DIY LED lights?

[shirk]

Anyone made or converted lights with the new bright LED's that are available?

I am thinking of trying to DIY a pair of triple 3xCree Q5's from Cutter.com.au.

[Hack On Wheels]

Anyone made or converted lights with the new bright LED's that are available?

I am thinking of trying to DIY a pair of triple 3xCree Q5's from Cutter.com.au.

No. But I have been trolling mtbr and am hoping to make one before christmas. Are you planning to use a bFlex from TaskLED? Achesalot design? What kind of optics? Ledil Lenses look very nice, but they do cut down a bit on light (with max emissivity of around 90% I think, differs with type of lens though). A mix of lenses and reflectors could work? Maybe one reflector, a 9 degree lens, and a 14 degree lens? I guess it depends on the riding it will be for and helmet vs. bar mount.

In case you didn't have these links:

http://www.taskled.com/bflex.html
http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146894
http://myfwyc.org/bikeled/DIY_LED_Bike_Lighting_Guide.html
( guessing you have seen this? ^ )

I was checking out getting parts locally, but no outright success yet.
I did find these though:
http://www.arrownac.com/products/semiconductor/optoelectronics/
(They apparently have a Vancouver branch. Actually in Burnaby... )
http://led-spot.com/about_us.shtml
(For ledil optics, it seems that they have a Vancouver location, though I guess that could be in the US?)

Also, I think chunk has got a DIY light on the go, haven't seen him post any real info yet though...
Good luck, let me know how it goes!
I am curious to know how shipping and such works out.

[TheGiggler]

ill try to get you guys some more info ...

[Hack On Wheels]

ill try to get you guys some more info ...

That would be great, thanks!

[connor]

I made one, I can't remember where I got the parts, though, not cheap. The controllers were like $20.

[Hack On Wheels]

I made one, I can't remember where I got the parts, though, not cheap. The controllers were like $20.

What kind of controller did you use?
Did you get the parts locally or online?
What kind of housing did you use?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, any info would be greatly appreciated!

[connor]

What kind of controller did you use?
Did you get the parts locally or online?
What kind of housing did you use?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, any info would be greatly appreciated!


I think it was this site.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/

the newere Luxeon Vs are like $25 each.

The Drivers are here:
http://www.luxeonstar.com/category.php?id=241&link_str=240::241


single Fraen lenses.
http://www.luxeonstar.com/sub_category.php?id=123&link_str=121::123

Some of those other sites had tri lenses, if you want decent light I'd go with a triple LED setup, but it's going to cost you a few bucks. You've got to sink quite a bit of heat too.

[TheGiggler]

so ... 3 Luxeon K2 Star LEDs and 5 deg lenses runs about 40 bucks.

i did omit the LED driver cost which is i guess $20, but apparently you can build you own for a lot cheaper and then have more control too.

i've seen what this setup can do (over-driven some, so more than the rated 130 lumens) and I think it's better than a single HID. sure it's not $40 total but it should come in under $100 easily .... and it weighs about 1/3 and should last at least 2X as long as HID. plus better quality light.

[connor]

These are cool. 3 rebel LEDs on a single star, 540Lumens at 700mA!

http://www.electronics-supply.com/admin/images/7007-pwc-10-3-l.jpg

http://www.luxeonstar.com/item.php?id=5537&link_str=1430&partno=7007-PWC-10-3

too bad there's no commercially available lenses..

[Hack On Wheels]

so ... 3 Luxeon K2 Star LEDs and 5 deg lenses runs about 40 bucks.

i did omit the LED driver cost which is i guess $20, but apparently you can build you own for a lot cheaper and then have more control too.

i've seen what this setup can do (over-driven some, so more than the rated 130 lumens) and I think it's better than a single HID. sure it's not $40 total but it should come in under $100 easily .... and it weighs about 1/3 and should last at least 2X as long as HID. plus better quality light.

Sounds good, any photos of the light setup? Oh and any idea what kind of lenses and where the parts were bought?
Thanks!

I think you can do fairly simple driver setups that allow for dimming, but I would personally just shell out the $30 or so for a bflex from TaskLED, lots of options and versatility and no effort needed... just find a good switch to use with it and do a bit of soldering.

No matter what route you go, you can end up with a bright LED light with dimming control and even strobe modes (with nflex/bflex) for the same money (or less) as you would have to pay for a TrailTech HID (cheapest HID that I know of) with similar light output.

Also, if anyone is interested, it sounds like a limited number of new R2 bin LEDs from CREE are floating around... some here (until they sell out): http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut651

No idea when they will be available in greater numbers and more tints. Also worth noting that this means R3 and R4 bin LEDs aren't too far away. Not to mention, the R2 is only 7 lumens more at 350mA (based on the minimum lumen outputs for both).

