Rad Power Bike Battery Solar Charging

Рет қаралды 13,869

3 жыл бұрын

People ask if you can charge your Rad Power Bike battery with Solar. The answer is yes! If you are touring with your eBike, having a way to charge up is handy. Of course with the 672Wh battery it will take quite a bit of time even with a 100W solar panel.
I checked out three MPPT Solar Boost controllers and several folding solar panels that I had. Here's what I found.
Components used:
* Genasun GVB-8-WP MPPT Solar controller ( amzn.to/35AAIka )
* CTKE-EV300 MPPT Solar controller ( www.ebay.com/itm/373167680091 )
* MPT-7210A MPPT Solar controller ( amzn.to/3gBCxm8 )
* Megasolar 100W PD folding solar panel ( amzn.to/2TMiPMU )
* TP-Solar 30W folding solar panel ( amzn.to/3xvuMVD )
* Renogy 100W folding solar panel ( amzn.to/3wBCGN3 )
* MC4 connector kit ( amzn.to/2TLo13h )
* 5.5 x 2.1mm cable/male connector ( amzn.to/3gI7zJ5 )
* watt gage ( amzn.to/3xwjosw )
* wire stripper ( amzn.to/30LCBbE )
* wire terminal crimper ( amzn.to/3lrpq7Y )
Accessories on our bike:
* Bushwhacker Omaha - Bicycle Grocery Pannier (amzn.to/3x3ufud )
* Bike Mirror ( amzn.to/3A6sQFl )
* Bike Bottle Holder ( amzn.to/3dmprZ5 )
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Пікірлер: 53

@MichaelAstrom 2 жыл бұрын

This was very helpful, planning to build a solar trailer for my bike also.

@kendallparish5611 9 ай бұрын

I use a Bluetti AC2A to collect my solar from a 100 watt panel that fits on a Trailer like you have. The advantage of the Bluetti is it has 200 watt-hr battery/inverter that supplies smooth even 110 vac so the stock charger that comes with the battery can be used. This provides the auto shutoff and correct regulated voltage and prevents constant on/off cycling that is hard on the bike batteries. I have 2 batteries that I swap out - 1 propels the bike 1 on the charger. I typically draw 100 watt when riding 12 to 15 mph on flat ground. A 200 watt panel would be required to stay ahead on power on a bright sunny day. That's a big panel! Sorry - on a long ride your going to have to plug in to grid power eventually with the system you're showing us. When I stop to charge I can collect 160 watts per hour per battery and 200 watts per hour into the bluetti - that's 520 watts per hour total vs your 60 to 80 watts per hour. Be careful with your system - it can potentially overheat and ruin your battery of even catch it on fire. I wouldn't charge your battery full with your system but only to 80 or 90 percent and then get off line at that point. That will prevent overheat/over charge.

@montyjack7612 8 ай бұрын

I am thinking about a similar principle of charging the bike while driving with a solar panel via a Bluetti EB55 station. I plan to have a 200W solar panel (not Bluetti). But I would like to directly charge only 1 battery that will be under load. Battery with a capacity of approx. 600 Wh (36 or 48 V). Do you think it won't significantly reduce battery life? Will it be able to charge a whole sunny day during an all-day ride? Thank you in advance for your advice.

@kendallparish5611 8 ай бұрын

@@montyjack7612 Get a panel the balances voltage output with the Bluetti PV input. Panel brand name not important instead consider mechanical stiffness flexibility and performance. (do you have to build a frame etc.) Your other major issue will be can you charge your bike battery while your using it? with a one battery system you have to be able to do that.

@deividpuravida 2 жыл бұрын

Fantástico! muchas gracias, respuestas que necesitaba para mi proyecto ebike caravaning! ;)

@len4585 8 ай бұрын

Why do you need an MPPT? Can't you just plug from the DC output of the solar panel direct ly to the ebike battery? Sorry for my ignorance.

@Gonebad 11 ай бұрын

Good video, I have a renogy solar suitcase with charge controller, do I need a mttp also or instead of to charge my ebike ?

@chrissinclair8705 Жыл бұрын

Did you set the MPPT-7219 to open circuit voltage or max power voltage? It's supposed to be set to max power voltage, if you set it to open cicuit voltage it will try to hold it there and as soon as it draws some power it will reset as your lower limit voltage you set will fall below your target and stop drawing power. If you're using a standard 100w panel with a VOC of say 21.5, you should set the target power voltage to 16-18v, not what the open circuit voltage is. Look up what the max power voltage is on the panel, or a rule of thumb is take about 3 or 4 volts off of what a no power open circuit voltage is. Many You tubers use this feature to trickle charge their batteries if they are running other stuff off their solar setup and set the target voltage pretty close to VOC so it will only draw a little power and limit the amps so they can run their other things on it.

@tube1789 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this very informative video. I really want to do something similar. My concern would be that the Rad Power AC wall charger has (presumably) an auto shut-off feature to avoid over charging and damaging the battery. Do the charge controllers featured here have a similar feature? Is this a legitimate concern, or dos the BMS on board the battery take care of over-charging concerns? Thank you very much!

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

I believe the battery has a BMS, but the solar charge controllers have to be set for the correct charge voltage.

@bradsgold345 2 жыл бұрын

Can the bike battery be charged by a solar charger/battery (Jackery) while riding?

@SerendipitySue 2 жыл бұрын

I did a test in this movie where I charged it at the same time I was using it to run an AC inverter. It worked. So it should work ( kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rLZhZtObqM64cmg.html )

@markcouch4235 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, look up The Sun Trip solar ebike race on KZfaq. Probably not the best for long term health of the battery but I dunno really. I want to try it.

