newbie

[choppersrule2]

hi all my friend aussiejester told me about endless-sphere its great i have lots of questions and with a bit of luck i will be asking how i can get some parts. i have an interest in electric vehicles and have built some electric bikes and trikes for my kids they can be found on you tube under choppersrule1.
i am wanting to build a trike to drive on the road and have found out i can do so without any rego or roadworthy but i am only aloud to use a 200 watt motor, this will give me around 30 kmh i know its slow but i only have to travel 15 kms to work one way so this will do till they change the rules.
i am working on a solar trailer to tow behind it so i can charge it up wile i am at work, will this work or not?
thanks all please let me know what you all think.
mark
aka choppersrule2

 

[deardancer3]

my opinion:

A great solar charging system is rather expensive in so many ways. The sun gives us about 1kw per square meter average mid day, and most solar cells are only ~ 15% efficient. so at noon you get 150w hours per meter, after spending lots of money. It is frequently cheaper to just pay someone a few bucks a month for plugging your charger in.

Money is better spent on making trike streamlined and lightweight, getting better batteries and of course a chain drive.

If you are set on solar charging, we can proceed. but do some good accounting before doing any check writing.

If you could keep the solar panel at work and drag it out when you get there, that would be helpful. Have it charging some SLA's when you are not there maybe?


So why do you wish to charge with a solar system at work? Trying to be ECO friendly, not got AC at work?
d

 

[choppersrule2]

hi deardancer3 i have 3 solar panels to use they were a leftover from my 4 wheel drive i used them to charge my truck battery's during the day so we could run lights and TV at night they were picked up cheep $98 Australian so all i need them to do is top up my battery's wile i at work as there is no were to plug in to the mains power. i am using a hub motor so i don't have to worry about a chain drive and it is quiet.
it is not a bad idea to leave my solar panels and sla,s at work.
i work outside and it is only our smoko room that has an ac in it.
i am not shore if it will work but its worth a try besides it a good excuse to leave my 46 year old car at home.
mark

 

[deardancer3]

what is the chemistry, voltage and AH battery pack you will be charging?

You may or may not be able to do without going thru the 12vsla DC to 120vac to battery charger if you can configure a close match between the SLA's and your Ebike pack.

will you have an AH meter on you new ebike ride?

I presume you can leave the solar packs to see the sun and the SLA's in a secure palce while you are gone?

d

 

[spinningmagnets]

Here's a thrread that might have some useful links and discussion on solar-charging an E-bike:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13593&start=0

 

[AussieJester]

Good too see you made it to ES Mark you will get alot
of input and help when/if required members here a VERY helpful
and experienced bunch.

The solar powered trailer sounds like a cool idea too! Theres a fella up near me that i ran into
at the local Hardware he has a recumbent with a small solar panel on it
a 24v system and 200watt motor.

Be sure to start a worklog here when you start the build Mark, then people will
be able to check in and offer suggestions and help with any questions you might need
answering

Look forward to seeing what you come up with buddy

KiM

 

[choppersrule2]

hi d the battery's i will be charging are 12volt 12 amp sla,s i will be using the solar panels at work then give them a boost at night on the mains power.
we have a compound at work that is lockable so there is no worries about people taking my trailer.
i have a 46 year old car that i drive to work but it is getting hard to get parts for it if anything happens to it so i think it would be fun to drive to work on electric power instead of fossil fuel. and no i am not a Eco nut but have an interest in alliterative fuel.
i will start a log when i have got all the parts together and start building
mark

 

[choppersrule2]

hi all its been a wile but i am back been busy at work i have got my electric wheel fixed and fitted back on my trike.
i am still having trouble with my handle bars i am not happy with them this is the third pair i have made, i think i have got it wright but then go for a ride only to find out they are not as comfortable as i had thought. i will try to post a photo of them.
any ideas?
mark

 

[AussieJester]

Photos will be handy, im guessing Ape Hangers are out of the question though hahaa, silly looking bars they are IMO... I like lower down wider style bars myself Mark, ones where your hands seem to fall onto more naturally. The cruiser style bars i use are ooober comfy and can be aligned and different angles which totally changes the look of the bike too... Be back to checkout the pics...

KiM