LunaCycle Wolf battery parallel running while solar charging at the same time

[paxtana]

Awesome. That's some slick cable management in the box with the wiring, love the attention to detail.

What kind of motor are you using?

That ride in the storm is crazy, so sketch I wouldn't even be driving in it. Did you ever worry about getting hit, what with the low visibility and the low profile of the recumbent? Spose it helps to have all that extra gear to make the ride much more visible..

[Gadgets4grls]

During that ride I was still using a Bionx D500 but replaced that with a Bafang BBSHD.
Actually as crazy as it sounds I felt safer during that ride than I do during a nice weather day. At least during this most people were paying attention to their driving and not playing on their phones. Yes the roads were crap but everyone was being careful for exactly that reason. Most of my commute was on low traffic side street or trails so I wasn't out among the traffic for much of it.
As for the visibility I have a something a little bigger than the standard bicycle tail light.
Gadgets.

[CPG]

I like your thinking on "happy batteries." That explains why my 17 AH battery on my fatbike has a LOT more range then my 11.5 AH battery on my other ride, more range then can be explained simply by it's greater capacity. I draw it down slower, relative to it's size, so it's more happy! Makes me want an even bigger one.

[Gadgets4grls]

CPG,
Yep old school mentality but it still applies regardless of the chemistry or what the discharge curve shows for the cells.
It's a cascading problem the faster you discharge a battery the more heat it generates, the hotter the cells the more energy that is wasted. Like most things batteries have their happy space, not too hot, not too cold.
My setup will actually perform worse in the cold than a single battery because the draw isn't high enough to keep the battery out of the "not too cold" unless I crank up the assist. That's alright though because while I still ride in the cold I'm not as likely to want to go for that 60+ mile ride when the temp is below freezing.

[Gr8fun]

A working solar bike is very good to see . I have a long wheelbase recumbent. The front should actually become a fairing solar panel. A good day in summer should net a good 850 watts with that 100 watt renogy panel?
how does this handle with a cross wind? Say a passing semi truck?

[Gadgets4grls]

Hi Gr8fun,
What long wheelbase do you have? I still have my Ryan Vanguard from the 90's. Loved that recumbent but knees/balance are up to riding it much anymore.

I haven't gotten out long enough to get some good real world numbers from the solar panel but I'm hoping that it'll be able to supply maybe 25% of my usage.
Though this latest project should help me reach my 25% goal.

As for wind handle with the canopy take a look at my commute home.

[Gadgets4grls]

[Gr8fun]

Apparent to me there is a lot of stability from trike configuration. Saw buffeting from wind but stable steering. 2 wheels will be different

I am on a rans nimbus early 90s. I installed running boards below seats. Handles 125 pounds pf cargo easily. Dropped the stock 700c road wheels and tires for 650b (27 1/2) with 2 inch schwalbe tire on rear. 20 inch 451 wheel in front. No pitch forward on hard braking with long wheel base. Extremely stable at high speeds.
i think i can mount a 175 watt panel on the front. Mppt boost controller. The 100 watt seems to be a bit short of my wants.
Will be happy with 30 miles per day solar. Combination charging when parked and driving.
that is to start.
ive been doing e bike with bbs 02 mid drive for over three years, over 20k miles. recumbent for a year.
this is next step.
Thanks.

[Gadgets4grls]

Yep wouldn't dare risk riding in that with only two wheels recumbent or not.

Loved my Ryan and it was really stable though I did have one accident where the trike picked up a speed wobble on a really steep downhill that I couldn't recover from. Partner behind me said I went sideways and did a full flip. I have no memory of that though. I remember wobble jerk and then I'm riding on top of the trike as it grinds to a stop. Some minor road rash was all I got but bike wasn't rideable until some parts were replaced. Like the tacoed rear wheel. One annoying thing was that the stupid front end linkage steering bearing would break way too easily though. don't remember how many times I had to replace the stupid thing.

When I was commuting on it I ended up mounting two of the LARGE plastic tool boxes, you could find at HomeDepot, down under the seat. Loved those things. I could put stuff inside and lock them up. Also work great as a kick stand replacement. Wish I still had some pictures of the setup.

Good memories.

Sounds like an interesting setup you're consider. Would love to see how you plan on mounting the panel out front. I agree on the short part. You'll never get what a panel is rated at which is sadly just part of the way they're marketed.

I ended up rebuild my trailer panel mount this weekend. Plans changed and I needed more cargo space. So am losing the Yeti and replacing it with a Ortlieb Rack box cooler instead. Whole lot lighter and it wont double as a bear box but I need to open up the cargo area.

If I get a chance I'll trying and get some pictures to upload.

[Gr8fun]

Parts came in monday. Maybe this weekend.
anxious to see how i mount this. Combination fairing, solar panel. ??

[Gadgets4grls]

Parts came in monday. Maybe this weekend.
anxious to see how i mount this. Combination fairing, solar panel. ??

Gr8fun,
Was wondering if you've made any headway on your mounting. Would love to see pictures.
Gadgets

[Gr8fun]

Sorry. But been buay with other projects.
the term. "Flexible" is not what i expected.
Mounting is possible but need to rethink. Seeing the size of this is a little humbling compared to imagining.
will try a sheet of masonite as dummy panel. Flexibility about the same.
Still have positive attitude. It will work with work.

On the roof charging spare battery for now.

[Gr8fun]

Put asde a other stuff. Think i have odentifed mounting points. And framework mountong points. Other.

[Gadgets4grls]

Put asde a other stuff. Think i have odentifed mounting points. And framework mountong points. Other.

Like the running boards and I fully understand getting pulled of for other projects. Happens to me ALL the time.

Something to be aware. The panel wont work right if you flex it into a "U" shape with one side shadowed while the other is exposed to the sun. It will work better than traditional panel not 100% perpendicular to the sun but its full surface still need to face the sun to get any power out of it.

[Gr8fun]

Thanks for the tip. Originally i had planned to arc it. Strength for deflection of wind. But not having the flex i gave up on that. Good thing the way i understand this each cell produces according to the sunlight available. The panel will produce only to the level of the lowest producing cell. ?
most generation will be done when parked and positioned for most direct incidence of light. Frame will tilt to face sun and handle bars move to time of day. Crude alt az control.
not counting on much while drivng as the steering will be more important than electrical generation.!