CONVERTING A GAS MOWER TO SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER

PARTS LIST
MOWER

estimated cost	image	part
free		An old gas lawn mower - preferably with a 21" or 22" blade. My neighbor had just blown the motor on his Craftsman, so I got lucky! Try yard sales, swap meets and town dumps.
$341		12V DC 3/4HP electric motor. Leeson 108048. 33lbs. 1HP (continuous) electric = approx. 4HP(peak) gas engine power.
$99		12V 37Amp Hour sealed AGM battery. Mine is a Deka 8AU1 AGM. 24lbs. (Spec. sheet)
$14		Volt meter gauge available from most auto parts dealers or J.C. Whitney (This part is optional)
$14		Amp meter gauge available from most auto parts dealers or J.C. Whitney. Shows -60 to +60 Amps. (This part is optional)
$10		Charging connectors. I scrounged a computer power cord and the jack from the back of the computer. This makes for a nice safe, insulated charging cord and socket.
$17		40 to 80 Amp circuit breaker. MUST BE DC RATED! I found mine on eBay. Also available from Blue Sea Systems for about $16.00. Any marine rated DC breaker will do fine.
$40		Split taper bushing and pulley (mounts blade to motor shaft) Grainger. (learn more)

SOLAR CHARGER

$300-400		Solar panel - Around 40 Watts at 12 Volts nominal. Harbor Freight Tools has some affordable options.
$30		Charge controller. Shown is a Morninstar SunGuard. This unit is rated at 4.5 Amps = 54 Watts which is sufficient if you use up to 40 Watts of solar panels. For other options look try Harbor Freight Tools, you need at least 4.5 Amp capacity ideally.