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

I assume you're talking about LED lights?
Its likely they have a boost capacitor in line which will block DC.

Yes. More specifically, talking about the B&M Lumotec CYO. Or I might be swayed toward the Edelux. Either would likely be paired with a B&M taillight.

I suggest focusing on collecting higher power LED battery systems and a charger. There are just so many ultra cheap LED lights out there -that not using a couple - at as a trial is silly.

I don't want to shoot down Dyno -hubs - just point out that "several" cheap lights provide redundancy and safety as well or better that a single "always on drag" device.....

Never used one yourself sounds like. Both of my Shimano generator hubs you can not tell any drag when you ride it with out without the light one. You can only see it just spinning the wheel. Paired with my Cyo light I don't know of any cheap lights available that come even close to the useful and bright light output of the Shimano/Cyo setup. I have used and owned many battery powered lights (LED, HID, Halogen, etc) many of which cost $400+ for the light and the generator setup is better.

An addition to the above post: When I first got my generator setup I wanted a Cyo/ Edelux, Supernova to go with it, but couldn't afford it. I tried numerous battery powered lights and two other generator lights (Shimano's halogen and dual generator version of the PB Blaze light). It was all a waste of money when I should have just bought the light I wanted in the first place. The Single Cyo is a lot brighter than dual Blaze's with a better focus of light for actual riding.

You might consider the Dymotec6 bottle generator. I bought the Cyo and might someday splurge on a dynamo hub, but for now the bottle gen. @ $55 is great. Removable in the summer too.

I was able to locate a slightly used wheel today at a good price with SON20 dynamo, so I decided to take it. For me, the dynamo will provide big benefits on both the overnight brevets as well as the early morning commutes. I sometimes forget to charge my batteries for a few days when commuting. This will keep me from having to worry about exhausting my batteries on a dark road.

Thanks for all the good comments. After I get the lights, I'll probably test them on both the dynamo and the 5V DC source and report back here.

There is the option of using the B&M Ixon IQ with the Ride and Charge system to charge the batteries, once you get the dyno. It's not a regulated charger, so you can't leave it plugged in and charging all the time, but the battery life is rated at 5/20 hours (high/low). So a few hours of riding will give all the charge you need for the whole night of riding. Plus if the dyno were to die, AA's can be picked up at any corner store to get you home.

I used to use a SON but that was before LEDs etc. and it really wasn't that bright. How many lumens do hub generator lights put out these days?

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.

It's possible to charge 6 volt batteries from a normal dyno. You'd need a full-wave rectifier, possibly some capacitors, and a switch to take the battery loads out of the system at night - they would consume power that you'd like to have going to the lights.

The supernova E3 triple claims 680lm.
https://www.supernova-lights.com/en/e3_triple.html

I've made one that is around 800 (was too bright for the road) and theres brighter DIY ones out there. 1400lm should be achievable with the newer LEDs if your legs don't mind the extra work.

The only dynamo LED lights designed for dual dynamo & battery capability are the Inoled lights offered by Peter White Cycles. If others had dual capability I would think that the makers would mention it as a sales feature.

https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/inoled.asp

As far as output is concerned the latest version of the Supernova Triple claims 680 Lumens. The Light On Dynolight claims 375 Lumens and the British made Solidlights lists 340 Lumens. All of these do not reach maximum output until fairly high speeds are reached and need more than 3W for full output. The Solidlights light lists it's draw as 6W. The latest Supernova single LED light, the E3 Pro, claims 275 Lumens and reaches full output at relatively low speed with a hub dynamo.

The Solidlights XB2 dynamo LED light can also be purchased with a battery kit. The maker suggests this is a good way of using the light on a second bike without a dynohub.

Thanks for the info. Looks like this technology has arrived and I will look into it.

I run IQ-Cyo with rechargeable batteries, 2x18650 Li-ion in series. And because tension is tiny bit too high when batteries are full, i insert a 1N4001 1A diode between Cyo and the Li-ion batteries. It drops voltage in safe level.


Quote from Cyo manual :
Connection to rechargeable battery
If you connect the headlamp to a rechargeable battery (entirely at your own risk)
make sure to observe correct polarity, i.e. "plus" to the earth inlet and "minus" to
the current inlet. Maximum brightness is obtained at a voltage range between 7.2 and
7.5 V (7.5 V must not be exceeded).
Have fun and enjoy safe cycling with your "LUMOTEC IQ Cyo".