Anyone use bike generator lights anymore?

[ablang]

No one seems to be talking about it, and I can't even find a good place online to order them from.

Does anyone have a site for that stuff, or is it being phased out?

[znomit]

Dynamo hubs, they are coming back, the new shimano hubs are light, cheap and efficient, and LED lights are being introduced which give significantly more light than the old 3w halogens with bugger all drag.
Thread here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=352373) on commercial stuff or see my sig for diy.

[IronMac]

Peter White Cycles, 'nuff said. :)

[Johnny_Monkey]

Still fairly common around here.

[ModoVincere]

using a cheap "Schwinn" bottle dynamo from target and a B&M lumotec 3 w headlight. Is suffecient for commuting. Also use a PB 5 led headlight in flash mode just to make sure.

[n4zou]

Here is a shop that carries quality and cheap dynamo stuff.
http://www.yellowjersey.org/index.html
Here is a link where you can find all the information you need to build dynamo LED light systems.
http://pilom.com/BicycleElectronics/BicycleElectronics.htm

Cheap with free shipping DIY LED and optic supply's
http://www.dealextreme.com/

http://www.kaidomain.com/WEBUI/Default.aspx

High quality optics here.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/category.php?id=121&link_str=121
Make sure you order optics for Lambertian LEDs as the two suppliers only stock that type. These optics are also used by Martin on the pilom site. You will get much higher Lumen output with Fraen optics due to the 85% efficiency rating.

[n4zou]

using a cheap "Schwinn" bottle dynamo from target.
I got one myself.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r154/n4zou/Hpim0329.jpg
It's actually a good bottle type dynamo. I tried using the lights that came with it but they burned out after a couple of hours of use. I consequently built a single LED dynamo headlight and later a dual LED headlight. I never bothered to hook up an amp meter and just assumed it was going to be ~ 500mA which is pretty much the standard. I bought a new meter and you know that caused me to start measuring everything I could with it including the output of my Schwinn dynamo. I selected the AC current setting for 500mA and it pegged the meter! I then set it for 1 amp and discovered it was producing 700mA. No wonder the original bulbs burned out quickly! My power LED's are capable of handling 1A so no worries and thats actually an advantage with more light produced.:D

[brotherdan]

I second the peterwhitecycles.com website as a good resource for information on dynamo lighting, and it is also one of the most comprehensive bicycle lighting dealers in the US. Harris Cyclery is another good shop with several dynamo lighting options. Candlepowerforums.com also has a subforum on LED bicycle lighting, but most of their stuff is directed towards the DIY enthusiast.

I'm currently running a shimano dynohub with an inoled headlight and a B & M tail light. It's a great night riding setup. And it's a major upgrade from the old sidewall bottle-type generator that it replaced. The output is considerably better, I'm not constantly replacing tail light bulbs, and it works in all conditions, unlike the sidewall generator that couldn't handle rain or snow.