Client Background
GreenScape Landscaping, a mid-sized lawn care and grounds maintenance firm in Ohio, operates a fleet of 12 commercial zero-turn lawn mowers and 5 ride-on turf aerators. These machines are critical to their daily operations, servicing residential and commercial properties across 3 counties. In early 2025, GreenScape reported recurring safety incidents and operational downtime due to faulty seat switches on their 4-year-old ride-on aerators.
The Challenge
The aerators’ original seat switches suffered from two critical flaws
Failed Normal Close Contacts: The switches’ single (NC) contact often stuck in the "open" position, failing to cut power to the aerator tines when operators dismounted—creating a risk of accidental injury.
Poor Momentary Response: Delayed actuation meant the machine sometimes continued running for 1–2 seconds after the operator stood up, violating OSHA’s machinery safety standards.
Durability Issues: Exposure to grass clippings, moisture, and vibration caused the switches to fail every 6–8 months, leading to unplanned downtime (averaging 4 hours per failure) and costly replacements.
GreenScape sought a switch that would meet their 24V aerator electrical system, support 5A current draw, and resolve both safety and reliability gaps.
The Solution
5A 24V 2-Normal Close Momentary Seat Switch After consulting with their equipment supplier, GreenScape adopted a custom-spec 5A 24V 2-normal close momentary seat switch designed for garden machinery.
Implementation & Results
In March 2025, GreenScape retrofitted all 5 aerators with the new switches. The process took 30 minutes per machine, with no modifications to the equipment frame or electrical system. Post-implementation results (3-month tracking):
Zero Safety Incidents: The dual NC contacts prevented accidental tine activation during operator dismounts.
90% Reduction in Downtime: No switch failures reported—compared to 2–3 failures per quarter with the old model.
30% Efficiency Gain: Eliminated unplanned stops, allowing each aerator to service 2–3 additional properties per day.
Lower Maintenance Costs: Estimated 2-year lifespan (vs. 6–8 months for the original) reduces replacement expenses by 75%.
Client Testimonial
“ We were at our wit’s end with the old switches—they put our team at risk and killed our productivity,” said Mark Henderson, GreenScape’s Operations Manager.
This new 2-normal close switch is a game-changer. It’s reliable, easy to install, and gives us peace of mind knowing our crew is safe. We’re already planning to retrofit our lawn mowers with the same model.
