If you have recently been shopping for an electric lawn mower then you may have noticed that some of them are listed as having a brushless motor. This is sometimes called a DC motor and is something that has become hugely popular in recent years. But what is a brushless motor?
A brushless lawn mower motor is one that has outside coils and a permanent magnet for a rotor. The benefit of this is that no electricity needs to enter into the motor in order for it to work. Unlike brushed motors, this means that there is no need for brushes which can make the motor quieter and more energy efficient.
There are a lot of advantages to using a brushless lawn mower but as with anything, there are some downsides to consider as well. Understanding these motors will help you to decide whether a brushless lawn mower is the right choice for you.
A brushless motor works in a different way to a brushed motor. Due to the absence of these brushes, a brushless motor is generally more suitable where there is a risk of danger from sparks.
Inside a brushless lawn mower, the windings and the magnets are in reverse which means that these types of lawn mowers don’t put out as much heat. The permanent magnets as well as electromagnets are agitated through the coils and windings. On top of a lower risk of overheating, they are known to perform much better.
Another benefit of a brushless motor design is that they do not need anywhere near as much maintenance. Since there are no sliding components, you don’t need to worry about things like replacing brushes or other electrical parts of your lawn mower motor.
When we talk about brushless lawn mowers, we are referring to any lawn mowing tool that runs on a brushless motor. It’ll adjust its power according to the mowing conditions which makes it much more efficient and the performance is far superior to a lawn mower that uses a brushed motor, largely thanks to the magnets.
Advantages Of A Brushless Lawn Mower
We have briefly touched on some of the amazing advantages of using a brushless motor. But if you’re trying to decide whether you get a brushless or a brushed mower then you’ll need to understand these benefits in a little more detail.
Less Maintenance
One of the best things about a brushless lawn mower is that it requires far less maintenance than its brushed counterpart. You won’t need to worry about regularly cleaning the brushes, and they’ll never need to be replaced as there aren’t any. In comparison, a brushless motor needs a lot more TLC.
Efficient Battery Use
The great thing about a brushless motor is that you can use these mowers on much bigger lawns. For some battery powered lawn mowers, the power will run out long before you’ve covered the whole garden. However, when you use the right type of batteries, you’ll get a lot more out of them.
This means that you’ll much more easily be able to cut bigger lawns on a single charge. The reason for this is that less energy is lost throughout the process so these motors are a lot more energy efficient. This applies regardless of the situation or how extreme it is so you can get on with mowing and not worry about when your battery is going to die.
Less Overheating
Compared to a lawn mower with a brushed motor, brushless lawn mowers won’t get hot anywhere near as quickly. This is due to the coils being on the outside of the motor so they are exposed to air causing them to cool down a lot more quickly and easily.
Power Use Is Adaptable
If you’ve ever used a brushless lawn mower then you will have noticed how the power adapts depending on the cutting conditions. This is another reason that these mowers are so energy efficient as no power is ever wasted.
The brushless lawn mower is a lot more electronically sophisticated than brushed motors. This allows the motor to deliver more power when it reaches dense grass and it’ll decrease power when the cutting conditions aren’t as demanding. This isn’t something that a brushed motor would ever be able to achieve making them far less convenient.
Increase Power
If you have a demanding lawn that needs to be tended to quickly and efficiently then the superior power of a brushless motor might be exactly what you’re looking for. These mowers are incredibly powerful and are ideal for heavy duty yard work.
You won’t ever feel as though they’re slacking so you will be able to get your lawn mowed in quick time! This is again, all down to the coils being on the outside so the motor can be made bigger and more powerful.
Disadvantages Of A Brushless Mower
While brushless motors are excellent and something that we would highly recommend, there are instances that they might not be as good. Just like anything else, there are downsides to a brushless mower and these are some of the things you might wish to consider before deciding whether this is the right type of lawn mower for you.
Expensive
Because of how powerful and efficient they are, it is not uncommon for brushless mowers to be a lot more expensive than brushed mowers. This is also down to the more complex electronic system within the motor that is more closely related to a small computer than a lawn mower. Of course, this type of technology will require an investment. But we would definitely say it’s worth it.
Vibrations
You will notice that, when the power is low on your brushless mower, it tends to vibrate a little. This isn’t over the top so if the vibrations seem intense then this could signal a problem. However, some mild vibrations are normal and when the power increases, they should go away.
More Complex
The very design of a brushless motor is much more complex than a brushed motor. This can be a good thing as the motor is more advanced but the main issue is that it does mean more things can go wrong. There are more parts that could become faulty and any issues could be costly to fix.
With that said, these lawn mowers are incredibly reliable and it’s rare that they’ll go wrong.
Resonance
With the power from the brushless motor coming close to other parts within the mower, this can lead to some resonance.
Brushless vs Brushed Motor
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to buying a lawn mower and you may have found yourself scratching your head and wondering whether to get a brushless or a brushed mower. As we have seen, there are pros and cons to a brushless motor but how does it compare to its brushed cousin?
Cost
Out of the two options, brushless motors are the more expensive options. This is because of their more complex design which may require more detailed management when things go wrong. Since brushed mowers are not as complicated, they don’t require as much of an investment.
Efficiency
As we have learned, a brushless motor is incredibly efficient and on average, is around 80 to 90 percent efficient. Compare that to a brushed motor which is typically only around 60 to 75 percent efficient.
Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, if you buy a brushed mower then this will require a lot more. However, brushless mowers are incredibly reliable and it is rare that they break. Moreover, general maintenance is much less which adds to the convenience of these lawn mowers.
Lifespan of A Brushless Mower
Looking at all of the above points, we can easily see that a brushless mower is the obvious choice. However, while they are known for their reliability and excellent performance, one thing that we haven’t yet addressed is how long they’ll last. A lot of people are under the belief that, because of the increased performance, these lawn mowers won’t last as long.
But this is a common misconception because most brushless motors have a much longer lifespan than their brushed counterparts. In fact, when used correctly and when well taken care of, these lawn mowers may last far longer than a brushed motor.
It’s difficult to say exactly how long they’ll last as this will depend on various conditions. But when you consider that a well maintained brushed motor can last anywhere up to 3000 hours, it’s easy to see that a brushless mower will really stand the test of time.
The reason that a brushless mower will last so much longer is that there is far less friction within the motor which means less wear and tear. What’s more, they don’t overheat as easily so they experience fewer problems.
Final Thoughts
Brushless lawn mowers are everywhere at the moment and it’s no wonder that they’re becoming such a popular choice for homeowners.
The main difference in these mowers is that they do not have a brushed motor and have their coils on the outside. The result is a bigger, more powerful engine that doesn’t overheat and is a lot simpler to maintain.
If you want a lawn mower that’s reliable, powerful and will perform for many years to come then it’s a no brainer to choose a brushless lawn mower.
