Comparison Procraft ATA40 vs Revolt BBC 20/2 BL

The capture width provided by the unit, in other words, the width of the strip of land cultivated in one pass. In fact, this size corresponds to the width of the working nozzle.

The large working width is useful when processing large open spaces, as it allows you to finish the job in a small number of passes. On the other hand, for hard-to-reach places, relatively narrow tools are better suited, able to go where a wider unit will not fit. In addition, the width of the tool directly affects the weight and price.

In general, it makes sense to compare in terms of working width only units of the same type (see above). However, it is worth noting here that trimmers do not differ so much from each other — most models capture from 25 to 45 cm (and a wide processing band is provided by moving the nozzle from side to side). As for the other types, in the most modest models the capture width does not exceed 40 cm, in the heaviest and most powerful it can be 56 – 60 cm or even more(in mini tractors — up to 1.5 m).

The width (diameter) of the trimmer knife characterizes the size of the paddle knife (or saw blade). Such a nozzle has a smaller capture width than a fishing line, however, it allows you to mow more dense thickets, including shrubs.

The diameter of the fishing line supplied with the trimmer (more precisely, with a reel attachment, see "Tips").

In modern models, this parameter can be from 1 to 4 mm. At the same time, a thicker fishing line handles better with dense thickets, but it works rougher, the treated lawn is not particularly even, and for the effective operation of such a nozzle, a fairly powerful engine is needed. On the other hand, a fine line provides a clean and neat cut, but is not suitable for heavy vegetation and large stems. Thus, thick fishing line is usually equipped with powerful units designed for "launched" lawns with an abundance of thick stems. Thin, on the other hand, is found mainly in low-power electric trimmers with a lower engine location, designed for neat lawns with regularly cut grass.

We also recall that many trimmers have the ability to replace the standard reel with another one that differs in line thickness.

Additional accessories included with the lawn mower. This point is mainly relevant for robotic mowers (see “Type”), they are most often equipped with the mentioned accessories, such as:

— Boundary wire. A wire designed to limit the working area of the robotic mower. Such a wire is laid along the perimeter of the work area (taking into account all permanent obstacles such as trees, flower beds, etc.) and is connected to the charging station in a special way. If everything is done correctly, when approaching the border of the site, the mower will change the direction of movement in such a way as not to go beyond the established perimeter - this is more convenient and safer than relying on collision, tilt sensors, etc. Note also that the absence of a wire in included in the kit may mean either the need to purchase it separately, or the fact that the mower, in principle, is not designed to use this function.

- Remote control. A remote control that allows you to control the robotic mower from a distance. Remote control is especially convenient during operation: the user does not need to chase a moving device, just press the desired button while at a fairly close distance. The operating principle of the remote controls may be different (infrared, radio), but they all have a range of at least several meters.

— Charger (charger). Device for charging batteries used in lawn mowers wi...th appropriate power supply. For models supplied with such a device, the charger model may be further specified in the specifications. This information can be useful not only for finding a spare or replacement charger, but also in case the household has other cordless tools and/or batteries for them. The fact is that many manufacturers nowadays use universal batteries that are compatible with a whole set of tools from the same brand; so, for example, the included charger for a mower may be quite suitable for a cordless saw from the same manufacturer.
On the other hand, the package may not contain a charger at all. This option will be optimal primarily if a compatible memory device is already available, and there is simply no need to overpay for a second device. In addition, the absence of a charger will be appreciated by those who want to choose this accessory separately, without relying on the manufacturer’s decision.


- Charging station. Cordless robotic lawnmowers (see Type) may be supplied with a charging station. Such units independently return to the base after completion of work or when a low battery level is detected. Automating the charging processor allows robotic lawn mowers to operate autonomously and makes them more convenient to use. Typically, a charging station contains a “parking” platform (base plate) and special docking contacts for replenishing energy reserves in the battery cells. The base can serve as a place to store the lawn mower during periods of inactivity, and in advanced implementations, the charging station is integrated with smart control systems, making it possible to control the operation of the lawn mower through mobile applications (see “Control from a smartphone”).

Please note that the above list is not complete - other additional items may be included in the kit.

The presence of a soft start system in the lawn mower engine.

The design features of electric motors are such that when power is applied directly, the start occurs very abruptly — both in a mechanical and electrical sense. Firstly, the engine itself spins up in a jerk, in a very short time, which increases the wear of its parts. Secondly, at the moment of start-up, there is a sharp jump in current strength, which creates significant loads on the power grid (or the batteries of the unit). The soft start system eliminates these phenomena: it limits the starting current, allowing the motor to accelerate smoothly and preventing voltage surges.

On the other hand, additional electronic circuits affect the cost, sometimes quite significantly. So there are few models with this feature nowadays, and you should pay attention to them mainly in cases where the mentioned advantages are of fundamental importance — for example, if the device is purchased for a house with weak wiring that does not tolerate voltage surges.

The name of the battery platform supported by the device. A single battery platform is used to combine various power tools of the same brand (drill, grinder, saw, etc.) into one line. Devices on the same platform use interchangeable batteries and chargers. Thanks to this, for example, there is no need to select a battery for each individual model of a power tool, because one purchased as a spare battery can be used in various power tools, depending on the situation or as needed. Batteries of the same platform basically differ from each other except perhaps in capacity.

The model of a standard battery allows you to find out its characteristics in more detail, and also helps you understand what devices it is like and which one should be purchased in case of a replacement due to a malfunction or, if necessary, buy another similar one.

The presence of moisture protection in the lawn mower and its rank according to the IP (Ingress Protection) standard. The first digit after the IP abbreviation corresponds to protection against dust (maximum 6), the second indicates the degree of protection against water (maximum 8). A higher value is considered more advanced. The maximum degree of protection according to this standard is IP68, that is, complete tightness, but lawn mowers do not provide such serious moisture protection. Often, it is limited to protection against splashes and rain. There are also markings such as IPX4, where the first digit is not written - this means that the lawn mower has not undergone official certification for dust protection, but has protection against moisture.

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.