Searching for e-Bike thread

buckland

buckland

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I've looked all about the WTW site as I recall some folks have spoken that they have e Bikes with their camper. Been thinking t would be nice if one wanted to scoot to town from a campsite without taking down the camper.... and if there were lots of hills to get over! How they are recharged and transported.
If someone knows the right thread please let me know.
Thanks
 
Don't know where the thread might be, but I have an FLX E-bike. I take it about 50% of the time, just when I know I'll be in a real campground, not boon-docking. I have also discovered some campgrounds don't allow electric bikes, most recent case in mind is Cachuma Lake in Santa Barbara.

I have a 1.5KW Pure Sine Wave inverter in the camper that runs the bike charger just fine. I have a Grandby and my bike fits inside the camper.
 
Thanks for the steer to the right place. After I have randomly searched for the reviews of e bikes on the web it is astounding all the models and price range to $11,000 ! (I’d just get a chauffeur)...
I was not aware there were restrictions for the bikes ...I suppose the fast ones could be a menace on bike trails. I was looking for no more than a bike with a gentle speed to get to town and back 25 miles max. Light weight as we’d need two. I have a front hitch with a super heavy duty bike rack but with two at 50 pounds... might be best to get the ramp style. So much choice without knowledge is dangerous. A Lot of research is needed but best to hear from those who have gone before. As I have LiFePo4 battery and 260 watts solar... if I had another same battery dedicated to that recharge.... I just hate the sound of a generator. I live in a very quiet place so have a low tolerance for going away and end up stressed out on humanity.
I am 165 lbs and the wife is 120... would need two.
I love that motorcycle.... but too heavy... and probably out of my price range.
 
Thanks Squatch.... great site link ... that Radmini looks ideal and folds! Maybe fit in camper or on a ramp if two.
 
Of the folks that bought the Rad Runner ...which model and why? What did you find you needed in accessories? is it really feasible to expect a passenger seat set up (two people total 275 lbs) and still have decent mileage? I seem to like the (appearance ) Radcity 4 as the wheels are larger (more stable?). The RadRunner is $200 cheaper bt the wheels are smaller (fat).
I'd love to hear testimonials on these models and what they are used for with the FWC (a dingy?)
 
Still researching around. I have read good things but have not actually talked to anyone who has done one of these conversions. I have a very well made 1990 Bridgestone MB 6 bicycle. I have done mods to it like shock absorbing handlebar and seat stem shock. Was considering do a conversion of this kind which allows for peddling (and freewheeling) and the additional weigh with battery is 16 pounds. 20mph. https://www.bafangusadirect.com/bafang-750w-bbs02-mid-drive-motor-and-battery-p/60.htm

Any thoughts?
 
^ Thoughts only. ..

I think the motor and power would be fine. The battery capacity is the same as mine, which is perfectly adequate (coupled to a 500w motor), but current offering are often equipped larger Ahs.

If you buy an ebike and like it you may get little use out of your current MB. So a conversion would be one less bike hanging around.

One thing I find wanting in my ebike is more gears (taller ones for on road). I'd look for a conversion that retains a multi ring crank set so I wouldn't be limited to the cassette gears only. But I think your MB is a 7 speed with single crank chain ring ? If so there would be no change to number of gears - though you might be able to change the crank ring size.

To your earlier post, I don't have a Rad but I'd say you'll want to be able to carry stuff because the e power makes it easier to do so. Run to the store, picnic etc.

I think either wheel size would work fine. Mine is 20x4 which is great for the beach and soaking up trail bumps but do over I'd go narrower, prob to a traditional MB width like 2.2. Lighter, less resistance and better suited to on road.

Two up on a bike ? Well, it's been a while ... maybe when I get my scooter :giggle:

HTH
 
Good thoughts...appreciated. I have had my Bridgestone Trail Blazer MB 6 since 1990. a mountain bike I bought then moved to London,,, I commuted through Kilburn High Road to my job teaching at the American School. They were still using leaded gas and the diesel vehicles belched smoke. I bought a carbon filter face mask.... essential. Since then I have had lots of dirt road rides, nothing wild and crazy ... and the bike has really held up. I have redone the cones, chain, tires, brakes etc a few times. Last year as I am a geezer, I decided my wrists needed some shock help so added a shock absorbing main stem. And I installed a seat post shock absorber too. It rides well. It seemed nuts to have two bikes so I decided to go the way of converting my trusted stead into an E bike. Cheaper and familiar. I will hopefully get the project done this winter. I like the idea of having a ‘dingy’ for the truck camper. I have a front hitch mount so good to go. Maybe I can add some posts to this thread of the process/outcome.
 
