DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower Review

Model DCSNP2142Y2

DEWALT has just recently entered the rapidly growing cordless snow blower/thrower category with its 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower.  We received the DCSNP2142Y2 Kit which comes with the snow blower, battery charger and 2 FLEXVOLT DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  After several very wet and heavy snow storms here in Massachusetts, we can share some feedback and our review of DEWALT’s snow moving contender.

21" 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower

Manufacturer: DEWALT
Model number: DCSNP2142Y2
Price: $999
Power source: 60V FlEXVOLT Battery
Weight: 59lbs Tool Only

Features and Specifications

• 2 way directional powered chute
• 3 Mode power selection – Eco, Normal and Power
• 7″ Steel single stage Auger
• Bright and easy to read LED dashboard showing battery state, power mode, high load indicator and fault indicator
• Twin LED Headlights
• Collapsible handles for storage

Snow Thrower or Snow Blower?

The DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower sits in a class that many would call a snow thrower vs. a snow blower.  While this may seem like trivial semantics there is a fairly significant design difference between a single stage snow thrower and a larger two-stage or even three-stage snow blowers.

Single-stage machines like this DEWALT have a single rotating auger that performs double duty in breaking up the snow and throwing up a chute for removal.  They are lighter, have less moving parts and are propelled by the user.

A two-stage snowblower has a dedicated auger for breaking up the snow in the mouth of the machine and passing it up to a second faster spinning impeller that launches the snow out the chute.  These machines are heavy, typically propelled by self driving wheels and can move and throw much more snow than a single stage machine.

Design and User Experience

The DEWALT DCSNP2142 features a single 7″ steel auger that processes the snow and throws is up the chute.  The chute is motorized and can be rotated left and right quickly via two paddle switches mounted on the handle.  The handle features large Power ON and Power Mode buttons that are easy to select even with large gloves or mittens.

An auger activation bar runs along the top of the handle is the same form and function found on legacy push lawn mowers.  The handle is connected to the blower via a metal tube frame assembly that can be loosened to rotate and collapse the handle when not in use for storage.  The main housing is a mix of primarily sturdy plastics and metal reinforcement.

Performance

At the core of the DEWALT 21″ 60V MAX* Single-Stage Snow Blower is a brushless motor powered by 60V FLEXVOLT batteries.  This kit comes with two DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  Note however that these 240 Wh batteries are actually 4.0 Ah batteries when used in a 60V tool.  Only one battery is required to power the blower, but two is recommended for runtime considerations.

The conditions we tested this blower in were about as brutal and nasty as it gets for snow.  Heavy wet snow mixed with slush and hard ice made for a pretty tough test.  At the end of the day we were really impressed!

DEWALT advertises “clear up to 16 parking spaces” and “throw snow up to 40 ft”.  We understand these numbers are under ideal conditions and while we didn’t see numbers resembling that, we were impressed by how long the batteries lasted and how much snow (and water) were moved. With even the hardest packed snow the normal mode was able to ingest and throw the snow >10ft and up to 25 ft.  When MAX power mode was used it made a significant difference in snow throwing performance however it was clear that this put a rapid drain on the batteries.  The blower performed better with a steady flow of snow into the mouth and did not slow down even with a high power load indicator illuminating.

Important to understand is that the wheels are not power driven.  So all the forward movement must be done by the user.  In heavy snow this can require significant force to push the blower through the snow.

The bottom shave plate is grooved likely to help the blower slide along.  This does result in a thin layer of snow being left behind in places.

Price and Value

The DCSNP2142Y2 Kit is currently priced at $999 while the tool only is priced at $699.  As with most cordless tools these days the core performance and resultant cost lies with the batteries.  The kit comes with (2) DCB612 12.0 Ah batteries.  If priced out individually these batteries are currently selling between $300 and $320, totaling >60% of the kit cost.

The real hidden value of the blower and this kit are going to depend on the user.  Users who already own and use other DEWALT 20V and 60V tools may see a huge value in this kit.

Conclusions

The DEWALT 21″ Single-Stage Snow Blower really impressed us with its compact power and ability to chew through even the worst kinds of snow. I have found it light enough to pull up my deck stairs to help clear off my second story deck.  A job that previously was only achieved with back breaking shovel antics. For users that have a small driveway or grounds personnel who need to clear long stretches of sidewalks, this blower could be a goldilocks solution that fits in between shoveling and larger, heavier and more expensive multi-stage blowers.

DEWALT 60V Snow Blower Video Review

DEWALT 60V Snow Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Commercial 60V Cordless Backpack Blower

Kress, a long established and well respected tool brand from Germany made a splash at the 2022 International Equip Exposition with its North American introduction of its Kress Commercial Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) lineup.  There exists an ever-growing pressure in commercial landscaping to switch from traditional gas powered equipment to battery powered alternatives with many local municipalities and even entire states intending to ban certain gas powered landscaping equipment. Kress intends to insert itself directly at the front of the electric powered OPE movement.

At the core of it’s strategy, Kress introduced a brand new and exciting battery platform and charging solution.  The Kress 8-minute CyberSystem has an unprecedented 8 minute charging time from 0 to 100% battery when its DC-DC CyberTank charging solution is used.  The CyberTank is essentially a massive battery and charger that can be transported to the jobsite in a truck or trailer.  The rapid 8 minute charge time means crews can finally rapidly swap battery throughout the day and stay on top of productivity as much as a gas powered platform.

The team here at ToolBoxBuzz has received several of their OPE tools including the Commercial 60 V 16.5” Line Trimmer, the Commercial 60V 21” Self-Propelled Lawn Mower and the Commercial 60V 16” Chainsaw.  Here in this review we are taking a look at the Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower.

Specifications:

• Voltage: 60V MAX, 54V nominal
• Battery Size: 11Ah, 660Wh
• Max Air Speed: 190.1 mph
• Max Air Volume: 899.9 cfm
• Blowing Force: 35 Nm
• IPX4 waterproof rating
• Noise: 62dB at 49 ft
• Weight: 32.2 lbs (Blower and Battery)

Build Quality

Batteries are heavy and OPE manufacturers have a challenging engineering problem with trying to incorporate enough battery power to compete with gas powered tools but also keep overall weight of a tool down.  Oftentimes thinner materials are used and plastic pieces can feel flimsy and delicate.  With the blower and battery weighing in together at 32 lbs,  Kress clearly decided to take the hit on weight in exchange for quality and durability.  The 60V 35N Backpack Blower has thick and durable components from the frame down to the tip of the metal reinforced blower nozzle.

To compensate for the extra weight, the blower incorporates a very well designed harness.  The traditional shoulder straps are there but the bulk of the weight is supported on the hips thanks to a sturdy and comfortable waist belt.  When the blower harness was adjusted appropriately we found the weight to distributed very well and felt very minimal fatigue on the shoulders.

Easy to Operate Controls

The blower has all its controls located on a joystick style tube mounted control grip.  To activate the tool a power button on the grip below the LCD screen needs to be depressed and the grip mounted variable trigger depressed.  The maximum speed can be controlled at 4 different levels with two large + and – buttons.  The final remaining button is a cruise control button that will lock in the current throttle value until pressed again.

The LCD screen icons are simple and show the current battery charge remaining, Bluetooth connected symbol, Cruise Control Enabled symbol and a standard warning triangle.

Performance

The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower has its performance rating right in the name.  A value that the company is clearly proud of.  This 35 Newton force rating is an indication of the amount of overall thrust and power the airstream coming out of the nozzle can do.  The peak velocity is rated right at 190 miles per hour and a cubic feet per minute (CFM) volume of 890.  This blower is the strongest electric blower on the market and is only outperformed by the largest and loudest premium gas blowers available.

We were very impressed with the power of the blower, oftentimes running at 50-75% throttle to prevent damage to the lawn and landscape.

