MR11 Housing Ideas.

[menthol moose]

Any suggestions for as simple housing methods for MR11 for bike lights ? I am putting together a pack from cutter and have trouble working out a simple way of housing the light.... I don't have access to many metal working tools. Finding a piece of alloy tubing with 35mm internal diameter isn't easy either.

 

[Szemhazai]

It's quite easy If you are living in 50+ k city there will be for sure shop that sell alloy pipes and profiles – use google :thumbsup:. You will need 40 mm diameter pipe (wall 2,5 mm).

Second very good way is to find CCL (cheap Chinese light) with alloy case that will fit your optics - I've dismounted about 15 lights at the shop, looking for a fine case for one of my projects :devil:

 

[JB01245]

I don't know if you are wanting to use alloy or plastic for the housing. Here is an inexpensive bike light I created from a housing that was originally a submersible pond light from Harbor Freight. Originally comes with a MR11 bulb but I modified it to fit a MR16 bulb. First page of thread includes build instructions, last page has some beam shots and a helmet mounted version. Key thing is to use aluminum tape on the backside of the bulb to force the heat out the front of the bulb. Let me know what you think.

PondScum Homebrew halogen bikelight
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=245737

 

[menthol moose]

It's quite easy If you are living in 50+ k city there will be for sure shop that sell alloy pipes and profiles – use google :thumbsup:. You will need 40 mm diameter pipe (wall 2,5 mm).

Second very good way is to find CCL (cheap Chinese light) with alloy case that will fit your optics - I've dismounted about 15 lights at the shop, looking for a fine case for one of my projects :devil:

I have tried looking for the correct diameter of alloy tubing, id kill to get access to a metal lathe

The CCL sounds like the way to go

 

[znomit]

Want really really easy?

Grab a tennis ball and cut a hole in it just smaller than the MR-11.
Buy a socket from the light shop.
Poke a hole in the side of the tennis ball and feed the socket wires through from the inside.
Connect the bulb and run a bead of silicone glue around the hole, seat the bulb and weight down slightly. Wait till it sets.

At the local sports shop you can find plastic tennis ball holders. Cable tie to where your stem meets bars.

Wire in a battery, fuse and switch.

This worked fine for me up to 20w. Would not run anything hotter than that though.
Simple and weather proof, easily adjustable light angle.
Gets hot on the bench but not out riding.
You can put a head together in 20minutes so can run different bulbs easily. I had to build up the lip on the socket to hold things better but have found tighter sockets since.

Make sure mr11 has a glass front too...stops bugs getting in!

 

[menthol moose]

What I was thinking of is "XYZ" product's tube/container/canister fits the MR11/M16 lenses perfectly.

I know salt and pepper shakers nicely fit smaller lenses, but something that would house the larger types...

I saw on another page someone using berocca tubes which looked like a good idea.

 

[HEY HEY ITS HENDO]

This link might give you an idea or two ??
..........................

 

[Martin]

Want really really easy?
Grab a tennis ball...

This is amazing, znomit ! Not only is it unbelievably easy, it is also shock-absorbent and fully adjustable. The materials can be found most places in this world, basic tools are enough to make it, and I bet it's exceptionally theft-resistant. You got a killer-product !

This is what I did:

Detailed description is here.