MPPT for Solar Bike

[SunEagle]

The competition is only once every two years, but I bunch of people enter it. I think you are all right, going near high speed vehicle is not a good idea. On slower road, with high wind will be a problem. I might put the panel on folding base, soi if the pressure is over a certain amount, it will fold and reduce surface. I will have to take that into account.

What ever design you decide on I wish you luck with your bike as well as staying safe when using it.

[VeloSolaire]

The competition is only once every two years, but I bunch of people enter it. I think you are all right, going near high speed vehicle is not a good idea. On slower road, with high wind will be a problem. I might put the panel on folding base, soi if the pressure is over a certain amount, it will fold and reduce surface. I will have to take that into account.

[J.P.M.]

Does the word Kite come to mind.

Yea, I've done both kites and bikes a fair amount, but to me anyway, a solar array acting as a kite anchored to a bicycle sounds like an accident that hasn't happened yet.

Fun experiments - I get that - and probably started by cyclists who like solar with perhaps some of the driving force behind the eccentric conjunction being another reason to wear funny clothes with advertising all over them in public and block the road more, but seems the match of the two (bikes and solar) is one of the not-too-well thought out parts of the enterprise with respect to road safety or common sense considerations.

Kind of like hang gliding on Mt. Washington or surfing in a typhoon. What a ride huh ?

Come to think of it, how about solar powered surf boards that power you out and then you flip over for the return ride ? Another example of Americn knowhow at its finest.

[SunEagle]

Ever stood on a roof carrying a 4 X 8 sheet of OSB or plywood and a not too severe gust of wind happens by ?

Does the word Kite come to mind.

[J.P.M.]

I would stay off the roads that have big rigs and speed limits exceeding 45mph. Less chance of getting run over or blown away from the side draft.

Ever stood on a roof carrying a 4 X 8 sheet of OSB or plywood and a not too severe gust of wind happens by ?

[SunEagle]

I'm not sure I'd feel too safe on a road w/other vehicle traffic and/or if there was any wind blowing, particularly if that wind was variable and had any gust factor to it. Passing big rigs come to mind as well. Not all wind vectors are horizontal.

I would stay off the roads that have big rigs and speed limits exceeding 45mph. Less chance of getting run over or blown away from the side draft.

[J.P.M.]

Perhaps you could get more energy/reduce air friction by using cells with square corners and no wide
gaps between, and move that shadowing support to the underside (see a massage table). Bruce Roe

I'm not sure I'd feel too safe on a road w/other vehicle traffic and/or if there was any wind blowing, particularly if that wind was variable and had any gust factor to it. Passing big rigs come to mind as well. Not all wind vectors are horizontal.

[bcroe]

here is the winning bike of 2015

2015- suntrip winning bike.png

Perhaps you could get more energy/reduce air friction by using cells with square corners and no wide
gaps between, and move that shadowing support to the underside (see a massage table). Bruce Roe

[VeloSolaire]

Thank you. Reason I asked: Referring to the photo, at those speeds, the wind shield that's shown might help keep bugs from impacting the rider's junk, but given the rest of the vehicle's configuration, it won't do much to increase range by how much it might reduce flow induced resistance to the atmosphere. Might even reduce sweat evap. and thus raise body temp. some. Just sayin'.

I read that in is first test, I did not saw big improvement with the shield but I think at the end, after tweak and more test, he decide to keep it. I will not used a shield. I am not doing a race, just travelling I yes fresh air might be good very I want to go.

[VeloSolaire]

Air resistance goes up as the cube of velocity, so high speeds will tend to exhaust your battery.

Yes but also motor efficiency has a impact
I have 2 bike. One with 360 Wh battery (Bike A) and one with 780 Wh (Bike B) every Saturday I go to the same place at 30 km from home,

With both bike I can reach the destination at 30 km/h and both are almost empty (by calculating charging time) even if B has twice the battery size.
At 17 km/h Bike A does not go that much further but bike B will go for almost 80 km.

[VeloSolaire]

The racer used this tool to select his motor
http://www.ebikes.ca/tools/simulator.html

image_9161.png

[bcroe]

Thank you. Reason I asked: Referring to the photo, at those speeds, the wind shield that's shown might help keep bugs from impacting the rider's junk, but given the rest of the vehicle's configuration, it won't do much to increase range by how much it might reduce flow induced resistance to the atmosphere. Might even reduce sweat evap. and thus raise body temp. some. Just sayin'.

Air resistance goes up as the cube of velocity, so high speeds will tend to exhaust your battery. The actual cost
per mile goes up as the square, because you get there faster. Bruce Roe

[J.P.M.]

Usually e-bike are limited at 32 km/hr but not overthrew it seem because he chose his different component for a speed around 42 km/hr (not sure, I have bad memory
he says it was to maximize power transfert.

which is surprising to me because my current ebike goes far at 17 km/hr but not at 32. I have a friend how has an ebike with motor on the pedal axe (not sure how to say that in English) so by changing gear you can go faster. I went to 50 km/hr but battery was draining very fast at that speed.

Thank you. Reason I asked: Referring to the photo, at those speeds, the wind shield that's shown might help keep bugs from impacting the rider's junk, but given the rest of the vehicle's configuration, it won't do much to increase range by how much it might reduce flow induced resistance to the atmosphere. Might even reduce sweat evap. and thus raise body temp. some. Just sayin'.

[VeloSolaire]

Wonder what the average speed of the winner was.

Usually e-bike are limited at 32 km/hr but not overthrew it seem because he chose his different component for a speed around 42 km/hr (not sure, I have bad memory
he says it was to maximize power transfert.

which is surprising to me because my current ebike goes far at 17 km/hr but not at 32. I have a friend how has an ebike with motor on the pedal axe (not sure how to say that in English) so by changing gear you can go faster. I went to 50 km/hr but battery was draining very fast at that speed.

[VeloSolaire]

Best option, separate charge controller for each panel.

Thank you.
I am learning so much here. I am very happy. I am still have to think about total weight. Each one weight 290 gr (0.64 pound). Maybe two would be good.
I will wait until I have an idea of all the weight I add then decide if I go with 2 or 4.