I'm debating on getting a Kobalt 13-amp corded mower. I'm tired of messing with gas mowers, I had a Worx electric mower a few years ago but the battery only lasted 2 years. The Lowe's Kobalt electric mowers now have 3 year warranties on their batteries, but a corded mower should last longer than that (i hope).

Anyway - I was thinking just buy the mower and a 100 ft extension cord and i'd be fine. Looking through the manual, they have this amperage guide:


What that chart tells me is that the mower is not designed for a 100 ft cord, since it is a 13 amp motor. Is that correct? Amazon sells this cord which is 12 gauge, 15 amps, and 100 ft, so shouldn't that work?

Thanks,

First question....how much cord do you actually need? 12/3 is heavy and you definitely will not want to be rolling 100ft of that crap up every time you mow.

Voltage drop is proportional to length of a wire. For a 13 amp mower on 100ft of cord, you may be looking at 10/3...but someone here may be better suited to answer that.

Also, allowing for proper saftey factor (80% of rated amperage), a 13A mower should probably only be used on a 20A circuit.

1st question - I honestly hadn't thought about weight. I could get by with 50 ft, but would have to move electrical outlets. I was just thinking 100ft would let me do the whole yard from 1 outlet. You make a good point.

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Voltage drop is proportional to length of a wire. For a 13 amp mower on 100ft of cord, you may be looking at 10/3...but someone here may be better suited to answer that.

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This was my main concern - just a subject i have trouble wrapping my brain around for some reason.

If you can get by with just 50 ft, I would go that route. 12/3 is rated for 20A. 50 Ft should be fine for a 13A mower. If you are a Costco member, they usually have 12/3 50ft cords for much cheaper than you can get on Amazon of HD/Lowes.

Can't imagine mowing with a corded mower. Have a corded trimmer because my last house had a tiny yard. It is annoying as hell as to drag a cord around my new house.

If you properly treat the ethanol fuel you are putting in the engines, they will run for years with no issues.


Been using this for around 10 years

https://m.lowes.com/pd/STAR-TRON-8-oz-Fuel-Additive/3329684


And have not had any ethanol issues. Previously used stabil and started having ethanol issues with it.

I beat the **** out of my mower and run it on whatever gasoline I have lying around and it's always performed. Only thing I had to do was change a blade after I hit a hidden stump at the new place. I've run through three extension cords from just my corded hedge trimmer, No thanks on anything cordless if I can help it

jay040 said:

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Amazon sells this cord which is 12 gauge, 15 amps, and 100 ft, so shouldn't that work?

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Sort of. It's rated for up to 15 amps*, and it's 100 feet in length. It's not telling you what the voltage drop will be if you put a 15 amp load on it.

Technically, 12 gauge wire is rated for more than 15 amps, but the plug and receptacle end are only good for 15.

There's a bit of a safety factor built into that chart because there's no way of telling the voltage drop from your service to your electrical panel, and then from the panel to the receptacle where you plug in the cord. The mower would still work with excessive voltage drop, it will just run slower and you run the risk of burning it out if it drops too much. Stick a shop vac directly into the receptacle, and then into a long ass extension cord and you can hear the difference in the sound of the motor.

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Can't imagine mowing with a corded mower. Have a corded trimmer because my last house had a tiny yard. It is annoying as hell as to drag a cord around my new house.

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That. Not the question you asked, but I picture dragging the cord around through the mud, grass clippings, etc. I have a corded blower I bought because I needed something cheap that day and I've grown to hate it. The cord always seems to be just a foot too short to get certain parts.

Thanks everyone. I had a lot of hesitations about going corded, I pulled out a 50ft extension cord just to see if that would cover, and it would involved swapping outlets multiple times and making the annoying job of mowing even more so. So I bought the 40volt Kobalt. We'll see how long the battery lasts.