How I charge my e-bike with solar power
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
- In this video, I show you a typical charging scenario. Essentially, I use three types of charging:
1 - While riding, the solar panel attached to the trailer provides some power to the battery. This is the least efficient variant due to the continuously varying angle and shadows. In these conditions, I estimate an average of 25-50W.
2 - When I stop, I orient the panel to the sun. In clear weather, this typically yields about 80-90W.
3 - I attach the second (200W) solar panel to the circuit. In these conditions, the arrangement provides a maximum of 160W. This is because the battery management system (BMS) limits the power despite the solar panels being able to provide more.
Equipment:
bit.ly/43Epf0c
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
0:11 Status at arrival
0:50 Unpacking the trailer
2:02 Connections
3:30 Schematics
4:05 Attaching the second solar panel
4:38 Tea time
6:18 Status after charging and leave
Looks good! I put my solar ebike camper together 3 years ago. I use a power station and the charger that comes with the ebike so it works with any ebike and I have power for other small appliances and gadgets when camping.
You have some awesome videos! I subbed to your channel!
That jumper and power meter are great ideas. Thanks for sharing. I want to do something like that.
Great! Go for it! It's fun, exciting, and beautiful.
You connected the panels in series, that way you will only reach max 200W combined. If you connect the panels parallel you will in theory reach the max of 300W - that way it is also better when one panel gets shaded.
At first, I tried connecting the panels in parallel, but this caused the current to exceed the upper input limit of the Genasun charge controller. The battery's BMS limits power to about 160W anyway...
@@SolarTrailsOk than it does not matter. I use a 1.3 Kw 12.8V/100Ah LiFePo battery for storage in the trailer. Next to that a solar charger from Victron (75/15). This year I use a setup with 2 lightweight solapanels of 130 W each. While riding I only use one (stacked on eachother). At campsites I use both in parallel. In 2022 I used one bigger flex panel of 200W, made a 2000Km tour (4 weeks), got 36 Kw in total from the sun.
@@solar-e-bike-touring-europe I love your setup, very impressive! And I subscribed to your channel. Let's change the world! 🙂
This is impressive. Excellent work. I see a person here with dedication, experience, and knowledge. I aspire to build something similar for myself in the future, and make trips to the south of my country, Chile.
Thanks mate, I really appreciate it! Go for it, it's fun, it's exciting and it's incredibly fulfilling.
Very good very nice
Many many thanks :-)
I didn’t see a tool or first aid kit, important items you should always carry in your cart. 😊
You are absolutely right, these are essential items. The long black bag on the top tube has all the tools. Complete with pump, pressure gauge, inner tube, zip ties, multitool, chain tool, pliers, small knife, puncture repair kit, etc. The first aid kit is not waterproof so I carry it in the red food bag.
You have a very nice set up.
Thanks! I plan to do even more detailed videos about different charging situations, so be sure to subscribe and check back.
Not bad, i had seen your channel on a FP post where you added a comment.
Nice setup. Going to test mine next week when the weather opens up. I also have a 300wh solar station as buffer.
By the way, keeping the panel clean helps with free watts 👍 and your rear tire seems slicker than my road bike 😅
You are right. Tire change is imminent. 🙂 But first, a new trip is coming.
Awesome 💪
Thanks man!
Love your setup, mine hirst my back. I use the same trailer almost, but I made a tight metal roof for my panels. I also just started up on YT myself so people can see my build. It's not done yet so maybe I'll re do a few things with your tips. like using the panel as a lid so I don't need to bend over so bad. I have 90w of panel but it's all I need.
That's great! I subscribed right away after seeing your videos. I also had an MPT-7210A charge controller, but I noticed a common issue with it. Whenever the light intensity changed, it would switch off and take at least 30 seconds to ramp up production again. While stationary and in clear weather, this wouldn't be a problem. However, when the system is mobile, this means the controller is continuously trying to find the 'sweet point,' resulting in little or no production.
I'll be sure to follow your videos! We seem to think alike. :-)
@@SolarTrails thanks, I think the PCB I'm making might help with that but could make worse will see. It adds in some capacitors between he panels and the MPPT.
THANKS! VIDIO
Have you thought about packing the extra panels on top of your other gear?
That way, you could be charging with higher power, while you unpack & pack each time...every joule of energy counts
Yes, I am thinking about a different arrangement where the other solar panel can be more easily accessed. I don't have a definitive plan in mind, but sooner or later, I'll get there. At the moment, this arrangement works pretty well. Given my lazy style, on a sunny day, I have more energy than I can possibly store in the battery.
Upgraded solar panel from red one in last video. What are the improvements of this one, and was other one failing in some way?
