[OakNut]

This is why I would keep gas tools in the truck. Use both types for different jobs

Absolutely.

I have claw hammers, roofing hammers, drywall hammers, ball peen hammers, assorted sizes of sledge hammers...
They all have a place in the tool box for jobs they are appropriate for.

Over the last 4 seasons, the only time I use my Stihl FS90R is when I run into some seriously overgrown stuff - or I run out of string in the cordless, and don't feel like respooling it right then and there.
Interestingly, I've never once needed to resort to using the gas trimmer due to a drained battery.

I keep both trimmers even though I rarely need to use the gas one.
Same as blowers, I have a hand held and a backpack. (and a cordless handheld) It's good to have options.

 

[Turf Tracer]

The T3000 much more comfortable to operate than the Husky323’s. Similar weight w/2ah but no noise no vibration push button start, makes you grab it every time.

Still need gas units in Spring. Batt are summer trimmers.

 

[fritowrdo]

The T3000 much more comfortable to operate than the Husky323's. Similar weight w/2ah but no noise no vibration push button start, makes you grab it every time.

Still need gas units in Spring. Batt are summer trimmers.

I was a bit worried about the battery trimmer able to handle some of the wild grass in my yard but it worked well. No need for a bigger gas trimmer.

But the replies in this thread are reitterating that it is OK to have multiple tools to do the job as I have always operated with buy the one tool that will do all the jobs.

 

[Turf Tracer]

It will work on thicker stuff. But slower and batt drains fast. I was carrying 4 batt’s for T3000 in Spring and drained them all daily and still needed gas units when I was on trimmer duty.

Summer mow/blows a fleet of T3000 would have worked fine without gas backups.

 

[.147989]

The echo blower is great for gutters. No worries about a recoil starter while standing on an 8 foot ladder.

 

[Love the Green Biz]

Used it today on slow setting for both the normal around the house and the back portion of the lot.

Made it around 3/4 around the house before battery ran out. It had one bar left from last week.

Thoughts after week two:

- Slow setting is fine for weekly trimming but can tell a power difference between the two. QoC did not suffer. Would use fast for any tall/thick grass.

- When battery ran out you could tell it was running low like when you are running low on gas. I was expecting it to be full power and then just stop.

- Swapping batteries is much easier than filling up with gas.

- Unit felt natural this time. I did not get the 'this is not my normal' trimmer feeling like last week.

- The 2.0a battery was full after putting it in the charger when I was done with trimming, trim mow with the 21", edge and blow.

- Having a second battery makes a difference. I was hoping that I could do a full trim with 1 bar but the ability to grab the 2nd fully charge battery after running out allows me to operate like I did with the gas trimmer.

Final thoughts after week two:

- So far the unit and batteries have worked as expected.

- Wonder if battery run time will be longer when the .095 line runs out and I use the .080 line.

Try the 5.0 ah battery. Like most manufacturers the 2.0 ah bats don't last much more than 2 years. My Dewalts and Greenworks 2.0 ah bats both went at the same time and the same age.

 

[sjessen]

Try the 5.0 ah battery. Like most manufacturers the 2.0 ah bats don't last much more than 2 years. My Dewalts and Greenworks 2.0 ah bats both went at the same time and the same age.

Are the 5h batteries significantly heavier?

 

[weeze]

i have all the echo battery equipment. the mower, trimmer, blower, chainsaw, and hedge trimmers. they all work great. i have 7 batteries. five 4ah batteries and two 2ah batteries.

i use the 2ah batteries for the hedge trimmers only. one of them will last like 3hrs in the hedge trimmers.

i use the chainsaw for cutting down low hanging limbs and small trees and such. it's great for that. you can cut a tree down with it but really it's not made for that type of thing.

i have about 1/4 acre lot at my house and i use the pushmower. it takes about 1 1/2 batteries to do and then i use the remainder in the trimmer and blower to finish up.

i have like 5 chargers since everything came with a charger so i'm set for a long time if any charger or battery fails.

you can find brand new batteries on ebay at half price for these or at least you used to could back when i bought them.

