Philips LED bike light

[pdw]

(My previous reply seemed to get eaten by the new user moderation system)

Thanks for the replies. It occurred to me just after posting that it could be temperature sensor.

I assume that temperature isn't really an issue for these lights, even when run at 1A? The design of the light seems ideal for cooling, with the LEDs mounted directly on the large alu case.

[Norm]

(My previous reply seemed to get eaten by the new user moderation system)

You have no reply other than post #88. The current moderation system has been in place for a number of years.

Cheers Norm

[pdw]

I thought I'd share a few pics from my now converted LBL:







I didn't want to butcher the original PCB, and there wasn't enough room for the power socket so I decided to replace it completely.

I also decided to swap the mount for a Cateye one, as the Philips one is a bit bulky and is tricky to get the light on and off singlehanded.

Driver is a b2flex, powered by a 14.8V Lumicycle battery.

I'm very please with the end result - thanks for the inspiration to do this mod.

[Andrew38]

Hi pdw,
Have you tested what is your run-time on high after you have modified the light?
I'm trying to get about 6h on high rather than the disappointing 45min currently available.
HakanC mentioned that he expects 4-5hrs with the lflex and since your b2flex is more efficient, I was wondering if it would reach the 6h that I'm aiming for.
Thanks

[pdw]

I've not tested it, but my sums suggest that I should get 9.3 hours from my 4.4Ah battery. I think the battery is 8 x 18650. It's a few years old now, so probably wouldn't do 4.4Ah (if it ever did) but I'd expect to get 6 hours out of it comfortably.

b2flex driver should be 90% efficient with these voltages, so it'll draw 0.47A @ 14.8V which means that for 6 hours you'd need 2.8Ah batteries. You should be able to get that from 4 x 18650s these days.

[HakanC]

I thought I'd share a few pics from my now converted LBL

Nice looking modification.

Do you have any comments, since you have been using the light for a couple of weeks now?

HakanC mentioned that he expects 4-5hrs with the lflex

It is only a guesstimate, based on my 4,4AH battery and a 1A current, I have not used the light for such a long time.

[pdw]

Nice looking modification.

Do you have any comments, since you have been using the light for a couple of weeks now?

Thanks! I'm still very pleased with it. The extra light is worthwhile, and I've not had to worry about battery life at all. I only charge my battery once every few days, and I still haven't even had the "half full" light come on. I might increase the resistor value for the status LED - I set it for 20mA through each LED, but it's a little bright.

I use the Philips light in conjunction with a second light - an old Lumicycle halogen which was converted to a triple XPG running at 1A with an external switch which I use as a "full beam" light when there's no oncoming traffic. Despite the difference in power (around 1000 lumens from the XPG according to the datasheet), the Philip does at least as good a job of lighting up the road. Turning on the other light doesn't make a huge difference to how much road you can see, but does allow you to see a lot more outside of the patch of road that the Philips illuminates. The only "problem" is that doing this conversion inspired me to give the other light an upgrade so that's now a triple XM-L running at 1.5A

[GRAVELBIKE]

Hi pdw,
Have you tested what is your run-time on high after you have modified the light?
I'm trying to get about 6h on high rather than the disappointing 45min currently available.
HakanC mentioned that he expects 4-5hrs with the lflex and since your b2flex is more efficient, I was wondering if it would reach the 6h that I'm aiming for.
Thanks

Just curious, why not switch over to a dynamo-powered system? Philips does offer a version of the SafeRide that's generator-compatible.

[HakanC]

Just curious, why not switch over to a dynamo-powered system? Philips does offer a version of the SafeRide that's generator-compatible.

There is quite a difference between the battery powered 80 Lux Philips light and the 60 Lux dynamo light.

swhs has a lot more info about both lights, and many more, on his webpage:
Battery light: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html
Dynamo light: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html

/Håkan
SWEDEN

[GRAVELBIKE]

There is quite a difference between the battery powered 80 Lux Philips light and the 60 Lux dynamo light.

swhs has a lot more info about both lights, and many more, on his webpage:
Battery light: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html
Dynamo light: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tes.../index_en.html

/Håkan
SWEDEN

Thank you for those links. I just spent some time comparing the beamshots, and it appears that the 60 lux version is a bit like the IQ Cyo (ong, somewhat rectangular beam). I've been testing the 80 lux (battery) SafeRide, and the high beam is really, really good (even on dirt roads/trails). I just wish the run time were a bit longer.

