Bike Light ?s

[financeguy]

Hi Everyone,

I am considering building my own bike flash light and wanted to run by my BOM and hoping you can answer a few questions..
(this might apply to a motorcycle headlight setup as well one day.)


LED: http://www.ledsupply.com/leds/triple-3-up-cree-xlamp-xp-l-high-power-led-star
Housing: http://www.ledsupply.com/led-heatsinks/led-housing-3-up-led-heatsink
2xDriver(Buck/boost): http://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/micropuck-500ma-constant-current-led-driver
Optic: http://www.ledsupply.com/led-optics/10507-carclo-lens-3-up-narrow-spot-led-optic
Arctic Silver: http://www.ledsupply.com/accessories/arctic-silver-premium-silver-thermal-epoxy
Battery Holder: http://www.lights-box.com/high-grade-golden-color-4-18650-battery-pack-suitable-for-most-bike-light
4*18650= something along the lines of 3.7v @ 3000mah.
Still needs: a switch; housing for the drivers; ???


1. Is a buck/boost (parallel) driver setup necessary for this flashlight and battery pack combo?
2. What would I need in this setup to make use of a low/med/high switch?
3. Do you think a bigger battery pack would work well in this setup?
4. What would you do better?
5. Am I missing something?!
6. Forget about it and get this?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJCDH3K/?tag=cpf0b6-20



Thanks in advance for your tips, feedback, and help!

 

[financeguy]

oh whoops... I just saw this other section: [h=1]Homemade and Modified Flashlights Discussion[/h]Sorry!! I can repost this if necessary...

 

[gadget_lover]

The basic idea seems good. You'll want to do something to focus the beam below the hood of oncoming traffic. 3000 lumens is about what you get from both car headlights, IIRC.

You will want to use a different driver if you want hi/med/low. The one you chose is designed to keep the light output steady.

Dan

 

[financeguy]

Thanks!

Would this do the trick for the driver high/med/low?
http://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/buckpuck-1000ma-constant-current-led-driver-with-dimming

 

[gadget_lover]

Thanks!

Would this do the trick for the driver high/med/low?
http://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers/buckpuck-1000ma-constant-current-led-driver-with-dimming

That would work, but as a BUCK driver it needs a voltage that is above the Vf of the led. That one says it needs 7 volts minimum, so you have to arrange for a battery pack that will provide 7v if you want to use it.

Dan