What's a good red rear tail light for e bike?

[alpharalpha]

I've pretty much got my front lighting system that will run off the pack figured out, but finding a red rear setup that will run off the pack as well is proving more of a challenge. I don't want to waste too much power back there. Anyone have any advice on this?

 

[Tench]

Grin do a rear that will run from 12-100v but it is quite expensive. If you can find a suitable dc/dc dropper to suit you pack voltage and 3v then you could use any of the over the counter bicycle lights that normally take 2x AAA.

 

[Ykick]

I got some of these from a different seller in RED and they handle up to 80V. EDIT to add, I didn't notice they're selling a "pair" so that's a pretty comparable deal to what I paid. I ended up buying 2 anyway. One got destroyed in wet - it was full of water and still worked for a while. I better sealed the spare and it's working just fine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-LED-CREE-Day-Spot-Light-Motorcycle-Car-Truck-Bicycles-Boat-Off-Road-12V-24V-/251550046867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a918d1a93

They're very bright and I used some cling wrap to tone it down a little for a rear light. They're also not very waterproof/resistant asis but that's fairly easy to rework with Silcone sealant.

OMT, they draw under 0.1A or about 5W off my 66V pack.

 

[The fingers]

Many riders I've seen lately are pairing red and white blinky lights facing to the rear so the cagers take notice day or night.

 

[amberwolf]

See my CrazyBike2 thread, last page or so (end of July, beginning of August, 2014); I'm using a small wallwart AC adapter from Goodwill wired into my pack to give ~14.5V output at enough current to run all my lighting; the actual tailight is a motorcycle LED taillight (there are many variations) as well as a brake light bar (also LED) off of some car in a junkyard, and also some unknown brand LED light bars from Goodwill, and a Harbor Freight tow-hitch tailight cover.

Any one of these would be bright enough for most folks. (I just wanna be SURE they know I'm there. :lol: )

I don't rmember the totla power consumption ATM, but for just one of the lights it is probably pretty low.


http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12500&start=975#p924908
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12500&start=975#p926060

 

[www.recumbents.com]

My vote is for Magic shine tail light plus Lian DC-DC convertor. It's very bright even in the daytime.

Magic shine tail light - $28
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MagicShine-MJ-818-LED-Bike-Tail-Light-includes-Y-Cable-and-O-rings/281067506059?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23490%26meid%3D8852693947640873158%26pid%3D100012%26prg%3D10073%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D280752532003

DC-DC Multi-Purpose Voltage Converter $14.98
http://www.lyen.com/

Total - about $50 and it will run on your e-bike battery.

-Warren.

 

[biohazardman]

The planetbike superflash series of rear lights are very popular, very bright and easy on the batteries. You can use rechargeables if you need to be green. After a few months on the road at night I found these. Have not used anything else since.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/planet-bike-superflash-turbo

 

[alpharalpha]

I got some of these from a different seller in RED and they handle up to 80V. EDIT to add, I didn't notice they're selling a "pair" so that's a pretty comparable deal to what I paid. I ended up buying 2 anyway. One got destroyed in wet - it was full of water and still worked for a while. I better sealed the spare and it's working just fine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-LED-CREE-Day-Spot-Light-Motorcycle-Car-Truck-Bicycles-Boat-Off-Road-12V-24V-/251550046867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a918d1a93

They're very bright and I used some cling wrap to tone it down a little for a rear light. They're also not very waterproof/resistant asis but that's fairly easy to rework with Silcone sealant.

OMT, they draw under 0.1A or about 5W off my 66V pack.

This is one I've looked at but wasn't sure what kind of beam it put out (wouldn't want a laser pointer blinding motorist behind me.) So you think one with some cling wrap around it makes for a reasonable rear light?

 

[Ykick]

I got some of these from a different seller in RED and they handle up to 80V. EDIT to add, I didn't notice they're selling a "pair" so that's a pretty comparable deal to what I paid. I ended up buying 2 anyway. One got destroyed in wet - it was full of water and still worked for a while. I better sealed the spare and it's working just fine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-LED-CREE-Day-Spot-Light-Motorcycle-Car-Truck-Bicycles-Boat-Off-Road-12V-24V-/251550046867?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a918d1a93

They're very bright and I used some cling wrap to tone it down a little for a rear light. They're also not very waterproof/resistant asis but that's fairly easy to rework with Silcone sealant.

