View Full Version : Car headlight for bike
Maybe this has been asked before, but would a car headlight work for a bike? I mean like a 35 - 45 watt headlight or fog light. For a power supply I was thinking about a rechargeable 12V battery. The small ones that are used as backup batteries in emergency lights or fire alarms.
http://www.beiterbatteries.com/images/sla_images/1245.jpg
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=42629
Ok, I think I'll just try it and see what happens I don't want to spend hours reading that thread. :D Thanks though. :)
By the way ggg300, that red walking thing, whatever it is, freaks me out.
Short answer, yes. What I did was use an Optronics QH-7CC, driving light housing which takes an MR16 12 volt bulb. I replaced the bulb with a 15 watt spot prolonging battery life. I overvolted it to 14.2 volts using a NIMH battery pack greatly increasing the brightness of the 15 watt bulb.
Ok, I think I'll just try it and see what happens I don't want to spend hours reading that thread. :D Thanks though. :)
By the way ggg300, that red walking thing, whatever it is, freaks me out.
Carl, that is the best thread ever...it is worth the read...
____________
The sig was background for a concert...
Yeah you're probably right. I've read some parts of it before.
lebrand
12-02-07, 03:02 AM
I replaced the bulb with a 15 watt spot .
Where did you purchase a 12v 15watt mr16 bulb? I'm having a hard time finding one even on the internet.
Yes it will work. Depending on the MAH of your battery life between charges will be short unless you use 25 watt or smaller bulbs.
Too bad you don't want to read threads that have already covered this topic. "Too much work"...can wind up costing money in experimentation.
Where did you purchase a 12v 15watt mr16 bulb? I'm having a hard time finding one even on the internet.
My LHS. Local hardware store
ovrrdrive
12-02-07, 08:13 AM
Too bad you don't want to read threads that have already covered this topic. "Too much work"...can wind up costing money in experimentation.
I've tried a few times too and there's just no way in hell saving 50 cents and an hour experimenting is worth spending 3 hours reading a 51 page thread. If it stayed on topic I could get through it but that thread rambles like no other...
Hydrated
12-02-07, 08:36 AM
...that thread rambles like no other...
The rambling nature of that thread is what makes it so valuable. That thread represents many months of people posting their ideas and possible solutions to lighting dilemmas and tradeoffs. It's basically a thread that is a written record of a months long brain storming session.
Read the thread. If you're going to try putting together your own lights... read every post. Click every picture. There is much to learn there... from both the successes and the flops of other tinkerers. I spent 4 days reading and digesting the contents of that thread and it was well worth my time.
Before "Total Geekiness" I was considering spending literally hundreds of dollars on light systems that only kinda did what I wanted them to do. Instead... I built a bombproof, dependable system that does EXACTLY what I want it to do. And I put it together for about $115 (and that includes $85 for the battery alone)!
The Geekiness thread here on BF is perhaps the best DIY compilation that I've ever seen anywhere. You'd be doing yourself a favor to spend the time reading it.
I've tried a few times too and there's just no way in hell saving 50 cents and an hour experimenting is worth spending 3 hours reading a 51 page thread. If it stayed on topic I could get through it but that thread rambles like no other...
I agree ovrrdrive. I understand what you are saying Hydrated. We should do our homework just like everyone else. But I know that if I built a quality, reliable headlight. I would be more than willing to share pics and plans for my headlight. I wouldn't just post a link for a mile-long thread that started four years ago.
I'll post pics of mine if it works. ;) And if not, then I guess I'll be spending the next week reading that thread.
lebrand
12-02-07, 06:54 PM
My LHS. Local hardware store
It would be appreciated if you would provide the brand and a part number or SKU code. Thanks.
Cody Broken
12-03-07, 08:33 PM
By the way ggg300, that red walking thing, whatever it is, freaks me out.
ggg300, Carl26, thank you for both for that good laugh.
Cody Broken
12-03-07, 08:36 PM
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=42629
Carl, that is the best thread ever...it is worth the read...
+1, and props to LittleBigMan for kicking it off.
Well, I built my bike headlight today. I used a cheap Optronics 55 watt halogen driving light from Walmart. The kit included two 55 watt lights and a switch for about $16. I only used one light. For a power supply I used a 12 Volt 8.5 Ah rechargeable sealed battery.
I hooked it up and took the bike for a ride tonight in the snow storm. I have nothing else to really compare this to because this is my first light, but this thing was really bright. The first part of my ride was in a residential area so there was plenty of ambient light from street lights and porch lights. Still, the light was bright enough to light the road ahead of me. A couple oncoming of cars slowed down considerably when I rode by. I don't know if they were amazed by the light or by the weird guy riding his bike in the snow. Either way, the motorists definitely saw me.