[connor]

^^^ Dude 540 Lumens!!!

don't forget you need housing and a battery, and charger too. my TT was $199 for everything.

[Hack On Wheels]

^^^ Dude 540 Lumens!!!

don't forget you need housing and a battery, and charger too. my TT was $199 for everything.

Haha, I think I will go for 600+ lumens with Q5 or R2 bin CREEs... three R2 bins could have output of 700+ lumens (before losses).

Housing design is lined up (fairly simple style outlined in one of the links I posted). Just need to possibly make a few tweaks for better heat dissipation. It will rely largely on conducting the heat through the housing and then dissipating it off the outside, should work decently when in motion. Will probably be using thermal paste/grease here and there...
Really not sure what to do for battery though. Are there any local places with good selection and pricing? I'm going to check out Polar Battery, but don't know anything about them. I'd like to avoid buying from a place like batteryspace.com if possible. A protected Li-Ion battery would be perfect... but pricey.

[connor]

I saw some lenses/collimators that fit 3 stars into a MR11 or MR16 Housing.. I think that would look better. If you could find one that fits 4, you could make your own Lupine Wilma, but brighter, for a fraction of the $600 MSRP.. that would be sick.

Haha, I think I will go for 600+ lumens with Q5 or R2 bin CREEs... three R2 bins could have output of 700+ lumens (before losses).

Housing design is lined up (fairly simple style outlined in one of the links I posted). Just need to possibly make a few tweaks for better heat dissipation. It will rely largely on conducting the heat through the housing and then dissipating it off the outside, should work decently when in motion. Will probably be using thermal paste/grease here and there...
Really not sure what to do for battery though. Are there any local places with good selection and pricing? I'm going to check out Polar Battery, but don't know anything about them. I'd like to avoid buying from a place like batteryspace.com if possible. A protected Li-Ion battery would be perfect... but pricey.

[TheGiggler]

connor: links to said mr11/16 lenses/collimators? sounds great as you said.

Hack On Wheels: ive ordered Lithium ion battery packs and smart charger from batteryspace.com ... no complaints

[Hack On Wheels]

I saw some lenses/collimators that fit 3 stars into a MR11 or MR16 Housing.. I think that would look better. If you could find one that fits 4, you could make your own Lupine Wilma, but brighter, for a fraction of the $600 MSRP.. that would be sick.

Yeah, I have seen a bunch of those. (I think some people use chopped Maglites, C or D cell to house that kind of setup.) I prefer 3 individual lenses though. I just like the options that it gives me, I can make any combination of wide angle or spot lenses that I want. Not to mention, with the 3 individual lenses I can put them side by side and have an even lower profile which will probably be a nice touch for helmet mounting.

[connor]

connor: links to said mr11/16 lenses/collimators? sounds great as you said.

Hack On Wheels: ive ordered Lithium ion battery packs and smart charger from batteryspace.com ... no complaints

http://www.led-spot.com/p_triple.shtml

They're for MR16s the first ones say optimized for Luxeon K2s. The quad lens ones seem to be for smaller Nichia Rigel 083 series LEDs

[Hack On Wheels]

connor: links to said mr11/16 lenses/collimators? sounds great as you said.

Hack On Wheels: ive ordered Lithium ion battery packs and smart charger from batteryspace.com ... no complaints

Good to hear, that is where I will most likely end up getting mine from. So they ship to Canada?

[connor]

F the LEDs I want one of these.

http://www.trailtech.net/media/lights/race_and_trail_lights/trail_light/4834-SSD-40_RED_w450.jpg

Two 2" SCMR16 HID's and one 40 watt 4" SC4 HID

27500 Lux!!!! about 7000 Lumens..

[thad]

yO! Has anybody used any of the MR16 LED bulbs? I am thinking about trying some out for longer burn time on my digging lights...

[shirk]

Found something interesting.

WF-500 3-Cree Flashlight. (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7933)

http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_7933_1.jpg

3 Cree Q4's driven at 650 or so. Those specs are pulled from the Candlepower forum. I think this think puts out about 400 lumens. It's supposed to be the same as the MX Power 3 Cree with slightly better optics and space for the bigger batteries.

So my idea is two of these then cut down the housing and rewire to run off my BLT NiMh. Custom up a mount for one on each side of the helmet.

If thats not enough light then look into more efficient optics, Q5's and a Fatman driver.

[connor]

Found something interesting.