Battery Run-Time and Performance

At the heart of the Kress Commercial OPE line is their 8-Minute CyberSystem battery.  We tested the blower with the 11Ah CyberPack KAC810.  This 660 Wh battery weighs in at whopping 17 lbs., 2 lbs. heavier than the blower itself.

Below is a chart of the measured stream velocity of the blower over time.  This test was designed to gain an understanding of the battery performance throughout the drain of the battery.  We performed a similar test in this year’s consumer electric blower head to head.  Its important to not only determine how long the battery will power the tool, but also understand what that performance looks like over the course of the battery discharge.  We found that many battery powered OPE tools saw drastic difference in blower performance when comparing the first 20% to the last 20% before the battery drained completely.   For reference the results can be found here,  Best Handheld Blower 2023

The Kress 60V Backpack Blower was mounted with a pitot tube anemometer placed 125mm from the opening in the center of the blower stream.  Power was set to the highest setting and the data was recorded at a 1Hz sample rate. The blower ran for 13 minutes and 20 seconds before cycling off with a low battery indicator.

The graph shows great performance especially when compared to previous blowers tested.  We measured a very slight dip and rebound roughly two thirds of the way through the discharge.   The last minute of performance measured is  >96% of the first minute.  This shows a fantastic level of consistent performance over the drain of the battery.

Charging

The Kress KAC810 has impressive performance when paired with Backpack Blower.  However, discharge performance is only part of the equation when considering the the validity of an OPE battery platform.  The 8-Minute CyberSystem gets its title from the 0 -100% charging time the battery battery platform experiences when using the CyberTank DC-DC charger.  The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day.  The DC-DC charging is extremely efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transferred from one battery to another quickly.  The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours.

Kress also has an AC-DC charging solution with their KAC840 Kress Commercial 30A AC Charger.  We tested this unit along with our battery and blower.  While the AC charger is not as fast as the 8-minute DC-DC charge, the KAC840 is still able to charge the 11Ah CyberPack battery in under 25 minutes and the 4.0Ah battery in 12.0 Minutes.  This is still unbelievably fast compared to other industry leaders.  By comparison the 11Ah Cyber Pack is 660 Wh and the new Milwaukee MX Forge 8.0 Ah Battery is 576 Wh.  The new Milwaukee Supercharger can charge that battery in 45 minutes compared to the Kress at just 25 minutes!

Rapid charging is typically not great for the long term health of a battery.  Despite this, Kress guarantees 3000 life cycles (charge and discharge) on the CyberPack batteries.

Pricing and investment

The Kress 60V Commercial OPE lineup is truly impressive with an unbelievable power system at its core.  The tools and their battery system really impressed the ToolBoxBuzz crew.  The products are intended for lawn-care professionals looking to invest in a longterm battery powered solution. As a result, the cost of the Kress Commercial line, particularly the batteries and chargers is steep. The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower is currently prices at $499.99.  The KAC810 11 Ah CyberPack battery is $1,399.99 and the KAC840 30A AC Charger is $779.99.  To see the true potential of the 8-Minute charging capability, the 5 kWh CyberTank Portable Power Station can be purchased for $10,499.99.

The full Kress Commercial Lineup and current pricing can all be found here at  https://www.kress.com/en-us/8-minute-cybersystem/

To protect the investment in Kress Commercial system, Kress offers a tiered Warranty system depending on the equipment and use. Most tools see a 2 or 3 year warranty while the batteries have an extensive 6 year or 3000 cycle warranty.

To help determine if this investment is right for you, Kress offers a Return on Investment (ROI) calculator that can be found here. https://www.kress.com/en-us/roi-calculator/

Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Battery-Powered Power Station Head To Head Testing

A 3000-watt portable power supply is a reliable work or home backup power source during a power disruption or outage. These generators can produce enough power to run appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, lights, computers, phones, and yes power tools!

Battery-powered power stations are a viable short-term alternative to gas generators delivering clean, quiet, portable power that is safe to use indoors.

In this Head to Head, we took a look at five portable power stations. Four of them run off of cordless power tool batteries and the fifth has an internal battery. We recognize that there are dozens of internal battery power stations available on the market. We chose one unit to compare but directed our focus to the power supplies geared to the power tool and outdoor power equipment industry.

Power Stations Tested In This Evaluation

Champion 1638-Wh Li-Ion Solar Generator Power Station

• Model – 100594
• Amps – 15
• Peak Wattage: 3200
• Running Wattage: 1600
• Weight: 41.00 lbs
• Battery: Internal 46.8V  35Ah
• Watt Hours – 1628

DEWALT – 1800 Watt Portable Power Station and Simultaneous Battery Charger

• Model – DCB1800B
• Amps – 15
• Peak Wattage: 3600
• Running Wattage: 1800
• Weight: 31.50 lbs
• Batteries: 60 Volt (4) 12.0 Ah
• Watt Hours: 960

EGO Power+ Nexus Portable Power Station

• Model – PST3042
• Amps – 15
• Peak Wattage: 3000
• Running Wattage: 2000
• Weight: 57.60 lbs
• Batteries: 56 Volt (4) 7.5Ah
• Watt Hours: 1680

Milwaukee CARRY-ON 3600with 1800W Power Supply

• Model – 2845-20
• Amps – 15
• Peak Wattage: 3600
• Running Wattage: 1800
• Weight: 42.40 lbs
• Batteries: (4) 18-volt 12.0 Ah
• Watt Hours: 864

Ryobi 40V – 40V 1800 WATT POWER STATION

• Model – RYi1802BTVNM
• Amps – 15
• Peak Wattage: 3000
• Running Wattage: 1600
• Weight: 29.70 lbs
• Batteries: 40 Volt (4) 6 Ah
• Watt Hours: 864

Best Portable Power Station Testing – 7 Scoring Criteria

We designed two performance tests to draw power from these power stations. Additional scoring categories included qualitative evaluations of ergonomics and features, size, and pricing. Lastly, we include a best-value category.

1. Performance Test – Peak Power Test – Evaluated ripping an 8′ long 2×6 pressure-treated lumber, using a 15 Amp, 120V Corded Delta 10” table saw, at a constant feed rate.
2. Performance Test – Run-time – Tested run-time using a 1500 Watt / 15 Amp space heater for power consumption.
3. Ergonomics and Features – Many of these power stations are feature rich. We identified, evaluated, and ranked 13 distinct categories for each power station.
4. Size and Weight – Size matters and weight can get cumbersome. We measured the dimensions and weight of each station as tested (with Batteries).  Given that these are not hand tools, weight was not scored in the final rankings.
5. Best Value –  Oftentimes this category winner tends to resonate with most folks as it combines good performance and price.
6. Price – Price is always an important factor in determining which power station is best for you. We’ve included the current pricing for each of the power stations and batteries “as-tested,” at the time of publication.  We typically do not score pricing in our head-to-head but for this unique test, we determined a Cost per Watt Hour value and used that in our final scoring matrix.

Performance Test – Peak Power Test | Table Saw – DEWALT and Milwaukee

Most of these power stations are designed by tool companies and it is presumed that they can be used on a job site where power is unavailable or indoors where gas fumes from a generator are dangerous.

When considering using power tools with these portable power stations you need to make sure your unit can handle the surge of power the tools use when immediately turned on. This surge is called “Peak Power,” and it is the maximum power that the power supply can sustain for a limited period of time. Peak power differs from continuous power which refers to the amount of energy that the power supply can continuously supply. All power stations have a steady state power output rating as well as a higher rating for peak/startup power.  This test is designed to stress the power station’s peak load capability.

In our testing, we evaluated these units by ripping a 2×6-8′ pressure-treated lumber, using a 15 Amp,  120V Corded Delta 10” table saw. One operator made the cuts at a consistent 2 to 3-second per-foot feed rate.

