12
votes
Is there a bicycle light which is hard to steal or very portable?
I always carry lights with me when riding. If I'm parking somewhere safe, like my garage at home or our locked bike room at work, then I'll leave lights attached.
If I'm at the shops then I lock the ...
- 121k
11
votes
Accepted
Why doesn't my (battery-powered) light work in the cold?
There are two reasons why it might not work:
The batteries don't like the cold. Many battery chemistries don't like the cold -- notably alkaline, manganese (heavy-duty), and NiMH/NiCad batteries. To ...
- 29.1k
11
votes
Why doesn't my (battery-powered) light work in the cold?
Batteries, especially most types of rechargeables don't work well in cold conditions. The chemical reaction that powers the electric voltage does needs some temperature to perform as intended. If you ...
- 3,612
11
votes
Accepted
Flashing light when pushing bike with (constant) low speed
This happens because the power from a hub dynamo (which technically is a magneto, not a true dynamo) is not clean sine-wave AC but consists of short pulses with alternating polarity. At high speeds ...
- 21.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Which front and rear lights can run while charging?
USB rechargeable lights are not typically designed to be run off of USB power continuously, they're only designed to be charged over USB. I run The Bike Light Database, and have tested dozens of ...
- 3,813
10
votes
150 VS 300 VS 450 lumen rear light for daytime use
Which lights are you considering? Even 150 lumens seems astoundingly powerful. For comparison, the Bontrager Flare R City (which I use) is already somewhat irritating to look at after a while, and it'...
- 15.4k
9
votes
Accepted
Using an LED torch as a helmet light, will I blind oncoming drivers?
I have a helmet mount very similar, and yes its totally possible to dazzle and annoy any other road user, from pedestrians to other cyclists to motorised vehicle drivers.
Benefits to a helmet light
...
- 121k
8
votes
Conceptual: Bike Lights built into Grips
You would be entering in a very busy market with no obvious advantages. Let's look at the two types of LEDs that you might use:
If you're using inexpensive and low-power 5050 LEDs (15 lumens@350mW; ...
- 29.1k
8
votes
LASER bicycle lights
The most important part of a vehicle light is the optics because you want a beam with a precise shape and distribution in order to illuminate the road evenly, without wasting light into the sky or ...
- 1,704
8
votes
Has anyone successfully changed the battery in a Knog Blinder Mini Dot?
I found this which suggests that you'll have to open it by force - I'd try a razor saw if there's no obvious edge to pry. You may not need to replace the battery - if there's a protection circuit ...
- 366
7
votes
Accepted
How to check your dynamo system?
When checking a Dynamo system, there are 3 basic items which need confirmation:
Power Supply: Is your dynamo producing power? Checking this requires a multimeter, preferably with alligator clips on ...
- 29.9k
6
votes
Do hub dynamos with higher power output exist?
Actually a 3 W dynamo is mislabeled. It isn't 3 W. It is 0.5 A.
A hub dynamo is mostly a constant current device. The faster it rotates, the higher is the frequency and voltage of the alternating ...
- 17.9k
5
votes
Hub dynamos and standlights
Thought I should update this just in case anyone's been looking (probably not so much in summer!).
I got a good deal on a B&M Cyo plus. This has a switch and standlight. The rear light connection ...
5
votes
Stopping interference between LED lights and wireless cycling computer
I too had major interference problems between my 700lumen Smartlight (no, not the Garmin one, just a brand called Smart) and VDO M6 wireless computer with all 3 sensors (speed, cadence, HRM) stopping ...
- 177
5
votes
Lights that don’t use o-rings
To give a brand neutral answer: all the big light brands have at least some o-ring mounting styles now, but some of them still offer clip-in brackets as optional parts for the same lights. And there ...
- 81.6k
5
votes
Is there a bicycle light which is hard to steal or very portable?
I think your question is two-fold, I will answer accordingly:
Is there a bikelight product which is very hard to steal?
As long as common fasteners (hex bolts, philips screw, etc...) are used to ...
- 2,266
5
votes
Is there a bicycle light which is hard to steal or very portable?
I personally use a helmet which has lights built in, but I've recently noticed that the same manufacturer has released detachable lights: Lumos Firefly. They attach magnetically to a mounting plate.
(...
- 151
4
votes
LED headlight eating away at power output of USB charger
A hub dynamo is typically rated at 6V/500mA, and most lights will use all of that. Modern LEDs give you a lot more light from that power, but it's still nowhere near as much as the high powered ...
- 23.3k
4
votes
Accepted
Hub dynamos and standlights
If your rear light will not come with standlight function, so (in the options I know) the front light with standlight will not "turn it on" at the rear light. Such lamp is AXA Echo 30 Auto Steady. It ...
- 2,693
4
votes
Using an LED torch as a helmet light, will I blind oncoming drivers?
Not necessarily blind, but annoy and distract.
For oncoming traffic, the best lights are ones mounted below eye level and that limit the upper beam. The easiest way to check for this online is to see ...
- 21.8k
4
votes
How reliable is the "smart" brake detection on a $20 tail light?
The brake detection is based on an accelerometer, and is not a complicated feature. I have had a similar feature on a Chinese front light and it worked ok from what I can see. So that's probably not ...
- 4,170
4
votes
150 VS 300 VS 450 lumen rear light for daytime use
The measured brightness is less important than the beam formation, or lens configuration.
Ideally for daytime usage, you want a rear light that gets driver's attention and lasts the whole ride. It ...
- 121k
4
votes
Is there a bicycle light which is hard to steal or very portable?
Personally, I take lights if I'm going to ride in the evening: if I'm delayed because of a puncture or other reason, I prefer to ride safe home (I also have a light mounted on my helmet).
Hard to ...
- 17.4k
4
votes
Is there a bicycle light which is hard to steal or very portable?
I think it's a gross mistake that bicycle manufacturers generally fail to include lights that are powered by one of the main power sources of the bike.
For non-electric bikes, this means lights ...
- 17.9k
3
votes
Using an LED torch as a helmet light, will I blind oncoming drivers?
Have a friend wear your helmet with the light mounted on it like you planned. Then go to a small residential street at twilight and see for yourself whether it is too bright. Bring a car and try ...
- 383
3
votes
Installing Schwinn Vestige frame LED cable
I would start by pulling the seatpost, fork and the bottom bracket. Use a small mirror similar to a Dentists type to try to see if the wire is attached in the frame or just passes thru. You may then ...
- 18.4k
3
votes
My Serfas USL-5 raider usb headlight failed after rain, should I attempt user service?
Don't attempt user service. The rubber front-piece doesn't give access to the body, the case body is tightly shut, and there is no way in through the power button. All you'll do is ruin the pre-...
- 909
3
votes
How helpful are neon/led lights on the rims, while riding at night?
The motion of the light is what does the work, the colour is less important as long as its bright. A valve light will describe a "flattened corkscrew" through the air and is obviously different to ...
- 121k
3
votes
AC dyno light on battery pack?
If the AC/DC convert is a simple rectifying bridge plus filter and voltage stabilizer, it should work with a direct current source as well. The only question is how many batteries connected serially ...
- 14.4k
3
votes
LASER bicycle lights
Here are just a few points that make lasers a less-than-ideal light source for road illumination purposes:
Lasers are monochromatic. While there are some exceptions in the physical labs, all the ...
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