ElecTrak Solar Charging

My GE Electrak electric Riding Lawn Mower is now charging off solar panels.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• EV
• mower
• charger
• electric vehicle
• Electrak
• elec-trak
• elek-trac
• GE
• solar
• pv
• charging

[unadulterateddagger]

Did I spot a kleigl bros fixture?

[BenjaminNelson]

@unadulterateddagger

Yes, you did. I have a couple old TV studio scoops around. They make great work lights and winter heaters....

[muddymuddymuddmann]

BEN, SWEEET JOB. I LOVE IT. TAKE CARE OF THE BIKE. I LOVE THAT THING. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE THE BIKE OFF THE SOLAR?

MUDDy

[BenjaminNelson]

@muddymuddymuddmann The EV motorcycle charges at the same rate whether it's from solar or grid. It's pretty much just a trickle charger on there. I want a fast charger for it, but it just hasn't been a priority.

With solar panels charging a battery bank, that allows charging of an electric vehicle at any time, day or night. You can also charge at a higher rate and different voltage than the solar panels would provide by themselves.

[d3adp001]

thats a heck of an inverter/battery arrangement for just 1 panel, but yes it has a lot of extra potential

[BenjaminNelson]

@d3adp001

I have 7 more panels that I can connect to this system. The charge controller, batteries, and inverter can handle all that.

I wish I had better solar access at my house! I think these may end up on a pole mount in the front yard.

48V (or higher!) is much better for longer cable runs.

[satorizero]

Luv it man! Will be in further contact, I'm a new fan :)

[d3adp001]

@BenjaminNelson I am using 67 loaded-90v open circuit panels. Take a look and the vids I have on the "umbrellas" I use.

[BenjaminNelson]

@daenergymon

My battery wiring is a little thin. I plan to replace it with something thicker once I get this all worked out. I have only been running pretty light loads on it right now. It's a 48V system, so I can use thinner wire than a 12V system would.

My electric car has 2/0 cabling, and you can put hundreds of amps through that.

On a 48v system, it's essentially half the voltage/double the amperage of a 120VAC system. I should use wire twice as thick as a 20amp AC system

[daenergymon]

Thats a great home brew system. I couldn't tell for sure what sized battery cables you have but they should be 2/0 as if/when that inverter really draws you will melt the smaller wire. I have two of the ElecTraks although one has the transmission almost done for. It is almost 40 years old.