WF-500 3-Cree Flashlight. (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7933)


3 Cree Q4's driven at 650 or so. Those specs are pulled from the Candlepower forum. I think this think puts out about 400 lumens. It's supposed to be the same as the MX Power 3 Cree with slightly better optics and space for the bigger batteries.

So my idea is two of these then cut down the housing and rewire to run off my BLT NiMh. Custom up a mount for one on each side of the helmet.

If thats not enough light then look into more efficient optics, Q5's and a Fatman driver.

like this...

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178688

http://www.bakerz.us/LightStuff/3xSSC1.jpg

[synchro]

:nerd:

[connor]

shaaadddduuuppp.....

[synchro]

i don't see how the home jobbies are worth the time/hassle. buy at the right time of year and you can get a hid setup for $300.

while you guys sit here and talk shop some of us will be out riding at night.

[connor]

I have an HID, it only cost me $200.. Building lights is fun.

[onepunch]

there is nothing more confusing to me than bike light technology...this thread is on a technical level that be-fudles me. i have very little idea of what you guys are talking about, but i think it is high quality lights at waaaay cheaper than brand name stuff. I will do more research before askin stupid questions.

[synchro]

I have an HID, it only cost me $200.. Building lights is fun.

which one for $200?

last year i picked up the twin nightrider hid setup with 2 lights, y cord and a battery for $300

[Chunk]

which one for $200?

last year i picked up the twin nightrider hid setup with 2 lights, y cord and a battery for $300

I think he meant that he BUILT his own HID set for $200...

PSsst, onepunch, if you are interested, I am making my own set of Halogen bike lights. The helmet mounted unit should be done within a week or so, and the handlebar one might take a month (limited only by funds. Its not high on that priority list)

Much easier to build, good amount of light, and even cheaper :)

[connor]

TrailTechs are $199, I picked it up at the border, declared it, and didn't even pay tax.

[TheGiggler]

i don't see how the home jobbies are worth the time/hassle. buy at the right time of year and you can get a hid setup for $300.

while you guys sit here and talk shop some of us will be out riding at night.


wow dude, thanks for the insight. you figured me right out. actually like connor i have 2 HIDs ...

but I'm thinking that LED is already a better tech. i can have more light with less weight and longer burn time. plus the LED light is better quality and HIDs always get colors over time.

and i've been running "home jobbies" for like 3 or 4 years and i have no more problems than all you guys with Nite Rider switches and cables ...

the main reason to not run "home jobbies" is if you want to dump a whole bunch extra money to have a warranty and someone to fix it when it breaks. all light systems will break with enough riding and time ... you're just paying more to have someone else fix it.

[connor]

wow dude, thanks for the insight. you figured me right out. actually like connor i have 2 HIDs ...

but I'm thinking that LED is already a better tech. i can have more light with less weight and longer burn time. plus the LED light is better quality and HIDs always get colors over time.

and i've been running "home jobbies" for like 3 or 4 years and i have no more problems than all you guys with Nite Rider switches and cables ...


LEDS will have a WAAAAAAYYYY longer lifespan than HIDs too as they're solid state, like 50k-100k hrs for LED, only ~1000hrs for HID, and way less if you turn it on and off alot.

[synchro]

wow dude, thanks for the insight. you figured me right out. actually like connor i have 2 HIDs ...

but I'm thinking that LED is already a better tech. i can have more light with less weight and longer burn time. plus the LED light is better quality and HIDs always get colors over time.

and i've been running "home jobbies" for like 3 or 4 years and i have no more problems than all you guys with Nite Rider switches and cables ...

the main reason to not run "home jobbies" is if you want to dump a whole bunch extra money to have a warranty and someone to fix it when it breaks. all light systems will break with enough riding and time ... you're just paying more to have someone else fix it.


settle down maam, don't get your panties in a bunch

[TheGiggler]

settle down maam, don't get your panties in a bunch


says the guy who came all the way to the SSC and did only one run ...

[synchro]

says the guy who came all the way to the SSC and did only one run ...

says the guy who provided the best bail of the night... while walking around the campfire

[Oldfart]

F the LEDs I want one of these.

http://www.trailtech.net/media/lights/race_and_trail_lights/trail_light/4834-SSD-40_RED_w450.jpg

Two 2" SCMR16 HID's and one 40 watt 4" SC4 HID

27500 Lux!!!! about 7000 Lumens..

Holly Dyna!!! But does that mount to your chest?

[TheGiggler]

says the guy who provided the best bail of the night... while walking around the campfire


says the guy who would have frozen his ass off if not for my fire ...

[synchro]

oh my

[heckler]

says the guy who would have frozen his ass off if not for my fires ...


corrected.

says the guy who was pretty happy to get lots of runs in in a big white pickup that could hold a gazillion bikes and riders! Thanks Mark!

