10 Best Battery Powered Lawn Mowers

Battery Powered Lawn Mowers are easy to use, fuss-free and quiet. One of the many advantages of using this type of model is that it’s lightweight and easier to maneuver around the lawn compared to a Gas Lawn Mower which requires more strength to push around and walk behind. Also, the battery operated model runs less risk whereas the Electric Lawn Mower can be a health and safety concern if you come into contact with water.

These Lawn Mowers are portable through the use of rechargeable lawn tractor batteries, they are environmentally friendly, and they are very effective due to most models having discharge options making them as efficient as they are effective. With this guide and the research gathered, you will be able to make an informed decision based on the different factors of each model.

Battery Powered Lawn Mower Buyer’s Guide

When looking for a suitable Battery Powered Lawn Mower to suit your specific needs, it is important to take certain factors into account.

Functions

Looking at the function of a lawn mower is imperative when searching for the product that is most suitable to you. Does the product have adjustable blades to meet your needs? Can you change the height of the cut? Does the lawn mower have a grass collection box or are you required to pick up the grass yourself? Does the product mulch/recycle?

This is when the grass cuttings aren’t able to go into the collection box and stay within the blade area, they are cut really finely then dropped onto the lawn, and this will help to keep your grass looking green and fresh as no nutrients in the cuttings are lost. How much maintenance is required? If you have a busy lifestyle, it may be easier to opt for a low maintenance model. What is the battery running time?

If you have a small-medium sized lawn, then you won’t need a long running time whereas someone with a bigger lawn may want to invest in a lawn mower that has a higher battery running time, over a smaller mower. Do you need a self-propelled mower? These lawn mowers propel themselves making it easier to operate. Consider this choice if you have back problems or a large lawn to mow.

Often mowers that have a mulching option also come with a side discharge which is where the cuttings are put to one side of the mower as you cut the grass. This is good for large areas of grass that do not need to be kept tidy. It’s worth thinking about whether you want a mower that requires very little set-up and is easy to power up. Are you wanting to use other outdoor equipment with the same power source?

You can purchase lawn mowers that produce a short, fine cut for the grass, this may be something to look at before buying. One of the most important functions to look at when buying a cordless lawn mower is the batteries so look for quality and power, a lot of models have lead-acid batteries although some have nickel-cadmium batteries and some lithium-ion.

Nickel-cadmium batteries are probably best avoided as they don’t hold a charge as well as the other and fade as the charge reduces. Certain models have fixed batteries, and some have batteries that can be removed for recharging but it is a matter of choice and what is most convenient to you.

Features

When purchasing a Battery Lawn Mower another aspect to look at would be its features. Is it lightweight or heavy? If you want something that is portable and easy to move around, then you will need to opt for a lighter lawn mower. Does it make much noise? Battery operated lawn mowers tend to make less noise but make sure you research this if its something you are looking for. Is it compact?

For storage reasons, you should look into whether the model is easy to fold away and store. What type of lawn do you have? Ensure the size of the model you buy is appropriate. Some lawn mowers come with collection boxes that can be attached or unattached. Is a mower with rotating blades more suited to you? This may be the case if you have a rougher grass on your lawn. Bigger models tend to come with grass collection bags instead of boxes.

Price

If you are more interested in how cost-effective your lawnmower is over the quality of the cut the mower produces then the battery operated model may be for you. As this mower runs off battery power, the only money it will cost you is the initial price of the product. Although these products tend to be varying in price, the battery lawn mower is usually the cheaper lawn mower option.

Take a look at the various types available and see which one is most suited to your needs, compare prices and consider which product is the right option for you.

How to Fix an Electric Lawn Mower that Won’t Start?

Firstly you must check to make sure the power supply is connected, longer power cables are often pulled from the outlet when moving the lawn mower around. Change to a different outlet or cable to try to restore the power to the lawn mower. Some extension cables are reset by a button on the side of the reel.

Secondly, attempt to replace any defective fuses in your house. Your electric outlets may not be working if the lawn mower has tripped the power or blown a fuse. Test the outlet cable by plugging in another appliance. Your fuses need attention if the appliance doesn’t work.

Try to disconnect and empty the cuttings bag. The lawnmower might not start up if the bag is perceived as full by the lawn mowers system. Already cut grass is collected in the cuttings bag at the back of the mower as you maneuver around the lawn. The mower might cut out during use when the bag exceeds its full capacity.

Check the lawn mowers safety mechanism is not stopping the motor from starting. A lot of lawn mowers have a safety function that stops children from activating the motor. There tends to be a special button or lever that has to be held down while the “start” button is pressed.

Disconnect the lawn mower from the power supply and try turning it over so you can view the blades. Make sure there’s no grass, leaves or other debris that are preventing the blades from turning. Electric mowers stop working if the blades have restricted movement.

How to Change a Lawn Mower Battery?

Lawn mower batteries are found in one of two places, under the hood or under the seat of the mower. To find it, turn off your lawn mower and remove the keys. Take a look in both of these places, and release the latch for the cover so you can access the battery. If you find any tie-down strap or bar holding the battery in place, then remove it.

When you remove a battery ensure that you remove the black or ground wire. If you find the connectors are corroded, use a stiff wire brush to brush them clean. If the battery itself is badly corroded, use baking soda and water paste and apply that to the terminals. Let this sit for a few minutes before using the brush and water to rinse off the corrosion. Dry any leftover water with a soft cloth.

Be careful to make sure you don’t get the mixture or water in any battery cells and rinse thoroughly before removing. As baking soda neutralizes battery acid and will neutralize the battery if it gets inside the cells. But if the connectors remain secure, use a flat head screwdriver to slowly pry the connector apart and away from the terminal. Ensure you don’t force the cable off as you can pop off the connected terminal.

When the negative cable is removed, then removed the red cable. Lastly, when you have removed the battery from the holder, clean out any corrosion or debris and dry the holder. Put the new battery into the holder and attach the tie-down strap or bar. When re-attaching the cables to your battery terminals, make sure to start with the positive cable which is red.

Connect it to the positive terminal and tighten the bolt to make it secure. Ensure that you attach the negative cable which is black to its respective terminal too. After this, replace the cover for the battery and test it to make sure everything is working.

How long Does it take to Charge a Lawn Mower Battery?

Ensure that you set the battery charger to 12 volts and 10 amps or less. Plug the charger in, the charger should fully charge the battery in one hour at the 10 amp setting however you might have to charge the battery longer if your amp setting is lower.

Expert Tip

In general, battery operated lawnmowers should run for 300 charges before they begin to lose its power and may need replacing. To simplify this, if you cut your lawn twice a week for 8 months in a year, that would equate to around 64 mows for that season. This means that you will be saving money long term.

Did you know?

Cordless lawnmowers have the mobility of a gasoline-powered mower and the environmental friendliness of a corded electric mower.