I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.

I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
cost me about �130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
now-rapidly declining body.

Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
power of the one I have.

Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

John

On 29 Apr 2021 at 22:10:51 BST, Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about ｣130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.

I dunno about extensive. It's lighter, yes, but the batteries run out and not
only need charging, but they wear out too. Not cheap to replace. And it didn't
have the required oomph of even a mains powered one. So I bought a corded
one.

--
"Hard" and "Soft" Brexit are code words for Leaving or Staying in the EU,
rather than for the terms of our departure.

Jacob Rees-Mogg MP

In uk.d-i-y Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.

--
Chris Green
·

On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.

Fix the rapidly declining body by ditching the gadgetry and use hedge
clippers. Great exercise for upper body.

;)

On 29/04/2021 22:36, Chris Green wrote:
> In uk.d-i-y Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
>> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>
> Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
> because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.
>

+1
For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same,
and then add the battery.

Perhaps lifting the trailing cord at the back of a corded machine makes
it unbalanced and the operator has to use more energy to level it off in
order to cut. Clipping the cord to clothing and having some slack in the
cord between the operator and clipper may make it seem less heavy.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

How would cordless be lighter? Surely it has batteries to wield as well as
the mechanism.
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Another John" <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:lalaw44-7DCEC5.22105029042021@201-92-171-81.dsl.telesp.net.br...
> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about �130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.
>
> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA
>
> John

And like most portable things Murphy's law will dictate that you will run
out of power in you last replaceable charged battery, just before you
finish, and then it will piss with rain for a week.
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Chris Green" <cl@isbd.net> wrote in message
news:jflrlh-3im1.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu...
> In uk.d-i-y Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
>> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>
> Are cordless *really* lighter? In theory they should be heavier
> because you're carrying the power supply around as well as the motor.
>
> --
> Chris Green
> �

alan_m expressed precisely :
> +1
> For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same, and
> then add the battery.

+1

I wonder if something between a cordless and a corded might be more
suitable, not that I have ever heard of one?

I have in mind a 12v lead-acid battery, in a portable box, with a flex
from battery to hedge cutter.

On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.
>
> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info here:
<https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029>

This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
<https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/>

One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
so lighter, motor to do the cutting.

--

Jeff

In article <s6ga9f$2m2$1@dont-email.me>,
Harry Bloomfield wrote:
> alan_m expressed precisely :
> > +1
> > For the same power and ability to cut the machine would weigh the same, and
> > then add the battery.

> +1

> I wonder if something between a cordless and a corded might be more
> suitable, not that I have ever heard of one?

> I have in mind a 12v lead-acid battery, in a portable box, with a flex
> from battery to hedge cutter.

I can remember someone coming to cut our hedge equipped with a portable
generator.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.

I have the slightly longer cut one. If a branch will fit into the nip it
will cut through it - no question. I have never found a satisfactory
battery powered one (although I have burnt out a couple belonging to
relatives when cutting their hedges with supplied tools).

These days I bring my own. Nothing will stop a Bosch hedgetrimmer unless
you try to cut through steel rebar or wrought iron gates by accident.

> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.

They can match the power give or take but only for at most 15 minutes
before recharge. Older ones the battery dies over winter. If you
recharge them whilst the battery is still mad hot then you seriously
shorten battery life (advice which came with the third party replacement
battery for our Dyson vacuum cleaner and they seem to be right - their
replacement battery has lasted much better than the OEM one).

You can expect to do 15 minutes hard work with it every 2 hours or so.
For me a mains powered one wins hands down every time provided that you
are disciplined about where the trailing flex goes and have mains.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

In article <s6gauq$6nl$1@dont-email.me>,
Jeff Layman <jmlayman@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
> > I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
> >
> > I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> > years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> > great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> > cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> > blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
> >
> > I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> > what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> > wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> > now-rapidly declining body.
> >
> > Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> > can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> > power of the one I have.
> >
> > Opinions would be most welcome - TIA

> A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info here:
> <https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029>

> This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
> <https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/>

> One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
> for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
> there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
> so lighter, motor to do the cutting.

But you might not be able to reach across the top of the hedge if it's too
short. And, with a long blade you geta much neater cut - that's why the
pros use them.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

After serious thinking Martin Brown wrote :
> You can expect to do 15 minutes hard work with it every 2 hours or so.
> For me a mains powered one wins hands down every time provided that you are
> disciplined about where the trailing flex goes and have mains.

Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
really have that much hedge.

"Tim Streater" <timstreater@greenbee.net> wrote in message
news:if0n49Fe9ulU1@mid.individual.net...
> On 29 Apr 2021 at 22:10:51 BST, Another John <lalaw44@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>>
>> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
>> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
>> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
>> cost me about ｣130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
>> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>>
>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm wondering
>> if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>
>> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
>> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
>> power of the one I have.
>
> I dunno about extensive. It's lighter, yes, but the batteries run out and
> not
> only need charging, but they wear out too. Not cheap to replace. And it
> didn't
> have the required oomph of even a mains powered one. So I bought a corded
> one.

