Charging e Bikes

Adrian1

Adrian1

Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Posts
209
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Location
St Austell
Funster No
24,814
MH
Vantage max
Exp
since 2014
Hope I can get some advice we are at present having a Vantage max built at Vantage Motorhomes in Leeds we will in the winter get electric bikes ,the motorhome comes with 2x100amp batters and a 100w pv we at present have not had the inverter added they will fit a 800w for £350.00 do you think this will be ok to keep the bikes charged when of grid we are also thinking of bosch cycles that I think you can charge of the lighter socket.
 
I charge mine using a small inverter often while travelling. I have only one leisure battery and an 80w solar panel. It all seems to work OK.
 
You'd get away with it if travelling (ie recharging your batteries via the engine alternator).
But I doubt that if parked up for a days and days without EHU that your 100 watt solar panel would back-fill enough 12 volt power into your leisure batteries to run all your onboard 12 volt stuff plus run your inverter for hours to recharge you ebike battery repeatedly.

Apart from adding another solar panel, one other more energy efficient option might be to try to obtain a 12volt travel charger specifically for your ebike battery, for use on the move but also when parked up (powered buy leisure battery).

If it was me I'd ask them to install a second, big-as-they-can solar panel and an mppt solar controller (rather than a pwm one) to manage both of them.
 
Bosch do a 12v charger but it's £150 and takes twice as long to charge the batteries.
I use a 1000watt pure sine inverter, gives me the option of charging both batteries at the same time if needed. If charging both I have to plug one in let it settle for a min or two before plugging the second one in or the start up crurrent from both chargers at the same time trips the alternator.
 
I charge mine with a plate of pasta and a glass of water, it will usually get me 50 miles before I have to stop again for another charge.....:)
 
The Nomad said:
You'd get away with it if travelling (ie recharging your batteries via the engine alternator).
But I doubt that if parked up for a days and days without EHU that your 100 watt solar panel would back-fill enough 12 volt power into your leisure batteries to run all your onboard 12 volt stuff plus run your inverter for hours to recharge you ebike battery repeatedly.
Click to expand...
On my last van I only had 200 watts of solar if I charged both bike batteries from flat it would take about 3 days even in June to get the batteries fully charged again. Current van has 300 watts and a Votronic regulator which helps as well, plus 3 leisure batteries.
 
I tried charging ours from 12v, took days. Use hook-up.
 
The key point is, don't flatten them, just keep topping them up while the sun is shining.

I don't think many people will be doing 60 miles a day for leisure use so just topping them up you'll probably be ok (y)
 
Advice already given on charging from above...... £350 is a lot for a 800w inverter, buy and fit yourself it will save you hundreds and easy to fit....(y)

I’m sure you can get recommendations on inverter and fitting advise on here....:D
 
if it's any help I have just tested a 400w pure sine wave inverter charging an EBCO ebike battery the battery showed 20% remaining
the recharge took 2.5 hours started at 16 amps and drained approx 15% from a fully charged pair of lead acid leasure batteries of 226 Ah
 
Yes this has been of great help have asked Vantage to fit a inverter could have done it cheaper but as new van get it done correct and neat now just to wait for van due in sept
Thanks again
 
We charge 2 36 volt bike battery’s using a 800 watt inverter
280 solar power and 2 100 amp battery’s
Normally takes about 4 hours if they are not totally flat in good sunshine
And if weather is a bit dull I charge one one day and second one next day
So far never had a problem in 3 years
 
We have 1 only 115ah Leisure battery,
1 Solar panel....big one...
1 1000 w Pure sine wave inverter.

When charging 2 bike batteries we do it on the move...while stationary one at a time, when the sun is shining.
Works well for us, we are regular riders.
 

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