chillspike

a goalzero Sherpa 50 charger with inverter to extend the range of the bionx battery?

Anyone tried this?

350htrr

Probably not, there's a circuit board/computer in there checking thing and communicating with the console, I would not advise it for sure... JMO

chillspike

Thanks. I just wanted to know if anyone here knew off hand for certain. I can always contact Bionx if I ever acquired a Sherpa 50.

350htrr

Another thing I would be very, very careful about is the charger... If it isn't the BionX charger, you got with the battery, be carefull... For instance, I have a 48v system/battery, yet the charger output charges it at 26v 3.58A 89.7w... So... If you decide to use a generic charger that charges at 48v... OOOps...

chillspike

That at least would be a non issue because, if I were to even attempt this, there is no way I would use anything but the bionx charger, which, incidentally, is built into the battery anyway on this model (48v SL). Nor would I plug in anything but the bionx wall charger cord.

And just to clarify, I don't expect to charge the whole bionx battery with a Sherpa 50 with inverter, obviously. I was just thinking that since there is a chance I will have both in the future, it would be nice to be able to have the ability to supplement the bionx's power needs with the Sherpa should the need ever arise. That would really complete the survival circle between the electronics in my kit. This is not just a hobby for me. In the near future I will not only be dependent on my bike for travel but everything in my kit will be used to ensure my day to day survival in some way or another. The more ways, the better.

15rms

Chillspike if you try it and it works let us know. Several of us Bionx users would be interested in extending the range.

chillspike

Soon as I get a Sherpa, I'll start investigating this earnestly and post my results.

chillspike

Update: okay I still haven't purchased a goal zero sherpa charger yet but I was reading through the Bionx manual today and found this at the bottom of page 14 in reference to their 48v battery, which is the one I have:

"The battery has an integrated charger which permits the use of a small, portable power supply."

So it sounds hopeful. Something to also consider if you are pondering which Bionx Battery to buy.

350htrr

If you have a 26v power supply that may actually work...

chillspike

Still haven't the funds to test this but I found very solid confirmation today that this will work:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kvz61A0StkI

The way it's used in the video makes it look to be more trouble than it's worth but I would say that depends on what you're trying to do.

I'm not really interested in charging the bike battery on the go or with using that large a solar panel. Also, I will have a trailer to lay the foldable panels I would use on while traveling. I would be happy with charging the goal zero sherpa battery all day while moving and leave the charging of the bionx battery on the down time when I'm sleeping or stopped at points along my journey.

Obviously, it won't supply all the energy the bionx can absorb off a single charge but if I'm camped out in one spot for multiple days with no grid power, it would be awesome to wait until I get a full charge on the bionx and move on knowing I just charged my bike battery entirely from the sun!

So yea, looks very good for this to work!

350htrr

I have charged my BionX with a solar panel every day for 14 days while on holidays without any problem... But I also had a camper with batteries that were charged by the solar panel, a converter to change the 12v to 110v and that is what I plugged the BionX converter into... I have E-Mailed HPC who sell foldable soler panels and they are saying I could charge my BionX battery directly, from their panel as they can match the BionX converter output of 26v, (probably they can)... Here are their foldable solar panels. https://www.hi-powercycles.com/foldin...panel-systems/

chillspike

Yea, I've been drooling over their panels for the last couple of months. Maybe some day....until I can afford those I will probably just get the sherpa with the inverter and one of goal zero's foldable panels.

Or maybe I can find something here:
PortableSolarPower.Biz - Portable Solar Panels

350htrr

There are some good choices there, but anything less than 100/150 or so watts is basically unworkable while traveling, as it would take way to long to charge up the battery. Especially if it's two batteries with a converter or two to make it work... That's why I like the HPC panels, if you can plug them in directly to the BionX battery then 2Hrs and you have a full battery every day. The reason it worked for me on my holiday was that the camper battery was charging all day, thus I could afford the losses of power using two converters every night to charge up my BionX battery...

chillspike

hmm...I'm starting to see the advantages of your set up...unfortunately, my funds need to recover from the bionx kit.

Are the panels you have heavy? From the link, they look like they would be thick, bulky and heavy when folded.

350htrr

Oh I don't have the HPC panels, I have a normal 75 watt solar panel on my camper that has all day to charge up the two batteries in the camper and then I use those batteries with two inverters to charge up my BionX battery... I too am lusting over the 240W folding panels that I could just carry on my bike and charge the BionX battery whenever I stop for a break...

chillspike

Let me guess, you have the bionx 350 too?

350htrr

Why yes I do... And now the wife has one too, and we are planning a trip without the camper that she normally drives (truck & camper)... Thus are looking to somehow charge up our batteries while tenting...