• The Champion boasts a 3200 Watt start-up rating however, this power station was unable to turn on the table saw without tripping an overload warning and forcing a reset of the power station.
• The Ryobi fared a bit better, capable of powering the saw through a slow feed rate but getting overloaded with a higher rate.  The Power Station also experienced an overload on one of the startups of the saw.
• The EGO had no issues starting up the saw and supplying power through the slower feed rate. The Nexus did however encounter an overload condition during the higher feed rate passes.
• The DEWALT and Milwaukee performed the best and were able to supply the power needed to rip the wood even at the more aggressive feed rate with no overload conditions.

Performance Test – Run-time Test | Heater – Champion

We performed a run-time test with a 120 Volt | 1500 watt electric space heater and an inline power meter and recorded how long the power stations could power the heater.

• The Champion came in at 49 minutes and the EGO at 45 minutes.
• DEWALT and Ryobi followed with 30 and 27 minutes respectively.
• Milwaukee was last with just under 25 minutes.

All of the portable power stations could power the heater at a steady state until the end. There were no gradual drop-offs in power.

The results of the run-time test closely correlate to the advertised Watt Hour (battery capacity or power over time) of each unit as tested.  The Champion has slightly fewer watts Hours than the EGO but was able to power the unit longer.  The other unexpected result is the Ryobi outperforming Milwaukee as they both had the same 864 Watt Hour capacity.

Ergonomics and Features – Winner Ryobi

Typically in our Head-to-Head evaluations “Ergonomics and Features” make up two of the final categories that are scored to determine the overall winner.  We found that the power stations had such a disparity in features that could be important in your purchasing decision, that we have decided to not lump them together in the final scoring allowing each feature significantly more “weight” in the final scoring matrix. We discuss these features and rank each one below.

Carry Handles

The Champion has two, neutral grip handles located on top of the unit. While it is possible to carry this unit with one hand, most users will find it more comfortable using a two-handed carry.

DEWALT has two options for carrying. Option one is a neutral grip, two-handed carry, which DEWALT calls side handles. Option two is a one-handed, suitcase carry, which DEWALT calls the long front handle. When carrying as a suitcase option the back of the unit is smooth, with no protrusions, allowing it to slide against your legs and not catch your pants.

EGO has two neutral grip handles located on top of the unit, when carrying this unit two batteries face the user.  We noted that when carrying the unit against your body, the batteries can easily be dislodged by body pressure. When we looked closer at this – the batteries slide into their ports and do not feature a locking mechanism. Because of this, the unit must stay in its upright position or risk batteries dislodging. While it is possible to carry this unit with one hand, most users will find it more comfortable using a two-handed carry.

Milwaukee has a roll cage with built-in handles for multiple carry options. It also has a padded shoulder strap [sold as an accessory] to help distribute the weight. We found this roll cage allows you to approach the power supply from ANY angle or position and be able to grip it with two hands. While it is possible to carry this unit with one hand, most users will find it more comfortable using a two-handed carry.

Ryobi features a top handle and two pairs of side handle that allow the user to approach and carry this unit from any direction and carry the unit in many configurations. It is also able to be carried one-handed, as a suitcase carry.  Ryobi also has a padded shoulder strap [sold as an accessory] to help distribute the weight.

Display Screen

For status indicators, the Champion unit displays a battery fuel gauge indicator, as well as, a percentage number for battery life. Additionally, the display shows the status of its ports in use. This display does a time-out and requires the user to tap the power button to turn the LED display back on.

We noted that this display has the most information, but is a bit confusing and not intuitive – you WILL need to read the directions.

• DEWALT does not have a status or display screen. It has a green/red LED light at each battery port that indicates a hot battery, low battery charge, hot/cold condition, and charging and charged status.

• EGO has the best balance of being intuitive to operate and provides an easy-to-read and understandable display with useful information, such as; battery status indicators, runtime or charge time remaining, and a total output power meter.
• Milwaukee has a minimal display screen consisting of a very crude 25% increment overall power meter along with a warning indicator for overload and over-temperature conditions.

• The Ryobi display is easy to read but offers minimal information. It includes individual battery levels in 25% increments, and output load levels in both a fuel gauge display and percentage number display. [note – seemed duplicative] It has a session timer clock but could really benefit from a predictive runtime clock like the EGO and Champion displays.

Battery Life Indicator

Champion, EGO, and Ryobi all have LCD displays indicating battery levels and load levels. The EGO also includes a large projected run-time/charge time, which impressed the team. DEWALT and Milwaukee do not have this feature.

Battery Swap While Operating

The Champion has an internal battery and has the capability for parallel connections, allowing it to connect to, and stack up to 10 external batteries or an additional power supply.

The DEWALT and Milwaukee will NOT operate if one of their four batteries is removed. The folks at Milwaukee told us that the decision to do this was based mostly to make the portable power station cost-effective.

Both power stations will turn off if a single battery is disconnected or depleted.  This is important to understand as all batteries are discharged at the same rate.  So if a smaller battery is used amongst larger capacity batteries, the runtime will be limited by the smaller battery.  For this reason, both units recommend using 4 identically sized batteries.

The EGO and Ryobi allow batteries to be swapped in or out without disrupting power. However, if the units are in a high-load demand operation, removing one of the batteries may force it into an overload condition.  They will also operate on any combination or number of batteries.

Pure Sine Wave

Most of these power stations provide pure sine wave power. Pure sine wave inverters prevent overheating and damage to sensitive equipment by providing a more stable voltage and frequency output. Your neighborhood utility provider generates power using only sine waves.

The Champion, EGO, Milwaukee, and Ryobi provide pure sine wave power, but DEWALT does not. The DEWALT offers a modified sine wave type and is NOT recommended for delicate electronics.

The Champion also offers a THD Shield Feature.  THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) Shield will protect sensitive electronics as the power station’s battery levels drop too low and a pure sine wave (<5% THD) cant be maintained, the power station will power down.  This feature can be disabled if powering more robust devices, like the space heater in our run-time test.

Number of AC outlets

We scored the power stations with the most AC outlets higher than the ones with fewer outlets.

• The Champion EGO and Ryobi all have 3 120-volt, 15-amp AC outlets.
• Milwaukee has two 120-volt, 15-amp AC outlets.
• DEWALT has one 120-volt, 15-amp AC outlet.

Number of USB outputs

We’ve all become slaves to charging small devices on the go like our phones and tablets.  USB ports have become the standard for DC charging connections for most personal electronic devices.  Having USB ports on these power stations is a must-have feature, but not all USB ports are created equally.

If you’re not familiar, USB A is the oldest standard rectangular connection that typically delivers just 5V at 2.1A of charging.  These older connections are being slowly phased out in favor of the much smaller, ambidextrous USB C.  Many USB C standards exist and the latest and greatest is the PD or Power Delivery which is capable of 60W fast charging with compatible PD electronics.

• The Champion was also impressive with 2 USB-A 2.1A Ports,  1 USB-C +PD (60W), and 1 USB C QC (Quick Charge 3.0 30W)  port.
• The DEWALT does not have any USB ports, a huge miss in our opinion.
• The EGO has 4 USB ports but unfortunately, they are all just USB A, offering little flexibility.
• Milwaukee only has two USB ports, one USB-A and one USB-C +PD port.
• The Ryobi was the king of USB ports, boasting 4 USB-A 5V 2.1A and  2 USB-C +PD (Power Delivery 60W).

Additional Power Output

The Champion was unique in supplying additional DC power output options.  The unit has a 12V DC, 10A  automobile auxiliary power outlet as well as a 12V DC, 20A APP Anderson Power Pole connector.

Charging Cord / Onboard storage

Can you imagine pulling your power station out in an emergency and the cord was missing?

• Champion supplies a 2-prong, C7 non-polarized connector power cord and plug, also known as a Figure-8 or shotgun connector. This charging cord is fairly common to replace if damaged or lost. The Champion does not have a cord wrap or onboard storage.
• DEWALT does not come with a charging cord but It can be powered by any standard extension cord, with a universal plug.

