This is my finished bike, the STT2.
It stands for Solar Tilting Trike with Tilting panels, so we can say that it is ’tilting 2 times’ 
!
So as soon as I was able to finish my bike I wanted to start doing some tests.
In the pictures here below we can see some shots taken during those quick tours in the area where I live.
Each tour on average was around 60km of distance with 500m of altitude gain.
In one of my next posts I will publish a summary sheet with all main data like:
- Wh consumed vs charged
- Maximum Ah charged/consumed
- Average power in Watts, etc.
testing tilting panels
The first thing that I had to clarify was the solar charge readings on the Cycle Analyst.
Here you can see on the new Solar screen that the input Solar charge was:
– 9.66A
– 482W
Almost impossible to believe, since the new Solar panels have a nominal power of 300W.
In this video we can see how the data are grouped and displayed on the Solar Cycle Analyst (CA) using my ‘OLD‘ and ‘NEW‘ panels.
In the last part of the video we can see how I was able to change a parameter (‘Amp scale’) in the Solar CA setup in order to get correct input figures.
During one of my quick tours I had a very bad surprise: the bolt that keeps both arms connected to the tilting mechanism did get loose….
Luckily I was not going fast: I stopped immediately to check exactly what happened.
I had no other choice than going back home by foot (6km…) through the woods by pushing my bike.
The fix consists in using a thicker axle (6mm instead of 4mm) with double nuts to ensure they stay solidly in place
Another minor issue I have experienced was the position of the cables coming out from the Genasun Solar controller.
In fact by tilting the solar panels I have seen that they were slightly touching the cables.
This was happening only when the solar panels have reached the maximum tilting angle (45%).
Moreover this would happen only when the bike is parked and not while travelling.
Although the modification was really simple I had to remove and to partially disassemble the solar panels in order to change the position of the Genasun Solar controller.
Inspring Blog !
Thank you for your generousitiy to share your experience with us.
I am buidling Bamboo bikes, Crgo Bikes and Trikes and wish tom complemetn thjose with a system like yours or similar.
If I have questions, would niche if youo allw me to ask them.
Baturally I shall share all wahtr I am seeing and lerning and tghe results and experiences I may collect, trying to ralize my plan.-
Tant grazie.
Thanks to your wife,who gifted me your link, making me feel very happy.
I saw your trike at Spezi last Sunday.
Coridally
Joachim Delp
The website I inform here, is actujally not mine, It belongs to Mr. Tobias Blank, friend and aprtner, with whom I sahre teh passion for Bamboo Bikes.
We organize werkshiops, nearby Munihc (Ammersee) and aölso neraby DArmstadt in my premisses.
We also offer kis to DIY Frame Building.
Hi Joachim,
I am glad you came to Spezi and visited also our stand!
Please let me know how I can help you to build solar versions of your Bamboo Bikes.
If you have specific questions (solar panels I am using, tests I have done, how I have installed them, etc…) please let me know.
Tschuss
Daniele
Where did you buy your panels? which grade it is (or bin) ? https://www.flexible-solar-panel.com/sunpower-a-grade-doesnt-mean-top-grade-l-grade-is-the-top-grade/
I bought them from Link Solar (www.flexible-solar-panel.com), not sure about the grade of cells: but they should be ALL of same grade which is key for the performance of the solar panel!
Bonjour Olivier, I measured the charge from solar panels directly from the Cycle Analyst after having correctly checked the settings. So far I have seen a maximum peak charge of 285W (against 300W nominal). My supplier is Link Solar from China, the price is 2$ per Watt.
So far I am happy, of course I don’t know how the efficiency is going to decrease after time….
Hello Daniele,
Did you mesure the real power output of your solar panels with a wattmeter (or voltage + current) to see if you are close to the 300w announced. What is the name of your provider and the price you paid for both panels ?
(because I’m looking for high efficient solar panels with a good quality/price ratio for my future solar bike..)
Olivier BERTIN (Nissa, France)