Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - MR16 Based light system

I wanted to do an MR16 based light system. It seemed reasonable with a large selection of bulbs at good prices. I started out to do my own housing with ABS plastic parts from the Home Depot plumbing aisle. In the end I went with off the shelf MR16 based fog lights from the local auto parts store. i bought one set and then went back for a second set (the same day) and they had already changed them to a H3 based set up. I decided I could make it work.

So here is a picture of my arrangement.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef010534c08075970b-800wi

So right now I only have one mr16 halogen. A 37W 10 degree spot from GE. On the right is a 5W CFL. That is my low power "get home" bulb. Then I bought a 25W H3 bulb and the 50W H3 that the fog light came with.

For those of you playing along at home that gives me 17 possible combinations.

:eek: :eek: More pics of that bike, please :o

Here is a better picture of the bike:

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/09/07/wetbike.jpg

I found a 25W H3 bulb online. so now I have a 5W CFL, 25W halogen, 37W and 55W. That should give me lots of options.

I also use MR16 lights, but have moved over to the LED camp. I have a 3 x 1W LED MR16 (http://autolumination.com/mr16.htm) that really lights up the road with nice long run-time. I have using this style of lighting for about 3 years and it holds up well to the weather and the daily grind. For the enclosure, I have been calling Optronics directly and ordering the QH-7CC from them (phone order only, but helpful and fast). http://www.optronicsinc.com/competition.htm

Those fixtures are very similar to the one I bought. I would be interested in knowing the LED 3X mr16 bulb you are using. I was considering those as my "get home" light. right now I have that 5W CFL but that may not really be very effective.

I am using this one (http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/mr16_3x1w_cw_wm.jpg) MR16 12 Volt 3 x 1 Watt Wide Angle Super Bright LED for $21.99 ea.

These LED bulbs are slightly longer that the standard MR16; I had to modify the QH-7CC housing so the retaining ring would hold the bulb in. I removed the MR16 pin socket in the back of the metal housing, and used a appropriately sized deep socket (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/2008-03-31_Deep_metric_sockets_on_rail.jpg)and hammer to pound the socket housing backwards about 1/8".

The beam throw is ok with these bulbs (they are flood not spot)--the single 3W LED MR16 have a greater range. I have left my bike light on and walked about 4 houses down my street (about 300 ft.) and was very pleased with the 'presence' the light projects--you can't miss them. Recommended.

Thanks. I will look into those for my low watt bulb. I saw some online that were a spot. I have been reading that the spots are much better at projecting light out. And a fair amount of spill light is a good thing too.

I saw one today that claimed 120 lumens. (for a single 3W). I don't know how much I can modify my fixtures, but I can try. There are some LEDs out there that stick out a long ways, so they wouldn't work with my fixtures.

I don't know what to say about your bike there. It's totally awesome in a freaky, "Muahahahahaaa" way, if you get my meaning :) Does the windshield/bubble really work to repel rain? It seems pretty open on the sides. Or is there some other reason for it? Any plans for a windshield-wiper? I mean, might as well go all out, right?

Almost edit -- I just looked over your blog. Love the piano float idea :thumb:

I need to get a little road time in the rain to see how the fairing works. It is wide enough to give me a lot of protection from the wind and rain. I am considering a windshield wiper. The flat windshield will make that pretty easy.

I am glad you took the time to look at my blog. The black enamel paint worked great on the dashboard for the bike.

I hooked everything up this weekend. I installed a 15 amp fuse. I was demonstrating the dashboard to my father-in-law and pressed the horn button (which I knew I hooked up wrong but hadn't fixed yet) and everything went out. So basically I did a fuse test and it worked.

Here is a picture of the backside of the dashboard. You can see the fuse holder and the 12V outlet (at the top). So I will be able to plug in accessories or my Garmin or cell phone.

But there really are a lot of wires.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef010534e15b97970b-pi

I dunno but you might find Nova's BULL Lumiare of interest as your get-me-home light. It's not MR16 and not as cheap, but it's weatherproof, nicely made, and has a broad horizontal beam with a sharp cutoff. Plus it's dimmable in 8 steps, you'd just need a momentary-contact switch to cycle the settings. About 220 lumens max. http://www.strobe.com/component/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,32/page,shop.product_details/flypage,nova_flypage/product_id,18/category_id,7/manufacturer_id,0/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=32&page=shop.product_details&flypage=nova_flypage&product_id=18&category_id=7&manufacturer_id=0&vmcchk=1

I have a red strobe model as a tailstrobe on one of my bikes. It'll run on 9.6 to 16 volts, so even if your 12V batteries are starting to sag, it'll keep its head above water for a while.

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff237/mechBgon/bull.jpg
the BULL beam pattern. sort of like a fog light.

I finally got the wiring done so I can see how the lights look.

I still haven't tried them at night but they look pretty bright even at dusk.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef01053513c169970b-800wi

That is the 5W CFL on the right and the 55W halogen fog light on the left.

