Reviving a free, dead 12V cordless Black & Decker mower - Page 3

MetroMPG · 07-01-11, 03:20 PM

It's a 1500w inverter, with 2/0 cables to four 225Ah golf cart batteries (that are half worn out, at least). So the system should be OK for light mowing.

But the constant current isn't the problem, it seems to be the starting current.

I already tried a 12A rated mower and 9A rated mower and the inverter wouldn't start either of them. Maybe the staring draw of this 7A one is low enough to work.

Travis · 07-01-11, 03:23 PM

Is your 1500W inverter one of those 'soft start' types?

MetroMPG · 07-01-11, 03:34 PM

Not sure.

I do know it's not a "pure" (sine) wave type (so that makes it a square wave style?). There is a warning in the manual about it not playing nicely with certain motor types.

All I can say is so far it's been OK with these hand tools: a skillsaw; 2 different drills (hand & bench); electric chainsaw; angle grinder; dremel; shop vac.

EDIT: when I tried the other two mowers, it triggered the inverter's overcurrent warning & auto shut-off. One of them almost started up (spun, but didn't reach cruising speed before the breaker tripped). So that's why I assumed it was a starting current issue.

MetroMPG · 07-02-11, 09:39 PM

Mower fleet update!

1) Mower #2 pics (the "before" ones):

It's also a Black and Decker (this one made in China), model LM115, 7A rating.

After working on the handle today, I think the problem was someone backed into it with a car, and bent the crap out of it. Looks like they made several attempts to straighten it, and that's where at least some of the metal fatigue came from.

Yes, it's actually duct taped. And, yes, those are hose clamps holding the handle on. There was also some tin tying the two sides together.

Metal failure at a weak spot.

2) Welded - this AM, I patched up the handle with the little welder and metal from the junk bike pile (head tubes). Just need to bolt it back together now, and touch up with a bit of paint.

3) Inverter test - plugged this one in (briefly) on the solar inverter at the shack and... success! It starts and runs! If it doesn't piss rain tomorrow AM as forecast, I'll try it out.

4) More batts for mower #1? I may have another source for used gel cell batteries: my brother knows someone who works for a company that sells/services those emergency lights (for power failures, eg. in apartment stair wells). He'll ask the guy what they do with the ones they swap out.

MetroMPG · 07-04-11, 11:12 AM

Mower #2 success!

I mowed the lawn with no problems using the inverter. It was even a somewhat heavy (dewy) cut.

Glad this mower came available while I'm waiting to solve the battery situation for Mower #1.

When I was finished cutting, my shack next-door neighbour asked, "how'd you power that mower?" I pointed at the sky and he laughed.

Daox · 07-05-11, 09:17 AM

Haha, very clever. Glad it worked out for ya. Whats the plan once you get the other one running?

MetroMPG · 07-05-11, 10:26 AM

One mower for the shack, the other for the mansion!

Daox · 07-05-11, 10:59 AM

But, you already have another plug in mower, right? Or is that one yours?

MetroMPG · 07-05-11, 11:16 AM

I do, at the mansion. But it's got a 12A motor (power hog

), and it's pretty heavy for an electric. So it'll go into the backup fleet.

MetroMPG · 07-13-11, 02:07 PM

So, one of my battery sources says he's coming through for me with 5 batteries in the near future: three are 7 Ah bricks, two are 12 Ah. All are supposedly in decent shape.

I'll test them for capacity when I get 'em.

---

I've mowed the shack grass twice now with Mower #2 -- the small 7 amp, 110v one using the solar setup. Works fine.

07-01-11, 03:20 PM	#21
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	It's a 1500w inverter, with 2/0 cables to four 225Ah golf cart batteries (that are half worn out, at least). So the system should be OK for light mowing. But the constant current isn't the problem, it seems to be the starting current. I already tried a 12A rated mower and 9A rated mower and the inverter wouldn't start either of them. Maybe the staring draw of this 7A one is low enough to work. __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-01-11, 03:34 PM	#23
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Not sure. I do know it's not a "pure" (sine) wave type (so that makes it a square wave style?). There is a warning in the manual about it not playing nicely with certain motor types. All I can say is so far it's been OK with these hand tools: a skillsaw; 2 different drills (hand & bench); electric chainsaw; angle grinder; dremel; shop vac. EDIT: when I tried the other two mowers, it triggered the inverter's overcurrent warning & auto shut-off. One of them almost started up (spun, but didn't reach cruising speed before the breaker tripped). So that's why I assumed it was a starting current issue. __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-02-11, 09:39 PM	#24
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Mower fleet update! 1) Mower #2 pics (the "before" ones): It's also a Black and Decker (this one made in China), model LM115, 7A rating. After working on the handle today, I think the problem was someone backed into it with a car, and bent the crap out of it. Looks like they made several attempts to straighten it, and that's where at least some of the metal fatigue came from. Yes, it's actually duct taped. And, yes, those are hose clamps holding the handle on. There was also some tin tying the two sides together. Metal failure at a weak spot. 2) Welded - this AM, I patched up the handle with the little welder and metal from the junk bike pile (head tubes). Just need to bolt it back together now, and touch up with a bit of paint. 3) Inverter test - plugged this one in (briefly) on the solar inverter at the shack and... success! It starts and runs! If it doesn't piss rain tomorrow AM as forecast, I'll try it out. 4) More batts for mower #1? I may have another source for used gel cell batteries: my brother knows someone who works for a company that sells/services those emergency lights (for power failures, eg. in apartment stair wells). He'll ask the guy what they do with the ones they swap out. Attached Thumbnails __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-04-11, 11:12 AM	#25
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Mower #2 success! I mowed the lawn with no problems using the inverter. It was even a somewhat heavy (dewy) cut. Glad this mower came available while I'm waiting to solve the battery situation for Mower #1. When I was finished cutting, my shack next-door neighbour asked, "how'd you power that mower?" I pointed at the sky and he laughed. __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-05-11, 09:17 AM	#26
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Haha, very clever. Glad it worked out for ya. Whats the plan once you get the other one running? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-01-11, 03:23 PM	#22
Travis Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is your 1500W inverter one of those 'soft start' types?

07-05-11, 10:26 AM	#27
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	One mower for the shack, the other for the mansion! __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-05-11, 10:59 AM	#28
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	But, you already have another plug in mower, right? Or is that one yours? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-05-11, 11:16 AM	#29
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	I do, at the mansion. But it's got a 12A motor (power hog ), and it's pretty heavy for an electric. So it'll go into the backup fleet. __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-13-11, 02:07 PM	#30
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 402 Thanks: 37 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	So, one of my battery sources says he's coming through for me with 5 batteries in the near future: three are 7 Ah bricks, two are 12 Ah. All are supposedly in decent shape. I'll test them for capacity when I get 'em. --- I've mowed the shack grass twice now with Mower #2 -- the small 7 amp, 110v one using the solar setup. Works fine. __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.