In the past, most of the lawn mowers produced by manufacturers ran on gas. Although many people still use gas-powered lawn mowers, the environmental impact of these machines has made more people think about getting alternatively powered mowers. If you are environmentally conscious or you live somewhere quiet and don’t want to disturb your neighbors, then a brushless lawn mower is just right for you. In this review, we consider the answer to the question, what is a brushless lawn mower?
Right out of the box, these are hugely preferred by professional gardeners or people that have small lawns. Apart from the reduced level of noise, these brushless lawn mowers are also excellent because of their durability and longevity. Read on to find out how these machines work, their benefits, drawbacks, and any other information that you might need to know about.
To know what this machine is and any benefits it might have, it is important to know how it works. In the simplest terms, this is a regular mower that is powered by
a brushless motor
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Brushless DC electric motor - Wikipedia
A brushless DC electric motor (BLDC motor or BL motor), also known as an electronically commutated motor (ECM or EC motor) or synchronous DC motor, is a synchronous motor using a direct current (DC) electric power supply. It uses an electronic closed loop controller to switch DC currents to the motor windings producing magnetic fields which effectively rotate in space and which the permanent magnet rotor follows. The controller adjusts the phase and amplitude of the DC current pulses to control the speed and torque of the motor. This control system is an alternative to the mechanical commutator (brushes) used in many conventional electric motors.
en.wikipedia.org
. The motor is unique as it automatically adjusts to provide the exact power required for the work at hand. In a later section of this article, we will consider the biggest advantages of this machine.
So, how does it work?
Well, the brushless battery of the brushless lawn mower, as the name implies, does not have the brushes and the commutator found in the regular lawn mower. Another difference is that the positions of the winding and the magnets are changed.
Another thing that identifies this type of mower is that the fixed battery shaft does plenty of the work. Instead of using brushes and the commutator, this machine uses a circuit board to carry out the functions of these parts.
Therefore, it is this board and controller that controls the battery and the amount of power that it releases. It is for this reason that some consider the brushless lawn mower to be a smart or intelligent machine.
Now that we have considered what this machine is, we know will consider what makes this special and better than some of the other lawn mowers on the market.
As with almost all products on the market, brushless lawn mowers also come with their drawbacks. This section covers some of the drawbacks that might make you reconsider whether to buy a brushless lawn mower or not.
These are the two main issues that arise from using a brushless lawn mower. If you aren’t bothered by them, then the brushless lawn mower is certainly a good option to buy.
The very names of these two types of lawn mowers indicate the main difference between them.
Brushed lawn mowers, as the name implies, are machines that have brushes in the motor or in the batteries. These brushes serve an important role because it is what charges the commutator. It is this commutator that provides the power that runs the rotor.
Here are some of the advantages of these machines:
Disadvantages of these machines include:
With this in mind, which is better between the brushless and the brushed lawn mower? Let’s see.
When it comes to efficiency, brushless lawn mowers offer a greater level of efficiency. It has been observed that these machines can reach efficiency levels of up to 90%. On the other hand, the maximum efficiency we have observed in a brushed lawn mower is 80%.
Therefore, a brushed lawn mower uses more power from the engine and more energy is produced as heat. There are some robotic models that offer even higher levels of efficiency. Many reviewers have mentioned the L350i Elite as one of the best robotic brushless motors on the market right now.
Performance is an important consideration, and this is somewhere brushless options are excellent. Since these don’t have brushes, there is less friction in the motor and other parts, which in turn translates into better performance.
Another difference between the two types of lawn mowers is the maintenance. Well, as we have pointed out, brushless lawn mowers require less maintenance than the brushed option. The brushed motors usually need you to change any worn brushes. You don’t have that issue with the brushless motor.
When you compare the cost of the brushed lawn mower with that of the brushless models, brushless models are more expensive. There are major reasons for this. For one, the brushed motor is relatively simple and easy to build, with the materials required cheap. However, brushless motors use a circuit board as replacements for the commutator and the brushes. These boards are costly, and that extends to the overall cost of the brushless lawn mower.
An advantage of brushless motors is that they last for longer. Although they come with similar warranties, these machines last longer than their brushed siblings. They offer higher power generation. Brushed models can work for up to 3000 hours before packing up. On the other hand, brushless motors can last for more than 10,000 hours.
Yes, they are! These machines have more power than brushed options. Since the copper windings are on the border of the motor shape, there is space to make them bigger. They also do not have problems with friction and drops in voltage. Because of these features, they will last for a longer time and give you better performance.
We believe that you have found the answer to the question of what is a brushless lawn mower. After consideration of the features, it is clear that these are highly efficient and durable machines that are enjoyable to use. They have lower maintenance costs and offer more power. They produce a lower level of noise and heat, which impacts longevity.
