StevelKnievel
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2007
- Messages
- 114
I haven't had much time for light building recently, but I finally bought a dynamo hub (Shimano DH-3D71) and I had some J bin warm white MC-Es sitting around so I had to build something. I've already built a number of dyno lights with the 4-up XR-E boards from Cutter and everyone who's using them loves them so I figured the MC-E would work well too. The MC-E is wired 2s2p and uses a bank of supercaps to provide a standlight.
I use it for mountain biking in conjunction with another warm white MC-E on my helmet. I am sold on the benefits of warmer tints in the wilderness! My other night riding setup is a 1500+ lumen handlebar light and 600+ lumen helmet light, both with cold white Crees. With this setup I have a 400 (or less) lumen bar light and a ~500 lumen helmet light and I actually feel like I'm riding faster because of the improved color rendering and reduced glare. (Don't get me wrong...I still appreciate raw output! 1500 lumens of warm white is on the way as soon as I have time!!!) I do think the benefit of warmer tints mostly depends on the terrain. It seems there is almost nothing to gain with warm white on the road, but down here in the swamps the greens and browns come alive and the glare coming off the mud, wet leaves and such is greatly reduced.
Anyways, enough rambling. Here are some pictures of the light and a link to a crappy too-dark video I made riding around the 'hood.
Spinning the wheel with my hand, trees are 65-70 ft away:
Updated beamshots with cool and neutral emitters!
Cool white, MTBR recommended camera settings, Treeline ~100ft:
Neutral white, MTBR recommended camera settings, Treeline ~100ft:
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NElJN5HvR54
I use it for mountain biking in conjunction with another warm white MC-E on my helmet. I am sold on the benefits of warmer tints in the wilderness! My other night riding setup is a 1500+ lumen handlebar light and 600+ lumen helmet light, both with cold white Crees. With this setup I have a 400 (or less) lumen bar light and a ~500 lumen helmet light and I actually feel like I'm riding faster because of the improved color rendering and reduced glare. (Don't get me wrong...I still appreciate raw output! 1500 lumens of warm white is on the way as soon as I have time!!!) I do think the benefit of warmer tints mostly depends on the terrain. It seems there is almost nothing to gain with warm white on the road, but down here in the swamps the greens and browns come alive and the glare coming off the mud, wet leaves and such is greatly reduced.
Anyways, enough rambling. Here are some pictures of the light and a link to a crappy too-dark video I made riding around the 'hood.
Spinning the wheel with my hand, trees are 65-70 ft away:
Updated beamshots with cool and neutral emitters!
Cool white, MTBR recommended camera settings, Treeline ~100ft:
Neutral white, MTBR recommended camera settings, Treeline ~100ft:
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NElJN5HvR54
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