Dynamo hubs

PC USB is 5V/500mA. Smartphones will draw more if they're doing stuff so the charger will struggle to keep up if you're also say, running the GPS chip on it. IFads and other tablets often require 2A.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3511

From what I can gather the Iphone 6 and up will use a charging current of up to 1,6A. My backup battery got a max input of 2A. The gain of going from 0,5A to 1A seems obvious to me. Am I missing something? Depending on which gadget you want to charge of course but I dont think many of them are limited to 0,5A right?

I'm not quite sure what you're asking?

Increased charging requirements = increased riding speed requirement.

Or increased riding time required.
Going back to your comment about the Exposure Revo vs the Supernova E3 triple pro. They are both very bright, but the supernova edges it on the brightness of the brightest part. The output is the same but the Revo is nice and flat and even. I just like the brighter central area on the Supernova.

Increased riding time - only if the device charges at the lower power level or you charge a cache/battery first. I've read lots of stories of iphones and Garmins not functioning because the power being provided was too low.

My sinewave will charge the garmin down to I think 7mph. Below that it cuts off. So only when going up steep hill does it not charge.

Ok, as I'm being lazy - what's the go to set up for lights and a little bit of phone/garmin charging? Planning to get a front wheel together for a bit of light touring/overnighters in the summer. A disc compatible hub would probably be a good call in case I decide to use it on a different bike at some point.

Looking for hub/light/USB port ideas. If anyone has anything used then even better.

son or sp dynamo, b+m iq2 for light+usb would be a safe bet

Yep - this!^

anyone brought/used this biologic joule dynamo hub?
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/biologic-joule-3-disc-dynamo-front-hub-silver-32-hole-prod38195/

on sale at sjs and was wondering about its durability, weight etc.

Let me know.

So after extensive browsing it looks like the Sinewave Reactor is a better product than the Plug III? Why are there so few UK stockists, it's not that niche is it?

It will be run off an SP PD-8X as well as an Edelux II and a SON rear.

Looks really good, not heard of it before. And pretty good price, similar to the better Shimano.

Looks a lot like the Shutter precisions, doesn't it? And the description sounds like it too. Slightly different hub shell, but SP also does the Supernova hubs, that have their own shape, but same internals, with some additional seals, or so I've read. The plastic part on the side, with the connectors and plug, even seems to have the SP logo on it, allthough can't see all of it in the pictures.
So it's good, but might as well buy SP PV-8, as you can get it cheeper.

What's made you decide to go for the Reactor over the Plug?

Thanks, and thank you @Samuli, but have got. Shimano xt Dynamo hub in a basket on rose cycles that I'm waiting to pull the trigger on. Was recommended by Brixton cycles and is about 30 notes cheaper...

I have one of those (The DH-3D80 technically, but they're the same) - it's been great the last 18 months. I'd thoroughly recommend it too.

General internet chit chat and tittle tattle.

I'd prefer the supernova but read a couple of dodgy things. I'm still undecided as ever.

1. can you integrate a rear light into the forum's favourite "son or sp dynamo, b+m iq2 for light+usb" set up or is it just front & usb?

2. @xkittyx was telling me about some removable dynamo lights but i can't remember what they were now. halp?

1. very very yes. Most front lights & rear light combos are 3v, which is exactly what these dynamos generate. The front lights generally have 'rectifiers' in which stop you overloading them if you don't use a rear light. So using a rear light too is sort of the whole point.

2. dunno. Anyone? Do you think you really need removable lights? B&M front lights have semi-secure 'torx' bolts holding them together and holding the light onto the bracket, I reckon most thieves don't carry these. So with something similar fixing the bracket onto the fork/wherever, it seems unlikely that you'd worry about them being removed. Too fiddly.

oh right, cheers skully! makes sense, i just couldn't see much info about it on the b&m page.

i don't suuuuper need removable if i fit them securely to the bike, but it'll be both my commuter and cx bike when i'm not touring on it so i worry about mashing them up/them getting nicked if the bike's locked up outside work, especially as the iq2 looks pretty chunky. am i overthinking this?

Yep, definitely over thinking, Dynamos and their lights are fit and forget, mostly because of the faff of unwinding the cable from Dynamo to light.
There was a handlebar mount for my supernova, which is useful if I wanted to remove it, but the cable would be the major issue, even more so if you've got a rear attached as well..

the one i was told about was (i got the impression) one where you just unclip and remove the light itself, ergo no unwinding of cables. i'll ask him!

The B&M front lights come with tails that you connect the rear light to - they're designed to be used with a rear light and you lose part of the joy of a dynamo setup if you don't have one. They use little spade connectors and the procide a section of heatshrink too to cover it (not needed but good practice).

Having said all that, if you go spendy on the front light (easily done!) then a security bolt or just an oldskool-forum-approved glued-in ballbearing might just make it harder to pinch.

Or just the sugru you have left over from securing the wires will go some way to helping.