My autonomous lawn mower thread/blog

Dr4gul4 · 10-06-2019 3:51pm

Zzippy wrote: »

I'm on Android and still getting notifications, got one Saturday morning when it got stuck (rare event). Possibly just an Apple issue...

Android here .. Not sure i've ever seen a push alert to the App.

Shaunoc · 10-06-2019 5:15pm

Zzippy wrote: »

I'm on Android and still getting notifications, got one Saturday morning when it got stuck (rare event). Possibly just an Apple issue...

i'm on android and notice lack of notifications. i'll dbl check later

Roen · 10-06-2019 8:38pm

Only ever got one notification ever when it couldn't find it's way back to base. What does everyone get notified about?

Shaunoc · 10-06-2019 9:42pm

Roen wrote:

Only ever got one notification ever when it couldn't find it's way back to base. What does everyone get notified about?

Every now and again a clever dog will move something into lawn

Roen · 10-06-2019 9:48pm

Ah. The neighbours dog runs a lap of the garden every day or so but never leaves anything behind.
Dog free otherwise.

SchrodingersCat · 12-06-2019 8:40pm

Hi,
I discovered the following on the Flymo 1200r mower and I cant find any information on it online so I said I would post it here.

On the Flymo 1200r keypad, if you hold key 7 and 9 for ~2s you enable an "Expert" extra menu. This menu gives you the following features:

Estimated capacity of the battery in mAh. Very handy for knowing when your battery is getting old.
Sensor test menu. For example, you can test the tilt sensors, the bump sensors, etc
Motor test menu. For example, you can test the cutter motor, the wheel motors
Statistics menu
Boundary wire tests. Could be handy for finding breaks in the wire
And others that I cant remember

I came across it on the Husqvarna documentation for their Automower 105. As the Flymo 1200r is pretty much a rebadged Husqvarna, I tested it out and sure enough it worked.

I would assume this extra feature will work with other rebadged Husqvarnas such as
Automower® 105
Gardena R38Li
Gardena R40Li
Gardena R45Li
Gardena R50Li
Gardena R70Li
Gardena R80Li
McCulloch ROB R600
McCulloch ROB R800
McCulloch ROB R1000
McCulloch Flymo 1200R

robotic%20resize.ashx

staples7 · 13-06-2019 8:16am

staples7 wrote: »

I’ve noticed in the last while I’m not receiving notifications either. Ie if it’s stuck and I go into the app I can see the error. However no push notification. Perhaps a current issue with IOS

Anyone one else with same issue?

Got a notification this morning when wheel got stuck in bark mulch of a flower bed (may have the drive past wire going too far at 30cm & it was pretty wet)

Anyway push notification seems to be back working?

listermint · 13-06-2019 8:19am

SchrodingersCat wrote: »

Hi,
I discovered the following on the Flymo 1200r mower and I cant find any information on it online so I said I would post it here.

On the Flymo 1200r keypad, if you hold key 7 and 9 for ~2s you enable an "Expert" extra menu. This menu gives you the following features:
Estimated capacity of the battery in mAh. Very handy for knowing when your battery is getting old.

Sensor test menu. For example, you can test the tilt sensors, the bump sensors, etc

Motor test menu. For example, you can test the cutter motor, the wheel motors

Statistics menu

Boundary wire tests. Could be handy for finding breaks in the wire

And others that I cant remember

I came across it on the Husqvarna documentation for their Automower 105. As the Flymo 1200r is pretty much a rebadged Husqvarna, I tested it out and sure enough it worked.

I would assume this extra feature will work with other rebadged Husqvarnas such as
Automower® 105
Gardena R38Li
Gardena R40Li
Gardena R45Li
Gardena R50Li
Gardena R70Li
Gardena R80Li
McCulloch ROB R600
McCulloch ROB R800
McCulloch ROB R1000
McCulloch Flymo 1200R

Very nice find

Dr4gul4 · 18-06-2019 10:28am

Now that we'll all hangs off mowers, Do many here, who live in a more rural setting find the old weeds spreading a bit more than normal.

This year(since i've installed my 430x) I've noticed a lot of yarrow spreading in patches in my lawn. I've since given them a tender lashing of Lawn weed killer.

But it's got me thinking, since we're now mowing more often, and spreading not just grass clippings, but weed clippings ( in some cases) do you find you now have to deploy a Federalize / pesticide to your lawns to keep weeds at bay, and to help strengthen grass growth.

