Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First off let me say I've seen a mix of reviews. Most of them have been positive, but a few negative ones as well.
I will discuss the negative points fully since they should be mentioned, but they are far outweighed by all of the positive things I can say about this mower, which is why I have given it four stars. I would, and should give it five stars, but I want people to know how I honestly feel and I want them to read the negative points so they can decide if this is best for them.
The subjects I will cover are setup, use, upkeep, quality, and price.
Setup (Three stars): First off, this is by far the worst section. I can see a lot of potential for someone to set their mower up in an improper fashion resulting in limited performance, but if you keep in mind that this mower is supposed to help you overcome the bulk of your yard work keep in mind it doesn't do everything.
It works as has been noted by many people by placing a wire around the perimeter of your yard. Let me say that this is best achieved by breaking your yard up into sections, especially if you have a medium to large sized yard (half to full acre).
Getting the wire just right is the hardest part, and the wire is supposed to be held in place by special plastic stakes that nail it down. The package comes with 200 of these pegs and for any good sized yard it's not nearly enough since they really need to be close together to keep the wire from becoming loose enough for the mower to snag itself on. Alternatively, you can bury the wire up to six inches into the ground which I highly recommend if you have that patience and tools. Otherwise either buy extra stakes when you purchase your mower, or do as I did and visit your local department start and aquire some relatively cheap plastic tent-stakes since this can work out cheaper for you in the end.
Next is the issue of the wire itself. 500 feet is included and the officially available 16 gauge solid copper wire they make available for purchase is severely overpriced (nearly $50). Since 500 feet was barely large enough to do cover my front yard I had to buy 1000 extra feet. After some research I discovered that 14 gauge THHN solid copper wire which is available at most hardware stores works equally well (if not a little better due to it's stiffness) and is much cheaper (around $16 for 500 feet).
Setting the wire up is tedious and will require some adjustments and I feel that the process is a little more involved than they make it out to be. It took me the greater part of three days to get the wire setup in such a way that I was fully satisfied with it, and even still I can find areas that require an extra stake because the mower has worked them a little loose. Luckily I haven't manage to get one snagged yet, but this is because I've been supervising it closely to make sure it doesn't mow over a stretch that is too loose.
I also can't stress nearly enough how important it is to get the direction of your wire correctly (as illustrated in the manual) lest you be faced with a robot that gets easily confused with flower garden/tree islands that are wired in the wrong direction of flow.
After the setup though things are all downhill. So in closing the topic of setup, expect some hair pulling and annoyances because it isn't painless unless you do bury the wire which I would highly recommend after my experience with staking the wire down.
Use (Five Stars): This is where it starts to get good. The mower does it job as expected, and rather cleverly. It's ability to handle obstacles, zone-islands, corners, and even edges is much better than I expected. Keep an eye on the mower when you first get it to watch for problems, but most of them can be handled well with clever wire placement. The robot handles ruts, holes, and other such things better than the negative reviews I've seen. If it gets stuck in small pits or other such irregularities, it can work itself free. Most of the negative reviews I've seen have blamed the issues on the design, but the owners clearly owned the RL500 or 800. The RL850 is what I own and what this review is centered around. It has improved tires and navigation software and does a great job dealing with the issues some people have complained about in the past. Therefore any negative reviews you have seen regarding these issues are aimed at the RL 500 and 800 exclusively and not the 850. Those reviews are highly inappropriate for this model and should be taken with a grain of salt. (NOTE: The 500 and 800 are no longer available from Amazon.Com or any other site that I've visited.)
As for the quality of cut I can vouch for every positive review I've seen. It's a little slow but it is persistent. The battery lasts much longer than advertised and a full day's charge is enough to mow all three of my zones. I suspect the length of a charge for me will shorted as the battery ages, so I will almost certainly purchase a spare battery and rapid charger. That is something else I highly recommend. One battery may be enough while it is new, but it won't stay new forever. The rapid charger also will help a whole lot since the robot takes almost a full 24 hours to charge the battery on it's own.
Upkeep (Four Stars): This is one area where it doesn't fare as well as it's performance. The blades should not be sharpened in other to avoid getting them out of balance. This isn't by itself a bad thing but their price may turn some people off (see price section below). Since you can hose under the deck you will be picking grass-sludge out by hand or with a tool, and it does tend to get bits of grass all over itself. The wheels can also cake up with dirt and grass so I recommend not using this mower on wet grass or in mud. Since the wheels don't easily come off (if they come off at all) cleaning them is a chore. Though the mower claims to be able to handle moist grass and slight rain, I recommend avoiding it. It will make cleanup easier in the end if you restrict the use of your robot to dry and sunny days.
