Canadian Suppliers?

[thehick]

I'm want to build my first LED bike light, but I have a lot of uncertainty about parts. Is there a GTA based supplier where I could go see/touch the LED/lenses/buckpuck etc prior to purchase? I'm hoping to use CREE and also I want to use 7.4 volts as that voltage batteries are plentiful in the RC world.
thanks.

 

[formantjim]

Hi there thehick I wish there was a local supplier in the GTA but alas I have not found one.(In Ontario)
So far I have had to make do with Cutter from Australia,Taskled and Allbattery from the US. Lately I have used Kaidomain from Hong Kong with great results very fast delivery and free if they have it in stock faster than from the US!
As long as one can obtain the dimensions then making a model out of cardboard to see if they will fit your housings is the only way.
As regards the lenses they are pretty well documented through this forum or MTBR and it comes down to personal choice and the use you are going to put them to.
Drivers is probably the trickiest but since you have told us the voltage you are working with then it becomes a choice of how many leds you want to run. If you want to run 3 or 4 leds from your battery then a boost driver e.g. Fatman or Maxflex from Taskled is required. Since the forward voltage of any led is 3.2V to 3.7V you could drive 2 or 3 leds in parallel from a Buck driver with your battery here the choice of supplier is greater. The next thing you need to ask yourself is how long run time do you need this will determine the mA/hr of your battery.
Maybe there is an electronic component supplier reading these posts and starts to import some for Canada there is definately a market for these parts.

 

[thehick]

Just to wrap this up, I found http://www.luxeonstar.com/ shipping from Brantford so I went the lux route. I've ordered twice so far and received the shipment within 2 or 3 business days!