Build Your Own Mini Bike Light

I think you meant LED

TechnoGeek

i wish the actual project looked like that picture

You know what would be a cool idea... having the light be powered by riding the bicycle like those flashlights that you just have to shake to charge.

@KRiSone87: They do. It's called a dynamo hub.

Jon Leopold

I've always enjoyed Maker's Instructables, but I was often put off or halted by my minimal know-how of circuits. The mention of "Make has some great introductory guides if you're interested in this kind of tinkering" really piqued my interest but I can't seem to find the "Circuitry for noobs" guides, can anyone help out and point me to them?

Etherel

isn't it easier to just get a flashlight and a bike holster for it? This is a bit silly.

yeah, or buying one for $8 shipped(from HK)
[www.dealextreme.com]

vladgur

"requires just a few LCDs"

oh.. i think I've got a few of those somewhere around here...

I think you mean LED?

@Jon Leopold: Those 6 volt hubs are kind of weak. The only way to get good illumination is with a BUSCH & MÃœLLER 12 volt generator. The whole setup might cost more than your bike but you can use it forever, unless somebody swipes it when your bike is locked up outside.

This sort of thing just doesn't make sense when you can buy a small, solid, very bright LED flashlight for $5:

[www.harborfreight.com]

@TechnoGeek: Actually the LCDs are so you have HDTV on your bike as you ride around. (Not to be confused with HGTV, although you could watch that as you ride down the road.)

didn't see the LIGHT, thought it was going to tell how to make an easy Mini Bike

jupiterssj4

@jupiterssj4: Yeah, I thought it was a DIY for a "mini-bike" light!

@portezbie: Come on, it's a fun project. I might help my son do this.

@KRiSone87:

They've had dynamos on bicycles since I was a kid, several decades ago.

Ahahahahahahaha!!!

Deprong Mori

What if you replaced it one of those high intensity LED's? And a magnifying glass? What would happen?

It's just a bunch of naked wires strapped to the bike?

1) It will be stolen / vandalized the first time you look the other way
2) It's ugly as sin
3) Weatherproof?

Andy Hilal

Dang. I thought this article was going to be about building a lightweight mini bike. I already have a bike light.

SanjivaniHizee

Yeah, I have to say, this article belongs more on a site called "Geek Projects" than Lifehacker. Lifehacker's aim is "tips to getting things done" - that is, making life easier. How is wasting time building your own bicycle light rather than spending a tiny amount of money to buy one, making life easier?

P.

oceanclub

@eKiTeL: I beg to differ. I run an Ultegra-level 6v/3W Shimano generator hub into a rectifier bridge and then two 3W LEDs in series--it's easily brighter than any of the 10w halogens I've used. I'm popular on night rides :-). The hub was about 1/2-1/3 the cost of a 6v B&M. I'm sure if you spend the coin you can do a lot with a good 12v generator (double the number of LEDs or more, for example) but I do a lot of riding on both city streets and unlit paths, and it's been great. The problem with 12v (or any) sidewall generator is the possibility of slippage and/or sidewall wear (depending on what kind of tires you're running). No slippage with the Shimano hub. OTOH, a sidewall generator can be mechanically removed and so exerts no resistance when off...but having tried sidewall, BB, and hub, there's no way I'm going back.

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

@oceanclub: In the case of this one, there's very little benefit, other than learning some (very minimal) electronics skills.

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

@Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro: I don't have any data to back this up, but I would think using any sort of generator to power a few LEDs would waste an awful lot of energy. Just use a battery, you might have to replace it once a year.

tablespork

@tablespork: Well, no. Assuming you use a rechargeable battery, you need to charge it whenever it loses a charge, which for most bike lighting systems for commuters would be every 1-2 days. And you still need to replace it when it will no longer hold a charge. If it dies (either way) while you're riding, you're in deep s__t. On the other hand, my generator light is turned off when it's light, so I lose minimal energy there, and I can always switch it on when it gets dark. I never have to worry about having a charged battery. The generator is always there, but only sometimes in use. I probably lose a little energy pedaling, plus it's heavier (but then so is a battery), but since I ride for exercise, it's no big deal.

