelled feature the entire time. It is pretty heavy to be pushing. It has enough "umph" to cut through the thick grass. I get about 75% done with the yard, then I change out the batteries. It is easier and cleaner to change out the batteries than it is to refill a gas tank. And no smell. The first time I cut the yard and came into the house, the wife said "hey, you don't smell like gasoline".



I have not used the bagger yet. I just mulch. It does leave a little bit of clippings behind, nothing major. I am sure in a month I will not see any clippings left behind at all (once the rain stops and the grass stops growing so darn fast).



So, in summary, the good definitely outweighs the bad.

-If you have a lot approaching .25 acres, and plan to use the self-propulsion, you will need a spare set of batteries.

-Mower hoses off easily

-Very quiet compared to gas engine

-No smell

-Very little vibration

-Cannot adjust the walk-behind pace. I am 6' tall, and the pace is just a little slow for me. But not bad.



I would highly recommend looking into this mower if you are replacing a gas engine mower. Very little maintenance, quiet, little vibration. Good stuff.

Customer Buzz
 "green, lean and mean" 2010-05-08
By jorge (waynesboro, VA)
Thanks to all previous reviewers, who convinced me to give this great mower a try. Bought mine and couldn't be more pleased with it. No gas, no cables, not much noise at all, self-propelled is a must though. Power is excellent, I have cut through high and wet grass. I did need to purchase an extra set of batteries for my lawn size. If your lawn is small, you may want to start with one set and see if you need another later on. Batteries take close to 24 hours to recharge. I absolutely recommend it for cleanliness, environmental impact and low noise.


Images Product

Buy Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Now
Buy Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower |
Cheap Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Low Price Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Best Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Order Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Good Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Lowest Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Save Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Discount Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Purchase Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Shop Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Buying Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | Where Epic EP21H 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower