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#81
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 2018-05-09 02:24, Roger Merriman wrote:
Jeff Liebermann wrote: On Mon, 7 May 2018 13:21:02 +0000 (UTC), David Scheidt wrote: Theodore Heise wrote: :Someone noted elsethread the great variation in user requirements, :and the choice between dynamos and rechargeables is certainly :affected by them. I need a light only infrequently, so for me a :dynamo would largely be wasted weight and clutter on the bike. On Ah, but it would just work. Get on the bike, and ride. a rechargable light would have to be found, put on the bike, and discover the batteries are dead. Assuming you own an automobile, what do you check before you go for a ride or drive? Got enough gasoline? Fluid levels within limits? Tire pressure look normal? Engine warning light on? For fanatics, does the add-on OBD II display panel show anything unusual? Having driven rolling wrecks during college, walking around the vehicle to see what has fallen off or was stolen in the night was a regular ritual. Same with my bicycles. Do you check the air pressure in your tires before riding? I don't, but I give the tires a good squeeze as a crude pressure check and pump as needed. My favorite mistakes are a loose quick release, a loose nut from an unfinished repair, and my folding pedals in the folded position. I take a quick look at the frame and gears for any sign of damage. I check for my seat bag of tricks, which contains tools, parts, munchies, and a few dollars. Batteries do not provide a visual or mechanical indication of SoC (state of charge), but you can add something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lithium-ion-Charging-Battery-Voltage-Capacity-Percent-Level-LED-Indicator-18650/181692946263 Some headlights have a similar indicator built in. I use a DVM (digital voltmeter) instead. More problematic is the tail light, which usually runs on alkaline AA or AAA cells. I haven't seen one with a SoC indicator and would not expect to see one as the added circuitry and display would probably cost more than the tail light. So, I run the alkalines until they die, and carry a few spare NiMH cells which I rotate as needed. With LSD (low self discharge) NiMH cells, they remain mostly charged for months. While just jumping onto the bicycle and going for a ride is a nice thought, the reality is that we all do some manner of pre-flight check before riding. So, why is it so painful to add a headlight battery test to the checklist? For the fun bikes I probably would check the pressures and so on, for lights less, so more likely just fit the lights which are generally have charge at least enough for a few rides. The commute bike though has two rears which I use until one looses charge, and then charge. Good policy. Too often I see cyclists with only one rear light and it can barely squeeze out a couple of lumens because the batteries are exhausted. My road bike even has three, plus a large refector on the rack. ... Similar with the front light, but in generally lasts longer since it has run time of a day on low, so though I do use it as a day light, and commute hrs per week is 12hrs. I do agree though since most people change into cycling gear, that worrying about putting a light on isn’t much of a hassle really. I cycle in whatever I happen to have on. For people like me who are sensitive to man-made fibers a cycling buddy recommened these cargo shorts: https://www.costco.com/Unionbay-Men's-Wyatt-Stretch-Cargo-Short.product.100378415.html They contain a minimal amount of Spandex which makes them slightly elastic but at least for me they don't cause a skin rash. I bought three, wearing one right now, they are great. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
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#82
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
Joerg writes:
On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: 1. Hardly any bike or wheel set in America has a hub dynamo. So you have to buy new spokes and spoke it in. Horrors!! Or more seriously: Too bad you a) can't find a wheel for sale using this internet thing; and b) aren't competent at wheel building. Your usual premature conclusions. I am very particular about what quality wheel I want. I know how to build a wheel but I don't want to do it. Simple, really. 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. |
#83
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 2018-05-09 08:59, Radey Shouman wrote:
Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: [...] 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. Turn the handlebar slightly to the right, then they see the full 800 lumens. That does the trick. I don't even have to because my lights contain an aftermarket diffusor lens throwing off a good +/-45 degree beam horizontally. Most commercial bicycle lights are too narrowly focused so it is good to buy one that can be modified. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#84
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 8:59:09 AM UTC-7, Radey Shouman wrote:
Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: 1. Hardly any bike or wheel set in America has a hub dynamo. So you have to buy new spokes and spoke it in. Horrors!! Or more seriously: Too bad you a) can't find a wheel for sale using this internet thing; and b) aren't competent at wheel building. Your usual premature conclusions. I am very particular about what quality wheel I want. I know how to build a wheel but I don't want to do it. Simple, really. 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. I don't get it. If you're on a bike stopped behind the limit line, a left turning car would have to go out of its way to hit you -- and would probably whack some island or other piece of street furniture. I've never seen that happen. At an uncontrolled intersection, I could see a left-turning car hit you after you had entered the intersection. E.g.: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_us/...s/pngs/212.png I'm sure Joerg has an anecdote where thousands of unlit persons were killed by left turning cars. All the dyno using people in NL and elsewhere are in horrible danger -- particularly if they are not wearing sunglasses, which it is now "unwise" to ride without. -- Jay Beattie. |
