Once you have purchased a robotic lawn mower, the next step is to install the wire and the charging dock. Some people are apprehensive in buying a robotic lawn mower, thinking that they need to be an expert to be able to install one.
I assure you that you do not need technical skills to install the whole thing. And pretty much, the products themselves come with a manual. You can install it in just a few hours, and you should be ready to live a mowing-free life moving forward.
Today, I will share with you everything you need to know on how to install a robotic lawn mower.
Table of Contents
STEP 1: Install the Charging Station
Before you can do this, you need to sketch your lawn or garden. From an aerial view, you need to determine the best place to position your charging station.
Ideally, it must be close to a power source. While you can also use extensions wires that lead to your house, it is cumbersome. There are weatherproof extension cords that you can buy, but it is always better to have an external power outlet dedicated to the charging dock.
Next, the location must be a flat surface. It has to be an area where the robotic lawn mower can dock with ease. This is why many manufacturers advise you to set up the charging dock on a flat area of the lawn.
Ideally, all sides of the charging dock must have a clearance of 1.5 meters. This ensures that the robot can easily navigate its way back.
Also, the charging dock must be on, not o concrete. Most screws for charging docks are made of plastic, and they will not work on concrete. Once this is completed, you can now screw the plate to the ground, and then move to the next step.
STEP 2: Charge the Robotic Lawn Mower
The next step is to fully charge your lawn mower. This is to ensure that it has enough power to work once the wires are set-up. Charging time can take anywhere between 60 minutes and 100 minutes. If you do not charge your mower, it will not have enough power for testing alter on.
STEP 3: Lay the Boundary Wire
The boundary wire is the kind of wire that you put at the edges of your lawn. This wire serves as a perimeter. It sends a signal to the robot, telling it that it has reached the edge and that it should stop moving forward.
You can purchase more boundary wires on Amazon if what you have in the package is not enough. You must also put boundary wires around flower beds and trees. This should prevent the lawn mower from bumping into them.
The wires come with special nails. Use them to peg the wire around the perimeter. Some manufacturers have wires that you can bury.
Now, not all wires can be buried. Some wires are made for pegging on top of the soil, not inside it. Read the manual and see what kind of wire you have.
STEP 4: Lay the Guide Wire
The guide wire is different from the perimeter wire. The guide wire is what tells the autonomous lawn mower to go back to the charging station, and how to get there.
To set up the guide wire, you have to connect one of the ends to the charging dock or station. Expand the wire to the farthest part of your lawn. The other end should be attached to the perimeter wire or the boundary wire. The robotic lawn mower will get a signal from this guidewire, and then navigate its way to the charging dock.
Once this is set up, the robot may find itself on an edge that is not connected to the guide wire. In this case, the edge wire will tell the robot its distance from the guide wire. The robot will go there, and then once t has detected the guide wire, it will navigate its way back to the charging station.
Now that this is done, you can sit back and relax. If your lawn mower has an app, you can sit in your patio, activate the app, and then control your lawn mower from there. Sit and watch while it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is highly likely that you have not purchased a robotic lawn mower yet. In this regard, let me present you with some of the most common questions about them.
Is it hard to install?
No, it is not hard to install. However, prepare to spend a few hours installing them. While setting up the perimeter wire does not require really hard work, it can take some time.
What are the worst-case scenarios?
The worst-case scenario is you do not have enough wires. Before you buy, measure your lawn edges. Create a plan and read the product specs before buying. If you know this, you can buy extra wires even before you start the installation process.
Will they clean the edges, too?
Yes, the best robot lawn mower does a good job in trimming grass at the edges. This is what the perimeter wire is for. Many manufacturers will tell you to put the wire to the very edge, or outside the edge of the grassed lot. Make sure you clean them and do proper maintenance, so their performance is always optimum.
Will the mower damage other things in the garden?
Not really. Modern robotic lawn mowers today have powerful sensors. They can detect obstacles and will not mow them. To be sure, you can put perimeter wires around them.
Summary on How to Install a Robotic Lawn Mower
It is easy to install a robotic lawn mower. It can take a few hours, but your effort is well worth it. To avoid any frustration, survey your lawn area, and draw a schematic. Measure each edge, and plan where to put the charging dock before you buy.
This way, you know how much wire you need, and you also know the size of your lawn area. These things will help you make the right purchasing decisions, and prevent having to deal with refunds and returns later on.