Zzippy · 18-06-2019 11:11am

Got the dreaded No Loop Signal this weekend. No disturbance to lawn so not sure where a break could have occurred. No AM radio in the house so have to wait to get one before I can even check it. Wondering if it could have been an electrical fault as we had painters in and they had to call me about the house alarm going off, even though it hadn't been set. Could a power cut/surge cause a loop signal fault?

SchrodingersCat · 18-06-2019 11:16am

When I power cycle the base station at the socket, about 50% it doesnt come back as normal. It flashes amber at the station instead of green. The mower reports that it doesnt detect the loop signal. I have to disconnect the low voltage input connector at the back of the base station and plug it back in (without the mower in the station) to get the LED to go green again.

KCross · 18-06-2019 11:48am

Zzippy wrote: »

Got the dreaded No Loop Signal this weekend. No disturbance to lawn so not sure where a break could have occurred. No AM radio in the house so have to wait to get one before I can even check it. Wondering if it could have been an electrical fault as we had painters in and they had to call me about the house alarm going off, even though it hadn't been set. Could a power cut/surge cause a loop signal fault?

A power surge could damage it for sure. The transformer and base station are like any other domestic electrical appliance so a power surge can damage them.

I was told to plug the transformer into a power surge protector as they are a bit weak to even small surges.

I presume you have turned it off and back on?

Do you have a light showing on the base station? What colour?
If no light, then you need to look at the transformer.

If you do have a light on I'd start by disconnecting the boundary wire and get another short piece of boundary wire and connect it across the two boundary connectors on the base station. If that doesnt give you a green light I'd say the base station has a fault. If it does give you a green light then you need to start looking for wire breaks or bad connections.

Dr4gul4 · 18-06-2019 1:50pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Got the dreaded No Loop Signal this weekend. No disturbance to lawn so not sure where a break could have occurred. No AM radio in the house so have to wait to get one before I can even check it. Wondering if it could have been an electrical fault as we had painters in and they had to call me about the house alarm going off, even though it hadn't been set. Could a power cut/surge cause a loop signal fault?

Did you get a push notification to your mobile ? ( assuming it's a husky )

No loop signal this am on mine, another faulty 3 way adapter .. #grr

Pick up a tone tester from a sparks shop, 25 /30 euro... problem solved.

Zzippy · 18-06-2019 4:54pm

KCross wrote: »

A power surge could damage it for sure. The transformer and base station are like any other domestic electrical appliance so a power surge can damage them.

I was told to plug the transformer into a power surge protector as they are a bit weak to even small surges.

I presume you have turned it off and back on?

Do you have a light showing on the base station? What colour?
If no light, then you need to look at the transformer.

If you do have a light on I'd start by disconnecting the boundary wire and get another short piece of boundary wire and connect it across the two boundary connectors on the base station. If that doesnt give you a green light I'd say the base station has a fault. If it does give you a green light then you need to start looking for wire breaks or bad connections.

Yes, I had a bust transformer before (covered under warranty) so its now plugged into a surge protector. There is power going to the base station alright, but the flashing blue light there also suggests a wire break. Just was a big coincidence that the house alarm went off the same day, so I was wondering if a surge could cause a loop signal fault.
Have tried off and on again of course.
I'll try the short piece of wire suggestion above when I get home and go from there. The boundary and guide wires are buried, so it may be a PITA to find a break.

Zzippy · 18-06-2019 10:16pm

So before I tried the wire I turned everything off for a while then back on again. Eh voila, solid green light again. Great! Go to start the mower... No loop signal! So base station says everything is fine, but mower says no. Calling the dealer tomorrow...

SchrodingersCat · 19-06-2019 10:22am

Zzippy wrote: »

So before I tried the wire I turned everything off for a while then back on again. Eh voila, solid green light again. Great! Go to start the mower... No loop signal! So base station says everything is fine, but mower says no. Calling the dealer tomorrow...

Did you try rebooting the mower after the base station reports everything OK after its reboot?

jod1983 · 19-06-2019 11:22am

SchrodingersCat wrote: »

Did you try rebooting the mower after the base station reports everything OK after its reboot?

I had this error last night. I rebooted it and all ok since. Funny enough though, where it stopped and called the error was right over the 3 way joint for the perimeter wire and guide. Might change it!!

bauney · 21-06-2019 11:32am

Hi, i also had a problem with the 3 way joint although mower didnt stop over it. so i had to use an AM radio to track it down. took a while but got there eventually.

padraig.od · 21-06-2019 12:01pm

Does anyone else suffer from a build up of damp grass under the cutting blades? I have a hsq 430x and am regularly - like every two days - removing the blades and cleaning grass from underneath each one. The build up stops the blades from spinning properly and reduces the effectiveness of the cut.

