Rare Electric-Powered Deere Mowers
Not only does George Beckett own two rare Deere electric riding mowers, he has a unique way of keeping them charged. The green riders, along with the rest of his collection of electric mowers, are stored in a new barn with a 7,500-watt solar array on the roof that powers everything on Beckett’s rural Tennessee property. The choice to go solar was easy when he and his wife discovered they were $20,000 away from the power grid.
Beckett bought his first General Electric riding mower on eBay. “I had a friend who was a General Electric engineer, and he helped me restore it. I had to learn about resistors and capacitors and relays,” Beckett says. “When we finished I was hooked.”
Beckett’s collection of GE riders grew to 32 machines. He really didn’t intend to collect other models until he saw a $100 Deere 90 listed on Craigslist in his home state of Michigan.
“It was rough, but it was running. The price was right,” Beckett says.
“The most interesting feature of the Deere electric tractor is that the charger is nice. On the GE, you plug it in, and it’s ready to use the next day. If you didn’t use it regularly, you still had to do a full charge from time to time. The Deere produces a trickle charge if you keep it plugged in. That did a lot for the health of the batteries,” Beckett says.
Deere only made two models from 1972 to 1976, Beckett says, in response to the energy crisis at the time. Because of increased battery prices and lack of skilled service to make repairs, the electric market faded away.
But that’s not a reason to avoid them today, Beckett emphasizes.
“You have to remember, they are 1970’s, Apollo era, so the electronics are old. Electronics today are more dependable,” he explains. Because the parts are 40 years old, he suggests replacing everything – new resistors, capacitors and relays. Parts are readily available and inexpensive.
Knowledge of how the electric riders work translates well to solar power and makes a cool connection – the sun powers the Becketts’ new home, the barn that houses the tractors, plus the tractors, which quietly mow the grass that the sun helps grow.
Some of the GE garden tractor models have a DC port, which allows them to be directly plugged into the solar array without going through the AC inverter. Beckett has 1,000 watts on a transfer switch that allows him to directly power the tractors, which saves the 15 percent of power that is lost using the inverter.
Beckett notes he has “trailer queen” tractors to show off at parades, but both he and his wife use several of the mowers for various jobs on the property. An overnight charge provides enough power to mow 3 to 5 acres.
“They are fun because they are like little golf carts. They have such a tight radius, almost a zero turn,” Beckett says. “It’s a nice feeling to cut grass. It’s quiet, and you’re driving along and realize you didn’t have to go to the gas station today.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, George Beckett, 302 Hickory Trace, Lyles, Tenn. 37098 (geo@myelec-traks.com; www.myelec-traks.com).
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Rare Electric-Powered Deere Mowers FARM HOME Lawn Mowers 31h 38 Not only does George Beckett own two rare Deere electric riding mowers he has a unique way of keeping them charged The green riders along with the rest of his collection of electric mowers are stored in a new barn with a 7 500-watt solar array on the roof that powers everything on Beckett’s rural Tennessee property The choice to go solar was easy when he and his wife discovered they were $20 000 away from the power grid Beckett bought his first General Electric riding mower on eBay “I had a friend who was a General Electric engineer and he helped me restore it I had to learn about resistors and capacitors and relays ” Beckett says “When we finished I was hooked ” Beckett’s collection of GE riders grew to 32 machines He really didn’t intend to collect other models until he saw a $100 Deere 90 listed on Craigslist in his home state of Michigan “It was rough but it was running The price was right ” Beckett says “The most interesting feature of the Deere electric tractor is that the charger is nice On the GE you plug it in and it’s ready to use the next day If you didn’t use it regularly you still had to do a full charge from time to time The Deere produces a trickle charge if you keep it plugged in That did a lot for the health of the batteries ” Beckett says Deere only made two models from 1972 to 1976 Beckett says in response to the energy crisis at the time Because of increased battery prices and lack of skilled service to make repairs the electric market faded away But that’s not a reason to avoid them today Beckett emphasizes “You have to remember they are 1970’s Apollo era so the electronics are old Electronics today are more dependable ” he explains Because the parts are 40 years old he suggests replacing everything – new resistors capacitors and relays Parts are readily available and inexpensive Knowledge of how the electric riders work translates well to solar power and makes a cool connection – the sun powers the Becketts’ new home the barn that houses the tractors plus the tractors which quietly mow the grass that the sun helps grow Some of the GE garden tractor models have a DC port which allows them to be directly plugged into the solar array without going through the AC inverter Beckett has 1 000 watts on a transfer switch that allows him to directly power the tractors which saves the 15 percent of power that is lost using the inverter Beckett notes he has “trailer queen” tractors to show off at parades but both he and his wife use several of the mowers for various jobs on the property An overnight charge provides enough power to mow 3 to 5 acres “They are fun because they are like little golf carts They have such a tight radius almost a zero turn ” Beckett says “It’s a nice feeling to cut grass It’s quiet and you’re driving along and realize you didn’t have to go to the gas station today ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup George Beckett 302 Hickory Trace Lyles Tenn 37098 geo@myelec-traks com; www myelec-traks com
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