 

[weeze]

Are the 5h batteries significantly heavier?

only a pound or two heavier. you don't really notice it.

 

[Love the Green Biz]

Are the 5h batteries significantly heavier?

Yes but won't be too bad. They do last longer both in run time and longevity.

 

[fritowrdo]

I have the trimmer and hedge trimmer and both came with the 2.0a batteries.

Both work well for my HO requirements.

It is nice to not have to deal with gas/oil and the hassles associated with gas engines.

Would buy again. And eventually buy the chain saw and lawn mower when it is time.

 

[HenryN]

- When battery ran out you could tell it was running low like when you are running low on gas. I was expecting it to be full power and then just stop.

Lithium ion batteries give full voltage until they "just stop". I have been using an Ego string trimmer for nearly 4 years, and it has always worked that way. Full power and then nothing, no spin.

What you experienced was probably a matter of your own expectations. We all are subject to our own expectations.

 

[OakNut]

Lithium ion batteries give full voltage until they "just stop". I have been using an Ego string trimmer for nearly 4 years, and it has always worked that way. Full power and then nothing, no spin.

What you experienced was probably a matter of your own expectations. We all are subject to our own expectations.

I've been using the DeWalt stuff for at least as long, and I can tell as well.
It's subtle, but I can feel the slight power loss before it cuts out completely. Usually you can wait a few seconds and get a quick burst out of it, wait a few and do it again.
I've done that a few times when I was nearly finished trimming and it was too far to walk to bother with going for another battery.
When was the last time you got any more out of a gas powered tool when it runs dry? Haha

 

[HenryN]

I am not about to dispute what you say. I have never noticed a "slight power loss", but it could very well be that I just didn't notice.

On the other hand, I have noticed that if you give it a slight pause, it will usually work again for a few seconds. Not long enough to do any real work, but maybe if you only needed 6 inches more trimmed ...

On the "too far to walk to bother with going for another battery", I have in the past considered some kind of mechanism for carrying a second backup battery.

I have a 5 ah Ego battery, which came with the chain saw. I have never run down that battery, but I don't really like using it. I don't mind the weight so much as the fact that it makes the trimmer out of balance. Far too heavy on the top (battery) end.

 

[fritowrdo]

Lithium ion batteries give full voltage until they "just stop". I have been using an Ego string trimmer for nearly 4 years, and it has always worked that way. Full power and then nothing, no spin.

What you experienced was probably a matter of your own expectations. We all are subject to our own expectations.

That was what I was suspecting when doing my research on this before I bought it.

But there is a drop in performance and then about 5 seconds later it is dead. It is something that is consistent when the battery is low and about to die.

 

[fritowrdo]

I've been using the DeWalt stuff for at least as long, and I can tell as well.
It's subtle, but I can feel the slight power loss before it cuts out completely. Usually you can wait a few seconds and get a quick burst out of it, wait a few and do it again.
I've done that a few times when I was nearly finished trimming and it was too far to walk to bother with going for another battery.
When was the last time you got any more out of a gas powered tool when it runs dry? Haha

That is the same thing I see on the Echo battery equipment.

 

[fritowrdo]

I am not about to dispute what you say. I have never noticed a "slight power loss", but it could very well be that I just didn't notice.

On the other hand, I have noticed that if you give it a slight pause, it will usually work again for a few seconds. Not long enough to do any real work, but maybe if you only needed 6 inches more trimmed ...

On the "too far to walk to bother with going for another battery", I have in the past considered some kind of mechanism for carrying a second backup battery.

I have a 5 ah Ego battery, which came with the chain saw. I have never run down that battery, but I don't really like using it. I don't mind the weight so much as the fact that it makes the trimmer out of balance. Far too heavy on the top (battery) end.

And I can get a few seconds of battery after it dies as well.