DIY helmet ligth - cheap, but heavy :-)

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ostetorben
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:34 pm
Location: DENMARK

by ostetorben

Hey all.

Here is my DIY helmet light. Had an old Petzl lying around, got a cheap 7Ah sealed lead battery and a 35 W halogen with aluminium-reflector. Makes night day I tell you! Add some velcro and it sits perfectly.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Ostetorben/MTBLygte

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
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ostetorben
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:34 pm
Location: DENMARK

by ostetorben

Heavy being the battery of course!

alanmclean
Posts: 297
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:10 pm
Location: Inverclyde, Scotland

by alanmclean

Nice light.

But watch out. This may run very hot.

I have a 35 watt bar mounted halogen light. It is essentially a heating element which happens to emit a small fraction of energy as light.

My metal bodied lamp sizzles when rain hits it and I have to turn it off when stationary because it overheats when out of an airstream. ( I know this because I can smell burning electric componentry.)

It may melt through your housing, helmet and head. But it is probably worth it. Good luck.

Alan

2 wheels
Posts: 4898
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:56 am

by 2 wheels

Heavy light - isn't that an oxymoron?

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marecej
Posts: 616
Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 12:24 pm
Location: Prague

by marecej

2 wheels :no1:
Unno Horn = 8100g
Ellsworth Truth = 9371g

ostetorben
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:34 pm
Location: DENMARK

by ostetorben

Heavy ligtht, hmmmm :-)

Regarding the heat, I found out the hard way (smoke and stuff) that I should use a halogen bulp with an aluminum reflektor. These bulps send 80% more heat forward compared to normal bulps (which are apparently called "cold beam" due to their dichroic reflector sending most heat to the back). Tried first with aluminum foil. Bad idea.

But the 35W lights up the night I tell you, will try to make a helmet-cam-holder to make a nice video. Poor animals with their dilated iris in the middle of the night :shock:

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



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