C&V compatible looks in a dyno light?
11-20-17, 10:46 PM
#26
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here's the schematic....
and a photo of the circuit board(s)
this is my Powers bike with LED standlight (circa 2000 or somewhat later)
The standlight is below the headlight... about the same height as the canti brakes. It mounts to a boss on the fork.
and a close-up shot with standlight near the top
as the schematic indicates, although perhaps not clearly, there are two banks of LEDs wired in parallel, and this parallel bank of LEDs is wired in series with the dynamo and headlight.
One bank of parallel LEDs serves as the taillight, while the other functions as a marker light at the front. Electrically, the yellow LEDs of the marker light create a voltage drop of about 1.5 volts (IIRC), which is used to charge the nicad AA cell.
The bank of red LEDs does make a nice tail light, but could be replaced with a simple power diode (either silicon or schottky) if the tail light isn't desired.
These were designed for use with a headlight that uses 0.5A. The Reflectalight bulb draws quite a bit less, I think. The reduced current through the yellow LEDs will mean that less voltage is developed across the LEDs, which will reduce the charge voltage of the nicad. There are ways to address this...
I've updated the headlight on this bike in the last 3 years or so, changing a fair bit, but still using the boost circuit. The taillight uses the same standlight circuit, and has been running for 10 years or so. The nicad survives this long because it is charged quite gently, but I'm impressed that I've gotten this long of a life from it.
Steve in Peoria
and a photo of the circuit board(s)
this is my Powers bike with LED standlight (circa 2000 or somewhat later)
The standlight is below the headlight... about the same height as the canti brakes. It mounts to a boss on the fork.
and a close-up shot with standlight near the top
as the schematic indicates, although perhaps not clearly, there are two banks of LEDs wired in parallel, and this parallel bank of LEDs is wired in series with the dynamo and headlight.
One bank of parallel LEDs serves as the taillight, while the other functions as a marker light at the front. Electrically, the yellow LEDs of the marker light create a voltage drop of about 1.5 volts (IIRC), which is used to charge the nicad AA cell.
The bank of red LEDs does make a nice tail light, but could be replaced with a simple power diode (either silicon or schottky) if the tail light isn't desired.
These were designed for use with a headlight that uses 0.5A. The Reflectalight bulb draws quite a bit less, I think. The reduced current through the yellow LEDs will mean that less voltage is developed across the LEDs, which will reduce the charge voltage of the nicad. There are ways to address this...
I've updated the headlight on this bike in the last 3 years or so, changing a fair bit, but still using the boost circuit. The taillight uses the same standlight circuit, and has been running for 10 years or so. The nicad survives this long because it is charged quite gently, but I'm impressed that I've gotten this long of a life from it.
Steve in Peoria
11-21-17, 02:09 PM
#27
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I threw mine out a year or two ago. I hadn't used it since it was new.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-21-17, 02:55 PM
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11-21-17, 05:17 PM
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well, now I just feel a bit bad for still having mine. 
I did use it for a number of years, though.
I pulled out recently to reverse engineer it, just for fun.
I ended up playing with the circuit and coming up with a low power flasher that runs from two AAAA alkaline cells (these are the cells found in a 9V battery)
The LED is a 5mm red LED, just to give a sense of scale.
Steve in Peoria (yes, I'm easily amused!)
I did use it for a number of years, though.
I pulled out recently to reverse engineer it, just for fun.
I ended up playing with the circuit and coming up with a low power flasher that runs from two AAAA alkaline cells (these are the cells found in a 9V battery)
The LED is a 5mm red LED, just to give a sense of scale.
Steve in Peoria (yes, I'm easily amused!)
11-21-17, 07:21 PM
#30
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Nice work, Steve! The one mod I did to my Belt Beacon was to mount it to the rear of a Blackburn rack. To do that, I pulled out the bolt that attaches the belt bracket and essentially just drove in a wood screw of some sort. Never did fit very securely.
11-22-17, 08:33 AM
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Technology has marched forward, and even the crappiest LED taillight would be an improvement over the Belt Beacon. Still, I haven't had the heart to send mine to the landfill (minus the circuit board with the lead/tin solder). If the L' Eroica rides ever offer a night ride, I'll be all set with vintage lighting!
Steve in Peoria
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