Installing a Husqvarna Automower

Installing A Husqvarna Automower (abridged)

Whether you are working with the 110h or the 450x, installing the Husqvarna Automower can be a DIY project any homeowner can tackle. A few basic tips and tricks can turn an install into a piece of cake. So, here are the basics.

The Base Station

The base station is the main power source for the Husqvarna Automower. It is the place that the mower automatically returns to charge and is, as well, the origin of the signal that helps the Automower determine its location in reference to the boundaries and guides! The base station should be easy to access, close to a 120v power source and should be centrally located in the installation. A place that gets plenty of shade during the day is a plus, helping to keep the battery stay cool during charging, but it is certainly not a must.

Once you determine a good spot for the base station, plug it in and put the mower on it to charge while you move on to lay the boundary wire.

The Boundary Wire

The boundary wire lets the mower know that it is within your lawn and keeps it from going outside the perimeter and getting in to trouble. The mower needs an active boundary wire to operate and honestly, it’s better that way… you don’t want it wandering in to the road! The number one rule for the boundary wires can be likened to the hit movie Ghostbusters… never! cross the streams! When the boundary wire cross’s itself it flips what the mower sees as the inside and outside; which effectively makes your entire lawn a “no-go” place for the Automower! On installations that require boundaries to be laid around islands, make sure to follow a clockwise or counter-clockwise path that does not cause the wire to cross itself.

Islands?

Yes, islands. If you have a tree in the middle of the lawn that has a mulch bed you would prefer not to get mowed you can set an island. You do this by running the boundary wire across the lawn and moving around the island in the direction that follows the flow of your boundary. As far as the wire running across the lawn is concerned the mower can pass over it as long as the wire-out to the island and wire back in to the lawn boundary are within 2 inches of each other as it is placed through the lawn. So keep them close and the mower will know that it can pass over!

Done! Now Let’s Hook It Up

When you finally get the wire around the property and back to the base it is time to test the connection! Before you hook up the boundary wires you will see a solid blue light below the charging leads where the Automower docks itself. That solid blue light means “no connection” in the boundary wire. Once you add the connectors to the wires, and attach them to the base station the light should light up green! This means the boundary is set and the Automower is ready to mow.

The Guide

You’re almost there but not done yet! There’s still the guide wire! The guide wire is primarily responsible for helping your Automower efficiently find its way home to charge. The guide wire starts at the base, goes down the center of the installation, i.e. your yard, and connects to the boundary wire at its terminus. Units like the 315x have only one guide wire whereas the 450x has up to three! You don’t have to use the guide wires but they do help the mower find its way back!

To install the guide wire place it underneath the charging base coming out its center and run it through the middle of the lawn. Make sure to angle it horizontal along any steep slopes and keep it down the center of narrow channels at a minimum of 2’ wide. Once you reach the boundary simply cut the boundary wire, and place both ends in the appropriate slot of the 3M grease filled connector with the guide in the middle slot. Compress the connector to splice in the wire and bury / staple the wires. And that’s it, you’re done

Now Relax!

Now, relax and let the lawn take care of itself! You have successfully installed your Husqvarna Automower. All you need to do now is splendor at you perfectly mowed lawn 24/7!