Ever ready bike light

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
jb
Posts: 1782
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 12:17pm
Location: Clitheroe

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by jb »

I would think most cheap plastic dynamos aren't too environmentally friendly, hardly ever used, hardly ever work properly and use up more unrecyclable materials than a cheap battery light.

Cheap bottle dynamos have done more harm to the image of dynamos than anything else IMO.
Cheers
J Bro
Bmblbzzz
Posts: 6249
Joined: 18 May 2012, 7:56pm
Location: From here to there.

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Bmblbzzz »

andrew_s wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 7:30pm
Sweep wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 6:43am
andrew_s wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 1:30am
After 28 years of dedicated dynamo use, I recently weighed up the cost of a SON 28 thru-axle wheel and Edelux 2, and instead decided to invest in a modern battery light for the new N+1.
It really is quite impressive. There's a handlebar button for dip and main beam, just like a car, and just as bright, at least if you're comparing with my car. There aren't even any worries about run time - from fully charged, it's 3h on main, 10h on dip, or 50h on dim-dip (hold the button for 2 sec, a wide 30 lux)
Can I ask what the light is?
Supernova M99
The photos show that its high and low beam are exactly that, unlike what some lights claim. But having boasted of their "extremely wide beam" why do they use such a narrow lane to illustrate it?
Carlton green
Posts: 3630
Joined: 22 Jun 2019, 12:27pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Carlton green »

jb wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 7:56pm I would think most cheap plastic dynamos aren't too environmentally friendly, hardly ever used, hardly ever work properly and use up more unrecyclable materials than a cheap battery light.

Cheap bottle dynamos have done more harm to the image of dynamos than anything else IMO.
Overly cheap anything can discredit other products in the same market ... it is often true that he who buys cheap buys twice.

The Soubitez Dynamos have a chromed plastic body and work well, I like the Union Dynamos with their alloy body too. The ones that I use are second hand, obviously, and quite a few years old. Bottle Dynamos can be cheap and effective, and really I don’t need the best I just need functional and reliable. Like many other riders, over past decades, I’ve found that a decent bottle Dynamo just works, they might drag a bit but they’re a very functional power source.
Don’t fret, it’s OK to: ride a simple old bike; ride slowly, walk, rest and admire the view; ride off-road; ride in your raincoat; ride by yourself; ride in the dark; and ride one hundred yards or one hundred miles. Your bike and your choices to suit you.
jb
Posts: 1782
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 12:17pm
Location: Clitheroe

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by jb »

Carlton green wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 10:19pm
jb wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 7:56pm I would think most cheap plastic dynamos aren't too environmentally friendly, hardly ever used, hardly ever work properly and use up more unrecyclable materials than a cheap battery light.

Cheap bottle dynamos have done more harm to the image of dynamos than anything else IMO.
Overly cheap anything can discredit other products in the same market ... it is often true that he who buys cheap buys twice.

The Soubitez Dynamos have a chromed plastic body and work well, I like the Union Dynamos with their alloy body too. The ones that I use are second hand, obviously, and quite a few years old. Bottle Dynamos can be cheap and effective, and really I don’t need the best I just need functional and reliable. Like many other riders, over past decades, I’ve found that a decent bottle Dynamo just works, they might drag a bit but they’re a very functional power source.
By 'cheap' I mean badly made, I've had Union dynamos that were both inexpensive and reliable.
The horrors in the marketplace usually have exceedingly crappy connectors, tinny useless mounting brackets and large amounts of drag giving the owner quite the opposite impression of what a good setup should be like.
And with availability of cheap powerful LED battery lamps now available there's not much chance of them ever returning.
It was probably only Evereadys offerings that gave the crap dynamo market breathing space to exist.
Cheers
J Bro
drossall
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Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 10:01pm
Location: North Hertfordshire

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by drossall »

Carlton green wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 10:19pmLike many other riders, over past decades, I’ve found that a decent bottle Dynamo just works, they might drag a bit but they’re a very functional power source.
+1
Bmblbzzz
Posts: 6249
Joined: 18 May 2012, 7:56pm
Location: From here to there.

