Anyone running onboard solar lipo charger?

[Dostradamas]

I had a thought of maybe 2 lipo packs with a solar panel charging one while running the other for motor power, when the power pack gets dischaged to the cutoff point the circut switches the packs (charging the disharged pack & running the motor on the charged pack.)
I searched a bit & found nothing. Anyone out ther working on something like this?

[Nimyad]

Sounds interesting, but I don't think a tiny solar panel would provide enough power to charge the other battery quick enough. You'd also need a balancer...

[Dostradamas]

Yes I assume a balancer & a contoller of some type to keep track & switch the packs at the right voltage.
Seeking a hands on "I did that" for their opinion based on experience & facts.

[heinie_21]

Would be sweet. Sounds like more money/work than its worth when you could simply buy one more battery. With 3 you could easily have one on the charger while your driving and as soon as that one is dead your other is charged. Etc. And besides a quick battery swap you don't have to stop playing. Which is what the solar system is trying to accomplish.

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[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by heinie_21

Would be sweet. Sounds like more money/work than its worth when you could simply buy one more battery. With 3 you could easily have one on the charger while your driving and as soon as that one is dead your other is charged. Etc. And besides a quick battery swap you don't have to stop playing. Which is what the solar system is trying to accomplish.

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Actually the goal is more for making a vehicle able to drive for a stretch & sit for a while, then drive again off & on all day without touching the vehicle.

[Olle P]

Size and weight makes it a non starter for a comp rig.
Looks makes it less suitable for a typical scaler.

If I wanted solar power and a somewhat kosher look I'd put it in the trailer of a scale 18-wheeler.

[SilmarilS]

If you consider that you drain a 5000 mAh 2S battery in 1h30min, which is plausible in a scale RC, you have a power consumption of around 26w per hour.

If we go fast on the math, you will need a 30W solar panel to keep with the electrical draw. And a 30W solar panel is roughly 16"x 26"

[binaryterror]

Originally Posted by SilmarilS

If we go fast on the math, you will need a 30W solar panel to keep with the electrical draw. And a 30W solar panel is roughly 16"x 26"

And that is assuming 80-90% of loss isn't happening.

[doublej]

One o our guys has been looking at this but more just to power lights and extras. Not really sure how but I will tell him to come stick his head in here.

[Big Daddy]

Interesting, but as said, the solar technology isn't going to let it happen. You might be able to power a charger with a solar panel but still not going get you to the hands off method you are looking for. You could just run two batteries in parallel and that should get you most of the day. I run around 4 hours on 3 2650mah 2s batts. so I would think 2 5000mah batteries would make for a long day on the trail.

[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by SilmarilS

If you consider that you drain a 5000 mAh 2S battery in 1h30min, which is plausible in a scale RC, you have a power consumption of around 26w per hour.

If we go fast on the math, you will need a 30W solar panel to keep with the electrical draw. And a 30W solar panel is roughly 16"x 26"

Helpful info. Thats kinda what I was looking for as a starting point.
Not intended for a scaler or comp rig more of a special project.
I will need to get a panel to do some testing in my area & go from there.

[Docwolf]

i can run like 4 hours on my 6000Mah 2s and around 3.5 on my 5000 mah 3s....the capacities are so high anymore that i just don't see the need. Either I or a component give out before the batteries ever do, carry a small capacity unit in case i do run out on the trail. and batteries are cheaper then this setup would be. Not dogging the idea, just pointing out the facts. now for lights and such, might work....

[Dostradamas]

I understand that I could put 20k mah worth of 2s lipos in paralell in my wraith & run for hours.


I am trying to conceive a vehicle that can run 24/7 for a few days at a time without touching the rig.
It seems most of the responses miss that.
I am looking for someone that builds robots or specialty rc vehicles, any on here?

[badhoopty]

24/7 FOR A FEW DAYS AT A TIME?

[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by badhoopty

24/7 FOR A FEW DAYS AT A TIME?

Drones do it for months

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Dostradamas

Drones do it for months

Drones are larger and do not always need electricity to propel them. The technology inside is also very, very expensive comparitively.

[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Drones are larger and do not always need electricity to propel them. The technology inside is also very, very expensive comparitively.

indeed, thus my inquiring to the amazing insight of the forum.
I am as well looking for off & on motor use, it will likely sit for long periods then move a while. Think lion folowing a herd of zebras. The key points are reliability,stability, & launch & pickup days later (trust me battery changes or field fixes will not be an option.) At this point its a hair brained maybe a friend with money has proposed. I am looking into how close he might get to his goal.
Duuuuuuuuude do you know of any robot/specialty rc land vehicle forums?

[Nimyad]

What are you trying to use this in?

[JDCrawler27]

i like were your head is at iv actually had the same thought,, like someone stated above the size of the solar board needed is pretty big i have been trying to build a closed in trailer like a toy hauler styler that i can house all my electronics in,, im thinking i need to run a capacitor inside the trailer to help hold some voltage,, iv been talking to some guys that build drones, and they said it can be done but if its worth it is the problem,, im going to continue to work on it and if it means i need to make everything bigger say a 1/5th scale scaler thats what ill do,, i was also told that you can dismantle smaller solar panles and wire them in siries and it will increase the amount of voltage going into whatever you are charging, but i havent tried this

[Dostradamas]

Originally Posted by Nimyad

What are you trying to use this in?

I am as well looking for off & on motor use, it will likely sit for long periods then move a while. Think lion folowing a herd of zebras. The key points are reliability,stability, & launch & pickup days later (trust me battery changes or field fixes will not be an option.) At this point its a hair brained maybe a friend with money has proposed. I am looking into how close he might get to his goal.

A Radio controlled electric off road vehicle (custom platform)