A clamp for your new LED torches
- Kalgrm
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A clamp for your new LED torches
Postby Kalgrm » Mon May 26, 2008 7:30 pm
Firstly, I've purchased three of these torches to be used as bike lights. Two are to be used mounted on the bike while the other one is a spare light to be carried in case I get caught after dark without my normal lights (it's a spare to be carried around). I needed a secure way to mount the two on the bike, since the supplied mounting blocks won't fit where I need them to be mounted and still let my cranks turn (that's another story).
With that in mind, I made up the following mount using a couple of strips of aluminium, a bolt and nut and a clamp from my VistaLite set (which these torches replace).
I bent the outside 10mm of the strips of Al using a pair of vice grips to provide a secure mounting plate. The bend in the middle came about when I tightened up the nut on the bolt.
What you end up with after assembly is what you see below.
And finally, when the torches are mounted on the bike:
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Kalgrm » Mon May 26, 2008 7:40 pm
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue May 27, 2008 12:19 am
With the weight of the torches out on that cantilever, they bounce around a bit. I don't want to be flicking them around whenever I hit a bump, so reducing the internal weight is an easy way to help reduce the effect.
I'll send you a PM showing the construction.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby mikesbytes » Tue May 27, 2008 10:20 am
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Postby janus77 » Tue May 27, 2008 10:26 am
**those lights are mounted on a recumbent right?**
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Postby biftek » Tue May 27, 2008 10:46 am
i brought the one mention awhile ago , but it doesn't seem to secure
recently came across this one http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004
- Kalgrm
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue May 27, 2008 11:18 am
The clamp is recycled from a set of VistaLites.mikesbytes wrote:Where did you get the screw thing that looks like it would mount on a handlebar?
Yes, that's a recumbent. I suppose it can be more difficult to spot holes, but you quickly learn vigilance. Having the lights mounted low helps to cast shadows which make the obstacles more visible.janus77 wrote:Just out of interest, is it more difficult to spot holes in the road etc when riding a recumbent compared to a regular bike? I mean I'm usually on the lookout for pot holes and cracks to avoid, is it more difficult to see these and avoid them on a bent?
**those lights are mounted on a recumbent right?**
I've heard they are not terribly good. Quite flimsy and prone to breaking. They might have beefed them up since then though.biftek wrote: recently came across this one http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby clack3rz » Tue May 27, 2008 5:00 pm
I use one of these for my cree light. It's not the strongest looking mount, but I haven't had it break yetmikesbytes wrote:Where did you get the screw thing that looks like it would mount on a handlebar?
It's good in that I can angle and swivel the light depending on what mode I have it on.
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Postby HappyHumber » Tue May 27, 2008 6:26 pm
You blokes are saving me a lot of $$ as well as any thought or personal innovation on my own part Don't forget - plagiarism is a form of flattery
cheers, Kym
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Postby Mulger bill » Tue May 27, 2008 9:45 pm
Shaun
Didyer see how grubby that chain was???
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue May 27, 2008 11:31 pm
Yeah, and it took me about 30 minutes to clean the bloody thing this morning! Two and a half chains in that baby.Mulger bill wrote: Didyer see how grubby that chain was???
Took the lights out tonight on a 3 hour mountain bike ride around the local single track. Everything went flawlessly - the mount seems to be rock-solid. Who's a happy chappy? I am!
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Mulger bill » Wed May 28, 2008 4:57 pm
How even is the beam spread in the real world?
Shaun
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Postby Kalgrm » Wed May 28, 2008 5:35 pm
It seems my alignment of the two torches is too good! I don't get any spread across the path - just a strong light out in front. It wasn't a problem last night, and I also had my HID on my helmet (ineffectual as it is now, by comparison with these things). I reckon I'll put a little piece of neoprene between the cones of the torches next time I hit the single track, just to spread the light sideways a bit.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Mulger bill » Wed May 28, 2008 5:39 pm
Now you've got me thinking... maybe Ayups need rethinking hmmm.
Shaun
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Postby Kalgrm » Wed May 28, 2008 6:11 pm
I should point out my HID is a low end one (if such a thing exists). It's a Trail Tech 10w system and the globe could be fading (don't know if this happens or not ....). But I'm also rethinking my helmet mounted HID now, after seeing first hand the set-up Pushy has on his helmet. A pair of the smaller CREE LED torches modified as per his method looked lighter than my HID and probably as bright or better.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
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Postby Mulger bill » Thu May 29, 2008 6:35 pm
Had a look, gonna have to have anotherlook at these other threads you mentioned, my MacGyver ran off and hid behind the pituitary gland during the first read
Ah well, got until tax time.
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Postby Kalgrm » Thu May 29, 2008 7:27 pm
My torches ran for three hours on Tuesday night and still seemed as bright at the end of the ride as they were at the start. I had a spare battery with me, but I never pulled it out of the pack.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby Mulger bill » Thu May 29, 2008 8:28 pm
Shaun
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Postby Kalgrm » Thu May 29, 2008 9:54 pm
About 5 hours to fully charge the batteries. Each battery costs $5 and you buy two per pack. Just buy 2 packs and you'll be able to have two on charge and two with you (~6 hours of night riding if you use only one torch at a time). The charger is ~$13. Grand total of one torch, one mount, one charger and 4 batteries comes to AUD$64 including postage. Take $10 off if you only get 2 batteries. Add $30 if you buy a second torch and mount.
I like both the price and the versatility of the system (oh, and the blinding brightness! )
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby clack3rz » Fri May 30, 2008 12:32 pm
I bought one of these and mounted it on the handlebars with one of these.
I bought a set of these batteries and this charger, also using this adapter.
All up around $50 and arrived in 1 and half weeks.
Initially I bought it because of the strobe option (and hi-med-lo), but the hi and strobe are very bright (the strobe is annoyingly bright and very distracting - possibly the same for drivers), so strobe is not an option used for me.
I do use the hi when I hit patches of road where the are no or broken street lights, then flick it back to med.
I find the med setting is enough for me to see and to been seen.
This gives me enough run-time for a morning ride (usually still going strong after 1.5 hrs).
I still carry a spare just in case, or if I decided to ride further. I then charge them when I get back and they're ready for the next ride.
I did find that this light uses PWM (Pulse Width Mode) when in med-low modes which can cause havoc with wireless sensors, so be mindful of this.
Just a matter of allowing a bit of space b/w the computer/sensors and the light.
I'd still like to get Ay Ups! but the budget isn't forgiving enough and this set-up does me fine for now.
Maybe Santa might bring me a set if I'm good this year
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Postby HappyHumber » Fri May 30, 2008 1:29 pm
Hit me up via the BNA dm; I'll get an alert. If y'know, you know.
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