Discussion
BigBen said:
superlightr said:
just curious as to the layout the mower can cope with/slopes/mud etc ie a real garden rather then a demo garden from the manufacture.
That is why I have my Bosch mower as my mate who worked at Bosch knew my garden was an odd shape and has some slopes in the lawn, not like off road course type slopes but far from flat. The mower has been fine.dave_s13 said:
How do they manage things like trees, climbing frames, trampolines, kids toys etc etc.
Do they navigate around stuff somehow?
They will learn the location of fixed stuff after a few goes and mow round it, discarded tools they will bounce off and mow that area another day. Strimmers left on the side will come off worse and your mrs will shout at you.Do they navigate around stuff somehow?
There is not much difference just colour and warranty is only 2 years on the mc ones compared to 3 years on the rc models. They are exactly the same other than this as described in an email from robomow.
skibum said:
I was looking at these as the Father in Law has the Robomow and the Brother in law has the Husqvarna.
I'm struggling to tell the difference between the Robomow City Lines (Red MC400 you have linked to) and the standard ones (Green RC304). Anyone have any clue what differentiates the two product lines?
I'm struggling to tell the difference between the Robomow City Lines (Red MC400 you have linked to) and the standard ones (Green RC304). Anyone have any clue what differentiates the two product lines?
My problems with the Bosch <might> have been solved - after an evening of messing about with it.
I tried replacing the boundary wire last night in case my manual join was the problem, or in case I'd damaged it on Sunday (I did catch it in the rake, although couldn't see any damage). Since I was doing that anyway - I decided to run a double row of wire joined together at the connectors - although I didn't expect it to increase the magnetic field I figured it would be wider so perhaps it would help the mower detect it.
That really didn't work at all - I'm surprised just how upset it got. I deleted the old map and told it to learn the garden - it reversed off the base, turned around but didn't set off - it basically just oscillated slightly from side to side. A bit like it was shaking it's head. Did a factory reset, tried again and off it went - until it got half way around, stopped to recalibrate and did the same thing again when it tried to set off. So I gave that up as a bad idea, removed the extra wire and tried again. This time, it did the same thing as it had on Sunday - launched itself across the garden straight into a flower bed.
So, I tried one more thing. I turned off the power to the cable that runs the length of the garden to the shed at the bottom - although I'm pretty sure the cable is nowhere near the areas the mower has been going out of bounds, and I also think it's buried pretty deep. But, so far that does seem to have solved the problem.
I sent it out 6 times last night and first thing this morning, and it worked perfectly every time. So hopefully the problem is now solved - I still don't really believe it, but the signs are positive.
The garden :
As you can see, it's not very big - and is a mess! But work to sort it out is in progress (mostly inspired by the fact that I just spent so much on a mower, I really should sort the garden out).
In the bottom right is a patch of earth - for various reasons, there has been a pile of rubbish there for some years which I've now cleared out. And in the top right is moss, which is currently in the process of turning black and dying due to moss killer. Bottom left is an overgrown rockery. The mower copes with all this easily - as long as it stays within bounds.
I tried replacing the boundary wire last night in case my manual join was the problem, or in case I'd damaged it on Sunday (I did catch it in the rake, although couldn't see any damage). Since I was doing that anyway - I decided to run a double row of wire joined together at the connectors - although I didn't expect it to increase the magnetic field I figured it would be wider so perhaps it would help the mower detect it.
That really didn't work at all - I'm surprised just how upset it got. I deleted the old map and told it to learn the garden - it reversed off the base, turned around but didn't set off - it basically just oscillated slightly from side to side. A bit like it was shaking it's head. Did a factory reset, tried again and off it went - until it got half way around, stopped to recalibrate and did the same thing again when it tried to set off. So I gave that up as a bad idea, removed the extra wire and tried again. This time, it did the same thing as it had on Sunday - launched itself across the garden straight into a flower bed.
So, I tried one more thing. I turned off the power to the cable that runs the length of the garden to the shed at the bottom - although I'm pretty sure the cable is nowhere near the areas the mower has been going out of bounds, and I also think it's buried pretty deep. But, so far that does seem to have solved the problem.
I sent it out 6 times last night and first thing this morning, and it worked perfectly every time. So hopefully the problem is now solved - I still don't really believe it, but the signs are positive.
The garden :
As you can see, it's not very big - and is a mess! But work to sort it out is in progress (mostly inspired by the fact that I just spent so much on a mower, I really should sort the garden out).
In the bottom right is a patch of earth - for various reasons, there has been a pile of rubbish there for some years which I've now cleared out. And in the top right is moss, which is currently in the process of turning black and dying due to moss killer. Bottom left is an overgrown rockery. The mower copes with all this easily - as long as it stays within bounds.
moles said:
Is the power cable armoured or normal twin and earth?. How deep is it under the surface?.
I didn't lay it, so don't know - I have a picture that I got when I bought the house showing where it is, and it looked like it was a couple of foot deep. But other than that, I don't know much about it.Hopefully, it is the cause - I don't generally need the power on in the shed.
I have bought a Robomow rc304. Have set it up briefly today is going to take ages to get it right our garden is full of curves and has a 2-3" drop off everywhere around the outside I have scalped the lawn around the perimeter so I can lay the wire close to the ground. Will report back in a few days as the weather looks awful and it is gonna have to wait until it's dryer to finish it off.
Do you get trouble with wheel tracks along the perimeter where it sees more use or not?. Is it better to use the smartmow feature it says it improves the operation along curvy edges but the distributer said not to turn it on as it isn't as good with it on?, I want it to dry up so I can go out and finish it.
