Alternative power source for bicycle headlight and rear ligh

[whit3rd]

On Nov 8, 5:24 pm, Mint <chocolatemint77...@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Nov 8, 6:48 pm, whit3rd <whit...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Nov 7, 3:48 pm, Mint <chocolatemint77...@yahoo.com> wrote:

I have two bike lights that run off with 4 AA batteries each.

Four AA cells is about the same as three lead/acid cells: get a
6V gel cell rechargeable battery for this.

Can the gel batteries be charged many times?

Charged, yes (about ten year lifetime is advertised). But they
won't survive frequent full discharge events.

I used a small generator on the bike, just let it run day (commute
to work) and night (with lamp on, coming home from work).
On schedule, after a decade or so, the battery needed replacement.

 

On Tue, 9 Nov 2010 12:14:29 -0800 (PST), Mint
<chocolatemint77581@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Nov 9, 9:43 am, default wrote:
On Sun, 7 Nov 2010 15:48:22 -0800 (PST), Mint

chocolatemint77...@yahoo.com> wrote:
I have two bike lights that run off with 4 AA batteries each.

I would like to make a single power source to run to them instead of
frequently changing out
batteries.

Both lights use LEDs.

I would appreciate any ideas.

Thanks,
             Andy

Mount neodymium magnets to the wheels and put coils on the frame -
then spend months designing an efficient battery charging and
monitoring scheme.  Or just buy a hub mounted generator for ~$300.

Rechargeable batteries and charger, are probably the practical
solution.  

You gave me an idea.

Solar cells to be used for my lead acid battery.

Andy

I discarded using solar cells because they require pointing at the sky
- eminently practical for a stationary charging station (mounted on a
garage or shed roof for instance) but less practical for a
take-anywhere supply of power.

I did have pretty good success keeping my motorcycle battery topped up
by taping a flexible PV panel to the gas tank. It was good for ~100
milliamps, not enough to charge the battery, but enough to combat
self-discharge (if I remembered to park in the sunlight).

 

[Mint]

On Nov 10, 8:29 am, default wrote:

On Tue, 9 Nov 2010 12:14:29 -0800 (PST), Mint



chocolatemint77...@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Nov 9, 9:43 am, default wrote:
On Sun, 7 Nov 2010 15:48:22 -0800 (PST), Mint

chocolatemint77...@yahoo.com> wrote:
I have two bike lights that run off with 4 AA batteries each.

I would like to make a single power source to run to them instead of
frequently changing out
batteries.

Both lights use LEDs.

I would appreciate any ideas.

Thanks,
             Andy

Mount neodymium magnets to the wheels and put coils on the frame -
then spend months designing an efficient battery charging and
monitoring scheme.  Or just buy a hub mounted generator for ~$300.

Rechargeable batteries and charger, are probably the practical
solution.  

You gave me an idea.

Solar cells to be used for my lead acid battery.

Andy

I discarded using solar cells because they require pointing at the sky
- eminently practical for a stationary charging station (mounted on a
garage or shed roof for instance) but less practical for a
take-anywhere supply of power.

I did have pretty good success keeping my motorcycle battery topped up
by taping a flexible PV panel to the gas tank.  It was good for ~100
milliamps, not enough to charge the battery, but enough to combat
self-discharge (if I remembered to park in the sunlight).

Interesting and helpful info.

Have a great day,
Andy

http://intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional
http://www.happynews.com