OMT, they draw under 0.1A or about 5W off my 66V pack.

This is one I've looked at but wasn't sure what kind of beam it put out (wouldn't want a laser pointer blinding motorist behind me.) So you think one with some cling wrap around it makes for a reasonable rear light?

The lens unscrews and you can add some of that frosted cling wrap, label tape, paint or maybe rough it up with sandpaper? It doesn't get very hot. Another method would be sand/glass blaster to give it more of a frosted dispersion. Good little LED(s) for the money.

 

[docnjoj]

I just ordered 2 red ones. Bright is good cause we only ride during the day.
otherDoc

 

[docnjoj]

Oops, I forgot. How do I make them blink?
otherDoc

 

[Eclectic]

I was getting ready to work on the same thing. Maybe one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-Shipping-LED-Flash-Strobe-Light-6-Ways-Flasher-Flashing-Controller-Box-New-/291053424881

or just build something using a 555 timer. There are lots of circuit designs on the interwebs.

 

[Ykick]

I was getting ready to work on the same thing. Maybe one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Free-Shipping-LED-Flash-Strobe-Light-6-Ways-Flasher-Flashing-Controller-Box-New-/291053424881

or just build something using a 555 timer. There are lots of circuit designs on the interwebs.

Don't go the blinky route myself. My concern is triggering seizures in some folks.

 

[cal3thousand]

I just ordered 2 red ones. Bright is good cause we only ride during the day.
otherDoc

That's why I'm going 12V on all my lighting. It's very easy to get 12V compatible parts, including flashers. Maybe 12V ones will work up to your voltage?

 

[Eclectic]

Sorry - I just noticed that the taillights you just bought have the converter/driver built in. Don't know if my solutions would work. They might work but don't know for sure and they do require a 12VDC supply.

 

[itchynackers]

The planetbike superflash series of rear lights are very popular, very bright and easy on the batteries. You can use rechargeables if you need to be green. After a few months on the road at night I found these. Have not used anything else since.

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/planet-bike-superflash-turbo

Agree 100%. Very bright. Different flash modes. Use rechargeables. They last months. No wiring to worry about.

 

[Eclectic]

Don't go the blinky route myself. My concern is triggering seizures in some folks.

Maybe adjusting the blinking rate to not bother others so much.

One thing I learned from riding motorcycles is that a single static light is often filtered out many people's optical sub-processes and never makes it to their cognitive brain. Single light means it's part of the background and not important enough to be part of the decision making process. 2 lights means it's a vehicle and you can judge distance and speed using them. Movement on the other hand usually triggers the optical sub-processors to send an alert to the cognitive part of your brain. They may still choose to ignore it but at least you have a better shot than if it gets filtered out before they decide what to do next.

 

[alpharalpha]

I just ordered 2 red ones. Bright is good cause we only ride during the day.
otherDoc

They are sold as day lights.


I've also found thesejust not real fond of the red/blue combo, but they blink and are affordable enough at around $5 shipped http://www.ebay.com/itm/370879720841?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT#ht_1586wt_1191

 

[Eclectic]

From the California Vehicle Code:

"21201.3. (a) A bicycle or motorized bicycle used by a peace
officer, as defined in Section 830.1 of, subdivision (a), (b), (c),
(d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (b) or
(d) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32
of, Section 830.33 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of,
subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, or Section 830.6 of, the Penal
Code, in the performance of the peace officer's duties, may display a
steady or flashing blue warning light that is visible from the
front, sides, or rear of the bicycle or motorized bicycle.
(b) No person shall display a steady or flashing blue warning
light on a bicycle or motorized bicycle except as authorized under
subdivision (a)."

Don't know about where you live but blue lights in California would get you noticed real quick. Potentially impersonating an officer?

 

[teklektik]

I just ordered 2 red ones. Bright is good cause we only ride during the day.
otherDoc

That's why I'm going 12V on all my lighting. It's very easy to get 12V compatible parts, including flashers. Maybe 12V ones will work up to your voltage?

What he said.... Also - might as well use real motor vehicle safety lighting if you're going to play on their court.

I want no-maintenance lights just like a real motor vehicle without having safety issues because a forgotten tiny light battery didn't get charged. Motor vehicles already solved the 'super visible in daylight' problem, so why solve it again? I've had guys pull up and tell me how far away they can see the bike in bright sunlight (not really surprising - it's a DOT truck turn signal).


