seanspotatobusiness
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
- Messages
- 81
I would like to make a set of lights based on LEDs and powered by a bottle dynamo (I don't believe a hub dynamo is sufficiently superior to warrant the expense and hassle) with a battery between which can be charged during the day to help drive the LEDs at night.
There are circuits at this website which get pretty complicated but they're all about driving a number of LEDs directly whereas I've been advised to use an LED driver and in addition, I want to use a battery.
I don't want a manual switch for choosing between the bridge rectifier and Greinacher voltage doubler and I don't want the complication of the automatic switch either. Since I usually ride at 13-23 km/h, can I just use the voltage doubler? Then I could use a 6v dynamo to charge a 12v battery (either a NiCd battery pack or sealed lead acid) and in turn drive a few power LEDs via driver off eBay. My technology teacher at school always used to say "keep it simple, stupid!".
My proposed circuits:
(I'm sorry for the quality; I've tried about 10 different programs this morning and none have been easy to work with - this one was easiest but that really, really doesn't say much).
There are circuits at this website which get pretty complicated but they're all about driving a number of LEDs directly whereas I've been advised to use an LED driver and in addition, I want to use a battery.
I don't want a manual switch for choosing between the bridge rectifier and Greinacher voltage doubler and I don't want the complication of the automatic switch either. Since I usually ride at 13-23 km/h, can I just use the voltage doubler? Then I could use a 6v dynamo to charge a 12v battery (either a NiCd battery pack or sealed lead acid) and in turn drive a few power LEDs via driver off eBay. My technology teacher at school always used to say "keep it simple, stupid!".
My proposed circuits:
![bikelights.png](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imagehost.org%2F0750%2Fbikelights.png&hash=c01004123c2482fe69765c451f558530)
(I'm sorry for the quality; I've tried about 10 different programs this morning and none have been easy to work with - this one was easiest but that really, really doesn't say much).