hub dynamo help please!

neilob · Post by **neilob** » 11 Jun 2008, 2:12pm

I'm sure that someone here will be able to help....I have a 30 mile round trip commute and am thinking about investing in a Schmidt hub rather than rechargeables. Apart from the obvious and too technical answer......does the 3W output compare favourably or not with a pair of 5W battery lights? And what is the best lamp to match it with? What do others do for back-up lights when stopped or riding slowly? Seems strange to be asking all this as we approach the longest day but there's nothing better than being prepared!! :lol:

fatboy · Post by **fatboy** » 11 Jun 2008, 2:22pm

I haven't used a hub dynamo but I've got a bottle dynamo which also gives out 3W. Now I use the B&M Lumotec IQ Fly which is just brilliant and just the best light that I've ever had. I've got the standlight version so it stays going after you stop. I've also got a rear light which is made by Basta that is rack mounted and also has a standlight. I now never have to worry about running out of lights etc. The only irritation is that everyone tells me that I've left my lights on!

I think that the IQ Fly front light would compare favourable with 2 x 5W rechargables because the optics is so much better. However there is a proviso here and that is that they are optimised for on-road use and hence have quite a narrow beam which would probably be less good for off-road useage.

piedwagtail91 · Post by **piedwagtail91** » 11 Jun 2008, 2:28pm

i'll second the iq fly. best i've ever used.

james01 · Post by **james01** » 11 Jun 2008, 4:49pm

Agreed. Lumotec Fly IQ beats any dynamo light I've tried. I think they're stocked at dotbike, also at sjscycles. Remember you can run it on a cheap bottle dynamo until you get around to building up the dynohub wheel.

tyrelever · Post by **tyrelever** » 11 Jun 2008, 5:39pm

Agreed Lumotec IQ Fly is brilliant.

Paul Smith SRCC · Post by **Paul Smith SRCC** » 11 Jun 2008, 6:02pm

Even if you do have a lamp with stand light like that below, many, commuters especially would often also have an additional LED light, in part so that they are more illuminated when stationary, but also should one lamp source fail on route they have another to get them home.

Busch and Muller IQ Fly Senso Plus, this model is for use with hub dynamos

Paul_Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

PW · Post by PW » 11 Jun 2008, 10:32pm

Paul, do you know how to set up a pair of these in series running off a Schmidt? I'm contemplating a twin set up for next winter to replace my ageing miners lamps :oops:

mercurykev · Post by **mercurykev** » 11 Jun 2008, 11:21pm

For my birthday last week I received an IQ fly and a shimano dynohub wheel (wheel £100 from spa cycles) and I am very impressed with the set up. I've been for a couple of midnight rides and the output enabled me to descend at 35 mph with no problem.

fatboy · Post by **fatboy** » 12 Jun 2008, 7:57am

mercurykev wrote:For my birthday last week I received an IQ fly and a shimano dynohub wheel (wheel £100 from spa cycles) and I am very impressed with the set up. I've been for a couple of midnight rides and the output enabled me to descend at 35 mph with no problem.

I take your 35 mph with IQ fly and raise you to 40+ mph!

Paul Smith's point about extra lights is possibly valid. Mind you I carry around an array of spare lights that I never use myself and end up lending to my friends when their batteries run down!

There was a discussion on here about this and there are some results on what to expect from two lights http://www.fahrradzukunft.de/fz-0704/0704-05/pic8g.gif . Unfortunately it's a bit light on detail.

Mind you I still don't know what you'd want two. One of them on their own seems fine for me.

Paul Smith SRCC · Post by **Paul Smith SRCC** » 12 Jun 2008, 10:13am

PW wrote:Paul, do you know how to set up a pair of these in series running off a Schmidt?:

We have never stocked the secondary front lamp lamp for hub dynamo (Schmidt E6 lamp shown), although this Double wiring instructions link from 'Arrivee' may be of use to help convert a BM lamp.

