Got bored today
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Got bored today
Postby Pushy » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:36 pm
I have discarded the body of the torches, soldered wires to the head of the torch and filled with silicone. Just waiting for the silicone to dry. They do work, but my solderiing skills need improving. I thought I would cook the leds.
Les
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Postby HappyHumber » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:17 pm
You've obviously got more experience with these torches - but do you think there'll be any issues dissipating the heat from what's left of the torch casing? I read in some of those buyer reviews from DealExtreme some of the torches can get warm after a bit. I spose airflow at speed does a lot.
Got all the bits for my bar mounted setup. Hopefully assembling tonight/tomorrow. All going well helmet mounts will be the next project.
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Postby Pushy » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:46 pm
Consider this method of mounting.
Its cheap, easy and works.
Les
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Postby HappyHumber » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:47 pm
One thing I plan on doing a little different is the use of molex style connectors for the leads.
A-la
Possibly a little more expensive than the bullet connectors - I think they're a little more resilient to repeated connection/disconnection and there's still no risk of shorts.
Kym
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Postby Kalgrm » Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:31 pm
The $1 coin is for scale. The connections are about $1.80 at Dick Smith.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby HappyHumber » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:05 pm
they look the business - mine kinda look like they've pulled out of a PC. And you have both cores molded into one lead.
Did those connectors come as a pair - or could you by the genders seperately?
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Postby Kalgrm » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:38 pm
The cord closest to the coin is a pre-made cord from the VistaLite system.
The cord coming from the battery pack is scavenged from a phone charger which was surplus to requirements (dead phone ... ). It actually has four wires in it, so two are soldered on one battery and two are on the other. They link at the socket.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it ....
Postby Hawkeye » Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:26 pm
They're called Ultra Deans Plugs.
Very secure, would be very suitable for MTB use. Female end always goes on power supply to prevent shorts. Impossible to connect in reverse once fitted. The female tube conectors in the Tamiya-style connectors suggested by Happy Humber tend to get spread apart with repeated re-connections and become unreliable.
I used to use both types when I raced R/C cars and ended up getting rid of all my Tamiya style connectors in favour of the Ultra Deans type. They're also much more compact.
I've probably got a few spare pairs lying around somewhere if anyone wants to try them. They're available at hobby stores dealing in electric cars and aircraft.
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Postby HappyHumber » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:57 pm
I think I'll revert to the bullet type for the time being (only cos I have some at hand!) and explore the some other options...
The ultra-deans you've shown, J.R... I've googled them a bit just now. I can't quite grasp how the wire connects from the pics. Some descriptions mention solder - which sounds like the way to go.
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Postby Kalgrm » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:09 am
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby Kalgrm » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:28 pm
I've used two of these torches with the batteries removed and the wire from my cord soldered directly onto the contacts inside. The cord has four wires inside, so a pair goes to one torch and the other pair into the other torch. They are joined appropriately at the connector. The pair weigh 125g as shown below.
The pair of torches are held onto the helmet with Velcro and a Velcro strap. The cord is long enough to reach into a jersey pocket, where the small battery pack (constructed from these batteries) can be carried.
The four wires inside my cord are soldered to the terminals and joined at the connector. I have a 4.2v charger for the battery packs which plugs straight into the connection (from another light system). The battery theoretically provides 3 hours at full power, and I have three of them to run both these and my headlights. They weigh 100g each as shown below.
Total cost for 2 torches and 3 battery packs: US$70. (The four-core cord was recycled from a redundant phone charger.)
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby uncle arthur » Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:44 pm
Postby Hawkeye » Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:08 pm
Yes, you solder to the short tabs that stick out the back of the plug. Just slide a short length of the supplied heatshrink tube on over the wire and an inch or so back first, then, once soldered, slide it back and warm it by holding the soldering iron close until it tightens up.HappyHumber wrote:The ultra-deans you've shown, J.R... I've googled them a bit just now. I can't quite grasp how the wire connects from the pics. Some descriptions mention solder - which sounds like the way to go.
Much more secure than crushing the tube over the wire and corrosion from wet weather riding won't have a chance to inhibit the connection between wire and plug.
Postby MountGower » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:00 am
Also a link to the prefered rechargeable batteries and prefered charger would be great.
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Postby Kalgrm » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:40 am
I've got three different types of torch. One is a single mode, tight beam. Another is a five mode tight beam and the two on my helmet are five mode torches with small housings (= light weight on my helmet).MountGower wrote:Are the beams different? Is the output different? They all seem to use the same lamp. Are there other benefits or reasons for choosing one over the other?
Also a link to the prefered rechargeable batteries and prefered charger would be great.
I'll let Pushy link to the batteries and charger, since I'm not at home and don't have my own computer. They have been linked in one of those other threads though.*
They don't generate much heat at all. Don't expect to be able to warm your hands on a cold morning by holding them. LEDs are very efficient at converting electricity into visible light, rather than heat.m@ wrote: .... is anyone else concerned that the heat of this kind of setup, mounted directly on a helmet, might be damaging it?
Cheers,
Graeme
* The other threads:
http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6256
http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5877
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Postby Pushy » Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:11 pm
Generally its a matter of trial and error. If you are going for a handlebar mounted light then go for one with a larger lens and reflector assembly and these will usually accept an 18650 battery. With a larger lens and reflector assembly you will usally get a good combination of light spread and throw with about 3 hours of run time. If you are looking for a helmet mounted light then go for something that accepts AA or 14500 batteries. The smaller reflector and lens means less throw but their size means that they are better suited to the helmet application.These only have a runtime of around an hour unless you use an external battery pack.MountGower wrote:I am curious as to how one decides which torches they buy. Kalgrm and Uncle Arthur have bought different torches. When you follow either of the links, the page has several different options at the bottom of the page. Are the beams different? Is the output different? They all seem to use the same lamp. Are there other benefits or reasons for choosing one over the other?
Also a link to the prefered rechargeable batteries and prefered charger would be great.
This is where the Ay-ups come into thier own. They are bike specific, every led used will produce the same light output and colour and you know what you're getting in terms of beam pattern. They are also waterproof.
Charger 1st choice
Charger 2nd choice a little slower to charge
Batteries
As far as heat is concerned, you'll probably get more heat on the helmet on a hot summers day.
Les
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Postby Kalgrm » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:15 pm
Ooh - good point MG. I forgot that I'm not using that charger any longer. I'm using the charger that came with my HID light, which is a universal Li-ion battery charger with different voltage selections. It's like one of these.MountGower wrote:Did you modify your charger to acommodate the charging of the battery pack you bound up? What exactly did you do to it?
My plan, before I worked out I could use this charger, was to use the one linked to above with a "false battery" substituted for the 18650, running a wire off that onto my battery pack's connection. It was to be like Pushy's substitute battery that he used to connect an external battery pack.
Cheers,
Graeme
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Postby m@ » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:18 pm
Good-o, thanksKalgrm wrote:They don't generate much heat at all. Don't expect to be able to warm your hands on a cold morning by holding them. LEDs are very efficient at converting electricity into visible light, rather than heat.
I think I know what my next project/money sink will be after I sort out some clipless shoes & pedals
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