Robot Mowers Tested and Reviewed By Fred-in-the-Shed
Updated 24th August 2010
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Robot Lawnmowers Tested and compared
There are 2 sorts of Robot Lawnmower.
Fully Robotic Lawmowers - Charge themselves and can be programmed to come out and cut the lawn whenever you like and on their own.
Then the poor cousin!
Automatic Lawnmowers - work alone - but need help re-charging and must be activated for each cut.
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The first robot lawmower was made by Electrolux of Sweden, other models have followed from Israel and Italy. The latest developments are large commercial size robotic mowers made in Belgium. I have extensively studied and tested some of these models and can offer advice on various models that start at £600. Robot Mowers really do work, but like any machine have some negative aspects. Replacement batteries are expensive and if the perimeter wire gets cut it can be a pain to find it underground to repair it. Apart from these little drawbacks the machines are amazing and are reliable and timesaving machines that will one day be as common as washing machines.
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I have tipped up 2 fully automatic mowers to show you the different blade types. Both are mulching mowers and the one on the left has 3 blades and a wider cut. |
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My original Friendly Robotics RL500 Robomow (lasted 5 years of extensive use before needing replacement battery) |
Be a real clever dick, Cut your lawn at night!
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I have extensively tested both makes including the basic friendly robotics mower and the Mobow 200 which has it's own charging base and comes out on it's own to cut your lawn. This little mower even has a rain sensor and an optional remote control for use outside it's perimeter wire. Electrolux also make a Robot lawnmowers, called automowers, but I have not tested them yet. I will endeavour to do so. Please mail me for more info or to let me know about your experiences with Robot Lawnmowers. |
Testing a Mowbot in 2007 This one also has a remote control for areas outside the wired perimeter
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The best Robot Mowers have their own "recharging kennel" where the live and
return to after cutting your lawn. An example I have tried is the Mowbot
from Italy. The latest mowbots come in a range of sizes and can cut the largest lawns. They use the same method as the Friendly Robotcs Robomow of cutting everything within a perimeter wire which you can easily install. Unlike the more simple Robomowers this product uses mains (not battery) power for the wire which is great but requires a socket for the transformer. I would recommend that the transformer be positioned in an outbuilding as it is slightly noisy. I installed one in my house and the buzzing drove me INSANE!!!!! (that's my excuse)
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The Mowbot and its "charging Kennel"
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The Mowbot only has one motor and one blade (unlike the double bladed,
triple motored Robomow) so it is considerably lighter and can be carried
easily even with the batteries connected. The latest Mowbots have incredibly powerful but lightweight lithium ion batteries which enable these little machines to cut large areas of grass efficiently and with ease. All Robotic lawnmowers are mulching rotary mowers so dont collect grass. The "clippings" are cut so fine they disappear into your lawn and actually improve its quality by adding nutrients. I did not believe this at first but can confirm after over 5 years of using robotic lawnmowers that all the lawns I have cut with them have significantly improved and in some cases no longer required fertilisers or weedkillers.
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The Mowbot is light weight and has powerful batteries and clever electronics to maximise efficiency.
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Mail me for free advice and the best deals on Robot Lawnmowers from Friendly Robotics
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FOR SALE - ROBOMOW RL850 £550 I HAVE A RECENTLY REFURBISHED ROBOMOW EQUIVALENT TO THE RL850 IT HAS A SPARE PERIMETER BOX, EXTRA WIRE AND YOU CAN SEE IT WORKING IN OXFORD MAIL ME FOR DETAILS fred@fredshed.com (please include you general UK location)
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Electric lawn rakers and scaryfiers tested
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Small size and Electric Lawn rakers To keep your lawn well drained and cleared of "thatch" build up I recommend using a powered lawnraker. (also known as an electric scarifier). Doing this job by hand is for the super-fit, super-skint or totally insane! Sadly, like grass trimmers there are a lot of poorly designed and made models available. The Black and Decker GD200GB had been around for a long time and is a cheap and cheerful workhorse for lawnraking. It has been replaced by the GD300 with a 600w motor. Bosch made a similar and slightly better built model called the AMR32F lawn raker. It has now been replaced by two 900watt models. One has tines the other has metal blades and will rip your lawn apart. If you have a large lawn you will need a more powerful lawn aerator. The budget price 400w electric ones are not up to the job and will take ages to cover the distance, or burn out under the strain. There are better and more expensive machines for larger lawns but at £70 these cheapie lawmakers I tested were adequate for use once a year on small lawns TOP TIP - don't set blades too deep or use on hard dry lawns - this may burn out your motor! Another option is the Qualcast Classic range of Cylinder mowers that come in petrol or electric versions and have the innovative QX scarifier cassette system. I have used the system and although it is a bit of a pain to fit it does work well. I am currently testing the new Draper 1300W raker/scarifier which comes with 2 interchangeable cylinders, one with wire blades for raking and the other with fixed metal blades for deeper aerating. I am also testing the Bosch ALR 900 electric lawnraker and have used the Flymo model. All of the above machines have thier pros and cons, all could and shopuld be improved. Other good makes of heavier duty lawn rakers are AL-KO and Wolf Garten Please use my links or mail me if you need help choosing a lawnraker. See different makes and heavy duty lawn scarifiers
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Compare prices for the Bosch, ,Black&Decker and other low price domestic lawn rakers
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Wacky Races Wheelchair Lawnmower
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What on Earth is This ? Before I had a robot to cut my lawn I used this contraption. A petrol Flymo driven by an electric wheelchair. It may look crazy but it really worked and was basically a ride on mower designed for my special needs. If you need advice buying tools because your disabled in anyway, e mail fred@fredshed.com for expert advice.
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For the following lawn care tools Lightweight Lawn shears Telescopic Lawn Shears Long Handled Lawn Shears Lawn Edging Shears Lawn Aerators Lawn Rakes Grass Shears Lawn Edging knife see my new page - Lawncare Tools Tested
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For free
personal advice - on
buying mowers, (on and off-line) mail me at
fred@fredshed.com (please
include you general UK location)
IF YOU FOUND THIS PAGE USEFUL PLEASE CONSIDER USING MY LINKS WHEN MAKING YOUR PURCHASE AS THIS HELPS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF RUNNING MY SITE.
ALSO I HAVE CAREFULLY SELECTED THE BEST SUPPLIERS SO YOU WON'T GET FOBBED OFF WITH AN OLD MODEL OR GRADED PRODUCTS.
THANKS
FRED-IN-THE-SHED
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