The Snow Joe Ultra SJ620 is a corded electric snow thrower. It is made for clearing snowfalls from small to medium-sized driveways, decks and paths. However, it is probably not big enough for clearing large driveways. It has an intake height of 10 inches, but this does not mean it can clear 10-inch snowfalls without problems. This snow thrower works better for snowfalls of around 6 inches deep.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your electric motors!
The Snow Joe SJ620 is easy to maintain due to its electric motor, which needs no gasoline or oil. No need to pull-start it. It has a 13.5-amp electric motor which can clear snow at a rate of up to 650 lbs per minute. Its power lever has a safety button which prevents accidental starting.
Is the Snow Joe Ultra SJ620 a single stage snow thrower?
Yes, it is a single stage snow blower. Its steel auger has four blades which cut through the snow at a width of 18 inches. It has an auger assisted drive system. The action of the auger helps to pull the snow thrower forward. The rest is provided by the operator, who pushes the snow thrower around on its two wheels.
Can you control the direction of the snow chute?
Yes, you can use the chute lever to change the direction while walking behind the snow thrower. The snow is thrown up to 20 feet away out of its 180-degree directional adjustable chute. Its chute deflector can be changed (by hand, not remotely) to influence the height at which the snow is thrown. Its bottom scraper bar cleans the snow right down to the pavement.
How much noise does the Snow Joe Ultra SJ620 make?
Snow Joe electric snow throwers have been rated at a noise level of about 100 decibels. This is in the same noise category as traveling inside a car, listening to your favorite music or working in an industrial facility.
How much assembly is required for the SJ620?
Very little assembly is needed. It is limited to putting together the handle as well as installing the chute and chute crank.
Is the SJ620 shipped with its own power cord?
No, a power cord is not included. You need to use your own. An outdoor extension cord which can withstand low temperatures is recommended. Choose a yellow, blue or orange power cord that is highly visible when lying on top of white snow.
Remember, if you dislike working with a long power cord, then you might be interested in a cordless snow blower from Snow Joe such as the iON18SB.
Can the SJ620 clear snow from a gravel driveway?
This snow thrower is intended for clearing snow from paved surfaces. It is not recommended for gravel surfaces because it does not have the adjustable skids and ground clearance of a gas snow blower. The spinning blades might pick up gravel along with the bottom layer of snow, which can cause damage. It is better to limit its use to paved driveways and smooth walkways.
If you decide to use it on gravel surfaces, then you must be careful to push down on the handles in order to lift the bottom scraper clear of the gravel. The idea is to prevent gravel from being picked up and thrown out of the chute, which might damage something. You still need to do this carefully. A thin layer of snow will probably be left behind, that cannot be cleared by the snow thrower.
If you have a large gravel surface that needs clearing, then a two stage gas snow blower is probably a better option. Two stage snow blowers have adjustable skids that raise the intake housing above the gravel surface.
Snow Joe Ultra SJ620: Verdict
The Snow Joe Ultra SJ620 seems to be a good electric snow blower. It is not difficult to put together the few pieces that have not been assembled due to the constraints of the shipping box.
It starts up easily and needs no oil or gas. Get a long extension cord that is made for outdoor use. Be careful not to run over the electric cord with the auger blades.
The 18-inch width means that you will need to do more passes to clean a driveway when compared to a 24-inch gas snow blower. You might have to do the same stretch twice in a row if the snowfall is 10-inches or more deep. Wet snow can be tricky, so don’t do more than 5 inches at a time. Even with its depth limitations, it is still better than shoveling snow.
The Snow Joe SJ620 is ETL-approved, which means that it has been tested independently, and it has met the applicable industry standards. The SJ620 might be available for online purchase at Amazon.