Dynamo Lights

I think August are changing their business model enough that this is unlikely.

It is also a strong possibility that Seven machined the crownrace bevel into that bracket too so that it matches the CK bearing angle.

Isen make something similar to allow you to fit mudguards on their small person 650b All Seasons. My Girlfriend has one on hers, they could presumably adapt it slightly for a light.

Nick, please stop speaking for us!! We are not turning away every piece of potential work!

Loving the Thomson Seatpost clamp barrel bolt you guys machined for me for integrating the rear Supernova light!

Well you are extremely welcome. Nothing better than happy people!

Had my first dynamo-lit off road ride this evening through Epping Forest. So much fun.

If anyone fancies some slow-ish forest riding in the evening give me a shout.

Anyone tried installing the SON coax connector onto a B&M flat cable? Seems like it should be possible if the ends are stripped to the right length.

Other option is to run some coax cable and join it to the stock cable further up, probably directly soldered - putting spade or banana connectors on coax cable sounds even more bodgy than putting coax on flat.

Edit: found this guide to putting spade connectors on coax, doesn't look too hard actually. Plan B it is.

Has anyone come across light tests for SON rear lights? Ideally in-the-dark photos, similar to what you get to show front-light beam patterns/throw etc.

I'm using the SON seatpost light and am a bit dissapointed with the output. It's angled correctly and such, but doesn't really cast much light on the road compared to the Exposure Redeye I've used previously.

Obviously the beam shape is going to be different but the SON just seems underwhelming. Trying to understand if it's just a bit pants, or not designed to throw light down, as well directly back from the light. Figured I'd start by looking for something online before asking random drivers "is this bright enough"...

Exposure Redeye

Part of the problem may just be that these are notoriously extremely bright. I don't think any of the tiny little dyno rear lights, SON or otherwise will come close

I did consider that briefly, but assumed the SON wouldn't actually be so underwhelming. Time to find out if you can wire a RedEye to a Edelux II...

Let me know what you find. I've got a little B&M rear light that I haven't even used yet but I was thinking already that I'd be using it as a second light and still running a battery rear so would be good to find a bright 2nd option

I can't find any specific accounts of people using a Edelux+Redeye, but given other combinations of rear light and advice from Sinewave about using the Beacon+Redeye, I'm assuming that with a resistor and some soldering it should work.

Hadn't considered the standlight feature. Given you can run a redeye from an exposure battery pack, I'd guess whacking a big ol' capacitor in the right place would solve that problem. I'll do a bit more reading before digging the soldering iron out...

Time to find out if you can wire a RedEye to a Edelux II...

I imagine you can, although you may need a current-limiting resistor like in the Sinewave Beacon instructions - it would depend how the Edelux drives the rear light and what its output is rated to. If it's capable of driving the Redeye at full current you may find that it diverts current away from the Edelux so the front light is dimmer. If you do need to use a current-limiting resistor then the Redeye will be dimmer than normal, and some of the power produced by the hub dynamo will end up being wasted heating up the resistor.

I am trying to track down the output rating for the Edelux II.

From the SON rear light instructions mention:

The 6V-3W hub dynamo-powered SON rear light (K 920) is made for use with a 6V-2.4 W-LED-headlight or 6 Volt DC supply.

That suggests that the SON rear light is intended to take 0.6W. I think the RedEye is 1W. Trouble is, there's nothing I can find which explains whether there's any current limiting circuitry in the Edelux rear light supply and, if there is, what it's rated to. Or, indeed, whether the rear light supply has any power rating limitations or whether, if you wanted to, you could chug the whole 3W down to the rear light.

There's one way to find out, of course, but it's a bit depressing if the answer isn't the one you were hoping for...

I've emailed Sinewave (as they've solved this problem with their light) and Exposure to see if I can get some more details. I'll get round to contacting SON in a few days.

If that all comes to nothing I'll break out the big multimeter and go ride down some hills...

The SON rear light, as do other B&M rear ‘line’ models, definitely do spread the light on a horizontal plane (which is why it seems a bit daft to mount them vertically as some do) and don’t have any significant beam going up or down. It’s fine. Rear lights don’t need to be brighter. I reckon you’d be better off getting a decent reflector. I’ve not tried the redeye but in general brighter isn’t always better, esp if that’s unfocused and blinding people.

/2p

out of interest, why not use the revo?

With the redeye I'm used to having a big pool of light on the ground behind me. Nice and easy to see the light is on/nice and visible, not pointing directly back at other cars/other riders. The SON just seemed a bit feeble in comparison. I know it'll be different for a driver, than me looking at it on the bike. Maybe I'll just find someone to reassure me that it's more visible than it seems...

Using the Revo between two mountain bikes. Wanted a fit'n'forget solution, mounted on the fork-crown, for road/audax stuff.

Did try the Revo mounted lower down, but found the beam pattern wasn't that great. You either get a lot of light immediately infront of you, or it throws it really far/high. Would go back to it if I was mounting it on the bars, but trying to avoid that for now.

Ah ok. Thought about klite? I've not used one but people I respect rave about them.

I can confirm you can't wire the son rear direct, would seem it have zero protection. Two none functioning lights would confirm. Yes I am a moron that was slow to work that out.

Yeah, connecting a 5V DC lamp into a 60V+ AC supply will rarely end well. Still, there's nothing like empirical evidence for proving the point!

For those of you wanting to combine your dynamo fetish with a willingness to travel to coastal locations, there is this group that I've belonged to for something like 15 years: https://www.fnrttc.org.uk/

Lovely, lovely people and super well-organised rides.