Recommended area
The area of the site for which the lawn mower is designed. It cannot be argued that this parameter is critical when choosing a device, these are only manufacturer's recommendations and are very conditional. However, they are more than justified and generally show the available front of work based on the heating of the motor, the capacity of the tank or battery, and other factors that affect the duration of work.
Grass ejection
Direction of ejection of grass cut by the lawnmower.
The main options for the direction of ejection are back or sideways; there are also models in which you can choose the direction. At the same time, we note that in classic units, the ejection back is almost always carried out
into the bag(up to the point that when the bag is removed, the hole is automatically covered with a lid), but when the bag is ejected from the
side, it may not be — this is convenient, for example, when mulching ( see above).
Also note that riders (see "Type") have their own specifics: in units with rear discharge, after removing the bag, it is necessary to install a special plug, and then the cut grass will simply remain under the deck. In some
mini-tractors, a similar way of working (without a bag) is provided initially; it is also considered a rear ejection, although the grass does not flow backwards, but downwards.
Max. speed (self-propelled)
The maximum travel speed of the self-propelled lawnmower (see "Features") during operation.
Other things being equal, a faster model spends less time on work, especially when it comes to simple tasks. On the other hand, fast movement requires appropriate engine power, which in turn affects weight, cost, and electricity/fuel consumption. In addition, if we are talking about a traditional design lawn mower, when choosing, you need to sensibly evaluate your ability to “keep up” with the device. However, such models rarely reach speeds above 7 km/h — this is a quick step that is not a problem for a more or less healthy person. In addition, self-propelled units often provide speed adjustment (see above). But riders (see "Type"), where the operator rides on the unit, can reach higher speeds — about 13 – 14 km/h.
Note also that for the same engine power, higher speed means less power at the working head. So if speed is not of particular importance, it is better not to make a margin for speed, but to take a relatively slow, but “high-torque” device.
Revolutions (electric motors)
The maximum speed that the engine in an electric mower can run at (see "Engine type").
It makes sense to compare according to this indicator only engines of the same power. In general, higher rpm improves performance but reduces torque. Conversely, a relatively slow engine will be inferior to a “fast” one in overall speed, but it will better cope with dense dense vegetation. So it’s worth choosing by engine speed, taking into account what is more important to you — speed or efficiency in difficult conditions.
Noise level
The level of noise produced by the device during operation. Usually, a certain average indicator is indicated in the characteristics — in the standard mode of operation; however, the actual values usually do not differ much from the claimed ones.
The lower the noise level, the more convenient the unit to use and the less tired the operator. In the case of lawn mowers, this is especially true, since such equipment is quite noisy — even the quietest models (some robots) give out about 47 – 48 dB, which is comparable to talking at an average volume. Note that the decibel is a non-linear quantity, and it is easiest to evaluate the actual loudness using comparative tables. Here is the simplest table for the values found in modern lawn mowers:
— 60 – 65 dB — talking in raised tones at a distance of about 1 m;
70 dB — loud conversation of several people at the same distance;
75 dB — loud laughter at a distance of 1 m;
80 dB — motorcycle engine, medium power vacuum cleaner.
90 dB — loud screams, freight car at a distance of 7 – 10 m;
100 dB — a subway train or a loud car signal at a distance of 5 – 7 m, an industrial workshop;
110 dB — tractor engine at a distance of about 1 m.
In addition to subjective sensations, there are specific sanitary standards that limit the impact of strong noise. So, according to European standards, noise of 85 dB is allowed to be heard without protective equipment for 8 hours, 91 dB — 2 hours, 97...dB — half an hour, and 103 dB — only 7 minutes. So when choosing a unit, you should take into account the duration of work with it — with high noise, you may need protective headphones.
