Originally Posted by
Doohickie
What is typical of a bottle generator for an old 3-speed? 6V? I measure 13-14, rolling at moderate speed, on mine (if I recall correctly). I think this was loaded (light bulb on). Or is 6V just a nominal and the system is designed to run at a higher voltage?
6v models were (and are) much more common, but 12v models were made as well. If you examine the generator closely, you should see it marked either way. If you've got a 12v generator, in some ways you're in luck -- you can use LED bulbs that were made for 12v car systems and they'll be brighter than they would be on a 6v system. I had a thread about my adventures in updating old Raleigh 3-speed lights, here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...dynohub-lights
Since then, I actually got a friend in Germany to send me a couple of the rear-led-bulbs-with-built-in-standlight -- they work great, so far! Unfortunately, the seller won't ship to North America. No equivalent headlamp bulb is available,
AFAIK.
I've got a vintange-headlamp-with-serious-LEDs-and-standlight project on the back burner; it looks like it'll be a pain to build.