Commuting - wind-powered headlight??

LED and hopefully not too dim. Who wants to try it and report back?? ;)

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/design-concept-winddriven-bike-headlight-189052.php

Here's a link:
http://en.red-dot.org/282+M569e0733233.html

Pretty, but not practical. This is what happens when you forget to hire an engineer.

I've thought about the concept of a wind powered headlight. From an engineering standpoint, its terrible. The problem is that propeller/fan blades, and cheap generators are not very efficient, meaning it will slow your bike down considerably for the amount of light it produces. Also, this particular design has a large plastic housing which will increase drag considerably. The amount of power it produces is 0.17W. Too dim. That's like a keychain LED light, and you can get those for $1. Seriously. A pair of AA batteries could produce the same light for around 120 hours, and probably weigh less. I can't believe this thing won an award, and I feel sorry for all the people who get suckered into buying them.

The company makes USB sticks, and they decided to make a bicycle light.

That would be like me deciding to build a helicopter... Not exactly gonna succeed.

The company makes USB sticks, and they decided to make a bicycle light.

That would be like me deciding to build a helicopter... Not exactly gonna succeed.You make helicopters? Cool, can I have a ride in one? I will trade you my wind powered head light.

How about a solar-powered light? There's some company working on one... what's their name... oh yes, Cateye. :) http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/new_vibration_a.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/cateye-solar.jpg

How about a solar-powered light? There's some company working on one... what's their name... oh yes, Cateye. :) http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/new_vibration_a.php

http://www.treehugger.com/files/cateye-solar.jpg

There have been other brands around for years.

One of them has a headlight on one end and a blinking red tailight on the back. I never was tempted to try one. The ad copy says you can double the output by putting two AA batteries in it too. It can't be too bright. Kinda like me. :rolleyes:

http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=3800&sd=3801&ts=3503371

http://www.global-merchants.com/home/bikelit.htm

Personally, I'm waiting for a Corgie-powered headlight :)

/me recharges the Corgie with table scraps

Boy am I enjoying my hub generator. ;)

The newer shimano dynamo hubs are a lot better, but man I still hate how they slow you down.

For the voltage, it is equivalent to 3 AA batteries... 30ish hours of use. This will slow you down much less than a hub generator. If its placed in center of bars, it won't increase your aero profile. If you put out your palm forward in front of you while riding, you would slow down a lot more than with this fan... and you wouldn't slow down much.

It depends how much it weighs.

Compared to taking batteries out, charging, putting them back in, there is some major convenience in this. Should be way better than friction generators, and easier to take off and add back on if its handlebar mounted.

The newer shimano dynamo hubs are a lot better, but man I still hate how they slow you down.


I'm using a sturmey archer X-FDD hub. It doesn't produce a noticable amount of drag either when the light is on or off, except at very slow speeds. Hubs are way more efficient than tire friction generators because there's no friction. Friction generators I've used do produce a noticable amount of drag, but with a hub generator all the drag comes from producing the electricity, which in the case of my setup only uses about a watt of my power.

Personally, I'm waiting for a Corgie-powered headlight :)

:roflmao: :roflmao:

You get extra credit points for that one.

Would that be called the "Canine Edison 10" ?

Personally, I'm waiting for a Corgie-powered headlight :)

*from the dog*

Sup mech? My power to weight ratio makes Lance look like road kill. I can power the whole town, but I have my human trained to provide all the power. He takes me everywhere I want. Sweet !! peace out dude.

The newer shimano dynamo hubs are a lot better, but man I still hate how they slow you down.


I always thought that generator lights were great for training, adding just a bit of extra resistance.

*from the dog*

Sup mech? My power to weight ratio makes Lance look like road kill. I can power the whole town, but I have my human trained to provide all the power. He takes me everywhere I want. Sweet !! peace out dude.:roflmao:
:roflmao:
:roflmao:

Solar powered light......something is really wrong with that. If you had the sun, you wouldn't need the light.

Solar powered light......something is really wrong with that. If you had the sun, you wouldn't need the light.I think it charges a battery with the solar cells, and then uses the stored power to run the light when it's dark out and the motion sensor detects that you're moving. Otherwise yeah, it would be pretty useless :D

Solar powered light......something is really wrong with that. If you had the sun, you wouldn't need the light.

I hope you're not serious. :eek:

Kerry

Solar powered light......something is really wrong with that. If you had the sun, you wouldn't need the light.

I was thinking about making a wind powered fan. :)

Personally, I'm waiting for a Corgie-powered headlight :)

Do you mind if I steal this line and use it for a sig. ?

Maybe I should invent a smog-powered headlight. Would work wonders in big cities. LOL

Do you mind if I steal this line and use it for a sig. ?LOL, go for it :D

Aieee, he's wearing the mind-control goggles again! :eek: *staggers to fridge with glazed stare, gets out the leftover meatloaf... Must... recharge... headlight! http://forums.anandtech.com/i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif*

LOL, go for it :D

Aieee, he's wearing the mind-control goggles again! :eek: *staggers to fridge with glazed stare, gets out the leftover meatloaf... Must... recharge... headlight! http://forums.anandtech.com/i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif*


:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

when I laughed my dog went....mmmmm! (really) maybe it is mind control !!