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#1
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Lights without batteries?
Any one got any knowledge of these?
http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! SW |
#2
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Lights without batteries?
Steve Watkin wrote:
Any one got any knowledge of these? http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! About the size of it. You can do this Properly, with a hub dynamo system, but that will cost you at least £50 for the unit (probably more) plus the associated wheel build costs, and then more for the lamps themselves to run off it. So that's not a cheap option, but IMHO it's well worth it on a utility machine. I run hub dynamos (Schmidt SONs, about £110 each) on my tourer and folder and the Other Half has a Schmidt on her tourer and a Shimano Ultegra unit (£60) on her hack bike. No regrets spending the money for any of them. The Shmidt is a bit nicer but the Shimano works very well and it gives you most of the bangs for half the bucks. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#3
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Lights without batteries?
Steve Watkin wrote:
Any one got any knowledge of these? I've not seen these, but... "Why was it not invented before?" AIUI, it's basically the same principle behind the Schmidt SON, so clearly it has been "invented before". And the Schmidt has a lot more magnets. Although this product is obviously a fraction of the price. Also... "* LED Light Emitting Diodes - Goodbye Batteries use Super Bright LEDS with High Luminous Intensity, Wide Viewing Angles and Crystal Clear Lens" Sounds a bit vague. Where's the full technical spec? d. |
#4
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Lights without batteries?
Steve Watkin wrote:
Any one got any knowledge of these? http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! Hmmm. This: http://www.freelights.co.uk/ was discussed back in 2003. http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk....a64a8bdf12426f And seems rather similar. BugBear |
#5
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Lights without batteries?
in message , Steve Watkin
') wrote: Any one got any knowledge of these? http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! It's a very primitive dynamo. It probably works for some value of - particularly with LEDs which don't need much power - but I'd be very surprised if it's usfully bright. -- (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ Morning had broken, and there was nothing we could do but wait patiently for the RAC to arrive. |
#6
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Lights without batteries?
Simon Brooke wrote:
in message , Steve Watkin ') wrote: Any one got any knowledge of these? http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! It's a very primitive dynamo. It probably works for some value of - particularly with LEDs which don't need much power - but I'd be very surprised if it's usfully bright. Considering that there does not appear to be any storage within the light for stand time, I would also avoid like the proverbial. -- Don Whybrow Sequi Bonum Non Time "There is a wicked pretense that one has been informed. But no such thing has truly occurred! A mere slogan, an empty litany. No arguments are heard, no evidence is weighed. It isn't news at all, only a source of amusement for idlers." (Gibson-Sterling, The Difference Engine) |
#7
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Lights without batteries?
Don Whybrow wrote:
Considering that there does not appear to be any storage within the light for stand time, I would also avoid like the proverbial. Lots of very respected dynamo lamps don't have standlight storage. Do people really avoid the SON E6 "like the proverbial"? I use standlights, but they're not as important as made out above. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#8
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Lights without batteries?
Peter Clinch wrote:
Don Whybrow wrote: Considering that there does not appear to be any storage within the light for stand time, I would also avoid like the proverbial. Lots of very respected dynamo lamps don't have standlight storage. Do people really avoid the SON E6 "like the proverbial"? I use standlights, but they're not as important as made out above. The name of this thread suggests to me that we are talking about getting suitable lights on the bike without using batteries. You may well have interpreted it differently, but that was how I was reading it. Personally, I would not like to be waiting at a junction on a cold winter night without lights. The HC requires that you are lit, it does not say that you should only be lit when moving. If I were to use a power generation system on my bike, and to be honest I do like the idea of getting a dynamo, I would want to fit lights that have standlight storage. As an alternative one could always put on additional battery powered lights, but that rather defeats the object. -- Don Whybrow Sequi Bonum Non Time "My God! The thought of that evil man, loose in London--with money, from God only knows what source--fomenting riot and rebellion during a public emergency--and in control of an Engine- driven press! It's nightmarish!" (Gibson-Sterling, "The Difference Engine") |
#9
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Lights without batteries?
"Don Whybrow" wrote in message
... Personally, I would not like to be waiting at a junction on a cold winter night without lights. The HC requires that you are lit, it does not say that you should only be lit when moving. It allows dynamo systems with no standlight - the only thing is you're supposed to pull over if you're stopped, rather than eg waiting in the middle of the road. If I were to use a power generation system on my bike, and to be honest I do like the idea of getting a dynamo, I would want to fit lights that have standlight storage. As an alternative one could always put on additional battery powered lights, but that rather defeats the object. I've never found it a problem - I've been using dynamo lights for years now, and I've not had to wait at a junction where the lack of light would be a problem. Some experience here helps - eg I plan things so as to not actually stop. If it's busy, normally the traffic is slow enough that no lights isn't a problem. YMMV obviously - this post is merely intended as a reassurance that it is actually fine. cheers, clive |
#10
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Lights without batteries?
Steve Watkin wrote: Any one got any knowledge of these? http://www.goodbyebatteries.com/ They look too good to be true, and if they look like that they normally are!! SW Well, I recently acquired a bikelight disk as part of an ebay bike purchase, and it works very well indeed. It is now on the KMX, and I have to say, at night the thing looks fantastic. (I don't think it is a great rear light, but the looks :-) http://users.pandora.be/seatventilat...ight/EWat.html The proposed lights run on the same principle, and I would say why not. For the rear, they must be a reasonable proposition. I think I'll get a pair for the kids bikes. Maintence free and bolt on axles. Can't see the problem. Bound to be more efficient that the pedals with built in LEDs. They will be a little low for the front. Bear that in mind, you will want another light at handlebar height. Neither will they illuminate the road to any great extent. Of course a SON is a better proposition, more light, smoother etc...etc..., but if you don't like the cost, just want something to be seen by, then I see no issues other than build quality (which I can't comment on). If you don't like the daytime resistence, disconnect the magnets! regards, Daren -- remove outer garment for reply |
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