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Bmblbzzz »

I had a Union dynamo back in the '80s. It was very, very draggy and not too bright. After a couple of years I replaced it with Ever Ready Night Riders, which were heavy and drained the batteries quickly, but were brighter and did not drag. Nor go out when you stopped.
Stradageek
Posts: 1652
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 1:07pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Stradageek »

drossall wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 8:11am
Carlton green wrote: 28 Nov 2021, 10:19pmLike many other riders, over past decades, I’ve found that a decent bottle Dynamo just works, they might drag a bit but they’re a very functional power source.
+1
Agreed - until it rains and the bottle slips on the tyre :( . I've just fitted a bottle dynamo to my wife's folder but I will be upgrading her to a hub dynamo as soon as I can find a second hand one at a reasonable price. I've never looked back since picking up a Schmidt dynohub for my bike for £15 at a bike jumble :D. I have a duplicate LED upgrade kit ready too, comprising a full wave rectifier and 5.7V Zener diode built around a pound shop LED light set, total cost £2.
rogerzilla
Posts: 2876
Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by rogerzilla »

I've never looked back since picking up a Schmidt dynohub for my bike for £15 at a bike jumble
Which is like finding the Koh-i-Noor diamond at a car boot sale!
drossall
Posts: 6107
Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 10:01pm
Location: North Hertfordshire

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by drossall »

Stradageek wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 12:57pmAgreed - until it rains and the bottle slips on the tyre
We're going round in circles here, but -1

Didn't really have trouble with slipping, especially with the old Nordlicht 2000. As long as I swapped the rubber roller for the optional metal one, that is.
Carlton green
Posts: 3630
Joined: 22 Jun 2019, 12:27pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Carlton green »

I appreciate that experiences vary but mine are common with the above from drossall and rogerzilla.

The debate about whether hub or bottle Dynamos are best never dies, but it’s a pointless debate as each type have their strengths and weaknesses and each of those judgments matters more to some people than to others. In terms of a technical solution then, IME, hubs are best. However it’s not always all about what’s the best possible technical solution but rather it’s about what meets particular individual needs, hence I use bottles and that choice has served me well.
Don’t fret, it’s OK to: ride a simple old bike; ride slowly, walk, rest and admire the view; ride off-road; ride in your raincoat; ride by yourself; ride in the dark; and ride one hundred yards or one hundred miles. Your bike and your choices to suit you.
jb
Posts: 1782
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 12:17pm
Location: Clitheroe

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by jb »

unfortunately I never had the chance of assessing bottle dynamos used with LED front lights, I suspect it would have made the already good Nordica 2000 I owned into a very good light indeed.
I did run it with an LED rear lamp with stand light which I remember was a huge jump forward in reliability as I had rear illumination even when stopped & no more blown bulbs or bad bulb connections - bliss.
Cheers
J Bro
Stradageek
Posts: 1652
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 1:07pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Stradageek »

rogerzilla wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 6:09pm
I've never looked back since picking up a Schmidt dynohub for my bike for £15 at a bike jumble
Which is like finding the Koh-i-Noor diamond at a car boot sale!
Yup, I did feel somewhat guilty when I found out what an expensive bit of kit it really was (after I got home and realised Schmidt = SON). Especially as I beat him down from £20 :oops: I comfort myself with the fact that the rest of £200's worth of parts I bought that day went towards rebuilding bikes for a charity sale :wink:
Sid Aluminium
Posts: 255
Joined: 26 Feb 2019, 7:38pm
Location: Beyond the edge of the wild

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Sid Aluminium »

Stradageek wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 12:57pmI will be upgrading her to a hub dynamo as soon as I can find a second hand one at a reasonable price.
In related news, I've been pleased with my 1.8W Sturmey-Archer GH6 energizing a Busch+Müller OneFive (30 Lux, StVZO-compliant).
rjb
Posts: 7183
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by rjb »

Sid Aluminium wrote: 30 Nov 2021, 4:57pm
Stradageek wrote: 29 Nov 2021, 12:57pmI will be upgrading her to a hub dynamo as soon as I can find a second hand one at a reasonable price.
In related news, I've been pleased with my 1.8W Sturmey-Archer GH6 energizing a Busch+Müller OneFive (30 Lux, StVZO-compliant).
The output of 1.8 watts from a GH6 is measured into a set load. If you power a led light it will generate substantially more. I used mine to illuminate a 3 watt 12v mr16 bulb and a pound shop rear with a resistor in series to drop the voltage. :wink:

Here's some useful info for anyone who can wield a soldering iron.
http://www.pilom.com/BicycleElectronics ... rcuits.htm
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
Stradageek
Posts: 1652
Joined: 17 Jan 2011, 1:07pm

Re: Ever ready bike light

Post by Stradageek »

Nice link - lots of good ideas, though I do favour half wave rectification to give a flashing LED :)
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