120 replies to this topic

[hammerman]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item870be1a599

How about using an LED MR-16 bulb? It wont draw anything like the power, and should run a lot cooler.

Yep already using MR16 12v LED bulbs (the one on your link is a GU10 240V bulb)

They draw very little power hence being able to get 2.5hrs of light from 10 AA rechargeable batteries

[ChrisG]

Liking your home builds Hammerman

I did similar some years ago for a dive torch when I had access to a lathe at uni, turned some perspex for the end caps and had an MR16 bulb in a short length of pipe, joined by a cable to a couple of 12v gel cells in a 4" waste pipe on my back. Took it to about 45 meters under water without any leaks, though I did have to downrate to a 50W bulb as the original 75W started to blister the perspex lens despite only ever being used submerged in water.

[danceswithmopeds]

2 types of fitting GU10 or MR16, its 230 lumens.

Here's 2 more to play with, colour changing -- http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item230f058b13

and flat.---- http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3f058f3fb6

Edited by danceswithmopeds, 12 March 2011 - 09:58 pm.

[hammerman]

I started building them when powerful off road lights were very expensive, the stuff we were producing with 40mm pipe and MR16 bulbs was actually better that many of the commercial offerings. Moving to using the MR16 led bulbs was just a natural progression (and increased the battery run times).

I use now use the same bulbs as this guy

http://www.amquix.in...kit_method.html

The bulbs are £15 each, I seal them with clear silicone the same way he does.

Seems like everyone is building their own lights today, back ten years ago people thought we were strange building powerful lights to ride in the woods at night with.

You are right danceswithmopeds, there's no shortage of LED bulbs available now. I sometimes wonder about the quality of some of the cheap chinese stuff though.

Edited by hammerman, 12 March 2011 - 10:10 pm.

[TonyDevil]

i bought some of those lights ChrisG fitted and feck me are they bright! got stung for import tax tho, maybe as i bought 4 of em
the little bracket they came with fits around the bar up to my crashbungs on the 9er and fits around the crash bars on my mk1, so nice and easy fitment for me

gonna wire them in similar to ChrisG, with an off/on-dipped/on-main setup
would love to get some of those angle-eye glowrings and fit those on them for sidelights

[ChrisG]

Tony, in hindsight I'd look for a different position for the switch to how I've mounted it, they look nice and neat there below the clocks but with the satnav mount fitted on the bars the switch isn't that easy to get to when I'm on the move.

I've used 2 relays, one switched by the front parking/side light to give me a switched supply that everything (autocom, radio, lights, sockets, etc) runs off, then a second that's switched by an on-off-on switch where the two ons are connected the dipped and full beam. Switch wires are all hooked in to the loom at the multiplug under the left faring panel.

[hammerman]

Seems the advrider crowd have been making DIY lights too

http://advwisdom.hog.....y Lights.html

I like the way these are mounted so they turn with the forks.

[catsbum]

Seems the advrider crowd have been making DIY lights too

http://advwisdom.hog.....y Lights.html

I like the way these are mounted so they turn with the forks.

That man has way too much time on his hands

[hammerman]

That man has way too much time on his hands

You think so ? I guess the first photo says it all really



Fair play to the guy though, great job

[hammerman]

OK project started

I just bought 2 of these



http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item4aa0321221

and one of these (red one)



http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item230f044ab7

Total cost £38 posted (all UK stock)

I already have a pair of spare 5W MR16 LED bulbs

My intention is to carefully remove the peaks (looks like three small spot welds), sand the chrome back, etch prime then spray with black plastikote paint (already have all of the paint). Then they'll be mounted on my engine bars.

Watch this space, they'll either turn out well or they'll end up in the bin

Edited by hammerman, 13 March 2011 - 10:11 pm.

[ChrisG]

Might be worth leaving the peaks on as they could let you throw light further down the road without dazzling oncoming drivers

[hammerman]

Might be worth leaving the peaks on as they could let you throw light further down the road without dazzling oncoming drivers

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to mount them completely upright, if so the peaks will be on the sides of the lights and look a bit odd. I'll wait and see when they get delivered. I'll do my usual photos as I do things type of project.

[catsbum]

Well, The seller said sorry and is shipping some red ones out today

So now I have 2 free. Don't mind that

Replacement bulbs arrived today (sorry Matt bulbs only not complete units)

And one bulb is red, the other is white.

Sent him an Email asking him to slap the Dick in the shipping department

[TonyDevil]

ooooh kinky

[catsbum]

2nd ChrisG style running light arrived at work today so spent an hour changing them over.

I was following a mate the other day who said the smaller running lights were ok, but not enough to make you look twice.

The 'ChrisG' Mod will.

Pics:

Old and new

[hammerman]

The lamps arrived today so I made a start tonight

Lamps - not the greatest quality but OK



They are a basic shell that holds a standard MR16 12v bulb. They came with bulbs that have a weird rainbow / polarised glass front on them



The peaks were only held on by three small spot welds as I had suspected. It didn't take much time to carefully remove them. The metal is quite thin so a small amount of reshaping was necessary once they had been removed.



Quick test fit on the bike (OK bike needs a clean)



Chrome on shells sanded with 180 grit wet and dry to give key for etch primer tomorrow



Saturday

Slight change in direction, I decided the mounts didn't look strong enough and a single M6 mount would be better. So I cut the original mounts off, and tacked an M6 screw into the housings. A small fibre glass patch and a small amount of filler sorted the old holes out.



All sanded



Quick wipe over with acetone and a couple of coats of etch primer (nasty stuff, don't breathe the fumes in!)



Let that dry for an hour then a couple of coats of normal primer



Black top coat tomorrow.

Edited by hammerman, 19 March 2011 - 06:56 pm.

[catsbum]

Hammer
These are the same that Tedium and I fitted a couple of years ago. Oil the inside of the housings as they will corrode.
I found the need to add another screw to the other side of the ring. Great value and lights that make you be seen
I have some LED bulbs that would fit if you want them.

Got some pics somewhere

cats

edit:

Edited by CatsBum, 18 March 2011 - 09:51 pm.

[LewisBlackburn]

Where did ya get those P-Clips from?

I got a shed load for mine and there not wide enough.

Do you know what the width is on those ones you have?

Cheers
Lew

[hammerman]

Thanks Cats, but I already have some LED bulbs to fit in them. Lewis, the clips are oil cooler line clips, left over from the track car build, I'm sure I bought them from think auto. I'll measure them tomorrow.

[LewisBlackburn]

Cheers Hammerman


Lew