daven1986

Hi,

Am planning to use:

Hub Dynamo: Either Shimano or SON
Front: Lumotec IQ Cyo N plus
Rear: DToplightXS plus

Battery:
Front: Hope Vision 2 LED
Rear: Dinotte 140L tail light

I was going to go dinotte for both both front and back but the Hope Vision seems much better for just a little more. I am going to use them all year round for commuting, with the hub dynamo lights to see where I am going and the battery lights to make me visible to cars - I will have them on flash.

A fairly expensive setup I think, but should work very nicely.

Any opinions? I can't find a decent review of the rear DToplightXS so if anyone knows what they are like that'd be great. Same with the Hope Vision front light.

Thanks

Daven

Unknown Cyclist

Here's an opinion:

1) Consider making your own dynamo headlight.
2) Don't bother with a dynamo rear light - fit a PBSF.
3) Buy a Q5 or P7 torch as your battery headlight.
4) Buy a high power red LED torch as your rear light.
5) Add a helmet light.

Advantages: lower cost and more light

Disadvantages: none

daven1986

I did think of building my own, but I am not really that great at all that. If I could get some kind of pre-built housing and then put my own LEDs and circuit in it, then fine. But I am poor at machining housing etc! I guess I can do electronics though (just!). Also I would be worried about the reliablility of it. I have a Q5 torch but can't use it on flash mode as it is too fast for the road really. Do you have a link to a red torch? I thought the dinotte uses good optics for visibility? I do want to have some kind of backup rear light so would probably get either the toplight or perhaps the supernova rear light. If I made a headlight then I'd want a 12v SON hub to try and get plenty of lumens (would like in the 500-1000 range). But perhaps this would mean I can't run a dynamo head light! Thanks Daven

Unknown Cyclist

Triple LED Headlight

Red LED Torch

Thread about the red LED torch

Why not go for a Superflash or a Bspoke - both are very good VFM and quality.

Not sure what you mean by this ? Are you asking if you won't be able to use LEDs ?

daven1986

Oh lol, my bad I meant "But perhaps this would mean I can't run a dynamo TAIL light"!! Although thinking about it if I use 3 cree LEDs at 3.7v each there should be enough voltage left over for a little tail light

Hmm seems that the Schmidt 12v dynohub isn't available so scrap that idea anyway!

What is the throw like on the light you built (the helmet light)? Does it light up the road ahead so you can see potholes etc?

Might go for a superflash as well as a fixed dynohub taillight - can't have too many! Also the torch looks good for $10 might try it out!

Thanks

Unknown Cyclist

Hub dynamos are more of a fixed current device than a fixed voltage device - a 6V dynamo can easily provide enough voltage to power 3 Cree LEDs.


I've built several helmet lights and each time I've thought the throw was very good.

I also thought it was ok on my Sigma cycle light and Bikehut Luxeon cycle light (upgraded to Cree).

Then I tried an Ultrafire Q5 WF-606A.........

I'm not sure what the implications of running a separate tail light might be along with a custom headlight - have a look at pilom for circuit designs (which seem to have tail lights integrated) and wait for other advice to magically appear on this thread.

daven1986

Thanks for the help. I have been thinking about the dynohub, and figured that if I put the money I'd have spent on the hubs and lights towards either pre-built battery powered lights or building my own battery powered lights I would get many more lumens. I can then build custom rear lights and head lights I think this would be a better option, what do you think? Thanks

Unknown Cyclist

If you want lots of light as cheaply as possible, buy a P7 torch for a headlight, buy the red LED as a rear light, fit a bspoke for redundancy.

If you decide you want more light later on you can:

* add another blinky
* add another P7
* use a Q5 as a helmet light

Buy torches if you want to, fit a dynohub if you want to, build stuff if you want to, no one can tell you what you want to do, you have to decide that.

daven1986

Thanks I guess this thread can be scrapped now!