General Cycling Discussion - 10 lights better than one?

This weekend I plan to put solder to copper and finish off my homemade white LED headlight. I've been stalled on it for a few months now, but I recently got interested in it again.

A bit of further experimentation and a happy accidental discovery and I finalised the circuit last week. I've been shining it around the back yard on the 'breadboard' and for the size of package it's going to be, the light output is impressive. I believe the battery life will be equally impressive.

I made up a couple of printed circuit boards last night from a kit I bought at the local electronics store, and they came out beautifully. I have an APX film cannister with the mount from my old Cateye screwed to it to take the LEDs and circuits and the batteries will go inside the handlebar. It should be a sweet little unit.

For some (not very clear) photos of the circuit still on the breadboard see here (http://www.users.bigpond.com/allistermclaren/images/light_proto.jpg) and here (http://www.users.bigpond.com/allistermclaren/images/bright.jpg). The final circuit boards are sitting on the small notepad to the right of the light.

Mr. Watson...come quick...I need you...

Mmm, jummi, jummi, i really like the idea of handlebar stored batteries, do you have any blueprints! ;)

Well I've finally sorted out all the issues with the cicuit, and have been using my light for a couple of weeks now. Unfortunately, at this time of year I only ride home in the dark once a week, so I,ve only actually needed to use it twice.

Still, it's pretty nice. It gives a nice bright light where I want it, and gives some light up to 90° either side, so there's no sudden drop off of light at the edge of the beam.

In flashing mode it's visible in daylight. I've been using it during dusk on my evening commute and have noticed a lot more motorists heads turning my way.

It's only got a couple of hours run time in the batteries so far, so I don't have any concerete figures on battery life yet.

See the new webpage I made devoted to it here (http://www.users.bigpond.com/allistermclaren/headlight.htm)

ps. I very very happy to see bikeforums back on line. I missed you guys.

See the new webpage I made devoted to it here

ps. I very very happy to see bikeforums back on line. I missed you guys.

Glad the light project is going well - I bought a little cateye 3 LED job as an additional light largely because it gives 20 hrs beam and a further 180 hr visible, so it makes a great back- up to the main light I'm about to upgrade. I'm impressed with the brightness.

You really missed us, jokes and all :confused:

Richard

Found a link to the cateye job:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/product_detail.asp?ProdID=5300002059

The beam's not as good as the micro halogen in the same case, but it does have a phenomenal runtime as well as probably being more visible in half-light than halogen.

How's the 10 light system working?

Richard

Originally posted by Richard D
Found a link to the cateye job:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/product_detail.asp?ProdID=5300002059

The beam's not as good as the micro halogen in the same case, but it does have a phenomenal runtime as well as probably being more visible in half-light than halogen.

How's the 10 light system working?

Richard

The Cateye looks pretty neat. That's a pretty impressive light output for 3 LEDs, although I suspect the focusing lens helps that a lot. Mine doesn't have any focusing apart from what's inherent in the LEDs.

I've been using my light for a few weeks now. I'm very pleased with it so far. I've got plans to attach a focusing mirror which should reduce the amount of light spilling out the sides (and into my eyes) and direct it more where I want it. It's bright enough on the road now, but this will just make it better.

I'm not certain of the exact run time on a charge, but I estimate it at about 4-5 hours, but it runs almost indefinitely in flashing mode. Even if you get no light whatsoever out of it in constant mode, the flasher still works as well as when it's fully charged. An unexpected bonus. I could make up a bettery with 6 NiMh 'D' cells if I want (at $24 a pop it's not the cheapest option) which will more than treble the run time (and probably the weight).

I'm impressed with the runtime the Cateye claims, although I'd have to see the actual working unit to see exactly how impressive it is. Mine, despite the extra batteries runs less time, probably because I'm using 10 rather than 3 bulbs (although the rated total output of the ones I'm using is 60000mcd), and I think I'm overdriving them a bit too ie. I'm pushing more than the rated 20mA through each one.

I've updated my webpage on it recently. See this page (http://www.users.bigpond.com/allistermclaren/headlight.htm) . In fact if anyone's interested, I've given my whole site a bit of a facelift. Check it out (http://www.users.bigpond.com/allistermclaren/index.htm) .-damn, I just looked at it again - looks like I need to do some formatting on the front page

Nice Web Site, and interesting articles - I agree about helmet straps :)

Richard