The tail light is a 6” Oval Optronics STL72RK Tail/Turn/Stop LED truck light that normally flush mounts with a rubber grommet. The grommet is not used and the sealed LED unit is surface mounted to a plate with auto emblem tape. It uses a per-LED reflector system that makes the LEDs appear large and extremely bright.

The 10 LED brake light element is strobed as an Extreme Blinky instead of used as a brake light. When the headlight is ON the tail light element is also ON so there is a dimmer constant tail light between flashes at night so the vehicle can be tracked.

LED strobing is provided by an ‘LSC-100B Continuous Pulsing Strobe Module’ from SuperBrightLEDs (http://www.superbrightleds.com/ ) that flashes 4 times quickly, pauses, and then repeats. The module is about $5 and is very small (think: pack of gum). Headlight, turn lignals, and tail light run off a 12v (13.5v) DC/DC converter - quick and easy.

 

[alpharalpha]

Yeah, maybe forget the blue and red one; that red cree light is looking pretty good.

 

[miro13car]

To me if it comes to bicycle rear light wattage of LED is everything.
Flashing patterns means nothing if you use 1W or less rated LEDs.
Good light cost more of course, obvious.
There is more to bike rear light than most think: quality lenses, thick plastic enclosures, water-proof gaskets, cheap lights would NOT have it.
I use Cygolite Hotshot 2W LED light designed and manufatured in USA which I modified to run on 18650 cells , two cells in parallel in separate water-proofed box with momentary-on switch.

 

[Ykick]

Don't go the blinky route myself. My concern is triggering seizures in some folks.

Maybe adjusting the blinking rate to not bother others so much.

One thing I learned from riding motorcycles is that a single static light is often filtered out many people's optical sub-processes and never makes it to their cognitive brain. Single light means it's part of the background and not important enough to be part of the decision making process. 2 lights means it's a vehicle and you can judge distance and speed using them. Movement on the other hand usually triggers the optical sub-processors to send an alert to the cognitive part of your brain. They may still choose to ignore it but at least you have a better shot than if it gets filtered out before they decide what to do next.

I was referring to the light that had "strobe" in the listing description. Not my thing.

Riding motos, brake light modulation can be a good thing in some situations and often do it manually in heavily congested NYC and LA/San Diego traffic. However, one thing 40 years street moto experience has taught me is to hope for the best and expect the worst from fellow motorists'. I never, ever rely soley on "gimmicks" to stay out of harms way. Only keen senses and a well-trained brain can do that....

Cheep LED's I linked tested to operate on 10-80V so they're okay on 12V. Power consumption dropped to a tad under 3W on my 10V test.

 

[Chalo]

I've pretty much got my front lighting system that will run off the pack figured out, but finding a red rear setup that will run off the pack as well is proving more of a challenge. I don't want to waste too much power back there. Anyone have any advice on this?

Bright red 5mm LEDs use about 1.8-1.9V at their rated current, in my observation. You could stick a big series of them in a board (Lite Brite grid panel works great for this) and match them to your battery voltage. Easy to build, easy to troubleshoot, reliable, and efficient. If you want your taillight to flash (which is only a good idea if it's not very bright), then put a single flashing LED in series with the rest.

 

[alpharalpha]

Don't go the blinky route myself. My concern is triggering seizures in some folks.

Maybe adjusting the blinking rate to not bother others so much.

One thing I learned from riding motorcycles is that a single static light is often filtered out many people's optical sub-processes and never makes it to their cognitive brain. Single light means it's part of the background and not important enough to be part of the decision making process. 2 lights means it's a vehicle and you can judge distance and speed using them. Movement on the other hand usually triggers the optical sub-processors to send an alert to the cognitive part of your brain. They may still choose to ignore it but at least you have a better shot than if it gets filtered out before they decide what to do next.

I was referring to the light that had "strobe" in the listing description. Not my thing.

Riding motos, brake light modulation can be a good thing in some situations and often do it manually in heavily congested NYC and LA/San Diego traffic. However, one thing 40 years street moto experience has taught me is to hope for the best and expect the worst from fellow motorists'. I never, ever rely soley on "gimmicks" to stay out of harms way. Only keen senses and a well-trained brain can do that....

Cheep LED's I linked tested to operate on 10-80V so they're okay on 12V. Power consumption dropped to a tad under 3W on my 10V test.

I'm seriously considering that pair of red leds.