🚴‍♂️100W Solar Powered E-Bike Trailer

[@Eric_Tennant]

[FRAMING] 🛒2020 T Slot Aluminum Extrusion amzn.to/3thDcTN 🛒2020 Corner Connectors ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT (Lighter) ------ Amazon amzn.to/45W2N3e 🛒2020 Hinge ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT ------ Amazon amzn.to/45cicek 🛒Latch ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT ------ Amazon amzn.to/3PZk4mz 🛒Tape amzn.to/3LRISKD [SOLAR SYSTEM] 🛒Genasun (48v) GVB-8-Li-54.2V-WP amzn.to/3RAeIiv 🛒Oreq Solar Charge Controller amzn.to/3PwHwWD 🛒100w Flexible panel ------ AllPowers (Coupon ET10) iallpowers.com/products/allpowers-sf100-flexible-solar-panel-100w?ref=Eric_Tennant ------ AliExpress (Coupon USAFF8) s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdQiswn ------ Amazon amzn.to/3WmT9Ep [LIGHTING] 🛒Switches s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlV2cyF 🛒3Pin 10mm Double Clip Connector s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DliCIXt 🛒Rear Lights s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDMEUx5 🛒DC(24-60V) to 12V DC Buck Converter s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl1O6hN 🛒LED light strip amzn.to/46Fb37Y 🛒LED light strip controller ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dd3Xln5 ------ Amazon amzn.to/3Q9Xrui 🛒Solder Seal Wire Connectors amzn.to/45MwSRz 🛒XT60 Connectors amzn.to/4bK8rqW [TRAILER] 🛒Bike Trailer amzn.to/3EycKI0 🛒Burley COHO 5mm Skewer amzn.to/3W5tjn3 [ELECTRIC BIKE MOTOR] 🛒1000w BBSHD Kit ------ Aliexpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdJKFMP ------ Amazon amzn.to/3FhVmsF [BIKE] Bike is a Trek Marlin 7. Just about any mountain bike will convert into an e-bike.

[@Makinen-w4d]

Thank you for the videos I try to see what ever you send with solar panels, I notice that you don't say much about the gain of the solar panel versus the distance that you do in your trips. It is a kind of blackout to objective of all the thing. A question: Can you really bike of grid? Or you much depend on hostages hotels this kind of places to charge the batteries, would be important to understand the reality of the solar panels on the roads, can you do a video about the efectivity of the solar panels pros and cons so that we have a better picture with the pros and cons. Best regards from Sweden.

[@Eric_Tennant]

With the panel ran flat like this with a few stops where I point it at the sun gains about 550w per 100 watts of panel a day. My last solar tour the 200w version got around 1100w a day. If I'm trained to pedal 1100 watt on flat can be 100 miles + my entertainment and lighting at night.

[@Iamkayaky]

@@Eric_Tennant which panel works best off the koho xc please. ..in term of size and performance?

[@Eric_Tennant]

@@Iamkayaky For long tours I go with this one amzn.to/3LkQ1CM on the trailer

[@HoboGardenerBen]

I love seeing more diy solar ebike builds popping up. I have wanted to do it for many years now. I should do it too and make a video to help spread the word of this fantastic fusion of technologies.

[@lucasbrunelle]

Oh the places you’ll go with that solar trailer, the attention to detail is on point

[@williamramey1959]

This is a most excellent of a how-to-do video and commentary. This is very timely for me, for I want to build a unit for myself.

[@publicdomain3378]

Let the solar ebike camping craze start, im building one too. Its a great idea

[@VeloSolarTech_Alex]

Hi Eric. I am also like you a solar ebiker. I ordered two 200w panels. One on my recumbent trike and one on my self designed ultra light weight trailer. Thanks to you I went with the deal. I think these panels will be perfect for my build and genasun charge controllers. I’ll be going to the US next year for a world solar tour and I would love to meet up with you. Hope that is possible. Best regards from Sweden Alex Hofvander

[@pascalj4331]

your 200w trailer is a gold standard. WIll be curious to hear if the 100w lightness makes a big difference in your single track experience.

[@TheOneGoodRoad]

Love the tardis reference 😂

[@Eric_Tennant]

Thanks. It's a fair trade for Dave Tennant taking my name.

[@opnheartscrub]

Thanks for documenting your detailed build and your explanation of why and what you chose to use. BTW, I loved the Tardis reference! You are an inspiration for me to put together a charging system that will allow me to go on long outdoor camping trips even after being disabled by Lyme disease. I already have a two wheeled trailer that is rated to carry over 200 lbs. and have an idea to attach a solar panel with telescopic legs to the corners. That way it can angle to either side and also be quickly and easily ground mounted. This will also allow me to vary the panel height from the trailer top rails according to the load I’m packing for each trip. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@redsorgum]

Awesome setup. The weight savings looks like it will be easier to travel with. Thanks for the build demo. 🙏🏻✌️

[@dennisyoung4631]

Good. I can use a fair bit of (mad-dog!) 20-20 extrusion stuff, mostly for assembling drawers. (Of course, there’ll be some for a solar-panel frame, too.)

