Guru
Joined: 15/07/2006
Location: AustraliaPosts: 676
| Posted: 01:57pm 07 Jan 2016 |
We had to find a motor, something of a reasonable size, but not too big, it is only canoes, don't want to sink them. With quite a lot of searching, we found a 300lbs trolling motor that was at a reasonable price, so we got that on order.
Then we needed to have some batteries. We have lots of empty lithium battery freight boxes, so why not transform them to what we need. We need 16 cells in series because the motor is 48v and we decided to use the 100Ah cell size. The battery box was made to be a very neat fit and screwing the last end in tight, to act as strapping to hold the cells together but also to stop the cells from swelling. Then charge and balance ready for use. Set up the regulator PL80 wiring etc.
The motor arrived. Great, it would fit the bracing that went across the back tie beam. But then, if we screw the battery boxes on to the back tie beam, it would brace the solar panel frame better. We had to re-think the motor mounting. With the battery boxes the bracing board did not work. We also needed to have the motor mounting screws further forward, because they could not be done up between the battery boxes. Dale's thinking skills are good. Together we came up with so many ideas and discussed the pro's and con's. We end up cutting a number of pieces and screwed them all together, screwed them to the tie board and screwed to the battery boxes, which braces the tie board, braces the solar panel frame and gives a motor mount. Finish off the wiring. All set to head to the water.
Trev @ drivebynature.com