Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Cheap Target Schwinn dynamo review.

I was in my local Target store and noticed the cheap Schwinn dynamo lighting kit was on sale for $7.20. I bought it, as I needed some sort of backup lighting system on my touring and commuting bike. I mounted it and found the drag nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be or remember from my younger days. I would say the drag is less than that produced by knobby mountain bike tires on pavement without a dynamo. I did a test ride of about 5 miles last night and riding with the dynamo engaged was no big deal at all. Bulb replacement in the headlight requires a small Philips screwdriver and the screw is small and would be very easily lost if your trying to replace it at night on the side of the road. I'll be leaving my Mag-Lite 3-watt LED flashlight in place as backup. The taillight is POS. I hooked it up to prevent burning out the headlight bulb but I don’t like it at all. I will be making an LED taillight to replace it. Speaking of LED lights, I'll be building an LED headlight to replace the headlight in the kit so I wont be worried about bulb burn out and replacement. The bulbs in the kit are the types that are only good for a few hours of use before they burn out. Their screw base flashlight bulbs. Considering the $7.20 cost this kit is worth buying if for nothing more than the dynamo and bracket to use with better quality head and taillights.

That's good to know. Besides being a back-up, there are times in people's lives when they just need something inexpensive to keep them legal. Do let us know how it holds up long-term. How about a picture?

I am using that same dynamo, I replaced the headlight with a Lumotec 3W headlight from Peter White.
The new headlight is amazingly brighter than the one that came with the dynamo. So far, I am quite happy with this set up.

That's good to know. Besides being a back-up, there are times in people's lives when they just need something inexpensive to keep them legal. Do let us know how it holds up long-term. How about a picture?
I ran a real test on the system last night. I took off on a 50-mile ride at 6:30 PM local time with sunset at about 7:30 PM. About 45 minutes into the ride the headlight bracket came lose! I had to stop and fix it. I had ran a ground wire for the headlight so I would not have any problems and this allowed me to move the bracket to a EMT conduit hanger (clamp). The problem with the bracket is the design. There's no way to tighten it down without crushing the sides and destroying it. I'll make a replacement bracket for the headlight. Other than the bracket coming loose the dynamo system worked fine. The headlight provided an adequate amount to see where I was going on the MUP and the taillight was bright enough to keep nighttime roadies from running into me. I said the taillight was POS so I should say it looks POS but does function (in an ugly sort of way). After riding with the dynamo engaged for a few minutes I actually got used to the slight additional drag and thoroughly enjoyed the nighttime patrol. I still used my Mag-Lite flashlight occasionally and will keep it attached. I turned it on after stopping at a busy intersection and when a Peloton of roadies were approaching me. They were obviously training and traveling at break neck speed. Only the leaders had their headlights on so I guess as they fell back into the Peloton they would turn off their headlight to save the battery. The LED flashlight is much brighter than the dynamo headlight even at full brightness. Normally I would have had to change out the 2 AA batteries at least once during the ride but using the dynamo allowed me to burn it for only a very few minutes. Battery savings alone will quickly pay for the dynamo.

I am a Trail Watch volunteer and one of us will patrol the Rail Trail MUP on weekends after dark looking for anyone stranded on the trail.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0293.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0292.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0290.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0289.jpg

Got up early this morning and headed out for breakfast on the bike. It's 6 miles to the place I eat. I used the dynamo as I left at 5:30 so it was still dark. My taillight bulb burned out about 15 minutes into the ride. I got about 2 hours burn time on it before it burned out. That’s about right for the type of bulbs used in this kit. I went ahead and disengaged the dynamo from the tire as there was enough light to see where I was going anyway. I turned on all my Blinkies so the early morning roadies could see me and avoid running me down like a dog. I figure the headlight will burn out soon even if I were to replace the taillight bulb, which I'm not. I'll be replacing the headlight with an LED unit. I don't know if I will build one myself or just buy one. If the electronic parts supplier requires a minimum order I'll just buy a LED dynamo headlight.

ok..been using this dynamo set up for a while, but I put a better Lumotec headlight on the bike.

Well, yesterday I was noticing that the headlight would not stay pointed in the right direction and by the end of the ride, the bracket had broken. Metal fatigue I guess. Anyway, I need to be able to mount the headlight back on the bike. I know n4zou has a set up using clamps from the hardware store. I was wondering if I could get a little more information as to what clamps to get.