While doing some bike maintenance, I accidentally stepped on the red one (a bit ashamed to admit!). I heard a crack, and the 300W panel never went over 60W again. So, I had to buy a new one. After considering my options, I decided to buy a 200W folding panel and a 100W laminated one that I attached to the top of the trailer. This way, the 100W panel continuously charges the bike, even on the go. The folding panel perfectly fits into my trailer.
I have been trying to do the same and although technically it is working there are 3 problems I never use it.
- buing a second (swappable and/or external in trailer) battery gave me range more then I wlll need
- as illustrated by the electricity pole in the background at 3:15, electricity is everywhere and so are outlets you can use when you ask friendly and show how little you use with a portable meter
- solar is often very slow, both while drivng or when stationary compared to the 1 kWh you can charge overnight
However, just for the fun of it, I am thinking of an extension pole for my Burly coho, so I can drive with longer solarpanels The subject still fascinates me -)
You are right, of course. On shorter rides two batteries or even a single battery is perfectly fine. And if your rides are near populated areas, you should be all set as you will always have access to an outlet. In my case it is a bit different. I usually go to pretty remote places. (In this "How I charge my ebike" video I just rode out to the nearby field to demonstrate the procedure.) Difficult terrains also drastically reduce range. Dirt paths, gravel roads, grassy areas, especially with steep inclines tend to drain your battery pretty fast. Anyway, these videos are not made with the intent to tell the only true way. It's more like a proof of concept, where I would like to do experiments and show the advantages and disadvantages of temporarily being cut off of civilization. And I feel you, the subject utterly fascinates me too! :-)
Looks like you have changed the solar charge controller from the Genusun to the Boost MPT-7210A.
Does this work better?
It was the opposite. I originally used the MPT-7210A controller, but now I've switched to a Genasun controller. The MPT had an annoying issue: whenever the light intensity changed, it would reset itself and take 20-30 seconds to reach maximum power. Even a slight dimming triggered this behavior. When on the go, with constantly changing light conditions (angles, shading, etc.), the MPT operated far below optimum. The Genasun, although more expensive, doesn't have this problem and is also waterproof.
@@SolarTrails Thanks for this information. Useful.
i love the intro song, whos the Artist and the name of the song???
Thanks, I love this song too. The title is Bad Bad Barn Yard. (bit.ly/3zkkRZ4)
I have a Sur Ron with 3000 all solar powered miles on it
Amazing! Way to go!
I have that solar panel! After only a year or two the surface degraded into a strange opaque brownish haze. I wonder if anyone is making more durable panels and/or if that brand got better--I bought mine about five years ago.
Which one? The folding panel or the 100W? Also, does it still work despite the discoloration?
Buy cigs panel!!!
@@SolarTrails The second solar panel (200W). Mine is actually branded "YETI", but it's the exact same design and same colors, so I'd bet it's made by the same factory in China. I used it to keep a 1kWh battery bank charged for running a remote water pump, and it worked great for the first year, then totally failed. I bet it would have survived better with only intermittent use like here on the bike.
What make is the trailer, are you happy with it? I'm looking at the Burley flatbed trailer but they are expensive, don't want to buy some cheap Chinese special that is not robust or last long :-)
I purchased it from a company called VidaXL. It's not bad, but I'm not particularly satisfied with it. I'm currently exploring other options. I would imagine that a flatbed trailer works well on paved roads. However, if you plan to traverse rougher terrains, securing your belongings to the trailer might be challenging.
So you are able to charge your battery while riding? I checked the link and it doesnt mention that.
Yes, there is a 100W panel attached to the trailer that is continuously charging the battery. However, due to the changing illumination circumstances during the ride, this amount of charging is usually not significant (my estimate is about 25-50W on average). When I stop and orient the small panel towards the sun, I can get about 60-70W from it. The maximum power I recorded from both panels (when I unfold the 200W panel too) is about 160W. I believe this is due to the battery BMS that limits the current to protect the battery.
@@SolarTrails Cool as hell. Do you have some special battery that allows it? Or every battery can do that?
@@TejpekJxv You can do it with every battery. You only need to know what the charging voltage is for that battery. A solar charge controller is needed to optimize the power output of the panels and to convert it to the required voltage. Everything else is handled by the battery's internal BMS.
Putty you can't hook into them over head Power lines
Have her changed in no time 😮
Well, there would be some drawbacks as well. :-)
Cycle camping hiking Volga you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ world 🌎🌎🌍🌍🌍 good 👍👍 you
Please buy cigs solar panels, it is truly flexible not like the fake flexible mono silicon panels that crack when bent....the foldable panel in video has a rigid back, that is good...
To be honest, this foldable panel is not completely rigid, but you are right - much better than the one I used in the first video. I had to replace that one because I accidentally stepped on it and it went nearly dead. This semi-rigid one is much better.
Nice commercial.
I'm not sure what you're referring to. The only thing I've tried so far is reaching out to the trailer's brand to replace a broken part in exchange for a mention, but they dismissed the offer. :-)