Battery Power 101

Skip the gas can and the extension cord—these garden tools have plenty of power and less upkeep

The biggest disruption to a garden ’s peace and heartsease typically is the exhaust - laden cacophony of power equipment . Happily , today ’s novel battery - powered out-of-door power equipment offer a quieter , more commodious , more environmentally favorable way to get the same chores done .

For generations , petrol has been the old standby for running lawn and garden machine . There are also cord electric outside tool , but doing cubic yard work tethered to an extension cord has always been an annoying compromise . So it ’s no surprisal that there ’s a better option in this historic period when there is a cordless power pecker for much any job . I can say with certainty that we ’re in the middle of the “ literal deal ” geological era for battery - power outdoor power equipment , and the list of capable dick in the family is growing like a gage .

Electric motors are efficient

There are some operation benefits specific to the DC galvanizing motors used in battery - powered tool . Compared to gas - power motors , they can produce high torque at humbled revolutions per minute and can often do the same line of work with higher efficiency at restrained motor speeds . There ’s no want to rev up to high rpms to generate power , as you do with gas engines . Since the putz are galvanizing , they can toot or flash various alerts to the user , while onboard sensors can close down a tool if its motor or battery pack begin to overheat . Some tools even have LED headlight built in — whether they are necessary or not .

As part of the contemporary array of power tools develop over the last decade or more , battery - powered out-of-door tools use Li - ion ( Li - ion ) interpersonal chemistry alternatively of the nickel - cadmium ( NiCad ) or nickel – metal hydride ( NiMH ) formulation of days past . Li - ion technology represent a immense jump forward and is one of the main rationality cordless dick have develop into the bigger and stronger products available now . These tools are capable of rivaling the operation of many twilled electric tools developed for building , carpentry , or lawn and garden use .

Battery basics

There is a spate of confusion about how motor voltage affects power and run time versus the sizing and capability of the bombardment pack being used . Here ’s a simple scout to apprehension battery .

The voltage of any cordless tool is not the overriding factor that determines power and run time.

A tool ’s motor can only depict as much energy as the barrage pack can safely put out , so the performance of this energy informant is constitutional to the tool ’s performance .

Unlike fuel in a gas tank , which can be drained as fast as desired , barrage mobile phone have a terminus ad quem to their outturn . Li - ion chemistry offers bully entrepot capability , but its heat management is a limiting factor . Drawing too much current can dangerously overheat battery components , so cordless tools and battery packs have shut - off features to protect against overdischarging and overheating . estrus direction is also the reason hot battery and mellow - mental ability battery gang take a long time to charge .

Batteries with higher amp-hour ratings have more fuel in the tank.

The unit of measure for compare battery of the same voltage is an amp - hour ( Ah ) . Tool batteries typically are made up of 3.6 - volt atomic number 3 - ion cells . Ten prison cell wire together in series make up a 36 - volt assembly known as a stack . If the cells are range at 2.0 Ah , you would have a 2.0 - Ah , 36 - volt barrage pack . For even more capacity , another 36 - V stack could be telegraph parallel to the first smokestack , creating a 36 - volt assault and battery camp and doubling the Ah rating to 4.0 . Three stacks together would treble the Ah rating , and so on .

For optimal storage capacity , a liberal battery is in the main better , but only until its weight starts to take away from the peter ’s ergonomics . That ’s why the largest battery packs ( up to 30 Ah ) are carried on rucksack , with corded connexion to the tools they power .

For a battery pack of any voltage to offer more power or a longer run time, its storage capacity must be increased.

Higher - volume energy output ( king ) or longer - go energy output ( run clip ) can be accomplish by impart

More or big cells built into a coterie are easy enough to visualize ( see illustration below ) , while energy density is simply how much electricity an single assault and battery cell can nurse . The more a prison cell can hive away , the eminent its denseness .

What’s inside a battery pack?

Today ’s “ smart ” battery are designed for dependability and public presentation . This Ego 56 - volt battery power the lawn mower in the first image . Like many innovative batteries , its cell are control by software and microprocessor to optimise public presentation . representative : courtesy of Ego

Another huge bounce forward is the economic consumption of brushless motors in cordless tool . Besides their greater efficiency and power per size , the computer scrap that controls the motor ’s process can be programmed for other advanced ascendence feature , such as safely drawing the most current out of a specific - size battery inner circle . Tools with brushless motors usually interpret the exchange premium tier from a given brand , but because of the execution story demand for outdoor workplace , most steel of bombardment - power outdoor equipment boast all - brushless motors now .

What tools are available?

Most brands start with four basic handheld prick that have the highest demand by user : strand trimmer , hedge trimmers , blowers , and range of mountains saws . To get to the “ big five , ” they sum a lawn lawn mower . That ’s all most households need , but fellowship hop to attract professional drug user may offer scads of models .

Besides chain saws with different measure lengths and various model of string trimmer and mowers , extra peter include pole saws , extended - range hedging trimmers , edgers , and baron brooms . For “ stick ” tools such as string trimmer and pole saws , some brands declare oneself superpower heads that let you use one motor to power a variety of attachments . Other commercial - style tools include top - handgrip arborist Sir Ernst Boris Chain saws , backpack cetacean , and even snowblowers and twit mower . Because of their much higher power needs , taunt mowers do n’t use the battery packs common to the balance of a manufacturer ’s outdoor cock line .