Edited by moles on Saturday 21st May 12:32
Early machines used to leave you with three deep grooves most of the way round the perimeter wire because they would always head for the docking station by following directly above the wire. Now you have the near wire follow function. Set this to 'on' then set the distance from the wire to a high number and you won't have this issue any more. Drive wheels are wider now so that helps as well.
You will gradually develop grooves over the final three metres before the dock though. This is the area in which the robot 'sees' the dock, moves directly back over the perimeter wire and lines itself up ready for mating with the power prongs.
Smart mow is where the robot senses when it is approaching the perimeter and rather than cutting right up to the wire, stopping, backing off, turning slightly then continuing to mow it makes a smooth turn while continuously mowing. I would leave this feature on -unless- you have island beds as exclusion zones. Smart mow in this instance could leave you with more strimming to do. If your robot has been oversized for the area, I'd turn Smartmow off. It'll keep the edges better mown. If the robot is on its limits with the area and the grass is growing furiously (as now) turn Smartmow on. HTH.
You will gradually develop grooves over the final three metres before the dock though. This is the area in which the robot 'sees' the dock, moves directly back over the perimeter wire and lines itself up ready for mating with the power prongs.
Smart mow is where the robot senses when it is approaching the perimeter and rather than cutting right up to the wire, stopping, backing off, turning slightly then continuing to mow it makes a smooth turn while continuously mowing. I would leave this feature on -unless- you have island beds as exclusion zones. Smart mow in this instance could leave you with more strimming to do. If your robot has been oversized for the area, I'd turn Smartmow off. It'll keep the edges better mown. If the robot is on its limits with the area and the grass is growing furiously (as now) turn Smartmow on. HTH.
Okay a few questions for you chaps. I can no longer cut my own lawn due to a disability and although my wife will do it she has so much else to do it often gets left until the grass is so tall it becomes a bit of a mission.
Our rear garden is much the larger and is likely where a robot mower would be most beneficial to us and would have the base station. Our front garden is separated from the rrear by a pathway around the house and normally locked gate I.E. there is a block paved pathway and a Tarmac driveway between the two.
1. How would the mower negotiate it's way to the front if I can't install a guide cable around the side?
2. At the rear we have a close boarded fence with the posts on the inside and the lawn drops perhaps a foot in the last yard. Will it cope with the slope and will it cut nicely around the posts?
3. How does it cope with drain covers?
Our rear garden is much the larger and is likely where a robot mower would be most beneficial to us and would have the base station. Our front garden is separated from the rrear by a pathway around the house and normally locked gate I.E. there is a block paved pathway and a Tarmac driveway between the two.
1. How would the mower negotiate it's way to the front if I can't install a guide cable around the side?
2. At the rear we have a close boarded fence with the posts on the inside and the lawn drops perhaps a foot in the last yard. Will it cope with the slope and will it cut nicely around the posts?
3. How does it cope with drain covers?
Edited by elanfan on Sunday 22 May 13:46
For the Bosch, I don't think it will be able to do the front as well unless the border included the rear garden, drive and front garden all as one area (when it would try to mow your drive).
It can do slopes up to 30 degrees I think? But won't mow to the edges, so would not mow up to the posts.
It can do slopes up to 30 degrees I think? But won't mow to the edges, so would not mow up to the posts.
Cool cheers Tim. I've set it up and all works ok but randomly it just turns sideways when following the cable home to charge and just falls off the edge of the lawn???, it works ok when in test mode but after being out mowing for an hour it has crashed 3 times off the edge of the lawn for no apparent reason???.
moles said:
This website is selling the Robomow and others for cheaper than anyone else. Pay with PayPal as well so could be legit???. I'm leaning towards the Robomow as it cuts outside the wheel area due to the shape of it.
http://www.myrobotcenter.co.uk/en_gb/lawn-and-pool...
Did you buy from here in the end? Very tempted at that price, though will wait to see how you get on with your falling off the edge issues. http://www.myrobotcenter.co.uk/en_gb/lawn-and-pool...
No I bought it from a company called combi ltd in the end. I tried to get John Lewis to price match that robot company and they sent me back an email saying they were not official dealers and I'd have problems with any warranty details should they arise so I bottled it on the end. I paid a bit less than RRP for a 2015 model. Regarding the edge issues they are only a problem if you go right up to the edge in trying to get away with cutting 100% of the lawn as I want to get rid of my mowers I don't think it's going to be achievable and if it isn't I will bring the perimeter wire in a bit for a safety net. My lawn is a mental shape though with hardly and straight edges and sweeping curves as well as 90 degree ones.
elanfan said:
Okay a few questions for you chaps. I can no longer cut my own lawn due to a disability and although my wife will do it she has so much else to do it often gets left until the grass is so tall it becomes a bit of a mission.
Why don't you pay a local gardener/handyman a few quid to do it once a fortnight? Robotic mowers are not cheap. You could be quids in.The grass probably only grows six months of the year anyway.
moles said:
No I bought it from a company called combi ltd in the end. I tried to get John Lewis to price match that robot company and they sent me back an email saying they were not official dealers and I'd have problems with any warranty details should they arise so I bottled it on the end. I paid a bit less than RRP for a 2015 model. Regarding the edge issues they are only a problem if you go right up to the edge in trying to get away with cutting 100% of the lawn as I want to get rid of my mowers I don't think it's going to be achievable and if it isn't I will bring the perimeter wire in a bit for a safety net. My lawn is a mental shape though with hardly and straight edges and sweeping curves as well as 90 degree ones.
Cool, will check them out. I should be ok with the edges, most of it is straight fencing or a curved wall. Only one short section where it could drop off. Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff