In Brief: What are the differences between a corded and cordless snow blower?
Electric snow blowers come in two forms: corded and cordless. Obviously, corded models need to be plugged in and rely on long extension cords to move about. Cordless models draw power from a rechargeable battery pack that can supply upwards of 30 minutes of runtime per charge but require several hours of charging before reaching max capacity.
If you’ve decided to ditch gas-powered snow blowers and instead opt for an environmentally-friendlier electric option, then you’ll have to choose between two different routes: going corded or going cordless.
Corded Snow Blowers
Corded electric snow blowers are those that plug into a standard wall outlet.
Because power is delivered via an extension cord, their runtimes are infinite. The only thing you need to worry about is purchasing a long cord that’s safe to use outdoors and in the snow.
Corded-electric snow blowers are also a bit more powerful than their cordless counterparts, but you can get a clearer picture of their power disparity by looking at their respective motor sizes.
The main issue people have with corded-electric snow blowers is that the extension cord can get in the way.
This can be a major hazard since the cord can snap if it gets trapped in the auger.
These tools typically come with a safety hook to keep the cord up and off the ground; be mindful of where the cord is at all times.
Cordless Now Blowers
As for cordless snow blowers, they’re somewhat of a mix between corded-electric and gas models.
They use electricity to run, but the fuel source is packed inside of a rechargeable battery that powers the motor and augers for a finite amount of time.
Cordless snow blowers typically run for between 20 and 40 minutes, but it depends on the battery size. They require several hours of charging, even those models with rapid charge.
But on the plus side, you don’t need to worry about limited maneuverability. No power cords to get in your way means more efficient snow removal.
Here is a quick video on Sun Joe’s cordless snow blower –