Buying strategies

Choosing the right tool or barrage fire political program to fit your need can be a large conclusion . Regardless of which instrument you select , it is worth buying a spare battery large number to minimize downtime when you desire to be work .

Look for outdoor tools that work with your existing battery packs.

If your favourite major power cock brand has the equipment you ’re looking for , this is a logical lieu to initiate . This approach may save you some money as you build your cock collecting , but check that the barrage packs that you have are strong enough to power the tools you need . DeWalt , Milwaukee , and Ryobi all offer a variety of outdoor tools , but the brand with the widest range of in full compatible dick is Makita , with dozens of available models . For 36 - V power , almost all of Makita ’s outdoor tools expend two of its standard 18 - volt battery packs ; a few of its compact tools run on just one pack .

Higher voltage is great for big jobs.

Some outdoor equipment brands , often found in big - loge home centers , offer tools in the 36- , 54- , and 72 - nominal - voltage classes , though brands apply dissimilar “ maximum ” electric potential numbers for naming purposes . In my experience , the dulcet spot with these tool lines is the 54 - volt class . The 72 - V cock usually amount in a outfit with a compact battery pack that has the same capacitance as that of the stigma ’s 36 - volt tools , and they are not needs more capable than low - electric potential cock . I ’ve had gravid final result with a few emblematic mark in this category , including the Echo 58V and Ego 56V note . Ego is recognized as the firebrand to beat when it come to battery mowers , and it go bigger than most with high - capacity electric battery packs optimized for its full - sizing lawn mower and snowblowers .

Pruning saw . picture : good manners of Stihl Inc.

Hedge trimmer . photograph : courtesy of Husqvarna

Professional-grade tools are a worthwhile investment.

If you spend a caboodle of metre using outdoor equipment , believe the top pro trade name . Stihl and Husqvarna produce efficient tools in the capable 36 - V course , and both offer a wide kitchen range of models in different performance and price tier . Overall , Stihl register a greater comprehensiveness and depth of battery - powered tools , including some unique heavyset tools that run on 10.8 - V packs . Stihl is the ship’s company that first converted me to outdoor battery power on the occupation back in 2011 with its introduction of a in full legit 36 - volt chain saw that opened my optic to the futurity of outdoor power equipment .

drawstring trimmer . pic : good manners of Echo

Some companies offer tool with smaller barrage fire packs , such as one - handed pot shear , summary hedge trimmers , or miniature pruning Ernst Boris Chain byword with a 4 - in bar . And there are now battery - powered , wander automatonlike mowers that recall to their charging tax shelter when they demand a fill - up or when programmed to do so . These tools offer a bewitching glimpse into the time to come of semi - autonomous alimony robots , but I doubt they could handle my bumpy one thousand .

Whether you are new to the world of assault and battery - power peter or require to summate to your aggregation , you will sure as shooting be impressed with the capability of tools that are now available .

Battery power is cleaner and greener

Handheld tools powered by battery pack offer several advantages over those that burn up fossil fuels .

There ’s no need to buy , ecstasy , or storage gasoline . If you ’re used to two - stroke tools , you will be happy to say goodbye to the subprogram of right integrate in oil , then sample to use up the fuel before it goes risky within several weeks — or buying premixed fuel that costs about $ 30 a congius .

Battery - power puppet offer low- to no - maintenance process . They do not need yearly sustenance or locomotive melody - ups , and you wo n’t call for to winterise them at the close of the horticulture season . There ’s no idle screw to fiddle with , and no gamy and humble carburetor - alteration screws .

The dick are quieter and often safe . There is no toxic exhaust to take a breath , no scream engine noise within arm ’s distance , and no hot damper to incinerate yourself on . Many of these instrument are restrained enough to be used without hearing protection .

stamp battery - powered puppet offer point - and - shoot easiness . Push the ON push if the instrument has one , then simply draw the initiation to operate . You wo n’t have to set a choke , pull a corduroy to commence the railway locomotive , wait out a flooded carburetor , or restart the locomotive engine after every clip you set the tool down .

These tools fly the coop only when you commit the gun trigger , with no noisy , fuel - wasting idling time . As an supply welfare , most hand-held turn off peter have an active brake that stops the tool at once when the initiation is released , so you do n’t have to wait for the tool to coast down . A tool that is silent between chore makes it much easier and safe for the user to transmit with others .

What are the cons?All you really give up is the all - day streamlet time of a gas engine and the superfluous office needed for commercial - sized tools such as large chain of mountains saws , which still require gamey - performance two - stroke engine . Other than that , battery - power out-of-door equipment is available with capabilities suitable for almost any gardening job .

Michael Springer is a craftsman , tool tester , construction industriousness diarist , and tree care worker based in Boulder County , Colorado .

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battery-powered mower

Battery power is not a compromise.A battery-powered mower is quieter and more efficient than its gas-powered counterparts, and filling the “fuel tank” is much quicker and easier.Photos: Steve Aitken

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Ego 56-volt battery

Today’s “smart” batteries are designed for dependability and performance.This Ego 56-volt battery powers the lawn mower in the first image. Like many modern batteries, its cells are controlled by software and microprocessors to optimize performance.Illustration: courtesy of Ego

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