Advice on lights needed

[oclv110]

Has anyone tested or bought the new Gator 105,305 or 605 rechargeable light system.

Any comments on value for money, functioning,battery life etc will be highly appreciated.

[Canaris]

You can make your own cheaper.

[ewep]

KF, give some instructions.

[Canaris]

Okay, at this stage there are a number of quick and easy ways (read not water proof)

First is to secure an LED indicator light (Brightwater commons flee market or over the internet)

Second a 15mm pumbers pipe clamp.

THird small block of wood, a git of rubber one screw or bolt and two or three tie cords

A small soldering iron and solder

A rechargable 9v battery and the little "pad" to connect it  (electronics shop) 

 

Step one solder the red wire to the "nipple" of the light and the black to the side.  (IF you plug in the 9v battery the light should go on, test before soldering)

 

Step two take the small block of wood (about the size of the battery)  drill three holes in it (two for the tiecords and one for the screw)

Take the plumbers pipe clamp, cut of any protruding bits that get in the way, and screw onto the wood.

Tiecord to the fork or handle bar, but light into the pipe clamp (the back end of the indicator light is also15mm) and plug in the 9v battery.  Tiecord onto fork or block of wood (insulation tape may also work)

 

THE other way is to buy an LED downlight (12V) and build a pipe light with 20mm plumbers pipe (do not use the standard halogen light it melts the pipe).  THis method requires a 12V battery (use an alarm or electric fence battery)

 

pics later.

[Napalm]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/the-torch-why-illuminate-when-you-can-incinerate/

[Canaris]

http://www.geocities.com/jimburnetto/bike_light.html

[slowgo]

KF - surely it is easier to buy one - all this effort and HANNA HANNA for alight ?

[Canaris]

not really, once you have opened the tool box and played with the power tools then it is "vinninge fix" and voila you have a light. 

 

For the handyman, it is a way to justify a lot of new toys/tools that you don't have yet.

 

(proof read by Fiasm)

KonaFan2008-01-30 03:19:12

[slowgo]

O K ek glo jou - gaan dit probeer vir die " fun " - cheers

[Canaris]

the biggest challenge is to locate a supplier of LED downlights and indicator lights in your area.  In Gauteng I have located one or two suppliers (top secret) but in the cape there are also one or two.  Check the web and various trade magazines and flee markets (strange but true)

[Velouria]

From http://bikehacks.com/5-killer-looking-diy-bike-headlights/

There are a TON of decent tutorials for building bike lights.
But?how can I put this gently?they are not all equally attractive. If
you showed me two lights side by side and they had equal performance,
I?d choose the pretty one every time. That?s probably why I?m writing
this on a Mac. Ahem.

Anyway, here?s a quick look at five of the finest looking homemade
bike lights on the web today. This is an admittedly subjective list, so
feel free to smack me around in the comments if you think I?ve
overlooked the BEST. LIGHT. EVAR.

1. 
   
   http://bikehacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/tripled1.jpg
   
   

   I?ll admit, this TriLux3 is my favorite. It?s got this vaguely steampunk look that I find very appealing.
   

2. 
   
   http://bikehacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/stormtrooper.jpgThis light is made of PVC with an aluminum heatsink. Kinda reminds me of a stormtrooper.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   http://bikehacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/cylinder.jpg
   
   

   This bike light is super clean looking. The cylinder gives it a sort of Buck Rogers vibe. Just needs some fins for additional heatsink!
   

   
   
4. 
   
   http://bikehacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/devil.jpg
   
   

   This is a really cool looking little light with excellent instructions.
   And I do mean little?check out some of the pictures to get a sense of
   the scale. With so many fins on the heatsink, it must stay pretty well
   cooled off.
   

   
   
5. 
   
   http://bikehacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/stublight.jpg
   
   

   I love the look of these sawed-off mag lites,
   but this isn?t the best photograph I?ve seen, unfortunately. There are
   several other renditions of the same concept out there?just couldn?t
   find ?em in time to post! Maybe a Kindly Reader will help out?.
   

[Cois]

Like the one with Tazz.

[slowpoke]

well i gave up and splurged... i couldn't find anything better than PVC piping etc for housing when i tried to make my own to they keep melting, also the battery is bulky. the cheapies' mounting brackets tend to break if you take them off whenever you're not using the light. so i k@ked and betaaled for a Sigma Karma. small, light, good looking, neat and no fuss to put ont he bike or to take off.

[Azonic]

My friend makes his own lights and he sells them as well. FLIPPIN bright stuff, looks extremely pro, doesn't look like backyard kit. Kicks dust in the eyes (lens?) of HID, I've seen the comparison shot. Makes my Sigma EvoX's look like a penlight.

 

Can give you his number if you want.

 

 

[AndreZA]

My friend makes his own lights and he sells them as well. FLIPPIN bright stuff' date=' looks extremely pro, doesn't look like backyard kit. Kicks dust in the eyes (lens?) of HID, I've seen the comparison shot. Makes my Sigma EvoX's look like a penlight.

 

Can give you his number if you want.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Let him post some pics and prices here. It must be amazing then because I like my Evo X light.

 

 

[Azonic]

My friend makes his own lights and he sells them as well. FLIPPIN bright stuff' date=' looks extremely pro, doesn't look like backyard kit. Kicks dust in the eyes (lens?) of HID, I've seen the comparison shot. Makes my Sigma EvoX's look like a penlight.

 

Can give you his number if you want.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Let him post some pics and prices here. It must be amazing then because I like my Evo X light.

 

 

 

Here's his website, under construction. He's sending me some close-up pics later.

 

www.brighter-lights.com

These things a sickening bright...