• EGO comes with a proprietary plug and attached inverter. The plug and inverter are both stored onboard, in a compartment on top of the unit. While we feel having a proprietary cord and inverter is a drawback, the onboard storage compartment is a plus.  EGO also offers a solar panel charger block that can replace the AC block. This solar block is sold as an accessory for $169.

• Milwaukee comes with a 6-foot HD 14 gauge extension cord – a universal plug which we liked.  If the cord gets lost or misplaced, any standard extension cord can charge the unit. Additionally, the roll cage at mid-height has an indentation that was designed to act as a cord-wrap storage feature.
• The Ryobi power cord is proprietary and has no onboard storage. A replacement cord will cost approximately $15 if you lose it.

The team favored the power stations that could be powered by a standard extension cord and plug, as well as, offered on-board cord storage.

Replacing Lost Cords

Champions cord, while not proprietary, could be tough to find a replacement for in an emergency. EGO and Ryobi’s proprietary cords would be even more difficult to replace in an emergency.

Solar Panel Charging

Solar panels and power stations are an interesting conversation.  Having the ability to charge your power station with solar panels is a nice feature and one that many folks with RVs, camps, and off-grid concerns will find valuable.  Contractors on the other hand have limited real estate on the job site space when you consider safety, material, and machine movement.

The Champion comes with an MC4 connector harness to connect up to 3 solar panels. The folks at Champion told us they currently do not offer solar panels as an accessory but recognize that users may want the off-grid charging capability

Built-in light

Only two of the power stations include a light which could be useful in dark areas or during power outage situations.

• Ryobi has a work light with 4 settings: high, low, and a solid or flashing red light for night vision use.
• The Champion has a work light on the front of the unit with a high/low option.

External Power Daisy Chain – Parallel Kit

All the tested power stations have a NEMA 5-15 receptacle which is the standard three-prong household outlet designed to deliver 15A continuous power. A common application for inverter generators is to power an RV, but most common RVs use a 30A plug.  Luckily several of these power station manufacturers have that covered.

Ryobi sells a parallel connection cord as an accessory. It allows users to connect two inverter generators and get twice the power. This parallel kit works with all of Ryobi’s inverter generators and doubles your power output for heavier power needs. It comes as a 120-Volt RV/30 Amp 1RC outlet only.

The Champion has parallel connection capability to increase to 30 Amp power by connecting 2 power stations together or by connecting another ParaLINK-capable inverter to double the power station’s power and add a 120V 30A RV outlet and 120V 30A locking outlet.  It also has the capability to stack up to 10 expansion batteries for a total of 18,018-Wh. Which when combined with solar charging might appeal to off-grid applications.

Pass-Through Power

Pass-Through Power is the capability of the unit to simultaneously charge the unit’s batteries while powering whatever is connected to its AC outlets.  This feature is a common request for those that want to use the unit as a standby emergency generator for important power applications with intermittent or unreliable power sources.  [i.e. sump pump, refrigeration, backup freeze protection]

The Champion was the only unit tested that has Pass Through Power.  Another indicator of its targeted user base.

If you read the reviews on many of these power stations you will learn that many of them intentionally drain the batteries while not in use, but turned on.

Many of these power stations have a “drain down” due to the  Quiescent current – which is a natural draw of the battery over time. Quiescent current only applies if the unit is left on because of the internal “background housekeeping,” and monitoring that these units require.  Due to the lack of passthrough power, if you wanted to leave these units on in some sort of standby function, the batteries would drain over time.

Remote Control

Having the ability to remotely check on power levels and even turn off the unit is a nice feature that two units have through phone apps.

The Ryobi can be controlled through the Ryobi GenControl App.  The App is a well-polished app that works with the majority of Ryobi’s generator lineup.  Once the unit is powered on by hand, the app can be used to turn on and off the AC power plugs as well as remotely shut down the unit.  The battery power levels can be checked as well as the output watts. Some additional features include controlling the onboard LED light as well as the LCD display.

The EGO is the only other unit that has remote connectivity.  The EGO can be controlled by the EGO Power+ app and can be connected via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.  Having the wifi connectivity can allow you to monitor the unit from almost anywhere.

Security features

While all of the power stations have handles that allow you to use a cable or chain to secure the power station to a stationary object all but two of them could have their expensive batteries removed and stolen. The Champion has an internal battery that automatically protects the battery from theft.

Milwaukee is the only unit that built into their design an anti-theft feature for the batteries. It has a rotating handle that slides over the batteries and exposes a padlock hole. Once the handle is over the batteries they are unable to be removed from the unit.

Size and Volume

The team felt that the space that these units take up is more important than the weight. We ranked the units based on calculated volume and list the weights as tested for your reference. We also calculated their cubic feet for scoring purposes.

The lightest power station was the Ryobi at 28 lbs, followed by the DEWALT at 32 lbs. Champion and Milwaukee were close in weight at 41 and 42 lbs respectively and the EGO was the heaviest at 58 lbs.

With regard to cubic feet, the Champion was the smallest unit at 1.048 cu. ft. The Milwaukee followed with 1.4 cu. ft. followed by the Ryobi with 1.5 cu. Ft. The EGO was the largest unit at 2.8 cu. Ft.

Charging Speed [time]

Note – All of these portable power stations, except the Champion, can double as a cordless battery charger.

The Champion can charge in 4.5 hours from AC wall power and 4.8 with solar-powered DC power. When connected to both AC plus DC charging can be as low as 2.5 hours. We liked that the Champions status screen tells you, based on real-time monitoring,  how much time it will take to charge.

DEWALT takes 6 hours to charge four [4] 12.0 Ah batteries. Like its competitors, it has multi-port, parallel charging, which means it charges all four batteries at the same time, at a charging rate of 2 amps

The EGO takes 12 hours to charge its four [4] 7.5 Ah batteries

Milwaukee pulls 1000 watts from an AC outlet during charging. It takes 4 hours to charge 12 Ah batteries. It charges its batteries simultaneously at a 3 Amp rate [1000 watts]

The Milwaukee unit has simultaneous charging but also evaluates the batteries with the lowest charge and will prioritize charging that pack first. This is because if that pack is depleted the unit will not run. If all the packs are depleted to the same level the charger will simultaneously charge them all at the same rate.

Ryobi charges its batteries sequentially and takes 3 hours to charge one 6.0 Ah battery and 12 hours to charge all 4 batteries. The charger is 80 watts, which is a 2A charge rate for 40V batteries.

Best Price – Winner Ryobi

We scored the portable power station with the batteries we tested them with and included the battery cost.

The Ryobi was the least expensive with a tested price configuration of $1337.  The power station can be sold as a kit with (2) 6.0Ah batteries for $899.  Additional batteries are $219 a piece. The bare unit price is currently $749.

The Champion does not have external batteries and the unit cost is $1499.99

The Milwaukee is not sold as a kit and the unit cost is $699.  The 12.0 Ah batteries tested each run $249 driving the as-tested cost to $1695.

The EGO was tested with (4) 7.5 Ah batteries.  The Power Station can come as a kit with two 7.5Ah batteries for $999.  The two additional batteries are $399 a piece, with an as-tested price of $1797.

The DEWALT like Milwaukee does not get sold as a kit and a bare unit will cost $529. The 12.0Ah batteries are each $319 costing a total of $1805

It’s important to remember that to operate the DEWALT and Milwaukee you will need ALL 4 batteries. The EGO and Ryobi do not require all of the batteries to operate.

Price Per Watt Hour – Winner Champion

We stated earlier that the runtime test results closely correlated to the total Watt Hour rating of each power station.  To aid in seeing how far your purchasing power is going to battery capacity and therefore, expected runtime, we calculated the Price per Watt Hour for each station and the batteries tested.

