Solar-Powered POWER WHEELS

Here's a project that can let Mom, Dad, & Jr. or Princess all play together in the back yar by improving a Power Wheels electric car and upgrading it to green technology and renewable energy.

A while back, I had gotten a PowerWheels Jeep, but it didn't have a battery or charger. And it always seems that these toy cars end up getting left outside anyways, AND it's a little bit of a pain to pull out the battery to recharge.

Since I already built a full-size electric car AND I am interested in renewable energy, this was the perfect chance for me to build my own low-voltage SOLAR-POWERED ELECTRIC CAR!

The project integrates the PowerWheels with a battery, PV Solar Panels on a custom rack, and a solar charge controller, to design a child's solar-electric car.

Let's get started!

Step 1: Tools and Materials

For this project you are going to need some fairly typical tools, but you may or may not have worked with solar-electric components before. That's OK, the whole system is low voltage, and pretty easy to work on.

Here's the Materials:

• Fisher-Price POWER WHEELS ride-on toy or similar
• 20AH, 12V sealed lead-acid battery
• 2 ten-foot sections of 1/2" electrical conduit (for the solar rack)
• Harbor Freight 45 watt Solar Panel kit or equivalent ( http://www.harborfreight.com/45-watt-solar-panel-kit-68751.html )
• 8 x 1.5" stainless steel 1/4-20 machine screws, with matching washers and lock-nuts
• 2 x 5/16" x 5" bolts with matching fender washers and lock-nuts
• 2'x1' of plexiglass, plastic, or other sturdy, waterproof material
• Scrap tubing to make spacers
• Self-tapping sheet-metal screws
• 4 x mending plates
• Assorted electrical connectors, ring and spade terminals
• 30-amp in-line fuse
• Zip-Ties
• Spray paint

Tools:

• Tape measure
• Drill & assorted bits, including screw-driving bit
• Pipe cutter
• Angle grinder and vise
• Wire strippers and crimpers
• Welder
• Wrenches and Sockets (7/16" and 1/2")
• Typical safety equipment and PPE (work gloves, safety glasses, hearing projecting, etc.)

Comments

[camping crazy]

That is sick!!!! Although it would be even more awesome if you made it gas powered!!!

[lewislaura41]

These are useful tools and very interesting
Because of the solar panel
But Commercial Solar Panels are Expensive!
It will take you more than 10 years to pay back
You Can Use Surplus Solar Cells You can get pay back in 1-2 years
There is an Engineer from Chicago his name is John Sommer
He explain it All in his Blog http://topdiysolarpanels.com/

[bennelson]

Hi everyone,

After thinking about it for a while, I think I could build a version of this entirely out of plywood and stock electronic parts from scratch.

It could be sold as a kit. (Precut wood parts flat-packed, with with electric motor, and a few other required parts.)

What would you think of that?

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Awesome! And I love the sheep in the jeep, so cute :)

[Jayefuu]

Excellent build as ever ben!

[l8nite]

this is a FANTASTIC idea !

[meanpc]

Isn't it good when you can combine your hobbies with things your kids like to do? I find it's a lot easier to get build time when "it's for the kids". Really nice build - reminds me that I need to learn how to weld.

[epierce]

Great job!! What is the top speed/ range?

[bennelson]

5 miles per hour
One backyard ( I guess that generally Power Wheels are considered an hour or so run-time )

My little girl usually plays with the car for up to 20 minutes, and the battery is fine for the whole time she's playing.

[canucksgirl]

I LOVE IT! Very well done.

I'm not sure what I loved more in the video... You riding it, or the comment about you having to teach her about the brakes! lol ;-)