All snow ploughs have electric or petrol engines. But how to choose the best snowplough. The main advantage of an electric engine is that as soon as the machine is plugged in, it is immediately ready to use. However, there is one drawback – it is always necessary to have a power source. There is an option with a generator, but it is also difficult to work with. The cable that will be pulling on the snowplough creates some inconveniences, although you can use an extension cord.
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How to choose the best snowplough: gasoline and electric snowplough, features
Yes, the electric motor is small in size and weight. In order to operate an electric snowplough, you do not need to be very skilled. Since the technique is not large, then there is little room for storage. If we talk about the efficiency of the electric motor, it is largely inferior to the gasoline engine, which is several times more powerful. At the same time, the electric motor does not need to be serviced as often as a gasoline motor. There is no need to constantly fill in oil and gasoline. In order to remove loose snow in the garden, an electric snow blower is used.
But the snow removal equipment on a gasoline engine allows you to remove snow that fell a few days ago or compacted. No special operator attention is required for gasoline engines. The only condition is refueling and timely oil change.
How to choose the best snowplough?
When choosing a snow plow machine, always pay attention to its power. If in electric engines power is measured in watts, in gasoline engines – in horsepower. The consumer should also inquire about the motor resource of the equipment, because it is always important how the equipment will be operated. Of course, the more power a device has, the more money will be spent on its filling, on oil. The more powerful a snowplough, the more noise it makes.
How to choose the best snowplough: determine the power of our snowplough
First of all, we define the power, which is enough to perform the tasks. In order to clean a small area, it will be sufficient to use a snowblower, which has a capacity of up to 5 horsepower. This technique will be easy to operate and store. Basically, low-power snow ploughs are not self-propelled. The engine power is used only for cleaning mechanisms. It will be enough to have a device for 6.5 horsepower to clean a section of five hundredths. Here the construction will be much more complicated than in the previous version. The snowplough is equipped with a four-stroke engine and has a self-propelled system.
The distance of snow removal is about 8 meters. In order to clear a large area, it is appropriate to use powerful snow ploughs, where the power reaches 11 horsepower. Taking into account the fact that this technique throws away snow, has a large motor resource, it spends a lot of fuel.
How to choose the best snowplough: snow blower screw
The main device that helps remove snow is a snow blower screw. It is installed in the bucket. The auger device resembles a screw that takes away the snow, passes it through the machine, crushes it and throws it aside. The fan is used to throw away the snow. There are several constructions of snow ploughs. For example, there are machines where the snow is thrown to the side immediately after cleaning. It is not shredded, due to which the range of scrap is insignificant. If you clean snow on a tile in the yard, you can not worry that the coating will be spoilt by a screw. On its edges are rubber seals.
This technique is used for snow removal in a small yard.
It is worth noting that the two-stage units have a high productivity. Here the snow is first collected in the bucket, and then grinded. In this form, it is easier to throw it away for a long distance. But there are also three-stage snow ploughs. They are used in large areas. Most often, such equipment is found in the armory of utility companies.
There are two augers in such machines that collect snow for years and grind it into small particles. Then, a powerful fan for a long distance throws away the resulting mass.
How to choose the best snowplough: Self-propelled and non-self-propelled snowploughs
Snow plows have been created, which have self-propelled machines and also work without them. The design is quite simple: a drive is created, which drives the snow plough taking power from the engine.
In order for the self-propelled machines to move, the operator still needs to push the machine, but at the same time, little effort is applied. Country owners prefer such snow ploughs in use, as they are lightweight and have enough power to clean the area. All you need to do is start the engine and drive the machine around the area, setting the direction of movement.
Self-propelled machine has a transmission, that is, several speeds. The more gears, the better for the operator. Everything depends on how thick the snow is, which section, and so on.
Self-propelled devices have an impressive weight. Thanks to the rear drive, the technique becomes maneuverable. It is best to use large self-propelled snow ploughs in large areas. The engine power is such that the device can operate for a long time without stopping. Most often, this type of equipment is used by city utilities.
How to choose the best snowplough: tracked and wheeled chassis
There are wheeled and tracked snowploughs on sale. Obviously, tracked vehicles will work better in the snow than a wheeled machine. Snowploughs will be especially useful where areas are covered with ice, where there are curbs or ledges. Crawler snow plough allows you to clean any snow on all sites. The disadvantage of such equipment is that it is impossible to quickly change the direction of movement and reduce the speed. In order to turn the technique, you need to turn off one caterpillar. It takes time. In this case, the wheeled snowblower looks preferable.
How to choose the best snowplough: self-propelled and non-self-propelled snowploughs
Wheeled snow ploughs are heavy, but good maneuverability. There are such variants of models, when there is a hydraulic booster on the steering wheel. On hard surfaces, the wheeled snowplough is perfectly exploited, but as soon as it rides on the loose snow, as begins slippage, stops.
How to choose the best snowplough: Bucket width of the intake unit.
Another important parameter when choosing a technique is the width of the bucket. The larger it is, the more snow you can remove in a minimum number of passes. Those devices, which do not have self-propelled machines, allow you to remove snow with a strip width of up to 55 centimeters. But the width of the cleaning strip for self-propelled snow blowers is up to 90 centimeters. If you need to remove a small area, the width of the bucket at 55 centimeters will be quite enough. There are also such snow ploughs, which are able to clean snow on the width of the strip up to 115 centimeters. And this is a professional technique, which is equipped with an engine for 15 horsepower.
The greater the width, the better the performance is obvious. But at the same time, it loses its maneuverability. Therefore, in small areas it is better to use a snowplow with a small bucket. It will be normal to turn the place around.
Another parameter is the height of the snow fence. Some models are equipped with skis, which adjust this height. For example, if the surface has irregularities, the bucket should be raised so that the screws do not harm the surface. Then the skis are attached to the bucket.
How to choose the best snowplough: snowplough Launch System
Snow plows on a petrol engine are started up with the help of a starter. In order to start the vehicle, just press the button. The advantage of the starter is that the engine will be started even when the vehicle was standing in the frost. In this case, it is unlikely to be possible to turn the flywheel manually – the oil is getting thicker.
The snow plow on a gasoline engine shall be started with the help of the starter.
The starter is powered by a battery, which rarely needs to be recharged from a regular outlet. There are also simple structures, where the engine is started manually. In spite of the fact that this option is outdated, but it is relevant when the battery is discharged.
There are devices that allow enrichment of the mixture by opening and closing the throttle.
An additional device on the snowplough is a headlight. You can do without it, but it is much more comfortable to work in lighting, given that in winter the day is short, and sometimes it is necessary to clean snow in the evening or early morning. In addition, the safety of people around you is ensured. The most modern and expensive models have even the function of heating the handles of the dacha equipment. This is necessary to make the operator feel as comfortable as possible at work.
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