Paul_Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

james01 · Post by **james01** » 12 Jun 2008, 10:19am

fatboy wrote:[Mind you I carry around an array of spare lights that I never use myself and end up lending to my friends when their batteries run down!

.

As a dynamo user, battery enthusiasts are the bane of group pub trips. There always seems to be someone who's miscalculated the remaining charge in his battery; and others who "thought we'd be getting home before dark" and forgot to carry lights. Wise up! Get a dynamo & enjoy your night cycling

neilob · Post by **neilob** » 12 Jun 2008, 5:08pm

Thanks to everyone for your insight. I guess the question I should have asked is more basic.......does a 3W hub dynamo and quality lamp combo give enough good light to justify £200. It will get a lot of use so I'm not looking for payback calculations, just to share experience of whether it will be as safe and usable as a pair of 5W rechargeables (especially as I often forget to charge them when I get home tired and wet....). I understand the need for some backup and emergency lights. So thanks again to all the gurus.

syklist · Post by **syklist** » 12 Jun 2008, 6:45pm

neilob wrote:Thanks to everyone for your insight. I guess the question I should have asked is more basic.......does a 3W hub dynamo and quality lamp combo give enough good light to justify £200. It will get a lot of use so I'm not looking for payback calculations, just to share experience of whether it will be as safe and usable as a pair of 5W rechargeables (especially as I often forget to charge them when I get home tired and wet....). I understand the need for some backup and emergency lights. So thanks again to all the gurus.

We have a twin lamp set up on our Bromptons and the small-wheel SON dynamo. We're very pleased with the result as we use the bikes every day including in the winter. We feel the money was well spent as oncoming traffic definitely gives us more room now. Plus we now have lights that just keep on working, day in day out, and the dynamo drag is not noticeable.

For various reasons, partly the new Lumotech IQ series was not yet available, and also the limited space on a Brompton for two headlamps we went for a traditional B&M halogen main lamp and a secondary Schmidt E6 lamp. The light output is excellent. In terms of reach they better than the single IQ's we have on our new VSF T400's (also powered by SON's). The IQ's have a much more even spread beam and are not far behind our twin lamps in terms of reach. Plus you don't have to carry any spare bulbs for the IQ's.

The two lamps are wired in series and the SON although rated at 6v produces much more at higher speeds, on the Bromptons both lights are well lit above 12km/h. The B&M lamp turns the lights on and off with a switch. The E6 is a special secondary light which has a bypass switch instead of a simple on/off one. So if you are cycling slowly you can maximise the light output from the B&M lamp by switching out the E6. I think the IQ series might be available with as a secondary lamp. If you were to use a standard IQ as a secondary lamp (I'll be trying this out after our summer tour) you'd have to have them both on or both off.

I always carry a pair of button cell LED lamps as backup whatever bike I am using. They weigh next to nothing and can be fixed to the bikes in seconds. The light output is remarkably good.
HTH
Stan

JohnL · Post by **JohnL** » 12 Jun 2008, 9:46pm

Hi,

I'm also interested in the Schmidt IQ Fly set up. I just have one question.

Is the IQ 'rated' at all? ie. BS or equivalent (I suspect it will be a German 'K' rating of some kind).

I realise it'll probably outshine most BS lights, but I have this thing for making sure the bike is 100% 'legal', (then adding a load more real lights....) :twisted:

It's not that I'm worried about the cops, more that if some muppet does miss all the lights, he'll use it as an excuse for killing me! If I can have this as both a 'legal' and a functional light it will make everything a lot neater and be perfect for my needs...

John

David Cox · Post by **David Cox** » 12 Jun 2008, 11:26pm

I've just got a Smit dynohub and standard B and M front and back lights with standlicht facility from 3 years back on my commuter bike. Wouldn't be without it. I use it like motorists/motorcyclists do whenever its overcast or I am white lining a load of traffic. I've got LED back ups and flashers but haven't needed them except to get christmas tree effects. Brilliant though the rechargable Cateye and better modern leds are there's no substitute for building lights into the vehicle for everyday use.