Patrol LED Lights

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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this may be way to ambitious for me to even consider but I am interested in giving this a shot so any help would be appreciated. Even if you just call me nuts. :laughing:
I am looking to build our own flashing led lights for our bike patrol. I am not happy with the ones I can find on the net and think I should be able to put together something better and cheaper myself. Of course, since I have not experience with this I am just guessing but from what I have read it seems plausible.
I am looking to build something that is bright enough to be seen from half and mile or more away. It needs to flash quickly. Also needs to be mounted on handlebars or rear rack and stand up to the test of lots of riding in sometimes difficult situations. Will need to have alternating red and blue lights. Battery operation can be water bottle 12 volt type if necessary.
here is an example of one that would model it after....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY1GFYZaMTk&feature=channel

I have no experience in this area and I know this is probably nuts to want to tackle. Am I off base for what I think can be accomplished? I am sure it can be done for cheaper than what I find on the net.
Let me know what else I can answer for you. And thanks for the help.
 

greenLED

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kramer, maybe if you posted in the Homemade section; that's where most of the builders/modders hang out.
 

Linger

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Should really be simple enough.:thumbsup:
For example, 2 red emitters in series for front and two to the back, connected to a simple driver. Repeat with 2 blue emitters in series to driver for front, same for the back. Most drivers have several strobe, even 'Police Strobe' modes.
If you have access to someone who can solder leads on a circuit board (likely yourself), you can get this project done.
You'll need to post some boundaries, ideas for cases or level of customization you want. For example you could put this package in an off the shelf light, or build it from scratch.
Budget? $30 or $200 really determines how bright this will be. I imagine run-time isn't a huge issue as strobe doubles / triples run-time and you won't have them on with-out a reason.
 

znomit

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The new multicolour MC-E would be perfect for this.
MCE_color_100.jpg
 

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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Should really be simple enough.:thumbsup:
For example, 2 red emitters in series for front and two to the back, connected to a simple driver. Repeat with 2 blue emitters in series to driver for front, same for the back. Most drivers have several strobe, even 'Police Strobe' modes.
If you have access to someone who can solder leads on a circuit board (likely yourself), you can get this project done.
You'll need to post some boundaries, ideas for cases or level of customization you want. For example you could put this package in an off the shelf light, or build it from scratch.
Budget? $30 or $200 really determines how bright this will be. I imagine run-time isn't a huge issue as strobe doubles / triples run-time and you won't have them on with-out a reason.

100$ or less would be my starting point. I want red and blue in the front (rear is optional at this point until pricing, etc is figured). Atleast 2 emitters of each color in the front, I think at most would be 4.
 

Linger

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Probably a set of red / blue emiters of each side of your handle bar then (at work so I can't check that youtube video). You could basically use something like a waterproof (clear) otterbox or pelican case. Just plop the driver and emiter inside, you don't need any reflector / optic so it can just shine through the case. The emiters shouldn't need to much for heat sinking b/c they'll be strobing not constant on. Or salvage any clear bike light casing.

To actually do this you may want to start with finding your driver.

The option I mentioned is to have two drivers ($3 - $5 from KD), one for each colour. Each driver has memory so it resumes the last mode, in this case strobe. The timing (of the pulses) should be the same as the driver is identical, so you need to learn the interval of turning on one, then the next, so the pulses alternate. Easy, not elequent.

I haven't looked, so you may be able to find a driver that will alternately flash two channels (two outputs, your blue and your red lights).

You may be able to have someone program you two simple boards so that one driver misses the first half of the pulse cycle, the two boards naturaly syncopate when power is applied.

As a proof of concept, I know there are bi-colour alternating 5mm led's that sell for $1 (or less in bulk) so the tech is simple and accessable. You just need to find it in the right output.

the multi colour mc-e is interesting but might cost the same as a complete (budget) system.

You might ask a mod to move this as greenLED suggested, or just wait for more posts. I make my own bike lights, but you should get more opinions for making yours.
 

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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negotiating the pages of LEDs and parts at some of the stores is quite overwhelming. would you mind providing a link to a store that you would recommend, to help me out? There are so many places to go its hard to tell which are the better ones to trust.
we keep everything so I was thinking we may have an old bike light casing around that we could use for this. I have to check closer though.
 

Linger

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You're gonna have to get comfortable with searching. Lots of cpf posts describing the parts you can use. Also, the top of the bike forum has a sticky with lots of diy builds.

I'm presuming you're in north america you may prefer Canadian / American suppliers.
http://ledsupply.com/k2.php
An option for cheap reds and blues.
Led supply has a reputation of providing helpful support to diy'ers.

Also
http://www.luxeonstar.com/luxeon-rebels-c-28.php?zenid=6u55mpr3cbtir0bc033g6eck64
rebels are incredibly small (thus easy to fit in many places)
http://www.luxeonstar.com/luxeon-leds-by-color-c-54.php

http://www.luxeonstar.com/buckpuck-700ma-ac-led-driver-pcb-mount-p-28.php
expensive Driver with strobe but canadian supplier and canadian tech support :)

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26107
Cheap driver board. This was what i had in mind with the first option. A red set, and a blue set, turn one on slightly after the other to syncopate the strobing.
 

Quasar72

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Dec 7, 2008
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whelen TIR6 have two of them on the rear of my commute bike powered by a dewalt cordless drill battery 14.4 volt.
 

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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an interesting idea. you put the battery in a bag or attach it somehow?
 

herulach

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Jul 13, 2008
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nightlightning do a 'patrol' version of their headlights, I imagine they could set you up something with their 'aftablasta' rear light. Might be worth a quick mail over there, they'd probably do you a decent deal for a few of them.
 

guardpost3

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Downeast Maine
do you already have the battery pack? if you do then you can grab a pair of sound off signal LED3 mini lights, they are really small so you could mount them anywhere and they are extremely bright (see avatar). i have six of them on my jeep. i have even powered one off a common 9V battery for almost an hour.

sirennet has them for $45 each
http://www.sirennet.com/soel3sn.html
 

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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nightlightning do a 'patrol' version of their headlights, I imagine they could set you up something with their 'aftablasta' rear light. Might be worth a quick mail over there, they'd probably do you a decent deal for a few of them.

i am going to email them to see what they say. Thanks for the tip.
 

kramer

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Apr 29, 2007
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do you already have the battery pack? if you do then you can grab a pair of sound off signal LED3 mini lights, they are really small so you could mount them anywhere and they are extremely bright (see avatar). i have six of them on my jeep. i have even powered one off a common 9V battery for almost an hour.

sirennet has them for $45 each
http://www.sirennet.com/soel3sn.html

how would you say these compare with the federal signal impaxx lights?
http://www.fedsig.com/products/index.php?id=270
they look fairly similar on the basics.
 
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