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Trimmer shootout batt vs fuel, Milwaukee m18 fueled, vs husqvarna 536lilx, vs 525rx

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Corey B

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Well I wanted to see a head to head on these trimmers and found nothing so....
I did one my self pinning the "professional grade" Milwaukee m18 fueled String trimmer against 2 of Husqvarna best offerings. The professional 536lilx and the 525rx .
Enjoy the very long video but I doubt anyone will show the real world uses we put these through.

 
#3 ·
You let out too much line and running .95 can’t even break it on a hard surface.
And Keeping weight similar to a 23cc trimmer means 2ah batt max. Very crappy runtime.

A batt unit is basically equivalent to a 19cc gas with a quarter tank of gas. Except to fill it up again to 1/4 you need a $120 Battery replacement.

Strictly Homeowner stuff

Ran these 4 weeks next to Husky 323’s 525’s and 525LST and an echo 280
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
windflower said:
I keep hearing this. What are you guys trimming? I've been using an echo 58v trimmer for 3 years now. Don't even own a gas one anymore.
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Ya in the video the battery ones are doing some serious timber undergrowth stuff. And the 525rx is not completely stomping them. Plus a battery lasts longer then a tank of fuel in my 128 and my buddies 129l
 
#6 ·
Runtime is fine if you run a big batt but that kills power to weight. Anything over 2ah and unit is heavier than 25cc gas

Also try running .95 without guard. If you want to put put along with .80 and a guard with 4ah or bigger batts. Go Nuts.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Turf Tracer said:
Runtime is fine if you run a big batt but that kills power to weight. Anything over 2ah and unit is heavier than 25cc gas

Also try running .95 without guard. If you want to put put along with .80 and a guard with 4ah or bigger batts. Go Nuts.
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Ya battery weight is always going to be a challenge. Fearfully the manufacturers will cut weight everywhere else making them cheaply made crap.
 
#8 ·
Right so hypothetically if I was going to carry one battery trimmer with similar power to weight as a Husky 323 or 525 gas and run .95 line/no guard , I would burn through three to four 2ah batts per day. And the unit would perform like a 20cc trimmer at best.

So cost up near $800 and I’d have a less powerful trimmer.
 
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#10 ·
I will be draining 3 batt’s a day every day this season so will see If these batts can go an entire season. Haven’t done the math yet but Very Doubtful fuel savings is going to equal price of 4 spare batts and a couple chargers.

The unit is very comfortable to operate w/the 2ah batt. No vibration. No noise. And weight similar to a 323.

It’s fine for extended periods of light trimming especially if you have allot of walk/trim/walk/trim stuff when power not used.

But if you need to flat top a patch that mower can’t hit or run into some dense trimming and you running over 14” radius of .95 line, the batt will drain Fast. And it does not have the power to trim at speeds consistent with a unit like the 525 or 323
 
#11 ·
I've decided to take the electric thing seriously this year.....on handhelds anyway......bought plenty of batteries to run as hard as I want as long as I need. I will never switch back to gas. My daily trimmer has .7 hp and the comparison to a 20 c.c. is true sorta.....electric power is different. My 2nd trimmer I keep on the truck has 2.5 hp and has nice power. I have a 7.5 ah battery ridding on a factory backpack and it is a joy in many ways to use daily. My previous trimmers I carried were the km94 and fs130. Nearly six months of use and I have had exactly zero problems with the handhelds and two battery issues.
 
#14 ·
.080 definitely better runtime than .095

But you cannot trim at maximum efficiency with a guard and once you let out better than 14” swath of line, battery life and power drops off significantly.
 
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#15 ·
Turf Tracer said:
.080 definitely better runtime than .095

But you cannot trim at maximum efficiency with a guard and once you let out better than 14" swath of line, battery life and power drops off significantly.
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Put yer guard back on and modify the cutter so ya have a 17 or 18 swath:weightlifter:
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
Both the Milwaukee and Husqvarna have right close to 16" and i was supposed at the power they have there. And with the Batteries I used in the video I was getting 45 minutes to an hour run time. I just don't see many guys needing more power. Liking more power is another discussion and loving the sound of a 2 stroke screaming along is something that may be lost to the future and epa crazy regs.
Fyi I am that guy that loves a good ruining 2 stroke.
 
#17 ·
Sure but batts you were running put unit in higher weight class

Not interested in sacrificing power to weight of a good 23cc gas for a heavy batt w/less power.

They not as good as gas. Yet.
 
#18 ·
Turf Tracer said:
Sure but batts you were running put unit in higher weight class

Not interested in sacrificing power to weight of a good 23cc gas for a heavy batt w/less power.

They not as good as gas. Yet.
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So what did you think of the Milwaukee? I have one and the 323 sits most of the time. You need to try the Milwaukee before all your negative comments on battery trimmers.
 
#19 · (Edited)
What is the weight of the Milwaukee with the shown battery

It’s not like Milwaukee can make 4ah and bigger batts Lighter Than Anyone Else on The Planet.

To get better runtime you sacrifice power to weight.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
Turf Tracer said:
What is the weight of the Milwaukee with the shown battery

It's not like Milwaukee can make 4ah and bigger batts Lighter Than Anyone Else on The Planet.

To get better runtime you sacrifice power to weight.
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You sacrifice weight and run time. Not power. The power is the same. I will try and put our Milwaukee on a scale. I have the 2.0, 5.0, and 9.0 battery I can weigh as well. Battery weight is always going to be there. But there is more then just a power to weight ratio. Granted it seems like the most important thing to you. Which is just fine. But to me 12 year old daughter learning the business she will take the weight for the simplicity of the Milwaukee.
 
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