Lights, music, Nirvana.......

[Phil the drill]

Ahhhh..The FINAL solution, to the lights issue. Fed up with trying to attach (and remove after each trip) overweight / overpriced / easily nicked / delicate / needing recharging (delete as appropriate) lighting to and from my bike, I've now got the definitive answer.
Have rebuilt the front wheel of my Wisper 905se with a Shimano DH 3D71 hub. This is far superior to the cheaper Nexave dynohubs, better built and with much less drag. It is the disc brake equivalent of their Ultegra dynohub. I bought it from Roseversand in Germany (just before the total 'Euro crash'), for about £57-00. I have coupled it to a B & M Toplight plus, mounted on the rear of the pannier rack and the absolutely brilliant B & M IQcyo sensolight (the 60 lux version). The light output is great, absolutely up to the job of commuting down my steep, slippery, narrow, high-hedged country lanes. Both lights have a standlight function when you stop pedalling. Light output is good even at very low speeds (which I rarely travel at ) and drag, even with the lights on, is barely noticeable. When the lights are off, you can't feel any drag at all when pedalling. Oh, and did I mention automatic switching when the ambient light drops?
No batteries to recharge.
Lights stay bolted to bike when parked.
No heavy batteries or awkward / ugly wiring.
No 'handlebar clutter (switches or brackets).

Oh I'm now a happy (winter) commuter.... .

Cheers, Phil

 

[Barnowl]

No half measures there then.. Impressive stuff.

 

[Phil the drill]

Absolutely, can't recommend it highly enough. I'm a convert

Phil

 

[Howard]

Hi Phil

Thanks for posting the ultimate solution! It sounds great - I'm going to make it a project this year, so that I'll be ready for next winter. I really like the idea of not having to worry about batteries, and not having all the faff of removing/replacing lights all the time. Did you rebuild your front wheel yourself? - I'll probably get that bit done professionally! Just out of interest, please can you let me know roughly how much the lights were, and where you got them from? And how fast do you actually have to travel to get a reasonable light output? On some of the really steep inclines on my journey I drop down to 9 or 10 mph at times...

Cheers,

Howard

 

[Tiberius]

So let me get this right....

Major companies are working on the problem of wireless transmission of power and you've gone and done it.

You get the power from the Wisper main battery to the light by sending it through the controller to the hub motor. The rear wheel then turns the planet underneath it, which turns the front wheel. This in turn drives the hub dynamo which generates electricity to power the light.

Its brilliant. But can it do regenerative braking? I mean, when you get powerful headlights shining at you, will it run backwards and charge the battery?

Nick

 

[Phil the drill]

So let me get this right....

Major companies are working on the problem of wireless transmission of power and you've gone and done it.

You get the power from the Wisper main battery to the light by sending it through the controller to the hub motor. The rear wheel then turns the planet underneath it, which turns the front wheel. This in turn drives the hub dynamo which generates electricity to power the light.

Its brilliant. But can it do regenerative braking? I mean, when you get powerful headlights shining at you, will it run backwards and charge the battery?

Nick

Very good, but not quite........There is still a wire between the dynamo hub and the lights

Cheers, Phil

PS I'm not quite sure if the 'Photon pressure' from the light is sufficient to slow the Earth's rotation; I s'pect it's rather difficult to measure..............
PPS YES it does braking (its called drag.....but fortunately is hardly noticeable and it's not regenerative but generative ).

 

[Phil the drill]

Hi Phil

Thanks for posting the ultimate solution! It sounds great - I'm going to make it a project this year, so that I'll be ready for next winter. I really like the idea of not having to worry about batteries, and not having all the faff of removing/replacing lights all the time. Did you rebuild your front wheel yourself? - I'll probably get that bit done professionally! Just out of interest, please can you let me know roughly how much the lights were, and where you got them from? And how fast do you actually have to travel to get a reasonable light output? On some of the really steep inclines on my journey I drop down to 9 or 10 mph at times...

Cheers,

Howard

Hi Howard,

It works very well. I also have some very steep climbs, some long 1:6 and one vicious 1:5. On the steepest of these (typically towards the end of the route home) my speed can drop to 6 to 7 mph near the top. The light output is still fine, hardly any different to going flat out downhill. The main reason is the capacitor fitted for the standlight function, it smooths out power fluctuations, so any drop in power is supplemented during periods when your speed drops. The standlight runs for about 4 - 5 mins even when at a complete standstill. The light comes on almost immediately you start going. You only need a couple of mph to start lights going, and you get to full power at 8 to 9 mph quite easily.
Dynohub ordered from :- Roseversand Shop MTB Rennrad Trekkingrad Versand Fahrrad
Lights:- Roseversand Shop MTB Rennrad Trekkingrad Versand Fahrrad and Roseversand Shop MTB Rennrad Trekkingrad Versand Fahrrad
Note, if you don't have a front disc, then you will need the shimano ultegra (there is also a roller brake version, if that's your fancy..).
Note also, that if you do have a disc version, you will either need to fit a six hole adapter (also available from Roseversand) to the hub in order to fit your disc, or (better) you could fit a shimano centre-lock disc (they will work fine with your existing caliper).
I got my LBS to lace the hub into my wheel for me. They did an excellent job and charged me £15-00 labour plus spokes. Total came to just £28-75, good value I reckon.
Buying from Roseversand over the internet was fine (a little German helps, despite the 'English' translation on the site - which disappears at the order details stage ). Delivery was pretty quick and even allowing for the poor euro exchange rate the hub is much chesper than from the UK (if you can find one in stock here!). You may be able the get the light at a similar or better price in the UK now - just try an internet search (Amba marketing are the main agents for B&M lights in the UK).
If you want any independent opinions on either the shimano ultegra hubs, or the B&M IQcyo sensolight plus, just do a search and look on the cycle forums, they'll give you plenty of info - plus generally very positive reviews of both the hubs and lights.
Hope all that helps,

Cheers, Phil

 

[Tiberius]

PS I'm not quite sure if the 'Photon pressure' from the light is sufficient to slow the Earth's rotation; I s'pect it's rather difficult to measure..............

I think it all depends on whether you are facing Mecca or Las Vegas.

Nick

 

[Barnowl]

I think it all depends on whether you are facing Mecca or Las Vegas.

Nick

&

 

[Phil the drill]

I think it all depends on whether you are facing Mecca or Las Vegas.

Nick

Or, like yesterday, nose-down, passing the time of day with frozen earthworms....
Phil.

(My vote is with Vegas ) - but only 'cos I don't know how to do 'big grin' without the associated icon!).

 

[Howard]

Hi Phil
Thanks for all the information - very helpful. I do have a front disc brake - the standard Promax fitted on the Wisper 905se Sport, so I would need to fit an adapter or the Shimano centre-lock disc you mentioned. I was thinking about changing the disc this year anyway, as the Promax one doesn't really do a lot! It sounds like your solution would definitely work well for me - I have lots of unlit country roads, and even the Lensor P7 I have doesn't really do the job.
Thanks,
Howard

 

[wotwozere]

HI

Nirvana do not play live any more.


Thx

bob