Bj’s BE-lawnmower

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BjBlaster
Regular Member

Joined: 04/04/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 55
Posted: 10:10am 08 Dec 2010      

Hi Guys,

Most of you have seen my lawnmower, but for those who haven't it's here



It's still going on the same set of batteries 4 years later :)

Cheers

Bj
Check out my projects here in:
Bj's Shed
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 11:59am 08 Dec 2010      

Nice work and Mr Victa would be proud of you.

I noticed it do not have reverse.

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
grub
Senior Member

Joined: 27/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 169
Posted: 08:40pm 09 Dec 2010      

Looks great. How long will it cut grass on a charge?
Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5181
Posted: 12:05am 10 Dec 2010      

Hey Bj, I was wondering if the 500 watt motor has enough power to throw the cut grass into a catcher?

I have a 4 stroke push mower I use around the house, cause its got a catcher and leaves a nice looking yard, and I can also use the grass clippings for compost. I use the ride on mower, with no catcher, for the wider area, where I dont care about the grass clippings.

The push mower motor is very sad, big end knock and smokey, but it only needs to run for 10 minutes so I get away with it. I would like to conver it to electric, but only if the grass clipping catcher still works. I do have a old Ford starter motor I can use, the drive extends past the casing, so it would be easy to adapt to the mower. I guess it would have a hp or 2, but being a series wound motor, controlling the RPM might be a problem.

Glenn.
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ
VK4AYQ
Guru

Joined: 02/12/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2539
Posted: 04:19am 10 Dec 2010      

Hi Gizmo

I have used starters in the past but found that the bushes needed replacing with bearings, a 150amp switchmode speed regulator is required, they still overheat in about five minutes as there isn't any ventilation.

I had better results with a large 12 volt generator running on 24 volts, a 100 amp speed regulator is enough, my last one worked about the same as the 3 hp BS motor, but you need to be a bit gentle in taller grass. Average current was around 50 amps.

I Gave mine away as it was heavy to push with two car batteries on it. I think if you go that way it is worth fitting larger diameter wheels with ball bearings to make it better to handle.

All the best

BobEdited by VK4AYQ 2010-12-11
Foolin Around
BjBlaster
Regular Member

Joined: 04/04/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 55
Posted: 09:16am 10 Dec 2010      

Mine works a treat, it throws it into the catcher fine and that is at ~330W (it's de rated a bit because I'm using a 36V motor at 24V) If you let the lawn get a little bit too long (150mm or so), then it slows down a tad but still has enough torque to cut it up and catch it with the catcher.

I converted it to a 4 blader and this helped a lot with the cutting finish and efficiency ;) I can mow my whole lawn front and back ~400m2 and still have 24.4V in the pack. That is around 35 minutes. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers

Bj Edited by BjBlaster 2010-12-11
Check out my projects here in:
Bj's Shed
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 09:21am 10 Dec 2010      

What was the motor out of, or where can one source one, and at what price.

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
BjBlaster
Regular Member

Joined: 04/04/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 55
Posted: 09:26am 10 Dec 2010      

  Downwind said   What was the motor out of, or where can one source one, and at what price.

Pete.


I got mine form Oatley Electronics
Check out my projects here in:
Bj's Shed
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 12:33pm 10 Dec 2010      

Ok thats not a bad deal.

I see a few others there as well that might even be better suited.








Pete.

Edit.....on closer inspection the last motor might be a little high in rpm at 12,500 Edited by Downwind 2010-12-11
Sometimes it just works
BjBlaster
Regular Member

Joined: 04/04/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 55
Posted: 10:07am 12 Dec 2010      

Yes it would be much better as the 24V version, but when I got mine the 36V motor was the only top/shaft mounting one they had like that...
Check out my projects here in:
Bj's Shed
KarlJ

Guru

Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178
Posted: 01:01am 04 Jan 2011      

BJ blaster

you are THE man.

I just read all the projects on your site, nice one

I'm in Perth would love to come visit some time.

Karl
Luck favours the well prepared