Here's my first experiment with the LS - a mountain biking helmet light. It's a simple 3D direct drive single LS system. The batteries are in an el cheapo Walmart light (switch still works), which goes in my backpack, and the LS is in a gutted Radio Shack AA headlamp. The space for the batteries is now taken up by a nicely fitted aluminum finned computer heatsink. It does get quite warm in that enclosed plastic case, but I've been on several rides (on the same set of alkalines!) and it hasn't conked out yet. I need the enclosed case for weatherproofing from mud, rain, etc., so the case is a must. I'm working on a design for a finned aluminum weatherproof case for better cooling.
Since the helmet lamp was such a success, I did a mod to a Rayovac headlamp for the handlebar light. It came with a weatherproof 4D case, so I've got 3 10ohm resistors (in parallel) in line with that light. The case fits very well in the bike's bottle cage (held securely with good ol' zip ties). I also took off the collimator for a flood effect. Sorry, but I don't have a photo of that mod yet.
I also wanted to put out there that if anyone was wondering if the LS can be used as a bike light for nighttime mountain biking, the answer is YES! The beam pattern is ideal for the application. It throws a nice, wide, evenly disbursed beam which lights up the whole trail well enough to ride at speed on technical singletrack. I'm very impressed. AND I was able to make 2 lighting systems for less than $100 when you can't buy one good one in the store for that price. AND the light lasts WAY longer than the store bought halogen systems.
Thank you Luxeon Star!
Hmmm. The image didn't seem to come up. I'll have to work on that.
To see the light, go to http://communities.msn.com/RappMTBLights/shoebox.msnw
Since the helmet lamp was such a success, I did a mod to a Rayovac headlamp for the handlebar light. It came with a weatherproof 4D case, so I've got 3 10ohm resistors (in parallel) in line with that light. The case fits very well in the bike's bottle cage (held securely with good ol' zip ties). I also took off the collimator for a flood effect. Sorry, but I don't have a photo of that mod yet.
I also wanted to put out there that if anyone was wondering if the LS can be used as a bike light for nighttime mountain biking, the answer is YES! The beam pattern is ideal for the application. It throws a nice, wide, evenly disbursed beam which lights up the whole trail well enough to ride at speed on technical singletrack. I'm very impressed. AND I was able to make 2 lighting systems for less than $100 when you can't buy one good one in the store for that price. AND the light lasts WAY longer than the store bought halogen systems.
Thank you Luxeon Star!
Hmmm. The image didn't seem to come up. I'll have to work on that.
To see the light, go to http://communities.msn.com/RappMTBLights/shoebox.msnw
