Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
After a comprehensive three-year development and testing period, Projecta has launched a new 12V lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery range, suitable for agriculture and off-road applications.
While this is a new product category for Projecta, the company has extensive lithium iron phosphate know-how through products such as jump starters and work lights, where similar technology is applied.
The range’s LiFePO₄ chemistry is the safest lithium technology available and makes the new Projecta batteries inherently much safer than lithium cobalt competitors, a performance measure that was proven during in-house testing.
Said to be inherently safer than other lithium cobalt configurations, Projecta’s lithium batteries also feature a builtin battery management system, which offers protection in the event of under/overvoltage and over/underheating, alongside monitoring individual cell voltages and balancing when required.
Another key benefit of the Projecta lithium battery range is its longevity. It can deliver over 2000 cycles, up to eight times more than lead acid batteries. An extended life offsets the initial higher cost of a lithium battery, as well as reducing waste.
Offered in two models, the LB100 delivers a true 100- amp discharge current, capable of powering 1000W inverters as well as a fridge and is equivalent to a 160Ah lead acid battery. Users needing greater power can select the high discharge LB100-BT, which delivers an impressive 150-amp discharge current, capable of powering 2000W inverters.
The LB100-BT allows owners to monitor the battery status via smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth, with information including voltage, current, state of charge and any alarms that may have occurred.
Both batteries are housed within traditional N70 casings allowing easy fitment within engine bays, with the benefit of only weighing around one third the weight of equivalent lead acid batteries.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.