Solar Powered RC Boat

[Anti-Grav]

Hi Guys

I'm building an RC Solar Boat to be used at my local pond. I have previously built Wire-Guided models which are run along an overhead wire in a 10 metre tank. My website (still under construction):
www.freewebs.com/seanssolarboats (http://www.freewebs.com/seanssolarboats)

The boat will be a built up balsa catamaran, and the hulls will be wave-piercing, because it is very efficient. The overall length will be about 60cm, and the width will be about 30cm.

The equipment I hope to use includes:

Solar Panel: Scorpio Technology 2007 Boat Panel 6V 1A
Assist Battery: 1/3AAA 6V 150mah NiMh
Motor: GWS LPS RXC-C 7.2V
Steering Servo: E-Flite S60 Sub Micro Servo
Radio: Old JR Beat II 2ch micro radio
Speed Control: Old brushed speed control out of a dead helicopter

Hull Material: 1.5mm balsa sheeting, 3mm balsa bulkheads
Glue: Selleys Aquadhere Indoor PVA
Rudder Material: Plastic
Prop Shaft (Inner): Carbon Fibre
Prop Shaft (Outer): Brass Tube

The panel will be hooked up in parallel to the panel with a diode in between, so it the model goes into shade, it will keep running. This setup also means that when the throttle is reduced, or turned off completely, the excess energy from the solar panel will charge the battery.

I'm thinking dual rudders, and maybe a brushless upgrade later.

I'll post some pictures of the hulls soon. Any notes or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Sean :)

[jerryj98501]

We need to get John Fryant of sternwheel model fame to chime in here as I think he has built a couple of them. I saw one in his basement and he has written an article or two on solar powered boats. Jerryj98501

[escipion]

Hello!!!!
A friend of mine, here in Mexico, use to make solar boats but the materials he use are those things we throw to the garbage, he recycle.
Send you a couple of pictures

Regards

[Anti-Grav]

Hi Guys!

Thanks for the replies. I completed the hulls last night and now I have to paint and seal them. I have heard of some solar boats in Mexico before, but haven't heard much information about them.

In 2006 and 2007 I won the Western Australian State Solar Boat Challenge, and last year I competed at the International race in Adelaide. I came 2nd in the world, so I have built some fast boats.

This is my 2nd attempt at RC. My first boat was a trimaran, and wasn'e very stable. My friend capsized it in his pool and fried everything...

I'll put in some pictures once I figure out how...

Cheers,
Sean

[john_auberry]

I would like to make a solar sail boat

[nick_75au]

Ive made a couple over the years, nothing special the first was a cat, then I built a tri.
A fellow's son at work has entered the school program, will get some more info off him.
Nick

[Anti-Grav]

OK, here's the pics of the boat so far.

Sean :)

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Nice start on the hulls.
How big is the solar panel?

[nick_75au]

Hopefully a video of a couple of boats made over 2002 Christmas holidays with my brother-in-law. Mine is the tri, his used the guts out of a cheap rc car with "vector" steering
Nick

[Anti-Grav]

The solar panel is 240 x 165mm, and it weighs about 45 grams. It is the best solar panel available for solar boats, and is about 15% efficient. The one I have cost $77 AUD plus postage.

http://www.scorpiotechnology.com.au/

Cheers,
Sean :)

[nick_75au]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=933693

3 times attempted to upload here it is
Nick

[Anti-Grav]

Nice boats nick. They were nowhere near as fast as my boats last year, but you were only using the small hobby panels. What motors etc. did you use in them?

Cheers,
Sean :)

[nick_75au]

The panels were from Dick Smith and the motors were various small motors from there as well, It wasn't helped by the cloudy weather. If I was going to try again I would use raw cells to reduce the weight drastically. Fun diversion from an otherwise boring family gathering :D

Is there any video of your boats?

Nick

[Anti-Grav]

No sorry. I had a disk of the videos of some of our boats, but I can't find it. I could try and find some somewhere, but if not, I'll tave a video of my completed boat. I hope to finish painting it tomorrow.

Sean :)

[Anti-Grav]

There are some pics of boats on my website

[Anti-Grav]

Hello Again,

I painted and sealed the boat yesterday with white enamel. I've been testing my radio and it seems that the servo is turning in the wrong direction for the rudders. Because it is such an old radio it doesn't have servo reversing, so I'm just going to use my 36mHz JR Quattro. Yes, I know it's an aircraft radio, but it is the only proper radio set I have.

Today I set up the rudders and linkages, and glued the hulls together. The boat has dual rudders, under the end of each hull. The boat itself seems pretty solid, but the balsa rudders are very fragile, and I've already broken both of them once.