Quality (Four Stars): Many have complained about the quality of the unit. Don't listen to the most negative things you've heard. Some have complained about the battery not working (Did you check the replaceable automotive fuse, people?) and others have complained about the 2 year warranty not being long enough. Most complaints are centered around the plastic it's constructed out of (as opposed to what? Metal?) or the lifespan of the battery. These are items you can hardly complain about so that leaves just the motors and the controls, both of which are obviously very adequate for the job.
Yes, the robot mower is made of plastic. And yes the perimeter switch does feel kind of cheap. But overall the qualities that matter most are outstanding, and I've never heard of a motor being burned out. In fact the mower has the ability to stop and cool itself down if it feels the motors are being worked too hard. So if you have to knock the quality of this unit let's make some real complaints. The perimeter switch is my biggest complaint, and isn't designed for a more permanent installation in a yard. This could be improved upon but it is by no means a show-stopper. The robot itself feels quite solid. The controller feels at least as solid as any video game console controller. And the other major parts seem very rugged. It's hard to knock anything important about the quality of this unit. So once again, take the negative talk with a grain of salt.
Price (Three stars): Just over $1000 for the mower itself is a great price. I have no problems with that. However, the connectors for the perimeter switch, the switches themselves (should you need extras) and the cost of the wire, blades, and batteries (which you will also need to replace once every few years) is outrageous. Avoid the cost of the wire and the stakes by using alternatives that are cheaper. They work just as well and it will save you lots of money.
That leaves the blades and the batteries, which you can only get in official form from FriendlyRobotis (and their resellers). At around $50 and $200 respectively the price is very steep and it's a cost any potential buyer must feel comfortable with. I personally think it's worth that much to spend about $350 over the course of three years to keep my robot mowing and to keep my yard looking good, but this may be a bit much for most people to swallow.
Granted, this solution won't be best for everyone. However for some people it is clearly the best solution to keeping a yard well groomed. Don't let the the naysayers dissuade you. The worst points are the obvious ones that anyone could have guessed, and the best points are the reasons people buy these things. I couldn't be happier.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Friendly Robotics RL850 RoboMower 21-Inch Automatic Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
Imagine relaxing on your porch with your family instead of mowing the lawn. With the innovative Friendly Robotics Robomow RL850, you can turn your dreams into an eco-friendly, wallet-friendly reality. This fully automatic lawnmower cuts grass all by itself, so you can get a vacation from mowing--forever! Just drive the Robomow to the edge of your yard and press 'Go' for a beautifully manicured lawn.
Automatic Lawnmower Does All the Work for YouThe Robomow RL850 is an innovative lawn mower that works automatically, so you won't have to spend another weekend pushing your old gas guzzler around the yard. It mows on its own within a boundary that you outline with a thin wire (included). Once you handle the initial wire setup, this mower does all the work for you--simply press 'Go', sit back, relax, and mow!
Powered by exclusive drop-and-go 24-volt batteries, the heavy-duty Robomow RL850 is an eco-friendly 53-centimeter, 21-inch mower/mulching system. With its three blades spinning at 5,800 RPM--double the speed of a typical gas mower--the Robomow RL850 travels across your lawn in a crisscross pattern, covering up to 10,800 square feet on a single charge. Easy to set, the Robomow RL850 delivers a 1.75- to 3.25-inch cut with high-cut blades and a 1.0-2.5-inch cut with low-cut blades.
Eco-Friendly, Wallet-Friendly ChoiceUnlike conventional lawn mowers that pollute as much as 40 late-model cars in just one hour of use, Robomow RL850 offers a way to keep your lawn looking great without sacrificing the environment.
The Robomow RL850 doesn't simply cut your grass--it repurposes the clippings through a patented process called grasscycling. The mower cuts grass into fine clippings and disperses the cuttings over the ground. These clippings quickly decompose and release valuable nutrients and water into the soil, resulting in a better-looking lawn. Grasscycling also leads to a deeper, healthier root system that increases your lawn's resistance to disease, drought, and insects, and it reduces the amount of water your lawn needs by as much as 85%.
And because the eco-friendly Robomow RL850 doesn't require gas, oil, tune-ups, or spark plugs, it will save you money.
Multiple Features for Safe, Quiet OperationIn addition to its environmental benefits, the Robomow RL850 offers several user-friendly, neighbor-friendly features. First, a user-controlled theft protection system guards the mower from unauthorized use, and a child lock provides peace of mind.
An on-board sensor and bumpers identify obstructions like trees, rocks and obstacles, and truly quiet operation means you can mow your lawn at any hour without disturbing your neighbors.
Dimensions and Warranty InformationThe Robomow RL850 is WEEE and RoHS compliant, measures 26.0 x 12.5 x 35.0 (WxHxD), weighs 50 pounds (without battery), and is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the BoxRobomow RL850; 500-foot perimeter wire and 200 plastic pegs; sealed batteries and charge pack; 2007 Generation software; instruction manual.
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