thank you for your comment! You are one of the very few that got it. By hacking the charger, we let the charger to do what is best to do, without complex setup.
there are NOTHING to steal from your friend. Solar charging battery is nothing new, and put in on a trail is nothing new. Solar racing car had been be around for long time.
This is NOT a product, we don't commercialize it or make profit from it. It is based on customer's request. We just build it according to the customer.
Absolutely correct. The price of lithium battery is 3 times more then AGM or SLA battery. However, lithium battery is 3 times lighter then SLA battery, and 3 times more cycle life then SLA battery. At the end, the cost is equally the same, except you are not carry an elephant with you.
if you run them in parallel, yes, it will increase current. However, the battery is for the electric bike is 36v, you will have to convert from 12v to 36v, which translate more components, and every step up or step down voltage there is a lost of effecency. When you construct the solar panel in serial, the panel is 36v, the hacked charger is 36v, the battery is 36v. It is the most direct way to get the solar power onto the battery in a very direct way!
a solar panel doesn't help you to pedal, it only help to recharge the battery.
The electric motor will help you to increase distance and power.
If you need a trailer to carry cargo around, from the eyes of the user, it didn't add weight but for utility purpose. So if you need a trailer regardless, adding a solar panel is just a bonus.
Lithium ion is bad, lithium polymer are much lighter weight, lithium phosphate had highest cycle, but a bit more heavy. NiMh is heavy but a bit cheaper. For the price difference between NiMh and lithim polymer, it is about 10 - 20% lower, NiMh weight double amount then lithium. I would choose lithium polymer over NiMh.
Why did you not simply put a diode in series with your solar panels to prevent back current and connect directly to the battery pack since you will not excede the charging current of the battery ? Some solar panels are equiped with a diode from the factory. The set up used may not prevent overvoltage on the battery however a simple one transistor circut would solve that problem.
because a standard ebike battery is 36v not 12v. A diode only provide a single function is to prevent back current. A hacked smart charger already provide all of the standard function such as CC/CV charging method, prevent over charge, take care of unbalance current load, etc... As a result, a hacked charger was cheaper, faster and safer solution.
the weight is not a problem in this case. Since the panel is on the trailer, and the weight is not on a bike. If any improvement, people like to see a bigger panel or fordable panel to capture more energy during peak sun.
Yes, the voltage of battery need to match with the panel output voltage. This is the simplest method and most direct way to get the energy from the panel to the battery. Every time you have to do a conversion either step up or step down voltage, there is a cost and lost somewhere.
This would be better had they uses a recumbent bike with panels serving as a roof with a wind screen in the front that way the device would have less drag, provide shelter from the sun and rain. Harbour freight offers a 45 watt system for $150 with coupon that would work great for this application that way you would have a pure green bicycle.
What I think would have loads of potential is a velomobile (like a recumbent trike you pedal), with a fairing that is covered in solar panels, to electric assist engine.
@KrunchyJD The advantage of a recumbent trike, with a fairing made of solar panelling, is that the solar panels work, both as a source of power, and a fairing, which offers areodynamic assistance and weather protection.
@powerinmotion I find it rediculous that people say a bike or a bike trailer is a danger on the road, and yet a car that weighs literally a ton somehow isnt
Exactly what I had in mind for my bike glad it all looks good before i start assembling , but you have to ditch those amorphous/low output panels for monocrystalline. I just got my new panels and my 13w panel amorphous is the same size as my new 40w one! Go sun power lol
Great concept, but is that only a total of 30watts?? Very low. I don't think you can really depend on it to increase range, because that "bob-trailer+solar panel" will probably produce enough aerodynamic drag to counteract the 30 additional watts of power. I'll bet it's quite heavy, also; so going uphill, say 10%, it would probably be more like negative-30 watts lol. Good concept, but current solar panel technology needs to advance big-time for this to be practical.
