RavX Beam X vs DIY

[Guest Agteros]

Where are you based? I'm a bit of a lighting nut' date=' about to launch a range of bike lights, but if you're in CT I'm sure I can give you a hand putting something together...[/quote']

 

Nopes, from Gangsta Paradise

 

 

Agteros2008-10-30 05:27:34

[droo]

Nopes' date=' from Gangsta Paradise

?

[/quote']



And a Sharks supporter? You must be a popular guy this week...



Read the lighting forums on mtbr, if you're up to the mission of building your own one then PM me and I'll hook you up with a supplier or 2. Pretty sure it'll come in cheaper than the price you worked out. BUT it does take a while to get everything together. I could also add a parts order to my next bulk buy for you if you want, just depends how soon you want this up and running.

[AndreZA]

Not everybody want one to last 5+ hours or blind the people around them.  So a basic model, say 2hrs @ 150lumens with either rechargable AAs or batterypack is needed for the short night races around the coutnry.

 

Droo, if you build them, they will sell.

[Guest Agteros]

And a Sharks supporter? You must be a popular guy this week...

Read the lighting forums on mtbr' date=' if you're up to the mission of building your own one then PM me and I'll hook you up with a supplier or 2. Pretty sure it'll come in cheaper than the price you worked out. BUT it does take a while to get everything together. I could also add a parts order to my next bulk buy for you if you want, just depends how soon you want this up and running.[/quote']

 

And a Sharks supporter? You must be a popular guy this week...

Read the lighting forums on mtbr' date=' if you're up to the mission of building your own one then PM me and I'll hook you up with a supplier or 2. Pretty sure it'll come in cheaper than the price you worked out. BUT it does take a while to get everything together. I could also add a parts order to my next bulk buy for you if you want, just depends how soon you want this up and running.[/quote']

 

Fortunately I'm on the non-blue side of Boereworsgordyn as I understand that PTA is a very glum place this week. 

 

I've priced all my parts at Rabtron as they have stock off the esoteric portions of the project. The R1800 includes my start-up costs such as tools and re-usable stuff such as the heat sink glue. Some smaller parts for assembly are not included.

 

If I take the startup costs out, the project comes out at about R1100(no batteries) to R1400 (batteries - optimistic?)
 
The main reason for sourcing readily available local stuff is that I still have to get into electronics, and be completed before December (Nothing like a bit of self created pressure)

 

The idea with the DIY project is to use 3 Luxeon K2 (3x200lumens) LEDs, and to do that I have to drive it with 2 PowerPucks (this from the PowerPuck technical sheet). The total cost includes a fuse, 2 switches, lenses & holders.

 

R1800 for a first electronics job is a bit steep, as I have actually no knowledge of electronics, hence the investigation into something off the shelf.

 

However paying a few hundred/about a thousand bucks for something I cannot test beforehand does not appeal to me, and thus the enquiry...

 

 

[Canaris]

Agteros.  or in English after bull (ie behind the blue bulls)

 

THE cheapest and easiest option is as follows:

 

1 x 3W LED downlight (under R200 at ABC Electronics)

1 x 1.5W LED (Cluster) Downlight (under R100 at Lightening hardware store)

2 x7 cm 50mm plumbers PVC pipe

2 x pipe coupling (builders warehouse)

2 x pipe end (builder warehouse)

some switchs and wire

2 times PVC shoulder clamp

2 times bit of steel

A length of self fusing tape

1 x 12v battery (abought R80)

 

Slap it all together and you have a light for less than R400.  USe a standard car battery recharger to recharge.

 

If ypou wanna see an example visit blue bull country.

[droo]

All of that considered, I suggest you go with sampie's idea of the DX torch. Its an evil pig of a light, and if the beam's not right you can always get a new optic for it. Just don't try to sneak up on anyone. Ever. They'll smell the burning foliage from about half a kay away.

 

 

 

Now that I think of it, I spent a k@khuis full of cash on my prototype, and I bought 5 of everything to keep shipping costs down.

 

 

 

@mampara - it's a work in progress. The range will be launched when the days start getting shorter. Keep yer eyes open round Feb

[AndreZA]

@mampara - it's a work in progress. The range will be launched when the days start getting shorter. Keep yer eyes open round Feb

 but that's when our night racing ends.

 

 

[Canaris]

http://www.electronics123.co.za/Main.asp?D=%7B53FD2BD1%2DEFD2%2D411A%2DB18D%2DACB97D4A70E9%7D&PageType=Product&SKU=AD857

http://www.electronics123.co.za/Stores/electronics123/ProductImages/AD857_small.jpg

[droo]

@mampara - it's a work in progress. The range will be launched when the days start getting shorter. Keep yer eyes open round Feb

 

?but that's when our night racing ends.

 

?

 

?

 

 

 

Guess you just bumped my schedule up a bit then...

[Johnit]

The route Sampie is suggesting should give you far more light (around 400 lumen, possibly up to 900- a bit optimistic?) than any off the shelf system under R2000. Only limitation may be on hours at max light output. Still, adding an external battery pack is not too difficult.

[sampie]

The route Sampie is suggesting should give you far more light (around 400 lumen' date=' possibly up to 900- a bit optimistic?) than any off the shelf system under R2000. Only limitation may be on hours at max light output. Still, adding an external battery pack is not too difficult.[/quote']

 

The batteries are $10 for 2.        4 should give you about 5 hours on high. Nice thing is you can use it for anything (almost)