Robotic lawnmower- lidl v aldi

You'll be lucky to get one tomorrow, got one this morning but they were flying out yhe door.

If there are two sections of lawn divided like that not just a footpath up the middle of one garden, ideally you'd need a mower that has whats called a guide wire. Its in addition to a boundary wire, the mower would randomly follow that wire across no-mansland and start mowing the other garden space. For those to cross the divide, you'd have to cut a track for both the boundary wire and the guide wire.

Newer mowers are out there though that don't need boundary/guide wires installed but they are much more complex and expensive than the Aldi/Lidl units.

I managed to get one today in Ballincollig, they had a load of them there when I was in. Im looking forward to getting this up and running, even though I have 2 lawns that are not connected, even if I had to buy 2 units I wouldnt mind at €200 each… Its still an awful lot less than buying one brand name robot mower.

You would have to cut 2 tracks in the concrete to lay the boundary wire down. Not impossible and not unsightly if done correctly.

From the reports I have heard from people that purchased the last time they were available "They are fantastic !" .

Do not expect the same features as you would get with a €1500+ machine but they work and are reliable.

Set it up correctly and do not expect it to cut an overgrown meadow ! (Yu need to have the grass short to start it and it will keep it trimmed without fail. Blades need replacement when you see white shredded edges on the top of the cut grass.

New blades are inexpensive , replace the screws when replacing the blades .

Why would people bother with these if living in Dublin with a standard size garden. Also why don't people use push mowers anymore?

I actually have no idea as mine are all boundary wire but ....it has to either have gps or its using cameras/sensors to detect where to mow and where not

Some of the gps ones ask you to define the area you mow on a map...others ask you to walk behind the mower guiding it around the boundary using their app etc

It would be interesting to know which is the most reliable/least likely to mess up/cause you headaches...I'm happy with boundary wires (but my lawns are mostly flat simple shapes)...I'd assume with slopes and more complex bits that the ones using camera/sensors and software to recognise borders/obstacles better be good or you'll find yourself having to physically intervene a lot

I read online that they use a different size to the usual, one uses M4 and the other M5 from what I remember. I just had a quick look online and both seem to be available relatively easily.

As for the Lidl mower, I set mine up yesterday and while I had one or two false starts with docking back in the charging station, it started cutting yesterday evening and seems to be going fine since. I still haven't figured out how to connect it to the Parkside App though, has anyone else managed to do it with this model?

Ive also found someone with a charging station and power supply so contemplating setting that up in the lawn at the back of the house and lifting the mower between areas. I'm not sure if that will work but for 10 quid, its worth a try 😁

I thought the Aldi one didnt need a wire?

Right this may be a stupid question but anyway here goes. I put an outside socket on the garage yesterday and went to connect up the LIdl mower. To my dismay The charger power supply is meant to be indoors as far as I can see leaving only about 8 or 9Ft of wire to reach the docking station. Nowhere near long enough. How are others solving this issue. The distance is approx 7m

I have boxed the unit up again but it looks something like this .

I got the Aldi one, it’s works ok.

One thing I can’t understand, it cuts only to the edge of the guide wire, it doesn’t go out past the wire. So I’m left with 30cm of uncut grass running the perimeter of the lawn. Has anyone else had this issue?

Are you sure you found all the parts. I had that setup, but there is an extension piece which is about 5-7metres long which joins between that power box and the mower station. It has rubber fittings on each end suggesting it is designed to be outside.

I have that box and plug inside the garage and then just run the smaller cable out to the charging station.

Isn't that the point of the guide wire?