Battery-operated lawn mowers, line trimmers, chainsaws and other gardening equipment have revolutionised the way we maintain our gardens. But not all batteries are created equal, and understanding the relevance of volts and amps can help you make informed decisions when choosing the right battery for your gardening requirements.
Lithium-ion batteries are the most common type used in gardening equipment. These batteries are lightweight, have a high energy density, are generally safe and have a long lifespan.
Volts and Amps
When it comes to battery-operated equipment, the importance of volts and amps cannot be overstated. These two measures determine the power and capacity of the battery and play a critical role in the performance of the equipment.
Volts refer to the electrical potential of the battery and are a measure of its power output. The higher the volts, the more powerful the battery, and the faster it can deliver power to the equipment. Most home gardening battery-operated equipment has a voltage range of 18 to 60 volts.
Amps refer to the capacity of the battery and are a measure of how long it can power the equipment. The higher the amps, the longer the battery can last before needing to be recharged. Most battery-operated gardening equipment for home use has an amp range of 2 to 8 amps. As the amount of amps goes up, the weight of the battery also increases, so a 6 amp battery will be much heavier than a 2 amp battery.
When choosing a battery for your gardening equipment, it is important to consider both the volts and amps. A battery with high volts but low amps may deliver a lot of power but won’t last very long, while a battery with high amps but low volts may last a long time but won’t deliver enough power to get the job done.
Choosing the Right Battery for Your Gardening Equipment
For smaller equipment like line trimmers, lawn mowers for small gardens and hedge trimmers which don’t require massive power output, a battery with a lower voltage and amp rating may be sufficient. These types of equipment require less power and have shorter runtimes. We’ve found that for strimming and hedge trimming sessions of 30 minutes, a 2 amp battery is usually sufficient
For larger equipment like lawn mowers for medium to large gardens, leaf blowers and chainsaws, a battery with a higher voltage and amp rating may be necessary to deliver the power needed to get the job done more efficiently. We find that 48-60V equipment delivers an adequate amount of power for lawnmowers and chainsaws. If you have a large lawn, opt for a high amp battery (over 6 amps). Equally so, if you use leaf blowers, get the highest amp battery you can get for your equipment, because leaf blowers chew through batteries at an astonishing rate.