Thanks

ok..been using this dynamo set up for a while, but I put a better Lumotec headlight on the bike.

Well, yesterday I was noticing that the headlight would not stay pointed in the right direction and by the end of the ride, the bracket had broken. Metal fatigue I guess. Anyway, I need to be able to mount the headlight back on the bike. I know n4zou has a set up using clamps from the hardware store. I was wondering if I could get a little more information as to what clamps to get.

Thanks
If you go to any hardware or building supply store you'll find EMT conduit hangers in the electrical supply area. They're cheap, sturdy, and very easy to use. They come in overlapping sizes between 1/2 inch to 2 inches so it's easy to clamp them around just about anything you might want to mount on your bike. I glue old inner tube to the inside area of the hanger to promote a firm grip around the item there clamping and to prevent scratching the surface of that item. You can bolt them back-to-back as shown with this picture.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3053/pict0074xc1.jpg

One 1/2-inch hanger is clamped to the flashlight and the other clamps to the handlebar. As the clamps can swivel it's very easy to aim the flashlight exactly where you need it.

If you go to any hardware or building supply store you'll find EMT conduit hangers in the electrical supply area. They're cheap, sturdy, and very easy to use. They come in overlapping sizes between 1/2 inch to 2 inches so it's easy to clamp them around just about anything you might want to mount on your bike. I glue old inner tube to the inside area of the hanger to promote a firm grip around the item there clamping and to prevent scratching the surface of that item. You can bolt them back-to-back as shown with this picture.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3053/pict0074xc1.jpg

One 1/2-inch hanger is clamped to the flashlight and the other clamps to the handlebar. As the clamps can swivel it's very easy to aim the flashlight exactly where you need it.

Thanks..I'll see what I can rig up.

I ordered a Luxeon 1-watt star LED and Fraen Elliptical Beam Lens with holder to make the new dynamo headlight for use with my dynamo. Here is a photo of the finished headlight.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0312.jpg
The optics and 1-watt LED are mounted in a 1-inch PVC pipe coupler. The lens is just slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the pipe coupler. I just used some medial tape wrapped around the lens to take up the space so it would not rattle around and possibly damage it. The tape is white so you must look very close to even see it. Prescription bottle caps with the childproof bits removed are a press fit on the pipe coupler. I cut some clear plastic to insert between the front cap and coupler to protect the optics. I cut an old aluminum coke can to do the same between the coupler and the backside cap with a small hole and rubber grommet for the two wires to pass through. I used the battery spring from an old "D" size flashlight to press the optics, 1-watt LED, and heat sink forward to keep pressure on everything keeping the assembly from being loose and rattling around. The Elliptical Beam pattern is perfect for use on a bicycle! I removed the plastic bulb holder in the taillight and replaced it with a 10mm 5000 MCD LED from Radio Shack. It's rating is 1.9 volts @ 36mA and is very bright. I use the dynamo to feed the Ni-MH battery pack. This automatically regulates both voltage and current. Without the batteries 500mA would be forced across both LED's, which would greatly reduce their life. Voltage is held to a few tenths of a volt above the rated voltage of the battery pack. Perfect for recharging them! The headlight draws 350mA and the taillight consumes 30mA (I de-rated it slightly with my choice of resistor). This leaves 120mA of excess current. This excess current recharges the battery pack when riding at 10 MPH or faster. My battery pack can power both head and taillights for a couple of hours so neither go out when I must stop or travel slowly in crowded traffic conditions. If required I can disconnect the LED's from the batteries and recharge them with 500mA of current from the dynamo. This happens to be the suggested rapid recharging current for Ni-MH batteries. Here is the circuit I current use.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/all-standlight.jpg
Switch S2 is for use with hub dynamos and is optional with bottle and BB dynamos as you simply disengage the dynamo from the tire.

About the cheap Target Schwinn Dynamo light.... The black plastic grid across the front of the headlight throws annoying shadows, but you can cut it off with a utility knife without causing any problems. The light pattern of that headlight is not great, though, even if you do that.

If you go to any hardware or building supply store you'll find EMT conduit hangers in the electrical supply area. They're cheap, sturdy, and very easy to use. They come in overlapping sizes between 1/2 inch to 2 inches so it's easy to clamp them around just about anything you might want to mount on your bike. I glue old inner tube to the inside area of the hanger to promote a firm grip around the item there clamping and to prevent scratching the surface of that item. You can bolt them back-to-back as shown with this picture.