[@HoboGardenerBen]

Looks like the ponderosa pine forest outside Prescott and Flagstaff, AZ

[@Eric_Tennant]

Yep. Not to far from Mormon lake.

[@HoboGardenerBen]

@Eric_Tennant Ah cool, I have family in Prescott, lived there some years myself. Love the butterscotch smell of ponderosa pine sap in the sun and the nice open feel to the forest. So much forest road to explore on an ebike setup like this. Would need flat-free tires or lots of patches for the goathead grassheads, those things are insane. I'd invest in non-inflated foam tires if doing a long tour, so nice to never have to worry about it.

[@E-bikeeverything57]

It's easy to install a panel on the top of of cheap trailer if your just using around towm. And use XT90 anti-spark connectors, especially if you're running dual batteries.😊

[@E-bikeeverything57]

Yeah and fuses between everything 😏

[@dennisyoung4631]

Wonders aloud, “what kind of fuses - the square ones with two blades, or the cylindrical ones?”

[@MohamedElHassani-id5wo]

Good job Eric,

[@dfwvtxman]

Should build and sell these, nice job.

[@P.Ttrying]

Outstanding Eric 🏆🏆🏆 My 100w homebuilt system is like a 1976chevy compared to your modern Ferrari. Im redesigning thanks to you 🎉 Ebikepacking rocks ☮️ 🦘🚴🏆

[@tonerduckpin]

It's 112 degrees in Phoenix. Why not build a trailer indoors. The new bridge across Tonto Creek has been completed. I hope you can do some trips on the backside of Roosevelt Lake in October.

[@cryptowolf-zf3fs]

Cool, love seeing solar.

[@williamramey1959]

Thank you very much for the part list too!

[@bennyhill4228]

Nice Build Video Eric 👍

[@Eric_Tennant]

Thanks 👍

[@Ro-Bucks]

I got a couple of metal coffee mugs that clip on to my solar trailer but then I thought it made to much noise. and can't leave them there when riding unless you want street dirt in your cup, the best part of waking up is street dirt in your cup.

[@powerkarma]

Excellent setup!, I did order all my gear and trailer, I used all your links for purchasing. My setup will be a little different since my trailer will be used to hold all the livestreaming gear and the high mount camera. I plan to live stream my solar ebike ride on Twitch and KZbin. I will let you know how it goes.

[@dennisd7451]

Ty😊😊😊😊😊

[@dannymcm26]

this vid is amazing . thank you so much :)

[@Eric_Tennant]

Glad you liked it!

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

isn't pedal assist awkward because you have to pedal super fast but in lower gear? I've never ridden an e-bike. Please explain. thanks

[@Eric_Tennant]

Only have to pedal like that if your going over 30 mph. Other then that its like a normal bike. You set the motor power for how much help you want. 0 watts to 1400 watt is the range of this motor.

[@Adventures4vida]

I got a 4amp charger for my Bosch Batteries, and my 160watt solar jack panel still isn't enough, since the 4amp charger wants 190wats of power. I'm new to this so I could be wrong. Would love to be able to charge my second battery while riding.

[@williamramey1959]

My SuperCharger 2 has two Bosch PowerTube 500, 36 V, 13.4 Ah/500Wh batteries. Each battery pack is 625Wh. I am trying to calculate what I actually need to pull this off. Eric, if you have any suggestions, please do not keep them to yourself. LOL

[@Adventures4vida]

@@williamramey1959 think its up to the charger, the faster the charger, high amps, the more watts you need for it to draw power. 4amps need 191 watts off power before it starts to draw any power.

[@Eric_Tennant]

The mppt charger in the description works even at 4w. 100w of solar can get you around 550wh a day.

[@Timbodacious]

Your bosch charger wants 4 amps but you dont have to feed your battery 4 amps, as long as youre converting your voltage from the panel to the full charge voltage of your battery with a bit of diy cabling then the solar panel will charge your battery but at a wildly varying rate depending on the sun you get

[@eeehhhhhhhhh]

most of those blue-pack style 18650-built li-ion packs can take charge just fine at the common rail; the reason it's (often) split off on most is to accommodate a funky charger port like a barrel, (usually) not because of BMS restrictions -- this is how regenerative braking works. (of course, do your own homework and inspect your specific packs for BMS quirks.. but just saying -- it's very convenient to charge/discharge from one connector for many designs out there.)

[@Eric_Tennant]

Your basically describing how I did it on my first solar tour. The problem is that then those BMS have no way to stop the charger from charging into the discharge port if a cell goes over 4.2v; however all BMS are not the same.

