Solar Charged Lawnmower - Appropedia: The sustainability wiki
This guide documents a complete DIY conversion of a used gas-powered lawnmower into a solar-charged electric mower, detailing the selection and installation of a 3/4 HP motor, 40 amp-hour battery, and 11-watt solar charging station. The builder explains the electrical calculations for sizing components (how many amp-hours needed, wire gauges, charging times), the mechanical work of fabricating motor mounts and blade attachments from salvaged materials, and testing results showing the battery lasts approximately 45 minutes of actual mowing on a single charge. While the total cost came to $699, the author notes this could be reduced significantly with cheaper motors or by starting with a mower in better condition, and recommends a larger solar panel for faster recharging in cloudy climates like coastal California.