We have Black & Decker chainsaw, hedge trimmer and strimmer. They all take
the same batteries, so I tend to use the batteries in succession for any
given task. The main delay with charging a battery that has just been used
is the delay of about 15-30 minutes while it cools down enough to accept
charge (the charger displays an "over temperature" light until it has cooled
enough, and then starts charging without manual intervention).

It's been very rare that I've used up all three batteries before the first
one has finished charging - the only time was when I was cutting a fallen
tree (about 18 inches diameter) into sections that were light enough to haul
onto the bank of the stream at the bottom of our garden!).

Cordless devices, especially hedge trimmer, are a great improvement over the
hassle of trying to keep the cable untangled and *away from the blade*.

In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
> Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
> cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
> really have that much hedge.

Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light 3-cell
(10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10 minutes of
runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and most of the
time is moving into position for the cut).

Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter wasn't
an option.

So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that I
could use to power an inverter.

I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put it
on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for most
domestic jobs.

Theo

On 30 Apr 2021 at 07:54:30 BST, "Brian Gaff \ <Sofa\)"
<briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> How would cordless be lighter? Surely it has batteries to wield as well as
> the mechanism.

It's not pumping out 600W, that's how it's lighter. But that's no advantage.

--
When it becomes serious, you have to lie.

Jean-Claude Juncker, Reuters 31st May 2013.

On 30 Apr 2021 at 08:17:46 BST, Jeff Layman <jmlayman@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
>> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>>
>> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
>> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
>> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
>> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
>> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>>
>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
>> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>
>> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
>> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
>> power of the one I have.
>>
>> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA
>
> A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info here:
> <https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029>
>
> This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
> <https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/>
>
> One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
> for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
> there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
> so lighter, motor to do the cutting.

How does that cope with a hedge that's flat-topped and a metre thick?

--
"... you must remember that if you're trying to propagate a creed of poverty,
gentleness and tolerance, you need a very rich, powerful, authoritarian
organisation to do it." - Vice-Pope Eric

In article <V5y*ZmViy@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>, Theo
<theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
> > Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
> > cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
> > really have that much hedge.

> Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light
> 3-cell (10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10
> minutes of runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and
> most of the time is moving into position for the cut).

> Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter
> wasn't an option.

> So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
> four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that
> I could use to power an inverter.

for my Ryobi kit, I have a charger that runs directly from a car battery

> I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put
> it on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
> actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for
> most domestic jobs.

> Theo

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>
> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>
> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
> now-rapidly declining body.
>
> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.
>
> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA
>
> John
>
If you go for a model with a decent sized battery, it might well be
heavier than a corded one. The local council contractors seem to use
strimmers and (I think) hedge trimmers with batteries in a backpack.

The most annoying thing with corded is that you have to take care not to
cut the lead. But then you need to take care anyway that you don't cut
yourself, or any fencing wire that is around. I've only cut one once in
about 25 years (no drama or danger with an ELCB).

Batteries are not cheap, and don't last forever (I have just skipped a
perfectly functional B&D hedge trimmer and chainsaw because their
obsolete batteries were dead).

I've standardised on Lidl for ad hoc cordless tools (I have Makita
drills). I have a chainsaw, a chainsaw on a pole, an angle grinder, and
a tyre pump and inflator that use their current 20 volt batteries. I'm
still using a corded hedge trimmer at home. I have a petrol one for
remote work but that is pretty heavy and tiring. I'd certainly consider
a Lidl trimmer if one came up. But I would not consider buying one if I
did not already have a collection of batteries and a charger.

On 30/04/2021 10:54, Tim Streater wrote:
> On 30 Apr 2021 at 08:17:46 BST, Jeff Layman <jmlayman@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
>>> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>>>
>>> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
>>> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
>>> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
>>> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
>>> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>>>
>>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
>>> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
>>> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
>>> power of the one I have.
>>>
>>> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA
>>
>> A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info here:
>> <https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029>
>>
>> This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
>> <https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/>
>>
>> One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
>> for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
>> there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
>> so lighter, motor to do the cutting.
>
> How does that cope with a hedge that's flat-topped and a metre thick?

It takes a bit longer, that's all. I doubt there are any trimmers which
would cut a 100 cm wide hedge in one pass. Also, most hedges are more
than 150 cm high, so you've got to do multiple passes for a side cut
anyway.