#85
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 2018-05-09 10:08, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 8:59:09 AM UTC-7, Radey Shouman wrote: Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: [...] 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. I don't get it. If you're on a bike stopped behind the limit line, a left turning car would have to go out of its way to hit you -- and would probably whack some island or other piece of street furniture. I've never seen that happen. At an uncontrolled intersection, I could see a left-turning car hit you after you had entered the intersection. E.g.: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_us/...s/pngs/212.png This shows it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIA940no0uA Happens all the time out here. I'm sure Joerg has an anecdote where thousands of unlit persons were killed by left turning cars. All the dyno using people in NL and elsewhere are in horrible danger Danger, sometimes yes. I've had close calls but not terribly close. However, like many other risks that can be reduced with lights so I use lights. Never had a close call with the MagicShine clones. They see me much better. The daytime running lights cost me about $0.01 worth of electricity per ride. I find that very well invested. ... -- particularly if they are not wearing sunglasses, which it is now "unwise" to ride without. 1. My sister knows a road bike rider who had a bee smack into an unprotected eye on a fast descent. He almost lost that eye. I had some sort of large insect hit my sunglasses while zipping down Hollow Oak towards El Dorado Hills at 40mph, leaving a bloody splat. 2. Doesn't have to be tinted for sun protection. However, a good friend of ours developed melanoma in her left eye. The eye had to be surgically removed. Then it turned out it had already spread into the spine, legs, liver and into the other eye. No chemo anymore because its past the point where that would help much, so end-of-life plans had to be made :-( -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#86
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 5/9/2018 7:36 AM, Joerg wrote:
Your usual premature conclusions. I am very particular about what quality wheel I want. I know how to build a wheel but I don't want to do it. Simple, really. I have purchased several dynamo wheels online, with SP and Shimano hubs. They were not high quality wheels. They were $100-130 each. Higher-end wheels are available for significantly more money. I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. The issue I see is that serial red light runners are most common on left hand turns. When you're going straight across on a bicycle, you really want to have a proper light of sufficient intensity to discourage that sort of behavior. |
#87
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 2018-05-09 13:04, sms wrote:
On 5/9/2018 7:36 AM, Joerg wrote: Your usual premature conclusions. I am very particular about what quality wheel I want. I know how to build a wheel but I don't want to do it. Simple, really. I have purchased several dynamo wheels online, with SP and Shimano hubs. They were not high quality wheels. They were $100-130 each. Higher-end wheels are available for significantly more money. If my rims are up I won't have them swapped anymore but likely will buy the Vuelta road set from Nashbar that Jay recommeneded. No hub dynamo. I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. The issue I see is that serial red light runners are most common on left hand turns. When you're going straight across on a bicycle, you really want to have a proper light of sufficient intensity to discourage that sort of behavior. Same for hurried people thinking they can just step on it and screech through their left turn while I am coming from the opposite side. That's how I had my first crash as a kid, into the right rear fender of a Mercedes 300SL. Needless to say, the driver committed a hit-and-run felony. Such attempts have also become less frequent since I have these bright lights. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#88
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 5/9/2018 12:08 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 8:59:09 AM UTC-7, Radey Shouman wrote: Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: 1. Hardly any bike or wheel set in America has a hub dynamo. So you have to buy new spokes and spoke it in. Horrors!! Or more seriously: Too bad you a) can't find a wheel for sale using this internet thing; and b) aren't competent at wheel building. Your usual premature conclusions. I am very particular about what quality wheel I want. I know how to build a wheel but I don't want to do it. Simple, really. 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. I don't get it. If you're on a bike stopped behind the limit line, a left turning car would have to go out of its way to hit you -- and would probably whack some island or other piece of street furniture. I've never seen that happen. At an uncontrolled intersection, I could see a left-turning car hit you after you had entered the intersection. E.g.: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_us/...s/pngs/212.png I'm sure Joerg has an anecdote where thousands of unlit persons were killed by left turning cars. All the dyno using people in NL and elsewhere are in horrible danger -- particularly if they are not wearing sunglasses, which it is now "unwise" to ride without. Well, a measly 800 lumens might scare off wimpy Cameron Park mountain lions but you just need more power to intimidate an alligator: http://ktla.com/2018/05/08/mother-2-...olina-highway/ -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org/ Open every day since 1 April, 1971 |
