Bike Forums - View Single Post - Can you run dynamo lighting with batteries?

12-12-09 | 10:10 PM

#11

Road Fan

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Joined: Apr 2005

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From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Quote:

Originally Posted by kk4df

I'm eventually planning to purchase both a dynamo front wheel and lighting, but cannot afford both right now. Can I get the lighting first, and run them off a 5V or 6V DC battery source until I can afford the new wheel? Or is this a bad idea, and I should just wait.

Thanks,
Walter

The dyno can be used to charge some 6 volt or so batteries, but not a 12 volt. You'll need a full wave rectifier and possibly some capacitors. But I'm not that sure it makes sense for lighting batteries. I think it really makes sense for navi and phone batteries. I'd want to be able to switch the electronics charging loads out of the system at night - they could require all 3 watts when charging.

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