--

Jeff

On 30/04/2021 08:44, charles wrote:
> In article <s6gauq$6nl$1@dont-email.me>,
> Jeff Layman <jmlayman@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> On 29/04/2021 22:10, Another John wrote:
>>> I'm cross--posting to DIY and to Gardening.
>>>
>>> I have had two Bosch AHS 55-26 (corded) hedgetrimmers in the last 10
>>> years. I cut a lot of hedging, in three different gardens, and this is a
>>> great cutter: 55cm blade, 600W power, and weighs 3.6kg; my second one
>>> cost me about Ł130 several years ago. Used sensibly, nothing stops it
>>> blazing through the many different hedges I look after.
>>>
>>> I'm starting to get older ... hang on: I've always been getting older:
>>> what has happened is that I'm starting to _feel_ older, and I'm
>>> wondering if a cordless (therefore lighter) trimmer will be kinder to my
>>> now-rapidly declining body.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
>>> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
>>> power of the one I have.
>>>
>>> Opinions would be most welcome - TIA
>
>> A battery trimmer will be heavier than a corded one. Lots of info here:
>> <https://advice.manomano.co.uk/hedge-trimmer-buying-guide-n3029>
>
>> This one is corded and weighs only 1.9kg:
>> <https://www.ikra.de/en/ultralight-hedge-trimmer/electric-hedge-trimmer-ultralight-fhs-1545/>
>
>> One thing you haven't mentioned is the length of the blade. Perhaps look
>> for the shortest one you can find. Not only will it be lighter because
>> there's less metal in the blade, it should require a less powerful, and
>> so lighter, motor to do the cutting.
>
> But you might not be able to reach across the top of the hedge if it's too
> short. And, with a long blade you geta much neater cut - that's why the
> pros use them.

You could give a trimmer with a 200 cm blade and I'd still get a wonky line!

--

Jeff

On 30/04/2021 10:24, Theo wrote:
> In uk.d-i-y Harry Bloomfield, Esq. <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>> Here, that would involve around 4 or 5 recharges, so a 10 hour day
>> cutting, instead of the couple of hours work at present, we don't
>> really have that much hedge.
>
> Lidl were doing cordless branch cutters, which had a small and light 3-cell
> (10.8v) lithium ion battery. The battery life was about 10 minutes of
> runtime (bearing in mind each branch takes a few seconds, and most of the
> time is moving into position for the cut).
>
> Problem was, one job I wanted to do was off-grid, but a petrol cutter wasn't
> an option.
>
> So I bought four of them (£25 each). That means I got four batteries and
> four chargers. Enough for 40 mins of runtime. I had a car on-site that I
> could use to power an inverter.
>
> I could then charge batteries in relays - as one battery went flat I put it
> on the charger and picked up a freshly charged one. Although I never
> actually needed to do that in the end, and 1-2 batteries are enough for most
> domestic jobs.
>
> Theo
>

The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was
following your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger
after I had emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging
warm batteries.

"newshound" <newshound@stevejqr.plus.com> wrote in message
news:95udncZey9AoRRb9nZ2dnUU78TnNnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was following
> your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger after I had
> emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging warm batteries.

Most chargers/batteries seem to have sensors which won't let the battery
charge until it is cool enough. That means you can put each flat battery on
its charger as soon as you have finished with it, and forget about it. The
battery will initially give a "too warm" error, but it will start charging
as soon as it is happy, so you don't need to hang around and keep trying it
periodically to see if it is cool enough yet.

Another John wrote:

> Does anyone have reasonably extensive experience of cordless trimmers? I
> can't really believe that even the best cordless trimmer could match the
> power of the one I have.

I have an 18V cordless hedge-trimmer, but have only owned it 18 months
and not really given it extensive use. For me a corded one was not an
option as I have no mains power where it is is used. I only remember it
complaining at trying to cut one branch that was too thick for it, and
it did "bind up" a bit on the stringy/fibrous vines of some wild hops
that was growing within the hedge.

In uk.d-i-y NY <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
> "newshound" <newshound@stevejqr.plus.com> wrote in message
> news:95udncZey9AoRRb9nZ2dnUU78TnNnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> > The Lidl 10.8's seem wimpy to me for garden type jobs. If I was following
> > your strategy I would only put the first one on the charger after I had
> > emptied two, if you see what I mean, to avoid recharging warm batteries.
>
> Most chargers/batteries seem to have sensors which won't let the battery
> charge until it is cool enough. That means you can put each flat battery on
> its charger as soon as you have finished with it, and forget about it. The
> battery will initially give a "too warm" error, but it will start charging
> as soon as it is happy, so you don't need to hang around and keep trying it
> periodically to see if it is cool enough yet.

Not the Lidl chargers - or at least they will charge while warm, the BMS
might cut them out of their get dangerously hot.

I manually leave batteries to cool before putting them on the charger.

Theo