Introduction: How to Build a Solar Charged Remote Control Electric Lawn Mower

About: Robert Smith discovered the wonders of online content at an early age. He started out while in middle school using free web services to create an online forum that served as a central location for all his vide…
General Overview

My name is Robert Steve Smith, and I have developed a Solar Charged Remote Control Electric Lawn Mower (SCRCELM). This project started out as a personal project, but soon turned into my college senior project. My primary reason for building the remote control (RC) device was to make cutting the yard much more enjoyable and effortless while also incorporating other technologies such as solar energy into the project. My ultimate goal was to create a device that did not rely on gasoline, was simple to operate, could be used as a backup energy source, and to share with others how I built the device.

The full how-to video series, list of parts needed, and other important details can be found at my website here:RC-LawnMower.com

Video Series Information

The how-to video series is setup very similar to my previous large project which was showing others how to build a 63W solar panel and solar powered system. There are a total of 14 videos, including the intro video, where I explain in great detail how I created the SCRCELM. If you have any questions, please visit my FAQ page first, and if your question is not listed there, visit my contact page at: Robert-Smith.net. I put a lot of time and effort into producing these videos, so if you find them interesting or helpful, please rate, subscribe, or leave a comment. 

More Information About the Project

The amount of time it took to complete this project was roughly 130 man hours. Most of the time was spent creating the aluminum frame. The next bulk of time was spent on research and development. I estimated the weight of the device to be a little over 200lbs. The total cost of the project was estimated to be a little over $1500.00. Some of the most expensive items were the rechargeable electric lawn mower, solar panels, solar charge controller, motor controller, and electric wheelchair motors.  

Overall, this was my largest and most expensive project to date, however, I learned quite a bit and enjoyed seeing it actually work. I hope you do as well.