Dynamo Lights

If anyone's reading this who is going to take the plunge into dynamos, and wants to go for halogen lights, then there's a Schmidt E6 advertised on the CTC forum at http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=31611

I've also got some spare halogens: a couple of B&Ms which I'd probably let go for a beer or two if someone just wants a cheap dyno lamp to try out the concept, and an E6 - open to offers on this I guess. But I still think LEDs are a better solution these days.

Arrived home to find my Edelux has arrived from Spa - brilliant service!
Opening the parcel, it's just a friggin light but its fucking gorgeous!
Quickly wired it up, spun the wheel and shone the light into the back garden. OOOOooooooooo... a night ride tonight if there's a break in the crap weather.

DREDGE....

So I just put on my Dynohub wheel, and fitted the lamp, but I don't have a rear light to attach it to. All the Busch & Muller ones I've seen seem to be for fitting to racks or mudguards and at the moment I've just got my road bike, which has the capacity for neither of those things (and TBH I'm not that interested in fitting a bodge for the sake of a few rainy commutes). Does anyone know of a rear light that has a seatpost mount?

Otherwise I guess I buy one of these:
http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP3022.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=FGL
and glue on a post mount from an old Cateye..

Redredge
Can anyone tell me what the typical voltage/wattage/amperes lamp bulb I'd need for a pretty basic model shimano nexus hub dynamo (the decals have come off so I'm not sure of the exact model, but I can recall it's pretty cheap, a bit dated and was 6v)?

I seem to be destroying bulbs - why? Put in a conventional 6v bulb, last about three months. Put in what I thought was the right LED, but it stopped working almost immediately.

Or can anyone recommend a wrench who will know which bulb to use?

most dynohubs (including shimano) output 0.5A. The "standard" bulb to use is 2.4W if you have a rear light and 3w if you have a only a head lamp.

Watts = volts x Amps
So nominal voltage is 6 v, but the faster you go the more voltage and hence more watts are produced.

You blow bulbs because you are going too dam fast for an incandescent bulb! This is easy to achieve mind you. You can make simple voltage regulator with some kind of rectifier to dc that charges a battery and then onto your bulb.

For LEDs the output is is obviously AC so if you want to run a led you will need some kind of rectifier. A simple bridge rectifier is enough. I expect what happened with your LED is because there was no rectifier you surpassed the maximum back voltage (brake down voltage) and it broke down. High power LEDs require good heat sinks though no make sure you have good thermal bonding to a large metal surface.

ok just buy a busch and muller cyo or if it's just for around town a busch and muller fly (led models of both).

Ok thanks for the tech Tommy. I have a lamp already... I just don't know which bulb to use... I think you've answered it though. Think I'll swerve the LEDs and a Simple Bridge Rectifier (might be simple to you mate, but it ain't to me!)

How many lights are you running off the hub?

If it's one, there's your problem - I had the same. Switched to a 3w halogen blub and didn't have another blow-out.

halogen bulbs are the horror. they break really quickly and then your rear light burns as well if
you are not careful.

Hello I'm glad there are some dynamo nerds in the LFGSS! I've found a great solution to winter commuting, cheap s/h shimano hub dynamo with fancy b&m led iq fly trap super douper front light, I've ecconomised by not having the switching variety and after the winter I'll swop it for a prettier wheel.
However occasionaly my lamp goes out with no obvious wiring faults, is it something to do with how the switch ought to be but isn't wired into the system, am I making any sense? Please let me know.
Thanks, Stephen

seiva, that's usually the best solution, also if anyone looking for some decent dynamo light, look no further;

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/schmidt-schmidt-e6-b-dynamo-headlamp-with-black-reflector-rim-includes-50-cm-cable-and-connectors-and-3w-bulb-prod11198/

£30 from £70, and it's a great little light.

Anybody know of any bargains for dynamo lights at the moment? Or even want to get rid of some? I mean modern ones, halogen or what have you, for hub dynos.

Ta

I got mine from bike-discount.com who have lots to choose from:
http://www.bike-discount.de/?ac=pddetails&pdid=70819

It's virtually brand new after a warranty replacement and i'm considering parting with it as its not a great fit on my new frame.

Anybody know of any bargains for dynamo lights at the moment? Or even want to get rid of some? I mean modern ones, halogen or what have you, for hub dynos.

Ta

Rose always has a few reductions on...this is a serious licht, er, light

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/b--m-headlight-lumotec-iq2-luxos-b-senso-plus/aid:620026?forcedefaulttemplate=true

Has anyone tried/had experience of the exposure revo? I can't see any reason not to get one really...

A test I was reading up in Bicycle Quarterly have commented that the higher power it required created a noticeable drag on the dynamo hubs.

A test I was reading up in Bicycle Quarterly have commented that the higher power it required created a noticeable drag on the dynamo hubs.

How can the type of light affect the drag of the dynamo?

I've a revo running off an SP dynamo and it's fantastic. When you first see one in the flesh it's tiny especially if you've been using something like a maxx d

Rob dean, master of all things dynamo related, seemed to suggest very low drag figures with a revo on his blog. I'm planning to link up a garmin via the USB connector that exposure offer....don't see why this wouldn't work?

http://robdeanhove.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/racing-on-dynamo-charging-my-gps-bright.html

Having done some more research, that B and M option above appears to have some serious waterproofing issues

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=8581.0 solved?

From what lights did you upgrade from and how have you mounted the edelux?

Thank you!

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/b&m-hl.asp

Luxos sound pretty good. USB charging and shit. Anyone use them?

Yes I have the Luxos IQ2. It's excellent, charged my iphone about 11% on half hour journey to work. The light is very bright and did an excellent job of lighting up the road almost half as well as a car on dark country lanes. Some people online say it leaks with rain but I haven't found this to be true.

It's kind of the perfect compact charging and light option. I use with a son dynamo. Pressing the light on and off with a hadnlebar based button is also really handy.

Pricey, but that's what ebay alerts are for.

Luxos U is included in part of the Spa £240 bundle, which seems like a bargain to me.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s209p3126

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp The images in here have me sold on a Luxos U