Guy
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home > solar mower
CONVERTING A GAS LAWN MOWER TO
SOLAR CHARGED ELECTRIC POWER

HOME PARTS LIST REMOVING
GAS ENGINE		 INSTALLING
ELECTRIC MOTOR		 INSTALLING
COMPONENTS		 WIRING
THE MOWER		 MOUNTING
THE BLADE		 SOLAR
CHARGER		 TEST
DRIVE		 OTHER
CONVERSIONS

I enjoy mowing my rural lawn area - weeds and all.  I just resent having to use a noisy polluting machine to do it!  I learned that small gasoline engines like those in lawn mowers can pollute up to 7 times as much as vehicles (with the exception of our Honda Insight which is an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle!).  Click here to learn more about our other sustainable living efforts.

In June of 2005 I read an article in Home Power Magazine's June/July issue (number 107) by a guy who converted a standard gas lawn mower to solar electric powered.  Al Latham wrote the article and made it seem like a relatively simple job for the mechanically inclined guy.  This blog details my experiences and should serve as a more detailed cookbook than the article for those inclined to try this themselves.

If you have completed a conversion and would like to share your experience, then send me pictures and a description and I'll add you to the Gallery of conversions!
Guy Marsden

I have heard from a number of folks who ask about converting a riding mower.  I don't think it's practical, but there are plenty of 1970's vintage electric tractors out there.  They were originally made by GE and known as the "Elec-Trak".  Click here to visit a web forum devoted to this classic electric mower.

OVERVIEW

The project entails replacing the gasoline engine of a used 22" gas powered mower with a 12 Volt electric motor and battery - along with gauges, circuit breaker/power switch and charging connector.  Using 12 Volts keeps the design simple and relatively safe.

The solar charging system consists of solar panel(s) that are wired to a charge controller with an extension cord that connects to the mower.  Optionally, a standard AC powered automatic battery charger can be used.

The noticeable difference when mowing is the quiet!  The blades are spinning at about 1/2 the speed (1750RPM) of a gas mower (3450RPM) with a virtually silent motor, it sounds like a big fan!  With sharp blades it cuts just as good as my retired Sears 5HP mower.
 

In case anyone is interested, I am willing to build a few of these mowers with the whole solar package for around $1500.00.  Please contact me if you are interested.

Or you can buy an off-the-shelf SunWhisper solar mower with a 19" blade for under $700.  This is basically a Black & Decker CMM100 24V rechargeable mower with a solar charging system.

Another option that can not be solar charged is the Remington Power Mower, which is an electric rechargeable  model that runs on a 60 Volt battery with built-in charger.

The Electric Power Research Institute of Palo Alto claims that replacing half of the nearly 1.3 million walk-behind gas mowers used in the United States with electric mowers would eliminate the equivalent hydrocarbon emissions of 2 million cars.

 

The old vs the new!

The retired noisy, polluting 5HP Sears Craftsman monster next to my
quiet, clean, free energy Green Machine!

Home Power magazine is the Hands-on Journal of Home-Made Power. If you are interested in: making your own electricity from renewable energy, alternative vehicles, or finding out the latest in related technologies and life-styles, then this publication can keep you up to date.

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