FAQ for Robotic mowers

Reasons to buy Automower™

Does it take a lot of time to own and operate Automower™ ?
No, Automower™ is very simple to operate. You continuously get a good result without any effort from you as a consumer. Once you have installed Automower™, it independently ensures that your lawn is well cut, without any involvement from your side – whether you are at home, in the office or on holiday. Your lawn will always remain well maintained, but you do not perform the actual task of mowing.
Is it easy to use?
Yes, very easy. The product is very light compared to conventional mowers, weighing only 9 to 14 kg. The control panel is easy to understand and operate - once in use Automower™ can be left to its own devices.
Is Automower™ noisy?
Not at all. The sound level of Automower™ is very low, generating only 62 dB (A) of noise compared to average conventional mowers, which generate between 95 and 100 dB (A) of noise. This means Automower™ is a very quiet product. You can easily have Automower™ working in the garden without disturbing you or your neighbours.
What effect does Automower™ have on the environment?
Since Automower™ runs on batteries, there are no emissions generated by the mower, and the actual energy consumption is very low. The running costs are only around 15 to 25 euros per year for the electricity consumed, depending on the size of the lawn.
What if you have allergies – does all that mowing make allergies worse?
On the contrary, if you have grass allergies or hayfever, Automower™ can be a good solution for you. Since you don’t need to be present when Automower™ is cutting your lawn, you automatically eliminate most contact with grass waste. Also, the grass is kept so short that allergens do not become airborne. Previous Automower™ owners actually found that they could stand to be in the garden.

How to use Automower™

How do I install Automower™ ?
You can easily do the installation yourself. Just follow the instructions in the operator’s manual. It takes 2-5 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the lawn. The seller or service point may also offer the installation service, although it is not included in the recommended retail price.
How do I start and stop Automower™ ?
Once the system is installed you have to switch on the main switch to start the mower, and close the keypad hatch. To stop it, simply press the large STOP button.
Do I need to bury the wire in the ground?
No. The wire can be laid upon the ground using the supplied staples and will after some weeks be grown over and disappear in to the grass. A good tip is to cut the grass as short as possible at the perimeter in order to get the wire as close as possible to the ground. However, if you wish to bury the wire from the beginning, you can, the suggested depth is 3-10 cm.
What happens if I forget my PIN code?
You must contact your dealer who will help you retrieve the PIN code.

Suitable gardens

What is the maximum operational area for Automower™ ?
Automower™ can handle lawns up to 6000m² +/- 20%, depending on model and complexity of the garden. The area capacity per model is specified as:

Automower™ 210 C : 0-500m²
Automower™ 220 AC : 0-1800m²
Automower™ 230 ACX : 0-3000m²
Automower™ Solar Hybrid : 0-2200m²
Automower™ 260 ACX : 0-6000m²
Will I still need an ordinary lawnmower?
No. We recommend you to complement the edges with a trimmer to get a perfect finish for your lawn.
What do I do if my lawn size is larger than 6000m² ?
You can install two or more machines side by side. We have today several “multiple” installations in place throughout the world.
Can I use Automower™ in smaller gardens?
Yes. Using Automower™ the working hours can be set in accordance to lawn size. A good guideline is 75m² cutting per hour (220 AC), 90m² cutting per hour (Solar Hybrid), 125m² cutting per hour (230 ACX), respectively 250m² cutting per hour (260 ACX). Automower™ 210 C is also an efficient, desirable choice for homeowners with smaller or fragmented lawn areas.
Can Automower™ handle all types of gardens?
In principle yes as long as the incline doesn’t exceed 35%. The convenience advantage may be limited in a very fragmented garden (a lawn consisting of many small patches of lawns not connected to each other) as the mower has to be moved around manually. During the installation, you will have to ensure that Automower™ does not cut areas you do not wish to cut, e.g. flowers, bushes, trees, rocks, etc.
Will Automower™ cope with my uneven lawn?
Due to the large driving wheels, Automower™ can cope with uneven surfaces very well. Only small deep holes may cause Automower™ to get stuck. On the contrary, Automower™ is small enough to follow the curvature of a rough lawn. It will not scalp the “hills” like many larger mowers.
Can Automower™ detect objects such as clothes or toys lying around on the lawn?
No. It is up to the owner to keep the lawn surface free from objects. Any object that is small enough for Automower™ to pass over may be damaged, as well as cause damage to the machine’s blades. Make sure your lawn is clear of small objects before operating Automower™.
What about pine cones, tree branches and fruit on the ground?
To maximise the life of the blades these types of objects should be raked or collected regularly. They will not damage the mower, but the blades will wear faster. Tree branches may also damage or bend the blades resulting in a poor cutting performance.
I have a nice flower bed and trees that I want to protect. Is that possible?
Provided the wire has been installed correctly around your flower bed, tree, shrub, or other object, then Automower™ cannot damage it or intrude into that area.
How does Automower™ handle very long grass?
If the grass is very long and thick you should raise the cutting height and then gradually reduce it to the preferred level. In extreme conditions the lawn may need to be cut by a conventional mower before Automower™ takes over.
I have a lot of moss in my lawn – how does that effect Automower™ ?
Actually it is Automower™ that will affect the moss. The continuous mowing has a very positive influence on grass growth leading to the gradual disappearance of moss from the lawn.
Will the mower cut the grass in rainy conditions?
Yes, but it’s recommended that you bring the mower inside in extreme weather conditions, such as torrential rain and storms.
Will the mower cut in very hot conditions?
The mower is designed to function in temperatures of up to about 45ºC. From about 25ºC the mow and charge times will become shorter, as the battery capacity is lower in hot conditions. The area performance however remains unchanged.
If I want to use Automower™ at my summer home or share it with my neighbour, can Automower™ work at two different locations?
Yes. If you buy two charging stations and two loop wire cables, you can have two separate installation sites and use Automower™ in both locations.

Safety

Can children play on the lawn when Automower™ is working?
Even though Automower™ uses very low power, you can still cut your fingers or toes if they get in contact with the blade. A built-in safety feature means the blade will automatically stop if the mower is lifted up or turned over. We recommend turning off Automower™ when small children are playing on the lawn.
Does Automower™ have a theft alarm?
Yes. Automower™ has several theft protection systems that may be activated. Most important: Automower™ cannot be used without the personal PIN code. The installation lock prevents Automower™ from functioning on any other installation than your own. The time lock requests your four-digit PIN to be entered at an interval decided by yourself. The alarm requires the first digit of the PIN code to be entered when Automower™ is stopped – or an audio alarm will go off.
Is Automower™ potentially dangerous to cats and dogs?
No. Our experience shows that pets usually respect Automower™ and give it some space. When they lie down to rest, for example, they tend to go outside of the Automower™ operating area. However, Automower™ is equipped with sensors which means that it reverses and chooses another direction if it runs into ‘objects’ such as pets. If it does collide with a pet, the contact is very light and unlikely to cause any damage.

Maintenance and service

Where can I get service and spare parts?
You can get service at your nearest authorised service point. To find it, go to the Dealer locator facility.
What’s the lifetime of the battery?
This depends on the area and set running time of the mower. If you run Automower™ 6 months a year on an area of 800 m², your battery will last 2-3 seasons. In order to save your battery you should set the timer according to the size of your lawn. During the dry season you can easily reduce the running time without losing performance.
What’s the lifetime of the blades?
The life of the blades depends on the type of soil and grass. Typically, the life is 1-2 months on 1000 m². You can replace the three lightweight blades (5 blades for 260 ACX) in five minutes using a regular screwdriver.
Do I need to store it inside during the winter?
Yes, if you don’t have to mow in the winter. Before putting Automower™ away for the winter it should be cleaned and wiped dry and then stored in dry frost-free conditions. We also recommend that the charging station is stored indoors over the winter. The loop wire installation can remain in the lawn.
How do I maintain Automower™ to keep it in the best condition?
Replacing blades regularly is vital to maintain an excellent cutting result. Now and then, depending on your lawn size, you should spend a few minutes cleaning grass from the wheels and chassis.

Buying Automower™

Where can I buy Automower™?
To find the dealer closest to you, go to the Dealer Locator.
How much does Automower™ cost?
The price is approximately €1300 to €4200, depending on what
model you buy.