Very clever electronic solution for the charger!
thoxbui 3 weeks ago
@thoxbui
thank you for your comment! You are one of the very few that got it. By hacking the charger, we let the charger to do what is best to do, without complex setup.
powerinmotion 3 weeks ago
You stole this idea from a good friend of mine. Has been doing this at RAGBRAI for the past 8 years!
Dendro2001 3 weeks ago
@Dendro2001
there are NOTHING to steal from your friend. Solar charging battery is nothing new, and put in on a trail is nothing new. Solar racing car had been be around for long time.
This is NOT a product, we don't commercialize it or make profit from it. It is based on customer's request. We just build it according to the customer.
Why do you show the proven of your friend video?
powerinmotion 3 weeks ago
Not enough sun in the UK for this haha
TimpBizkit 2 months ago
Lithium batterys are soooo expencive for the average joe, i will use 3 agm motorcycle batterys will do the trick just fine.
EBIKERIDER2 3 months ago
@EBIKERIDER2
Absolutely correct. The price of lithium battery is 3 times more then AGM or SLA battery. However, lithium battery is 3 times lighter then SLA battery, and 3 times more cycle life then SLA battery. At the end, the cost is equally the same, except you are not carry an elephant with you.
powerinmotion 3 months ago
why in serial ? why not parralale it's better
pochul 4 months ago
@pochul
if you run them in parallel, yes, it will increase current. However, the battery is for the electric bike is 36v, you will have to convert from 12v to 36v, which translate more components, and every step up or step down voltage there is a lost of effecency. When you construct the solar panel in serial, the panel is 36v, the hacked charger is 36v, the battery is 36v. It is the most direct way to get the solar power onto the battery in a very direct way!
powerinmotion 4 months ago
thank for the adviced I also have another advice for LIFE-po battery
coycoy75basualdo 4 months ago
i don't get it... do you still pedal? seems like you would end up just pedaling around more weight : /
jowen034 4 months ago
@jowen034
a solar panel doesn't help you to pedal, it only help to recharge the battery.
The electric motor will help you to increase distance and power.
If you need a trailer to carry cargo around, from the eyes of the user, it didn't add weight but for utility purpose. So if you need a trailer regardless, adding a solar panel is just a bonus.
powerinmotion 4 months ago
Hello im building an electric bike and i was wondering if you can tell me wich battery is better the lithium ion or Nimh Nickel metal
coycoy75basualdo 4 months ago
@coycoy75basualdo
Lithium ion is bad, lithium polymer are much lighter weight, lithium phosphate had highest cycle, but a bit more heavy. NiMh is heavy but a bit cheaper. For the price difference between NiMh and lithim polymer, it is about 10 - 20% lower, NiMh weight double amount then lithium. I would choose lithium polymer over NiMh.
powerinmotion 4 months ago
Why did you not simply put a diode in series with your solar panels to prevent back current and connect directly to the battery pack since you will not excede the charging current of the battery ? Some solar panels are equiped with a diode from the factory. The set up used may not prevent overvoltage on the battery however a simple one transistor circut would solve that problem.
packrat541 5 months ago
@packrat541
because a standard ebike battery is 36v not 12v. A diode only provide a single function is to prevent back current. A hacked smart charger already provide all of the standard function such as CC/CV charging method, prevent over charge, take care of unbalance current load, etc... As a result, a hacked charger was cheaper, faster and safer solution.
powerinmotion 5 months ago
Today solar panels only picup 10% of the solar power. In the future it will pickup 40% .
Lundt93 10 months ago
hahaha and a volvo 470 in the back respect :D
selavi2007 11 months ago
how about making the frame around the panels to shave some more weight? just an idea what do you tinK? sorry fro the english no my first language
puntano85 11 months ago
@puntano85
the weight is not a problem in this case. Since the panel is on the trailer, and the weight is not on a bike. If any improvement, people like to see a bigger panel or fordable panel to capture more energy during peak sun.
powerinmotion 11 months ago
@powerinmotion if you say so, then it's ok by me, just an idea, hope your projects are coming along well, good luck
puntano85 11 months ago
Hey it's Dave! Sweet!
