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Make Your Own Solar Powered Lawn Mower?

By
Real Estate Agent with Chuck Willman 9334967-SA00

old school mowerI have a self propelled lawn mower.

It's very old school... you push it and the blades spin.

On good days I can zip right through the lawn quite quickly.

Fuel Cost? Zero dollars.

(Disclaimer: I sometimes require close to a half gallon of water.)

I also own a gas mower. It doesn't cost much to operate but it's loud, smelly and an enemy to the environment.

I used to own an electric mower. It was much quieter and more earth-friendly.

My neighbor borrowed it and ran over the chord. Thankfully he was safe... but the mower never quite worked after that (even with a new chord).

Jeremy James decided to do something logical. I decided to harness the sun and create a solar powered mower.

See how he did it here: Solar Lawnmower Details

His documentation is so complete that hobbyists will be able to duplicate or improve on his formula.

Final Cost: $699

He's able to harness 45 minutes of power from the very engine that makes his summer lawn grow.

I'm hoping this is the first step in lower prices and higher performance lawn tools.

Until then- I'm sticking with my self propelled water fueled mower.

 

Comments(14)

Palm Coast Homes
100 Plus Realty LLC - Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast/Flagler County Real Estate, The Ross/Co

Chuck - My Father In Law is a hard core environmentalist...in fact they actually live a solar powered, underground...yes underground house...has to mow his roof....well he owns one of those push mowers and makes my mother in law mow over an acre of land with it...LOL!!!  Not necissarily a bad thing...they are both in thier late 70's and are in better shape than me :-)

May 31, 2008 10:57 AM
Barbara Carter
Century 21 Alliance Realty Group - Highland, NY
Serving Your Real Estate Needs in the Hudson Valle

Chuck- I have not seen a push mower in years- But congratulations to you for doing your little part! Water Powered- I love it! Great Post!

May 31, 2008 11:04 AM
Ann-Marie Clements
Candidate for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Saint John, NB
Ed.D. candidate, Innovative Proactive Principa

All I can say is, BACK TO THE BASICS!!!  I remember when my dad had one of these.  This is a fashion statement and also a very real realization that fashions always return after so many years.  My conclusion, is try to keep things that are more basic, because they usually come back within a 15-20 year basis.  Good article!!

                                    ;>)

 

 

May 31, 2008 11:10 AM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Kristi- why is it that, among the many unique things you wrote I'm most amazed by this one, "he owns one of those push mowers and makes my mother in law mow over an acre of land with it"?

Barbara- Oh they're around... as long as you keep them oiled and the blades sharp it's not bad at all.

Ann-Marie- The old style mowers are actually pretty cool and by leaving the trimmings in the lawn it just ends up looking better.

 

May 31, 2008 11:34 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

That's quite a contraption - why can't they make something like the WOOMBA - just a small thing that muches away at the lawn all the time the sun is shining?

May 31, 2008 12:02 PM
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Chuck- More power to Capitalism! I love it! What a great invention and only in AMERICA!

May 31, 2008 02:26 PM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

I sure hope the push mower works better than the choppy thing my poor brother used to have to mow with.  If so, I'm all for it.

May 31, 2008 03:02 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

I have nothing much to offer in this regard as I have someone else do my tiny yard.  Tried doing it myself once, and it's just not my thing - - I was propelled into calling the 'yard boy.'  Wow!

May 31, 2008 08:52 PM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Georgina- They actually do have something like that... but I can't see buying one as "unleashing an unmanned rotary-blade swinging device looks like a recipe for terror"... that last part (in quotations) was dictated to me by my tiny pet dog.

Katerina- now lets see if they can reach that price point as we Americans tend to vote with the pocketbook.

Penny- I've been there... when this thing has dull blades it becomes quite the workout.

Susie- You always manage to make me smile. Yardboys are good for the local environment, I suppose. :-)

Jun 01, 2008 11:25 AM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

I  used that lawnmower growing up...  I didn't know that there was anything else.

Jun 01, 2008 11:44 AM
Richard Schardt
Keller Williams Realty - Kernersville, NC
Triad NC Real Estate

So Chuck,

Do you have to use bottled water, or will tap water do the job?

Jun 01, 2008 12:30 PM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Debbie- I was in that same boat. Then, as a kid I noticed my neighbors riding around on their mower. Envy... green as the grass I mowed!

Richard- Reverse osmosis... it hits the spot in ways the hose only hopes to deliver.

Jun 01, 2008 12:46 PM
Mara Hawks
First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL
Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Oh I did so much of this mowing! Could I have been called a BLADERUNNER back then?? All through grade school, Saturday summer afternoons for elderly Mr & Mrs Wilson across the street on the south side of Chicago...noon to 3:00... cutting, cross-cutting with the pushmower, edging with hand-clippers all around the edges and the flower beds. They provided me with a glass of water, $3.00 and a smile.

Jun 04, 2008 09:48 PM
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

Mara- you've earned yourself tons of Karma points there!

Jun 05, 2008 04:48 AM