Additional light on a giant fastroad

[not dave]

I have a giant fastroad e+ ex pro and was wondering if there was an easy way of adding an additional brighter front light?

 

[saneagle]

I have a giant fastroad e+ ex pro and was wondering if there was an easy way of adding an additional brighter front light?

Aliexpress and Ebay. Get one with a Cree XLM T6 LED and a 4-cell 8.4v battery pack.

I'm waiting for someone to try one of these. where's Guerney?

NEWBOLER Bicycle Light Front 10000mAh Bike Light 6000Lumen Waterproof USB Charging MTB Road Cycling Lamp Bike Accessories - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[thelarkbox]

even if your e-bike has lights controlled by the ebike controller it generally a VERY BAD IDEA to add extra or replacement more powerful lights. this is because the circuits switching any 'built in lights' will be built down to a cost and will be sufficient to switch the lights fitted but could fail with unknown side effects (popping and taking out nearby components with it. perhaps?.) if asked to carry /switch more power than designed for.

So the easy solution is simply to use standard lights with their own battery packs. if you need handlebar switched lights then its a do-able diy project taking your battery voltage feed pre controller and supplying and switching a drop down voltage transformer to power any lights you select..

 

[guerney]

I have a giant fastroad e+ ex pro and was wondering if there was an easy way of adding an additional brighter front light?

How bright would you like? It would be easy to overload the lighting circuit of your bike's propretary controller by adding even an equally useless light to the one you have, plus you run the risk of your propretary controller signalling an error, which may require servicing or repair. You're better off with a separately powered lighting system. I went from this connected to my Bafang BBS01B mid-drive controller, which might be as useless as your headlight:

https://www.pswpower.com/products/electric-bicycle-ebike-downtube-spare-ebike-battery-36v-10ah-bottle-electric-bicycle-battery-pack-fits-350w-bafang-tsdz2b-motor-330

...to this:

...and I did so because in my experience no cyclist is assured of safety on the roads these days, even with lights appraoching or exceeding the level of illumination motorcycles provide, continuously on day and night in flashing or constant modes respectively. Another thing to bear in mind is, powerful lights connected to your ebike battery (if possible) will impact range - mine do, but happily I have a 19.2Ah/691Wh battery. In total, my lights draw about 1.95A from my ebike's battery, 36V X 1.95A = 70.2W. Sadly ebikes don't have alternators powered by petrol engines to power motorbike headlights (this may well be the future), but you you could buy an ebike bottle battery, and connect/solder lights to it via a blade fuse (or three, to increase the odds, because blade fuses don't always blow) and a waterproof switch on the handlebar.

https://www.pswpower.com/products/electric-bicycle-ebike-downtube-spare-ebike-battery-36v-10ah-bottle-electric-bicycle-battery-pack-fits-350w-bafang-tsdz2b-motor-330

Alternatively, search the information superhighway for brighter discretely powered bicycle headlights. The very bright ones with their own batteries I've seen are expensive, will dazzle drivers, and look wholly unsuitable for road use. Beams are too wide and not adjustable. My three headslights and fork light combined, illuminate the road surface ahead at night quite nicely, without dazzling, casting a combined beam long enough for fast riding at night or slow. Plus I'm always noticed by drivers day or night. It's hilarious my being mistaken for a motorcycle approaching from a distance - drivers now wait ages at intersections for me to pass by, only to see me pedalling past slowly at a mere 15.5mph. Makes me a laugh every time. You lot can do what you like.

 

[guerney]

Aliexpress and Ebay. Get one with a Cree XLM T6 LED and a 4-cell 8.4v battery pack.

I'm waiting for someone to try one of these. where's Guerney?

NEWBOLER Bicycle Light Front 10000mAh Bike Light 6000Lumen Waterproof USB Charging MTB Road Cycling Lamp Bike Accessories - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

I doubt that would be much brighter than this, which I bought a year or two ago in a sale - an improvement on the Bafang kit light, but is more of a light to be seen by, rather than to see with. If going this cheapo route, buy at least three for the handlebar, and a couple to make red, to use as rear flashers, is my advice.




I see they're pedalling zoomable beam cheapo versions now, about time. Again, strength in numbers with the cheapos...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009013437564.html

 

[matthewslack]

Not worth the hassle or risk of messing with the wiring. As others have said above, plenty of bright lights with their own batteries available.

If you do want to power it direct from the bike, you could connect to the main battery cables and use a DC-DC converter to get whatever voltage you need with current limited by the converter. Always use an appropriate fuse, and be aware if you connect the light or converter via a removable plug/socket you are exposing the battery to short circuit risks via that connector if not plugged in.

 

[not dave]

Thanks all.
I was hoping somebody had done this previously on this bike, but looks like I will have to go with a battery powered light.

 

[Nealh]

For bright lights for which many of us have done this before .
1. Take power feed directly from the battery to controller supply.
2. Add an inline fuse .
3. Use a light in the 20v - 80v range with it's own buck converter inside.
4. Us e a switch on the V+ line or use a handle bar light Switch with 22mm bar fitting.

 

[D C]

Thanks all.
I was hoping somebody had done this previously on this bike, but looks like I will have to go with a battery powered light.

Have a look on EBR Giant bikes section and search "add lights to giant", there are a couple threads there from folk who have done it but as others have said be careful not to take too much power