And if I *did* have or want to make a long night ride (say 6 hours) most battery-powered lights of comparable lighting power would run out of battery long before the ride was over...while my light would still be running at its original brightness.

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

@KRiSone87: I used to have a dynamo hub on my old bike - but the problem was that it would turn out the light when you stopped. Have they made any progress with that so you can still be seen when you aren't moving?

@Oranges w/ Cheese: Yes...you can get commercial lights with built-in capacitors to power the LED at a lower level when you're stopped. The next version of my headlight will likely have one...you can get 1-farad "goldcaps" (5.5v) for very little money these days. Just remember to put it on the DC side of the rectifier!

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

@heath: If you have compared the beam sent by a real flashlight versus this Harbor Freight model, then you'd know why bikers like the better light. You can build a $200 light for the cost of $10 in parts.

@dchall8: Oops! I take some of that back. The light in the article is just as cheap as the Harbor Freight model. Heath is right. Just go get one for $5.

But if you want to make a light, you might as well make a bright one. This one will cost a little more but it's a real light.
[www.instructables.com]

These little lights light YOU but don't light your way. Any ideas on a DIY really bright headlight? The kind they use for things like night mountain bike racing light better than a car headlight but they cost hundreds of dollars.

IsabelSternwah

as a note, here in FL, working in a bike shop, I've heard stories of people who come in looking for bike lights/lamps, etc for the front/back of their bikes because the local cop shop has been giving $80 tickets for not using proper lighting on bicycles during the night time hours. I don't know what the loopholes of the law are, what they consider "night" or "dark" lol....but just what I've heard from local cyclists. Was extremely common to hear back when gas prices were closely approaching 4.00/gallon, bike sales were up...lol. But come summer/spring break, time is here again, and I notice gas prices climbing again, and I'm sure so will the bike prices.

FilippoAsius

@Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro: Ultegra? bloody hell that must of cost a pretty penny, bet you wish it was dura ace though ;)

Will Price

@Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro:
But what about the tail light?

@Will Price: Well, Ultegra-LEVEL, not "Ultegra". About $90 for the hub three years ago, and worth every penny. You need a hub anyway, right? So you pay about $60 extra, and you get the power source as well. A little heavy, a little odd looking, but I can deal with that.

The only DA on my bike is the pair of 9-speed DT shifters!

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

Standlights for taillights have been around for years...the B&M LED series are available with those. But for my money, I do think a battery is appropriate in a rear LED light. Cuts down on wires, and lasts for ~200 hours. I also carry a spare blinky in my pack. I've had bad luck with a B&M LED taillight losing LEDs, but that may be because I'm running it with my homemade headlight. That's what B&M says, anyway.

Andrew Abrams Marchant-Shapiro

@FilippoAsius: I went to college at UC Davis, a big bike town. Lights were the law after dark everyone had them. Tickets would definitely be given without.

It's a good law. It's along the lines of motorcycle helmet laws and seat belt laws, but I would argue it's even better. Helmet laws only protect you from your own stupidity, which some would say you're entitled to. But having a bike light might keep ME from getting into an accident with YOU in the first place. Yes, bikes are smaller than cars but they are not without safety concerns. I always try to share the road with bikers but it pisses me off when they ride erratically, and biking without a light after dark is not okay. I don't want to get hit by you while walking. And I don't want to collide with you while driving my car or riding my bike. Get a fucking light. Front and rear would be nice.

Andy Hilal

@Li Zhang: You would burn drivers like ants. Sounds like fun, I might mount a few of those to my bike.

Dabamash

@Lazarus: Well, HGTV would be appropriate, since it -is- made with hose parts :P