Again, the Champion took top honors in this ranking with a $.92 / Wh value.  The most interesting result is that of the EGO station, which was just slightly higher at $1.07/Wh.  The EGO had a much better bang for the buck result than the other 3 removable battery platform contenders.

The Ryobi finished in third place with a $.1.55 / Wh value. DEWALT finished at $1.88/Wh, and Milwaukee at $1.96/Wh.  These two cost over double the Champion when just considering battery capacity.

Best Power Station

Our usual modus operandi is to crown one winner as Best in Class winner. With this particular head-to-head, we quickly learned, that portable power supplies are designed to meet different and specific needs. We evaluated and scored four categories for you to consider:

• Best Emergency Portable Power Station
• Best Jobsite Power Station
• Best All Purpose Power station
• Best Value Power Station

Best Emergency Portable Power Station – Winner Champion

The Champion portable power station scored 36 points and was designed as a “ground up,” portable power station, and it clearly shows!

It crushed the other power stations in the features, price, and runtime testing categories.

The Champion is a compact, feature-packed portable backup battery solution ideal for RVing and camping, tailgating, or as an emergency indoor generator during a power outage.  As good as it is, it is NOT suitable for job site use.

Best Jobsite Power Station – Milwaukee

The Milwaukee scored 48 points overall beating DEWALT with 56 points. The DEWALT and Milwaukee were clearly both designed to run power tools on the job site. They both crushed the table saw performance test.

The DEWALT lost place due to its featureless design. Milwaukee has more features than DEWALT but suffered in runtime due to its relatively lower total Watt Hour capacity.

“Milwaukee’s minimalist but robust design was meant to be dropped, kicked, and survive on the job site” ~ Jeff

Of the two power stations, Milwaukee is able to run with pure sine wave energy allowing tradespeople to run their electronics to view plans on job sites.  The Milwaukee with four 12 Ah batteries will cost $1,695 while the DEWALT, in the same configuration, costs $1,805.

Best ALL PURPOSE  Portable Power Station  |  Ryobi

This category is where we chose the winner based on all-around value and usefulness, not solely on score. Ryobi came in second place overall with 39 points. EGO was just one point behind with 42 points.

The Ryobi is very feature-rich, winning the Ergonomics and Features Combined Category.  The 40V battery platform is a rapidly expanding exciting lineup from Ryobi and the power station is a great addition.

The Ryobi is the lightest of the stations and reasonably compact. The abundance and quality of the USB ports were a team favorite and lastly, the Ryobi can be paired up  [parallel connected] with a gas or battery generator to double its power to 30 amps – something that will get RV users’ attention.

Best Value – Winner EGO

Best value is often a popular category as it highlights contestants that performed well at a lower purchase cost.

But the EGO was the second most expensive unit. While that may be true, its the Cost/Watt Hour conversation that really brings the EGO value to the front.  The EGO boasted the highest Watt Hour rating with 1680WH, almost doubling that of the Ryobi and Milwaukee.  The kit price of the EGO with two 7.5 AH batteries is just $999, and that brings its runtime capability just shy of the Milwaukee, Ryobi, and DEWALT for a significantly lower cost.

The EGO power station tells you how much time it takes to charge its display which is an awesome feature.  The team liked that it allows for battery swap while operating and offers 2000 continuous watts / 3000 peak watts

The EGO was neck and neck in this testing with the Ryobi, finishing just one point behind with 42. Both were feature rich and clearly designed for non-job site user experience.

Conclusion

These Power Stations and their batteries are expensive investments.  Some of these units had great features but likely none are going to be able to sway you to a new battery platform if you already have batteries of a certain brand that could drastically reduce the purchase price of the systems. If you’re not already invested in a battery platform, you may want to look closer at stand-alone, internal battery platforms like the Champion.

These tests take time to complete and are ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company.

We cannot do long-term testing that would shed light on durability and we can’t possibly test every application that you might use one of these power stations for.

We get lots of comments about how we make the final rankings. We’ve openly shared ALL the data from our tests, and you can rank the tools however you want. Hopefully, you’ll find this Head-To-Head useful when comparing compact portable power stations.

If you have a moment, please check out our other Head-to-Head Tests.

Portable Power Station Head To Head Test Video

Best Portable Power Supply 2023 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee 47pc 1/2″ Drive Ratchet & Socket Set with PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizer Review

Milwaukee 47pc 1/2" Drive Ratchet & Socket Set with PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizer

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Milwaukee
Model number: 48-22-9487
Price: $319.99

47pc 1/2″ Drive Metric & SAE Ratchet and Socket Set with FOUR FLAT Sides

• Model: 48-22-9010
• 90 Tooth 1/2″ Ratchet
• 4° of Arc Swing
• 3″ Extension, 5″ Extension
• FOUR FLAT Sides
• Laser Engraved Sizes
• SAE Standard Sockets – 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 3/16″, 7/8″, 15/16″, 1″ , 1 1/16″, 1 1/8″
• SAE Deepwell Sockets – 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 3/16″, 7/8″, 15/16″
• Metric Standard Sockets – 10, 11, 12 ,13, 14 ,15 ,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
• Metric Deepwell Sockets – 10, 11, 12 ,13, 14 ,15 ,16, 17, 18, 19

47pc 1/2″ Drive SAE & Metric Ratchet & Socket Set PACKOUT Trays

• Model: 48-22-9487T
• Color Coded for SAE and Metric
• 3 Trays designed for 47pc Ratchet and Socket Set
• IP54 Rated Protection

PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizer

• Model:48-22-8431
• Exterior Dimensions – 19.7″ W x 16.3″ D x 2.5″ H
• IP65 Weather Seal

PACKOUT Storage Trays

The 47 Piece 1/2″ Drive ratchet and socket set is stored in a PACKOUT Low Profile Organizer.  This case is a standard PACKOUT configuration that is compatible with all other PACKOUT modular storage systems.  The organizer and kit can be added to a mobile stack of PACKOUT items and even wall mounted by using Milwaukee’s PACKOUT Shop Storage Solution.

For mechanics who prefer to store their sockets in another way such as a tool chest drawer, the organizing trays are easily removed for horizontal storage.  The trays are color-coded to SAE and Metric, with clear size indicators.  Additionally, the trays had nice large tabs that made removing the trays and indexing them into the PACKOUT case a breeze.

FOUR FLAT Sockets

The set comes with 44 sockets of various SAE and Metric sizes in both standard and deep well configurations.  Size indications are laser etched onto each socket on two opposing sides for easy identification.

The biggest standout feature of the sockets is Milwaukee FOUR FLAT sides.  FOUR FLAT sockets feature a square four-sided base that tapers to a traditional circular surface at the opposite end.  The flat-four sides serve two purposes.  First is the flat surface prevents the socket from rolling, potentially saving time and immense frustration.  Secondly, the socket can be used with a traditional wrench, allowing for an additional option if access is limited which prevents the ratchet from fitting.

Overall Impressions

The Milwaukee 47pc 1/2″ Drive Ratchet & Socket Set with PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizer is a great kit for mechanics and DIYers who are looking to supplement or replace an aging 1/2″ drive socket set.  The storage trays and integration with the PACKOUT storage system allow for a great mobile option for those that need to take their socket kits on the go.  The FOUR FLAT sides on the sockets are a really nice improvement on the standard socket. Pricing at the time of review is $319.99.

Milwaukee 47pc 1/2" Drive Ratchet & Socket Set with PACKOUT Low-Profile Organizer

Buy Now

$319.99

Milwaukee 47pc 1/2″ Drive Socket Set with Low-Profile PACKOUT is a post from Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT 20V MAX 1/2″ Hammer Drill/Driver – Model DCD805

DEWALT 20V MAX 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver

5/5

Manufacturer: DEWALT
Model number: DCD805
Price: $179.00
Power source: 20V MAX
Weight: 2.95

The most significant upgrades to DEWALT’s Drill/Drivers are in the size reduction and power increase.  The DCD805 brushless motor is touted at having 40% more Unit Watts Out (think tool Horsepower if unfamiliar) while residing in a package 1/2 inch shorter than the previous generation DCD796.

