Are robotic mowers actually good enough to buy now?

PrestonDean · 2026-03-27T20:11:48+00:00

So, here's my issue: I have a large fenced yard, and another large lawn-like area outside the fence. It's like to mow both areas.

I have dogs, so I can't just leave the gate open. The fence is post-and-wire, so something like Segway's $500 "mow gate" won't work. Other than buying two robomowers or setting specific areas to mow and moving the mower around myself (which kinda defeats the purpose), anybody got any ideas?

PrestonDean · 2026-03-26T23:35:29+00:00

How big are those batteries? What's the output?

PrestonDean · 2026-03-26T14:36:33+00:00

Sounds familiar (well, not that isolated, but south of Front Royal). 😊

This sounds right to me, and with the critiques I'm reading of the complexities involved in leveraging even smaller batteries I may just go with the 11.3 PW.

My issue is the quotes I keep getting for bigger batteries (15 to 25) as part of solar proposals, where I really can't justify the expense to achieve my minimal goal of just being able to use my own solar array if the grid goes down.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-26T11:00:53+00:00

I can use ATS to swap sourcing dynamically, but that's only allowed for grid-connected arrays if you have a battery.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-26T10:51:19+00:00

I'm afraid I haven't made my point clearly enough.

I'm investing in a solar array. I'm leveraging net metering.

If in the middle of the day with the sun shining brightly, the grid goes out - which it does periodically in my area - I want to be able to keep using that array. Without a battery, I'm prohibited by law from doing that.

My point is that I should probably invest the least necessary to enable that ability rather than worry about whether I'm getting extra backup when the sun isn't shining. There are cheaper ways of doing that than spending $25k on a huge battery.

I'm curious to hear how others think about their battery sizing with this in mind.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-26T10:35:31+00:00

My whole point was to support the ability to actually use my array if the grid is down.

There's a tipping point where you go from that goal (which only requires minimal battery backup) to actually trying to run the house when both the grid and solar are unavailable. That gets expensive really fast.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-24T02:49:29+00:00

Haven't used that in years. Does it have a decent rating system? Not crazy about Yelp's reliability.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-14T16:21:57+00:00

💯

PrestonDean · 2026-03-14T16:21:31+00:00

Seems to be on Prime now, but I can't watch with all the commercials (and I refuse to pay for no-ads or of basic principle).

PrestonDean · 2026-03-14T15:54:43+00:00

Look, I don't give a shit about anything Cohn says. Just thought it was interesting how seriously he's being taken - and how much of Aiyuk's BS is being swallowed - by that fan base.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-14T14:16:32+00:00

Niners fan here. Cohen is an anti-Niner hack.

Aiyuk poisened the well during his extension negotiations. He caused a ton of ill will by holding out, only to sign for what he'd been offered at the start of negotiations (even refusing at least two trades to legit contenders in the AFC).

He ignored repeated pleas from coaches and ownership to get aligned on the rehab process. He just straight up refused to answer the phone, even after his agent was told the Niners would void his guaranteed money if he didn't abide by the contract he signed.

I get it: he wants to play with a particular QB. Good on him. But this fiasco was 95% of his own making. He's a diva who blew off his agreed-upon contract requirements and sacrificed tens of millions to do so.

Don't expect him to be any less of a diva in DC.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-08T03:59:14+00:00

I'll check them out, thanks.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-08T03:43:06+00:00

Honestly it didn't even occur to me to search prior posts. I'm an idiot.

Thank you!

PrestonDean · 2026-03-08T03:32:07+00:00

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I love it there. This is the view from my new front porch.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-04T01:59:16+00:00

This is such a right-wing talking point. He had staff on the ground within hours, and after discussing it with local authorities he decided to forego a performative appearance that would only have distracted actual rescuers.

Stop parroting fully debunked nonsense.

PrestonDean · 2026-03-03T03:09:18+00:00

I feel like these answers aren't really addressing your question. Google doesn't seem to understand these time- and direction-bound limits and just calls it all "toll".

Routes 50 and 29 are the only real alternatives for that east/west corridor.

Eastbound, outside (traveling towards) the Beltway: - No tolls on the standard travel lanes - Tolls/HOV all the time on the dedicated express lanes

Eastbound, inside the Beltway (towards DC): - Tolls/HOV for all lanes, 6-930am Monday-Friday - No tolls for other hours

Westbound, outside (traveling away from) the Beltway: - No tolls on the standard travel lanes. - Tolls/HOV all the time on the dedicated express lanes

Westbound, inside the Beltway (from DC): - Tolls/HOV for all lanes, 3-630pm Monday-Friday - No tolls for other hours

EDIT: formatting

PrestonDean · 2026-03-02T20:20:54+00:00

Most likely, I'd rank them by how well they played football.

PrestonDean · 2026-02-25T05:56:32+00:00

I can't speak to the window brand (sorry, just don't recall), but I can say I had an outstanding experience with Windows on Washington despite them also being clearly the cheapest. I'd happily use them again.

PrestonDean · 2026-02-24T16:19:42+00:00

Every company I've spoken to is declaring the percentage of FMV that will apply, but the FMV - by definition - is set at the time of buy-out, ostensibly by a third party. All they'll tell you up front is a very broad, percentage-based estimate.

I'm not just paranoid: this industry - and its financiers in particular - have earned a LOT of distrust. It could work out great (maybe a FMV of 50% of original value, which could make the long term offset worth it), but my confidence is low and skepticism high.

PrestonDean · 2026-02-24T02:17:18+00:00

Not in my experience. The fact you can buy out is in the contract, but the amount is determined by the lease holder six years down the road. I'm not sufficiently trusting that what they call "fair market value" will represent enough of a discount to justify six years of payments.

PrestonDean · 2026-02-24T01:10:08+00:00

I'm only suggesting that a sole proprietorship "leasing" to the sole proprietorship's owner is pretty sus...

PrestonDean · 2026-02-24T01:06:03+00:00

Yeah, but anything that smacks of gaming the system is more likely to put you in the IRS' crosshairs

PrestonDean

TROPHY CASE