The other part of my ride was on an unlit paved trail. I had no trouble whatsoever seeing the path in front of me. I only rode for about 20 minutes because I was getting covered in snow. Therefore I cannot say how long the battery will last. I can't wait to use this light when there is no snow on the ground so it will be really dark outside.
The weight of the battery was not an issue. I didn't even know it was there. I had a lot of fun putting this together. If the battery life is short with this bulb, I might go with dual 20 watt MR16 bulbs. Now I just need to build a tail light!:)
StephenH
12-04-07, 07:28 PM
In theory...55 watt bulb at 12 volts should use 55/12 = 4.6 amps.
8.5 Amp-hour batter divided by 4.6 amps = 1.85 hours.
You may notice a lot of dimming a long time before then...and generally best not to run batteries completely dead.
In theory...55 watt bulb at 12 volts should use 55/12 = 4.6 amps.
8.5 Amp-hour batter divided by 4.6 amps = 1.85 hours.
You may notice a lot of dimming a long time before then...and generally best not to run batteries completely dead.
Cool, thanks for the formula. I'll be happy if it will last 30 minutes. I only have a short ride in the dark.
ovrrdrive
12-05-07, 02:42 AM
Looks great... What kind of bulb does that light take?
It is an H3 bulb. I guess it is a standard automotive fog light bulb.
Good work...it will do the job...
Before "Total Geekiness" I was considering spending literally hundreds of dollars on light systems that only kinda did what I wanted them to do. Instead... I built a bombproof, dependable system that does EXACTLY what I want it to do. And I put it together for about $115 (and that includes $85 for the battery alone)!
If you don't mind sharing, what does your system consist of?
ken cummings
12-05-07, 09:33 PM
Ok, I think I'll just try it and see what happens I don't want to spend hours reading that thread. :D Thanks though. :)
By the way ggg300, that red walking thing, whatever it is, freaks me out.
You do not need to read the whole thread, just the last couple of entries which cover the 100 watt aircraft landing light I use.
You do not need to read the whole thread, just the last couple of entries which cover the 100 watt aircraft landing light I use.
100 watt?!?! Aircraft landing light?!?! :eek: I'll read it for sure now! :D
Hydrated
12-08-07, 06:22 AM
If you don't mind sharing, what does your system consist of?
I put together a basic MR16 halogen setup. I felt that using halogens gave me the best balance between dependability/repairability/cost/performance. Halogens are cheap and easy to find. HID is nice and bright, but I worried about dependability... besides, halogens were cheap enough that I can run two for some redundancy in case a bulb blows while I'm out there on the road.
Here's my parts list:
(remember... Ebay is your friend!)
1 pair of Optronics QH-7CC fog lamps... about $7 shipped from Ebay
3 MR16 20W bulbs (2ea 12deg spots and 1ea 24deg flood)... around $5 shipped from ebay for all 3
1 red LED motorcycle tail light (contains 7 LEDs... nice and bright)... $6 shipped from Ebay
1 Amber Xenon strobe from Allelectric.com... $8.95
2 plastic junction boxes from Allelectric.com... $4
3 switches with waterproof boots from allelectric.com... $4
1 NiMh battery from batteryspace.com 14.4V 5AH water bottle package type... $85.00
I had the wire and clamps and stuff lying around the garage already, so my total was about $120 for the whole shooting match.
I love the light setup... I call 'em my flamethrowers. I mounted the Optronics housings to either side of my front forks... I use a handlebar bag, so mounting them on the bars was not an option for me.
I currently just have them wired up through individual switches to the battery... very simple and effective. I did splurge and ordered a Lightbrain controller to try out... it has a lot of neat features for a $38 price tag. Gives you auto failover between two bulbs in case of a bulb failure... battery discharge protection... controlled overvolting... voltage regulation... soft start on power up. I'm awaiting delivery of the Lightbrain now... I'll let you know how it works out.
T Waldo
12-08-07, 08:40 AM
[QUOTE=Hydrated;5768843]
1 pair of Optronics QH-7CC fog lamps... about $7 shipped from Ebay
3 MR16 20W bulbs (2ea 12deg spots and 1ea 24deg flood)... around $5 shipped from ebay for all 3
1 red LED motorcycle tail light (contains 7 LEDs... nice and bright)... $6 shipped from Ebay
1 Amber Xenon strobe from Allelectric.com... $8.95
2 plastic junction boxes from Allelectric.com... $4
3 switches with waterproof boots from allelectric.com... $4
1 NiMh battery from batteryspace.com 14.4V 5AH water bottle package type... $85.00
QUOTE]
OK, we've gotta get some pictures of this if/when you have them. Sounds like quite a setup.
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