Shaunoc · 21-06-2019 12:38pm

padraig.od wrote: »

Does anyone else suffer from a build up of damp grass under the cutting blades? I have a hsq 430x and am regularly - like every two days - removing the blades and cleaning grass from underneath each one. The build up stops the blades from spinning properly and reduces the effectiveness of the cut.

twice this year i have had to do it.
now i turn mower over every now and again (weekly ish) and give it a very quick look over and use pen knife gently to ensure no build up around blade/screw or caking onto cutting plate

certainly not maintenance free, but costs me 2 minutes

KCross · 21-06-2019 1:11pm

padraig.od wrote: »

Does anyone else suffer from a build up of damp grass under the cutting blades? I have a hsq 430x and am regularly - like every two days - removing the blades and cleaning grass from underneath each one. The build up stops the blades from spinning properly and reduces the effectiveness of the cut.

You will have that if its cutting in the wet/damp or the blades are blunt.

And you will also get that if you dont have it out cutting long enough. If the mower is well above the job and is just nipping the grass each day it wont really get blocked up.

Maybe send it out for more hours of the day. What timer schedule have you set at the moment and how many sqm is your cutting area?

Pique · 21-06-2019 2:18pm

Sorry for slightly hijacking this thread, but is there a thread about the various types of mower and pro's/con's?

From Flymo, Worx to Bosch, Husqvarna and everything in between it's hard to narrow down the contenders.
I have an irregular lawn, not smooth in places, and with a slope. Regardless of the size, are there some which handle those factors better/worse than others?

Maybe a Q&A thread for potential new buyers is the right thing?

padraig.od · 21-06-2019 9:31pm

KCross wrote: »

You will have that if its cutting in the wet/damp or the blades are blunt.

And you will also get that if you dont have it out cutting long enough. If the mower is well above the job and is just nipping the grass each day it wont really get blocked up.

Maybe send it out for more hours of the day. What timer schedule have you set at the moment and how many sqm is your cutting area?

Thanks. I usually cut 8 hours over night, 5 days a week. I have upped it up to 10 hours now.

Water John · 21-06-2019 11:48pm

Would it be cutting by night with the dew be the problem?

Roen · 21-06-2019 11:57pm

I never leave it out when the dew is down. Cuts from 10:30 to 20:30 so the grass has a chance to dry in the morning and dew hasn't dropped by the time is going to bed.
It takes a rest on Saturday and Sunday when I'm home from work for the weekend so I can potter about without either of us bothering the other.

Are you about the garden all day that you don't want it cutting? If you're off in work it's the perfect time for it to be out.

KCross · 22-06-2019 10:02am

padraig.od wrote: »

Thanks. I usually cut 8 hours over night, 5 days a week. I have upped it up to 10 hours now.

That’s your problem. You will have better results cutting in the dry.

padraig.od · 22-06-2019 4:40pm

OK, thanks. Unfortunately I have to run over night, thanks for the info.

staples7 · 23-06-2019 12:11am

padraig.od wrote: »

OK, thanks. Unfortunately I have to run over night, thanks for the info.

I’ve had same issue and mentioned on this thread before that I’m gitting clumps of grass when I let it cut over night. But like Kcross mentioned it simply was not spending enough time cutting and thus struggling the odd time I did let it overnight or in the wet. For the past 2 weeks I’ve taken timer off and let it cut pretty much all day and night. Much better result and no real clumps. Now to be fair I could let it rest maybe 1 full day or maybe 6 hours a day but I’ll monitor and reduce accordingly. Hope this helps

NurseBridie · 27-06-2019 10:34am

Zzippy wrote: »

Got the dreaded No Loop Signal this weekend. No disturbance to lawn so not sure where a break could have occurred. No AM radio in the house so have to wait to get one before I can even check it. Wondering if it could have been an electrical fault as we had painters in and they had to call me about the house alarm going off, even though it hadn't been set. Could a power cut/surge cause a loop signal fault?

When I have a mains power cut I have to switch off the mower charger unit for a number of hours if the loop signal is red. I have put in a surge protector but it makes no difference. I now have a note on my household alarm to switch if off it the alarm records a mains fault.

Zzippy · 27-06-2019 3:31pm

Update: The dealer had to replace the circuit board in the base station, which had malfunctioned. There was also corrosion on the terminal which may have played a part. Picking it up again this week, just as well as the garden hasn't been cut for 2 weeks and it's like a jungle!

My autonomous lawn mower thread/blog

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