Max. shredded material diameter
The largest thickness of debris that the shredder can handle normally. This parameter will allow you to evaluate how a particular device is suitable for a particular situation.
Note that the maximum diameter of the crushed material is important for models that allow working with branches (see "Chipping"). But in specialized aggregates for leaves, it is usually not indicated at all: the thickness of the garbage processed in such grinders is, by definition, small, and creating a design that works normally with any “soft” materials is usually not a problem.
Waste container capacity
The capacity of the garbage collector provided in the design or delivery set of the grinder.
The larger the container, the more recycled material the collector can hold and the less often it will have to be emptied. On the other hand, it is not always convenient to carry a large amount of material, and a large container takes up a lot of space — and if for soft bags (see "Type of collection") the latter is relevant only when fully loaded, then rigid containers are bulky by definition. Therefore, when choosing, you should proceed from the optimal compromise between capacity and convenience.
Features
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Auto feed. Autofeed refers to all systems that somehow ensure the "pulling" of debris into the working mechanism of the unit. Roller chopping systems (see above) by definition have this feature; in other types of shredders, additional mechanisms may be provided specifically for automatic feeding.
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Pusher. The presence of a pusher in the design or delivery set of the unit. The pusher is a device that allows you to manually push the garbage to the working mechanism of the grinder; such devices are specially adapted to the shape and design of the receiving chamber, therefore, when used, they are more efficient and at the same time safer than various improvised means. The pusher can be useful both in the absence of automatic feed and in its presence (see above): it happens that debris gets stuck “on the way” to the tightening mechanism, which requires additional measures from the operator.
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Dual chamber receiver. The presence in the design of the chopper of the receiver, which has two separate chambers. Each of these chambers is designed for its own type of garbage; at the same time, the chopper itself can be both universal and specialized, for branches (see "Chopping"). In the first case, different chambers are designed for different types of debris, in the second — for branches of different thicknesses. Anyway, the dual-chamber receiver simplifi
...es the work with the universal unit — it reduces the risk of confusing modes for different materials.
— Funnel for foliage. The presence of a special funnel for collecting foliage in the chopper design. Such a funnel usually has the form of a characteristic wide bell, mounted on a swivel mount and laid on the ground during use. In such a socket, as in a scoop, you can sweep the leaves collected with a rake or broom — it's easier and faster than loading them into the chopper with your hands.
— Reverse system. The presence of a reverse function in the chopper design. This function allows you to run the working nozzle in the opposite direction, and its use may vary depending on the chopper model. So, in models with roller shredding systems (see above), the reverse allows you to “spit out” a branch that is too thick or hard and release the jammed mechanism, and in some universal devices (see “Chipping”), by switching the direction, you can choose between modes for different types of debris .Overload protection
Availability
of protection against an overload in a design of a grinder.
Overload is a critical increase in the load on the working mechanism and, accordingly, the engine of the device. Such a situation may arise, for example, when too large or solid debris (or too many “regular” materials) enters the unit; at best, its consequences are limited to increased wear, at worst, an accident can occur. The protection system prevents such troubles by shutting down the motor (or the drive to the grinding system) in the event of an overload. Of course, you can also turn off the unit manually — however, automation is more reliable, since it constantly monitors the status of the device and reacts almost instantly.
Noise level
The maximum noise level produced by the grinder during normal operation. The comfort of using the unit primarily depends on this indicator: strong noise can be very unpleasant, and at high volume it may even require the use of protective headphones.
Shredders are a rather “loud” type of modern technology, even in the quietest models the noise level is about 83 – 85 dB — this is comparable to the sound background on a busy city street. Note that the decibel is a non-linear quantity, so it is best to use comparison tables to estimate specific noise levels. Here are some guideline values:
- 90 dB — freight car at a distance of 7 – 10 m;
- 95 dB — subway car (inside), perforator;
- 100 dB — symphony orchestra, demolition hammer;
- 105 dB — home theater at maximum volume;
- 110 dB — indoor rock concert.
Weight
The total weight of the grinder. Usually, in this case, only the weight of the unit itself is indicated — i.e. with an empty collector (for models equipped with standard tanks, see "Type of collector"), without fuel in the tank (for internal combustion engines, see "Engine type"), etc.
