DIY Cree LED bike light

[Thug]

Here's a challenge to all you technically gifted DIYers.

 

I have 2 x Nighthawk Emitters that are probably 3 years old. Both lights work and the lights are OK for my limited night time riding (Yes, I know I'm a cheapskate and don't want to spend R3-5k on new lights).

 

What however I'm struggling with is BATTERIES. I used to use re-chargeable AA's (4 of them - 2500mAh) for each light but over the years these batteries have tended to lose their charge and now don't power the Emitter sufficiently to give off a bright enough light.

 

Apart from buying normal AA's everytime I ride at night to ensure that I have sufficient light, are there any other solutions out there that involve re-chargeable NiMH or LI packs ?

 

 

[markStockton]

Thug, I would consider a 2 cell Lipo set-up with a BEC regulator from an RC hobby shop to bring the lipo voltage down. You would need  to invest in a suitable Lipo charger as well. 

[droo]

Here's a challenge to all you technically gifted DIYers.I have 2 x Nighthawk Emitters that are probably 3 years old. Both lights work and the lights are OK for my limited night time riding (Yes' date=' I know I'm a cheapskate and don't want to spend R3-5k on new lights).What however I'm struggling with is BATTERIES. I used to use re-chargeable AA's (4 of them - 2500mAh) for each light but over the years these batteries have tended to lose their charge and now don't power the Emitter sufficiently to give off a bright enough light.Apart from buying normal AA's everytime I ride at night to ensure that I have sufficient light, are there any other solutions out there that involve re-chargeable NiMH or LI packs ?

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

All batteries 'wear out' eventually, even expensive ones. If you already have the NiMH charger, just replace the cells. Otherwise you may be looking at a fair bit of cash for a lithium setup.

 

 

 

If you're up for the mission you could probably convert your current setup to LED, PM for info if you need.

[Thug]

 

Thug' date=' I would consider a 2 cell Lipo set-up with a BEC regulator from an RC hobby shop to bring the lipo voltage down. You would need  to invest in a suitable Lipo charger as well. 

[/quote']

 

Took me a while but I figured out that Lipo = Lithium Polymer and not Liposuction

 

Maybe I must go and visit the Hobby Shop at Northcliff corner.

 

Droo - You have mail

 

[markStockton]

Thug, Lipo's you should get from SJ Andrews in Marlboro, by far the cheapest. As chargers go I'll look around for you if you serious. If you pop buy on the weekend or one evening to collect your 2kg's of fine white powder I can take you through some of your options.  

[KaKa]

To all seeking batteries try this guy. I am busy sourcing batteries from him

 

Graham Morgan

Akita Business Solutions

www.akita.co.za

P O Box 559, Jukskei Park, 2153 (This address for Postal items only)

3 Church St, Johannesburg North, Randburg (Not Good for Postal Items)

011 704 2429 Fax 086 657 0309

GPS S 26? 3'10.33" E 27?58'31.18"

[jean.roux]

Greetings all

 

I finished my quad Q5/ bflex bike light. I need to play some more with the optics. I have a good spill that lights up the road from my handle bars and a very tight beam that lights up very far into the darkness. So I will name it the dark sucker compements of Spud.

 

Question on DX. I am still missing my May shipment of chargers and 2 X MTE (MCE) flash lights + 18650 to power them. Am I the only one still missing bits?

[mountain_lion]

Jean

 

Post some pics and beam shots of your light!

 

[MooZN]

Question on DX. I am still missing my May shipment of chargers and 2 X MTE (MCE) flash lights + 18650 to power them. Am I the only one still missing bits?

 

 

 

Nope, I have also not received a parcel sent in May, looks like some-one at the Post Office is getting into building bike lights.

[MRT1]

DX service is realy bad. Parcel sent beginning june . When I queried I recieved a reply of please be patient it will be there in a few days.

it appears the holdup is with the Hong Kong postal service.

[jean.roux]

Mountain Lion, I will have to find some one with the right type of camera, but will post it soon. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Lesson learnt from DX is that they stall you long enough so that you can not request a refund or raise a dispute via pay pal. (20 Days)

 

What gets to me the most is that DX has just stopped communicating and all has gone quite. My second attempt was to raise a general ticket. This was done in June. They have not even allocated it to a controller. So much for free shipping, it cost me a $123 US.

[mountain_lion]

Not good hear about DX going down hill...

 

All my orders from them and Kaidomain arrived within a few weeks, no problem. I think the longest I waited was 3 weeks and then the hold up was  with SA customs and post office.

Have not ordered anything from Hong Kong recently though...

 

 

[Flowta]

I had a bit of trouble with DX before but it appears that it was the Express services fault.

 

DX sent it to them, but it appears that they don't ship to SA so they kept it there and didn't inform DX.

Had it DHL'd down. The next time I had it sent normal post. No problem.

 

Easier if you send it to the UK, if you have a friend there.

 

[Thug]

I've ordered all my parts.

 

The LED's, lenses and driver are on its way.

The battery (18650 14.8v 2600mAh 4s1p) & charger are being built.

The housing will hopefully be finished at the end of the month.

 

Then I can start night racing again.

 

[jean.roux]

I am being punished. My light was completed on Sunday the 9^th, used for 1 ride and then had to pack my bags and fly up to Garankuwa for 7 days (work). I can not wait to get back to PE. Noticed that the day is starting earlier, at least my 04:20 rides will still be at night for a while longer. Enjoy the build. I now have two mates that want the same light. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Mountain Lion I had a look at Kaidomain and it looks very promising. Will place some orders today.

[WillemT]

In regard with service I can definitely recommend cutter!!! I've ordered at least R6k's parts from them in total now and never had a day's problems!! They even sent me a extra LED for free once when I told them one of the previous ones lost it's primary lens in the way here!! Their prices on LEDs have gone down drasticly to where they can easily compete with anyone else!!! Their response time when you have any queries is very fast, with in a few hours, apart for the time diff offcoarse between us and aus... and they're always very friendly and do their best to help with what ever they can. The one time one of my parcels got stuck at customs they said they'll find out where it is and if they don't find it they'll go through the insurance claim and send me another order... then you jsut have to take the mail option with insurance.

You also work directly through them and payment is direct to them. They're really according to me a 1st class company to work with!!!

night tider2009-08-16 15:05:21