#89
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 10:35:50 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2018-05-09 10:08, jbeattie wrote: On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 8:59:09 AM UTC-7, Radey Shouman wrote: Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: [...] 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. I don't get it. If you're on a bike stopped behind the limit line, a left turning car would have to go out of its way to hit you -- and would probably whack some island or other piece of street furniture. I've never seen that happen. At an uncontrolled intersection, I could see a left-turning car hit you after you had entered the intersection. E.g.: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_us/...s/pngs/212.png This shows it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIA940no0uA Happens all the time out here. I'm sure Joerg has an anecdote where thousands of unlit persons were killed by left turning cars. All the dyno using people in NL and elsewhere are in horrible danger Danger, sometimes yes. I've had close calls but not terribly close. However, like many other risks that can be reduced with lights so I use lights. Never had a close call with the MagicShine clones. They see me much better. Well, at least I understand what you're getting at. It's funny, because I have an intersection just like that going into my neighborhood. I could say that I sit there every night, but I don't -- I typically cut-over to the sidewalk, or blow the light. https://tinyurl.com/y86srn25 My standlight would be enough to get noticed, and in fact, the intersection is so well lit that I probably don't need any light. With giant California intersections, things may be different. -- Jay Beattie. |
#90
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Dynamo/LED power conditioning
On 2018-05-09 14:09, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 10:35:50 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote: On 2018-05-09 10:08, jbeattie wrote: On Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 8:59:09 AM UTC-7, Radey Shouman wrote: Joerg writes: On 2018-05-08 20:23, Frank Krygowski wrote: On Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 5:28:05 PM UTC-4, Joerg wrote: [...] 2. When you get to an intersection, traffic light or whetever where you need to stop many of these lights eitehr go out or they enter a "stand light" mode which is rather dim. Seriously, you're terrified of someone hitting you from the _front_ when you're at a traffic light? Geez... I know you don't understand these things but there are drivers who come tearing around on a left turn cutting across the "empty" left turn lane of the road on the left. To the point where the yellow lines have worn. Those people annoy me too. I don't see how lights help much in that situation, though, unless you have side marker lights. Reflective material on the side might help: Reflective tire sidewalls or reflective striping on the fenders. I don't get it. If you're on a bike stopped behind the limit line, a left turning car would have to go out of its way to hit you -- and would probably whack some island or other piece of street furniture. I've never seen that happen. At an uncontrolled intersection, I could see a left-turning car hit you after you had entered the intersection. E.g.: http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pbcat_us/...s/pngs/212.png This shows it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIA940no0uA Happens all the time out here. I'm sure Joerg has an anecdote where thousands of unlit persons were killed by left turning cars. All the dyno using people in NL and elsewhere are in horrible danger Danger, sometimes yes. I've had close calls but not terribly close. However, like many other risks that can be reduced with lights so I use lights. Never had a close call with the MagicShine clones. They see me much better. Well, at least I understand what you're getting at. It's funny, because I have an intersection just like that going into my neighborhood. I could say that I sit there every night, but I don't -- I typically cut-over to the sidewalk, or blow the light. https://tinyurl.com/y86srn25 That would be a prime spot for corner cutting, especially after "liberalizing" pot in California. I sometimes have to blow such left-turn light because these %&@$!! traffic engineers aren't sufficiently clever to provide loops that are sensitive enough even for a steel frame road bike. My standlight would be enough to get noticed, and in fact, the intersection is so well lit that I probably don't need any light. With giant California intersections, things may be different. Like this example: https://goo.gl/maps/LSfTz2cUyNy Though here cyclists aren't allowed to turn left because they are prohibited from using Highway 50. My road bike has 3W and 8W settings, plus blink at 8W but that annoys people so I don't use it. 3W is usually ok but in heavy traffic or when too many drivers behave badly it goes to full bore. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
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