Comments on: Solar powered lawnmower

By: wogga

wogga — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:39:53 +0000

This is an old thread, but wanted to say, I have connected 2 5watt similar panels in parallel and get about 650mA charge at about 20 volts open circuit which I connect into my 12v black and decker ’4hp’ mower. It has a 26 Ah battery and seems to be happily run after a week of charging (this spring).

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:26:31 +0000

Well, there are a couple variables you guys are not considering. You are assuming the motor is under full load all the time for this hour, and that he using the mower for an hour. by the fact he has an electric mower he must have a small yard. While I agree I would want more power, I am sure this is a good platform to play around with solar.

another interesting one.
http://www.appropedia.org/Solar_Charged_Lawnmower

By: cWatters

cWatters — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:38:17 +0000

instead of removing the lighter plug, he could have used a lighter socket kit. I have one on my riding mower, and use a panel like this to keep the battery topped off. It’s mounted on the top of the shed and routed down.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:31:52 +0000

I can see this idea finding its way to mass market. Most people cut the grass once per week or so. I could see having a panel on the roof of the garage and a sinple cable connection to the mower (parked in the garage)

By: mark

mark — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:21:37 +0000

I agree with previous comments. That panel likely produces about 0.3 amps at full capacity.

The motor would need to be at least 1HP to cut grass. 1HP = 746 watts. 746w/24v = 31a Not that a 5w panel could even reach the amperage to get any decent amp hour battery up to charge, but if it could then it would take about 104 hours to replace 1 hour of usage if there was 100% conversion efficiency. You can guess the chance of 100% conversion efficiency.

At best that panel would keep the batteries in float in between uses after they had been charged.

By: fartface

fartface — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:36:45 +0000

Exactly that is complete crap. I have 4 of those panels and they barely charge a set of AA batteries in 4 hours.

By: Joel Sullivan

Joel Sullivan — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:12:20 +0000

This is crap. That cheap amorphous panel is most likely rated at 5 watts. There is —no–possible–way— that solar panel is going to charge those batteries in 4 to 6 hours. Try more like 2 weeks.

This material really should be reviewed by someone before it gets posted.