Improvements For Next Time

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1.  Replace the MPPT with a PMW - because the PMW is “dumber” it will condition whatever power we give it. The MPPT would not give the battery power unless it was really low because it was made for a 48 V battery but our battery and motor were 52 V and we could not reprogram the mppt. Another solution is that there is an MPPT sold in Europe that charges at 58.8 V. This is the voltage required to charge our 52 V battery.

2. Replace the controller with a stronger, beefier one - even though the controller was marketed as 2000 W, it was being overpowered, and that was our main problem throughout the trip.

3. Add a brake to the trailer wheels because with so much weight it was difficult to stop the bike and trailer with only the bike’s brakes.

4. Utilize the load to send demand to the motor (program it for about 300 W) and excess current to the battery. This will help us utilize all the power, not lose 5% storing all the charge, and lessen the amount of current running through the wires connected to the battery.

5. Substitute 8 awg wire for the 12 awg wire connecting the combined solar panels to the MPPT and the 12 awg wire connecting the battery to the controller.  This is because the wires from the combined solar panels to the MPPT carry 27.5 amps, and the wires from the battery to the controller carry up to 50 amps. Since an 8awg wire is rated for 70amps, this is a far better choice.  The undersized wire from the battery to the controller may have caused the overheating problem.