SOLAR MOWER - parts list


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CONVERTING A GAS LAWN MOWER TO
SOLAR CHARGED ELECTRIC POWER

HOME

PARTS LIST

REMOVING
GAS ENGINE

INSTALLING
ELECTRIC MOTOR

INSTALLING
COMPONENTS

WIRING
THE MOWER

MOUNTING
THE BLADE

SOLAR
CHARGER

TEST
DRIVE

OTHER
CONVERSIONS

PARTS LIST
MOWER

estimated
cost image part

free An old gas lawn mower - preferably with a 21" or 22" blade. My neighbor had just blown the motor on his Craftsman, so I got lucky! Try yard sales, swap meets and town dumps.

$348 12V DC 3/4HP electric motor. Leeson 108048. 33lbs.
1HP (continuous) electric = approx. 4HP(peak) gas engine power.

A surplus motor is available for $264.95 from Surplus Center. This is almost identical to the Leeson. (updated March 2014)

$99 12V 37Amp Hour sealed AGM battery. Mine is a Deka 8AU1 AGM. 24lbs. (Spec. sheet). It is important to select a deep discharge battery for this project.

$14 Volt meter gauge available from most auto parts dealers or J.C. Whitney (This part is optional)

$14 Amp meter gauge available from most auto parts dealers or J.C. Whitney. Shows -60 to +60 Amps. (This part is optional)

$59.95
(optional)
DOC Wattson model R102 digital panel meter. Instead of the 2 meters above you can use a digital Watt meter to satisfy the geek who needs to know it all!

$10 Charging connectors. I scrounged a computer power cord and the jack from the back of a computer. This makes for a nice safe, insulated charging cord and socket.

$17 40 to 80 Amp circuit breaker. MUST BE DC RATED!
I found mine on eBay. Also available from Blue Sea Systems for about $16.00. Any marine rated DC breaker will do fine.

$40 Split taper bushing and pulley (mounts blade to motor shaft) Grainger. (learn more)

SOLAR CHARGER

$300-400 Solar panel - Around 40 Watts at 12 Volts nominal. Harbor Freight Tools has some affordable options.

$30 Charge controller. Shown is a Morninstar SunGuard. This unit is rated at 4.5 Amps = 54 Watts which is sufficient if you use up to 40 Watts of solar panels. For other options try Harbor Freight Tools, you need at least 4.5 Amp capacity ideally.

Click here to start work on the project

HOME PARTS LIST REMOVING
GAS ENGINE INSTALLING
ELECTRIC MOTOR INSTALLING
COMPONENTS WIRING
THE MOWER MOUNTING
THE BLADE SOLAR
CHARGER TEST
DRIVE OTHER
CONVERSIONS