DCD805 Features and Specifications

• 40% More UWO than the previous DCD796
• Compact Size – 1/2″ shorter than DCD796
• Great Bit Retention with all-metal ratcheting chuck
• Variable speed trigger and 2-speed settings (0-650rpm,0-2000rpm)
• 0-34,000 BPM in Hammer Mode
• 17 position Clutch including Drill and Hammer Setting
• Powerful LED – 3 mode LED with up to 70 Lumens and 20-minute work light mode
• Tool Connect compatible for integration with the Tool Connect Site Manager App

Hands-on Impressions

Compact Size

The new DCD805 Hammer Drill/Driver benefits from years of solid over-mold design and comfortable grip ergonomics.  With such a short length for a drill, the tool is remarkably well balanced in your hand. I have been running an older DEWALT Hammer Drill for years, the DCD985.  While the new DCD805 is touted as being 1/2″ shorter than its predecessor, the DCD796, its amazing to see how much more compact the drill is than one of its older brothers

Small but Powerful

A Drill/Driver with a Hammer Drill mode is a bit of a jack of all trades tool.  Capable of driving fasteners, drilling small precision drill bits or larger wood auger bits, and even smaller masonry tasks, these tools can do it all.  One task I find myself always dreading is driving a small masonry bit to prepare a fastener like a Tapcon with an underpowered Drill/Driver.  I loaded a 3/16 Tapcon bit into the all-metal chuck, selected the hammer mode on the clutch, and get after it.  The DCD805 has 850 Unit Watts Out and up to 34,000 Blows Per Minute in Hammer mode.  This little drill had more than enough guts and was surprisingly fast at drill 2″ deep holes in mature concrete.

The all-metal ratcheting chuck is fantastic and really gives you assurance the bit is going to hold.

The Power of Light

The last impressive feature I want to touch on is the three-position switch and corresponding LED.  Most cordless hand tools have some form of LED illumination these days.  The DCD805 comes with a 3-position selector that allows you to keep the LED Off, Activate on trigger pull and lastly crank the Lumens up to 70 and remain on for 20 minutes.  This feature can become pretty useful if you find yourself working in a cramped location like a closed joist bay or attic space.  Being able to drill your hole and set the tool down and rely on its light while you complete your task is a nice touch.

The DCD805 and its little brother the DCD800 (without the Hammer Mechanism) are available now as a bare tool or a kit with a battery.  We recommend pairing the Drill/Drivers with DEWALT’s new Powerstack compact batteries to take full advantage of the impressive power to size ratio these drills provide.

DEWALT 20V MAX 1/2″ Hammer Drill/Driver Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Milwaukee Cordless Multi-Tool 2836-20

The Tool Box buzz team recently published the results of an updated 2021 Cordless OMT Head to Head.  12 Tools from 11 manufacturers competed in this latest showdown.  When the sawdust settled, a clear winner emerged.  Here we will take a detailed look at the Milwaukee 2836, the best overall cordless OMT.

MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL 2836-20

• 18 V – 5.0 Ah battery
• 11,000-18,000 OPM
• 2.6 lbs. bare tool and 3.35 lbs  with 5.0 Ah battery
• Variable speed
• 4.2°
• Starlock and open back blade type
• MILWAUKEE M18 FUEL 2836-20

Standout Features

Cutting Speed

During the Multi-tool Head to Head, we ranked the tools across five different categories including Accuracy, Ergonomics, Noise, Features, and Performance.  The performance category used a test rig to determine the cutting speed and power of each tool.  The Milwaukee 2836 absolutely dominated the field in this category, with cutting times an order of magnitude faster than the rest of the field.  Milwaukee advertises their OMT as the fastest cutting saw on the market and our tests back that claim up.  If you care about speed in your OMT, then there is no better choice.

Variable and Automatic Speed Settings

Like most OMTs on the market, 2836 has a variable speed dial for controlling the oscillating speed of the tool.  One unique feature also included in this speed selection is an Auto-Load or “A” setting.  This setting limits the speed of the cut during the initial stages of contact to help better control the accuracy. As the tool senses the material being cut, the tool ramps up the power to quickly remove the rest of the material.

Features and Ergonomics

The Milwaukee 2836 is a well-designed tool that was the user’s experience at the forefront.  The Milwaukee pulled second and third place in the Features and Ergonomics rankings helping solidify the tool as the best overall.  The tool has nice over-molding that one would expect from a Milwaukee tool.  With a decoupled oscillating head, the vibrations of the most powerful tool in the field are surprisingly low and comfortable. The tool also has a great set of wrap-around LEDs to illuminate the work surface well.

Room for Improvement

Although Milwaukee 2836 received our highest rank of best overall OMT of 2021, there are still some areas that could be improved upon.

Blade Change 

The Milwaukee 2836 uses what the team calls a pin and lever blade change system.  A locking lever on the top head of the tool is manipulated to clamp down or release the locking pin onto the blade.  The tool is compatible with OIS/One Fit style blades as well as standard Starlock blades that have that OIS interface.  Given the ease of use of some of the other OMTs that take advantage of the Starlock PLUS and MAX, this blade changes on the Milwaukee was ranked near the bottom of this category.

Noise

Perhaps one downside to being the fastest most powerful cutting saw on the market, is that it also ends up being one of the loudest.  During our OMT Head to Head testing we recorded noise levels with a fixed distance Decibel meter during tool only, wood and metal cutting scenarios.  The Milwaukee 2836 came in 10th place out of 12.  All OMTs are loud tools and really should be operated with hearing protection.

Overall Impressions

The Milwaukee 2836 is a great successor to the older Milwaukee 2626 OMT.  Whether you are looking to upgrade to the latest offering from Milwaukee, or looking for the winner of our 2021 Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Head to Head, the 2836 is a great buy.  The  2836-20 (Tool Only, No battery) is currently priced around $219 at the time of publishing.

Milwaukee 2836 M18 FUEL Cordless Multi-Tool Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT Drywall Screwgun Collated Magazine DCF620

We recently got to spend some time with the DEWALT 20-Volt Max XR Brushless Drywall Screwgun during a basement remodel involving 4000 sq ft of wall and ceiling hung drywall.  We exclusively used the DCF620 Drywall Screwgun as well as its modular collated magazine attachment the DCF6201.

DCF620 Screw Gun Specifications

• Up to 4,400 rpm provides greater speed than DW272 corded screw gun
• DEWALT-built brushless motor delivers maximum runtime
• Balanced and ergonomic
• Nosecone locks on securely and is easily removed while maintaining consistent screw depth
• Optional collated magazine attachment (DCF6201)
• LED light
• Voltage: 20V
• No Load Speed:  0 – 4,400 rpm
• Drive: 1/4″ Hex
• Tool Length: 8.75″
• Tool Weight: 2.5 lbs

Using DCF620 Bare tool

To start off we began with using the screw gun without its collated attachment to get a feel for the base tool. Depending on which kit you purchase the screw gun will come with 2 (4.0 Ah) batteries in the DCF620MS kit or 2 (2.0 Ah) batteries in the DCF620D2 kit.  You also have the option of purchasing the bare tool is you are already a user of the 20 – Volt battery platform.

The bare tool is very well balanced and lightweight at just 2.5 pounds.  I found myself pairing the tool with a smaller 2.0 Ah battery during my installs to take advantage of this lighter weight.  DEWALT excels with comfortable over-mold grips and the screw gun is no exception.

