4. Mass
In General, battery trimmers are good because they are light (2.5-3.5 kg). But even among them there are quite weighty models — for example, the battery trimmer Makita DUR181RF weighs 5.4 kg. Perceptibly. And for someone (for example, for me) it is already critical. A pity — in General, the model is not bad, it seems…
In General, I believe this technique is better to choose a not online and in stores, where any trimmer can “try on” — to hold, to estimate if there will be enough strength for a more or less continuous work with him. Numbers are numbers, but they can’t replace your own feelings.
5. Warranty
Taking into account the real quality of the tools presented on the market today, the warranty period given by the manufacturer is an important argument. For battery trimmers, it varies from 1 to 3 years. Most often-2 years. My opinion: if the warranty is less, it is better to refrain from buying: since even the manufacturer himself is not sure of his product, should we experiment?
6. Technical specifications
I understand that putting this parameter last among the selection criteria is a big oddity and a huge mistake from the point of view of those who are confident in these very technical characteristics. But I’m not one of them. I’m a humanitarian in General. And I don’t see the point in talking about what I don’t understand.
Of course, life has made me learn to distinguish between watts and volts, but to understand, for example, the differences between a brushless motor and an engine with a carbon brush is already difficult for me. In other words, I still can’t objectively evaluate most of the technical parameters of a particular model. And many will not, in fact. And whether it is necessary?
In General, the solution is very simple: either we take someone who understands this issue and can make a decision based on technical information to the store, or we admit our inability to take into account all the factors and limit ourselves to a minimum set of mandatory data:
- trimmer power
It is measured in watts; the higher this value, the more productive the model you hold in your hands. Just let’s immediately understand: if the physical capabilities are small, you need to forget about powerful battery trimmers — they are heavy. Everything that we can do with such equipment will not differ in power-it is worth understanding, accepting and not bothering. Or immediately abandon the battery model in favor of an electric one.
- battery capacity
The unit of measurement is Ampere-hour. The larger the battery capacity, the longer the trimmer will run on a single battery. It is believed that 2 Amp-hour is enough for 20-30 minutes of work; less — just not serious. And Yes, we must keep in mind that over time, the battery capacity decreases — the operating time, respectively, will be reduced.
- battery charging time
It can take up to 24 hours, so it makes sense to ask about this parameter and compare it with the battery capacity. The arithmetic here is quite simple and clear.
Pros and cons of a battery trimmer
But now it’s time to talk about whether to buy a battery trimmer at all. The question is far from idle, because doubts still remain, and reading reviews does not clarify the situation — rather, it makes it worse: some are delighted with such devices, others say that it is a waste of money. Who to trust?
In fact, everything is simple: there is no single opinion and the right solution for everyone. And there are pros and cons; and this technique is not suitable for everyone, not for any conditions and tasks; and the models are not the same in their parameters… In short, as in any other business, you need to listen to everyone, and choose yourself.
Well, we will return to the problem of choice. I tried to generalize the advantages and disadvantages of battery trimmers in the hope that this will help to find an answer to the question of whether to purchase such equipment.
Advantages of a battery trimmer
- light weight (depends on the model!);
- no wires (and, consequently, higher security);
- lack of petrol exhaust (as a result — environmental friendliness, and just work more pleasant);
- fairly low noise level (compared to petrol models);
- easy operation (compared to petrol models);
- ability to handle hard-to-reach places (around trees, under benches, etc.).
Disadvantages of a battery trimmer
- low power (there are quite powerful models, but they are heavy and expensive);
- relatively high price;
- short battery life.
Thus, a light battery trimmer (which is the goal of my search):
- it has a relatively small capacity,
- not suitable for mowing large areas and dealing with tall coarse grass,
but at the same time:
- does not require significant physical effort when working,
- it is quite safe — you can trust it even to a teenager.
Whether it’s good or bad, everyone decides for themselves.
Weigh and choose
To avoid disappointment, you need to immediately understand that there is no ideal option. When making a decision, you should first set your priorities correctly and clearly define for yourself what is really important and what you are willing to give up.
So, I realized that I can put up with the low power of battery trimmers — just because I can’t physically cope with powerful models anyway. And the absence of wires for me is more important than the ability to work for a long time without a break: I would rather mow for 20 minutes every day than once a week “until I lose consciousness”.
The next step is to select a model. There is no point in repeating this — I have already stated all my considerations on this matter. I will only add that it is worth looking at several models — and then read reviews about them in different sources. Some of the options then immediately disappear.
By the way, about the reviews — I would be grateful to everyone who already uses battery trimmers and will find time to share their opinion about them in the comments. Opinions of friends and relatives are also welcome — the more reliable information, the more reliable the choice, right?
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