DIY Bike Light

[Crackerkorean]

I build these 4 years ago but wanted to show them off here. I figured you guys would appreciate them. These are slightly older tech using three high powered LED instead of one Really high powered led.

I am able to trail ride without having to slow down at all. I can even drive with it. These were designed with mountain biking (camelbak) in mind. But I might have to find a way to mount this on my bike if I decide to maybe commute.

Here is a pic of the proto type that I made using purchasable parts.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/ver2/IMG_4644.jpg

And here are some of the final version that I did. I designed the housing, had it machined, anodized etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/Final/Build-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/IMG_4778.jpg
This light is about 75-90ft away from the house.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/IMG_4481.jpg

[MattTuck]

This may be a stupid question. For mountain biking, why not use red light? doesn't it preserve your night vision better?

[Crackerkorean]

This may be a stupid question. For mountain biking, why not use red light? doesn't it preserve your night vision better?

Some people like to add a red led to warm up the color but all red could make seeing the trail vs leaves next to it a little harder to see. It makes it harder to distinguish colors and textures.

[choke]

Nice job. That looks like it throws out some serious light.

[gdw]

Nice. What LED and driver did you use?

[Crackerkorean]

I am using the bFlex from Taskled.com
I have been really impressed with his stuff.

[oldpotatoe]

This may be a stupid question. For mountain biking, why not use red light? doesn't it preserve your night vision better?

Too hard to see the blood after you crash....

Doh!!

[Mikej]

MTBR.COM has a whole forum on this.

[soulspinner]

Too hard to see the blood after you crash....

Doh!!

:hello:

[Crackerkorean]

MTBR.COM has a whole forum on this.

I know, just figured I would share here is all.
I am also a member of a flashlight forum as well.

[Stan Lee]

Wow- very cool! Seems plenty bright!!

[rice rocket]

What's your pill/heatsink setup?

Most incandescent/LED conversions don't last because they operate on opposite principles. Incands try to isolate heat from the body while LED lights try to dissipate heat through the whole light head.

I prototyped a triple XM-L setup...and then some vendor in China started carrying triple XM-Ls lamps with all the accessories and batteries for $49. Can't really beat that, unfortunately. Maybe I'll spend the time to swap out drivers to push the LEDs harder, but they're pretty reliable right now as is. Being caught in the woods light-less at night wouldn't be too fun. I did spend another $50 or so replacing the batteries w/ Panasonic NCR18650As.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bQlL_Dg9zog/TVVu-8QH2BI/AAAAAAAABqk/xYox1U5nogY/s567/2x3_03.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZyM0Wm_GITE/TVVu-3CidXI/AAAAAAAABqk/oLkfmhx4JyM/s902/2x3_04.JPG

[Jaq]

Those are awesome! I'd love to build something like that & hook it up to one of those German dynamo hubs, or even a Shimano (gasp) one.

[Crackerkorean]

By pill do you mean slug for the LEDs?
Here was my initial model for the housing. The LEDs sit on a plate that is bolted to the housing behind the glass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/1000308capb.jpg

Here is a different picture to give you an idea of what the fins loon like on the housing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/crackerkorean/BikeLight/Raw-Housing.jpg

Same thing happened to me. I did this when Seoul P4s were the best thing going. Then a Chinese company came in at $85 for the whole setup.

I have some P7s that I might double up for 1400+ lumens. I did a couple of endurance races and needed to have a blinky for the night portion. Thought it would have been funny to do a 700lm red blinky.

[gdw]

I built a number of single LED lights with the P4s several years ago which produced about 180 lum each. I ran a spot and flood combination on the handlebars and a spot on the helmet and was really pleased with the beam pattern and run times. Things have certainly changed, 540 lum is a candle compared to what most people run now.

[maxn]

I made it three or so years ago.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/light1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/46877757/light2.jpg

Triple MC-E k bin. Taskled Hipflex driver, 14.8V Li pack. Def. bright enough for me.

[Mikej]

I wasn't being snotty. How do todays components differ in the diy light biz? Are better components available?

[Crackerkorean]

How do todays components differ in the diy light biz? Are better components available?

Really the only thing that has changed is the density of light available from a single led.

Where the P4 Seouls (what i used) are 180-220 (if memory serves and depending on what you read). Total about 600 lumens.

Now you can get a single emitter that will do ~900lumens by it self.

[rice rocket]

Lumens per watt has also increased, especially if you're not driving each LED near it's maximum capacity.

[Crackerkorean]

maxn: Do you have any issues with that button? I tried using those but the light would flash off an on. Did you do anything to debounce the button?

I did find another button that has a better feel.

[maxn]

No problems; it's been super solid and has a nice click that can be felt Nader gloves. Are you sure it's the same?