Thread: solar bike
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Old 07-31-2010, 04:09 AM   #6 (permalink)
saand
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 236

bugler - '91 Mazda 626
90 day: 35.89 mpg (US)
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Ragez your correct there, 3 times the 10 W panels you were looking at will not cost you 1500, i was basing my estimate on what the other bike picture had, they looked like higher cost commercial higher efficiency panels.
The 10W panel pointed to on ebay are only 10 W because they will likely have low efficiency and im guessing are probably made in china by a cheap manufacturer. If you are interested try researching some comercial solar panels, look up BP they make solar panels and will have size and efficiency i think they have datasheets too.

Regarding your battery shape, yep that is one unique shape. But i am fairly sure if you open up that case you will find a group of cylinderical battery cells (but open at your own risk, i give no guarentees you wont wreck your battery opening it up)

if you are feeling adventurous you could connect up a whole bunch of single cell batteries (the cylinderical type that is likely inside your uniquely shaped 12v battery)
this way you can make the shape/ size whatever you like.
This is exactly what they are doing in electric cars with new lithium cells, i think its the volt car (i might be wrong) that has about 4000 single lithium cylinderical cells. all connected up with wires.
you can use any type of cell, doesn't have to be lead acid, doesn't have to be a consumer type as long as you can get the voltage and the current you are after

also looks like your battery may have the charger inside it, cos it looks like you plug a mains power plug straight into the batter, so if you change batteries you will have to think about what to do with the charger. I might be misinterpreting the picture though.

sounds like a good project ahead of you, might take you a fair bit of effort though
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