Comparison AL-KO SnowLine 48Li vs Greenworks GD80SB 2600107

The width of the strip of snow that the snow blower can clear in one pass. The larger the capture width, the fewer passes will be required to process the site, which is especially important on large areas. On the other hand, for processing small spaces, clearing individual paths, etc. significant width is not required (moreover, a “narrow” snow blower will pass more easily in a hard-to-reach place). The larger the capture width, the more powerful the engine, usually, ceteris paribus.

The most compact modern snow blowers have a working width of less than 50 cm, these are mainly electric models of low power, although gasoline units are also found. A width of 50 – 60 cm can be called relatively small, 60 – 70 cm — medium, and in the largest models this figure exceeds 70 cm.

The maximum thickness of the snow layer that the snow blower removes in one pass. If you plan to regularly remove snow as it falls in a small area (for example, in the courtyard of your own private house), a grip height of up to 20 cm will be enough. If the opportunity to remove snow is rare (for example, in a country house where you visit only on weekends), you should pay attention to more powerful models with a height of about 50 cm.

The shortest distance that the snow blower can throw the collected snow.

The minimum range is indicated only for models with adjustable throw distance (see above). The meaning of this parameter is that in fact, long-range snow casting is not always desirable. For example, when clearing a path in the yard of a private house, snow often has to be poured literally next to the path, a little further — and it will fly onto the windows and walls of the house.

Note that the ejection range is a rather conditional value, because. snow (especially loose, freshly fallen snow) tends to dissipate in flight.

The type and material of the working mechanism standardly installed in the snow blower.

— Metal screw. An auger is a structure of several spirally curved plates, which, due to rotation, ensure the movement of snow from the surface being removed and throwing it in the desired direction. Metal augers have high hardness and strength, making them well suited for working with hard crust, dense compacted snow and high snowdrifts. On the other hand, such a tool can damage the coating under the snow, so such devices are not suitable for working on paths with decorative coating. Also, a metal auger can break if it collides with, say, a stone, and therefore requires the use of safety systems (cutting pins). Such augers are usually equipped with powerful self-propelled models, in which the working tool does not lie close to the ground.

— Rubberized auger. A type of auger (see above) made of rubberized material. Such augers are softer than steel ones, so they can be used to clear paths with decorative coatings without fear of damaging the surface. At the same time, they are suitable for working only with loose, freshly fallen snow - with dense snowdrifts or crust, such augers cope much worse than metal ones, and in this mode they quickly wear out and become unusable. Rubberized (or even all-rubber) augers are usually installed on non-self-propelled models, in which the tool can lie close to the groun...d.

— Plastic screw. The advantages of plastic as a material for augers are their low cost and good hardness, thanks to which such augers cope much better with frozen crust and compacted snow than rubberized ones. At the same time, they are much more gentle on the road surface than metal ones, thanks to which they can be used almost close to the ground. At the same time, plastic is characterized by fragility and a tendency to crack when colliding with solid obstacles, and therefore this material is used relatively rarely and mainly in inexpensive snow blowers.

— Sweeping brush. A rotating cylindrical brush with long, stiff bristles mounted on a horizontal axis. This mechanism is designed to work with soft, loose snow of shallow depth. Its main advantage is the combination of clean processing and good grip width: the brush can provide a grip strip of 60-80 cm, leaving behind almost completely cleaned soil. Moreover, it can also be used on relatively “delicate” surfaces. But for high snowdrifts or densely packed snow, it is still better to use augers.

— Metal auger/sweeping brush. In this case, the snow blower is equipped with both types of working mechanisms (see above for more information about them), and the operator can install the most suitable one for the given conditions. This gives the greatest versatility: for example, you can remove the crust with a metal auger, and then install a brush and sweep the area clean.

- Dump. A device made of a curved metal sheet for clearing snow debris. Allows you to carry out large volumes of work; it is used to clear access roads, parking lots, areas near the garage or entrance gates to a personal plot from freshly fallen snow. To prevent damage to delicate road surfaces, a rubber coating is often placed on the bottom of the blade. Based on the working situation, there are usually three fixed positions of the blade: vertical, tilted to the right or left.

The speed of rotation of the working tool of the snow blower.

Other things being equal, a higher speed is good for performance, a lower speed gives more torque and improves efficiency in hard snow and crust. However, in fact, this parameter is more of a reference than practically significant: manufacturers select the speed in such a way as to ensure sufficient efficiency and productivity. In addition, many models are produced with several gears, where the rotation speed can be adjusted.

— Self-propelled design. In self-propelled snow blowers, the built-in motor drives not only the auger, but also the wheels / tracks, ensuring the movement of the device. In this way, you do not have to push the snow blower by hand, which makes work much easier — especially with heavy, powerful models. Most self-propelled models have a transmission that allows you to adjust the speed of movement, as well as the ability to move backward (see "Number of gears").

— Overload protection. A safety system that protects the unit from breakdowns in the event of critical loads. The main reason for the occurrence of such loads is the jamming of the screw — for example, due to the ingress of a foreign object. Therefore, most often, special bolts are used for protection, connecting the auger to the motor gearbox: with a sharp increase in load, the bolts are cut off and the auger is disconnected from the gearbox. Another option is overheating protection that reacts to engine temperature; it is found predominantly in electrical assemblies and can be used alone or in combination with shear bolts.

— Headlights. The presence of a headlight (headlights) in the design of the snow blower allows you to use it for work at night, when there are no other light sources or they are not enough. In addition, in some models, the headlights turn on automatically every time the engine is starte...d — they play the role of a warning signal that the unit is running.

— Heated handles. Heating system for handles, which the operator holds during work. This feature is especially useful as snow blowers are used in cold weather, and hands can get cold during prolonged use. On the other hand, with small volumes of cleaning, you can completely do with gloves, so heated handles are found mainly in powerful models with internal combustion engines, designed for large volumes of work.

Nominal voltage of the battery used in the unit with the corresponding engine type (see above). Theoretically, a higher voltage allows you to achieve more power, but in fact there is no direct relationship between these points. In addition, manufacturers choose batteries to deliver the intended power, rotational speed, and other performance. Therefore, in the selection and normal use of the unit, this parameter has a secondary, reference value; it may be needed mainly for some specific tasks, for example, searching for a spare battery or a “non-native” charger, or comparing different batteries by capacity (see below).

The name of the battery that is compatible with the device. It helps to buy a spare or find a suitable one in case of a breakdown of the main one.

Snow blower wheel diameter. Permeability primarily depends on this parameter: the larger the diameter of the wheels, the easier they will overcome obstacles in the form of curbs, stones, bumps, etc. This is especially important for self-propelled models (see "Design"); on the other hand, larger wheels require a more powerful engine. Therefore, if the unit is to be used on more or less flat terrain, it makes sense to choose a model with smaller wheels.

The smallest diameter found in modern snow blowers is about 12 – 13 cm; in the largest and heaviest models, it can reach 50 cm.