69iron69 1 year ago
WY there is no panel over the back wheel.
Capitancanguro1 1 year ago
Hello,
Thank you for your answer, I have another question if you have the time.
My solar bike has a Lithium-Polymer Akku (battery), nominal 27 Volt; 12Ah
The charger has an output of : 29.4 V ; 2A. The input is of course 100V - 245 Alternativ courant.
What I like is to charge the battery during the day with two 12 Volts solar panel. Each panel is 20 Watts.
Do you think it is possible to modify the charger, and if yes what do you have to do?
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!
phil637 1 year ago
@phil637
Yes, the voltage of battery need to match with the panel output voltage. This is the simplest method and most direct way to get the energy from the panel to the battery. Every time you have to do a conversion either step up or step down voltage, there is a cost and lost somewhere.
powerinmotion 1 year ago
Hello,
First congratulations for your project. Do you have a shema or a picture that shows what you did inside the charger (to remove the A/C part)?
thank you, Phil
phil637 1 year ago
@phil637
picture can be find in endless-sphere com and search for Solar Bike
powerinmotion 1 year ago
This would be better had they uses a recumbent bike with panels serving as a roof with a wind screen in the front that way the device would have less drag, provide shelter from the sun and rain. Harbour freight offers a 45 watt system for $150 with coupon that would work great for this application that way you would have a pure green bicycle.
cdltpx 1 year ago
What I think would have loads of potential is a velomobile (like a recumbent trike you pedal), with a fairing that is covered in solar panels, to electric assist engine.
KrunchyJD 1 year ago
@KrunchyJD The advantage of a recumbent trike, with a fairing made of solar panelling, is that the solar panels work, both as a source of power, and a fairing, which offers areodynamic assistance and weather protection.
KrunchyJD 1 year ago
@KrunchyJD
solar panel require area of surface to work well, yes that would work well!
powerinmotion 1 year ago
@KrunchyJD
absolutely! velomobile had a large area of surface, which you can get more sunlight.
powerinmotion 1 year ago
nice but still doesnt show how it works on the bike or even the bike riding.
happygameshow 1 year ago
impresive
MrXedres 1 year ago
nice work but you will become more of a danger on the roads with this thing.
nikulp68 1 year ago
@nikulp68
thanks for the comment.
It is no more danger then have Bob Trailer or Children trailer the rider use everyday!
powerinmotion 1 year ago
@powerinmotion I find it rediculous that people say a bike or a bike trailer is a danger on the road, and yet a car that weighs literally a ton somehow isnt
KrunchyJD 1 year ago
@KrunchyJD
thanks for the comment! I agreed with you!
powerinmotion 1 year ago
Exactly what I had in mind for my bike glad it all looks good before i start assembling , but you have to ditch those amorphous/low output panels for monocrystalline. I just got my new panels and my 13w panel amorphous is the same size as my new 40w one! Go sun power lol
camillionmonkey 1 year ago
@camillionmonkey
thank you for tips about amorphous panel!
powerinmotion 1 year ago
Great concept, but is that only a total of 30watts?? Very low. I don't think you can really depend on it to increase range, because that "bob-trailer+solar panel" will probably produce enough aerodynamic drag to counteract the 30 additional watts of power. I'll bet it's quite heavy, also; so going uphill, say 10%, it would probably be more like negative-30 watts lol. Good concept, but current solar panel technology needs to advance big-time for this to be practical.
tigonridge 1 year ago
were did you get the trailer? i like how the trailer is configured.
TheIndustrialphreak 1 year ago
@TheIndustrialphreak
It is call bob Trailer, there are dozen company sell this product.
Ken
powerinmotion 1 year ago
very nice rig!
thoxbui 2 years ago
thoxbui:
thanks for your comments! I seen your ebike side car a year ago. That is very unique design.
powerinmotion 2 years ago