Hi all,
Just thought I would share how I built some cheap lights for my bike recently.
I noticed that a Flo-plast 40mm pipe coupling (yes 40mm) is the perfect size to contain a GU10/MR16 spotlioght. These are made from polypropylene, tough, light and cheap. £1.50 each in B&Q.
If you attach a 22mm pipe clip (about £2.00 for 6) with a 5mm x 12mm machine screw and nut, and cut a piece of plastic to blank off the the back you have a housing that will clip directly to the handlebars of most bikes.
I cut my plastic blank from a marmite lid, with scissors.
As it happens, I had some GU10 LED 3w spotlights lying around - I bought them and found they were far too dim in the kitchen. Since they are 220v ac, I took off the back, ditched the transformer and rectifier, and soldered some cable on. I have them connected to DC-DC converter on the bike, running at 9.5 volts (original power supply in lamp was 10v, but I thought I'd be a bit conservative).
You could save yourself this step if you go for MR16's, which are 12v DC.
Then I painted with some Primocon and Hammerite - Excuse the paint job, it was all I had to hand. If you wanted it to look really good you could use spray paint (plasticote for example).
I built two, and they are very effective on the unlit country roads round here.
They draw very little current, and produce next to no heat.
Here are the parts:
Pipe fitting:
Universal Compression Waste Straight Coupling 40mm | Screwfix.com
Just thought I would share how I built some cheap lights for my bike recently.
I noticed that a Flo-plast 40mm pipe coupling (yes 40mm) is the perfect size to contain a GU10/MR16 spotlioght. These are made from polypropylene, tough, light and cheap. £1.50 each in B&Q.
If you attach a 22mm pipe clip (about £2.00 for 6) with a 5mm x 12mm machine screw and nut, and cut a piece of plastic to blank off the the back you have a housing that will clip directly to the handlebars of most bikes.
I cut my plastic blank from a marmite lid, with scissors.
As it happens, I had some GU10 LED 3w spotlights lying around - I bought them and found they were far too dim in the kitchen. Since they are 220v ac, I took off the back, ditched the transformer and rectifier, and soldered some cable on. I have them connected to DC-DC converter on the bike, running at 9.5 volts (original power supply in lamp was 10v, but I thought I'd be a bit conservative).
You could save yourself this step if you go for MR16's, which are 12v DC.
Then I painted with some Primocon and Hammerite - Excuse the paint job, it was all I had to hand. If you wanted it to look really good you could use spray paint (plasticote for example).
I built two, and they are very effective on the unlit country roads round here.
They draw very little current, and produce next to no heat.
Here are the parts:
Pipe fitting:
Universal Compression Waste Straight Coupling 40mm | Screwfix.com
