Hi,
Not sure if this is of general interest - I will see if I get any replies
I have been looking at lights for my bike and really struggling to find anything that allows me to ride at night in unlit country roads, especially when the moon is not out. I Have found some lights that would do the job but they are sooo expensive so I am making my own. Still early days but I have made a very rough prototype using halogen MR16 12v lights likt the type you use in regular downlighters. For power I am using 2 7.2v NIMH RC car packs in series. Overvolting the 20w halogens to 14.4v volts provides a nice bright light. I now need to order some bulbs with a narrow beam like the high efficiency Osram 20w 24 degree IRC bulb.
For mounting the bulbs I am using black 40mm waate pipe compression fittings from B&Q. For a chgarger I am using a dual peak charger used for RC cars. I have also ordered a digital controller for the lights from Canada:
LIGHT BRAIN - Bike Light Controllers
This will allow me to decide to overvolt or not. I am hoping the controller will work OK for a 10w bulb as well so I can use a dual bulb config. I only need the bright light on the potholed country roads when the moon has not risen and the fog is in. One of the interesting things I have discovered (much to my surprise) is that regular halogen bulbs are more efficient than LEDs when overvolted. LEDs are more efficient when undervolted. To get a bright light out of LEDs and a high degree of efficiency you need an awful lot of them.
Unfortunately the regulator in he controller is not good for more than 20v input so no good on 24v or 36v systems
Anyway, when I get closer I will post some pics and let you know if they are any good. I'm expecting the lights to cost about 60 pounds. On the commercial market it would cost 150 pounds plus to get anyhting close I think? Strange, but I saw lights for well over 400 pounds, whop buys these?
Cheers, BM.
Not sure if this is of general interest - I will see if I get any replies
I have been looking at lights for my bike and really struggling to find anything that allows me to ride at night in unlit country roads, especially when the moon is not out. I Have found some lights that would do the job but they are sooo expensive so I am making my own. Still early days but I have made a very rough prototype using halogen MR16 12v lights likt the type you use in regular downlighters. For power I am using 2 7.2v NIMH RC car packs in series. Overvolting the 20w halogens to 14.4v volts provides a nice bright light. I now need to order some bulbs with a narrow beam like the high efficiency Osram 20w 24 degree IRC bulb.
For mounting the bulbs I am using black 40mm waate pipe compression fittings from B&Q. For a chgarger I am using a dual peak charger used for RC cars. I have also ordered a digital controller for the lights from Canada:
LIGHT BRAIN - Bike Light Controllers
This will allow me to decide to overvolt or not. I am hoping the controller will work OK for a 10w bulb as well so I can use a dual bulb config. I only need the bright light on the potholed country roads when the moon has not risen and the fog is in. One of the interesting things I have discovered (much to my surprise) is that regular halogen bulbs are more efficient than LEDs when overvolted. LEDs are more efficient when undervolted. To get a bright light out of LEDs and a high degree of efficiency you need an awful lot of them.
Unfortunately the regulator in he controller is not good for more than 20v input so no good on 24v or 36v systems
Anyway, when I get closer I will post some pics and let you know if they are any good. I'm expecting the lights to cost about 60 pounds. On the commercial market it would cost 150 pounds plus to get anyhting close I think? Strange, but I saw lights for well over 400 pounds, whop buys these?
Cheers, BM.
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