[@eeehhhhhhhhh]

@@Eric_Tennant Ah I see -- I was assuming the use of a programmable mptt or equivalent. You're absolutely right. My current li-ion/bms covers both sides charge/discharge so with the use of a programmable mptt for maximums the balancing is covered; I forget that it's not always that easy. Cheers.

[@P.Ttrying]

👍 let's go 🎉

[@dailyrider2975]

Shirley (😁) there are 400-500w solar panels available?

[@Eric_Tennant]

Been trying to talk AllPowers into sending me a 400w version of the panel. Lol would need a wide load plate.

[@dailyrider2975]

@@Eric_Tennant If you get bi-facial panels you can mount them vertical, get 2 on trailer. Need space between them and reflective to boost light capture. But it might work better. 370-440W Aptos Solar Panels are best price right now for that type of solar.

[@georgeholder5076]

Does the Burley COHO affect the turning radius ? ? Just asking for a friend 😎

[@Eric_Tennant]

Only on U turns

[@Eric_Tennant]

Only on U-turns.

[@Makeitliquidfast]

Eric, did you make a video on the conversion of your Trek to an ebike? Or did you buy it that way? And, why did you not buy an ebike from the beginning if so? Thanks

[@Eric_Tennant]

Indeed kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHXCaIZ-op5qibs . Prebuilt ebikes do have a few cons. Many wont let you charge while they are on without replacing there BMS. Rear hub motors wont take this trailer. Also many mid drive are poor at pulling because they have no gears. The frames of pre-builts are way overweight/overbuilt. Lol they sell this as a feature and tell you a normal frame can't handle the power. That is BS. I've tested this thing up to 4600 miles now. Many of those miles were on bad trails. Then cost was the last factor of why I went custom.

[@Makeitliquidfast]

@@Eric_Tennant thanks, I've been binge watching yout trips, I live in Young off the 260 right in the middle of town, I work in Phoenix and ride all over the city every day on my Electra and don't see to many ebikes or bikes period, your channel is going to take off trust me because it's dam interesting. Thanks again.

[@SL33P-WALK3R]

Still room for storage under the panel, sweet set up?

[@Eric_Tennant]

Yep. Everything other then my water I put under the panel.

[@BiggMatt9287]

Can you have you an Ebike battery charger plugged into the batteries while operating the bike while those chargers are plugged into a solar generator(Bluetti AC180) powering the charger? 1500w motor two 48v15aH batteries 500watts of solar going in. Would the batteries take charge while in operation and increase the battery life runtime. I know its not enough to sustain anything but would i get more distance set up like that with a trailer and whole solar rig? I'm clueless. I have 54.6V5A chargers that id be using.

[@Eric_Tennant]

You have to say under your batteries max charge rate for when the bike isn't drawing any power the batteries need to be able to handle the incoming power. You can use the Bluetti AC18; however it will have a high loss rate converting dc to ac to dc. If you have the money you could just get a 3rd battery.

[@BiggMatt9287]

@@Eric_Tennantso from my understanding, as a complete nincompoop, If you wanted to hook panels to a charge controller only for ebike batteries only, a DC to DC charge controller will work? like I cold just get the genasun and wire the panels to it and a 5521 pig tail and be good to rock for the battery alone? The inverters are for your other gear?

[@SB-hr5yr]

Do you think it will be possible to put a 5000w solar panel on a trailer? Not much sun in England LOL

[@Eric_Tennant]

But a ton of plugins. 5kw would look like a train of panels.

[@Papi-power]

Is that solar panel framing some sort of kit or do you have to buy everything separate

[@Eric_Tennant]

Buy everything separate. 2020 is easy to work with.

[@Eric_Tennant]

🛒2020 T Slot Aluminum Extrusion amzn.to/3thDcTN 🛒2020 Corner Connectors ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT (Lighter) ------ Amazon amzn.to/45W2N3e 🛒2020 Hinge ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT ------ Amazon amzn.to/45cicek 🛒Latch ------ AliExpress s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnEsfQT ------ Amazon amzn.to/3PZk4mz 🛒Tape amzn.to/3LRISKD

[@Papi-power]

@@Eric_Tennant thank you I appreciate it I'm going to look into it for sure

[@hikeaphoto746]

So, what controller can use 100W or 200W from 12v from the solar panel to a controller used for 48v?

[@hikeaphoto746]

Ignore me! Sorry!

[@gsestream]

make it a solar cargo bike instead, kinda like rickshaw with drive and passenger, but electric with solar, trike

[@larry785]

My bike trailer has 200 watts of solar 😎

[@Eric_Tennant]

100w, 200w, I just need a 250w, 300w, 400w now. I like to have options.

[@Iamkayaky]

What model, size and spec

[@larry785]

@@Iamkayaky Two Sunpower 100 watt flexible panels. The E-bike and the trailer are both home made.

[@Wuansocool]

I was with you until you compare it to a Apple device Apple devices are junk from the beginning and I have a phone Tech

[@Eric_Tennant]

Agree. Just mean its overpriced high end. I'm a S9 user myself.