Solar gets closer

Beeping-Sleauty

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 12, 2006
410
5
Colchester, Essex
60W Solar Power Kit > Maplin

The price of these ready made panels is dropping quite rapidly,

sometime soon i'd like one to charge the bike batteries, using my old batteries as a holding cell.

i only spend about £15 per year on mains electricity to recharge the bike

once the panel & the invertor to run 240v AC stuff drops to about £200, it will be worth my while as i have plenty of gadgets i could also plug in, looking for break-even in a couple of years,

trouble with these ideas is... the longer you leave it , the cheaper it gets....

perhaps i'll hang on for a bit , LOL
 

Footie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 16, 2007
549
10
Cornwall. PL27
Unfortunately, even if the prices go down if the sun isn't out it doesn't work very well.
Last year my Maplin solar charger kept the campervan battery fully charged.
This year its not managing it due to all the dull rainy days :(
.
 

Mussels

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2008
3,207
8
Crowborough
I've found Maplin's power claims seem to be a bit lacking. I bought a 12V 150W inverter to run my laptop in the car, it didn't even provide enough power to light the LED in the power pack when the laptop is switched off.:mad:
 

bogmonster

Pedelecer
Aug 8, 2008
127
1
60W Solar Power Kit > Maplin

The price of these ready made panels is dropping quite rapidly,

sometime soon i'd like one to charge the bike batteries, using my old batteries as a holding cell.

i only spend about £15 per year on mains electricity to recharge the bike

once the panel & the invertor to run 240v AC stuff drops to about £200, it will be worth my while as i have plenty of gadgets i could also plug in, looking for break-even in a couple of years,

trouble with these ideas is... the longer you leave it , the cheaper it gets....

perhaps i'll hang on for a bit , LOL
Well, if I ever get an ebike (and I hope I do soon as it is getting hard work in the windy winter conditions) then I will rechgarge at work ;)

But I know that the economics should not be the main driving force. Electrical solar power has a long way to go on a bang for buck basis in my opinion. Wind power appears to be more promising in the UK, especially if you live where I do, on top of the Mendip hills.

Unfortunately wind turbines and solar panels are frowned upon here as it is AONB :( Double standards I think. Funny thing is, a massive turbine was built on the Mendips recently, just outside the AONB. Of course you can see it for miles. Compliments the Mendip TV transmitter that is 300ft.

BM.
 

bogmonster

Pedelecer
Aug 8, 2008
127
1
Hi BM,

Do you mean 300m? The tower itself is about 1000 ft and the top is 2003 ft amsl.

You have to know these things when you're a pilot.

Nick
Yes, you are quite correct, 300m. It serves as a very good beacon to guide me home. I only live about 3 miles from it :) Good TV reception as well.

Pig of a hill to cycle up mind, want an ebike soon.

BM