[TheGiggler]

^^^ one of those fires was Knight-Riders ... and it was Duke's would that got 'em going ... but yeah 2 fires was taking it up a notch :)

and like you say, at least splinky isn't chintzy with the use of his truck ... letting anyone who was wrecked bomb up and down the logging roads ...

[Rat]

anyone drinking rootbeer while there is a tapped keg is a pussy.

[shirk]

anyone drinking rootbeer while there is a tapped keg is a pussy.

I found a new signature.

[synchro]

anyone drinking rootbeer while there is a tapped keg is a pussy.


okay, next time i'm brining some screech, we'll see who the pussy is then.

[chris2]

man I wish I understood electronic shit more! those LEDs look cool and I'm not happy with my one HID.

[Uncle Duke]

man I wish I understood electronic shit more! those LEDs look cool and I'm not happy with my one HID.



its true 1 hid is pretty good but it does leave you wishing you had 2..but that must get kind of heavy?

[chris2]

its true 1 hid is pretty good but it does leave you wishing you had 2..but that must get kind of heavy?

thinking of mounting a 2nd on the bars or as Shirk mentioned one on each side of the helmet so it's not top heavy. I'll deal with the extra weight if it means I can see where I'm going!

[synchro]

thinking of mounting a 2nd on the bars or as Shirk mentioned one on each side of the helmet so it's not top heavy. I'll deal with the extra weight if it means I can see where I'm going!


how can you not be happy with 1 hid? it's still better than halogens. the hid lights hardly weigh anything at all, imo you won't notice the difference between 1 or 2 on your helmet while you're riding. 2 on the helmet is def better than 1 on the helmet and 1 on the bars.

[chris2]

how can you not be happy with 1 hid? it's still better than halogens. the hid lights hardly weigh anything at all, imo you won't notice the difference between 1 or 2 on your helmet while you're riding. 2 on the helmet is def better than 1 on the helmet and 1 on the bars.

main thing is the mount doesn't hold the light properly and it fell off part way down one of the nasty rock sections on 5th. I have to try and jimmy that so it holds. I was running a homemade 20W halogen flood before and was expecting the HID to kick it's ass, i guess I'm just a bit dissapointed in comparison.

[synchro]

what hid did you get?

[Hack On Wheels]

man I wish I understood electronic shit more! those LEDs look cool and I'm not happy with my one HID.

Honestly, I know nothing about electronics, but I am probably going to make an LED light. They are quite simple just buy a nice driver, solder the wires onto the driver, LEDs, and switch... basically everything seems to be labelled. Not too far to go wrong, and lots of designs out there to copy!

Check out the GPS/Lights/Bike Computers oriented forum on mtbr for some knowledge, or just hit up the links I posted earlier for a start. Read a bit and it might excite you, but if it doesn't then forget about it and buy another HID or one of the many solid LED lights available out there. I fall into the excited category! :P

[heckler]

chris, I had the same problem with my new NR mount, but if you mount it high on your helmet instead of near the front, it won't pull down on your helmet. change up which holes you put the straps in until it works. I solved my problem.

[Uncle Duke]

thinking of mounting a 2nd on the bars or as Shirk mentioned one on each side of the helmet so it's not top heavy. I'll deal with the extra weight if it means I can see where I'm going!



i think the side mount might be the way to go.

[chris2]

what hid did you get?

NR Rage

just hit up the links I posted earlier for a start. Read a bit and it might excite you, but if it doesn't then forget about it and buy another HID or one of the many solid LED lights available out there. I fall into the excited category! :P

thanks for the links, lots of cool stuff. I fall into the excited category too but need to wrap my head around it before actually starting anything!

chris, I had the same problem with my new NR mount, but if you mount it high on your helmet instead of near the front, it won't pull down on your helmet. change up which holes you put the straps in until it works. I solved my problem.

sorry should have said it's not the mount falling off the helmet, it's the light falling off the mount. The little teeth ridge thingies don't hold. I tried bending the piece on the light back so it would engage but it's not working.

[trail worker]

cool, I'm going to start looking into a homemade LED setup. thanks for the info.

[heckler]

The little teeth ridge thingies don't hold. I tried bending the piece on the light back so it would engage but it's not working.

my track is stiff - the light doesn't shift even without the engaging thingy

sounds like warrantee to me. call up NR - they're really good with warrantee. Lifetime on all mechanical components

800 466-8366

[Oldtimer]

These guys have been playin with the leds and others for ages.
Good reference material if you are willing to read up.

http://lists.topica.com/lists/bikecurrent/read

Personally, I haven't seen any led setups yet that are up to snuff for the riding we do here.