My Bike Light

weedle256

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
122
Location
San Jose
Well I finally got this finished!

1 shiny Mag
1 Shoppe Shark
3 Lux III
9.6v of NiMH power
350,000 hours in the machine shop (seems like it...)

equals one bike light... priceless

5_bike1.jpg


And it even works! :rock:
8_bike4.jpg


Decided that I really didn't need the body...
6_bike2.jpg


Most of the time devoted to this was to make the handle bar clamp. It started off as a solid 2" bar and wound up looking like this...

I've learned that it takes much less time to use a drill bit than a lathe
to make a hole...

Notice that the bottom of the head has been machined down to match the top of the mount.

And a little bit of heat srink to protect the bike.
1_side.jpg


And the mounting holes so it all stays together.
2_bottom.jpg


Also makes a handy table lamp :grin2:
3_power.jpg


(Thanks to Modamag for all his help!!!!!!!)
 

Icarus

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 1, 2003
Messages
3,495
Location
Belgium
:goodjob: I especially like the clamp! Very nice! :thumbsup:
 

jch79

**Do Not Feed The Vegan**,
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
3,661
Location
On the asphalt.
Wow! That's the shortest cutdown Mag I've ever seen! :laughing:

Very cool concept and execution, Weedle! :thumbsup:

john
 

modamag

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
2,101
Location
Bay Area, CA
Wow! It's finally finished and working w/o a hitch.
Congrats weedle.
Are you now ready for the next challenge? ... ?
 

Weylan

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 2, 2005
Messages
356
Location
Fremont, CA
So does it provide enough light and is it bright enough after all the work? I am considering doing something similar but may just deal with 2C size and clamp.
 

weedle256

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
Messages
122
Location
San Jose
I haven't ridden with it yet, but it sure lights up the road 30 to 40 feet in front of me. I could see that it threw light 1/2 a block away. It would be enough to light up a deer, car, or other rider that far away. It's nice... the spot fills the road and the spill is enough you can see everything in front of you.

Must be time to go for a ride and take the camera!

I did quite a bit of looking for a mount that I would trust with my light... in the end, I didn't find one that looked like it would keep hold of a 2D Mag light.
 

bwaites

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 27, 2003
Messages
5,035
Location
Central Washington State
I made essentially this setup for my son, running 3 TWOJ's at 750ma.

He is VERY happy with it. In fact, he reports that where he is now, the streetlights are almost bright enough, and he doesn't have to use it very often.

I wish I had thought of using just the head, but he has the option of using it like a flashlight still, so I guess it is all good!

Bill
 

nightrider

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
221
Location
NW Florida
Nice light! :goodjob:

I hate to say this but, "Now replace those Lux IIIs with some Cree XR-Es and it will be a lot brighter and use less juice!" :)
 

cratz2

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 6, 2003
Messages
3,947
Location
Central IN
Awesome!

I think I'd just try a single Cree vs the three Luxes... I think I can handle everything but the backing plate. Is that a salvaged part or did you machine it?

Very nice work... Seems just about ideal. I think I'd use 4 D cells and run the Cree at about 400mA.
 

yellow

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
4,629
Location
Baden.at
same question concerning the back:

what is this?
Looks like it is anodized in the light heads color.
How is it fixed to the head?
 

KingSmono

Enlightened
Joined
Feb 11, 2004
Messages
923
Location
Sunshine State
yellow said:
same question concerning the back:

what is this?
Looks like it is anodized in the light heads color.
How is it fixed to the head?

It looks to me like it's just the tailcap from the 2D Maglight... Not positive though.

Good job weedle! Now post some "beamshots"! :)
 

cratz2

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 6, 2003
Messages
3,947
Location
Central IN
KingSmono said:
It looks to me like it's just the tailcap from the 2D Maglight... Not positive though.

Good job weedle! Now post some "beamshots"! :)

Actually, that way my guess... but I can't tell if it's recessed into the head or if the tailcap itself is cut down.
 
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