The main feature of the DCF620 is the lockable yet easy to remove dimpled drive nosecone.  With an intuitive rotational depth adjustment, the nose cone driver repeatedly drives the screw to a predetermined depth.  We found this tool to be extremely precise and repetitive when driving screws to a preselected depth into various widths of drywall which is an absolute must for good quality drywall installations. The nosecone attachment can be quickly unlocked and removed if a guide free driver bit is required to remove screws selectively adjust the drive depth.

Collated Attachment

The DEWALT DCF620 screw gun can easily be modified into a collated screw gun with the addition of the DCF6201 Collated Magazine.  This magazine is sold separately but is currently selling at around $92 from various retailers.

With the nosecone removed from the screw gun and a longer included drive bit installed, the collated magazine attachment slides on and attaches quickly.  The attachment has its own rotational screw drive depth gauge and adjustment on both sides of the tool.  The collated feeding mechanism accepts 1” -2” collated plastic screw strips from most major brands like SENCO.

With the attachment installed,  screws could be driven into the gypsum panels at a blistering pace.  Like all collated attachments it became particularly useful when installing the boards solo or overhead when only one hand was needed to operate the tool.

The collated magazine can rotate around the drive axis 360 degrees.  This can become useful when driving screws along inside corners where backing depth may be limited.  In this situation particular care has to be taken to position the tool perpendicular to the driving surface as it can be tough to do so in tight spaces with such a long tool.  We found that this was the area most likely for an improper depth drive or jam to occur.  In tight corner access, it was easier to remove the collated attachment and drive the screws with either the exposed driver bit or nose cone reinstalled.

Final Thoughts and Pricing

The DEWALT 20V Max XR Drywall Screw Gun is a great tool to have in your arsenal if you work with drywall regularly or you have a large job and you’d like to just drive screws to a perfect depth without a second thought.   Deciding to invest in collated attachment and subsequently, the collated screws are a decision that is going to be very project-driven.

The DEWALT DCF620 bare tool screw gun is currently retailing at $128 on Amazon.com.   A bundled option with the magazine attachment can be found for $220.

DEWALT 20-Volt Max XR Brushless Screw Gun is a post from Tool Box Buzz

EGO LM2135SP Select Cut 21″ Self-Propelled Cordless Mower Review

EGO LM2135SP Select Cut Mower

Manufacturer: EGO
Model number: LM2135SP
Price: $649
Power source: 56V Arc Lithium Battery
Motor size: 7.0 Ft/lbs
Weight: 62.5 lbs

Features 

• Dual Blade
• Self-Propelled
• 7.0 ft/lbs.. of torque
• Touch Drive Technology
• Push Button Start
• 7 Cutting Height Settings
• Compact Storage
• Weather Resistant Construction (ipx4)
• LED Headlights
• 3-IN-1 Function: Mulching, Bagging, Side Discharge (chute available upon request)
• 3 Position Handle Heights
• One Handed Height Adjustment
• 5 Year Warranty

EGO G3 Cordless Mower Specifications

• 21″ Deck
• Variable Speed : 1.8 MPH – 3.6 MPH
• 7.0 ft/lbs.. of torque
• Maximum Cutting Height: 4 inches
• Minimum Cutting Height: 1 ½ inches
• Grass Bag Capacity: 2 Bushels
• Rear Wheel Size: 9 inches
• 62.5 lbs

EGO 56V Platform

If you’re still unfamiliar with  theEGO OPE lineup, where have you been?  Backed by the global powerhouse manufacturer Chervon, EGO’s 56V OPE lineup hit the market in 2014.  Since then, they have produced dozens of high quality battery powered cordless OPE tools.  Here in the USA, we love our lawns and EGO’s lawnmower lineup have become increasingly popular options to tackle that chore.  At the core of all EGO Power+ tools is the Arc Lithium 56V battery.  The battery that fuels the line features a shock resistant housing that,  like all their tools looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Integral to the performance and tested alongside the new Select Cut 21″ Mower was EGO’s highest capacity 7.5 Ah battery, the BA4200T.  The BA4200 weighs in at 6.31 lbs.., boasts a 420 watt hour capacity and can be recharged fully in 60 minutes with the EGO rapid charger. All batteries in the EGO line have a 3 year limited warranty.

New With The EGO Select Cut Cordless Mower

The EGO Select Cut mower has undergone a face lift on the outside and is sporting a few performance upgrades on the inside.  EGO spent some time mulling over customer feedback that the mulching and bagging aspects of the mowers could be improved.

NEW Dual Blade Feature

The biggest upgrade to the 21″ mower is the addition of a dual blade system.  These two blades are coaxial meaning they share the same axis as opposed to a side by side that is common on larger commercial mower decks.  The goal is to provide multiple layers of cuts to the grass resulting in finer clippings.  The deck has also been redesigned to work more efficiently with the additional blade.  For increased mulching performance a specialized EDGE TRI-Cut blade can be used.  This blade was not available for our testing.

At the heart of the mower is new upgraded brushless motor sporting 7.0 ft/lbs… of torque.  That’s up from 5.9 ft/lbs.. in the previous generation.

EGO Select Cut – Ease of Use

EGO’s first generation mower took top honors in our Best Cordless Electric Lawn Mower Head to Head back in 2014, winning arguable the most important category of “Cut quality and Performance”.  Additionally, they performed best in our “Handle Comfort and Adjustability” and “Compact Design and Storage” categories.  Over the years and the incremental mower models, EGO has only improved is dominance in these areas.

NEW EGO Touch Drive Technology

The EGO LM2135SP Select Cut has moved all interface controls and information to the well design handle grip area.  The mower has retained its predecessors 3 step motor safety activation process of holding down the power button and then pulling on the activation bar. The final two steps cannot be completed until the handle bar has been extended to its fullest length.  On the dashboard of the handle bar is an on/off switch for the LED headlights (its quiet enough to run at night and not irritate the neighbors) which used to be located down be the battery housing.  Additionally located on the right side is status indicator light with a convenient explanation diagram.

The top bar houses all the self-propelled controls in one location.  In the center is a variable dial to control the forward speed of the mower between 1.4 -3.6 mph.  Two palm or thumb activated buttons rest on either side of the handle which enable one handed operation from either side.

EGO LM2135SP Storage

No change (almost) is good here! The EGO Select Cut mower retains its easy to implement and compact folding design.  By using a single handled “Quick Adjust Lever” the mower handle can be adjusted from three different handle heights into a collapsed folded position with ease.  Once folded, the mower can be stored in the horizontal or vertical position.

One change that I did notice was the re-positioning of the carrying handle inboard and up toward the battery housing.  In prior models the handle was out on the nose of the mower deck and when folded, lined up nicely with the operating handle.  This allowed me to store my mower not only vertically but vertically on a wall hook.  While most users might not mount their mower on the wall I certainly miss the ability to do so.

EGO LM2135SP Performance

I have been impressed with my 21″ self-propelled mower by EGO in the past so I was eager to test the new model in a few side by side comparisons.  When I got my hands on this mower it was already late November in New England.  As such the grass cutting season was over.  However we did have quite a few items in my lawn to test the mulching and bagging power of the EGO Select Cut mower.  Oak Leaves!

As an impromptu head to head test between my older LM2100SP mower against the new LM2135SP Cut mower, I  layered an even coating  in a respectable sized area.  I then started off by running both mowers in bagging mode on the slowest self-propelled setting over a single pass. LM2100SP is on the left and the newer LM2135SP Select Cut is on the right. This yielded no clear winner.

Next up I repeated the test but this time in mulching mode.  Like previous generations the mower comes with a plastic insert that gets put inside the discharge chute to effectively plug the hole and force the mower to mulch.

Here was the first sign of real improvement from the introduction of the second blade.  The right hand swath cut by the newer Select Cut Mower had significantly smaller leaf remnants.

EGO LM2135SP Mower Run-time

EGO claims up to 60 minutes of mowing time when paired with a 7.5 Ah battery.  The mower can be operated without the optional powered drive feature to extend battery life. For battery performance I ran an endurance test that consisted of setting the self-propel to its highest/fastest and ran the mower until the battery depleted.  Grass resistance was minimal as again this was done in November but there was residual leaves to provide some blade resistance.

