Recent content by GlowBike

fenix-store
  1. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Finally got this done a couple weeks ago. Front hub is the Sturmey-Archer X-FDD (drum brake/dynamo). Light is the $8 4-LED MR16 unit that I mentioned above, mounted in a venerable Optronics housing using two L-brackets from Ikea that I had lying around. Shroud is cut from an old water bottle...
  2. G

    Best voltage for P60 flashlight modded w/external pack?

    I guess not everyone has the same experience. I find the high setting to be MUCH brighter than medium. Maybe your XM-L is overheating on high, reducing its output. I do find medium (XP-G level output) to be generally sufficient for riding in dry conditions, but (at least for my middle aged...
  3. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    FWIW, I finally got around to posting pics of my existing nailbender XM-L based setup on the "show us your ..." thread.
  4. G

    Show us your bike light set-up

    Seems right for me to contribute to this thread, after all the free advice I've gotten here. I've built a couple of DIY halogen projects in the past, and upgraded to LED last year. This one's pretty simple, with a P60 drop-in flashlight module from CPF's own nailbender in an old TurboCat...
  5. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Thanks, good to know. I think I'm going to start with an XPG, a white XPE and a red XPE from ledsupply, the classic simple DIY using square aluminum tubing and Carclo optics. At first I was intimidated by even this much DIY, but after more research I'm pretty comfortable with it. I also have...
  6. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    I think they're all AC these days (Schmidt, Sanyo, Shimano, modern Sturmey-Archers like the X-FDD that I'm getting ... hey, they all start with "S", just like mattress companies. Weird). Anyway, that's why all the circuits on pilom.com have bridge rectifiers in them.
  7. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    I think I will KISS and not have a battery in the circuit. I do also have a PT EOS on my helmet as backup (and also an EDC light on my keychain), so I've always got a light source for roadside repairs if something also goes wrong with the genlight. Also, this is America: I'm doing battle with...
  8. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Well, I've decided. I'm going to go dynamo. Will be ordering the wheelset today. About time too, because my usual commuter bike has been out of commission for 6 weeks while I've been dithering on this decision. I am at least confident that a dynamo light will provide enough light for fast...
  9. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Good point that hand spinning the wheel may simply not be fast enough to achieve reasonable brightness. Which makes the in-store display kind of pointless because it makes the generator lights look pretty embarrassing, at least if you compare them to battery lights in the store. The lights I...
  10. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Thanks again for all the replies. You've all been very helpful. I'm still not quite at the point of being able to make a decision, but I've learned quite a bit more and I'm closer. On Friday I stopped at Clever Cycles to check out their generator display. I spun the wheel as fast as I could...
  11. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    Thanks for the reply! Clever Cycles in Portland does have dynamo-equipped bikes, as well as an in-store display with a generator-equipped wheel and several generator lights that you can play with. Of course in a store it's pretty hard to tell how a light is going to be in terms of throw and...
  12. G

    Should I go dynamo, or stick with batteries? And if dynamo, DIY or commercial?

    I'm going to be getting a new wheelset for my commuter bike, and am mulling over the possibility of going for a generator hub. Although I don't mind recharging my battery pack in the evening, there is some attraction for never having to do that and for always having lighting available no matter...
  13. G

    Best voltage for P60 flashlight modded w/external pack?

    [bump]No one responded to this, but I will ... a few weeks after I posted this I bought a nailbender XM-L 3-mode module (driven at 2.8A on high). I disassembled one of my higher-voltage packs and made a 4.8V pack out of 4200mAh sub-C cells. Works great, and I get 1.5-2hr (I think ... my rides...
  14. G

    Best voltage for P60 flashlight modded w/external pack?

    Longtime member (though longtime) dormant here ... I've been running DIY halogen bike lights with overvolted MR16 halogens for years, but I'm thinking it's time to finally upgrade to LED. Not really interested in the MagicShine route because of the floodiness of the beam: I spend a lot of time...
  15. G

    LOVE my new AAA turquoise!

    Just got mine Friday from coolstuffcheap.com. Cool stuff, indeed! Smaller than I expected - seems a little bit smaller than a Mag Solitaire. And it's fantastically bright for such a small light, much brighter (and smaller) than the 2N squeeze light that I had been keeping on my keychain. I...
See more

Latest posts

Top