Cheap double Cree bike light.

[ManBearPig]

I built this with 2 of the ever popular DX Cree modules. I stole the case idea from MatajumotorS and nightrider. Still need to finish the mount and wire it up.

 

[AndyTiedye]

Added to Bike Light Thread Links

 

[photorob]

How did you get the finish on the aluminum case.

 

[Strauss]

That looks really cool! Plus, it doesn't look THAT complicated :goodjob:

 

[bombelman]

Awesome !! Looks real cool !

Getting a lens for the front ?

 

[ManBearPig]

How did you get the finish on the aluminum case.

I used one of these with my Dremel.

 

[ManBearPig]

Getting a lens for the front ?

Probably not now, maybe I will down the road if it collects a few sticks. I may try to waterprof it at least.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

[copiertech]

the crees look like theyre sitting a bit low in the reflectors, youll probably get better spill if you remove the regulator/led assembly from the reflector, and remove the plastic spacer and replace it with a bit of tape or a bit of thinner plastic.
nice light!

 

[nightrider]

Looks cool! Nice job.

 

[ET3]

Thats exactly what I was thinking of! Any beamshots? I picked up a 4AA battery holder yesterday. What batteries are you using? Are the modules wired in series? Would a single emitter be enough? Would it be worthwhile to do a triple?

 

[ManBearPig]

the crees look like theyre sitting a bit low in the reflectors, youll probably get better spill if you remove the regulator/led assembly from the reflector, and remove the plastic spacer and replace it with a bit of tape or a bit of thinner plastic.
nice light!

Thanks for the tip.

I replaced the plastic spacers with some donuts of electrical tape.

 

[ManBearPig]

Thats exactly what I was thinking of! Any beamshots? I picked up a 4AA battery holder yesterday. What batteries are you using? Are the modules wired in series? Would a single emitter be enough? Would it be worthwhile to do a triple?

I'll try to get some beamshots tonight.

I'm using a 4.5amp 6V sla battery with the modules in parallel.

A single emitter is plenty bright, 3 would be hella bright.

 

[phatstorage]

what is the heat like from the emmitters after a while?, have you got any heat sinking in there or is the aluminium box doing a sufficient job?

 

[matrixshaman]

Nice! I would try to get some protection for the front though - especially if you running down the road with them.

 

[mjzraz2]

Nice light idea - What was the total cost and what size square tubing are you using? Do you have any more pictures of how you worked out the wiring? or what it looks like from the back side? I assume these modules are grounded through the housing and the + is the spring?

 

[ManBearPig]

Sorry no beam shots tonight.

Cost breakdown:
2 Emitters, $25
4'X1" Square tubing $11
10 Stainless 4-40 screws $2
Toggle switch, wire, and battery I already had.

I didn't want to buy a whole 4 feet of the square tubing but thats all the Home Depot had.

Positive is just soldered to the spring. Negative is soldered to the outer ring which is hard to get at. I tried grounding the modules through the case but discovered one of them wasn't lighting all the time so I had wire a jumper between them. The wiring is a little messy but I'll get yall a pic of it and more pics of the outside.

I haven't ran it for very long yet but it was pretty warm after about 15 minutes.For heat sinkage, I tried to cut the holes in the back piece of tubing so that there would be a tight fit with the back of the emitters, but I had to keep enlarging them to get everything to fit together.

Thanks for all the comments, I'll try to get yall some pictures tomorrow.

 

[Calina]

How does it attach to the bike?

 

[ManBearPig]

Bad news:help:

Powered her up for 12 minutes and she was very hot. One of the modules won't power up now. The LED still works, so it's either my wiring or it's circuit is fried. It needs some major heat sinking before I continue any further. The reflectors where loose in the square tubing so I put two wraps of electrical tape around them to make them fit snug. I bet that wasn't helping the heat to escape to well.

Any suggestions?

 

[Stregone]

If the housing itself is getting pretty hot thats a good sign. That means you have good thermal transfer to the outside. Now you just need more surface area.

 

[photorob]

If you find a computer repair store around your area you can probably pick up used computer heat-sinks. Just the other day I walked into a local computer part store and the owner gave me a few old heat-sinks that he had laying around.