[pdw]

I really want to like a dynamo solution, but for me it doesn't quite add up. The modded Philips light draws 7W, whereas I think dynamos are typically 3-5W. When I turn on my "main beam" light, the two together are drawing 22W, which is certainly out of reach of dynamos - and even if it wasn't, it's more than you'd want to pedal with. Obviously you don't *need* that much light, but it's fun Compared to my Li-Ion bottle battery, which isn't particularly heavy, recharges in a few hours, and will power the Philips light for 9 hours or so (or 13 if you ran it at 0.7A), the battery is much more practical.

[GRAVELBIKE]

I really want to like a dynamo solution, but for me it doesn't quite add up. The modded Philips light draws 7W, whereas I think dynamos are typically 3-5W. When I turn on my "main beam" light, the two together are drawing 22W, which is certainly out of reach of dynamos - and even if it wasn't, it's more than you'd want to pedal with. Obviously you don't *need* that much light, but it's fun Compared to my Li-Ion bottle battery, which isn't particularly heavy, recharges in a few hours, and will power the Philips light for 9 hours or so (or 13 if you ran it at 0.7A), the battery is much more practical.

Thanks, that makes sense.

[HakanC]

Thank you for those links. I just spent some time comparing the beamshots, and it appears that the 60 lux version is a bit like the IQ Cyo (ong, somewhat rectangular beam). I've been testing the 80 lux (battery) SafeRide, and the high beam is really, really good (even on dirt roads/trails).

I bought the 60 Lux dynamo Philips-light for my wife to use on her commuter bike.
She likes it a lot, but she only commutes on well lit roads and don't ride very fast (the bike is an old heavy MTB)
We have ridden together and I have compared her light with my modified Phlips-light (from 80 - 90 Lux to 115 - 125 Lux) and the difference is easily noticed.

I just wish the run time were a bit longer.

+1!

Here in Europe Philips have annonced a new light, with longer run time, up to 5 hours, and dual lightbeams


Philips Activeride


See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

http://www.philips.co.uk/c/bicycle%2...ar800dbx1/prd/

Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQJjSYwHEcQ

But the Activeride is not available yet, and it seems to be expensive, too expensive for me at least
189,90 € here
http://www.bike24.de/1.php?lang=2;co...043cd1254b654d


Personally I am more looking forward to the new B&M Luxos dynamo light
It seeam to have a good light beam, and a integrated USB charger.
119,00 €, but it is not available yet
http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8...;product=38291


/Håkan
SWEDEN

[GRAVELBIKE]

I bought the 60 Lux dynamo Philips-light for my wife to use on her commuter bike.
She likes it a lot, but she only commutes on well lit roads and don't ride very fast (the bike is an old heavy MTB)
We have ridden together and I have compared her light with my modified Phlips-light (from 80 - 90 Lux to 115 - 125 Lux) and the difference is easily noticed.


+1!

Here in Europe Philips have annonced a new light, with longer run time, up to 5 hours, and dual lightbeams


Philips Activeride


See Rule #3 Do not Hot Link images. Please host on an image site, Imageshack or similar and repost – Thanks Norm

http://www.philips.co.uk/c/bicycle%2...ar800dbx1/prd/

Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQJjSYwHEcQ

But the Activeride is not available yet, and it seems to be expensive, too expensive for me at least
189,90 € here
http://www.bike24.de/1.php?lang=2;co...043cd1254b654d


Personally I am more looking forward to the new B&M Luxos dynamo light
It seeam to have a good light beam, and a integrated USB charger.
119,00 €, but it is not available yet
http://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8...;product=38291


/Håkan
SWEDEN

That's good information--thanks.

I just compared the SafeRide to my IQ Cyo N plus, and the Philips is much better. Not sure whether to replace the Lumotec with the dynamo version of the SafeRide, or wait for the version with the external battery pack.

[HakanC]

Rosebikes now have sale on Gen 1 of the Philips battery light, 47 €
http://www.roseversand.com/article/p...set/aid:409750


/Håkan
SWEDEN

[Andrew38]

I've been meaning to post this after completing the mod also using a b2flex but kept being distracted.
I tried to reuse the switch and the indicator LEDs on the original Philips SafeRide. This turned out to be a mistake.
For some reason, the LEDs cause the b2flex as if the SWA/SWB to be shorted (ie switch closed; you notice this from the fact that the b2flex goes into programming mode but are unable to make menu selections).
I thought the board was defective and sent it back but they found it to be ok and returned it.
When I did a step-by-step reconnection, I discovered that the b2flex worked until I re-connected the LEDs (when I experienced the original symptoms).
I am using the light without indicator LEDs and have programmed it to provide voltage warning status.