The battery ran for 50 minutes before taping out. At a brisk pace of 3.6 miles per hour, I covered 3 miles of mowing!   At 21″ wide, that area covered equals 27.000+ sq. ft.. The battery wont last as long under heavy cutting load but significant battery drain can be attributed the drive motor running at full speed.  Even at half that estimated area if you are cutting a ~13000 sq. ft. lawn with a 21″ inch push mower, it might be time to consider a ride on mower.

EGO G3 Cordless Mower – Where To Buy

If you’re in the market for a new walk behind mower, especially if you have been considering making the jump to all electric, then the LM2135SP is certainly worth a consideration.  It has been the best performing, well thought out and easy to use electric mower we have tested to date.

The EGO LM2135SP will ship with a 7.5Ah battery delivering up to one hour of run time and a 550W charger that will recharge the battery from empty to full in 60 minutes. This package will cost $649 when it launches on December 31st and will be available at The Home Depot.

EGO LM2135SP Select Cut Cordless Mower VIDEO Review

EGO LM2135SP Select Cut Cordless Mower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Husqvarna 9 Inch Battery Powered Cut-Off Saw

Husqvarna 9 Inch Batter Powered Cut Off Saw K535i

3.5/5

Manufacturer: Husqvarna
Model number: K535i
Price: $599 Bare Tool
Power source: 36V 9.4ah Liion
Weight: 7.7 lb w/ bat

We recently tested the Husqvarna 9-inch 535i Off Saw as part of our Best 9 inch Cut off saw Head to Head.    The K535i performed well and is a great lightweight option for small to medium masonry and metal cutting tasks.  The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw K535i is powered by Husqvarna’s 36V Lithium Ion battery platform.

Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw Specifications

• Cut depth:  3″
• Blade Diameter 9″
• RPM:  5,940
• Blade Arbor 7/8 in.
• Onboard Water Connection: Quick Connect
• Blade brake 
• Fixed Blade Guard
• 36v battery platform
• Tool Length: 22.2″
• Tool Weight (w/ battery):   7.7  lb.

Lightweight and Compact

The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw has some serious power to weight ratio.  This is moslty due to the fact that with the battery installed this saw weighs in at a featherweight 7.7 lbs.  That’s almost 30% lighter than its closest battery powered competitors.  Pair that lightweight with a nice neutral balance due to the centerline battery position and you have a tool that is extremely easy to use.

The handle is has a smaller diameter, a nice gradual curve and is comfortable to use. The handles slight-slope to the side, was no doubt designed to support hand, wrist and elbow comfort. It allows for many hand positions and does an excellent job of providing comfort in overhead use applications.

The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw is belt driven and is very smooth.  Long session with the tool will welcome the very low vibrations due to the belt driven blade.  Vibrations measure at a low 2.1 m/s².

Water Feed System

The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw has a fixed blade guard with integrated dual side water delivery system.  The water hose is made out of PVC Flex and tucks away nicely into a grooved channel but may be susceptible to snagging and damage.

Husqvarna separated the valve knob from the water nipple by placing  high on the tool  giving it a much easier location to reach and activate.  The K353i water delivery system achieves OSHA Table 1 compliance for dust management when cutting concrete and masonry materials.

Battery Features

The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw uses the 36V lithium ion batter battery platform employed by all of Husqvarna’s battery powered tools. The battery is side-fed and positions itself centerline with no additional covers or compartments.  This open air cooling helps prevent overheating, something we saw in other similar tools during our Head to Head testing.

The battery comes with Husqvarna’s savE feature that allows the user to limit electric motor RPM in the effort to save battery and improve runtime during low load tasks.

Safety and Ease of Use Features

The Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut Off Saw has an on / off keypad switch that will time-out with 1 minute of non-use.   After this 1 minute period the keypad will have to be powered on again.  The rear handle also has a “power trigger lockout safety switch”, similar to other Husqvarna power tools.

The Husqvarna 9 Inch Battery Powered Cut Off Saw features an electric blade brake.  For increased safety and ease of use, the blade will stop its rotation – from full throttle to zero in 3.1 seconds.

The K535i  provides both a wide metal shoe plate and  two rubber feet to keep the tool from sliding when not in use.

Suggested Improvements

The fixed blade guard is something that could be improved on with the addition of a variable or multi location locking guard.

Price

Bare tool pricing for the K535i starts at $599.  The tested 9.4 Ah battery is sold seperately at $279 and quick charger for $184.99.

Husqvarna 9-Inch Cut-Off Saw K535i Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

DEWALT 20V String Trimmer DCST920P1 Review

DeWalt 20V String Trimmer

4/5

Manufacturer: DeWALT
Model number: DCST920P1
Price: $199
Power source: Lithium Ion 20V MAX* system
Weight: 8.5 lbs

DEWALT 20V String Trimmer Specifications

• Tool Weight: 8.5 lbs
• Power Source: Lithium Ion 20V MAX* system
• Amp Hour: 5.0 Ah
• Line Diameter: .08 In
• RPM:  Low 0-4600 RPM / High 0-6000 RPM
• Cutting Swath:  13 In

Features

• QuickLoad spool for fast and easy re-spooling
• Variable trigger with HI/LO speed settings to balance power and runtime
• 3-year Limited Warranty

Ergonomics

The “D” shaped handle allows a nice padded grip for horizontal and vertical cutting applications and is positioned at a point along the shaft of the tool that when in use the tool has a nose down balance.  This works well as the user is encouraged to rest the forearm on comfortable ripped pad located next to the battery housing.  This positioning allows for a nice neutral hand position to manipulate the barrel grip with two paddle switches, one serving as a safety and the other a variable on-off.  The Hi -Lo selector switch is positioned just below the thumb in this position and allows the user to easily select between the modes without setting the tool down.

Quiet and Low Vibration

Compared to traditional gas powered string trimmers this trimmer has two additional advantages.  It is very quiet and produces little vibration.  These two items may be minimized by some but can add up to very important factors with regards to safety and fatigue.

Runetime and Power

The DEWALT 20V String Trimmer is packaged with a 5.0Ah battery. At full charge this battery tested to deliver 26 minutes of continuous runtime on HI setting under no load.  Runtime during actual operation will vary depending on the resistance of what is being cut. The beauty of the battery platform is the ability to quickly swap out a new battery and continue on your way.

The trimmer has a 13″ diameter cutting area that is serviced by a dual line bump feed that performs very smoothly in light to medium vegetation.  I found myself running in Hi mode during almost all applications as the faster RPM performs better for all applications.  The Lo setting can be enabled for longer runtime if that is a concern.

Maintenance and Care

Aside from routine cleaning the only regular maintenance required for the DEWALT 20V string trimmer will be to re-feed the string once its has been used.   The DCST920 has a QuickLoad spool that allows the user to respool the trim line with relative ease.   Pop the cover off, feed 25′ of line halfway through and wind it up in place.  Gone are the days of requiring 4 hands for a simple task.  During cutting the QuickLoad spool performs as a traditional bump feed style head that worked well in testing.

Price and Purchase Information

The DEWALT 20V String Trimmer kit has traditionaly been priced at $199.   At the time of this articles publishing the DEWALT 20V Max* string trimmer can be found on sale at Amazon for $179. This kit includes the DCST920 String trimmer, (1) 5.0Ah 20V Max* Lithium Ion Battery, a Quickload spool preloaded with .080” line and a standard charger. The DeWalt 20V Max String Trimmer is a fantastic addition for homeowners looking to adopt a gas free OPE platform as well as the pros that currently work with the 20V Max platform.

For additional string trimmer reviews check out this page for more review by the Tool Box Buzz Crew.

DEWALT 20V String Trimmer is a post from Tool Box Buzz