djembob02
01-28-06, 09:48 AM
There have been many posts on lighting in the past, but I thought I would update the readers on my new lighting including my bright headlight.
On other parts of the forum I found some plan to home make a headlight. I bought an outdoor yard light (uses a 12 V MR16 halogen bulb) from Home Depot for $12. I modified the light by sawing off the ground stake and clamping it the H-bar with a rubber coated clamp. I then bought a 20 W spot bulb. I then ordered a battery and charger from batteryspace.com. I got a 14.4 V NiMH with Smart charger (this was the expensive part ($75)). Once the battery finally came, I did some wire splicing and charged the battery.
I went on my first night ride with it last night and it is fantastic!!! It lit up the road brighter than car headlights and did not dim at all in the 1.5 hours I had it on. According the web-site, the battery should be able to run the bulb for about 3 hours. I definitly got more space from other vehicles and I could see the road far ahead of me. I am so happy to be finally comfortable with our night rides.
For added visibility from the rear, I took my old headlight (a cheap 3 white LED (4AA batteries)) off the front, put a little red lens tape on it and put it on the back of the rear rack of the triplet. It is quite a bit brighter than the previous blinkies. I also added a blinkie to my daughters helmet and put a little reflective on each of the three cranks and on the fork and H-bars.
Prior to these additions, I already have blinkies facing each side and rear, bar-end lights on each of the H-bars, reflective tape on helmets, reflectors and tape on the rear. All riders wear reflective ankle bands and reflective, hi-vis clothing. I think that I have now done almost everything I can do to be seen. Probably the only things left are brake lights, blinkers, and lit clothing. I probably will not add these but you never know.
On other parts of the forum I found some plan to home make a headlight. I bought an outdoor yard light (uses a 12 V MR16 halogen bulb) from Home Depot for $12. I modified the light by sawing off the ground stake and clamping it the H-bar with a rubber coated clamp. I then bought a 20 W spot bulb. I then ordered a battery and charger from batteryspace.com. I got a 14.4 V NiMH with Smart charger (this was the expensive part ($75)). Once the battery finally came, I did some wire splicing and charged the battery.
I went on my first night ride with it last night and it is fantastic!!! It lit up the road brighter than car headlights and did not dim at all in the 1.5 hours I had it on. According the web-site, the battery should be able to run the bulb for about 3 hours. I definitly got more space from other vehicles and I could see the road far ahead of me. I am so happy to be finally comfortable with our night rides.
For added visibility from the rear, I took my old headlight (a cheap 3 white LED (4AA batteries)) off the front, put a little red lens tape on it and put it on the back of the rear rack of the triplet. It is quite a bit brighter than the previous blinkies. I also added a blinkie to my daughters helmet and put a little reflective on each of the three cranks and on the fork and H-bars.
Prior to these additions, I already have blinkies facing each side and rear, bar-end lights on each of the H-bars, reflective tape on helmets, reflectors and tape on the rear. All riders wear reflective ankle bands and reflective, hi-vis clothing. I think that I have now done almost everything I can do to be seen. Probably the only things left are brake lights, blinkers, and lit clothing. I probably will not add these but you never know.