Corded Versus Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers

Electric lawn mowers are

• Environmentally friendly.
• Quiet.
• Easy to start, stop and restart.
• Easy to maintain and store.

However electric mowers are limited to small gardens, about a quarter acre.

• Corded mowers because of the cord.
• Cordless mowers because of the limited battery capacity (more batteries means more weight). They can usually run 30 to 60 minutes on one charge. Larger gardens can be mowed (by recharging the batteries), only not in one go.

Electric mowers also have limited power and size, 18 or 19 inch cutting decks compared to 22 inches for gas mowers. Thick weeds and overgrown grass will require slow, careful mowing.

• Corded mowers are designed to work with the limited current capacity of household power supplies and power cords. They typically draw 6 to 12 amps at 120 volts.
• Cordless mowers are limited by their batteries. A more powerful motor means a shorter run time.

Homeowners who can work within these limitations will be rewarded with an easy to use machine and a pleasant mowing experience. Popular brands include Neuton, Bosch, Toro, Black & Decker, Earthwise, Yardworks, Remington, Bully, Ryobi, Makita, Worx and MTD.

Corded Electric Lawn Mowers

Corded mowers should use standard electric cords that plug into the mower. This allows easy replacement if the cord is accidentally cut by mowing over the cord.

Some mowers come without a power cord. The owner needs to supply his own. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed when choosing a cord. Thick 12 or 14 gauge cords, with a maximum length of 100 feet, is usually specified.

Using a cord that is too thin or too long

• Is dangerous, possibly causing the cord to overheat.
• Could reduce the life of the motor.

Advantages of corded mowers

• Unlimited run time.
• Light.

Disadvantages

• Limited range, about 100 feet from the nearest power point.
• Electric cord can get in the way, possibly getting run over and cut by the mower.

Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers

The batteries are the main issue with cordless mowers.

Batteries that can be easily swapped by the owner are convenient.

• This allows easy replacement of faulty batteries.
• More than one battery can be kept charged, allowing a larger area to be mowed in one day.
• Batteries that can be charged separately from the mower allow the mower to be kept in an unelectrified shed, with the batteries charged in the house.

If not easily swapped by the user, the batteries should at least be replaceable at a service center. Mowers that do not have replaceable batteries, that need to be junked when the batteries go bad, should be avoided.

Advantages of cordless mowers

• No electric cord to worry about.
• Large lawns can be mowed, if done over a few days, on more than one battery charge.

Disadvantages

• Heavy, not suitable for steep slopes and soft ground.
• Batteries need to be replaced every few years. Many mowers use lead-acid batteries. While the batteries can be recycled, there still is some cost to the environment.
• Long recharge time, 10 to 20 hours is common.

Lawn Mower Safety

Electric mowers are quiet and may therefore seem safer than gas mowers but they are still power tools with fast-spinning blades. Pulling the mower backwards could result in the mower running over the operator’s foot.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a web page on lawn mower safety.

The mower should have a removable start key, just like an automobile. Keeping the key in a safe place prevents children, and thieves, from using the mower.

Additional Lawn Mower Features

While not strictly necessary, these additional features can be useful

• Trimmer/edger attachment.
• Battery charge indicator (for cordless mowers).
• Adjustable handle height, especially useful for tall people.

Corded versus Cordless Lawn Mowers

For those willing to put up with the inconvenience of trailing a power cord, the light and low-maintenance corded electric lawn mowers are a good choice.

Gardens with obstacles that entangle cords, or that are far from electrical power points, are more suited to cordless mowers.

An alternative is to use a manual push reel lawn mower.

Grass trimmers should also not be ignored.