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3053/pict0074xc1.jpg

One 1/2-inch hanger is clamped to the flashlight and the other clamps to the handlebar. As the clamps can swivel it's very easy to aim the flashlight exactly where you need it.

Made a light mount with 2 EMT conduit hangers similar to what your pic shows...tried it out last night riding to the pharmacy....worked great!

About the new light you made...just curious here, but why a 1 watt luxeon, and not a 3 watt. From what I understand, which is not much, the 3 watt luxeon would be roughly equivalent to a 10w halogen. A lot brighter than a 1 watt lux, and you should be able to power a 3w with the dynamo, just use a battery powered blinky in the rear.

Thanks for the suggestion.

A 1-watt Luxeon LED draws 350mA when properly setup with resistors or an LED driver that regulates current at exactly 350mA. A 3-watt Luxeon draws 700mA. I could have used one but the dynamo would only supply 500mA reducing light output of the 3-watt LED and I would not have been able to run a taillight, as this would have further reduced the light output of the headlight LED. I wanted to recharge my batteries with the LED's illuminating as well. At 10-MPH and higher 120mA of excess current is recharging the batteries. This allows the LED's to stay on when the bicycle is not moving. Running a 3-watt LED would not allow batteries to be used so the LED would quit burning when speeds are 5-MPH or slower. I would have gained slightly more light by using a 3-watt LED but I wanted a taillight and have my lights remain burning when my speed is 5-MPH or slower and be able to disengage the dynamo when climbing steep hills and still have my lights burning as well. The benefits of having all my lights stay on greatly outweigh a slightly brighter headlight.

i looked around a bit on target.com and cant find that anywhere. i would buy it in a heartbeat if i could find it. how long ago did you buy it?

i looked around a bit on target.com and cant find that anywhere. i would buy it in a heartbeat if i could find it. how long ago did you buy it?
I purchased it on 8-22-07. I remember buying it three days before I posted this review. I purchased it while on sale when they started switching from summer to fall so they maybe out of stock until they load summer products on the shelves.
I've made some radical changes. Here is my new LED light.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/tourlight.jpg

It uses dual SSC P4 U-BIN Z-power LEDs. I reused the 15X30 lens and added a 10 degree narrow lens. It's bright and the pattern is very good. The 15X30 lens lights up the road and shoulders nicely and the narrow beam is perfect for high speed runs down steep hills as well as providing lots of light far down the road. I can easily see road reflectors for more than a mile as well as seeing the light reflected from signs long before I can read them.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/light.jpg

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/light4.jpg

I've got a better circuit as well. The SSC LED's can be operated at full dynamo output which is about half the current there rated for. This means no current limiting is needed or wanted so no more batteries in the light circuit. Here is the new circuit.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/DynamoUSB.jpg

I had 2 of those "Schwinn" dynamo/generator setups. I believe the company is in Miami. I paid about $13.00 for them. Both went bad and the company wanted me to mail everything back to them with the receipt, original packaging etc at my expense so their "technicians" could determine if I screwed it up.
That was just a tact to discourage returns. Not worth it.
So with nothing to lose I took one apart (not easy to do) and found it had seized due to lack of grease. Greased it the best I could, slapped it back together and it worked. noisy but it worked. Bearings were probably shot by then.
The point being, do not rely on this equipment to keep you safe. It could fail at any time.
You get what you pay for. Remember, it really ain't a Schwinn product. Mine may have had a couple of hundred miles on it before it seized up.

I had 2 of those "Schwinn" dynamo/generator setups. I believe the company is in Miami. I paid about $13.00 for them. Both went bad and the company wanted me to mail everything back to them with the receipt, original packaging etc at my expense so their "technicians" could determine if I screwed it up.
That was just a tact to discourage returns. Not worth it.
So with nothing to lose I took one apart (not easy to do) and found it had seized due to lack of grease. Greased it the best I could, slapped it back together and it worked. noisy but it worked. Bearings were probably shot by then.
The point being, do not rely on this equipment to keep you safe. It could fail at any time.
You get what you pay for. Remember, it really ain't a Schwinn product. Mine may have had a couple of hundred miles on it before it seized up.
Yes; the Schwinn stuff is from China just like almost everything else these days. I do carry a backup light just in case something happens to the system. I look at night riding much the same way as spelunking. You always carry a backup light. I've been taking the drive wheel off and putting a little chain oil beside the shaft to lube it every time I lube my chain.