What are the best lights to run from 24v?

monster

monster

100 kW
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
1,411
I'm talking about the kind you run off your ebike batteries. i figure people only steal bike lights for the batteries (a real problem here in the UK).

do you guys run motorcycle lights?
 
On my 44V battery system, I use two 24V 10W MR16 halogens ( that I bought from http://www.sailboatstuff.com/lt_G4_MR11_MR16.html ). Then I put together a lighting system using Home Depot 1.5" conduit connectors similar to this: http://bike-recumbent.com/headlight.shtml

With a 24V battery you could make a single headlight system for under US$20 - if you can find all the parts over there.
 
why does he go to the trouble of building a housing?

why not just solder and hot glue the lights? is it just asthetics he's worried about?
 
I wouldn't recommend using hot glue to attach a 10W - or especially not a 20W or higher - MR16 light to anything. They get hot, as hot as or hotter than hot glue does... based on my burnt finger touch test.

Why the housing? Well, in my opinion, having a housing plus a screw mounted tightening and adjusting system makes it: easier to attach and unattach, it makes it more weatherproof, it makes it possible to adjust the direction and tilt of the lights while actually riding., it's more sturdy and it's definitely better looking than just glueing the lightbulb to ones handlebars.

Still, the best reason is, as you mentioned, Monster, aesthetics. I use the same housing - although I use a blank backing plate and a small switch instead of his black rubber backing - and I spraypainted it a semi-gloss black. My headlights look professional enough to look store-bought. If you saw the lights on my bike you wouldn't think "wow. cheap electrical conduit headlights" but probably wouldn't give them much of a second glance because they just fit the rest of the bicycle style.

My headlight build thread:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=381
 

I think I have the answer:

They sell 24v LEDs that will fit any standard car/motorcycle/moped socket. They use much less electricity:

http://superbrightleds.com/other_bulbs.htm

I'd run two of the 19 led for a headlight. You should be able to pick-up a headlight from ebay, or look for a taillight setup from tncscooters.com. These bulbs should fit the sockets.
 
From the website:
Part #: 1156-W19-24V
Type: InGaN/White
Voltage: 24
Current draw (@24V): 50mA
Totality Luminous (LM): 18.80
Axial luminous intensity: (mcd): 8200
Viewing Angle: 12 degrees

I will grant you they are very low power (1.2W), but these are not particularly bright by my standards. 19 lumens is pretty low - a 12V 10W halogen is ~130 lumens. Even with 2 of them, you'd be looking at 38 lumens. And a 12 degree viewing angle is also pretty low - I'd prefer something more like 30 degrees. And $10 per bulb isn't very cheap.

The lumens per watt between these 19lm 24V 1.2W LED's and a 130lm 24V 10W halogen are about the same... so there's almost no added efficiency going with the LED's. Halogens don't last anywhere near as long as an LED... but halogens are only ~$5 each, and these LED's are $10 each (for the brightest).

In my opinion, I think a 24V 10W halogen is a better solution.
 
You're right Patrick, they aren't very bright. I agree that you'd have to use 2-3 for a headlight. However, you could point them in slightly different angles to get more degrees. Also, I think they offer different angles of illumination.
 
i've bought the 12v 10watt halogens, and i have hot glued them to the handle bars -so we'll see how long they stay there!

i'm pretty happy with them so far, thanks patrick.

they are very bright but i haven't road tested them on a night ride yet.

pack of 10 was £9 inc delivery !
 
i've bought the 12v 10watt halogens, and i have hot glued them to the handle bars -so we'll see how long they stay there!
Click to expand...
Just ride really, really fast - the breeze will cool them down. :) More seriously, 10W might be ok. The 20W ones get hot though - too hot for glue I'm sure.

But, I'm glad to hear they are working out for you. Can you post a picture?



Beagle, one thing that I must admit is that I really want to like LED's. They are just neat. And I want to support something that I think has the potential to save people a lot of energy in the long run. But for right now, they are still just a bit too narrow and bit too dim for my liking. At night, doing 30mph on a road with no streetlights, I want really bright headlights. I think you are right, you could get a bunch and get something that is as bright and as wide a beam as a halogen. But it would be expensive and require effort to build.
 
My lighting system consists of 2 Luxon 5 watt LED's with reflectors mounted in a aluminum housing I machined. I am waiting for a DC to DC converter I won on ebay to come in the mail. 36 to 12 volt. I wound up winning the bid its for 5 converters so I may have a few to sell.

I been using this setup for years doing night mountain biking, there very bright but not cheap.

Mark
 
Yeah, the 5W luxeons are nice. 140lm at 5W with a 25 degree beam. The price is ok too - not cheap, but I saw them online for less than $10 each which isn't too bad.

http://www.luxeonstar.com/5027-star-k2.pdf

The only problem that is left is the drive voltage - which you solved with the DC-DC converter. I might be interested in buying one - send me a Private Message or Email if you decide to sell them.
 
markcycle said:
My lighting system consists of 2 Luxon 5 watt LED's with reflectors mounted in a aluminum housing I machined. I am waiting for a DC to DC converter I won on ebay to come in the mail. 36 to 12 volt. I wound up winning the bid its for 5 converters so I may have a few to sell.

I been using this setup for years doing night mountain biking, there very bright but not cheap.

Mark
Click to expand...

I don't think you need a DC to DC converter. I think you can just add another 12v light and wire them in series. I've found the LEDs to be pretty flexable. For example, I bet you could wire two 24v LEDs in series and run it at 36v. I'm running a 24v LED at 36v for my taillight. However, I have burnt out a couple of the LEDs. Also, you can add a small resistor, and that seems to take away some of the voltage too.

Patrick, what I'd really like to find is a bullet headlight holder with 2-3 sockets in it. That would be perfect.

 
some "LED's" are really really bright!

my halfords bikehut light is super bright but just has one LED. i think maybe its the same technology as this luxeon thing?
 
Cree and Seoul emitters have been overtaking the Luxeons. Check out the new bicycle lighting forum over at Candle Power forums.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=86
 
i tried 2x 50watt MR16's, and that light up the day! :D -untill a bulb blew :(

i've installed a rear red MR16 but its not very red? it kind of looks orange or white if you dont see it head on. ive had to cover it with a red reflector to make it more red!

i plan to have 4 amber indicator lights aswell but they suffer the same problem and i'm now looking round for cheap orange reflectors. -there should be scrap heaps for bikes i hate having to buy every little thing new off ebay!
 
bugger! the rear light fell out on the ride to work!

will have to develop a better housing.
 
i did the diy pipe fittings lamp holder shown in this thread and it works well. those bulbs are hard to stick to a bike because of their shape. i didn't have a problem with the front bulb, but the rear light wasn't near any natural fixing points so i had to make one.

i used a 1 1/2" plastic pipe fitting. plastic is easier to cut. the bulb sandwiched nicely into the pipe's compression fitting so i didn't even need to glue it in. then i just cable tied the holder to the bike through holes drilled.
 
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