I need to get a little road time in the rain to see how the fairing works. It is wide enough to give me a lot of protection from the wind and rain. I am considering a windshield wiper. The flat windshield will make that pretty easy.

I am glad you took the time to look at my blog. The black enamel paint worked great on the dashboard for the bike.
This will fix you up.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/G_12004G_CL_1.jpg
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductBrowse?storeId=10101&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2002004&productId=2002004&catalogId=10101&N=111%2B10201%2B600003806&rlid=group_listing
Just drill one hole and install. I used one on a motorcycle windshield years ago. It worked fine.

This will fix you up.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/G_12004G_CL_1.jpg
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductBrowse?storeId=10101&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2002004&productId=2002004&catalogId=10101&N=111%2B10201%2B600003806&rlid=group_listing
Just drill one hole and install. I used one on a motorcycle windshield years ago. It worked fine.

Hey great find. I looked at JC Whitney and didn't find that.

same wiper, lower price, or so it appears

http://www.carparts.com/HAND-OPERATED-WIPER-ARM-BLADE/GP_2002004_N__10618.car

Or better yet, here is an electric kit with motor, arm, switch, etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JEEP-CJ-CJ2A-CJ3A-CJ3-UNIVERSAL-WIPER-MOTOR-KIT-12V-NEW_W0QQitemZ250301806135QQcmdZViewItem

You guys are great. I like both of those. The ebay power unit looks like one that JC Whitney also carries, but I think the price is better.

I like the manual version. We really are the inspiration for the intermittant wiper here in Western Washington.

If I go with a powered unit I might hit the junk yards for a SUV read wiper. I already wired an extra "accessory" switch into my dashboard.

Ok I ordered the manual wiper. I think actual rain won't be too much of a problem, but that damp ground fog down by the river may just stick to my windshield like it does my glasses. A wipe every couple of minutes should handle it.

Inadvertent battery test. I rode the bike today. I went about 1.5 miles and hit a top speed of 27.7 mph. There was a pretty good wind and although it did slow me down the bike stayed stable. When I was done I forgot and left the 5W CFL on. I came back almost 3 hours later and it was still running and the voltage was only down to 12.3V.


I need to do some run time test. I have a feeling the 55W bulb is just too much of a load. I may replace it with the spare 25W bulb I bought. Then I can run the 2 25W bulbs if I want 50W.

I have everything working now and went out at dark to aim and test the lights.

Here is a picture of the 37W light. the pictures really don't do it justice.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef0105354ba1e3970c-800wi

I did my first actual commute today on the Rain Bike.

Here is a video of my climb up Lowell Hill. (15% grade at this point)

I don't know if I am allowed to embed a youtube video into a post. but here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc4bC56aE44

I got the wiper and installed it. It is really cool. I will review it when I get a ride in the rain.

Here is how it looks mounted on my windshield:

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef010535781e61970c-800wi

I rode the Rain Bke to work yesterday. It was the first complete ride and full test of the lights. I find the 20W bulb is plenty most of the time. I can use the 37W when I want to look a little further down the road.

So yesterday I ran the 20W the whole way and ran the 37W just a little at the end to put a load on the battery. i started at 12.5V and after 1.5 hours I was at 10V. Of course by then the sun was coming up and I didn't need as much light.

So the run time is plenty for my commute. 95 minutes to work and 75 minutes home. So I have the spare battery at work and all charged up.

It seems to working out pretty good and only $15 for each battery.

I must have missed it in the thread, what are you using for a battery pack. If you are using either N-CD or Mi-MH, do not pull it down more than 1 volt per cell. ie 12 volt battery pack = 10 cells, do not pull the pack down past 10 volts or you run the risk of ruining your pack. You run the risk of causing reverse polarity on the weakest cell.

I am using a 6Ah SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) battery. Here is a picture if it on the bike.

http://wrightideas.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341d111053ef01053513b26c970b-800wi

Have you weighed your bike with all your accessories on? That sucker must be up around 75Lbs.

Nice setup though.

It should be ok to pull the SLA battery down below 10 volts, just make sure you recharge right away.

I figure I have added about 20 pounds. So I would be surprised if the total was over 55 pounds.

Battery is 4.2. The lexan is 9.

So I sized the battery for my commute. I can run my light just long enough to get there. So for a lead acid battery this is about the lightest I could go. I didn't want to spend the extra money for NiMh or Li-ion.

Plus the lead acid can take a heavy load (like when I honk my horn).

i finally got some rain on the rain bike. it was the first time I actually got to try out the wiper. It worked but didn't make contact over its whole length. I think I might be able to bend the metal part to create a little curve.

I've seen those 5W MR16 CFL's at the store and wondered about their longevity. How long have you had it on the bike & what do you think of it?

I've seen those 5W MR16 CFL's at the store and wondered about their longevity. How long have you had it on the bike & what do you think of it?

I had it on the bike for about 1.5 minutes. The light is really to diffuse to be useful.