40 Watt flexible solar on Bicycle Camper.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

40 Watt flexible solar on Bicycle Camper.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

If you have zero cooling underneath you will loose a bit less than 10% of the output.
Use a 45W panel instead and fix it straight down.
Cheers,
Peter

Whenarewethere · Guru

There are plenty of places selling aluminium sections. But depending on what diameter you need, the cheapest & easiest maybe an extendable tent pole & you have 2 pieces or paint roller pole or tree cutter extendable pole. All of which are anodised, maybe only 10um, but better than nothing. Stops your hands getting black from oxidation. If you intend on bending the tube the above mentioned would not be suitable.

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile

There have been some poor experiences with flexible panels failing. It was said they should not be used in multiple sets. But you could research on here and elsewhere and know more than I. Possibly fitting diodes to prevent the reverse current if one is not in the sun, might help. I believe they are not much affected by being mounted with no gap. And they need to be able to 'move' a bit. I have never owned any. wink

Good luck with your project. You must be in better shape than I.

Jaahn

dorian · Guru

What is your GVM/GCM?

Bicyclecamper · Guru

GVM will be 70kg, if GCM means the bike, camper and all the gear, myself and dog would be 179kg. Current weight all with current dog trailer 144kg. Will be changing front chainrings on bike to lower gearing for hill climbing, and later date going to an electric bike with 2 X 9 ah lithium batteries for hill climbing and riding into the wind. My average tours by bike currently with dog and trailer are 2000km. In relation to the panels, I cannot use heavy framed panels, to keep the camper weight low, so flexi panels is the go. All the solar gear will be bought at reputable dealers in OZ, quality gear only. I don't want to be caught out in the outback with flat batteries as I currently run a Sat. phone, a Spot tracker, 5 watt uhf handheld radio, and an ipad. I may get a mobile phone (Idon't own one at the moment, -don't see why I need one)

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 04:49:15 PM

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 05:00:41 PM

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 05:05:07 PM

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Thursday 23rd of April 2020 05:26:35 PM

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Added my new Avatar, it gives a close idea to what I will be building, may even build one like it, but my camper will be closer to this one which is much lighter: www.bicyclecaravan.com. Will now be using a 100 watt Renogy flexible panel, which are designed to be glued down, don't have issue much with temperature. Also will be carrying one as a portable, (Which will slide into a frame on the side of the camper) when parked up. As you can see on the avatar, their is an vent and exhaust fan on top which I will also be adding, but on the one I wish to build, the back kitchen door will take up more room on the top , not leaving enough room to fit another solar panel. I will be adding a 30 amp 12,24,36, 48 volt controller, so I can not only charge an on board 20ah lithium house battery by Lanplus, but be able to charge a spare 9ah, 36 volt e bike battery to keep my front hub motor powered, which will give me 50km per day of assistance. The only assistance I need is hill climbing and head winds. If the head winds go for all day, will just find a spot to park up and camp. The average distance I do per day with the dog in his trailer is 80km, but expect this to go down to 65 - 70 km instead, even if it is less, will not be worried, as my bike tours are never a race. I am out to see everything around me, just like a normal tourist would do.

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 14th of June 2020 10:08:58 PM

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 14th of June 2020 10:11:20 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Can you move the vent more the front to fee up the roof. Maybe two smaller vents. Maybe one towards the front & another at the rear. Whitworths Marine might have something.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Their will be a panel on the front, and it has to be higher, as their will be a window, below it that can open for the dog to see me( he gets anxious if he can'[t see me) and also it will be screened to allow a breeze for him, but not to be able to get out. I have a Whitworths book, but they are more expensive than another Aussie supplier I have found. And they are very hard to mount on a curved panel. I also need that size, as will be able to cook in there for wet weather and do need that size vent to exhaust the carbon monoxide buildup. Plus I want the light of that size coming in when it is all closed up, during wet weather. The windows I would like to put in are too expensive, but will be fitting a couple of opening portholes.