JinbaIttai
100 W
Any recommendations? I'm considering upgrading my battery to something bigger. I'd like to get a split battery and put it in waterproof bags that hang low enough to hide at least most of the rear hub on my full suspension MTB.
Best pannier & bags for LiFePo4 48V 20ah?
- Thread starter JinbaIttai
- Start date
Zoot Katz
100 kW
Sturdy is the word and cheap sweatshop crap don't cut it. Period.
Best panniers, IMO and IME, is Arkel. Period.
They're over-Designed, use quality material, are impeccably crafted and real-life tested in Quebec. Guaranteed for life. (except zippers)
http://www.arkel-od.com/
I've owned and used their LadyBug pannier/backpack for over eight years and still consider it the best accessory I've ever bought. (that and the Xtracycle)
A less expensive option would be something canvas from the surplus store. Get two of them. They can be customised, altered and repaired with a stitching awl and some rivets. You can even make them deluxe with the addition of fancy hook sets some manufacturers sell as replacement parts.
If you'd prefer something rigid there's the "Oyster Bucket" concept that can be adopted to most any size plastic container. Locking tool boxes are easy.
http://www.cobbworks.com/
In any case, if the panniers are only intended to carry batteries, look at front panniers. They're generally smaller and can be mounted on rear racks too. You'll probably want to upgrade the shockcord if the design incorporates it.
These canvas things were purchased ~1970. They've seen several self-supported bike tours as well as urban utility service carrying groceries, gardening stuff, carpentry and mechanics tools.
With the batteries inside it looks bad with a strap over each shoulder and a pack front and back but it would be the best way to carry it and leave your hands free. Having the batteries in the panniers means I don't have to carry a back pack to tote batteries if I'm leaving the bike unattended.
The batteries were originally carried in the Xtracycle's FreeLoaders but slid around, chafed the nylon and bumped against the FreeRadical's tubing members. The FreeLoaders are good at collecting water too. The old canvas panniers hadn't been used since I got the Xtracycle. Sometime after I'd gotten the batteries they jumped off the closet shelf as a solution that resolved those issues. As a bonus, the bike handles better with the weight carried slightly higher than it was.
Best panniers, IMO and IME, is Arkel. Period.
They're over-Designed, use quality material, are impeccably crafted and real-life tested in Quebec. Guaranteed for life. (except zippers)
http://www.arkel-od.com/
I've owned and used their LadyBug pannier/backpack for over eight years and still consider it the best accessory I've ever bought. (that and the Xtracycle)
A less expensive option would be something canvas from the surplus store. Get two of them. They can be customised, altered and repaired with a stitching awl and some rivets. You can even make them deluxe with the addition of fancy hook sets some manufacturers sell as replacement parts.
If you'd prefer something rigid there's the "Oyster Bucket" concept that can be adopted to most any size plastic container. Locking tool boxes are easy.
http://www.cobbworks.com/
In any case, if the panniers are only intended to carry batteries, look at front panniers. They're generally smaller and can be mounted on rear racks too. You'll probably want to upgrade the shockcord if the design incorporates it.
These canvas things were purchased ~1970. They've seen several self-supported bike tours as well as urban utility service carrying groceries, gardening stuff, carpentry and mechanics tools.
With the batteries inside it looks bad with a strap over each shoulder and a pack front and back but it would be the best way to carry it and leave your hands free. Having the batteries in the panniers means I don't have to carry a back pack to tote batteries if I'm leaving the bike unattended.
The batteries were originally carried in the Xtracycle's FreeLoaders but slid around, chafed the nylon and bumped against the FreeRadical's tubing members. The FreeLoaders are good at collecting water too. The old canvas panniers hadn't been used since I got the Xtracycle. Sometime after I'd gotten the batteries they jumped off the closet shelf as a solution that resolved those issues. As a bonus, the bike handles better with the weight carried slightly higher than it was.
recumbent
100 kW
Arkel panniers are great, as "Zoot kats" said, and the set i have for my recumbent bike incorperate an inside pocket, 15 inches long but not very wide, like 5 magazines thick size or more. Great design and strong frames, top quality.
nicobie
100 MW
I just bought a set of these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320328945496&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011
They are the perfect size for a split Ping 48v/20ah battery as each half of the battery is 10.25" x 6" x 3". They can be dyed and are available in a dark color too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320328945496&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011
They are the perfect size for a split Ping 48v/20ah battery as each half of the battery is 10.25" x 6" x 3". They can be dyed and are available in a dark color too.
dogman dan
1 PW
One issue is the ability of a seat post type rack to hold up that much weight. One solution I saw in the bike pics section was to stack two racks, giving 40 pound capacity instead of 20. I belive there was also something inside the seatpost for strengthening too, more pipe, or a stout wooden stick?
JinbaIttai
100 W
This one looks like it will work ok on a full suspension rear hub motor setup.
http://www.arkel-od.com/racks/sherpaR/overview.asp?fl=1&site=
I've never used panniers or even seen them in real life. I like the idea of panniers hanging down low enough to cover the hub, but I wonder, would they rub the wheel considering the wideness of the motor?
http://www.arkel-od.com/racks/sherpaR/overview.asp?fl=1&site=
I've never used panniers or even seen them in real life. I like the idea of panniers hanging down low enough to cover the hub, but I wonder, would they rub the wheel considering the wideness of the motor?