My next task is to do all the electronics and wiring, and set up the motor and prop. I am using a Graupner 280 motor for now, because my GWS geared motor hasn't arrived yet. The shaft was too narrow on the motor, so I glued on an aluminium bushing with CA.

I'll get some photos up in a minute...

Cheers,
Sean :)

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Can't you put the control arms other way around, across the servo rather than
a direct line. The other side should be pulling instead of pushing. :)

[waboats]

Sean

Great Job, Seen your boats run at Freo in 2007. Good Job by Gosseberry Hill 2006 & 2007. How did they go this year?

I was tech support for Forrestfield (2007) and boy did they blitz during official qualifying. Fasted run during "Official Qulifying" edged out later in the afternoon, after they went home. Think the sun came out or something.. :) .

The Guys Boats were designed to run in most conditions but mostly in lower light. Expected Overcast day but Ooops finest day in weeks.. Used Direct Drive. When Sunny just didn't quite match you guys with Gearing.

No Sun, Gearing was difficult to get going, Direct Drive was better & more efficient.

I know a Guy who is using Solar Panels on Sails to Drive a Yacht, quite successfully. I'll see if I can get a photo or two. Very Thin ones..

Don't forget the power needed to drive the RX and servos.. It'll be interesting if the Panel is efficient enough to run the boat other than just be an auxuillary charge unit. Two panels might do the trick for Solar Power Only.

Cheers & Hope you manage the transition from Wire to R/C.. ;)

[Anti-Grav]

Hello

Yes, I tried making the control rod go to the other sude of the pushrod, but because of the distance between the servo and the horn, there was way too much throw on one side, like differential steering. I couldn't find any other ways to organise the steering without rebuilding the boat, so I'm just using my aircraft radio with servo reverse.

The competition in Freo is next week, but I am now too old for the "Junior" (under 13) age group, and WA doesn't run any race for high school students. Last year our heats were at midday, so we were lucky with the sun. I caught a glimpse of the Forrestfield boats, and boy did they look fast!

Because I am running a 6V solar panel and 6V battery in parallel, there should hopefully be enough power to run the radio in the same circuit, without a BEC. I do have another panel, but I dont think the boat is buoyant enough to support the extra weight :confused: If there isn't enough power, I also have a lightweight 4.8V battery pack that I can use to run the radio alone. Because of my limited budget at the moment, I'm using a microswitch and a micro servo as throttle control. I also have a 10A brushless controller lying around, so in the future I could get a cheap brushless motor off eBay.

Tomorrow I'm going to get on with the wiring...

Sean :)

[waboats]

Sean

Sounds like you have all bases covered. Good luck with the Project.

Solar Boats are for the Younger Brigade.. Solar Cars are the next step up for High School.

Check out the Western Power Site.. Maybe you might find yourself the next big leap in Solar Power.

Here's a link to the real thing.. Looks like you are building something along similar lines.. Maybe a replica is somwhere down the track. Mk II perhaps ??

http://www.transatlantic21.org/

Keep up the good work.

Cheers

John

[Anti-Grav]

Some pics of the boat...

[Anti-Grav]

Yes I'm doing the solar car this year, but its not anywhere as fun as the boats :D

[Anti-Grav]

Hi Guys

I've nearly finished the electronics. I decided to use a microswitch fwd/rev speed control because I don't have an ESC. I also installed the suppressors onto the motor, and made the motor mount.

Pics coming soon...

Sean :)

[Anti-Grav]

Congratulations to Gooseberry Hill Primary today for taking out the Western Australian Solar Model Boat Challenge in both Junior and Junior-Restricted divisions. The boys will be flying off to Hobart, Tasmania in a few weeks time for the Australian-International Challenge. Well Done!

Sean :P

[Anti-Grav]

Finished the boat, looks great. It has the panel, 6V battery, servo, dual rudders, and everything else hooked up.

On the maiden voyage, my home-made microswitch speed controller had some problems. I think it was the servo, it's been wet before and has never behaved itself since. The throttle locked onto full blast, and shot off into the pond with no steering whatsoever! OMG IT'S SO FAST!!!

Hmmm.... I need to get an ESC for the boat. I can't afford it at the moment, I just spent $300 on equipment for my plane :eek:

Uploading pics of the finished boat soon :D

-Sean

[fooman2008]

The answer to your steering problem may depend on your bravery. From many years ago (long before servo reversing switches) had a similar problem, the guy at the hobby shop told me that the middle wire on a servo connector is common, so just split the heat shrink tubing next to the plug and unsolder and switch the two outside leads on the servo and then put a piece of heat shrink back on it. Like I said depends on how brave you are (although you can get an inexpensive servo for less that $20 U.S.).
Foo

[fooman2008]

found this (full scale) solar boat not sure anyone would be interested or not.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/the_loon_solar-.php
Foo