@juliabrown8316 Жыл бұрын

My son built me a tiny camper to drag behind my bike. But the extra drag weight limits me to 20 miles and then my battery is flat. I want to charge as I ride so that I can keep going as long as the sun lasts. What do you suggest that will allow me to keep riding, maybe 80 miles. I can put a solar panel on the roof of my tiny camper.

@juliabrown8316 Жыл бұрын

Julia Brown 1 hour ago I have an extra comment please. Can I charge the battery AS I RIDE pulling my tiny camper? Or must the Rad battery be turned off while charging? I don’t want to stop and wait for a recharge, I want to keep riding as I charge.

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

@@juliabrown8316 Yes you can solar charge while riding. See my other video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rLZhZtObqM64cmg.html

@mallardsadventures Жыл бұрын

when using solar to recharge my rad bike battery, do I need a controller for it to work?

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

yes

@robertpaetow7812 2 жыл бұрын

You would think they would make something solar and those bikes where are you can keep riding and still get a charge from a solar panels

@happyjohnrn 2 жыл бұрын

Its a cool idea. But after buying solar panels, solar charge controller, connectors ect. How long would it take to recover your cost as compared to just regular home charging? I suppose if you where without other resources it might be worth it.

@SerendipitySue 2 жыл бұрын

The idea is more for people camping with their ebikes. When you don't have access to AC

@thegiantswordworkout 3 ай бұрын

How long give or take off that one pannel to charge that battery from empty to full?

@SerendipitySue 3 ай бұрын

The battery is 672Wh. So at 100W (full sun) it would take around q6-7 hours to charge

@mrbr549 3 жыл бұрын

So 2 of the Megasolar panels in parallel would theoretically charge it at approximately the same rate as the wall charger on a sunny day?

@SerendipitySue 3 жыл бұрын

Unlike the Renogy panel, I don't think you can put the Megasolar panel in parallel/serial because of the controller. If you have panels that can be, the two boost controllers can handle around 300W.

@BHCollectives 2 жыл бұрын

@@SerendipitySue thanks for you video! Been trying to figure out how this works. Can you clarify what you mean that the Megasolar panels can’t be connected in parallel/series? It seems like you have a Y splitter from the DC out of the panel that splits the positive / negative, so if you have two of the panels, wouldn’t you just plug the positive of one into the negative of the other then the positive of one and the negative of the other into one of the controllers to get it in series? Electrical noob here so I might totally be missing something.. thanks!

@SerendipitySue 2 жыл бұрын

@@BHCollectives I think I read not to do it in the instruction manual. Physically you can connect them though.

@BHCollectives 2 жыл бұрын

@@SerendipitySue got it. Thank you!

@brianbassett4379 2 жыл бұрын

You need to start with a high-quality 300W panel minimum... but yes, I can charge just as fast with my panel as I can using 120V at 8 amps. SunCapture 300W Solar Panel: photos.app.goo.gl/rFim5rPsajmDt8NJ6 Best all-around ebike today: photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

@waywardgeologist2520 2 жыл бұрын

Are any of the panels amorphous silicon?

@SerendipitySue 2 жыл бұрын

No sure. I'll have to look into amorphous silicon. Can you suggest one?

@mattbroct Жыл бұрын

Can you share what side bags ? Do you like them?

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

Love the Bushwhacker bags. I have several sets ( amzn.to/3YYVdSi )

@Team-Jesus Жыл бұрын

So how did you connect the wattage monitor? Sorry I'm a noob.

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

It's just an in-line meter. You can get it on amazon: amzn.to/3XKVlEc

@Team-Jesus Жыл бұрын

@@SerendipitySue OK thankyou!.

@jwest150 8 ай бұрын

Okay, well you didn't say how long it took to charge though

@SerendipitySue 8 ай бұрын

You can calculate the charge time if you know the size of the battery in Wh, the size of the solar panel, how sunny it is, and the max. charge current of your battery. In a simple example, a 500Wh battery, being in full sunlight with a 100W solar panel would take 5 hours.

@twloughlin 3 жыл бұрын

Hello. I came across this video while searching for ways to charge an ebike battery via solar. So far it seems there really is no practical way to charge an ebike battery via solar in a few hours. Would you say that's a realistic assessment at this point? Thanks so much.

@SerendipitySue 3 жыл бұрын

Solar should be able to charge them as fast as your wall charger. I'm not sure how much charge current the BMS will take. Higher charge currents can reduce the battery life cycles

@twloughlin 3 жыл бұрын

@@SerendipitySue Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your time.

@brianbassett4379 2 жыл бұрын

No... that's not an accurate assessment Tom. I can charge at the same rate with my 300W panel as I can using a Satiator charging at 8 amps. It's not as fast as filling a tank with gas but is easily doable with a high-quality panel. Stay safe. SunCapture 300W Solar Panel: photos.app.goo.gl/rFim5rPsajmDt8NJ6 Best all-around ebike today: photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

@Hoperool 2 жыл бұрын

Best all-around ebike today?

@brianbassett4379 2 жыл бұрын

@@Hoperool Yup.

@Team-Jesus Жыл бұрын

I thought the charge for a 48v battery was 54.6v

@SerendipitySue Жыл бұрын

It's 54.2V for a Lithium battery

@Team-Jesus Жыл бұрын

@@SerendipitySue my charger say's 54.6v though?