Black & Decker’s CMM1200 electric mower gets Energy Star nod

Electric walk-behind mowers have become popular among homeowners who don’t want to set another gas-guzzling device loose on the planet. These mowers also eliminate tune-ups and trips to the gas station.

Generally, cordless electric mowers offer easy starting, though they’re suitable only if your lawn is on the small side and you don’t cut down too much grass at a time. A corded-electric model is another choice for a small property, though consider one only if you can deal with the inconvenience of a cord and won’t have to mow too far from an outlet.

Communities in California and Ohio are promoting electric mowers in a big way, with offers of heavy discounts on Neuton cordless mowers for residents who trade in a gas mower. And now the push mower that topped our Ratings of electric models (available to subscribers), the cordless Black & Decker CMM1200, $400, our top-rated electric mower, has picked up some federal bona fides.

The Energy Star program, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, has listed the charger the 24-volt, 19-inch CMM1200 (shown) as an Energy Star-qualified device. On average, qualified battery chargers use 35 percent less energy, the program claims, than conventional models. The charger for the CMM1200’s sealed-lead-acid battery joins a list of other Energy Star chargers for cordless power tools, handheld vacuums, and a few portable printers.

In our latest review of lawn mowers, the CMM1200 proved very good at side-discharge cutting, mulching, and handling, and its wheel-height adjustment uses a single lever. Black & Decker claims the mower can handle up to one third of an acre on a single charge, but that might be pushing it—our tests revealed a 40-minute cutting time for a nine-hour charge.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read our recent tip of the day to get your lawn mower in shape for spring and summer cutting. And use the expert yard-care advice in our Complete Lawn & Yard Guide to keep your lawn looking its best.

Comments

[Judy Filibeck]

I've had the Black & Decker 19" cordless mower for 6 years or so. During that time there have been 2 recalls with the repair done a long way from my home. I have now been told that it needs a new battery ($250) and that it should be charged for an hour or so prior to using. This should definitely be emphasized! I was told that most people do what I did, leave the charger on after using. The person I was talking to said that the mower battery should take 500 charges and that on-going charging cuts that number in half!

[James Cox]

I purchased this mower this spring from Lowe's. It runs great but it doesn't cut good. It will leave long blades of grass standing everywhere. This happens regardless of the legnth of the grass. It usually requires going over the lawn twice and requires the battery be recharged before being able to finish the job. I am very disappointed in the cutting ability. I'm having the old Toro repaired and retiring the new one.

[Trevor Whitehouse]

I have just purchased a CMM1200 to replace my 14 year-old CMM650 cordless. The old mower was comind due for a battery change and rather than invvest in the new battery at $125, I opted for a $300 purchase for the CMM1200.

As the old CMM650 was a 12 volt arrangement, it did have its limitations in my typical suburban yard (70' x 165') because to get a smooth mulch you have to mow twice. By the end of the second pass, the mower was staring to slow down. But, I never had a time in regular weekly mowing where one charge wouldn't get me through the yard twice in mulch mode. If you are coming back after vacation and the grass is really high, make the first pass on discharge (less battery consumption) and then second pass in mulch.

The CMM1200 is 24 volts and a 19" cut compared to a 18" cut on the CMM650. If it goes as well as the old CMM650, and I fully expect that it will do better, then 14 to 20 years on a lawnmower is just fine with me as I never had a gas mower that lasted more than 8 years or so.

[N. Paradise]

I used the CMM1000 for a full ten seasons on the original battery, simply plugging the mower in when I was done mowing. The first few years I could cut my lawn and the neighbor's on one charge. For many years it cut my normal-sized lawn just fine on one charge. The last season it ran out of juice after doing half the yard. The mower cut just fine so long as the grass wasn't wet. I'm now replacing it with the CMM1200 rather than shelling out the money for a new battery and charger (I dropped the charger from a high shelf!). You do NOT need a lawn on the smaller side to be happy with this mower. It's perfect for any normal sized suburban lawn.

[Leslie M. Ohmart III]

Beware getting a warranty repair. Service centers are few and far between. The nearest one to me is over 100 miles. Black and Decker suggested that I either ship it for repair, drive it there myself or fix it myself and void the warranty!

[Reuben Gathright]

We should all do our part to save the enviroment and encourage the growth of the solar and wind power industries. Cordless electric lawn mowers go a long ways towards these goals. I recently purchased the Black & Decker Cordless Electric Lawnmower the CMM1200. I hope my review will help you make a decision about our future.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Black_Decker_19_In_24_Volt_Cordless_Mulching_Mower/content_445899312772