Attachments
JinbaIttai
100 W
aurum said:
What does your rear suspension look like? I haven't found any photos of the Axiom odyyssee actually mounted on a bike. Also, what would you estimate the pannier dimensions to be?
Zoot Katz
100 kW
Most bicycle panniers have a rigid back panel to keep stuff out of the spokes.
The Arkel bags are very well made but they're probably overkill for just hauling batteries.
Something like this might be sufficient.http://www.velo-orange.com/bamepa.html
The Arkel bags are very well made but they're probably overkill for just hauling batteries.
Something like this might be sufficient.http://www.velo-orange.com/bamepa.html
JinbaIttai
100 W
I am considering a pair of these:
They are Nashbar Delta Metros found here:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...racks&sku=24980&storetype=estore&subcategory=
They are 12 7/8" x 4" x 17 5/8", which is wide enough to handle the split ping pack (thanks nicobie), and I think would cover practically the entire hub motor. I'm not so sure about how I'd route wires though. Those Basil Memphis panniers look to make wiring very simple.
They are Nashbar Delta Metros found here:
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...racks&sku=24980&storetype=estore&subcategory=
They are 12 7/8" x 4" x 17 5/8", which is wide enough to handle the split ping pack (thanks nicobie), and I think would cover practically the entire hub motor. I'm not so sure about how I'd route wires though. Those Basil Memphis panniers look to make wiring very simple.
Zoot Katz
100 kW
Those look good. The extra protection for the batteries is a great idea as long as it doesn't cause them to overheat.
Yeah, keeping the cables neat and discrete yet easy to disconnect is a challenge. You don't want them interfering with the rain covers.
The Xtracycle mostly hides the ugly stuff on my bike and creates a nicely sheltered location for the controller.
You might want to consider a back-up sort of strap arrangement for the bags in case one of the hooks lets go.
A suddenly shifting load makes for bad handling characteristics. It can be dangerous as well as expensive if you throw your battery pack down the road.
Yeah, keeping the cables neat and discrete yet easy to disconnect is a challenge. You don't want them interfering with the rain covers.
The Xtracycle mostly hides the ugly stuff on my bike and creates a nicely sheltered location for the controller.
You might want to consider a back-up sort of strap arrangement for the bags in case one of the hooks lets go.
A suddenly shifting load makes for bad handling characteristics. It can be dangerous as well as expensive if you throw your battery pack down the road.
I just purchased 2 Nashbar City Box Panniers http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...&pagename=Shop by Subcat: Wedges & Frame Bags and will probably split my 48V 20Ah battery in 2 x 24V and stick one in each pannier. This would provide a better stability, especially on a double fork kickstand. The negative is that the connection will be doubled but that's no big deal for me.
JinbaIttai
100 W
Nice looking box. Lockable too. I'd hate to drill holes in something like that--well after giving it some thought, it's probably easier to waterproof wires going through a hole in hard plastic compared to a soft bag.
How are you going to deal with the wiring?
How are you going to deal with the wiring?
My intention is to drill a hole through the front side of the pannier, as close as possible from the bike saddle area (as this is where my controller will go). There is a metal reinforcement going around, right under the top pannier lip, so that area will be strong enough and should not crack. There is a nice foam basket that fits inside and the hole will just be right above that foam basket, which is perfect. I have some rubber ring 'cable pass-through' that I will use for waterproofing, and the cable going through will have an Anderson connector at each end (one going to the battery inside the pannier, and the other one going to the controller). I will solder the Anderson at one end first, insert the cable through the hole and the rubber ring, and then solder the other Anderson on.
The pannier are lockable (the top flip cover has a toy key really, so nothing serious), but the pannier itself does not lock to the rack, so anybody can remove it and run with it.
That's a negative but you can't expect everything for $60.
One of my original concern was that they look so big on the picture that they would interfere with your ankles while pedaling, but after a dry-run, there's plenty of room behind your feet. I'll post pictures when I'm done with the whole thing (probably 3-4 weeks from now).
The pannier are lockable (the top flip cover has a toy key really, so nothing serious), but the pannier itself does not lock to the rack, so anybody can remove it and run with it.
That's a negative but you can't expect everything for $60.
One of my original concern was that they look so big on the picture that they would interfere with your ankles while pedaling, but after a dry-run, there's plenty of room behind your feet. I'll post pictures when I'm done with the whole thing (probably 3-4 weeks from now).
Given most of us run a rear hub motor, has anyone tried panniers on the front fork? How much weight and how did the bike handle?
I'm thinking this might be an easier way to get the weight better spread out on the bike. One option has me considering 25 lbs of 5304 rear hub motor, 20 lbs of batteries in the triangle and 20 lbs on the front fork distributed low on either side. I've got a long way to go for my next job (100km round trip with no real viable charging option midway).
I'm thinking this might be an easier way to get the weight better spread out on the bike. One option has me considering 25 lbs of 5304 rear hub motor, 20 lbs of batteries in the triangle and 20 lbs on the front fork distributed low on either side. I've got a long way to go for my next job (100km round trip with no real viable charging option midway).
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