Received the eBike parts and have the bike ready for the install tomorrow ....it is 1º F tonight so have to get the shop heated with the wood stove...blah blah...
I am jumping ahead to my next question for the solar experts out there who use inverters to use AC appliances. I bought the eBike charger and I suspect the most efficient way to charge the battery would be to use an inverter (wattage?).
I will have a Battleborn LiFePo4 battery with 260 watts solar.
What inverter would be recommended for using my 110 charger to charge the eBike battery?

I attach both the eBike battery info as well as the charger.
TIA (will have to post Battery info separately.
Rob Adjustments.JPG
 
Rob, looks like your charger outputs ~120w (58.8v x 2A). Question is what is the input wattage ? Does the charger indicate on it's label ? for eg mine says Input: AC100-240v 2.0A. Output: 54.6vDC 2.0A.

Once the charger load is determined (or estimated) the inverter can be sized. 400w would do it but you might want to go smaller.
 
11.6AH of battery in the bike, 100AH in your camper. Most days, I bet you use more than 25AH just keeping yourself comfy in the camper. The extra draw from the bike isn't crazy huge.

The charger is going to use 55v x 2A = 110Watts, call it 150 because of inefficiencies. If you have NO need for any other AC loads, most small inverters (300W) will do you just fine
 
Vic, 11.6Ah at 52vdc. I equated that to ~50Ah of nominal 12vdc + the inefficiency. (?)

When I was considering solar sourced charging the idea was ride during the day while the solar charged the house batteries at camp. Then recharge the ebike batt overnight if staying camping and riding the next day.

Would Buckland's 240w of solar replenish the house batts ? IDK much about solar.

So far we've driven most days and recharged with the alternator. Because of that I'd recommend a small inverter that plugs into the cig lighter in the cab so if one did need/want to alternator charge the e bike batts everything could be monitored together in the cab.

Just a question of confirming minimum inverter size but agree ~150w sounds about right.
 
klahanie said:
Vic, 11.6Ah at 52vdc. I equated that to ~50Ah of nominal 12vdc + the inefficiency. (?)

When I was considering solar sourced charging the idea was ride during the day while the solar charged the house batteries at camp. Then recharge the ebike batt overnight if staying camping and riding the next day.

Would Buckland's 240w of solar replenish the house batts ? IDK much about solar.

So far we've driven most days and recharged with the alternator. Because of that I'd recommend a small inverter that plugs into the cig lighter in the cab so if one did need/want to alternator charge the e bike batts everything could be monitored together in the cab.

Just a question of confirming minimum inverter size but agree ~150w sounds about right.
Click to expand...
Doh, missed that. 11.6AH at 52V. Thinking out loud here, 52/12= 4.3 * 11.6 = 50AH at 12vdc. That's a lot. Are the batteries in that e-bike really about 16 pounds worth? (looking at my Battleborn 100AH batteries that are about 32 pounds each).

Also, coming at this the other way, the charger specs say 2A at approx 55v for 4-7 hours = 2*55 = 110W for 4-7 hours.

Buckland has 260W of solar, so 2x more watts than the charger will draw over those 4-7 hours, meaning that on a good sunny day, he could charge two of those e-bike batteries. Or just one, and keep his camper batteries up to snuff too.
 
Vic ...seems I count on your expertise a lot! Thanks for the details as I am trying to learn as much as possible and your doing the math out helps. One caveat, my charger is upgraded to 3 amp.
I have a small inverter I bought when I first got the camper and I wanted to use it for charging a laptop... definitely need to upgrade.

I would think that I would not need to recharge every day. This set up claims to get 50 miles or more (when we have ice out i will be able to test the mileage per charge). It is a larger battery ...this set up normally comes with a 48V but the motor can handle the extra so my range is greater (don’t need the extra speed).

I like the idea of a ‘dingy’ ...being able to get someplace if I have a breakdown or need to go to the store 10-20 miles away. I’ll PM you about the inverter. Thanks again for your help.
 
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