MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Ok people so a couple of questions.
I have an HID unit that seems to have died on me. Battery and charger are working fine as far as I can see, but it looks like the bulb/balast is fried.
Anyway it's upgrade time. So here are my questions. Does a bolt on solution to replace the bulb/balast unit by a LED unit exists?
What number in the LED should I be looking at? The batterie is a 11.1V and I'd like to have around 700-800 lumens and a burn time of around 4 hours.
Should I ditch it all (I'd rather not as I am quite conservative) and go for a whole new package? If yes what is the best value lumens/weight ratio unit one can find in a shop (no I won't buy it on-line).
ta very much indeed for the answers.
Email troutie I'm sure he will be able to sort you out.
Something like this will be far cheaper than getting Troutie to replace the lamp.
But if you want to keep you battery and charger you might be able to make one yourself?
thanks everyone, but both deal extrem and troutie won't be possible as I don't want to shop on-line.
Plus although trout stuf is realllllly nice I am not spending that much on a light 😉
What do you mean to make one myself rich? Mill the alloy and so?
What is the current light housuing made of?
If alloy read on, if plastic you will not be able to upgrade.
To convert a light to a LED lamp there are 4 main new components you need
1 Reflector/Lense or difuser
2 Led package
3 Heat sink
4 Control board
The others like the housing, power connector and switch (dependant on type this may need to be replaced as well) can be salvaged from your original lamp
Troutie may be able to provide you with parts 1,2,3 in a package (depending on your housing) and a PCB suitable for your battery. You would need to do the soldering of LED's->PCB, PCB->Power, PCB->Switch.
Ok Cheers rusty mac. Don't you need more than just the voltage though?
Don't you need more than just the voltage though?
Voltage will help you select the right bits to buy from Troutie and capacity of the battery combined with those parts will define how long it runs for. So to propose that course of action Rusty Mac does NOT need anymore than your desire to do this.
You'll sort out the rest between you and Troutie 😆
Don't you need more than just the voltage though?
Not to figure out the rough parts you need no, when it comes to specifics yes you will need to know the Ah rating of the battery as well, this is so that you can figure out the type of driver(control board)you will need to power your light.
Once you know how the control board works you will be able to calculate the run time of the light.
[edit] as JAG said this is reliant on you getting the bits from Troutie who will be able to advise exactly what is possible [/edit]
Just re-read your bit about not wanting to shop online this could be a problem for your light upgrade. Most of these parts will not be available at the likes of your local electrical shop. Troutie gets parts from all over the world for his lights, removing the shop online option it will make it almost impossible to get the stuff you need.
I have been racking my brains for lights you can buy from a shop and can only think of the exposure and hope lights both of which are pretty pricy.
If you decide to buy online and want an entire new light, Smudge from the forum has an online shop specialising in mountain bike batteries and lights. Below is a link to his shop
http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/our-products/
Boooo hope it is then I think... Looks like I am going to have to throw away my battery 🙁
Do you mind me asking what your aversion to buying online is?
Unfortuneately the bike light market is a small one and the market for top quality lights even smaller so the buisness tend to be more online based. And alot of shop dont stock them as they are high value low profit items.
Lumicycle
Luminous
Troutie
mtbbatteries
Aye-up (i think)
Are all pridominantly online based. You may be able to get other brands at your LBS, try asking what they could get you in on special order then go online to compare to see what suits your needs best.
With your battery you may be able to sell it with the charger - other DIY types my be interested in it.
Do you mind me asking what your aversion to buying online is?
Nope not at all. It's just that I have been shopping at the same place for now 12 years. And frankly after being given a custom made front wheel and a GD I really can't see myself buying somewhere else.
700 lumens is easy. for your 11.1 volt battery
1 or 2. XML LEDs and a Bflex driver would give an easy 1400 lumens with good runtimes
back later with more details
Cheers trout
Sound like you have had some great service from your LBS. Lights are something I personally don't feel bad about shopping round for as my LBS doesn't stock high end lights.
Ok Back again
cheapest convertion would be a single xml in your old housing if it is made from aluminium
approx cost prices
xml on 20 mm star £5
optic or reflector £2 to £10 ish depending on size
driver £10 to £25 ish
switch £5 to £10 ish
heatsink machined to go in your case ??? upto £10 ish
couple of hours work and return postage ???
with the likes of Smudges light £67 I believe at the moment though I think he has some old stock going cheaper .the sensible approach would be get one of those and see (as Rusty mac says ) if you can sell your old battery and charger or just give it away .
and cheaper lights available upgrades dont seem to be as viable as three years ago .
I could do you one of my 4 xpg mini light heads to suit your battery
for about £100
Not sure about the shop online comment? Im sure Troutie will either accept a cheque or cash if met in person? likewise myself or I can send you an invoice with my banking details on.
To be honest, i'd go the Troutlight route as you still have a good battery and charger that would be going to waste. Those mini helmet lights he sells are excellent too
Chris,
did you get my email earlier this week re. an Exposure upgrade?