Ive got all the parts,
3x3.5W LEDS
Lenses and Heatsink
Battery
Driver
Charger
Connectors
Leads
They are waiting for me in Inverness, I hope I can fit it all into an old Petzl housing. All the parts cost me about £70 so we will see how it goes at Christmas when i get the time to make it.
what headtorch?
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Re: what headtorch?
I'm way behind the times, as usual, as I've just read this gear thread !
I could, just about, live with AR having his own self-built Mutts Nuts head torch. Now it seems Ifor's going to experiment as well !
Guess I need a bit more than the W = VI that I learned in physics years ago. It's served me well, including building a large house extension.
Got a Maplins catalogue now though - lots of shiny electrical things. Can't understand why some LEDs need a resistor and some don't.
Right. . . . . . . here's the deal AR. (or anyone else who's got an unbelievably bright LED system and light battery unit.)
. . . . . . you teach me the in's and out's of the electronics, and I'll teach you how to make Biodeisel for 20p a litre. Legally no fuel tax to pay now, either.
20p a litre, imagine not having to consider the cost of fuel. . . . . ever.
If you're really helpful, I'll tell you about my hydrogen booster. Running your car on 50% water. . . . . . yes, water !!
I could, just about, live with AR having his own self-built Mutts Nuts head torch. Now it seems Ifor's going to experiment as well !
Guess I need a bit more than the W = VI that I learned in physics years ago. It's served me well, including building a large house extension.
Got a Maplins catalogue now though - lots of shiny electrical things. Can't understand why some LEDs need a resistor and some don't.
Right. . . . . . . here's the deal AR. (or anyone else who's got an unbelievably bright LED system and light battery unit.)
. . . . . . you teach me the in's and out's of the electronics, and I'll teach you how to make Biodeisel for 20p a litre. Legally no fuel tax to pay now, either.
20p a litre, imagine not having to consider the cost of fuel. . . . . ever.
If you're really helpful, I'll tell you about my hydrogen booster. Running your car on 50% water. . . . . . yes, water !!
Last edited by grubby on Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
I did promise pyrat an article a while ago, but still stuck on some of the mechanical and headband design, as I've still not really worked that out myself (still using my old Tiga headband). However I'm guessing that most people would have more trouble with the electrical and optical side, which is the bit I find easy, so I'll put something brief together covering that and thoughts I have on casings and mountings (hopefully somebody can go away and improve on that and report back). Just to give myself a deadline, I'll try and put something together by next weekend. Possibly a parts list a bit earlier to give you a chance to get bits in time to have a play during the holidays (I can see this being a multi-parter).
(sadly I think I'd kill my engine with biodiesel, since it's a fairly modern lump, and I understand they don't like it, though would love to know otherwise).
(sadly I think I'd kill my engine with biodiesel, since it's a fairly modern lump, and I understand they don't like it, though would love to know otherwise).
British candle-O champion.
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Re: what headtorch?
Excellent AR, good man.
If I can get the bits prior to Christmas, then I've got something to play with during the round of 'Christmas obligations'
Sounds like a Maplin's catalogue is not sufficient and I may have to buy elsewhere (?)
You can look forward to my 'Meltdown' at Blakeney, having wired something incorrectly !
I Should be running around by then (on fire probably !
)
Bio-deisel - The first deisel engine was designed to run on peanut oil. I currently use a 2001 VW with BDeisel. Works fine.
Don't use BD in cars older than 1994 - it's not the engine that's the problem, but the synthetic material used in various fuel transfer pipes. Post 1994, the synthetics are different. You can, of course, replace them prior to using BD.
If I can get the bits prior to Christmas, then I've got something to play with during the round of 'Christmas obligations'
Sounds like a Maplin's catalogue is not sufficient and I may have to buy elsewhere (?)
You can look forward to my 'Meltdown' at Blakeney, having wired something incorrectly !
I Should be running around by then (on fire probably !
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Bio-deisel - The first deisel engine was designed to run on peanut oil. I currently use a 2001 VW with BDeisel. Works fine.
Don't use BD in cars older than 1994 - it's not the engine that's the problem, but the synthetic material used in various fuel transfer pipes. Post 1994, the synthetics are different. You can, of course, replace them prior to using BD.
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
e-mail sent, grubby. Will tidy it up and send it in if he can understand it!
British candle-O champion.
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Re: what headtorch?
I'm now up to 4 LEDS, but would be interested in what optics people have tried. I currently have two 5 degree, one 15 degree and one 6x25 degree elliptical. That produces a much wider beam than a 'normal' Silva halogen so I'll probably try some narrower combination.
Just need more night events within striking distance now ....... Training on familiar areas with no kites only gets so far.
Just need more night events within striking distance now ....... Training on familiar areas with no kites only gets so far.
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Re: what headtorch?
I was all set to give my Mark1 light a go on Saturday night but unfortunatly getting the bflex driver set up for use with a single led on my bike last night I manged to give it too many volts (thought it was good to 24 but it's actualy 20) It did not apear to of apreciated it... It had been happy before with the same voltage but with the 3 led setup I have I guess the voltage differance between the input and output is what got me...... It looks like I am back to the old Silva again on Saturday unless my new Maxflex turns up sooner than expected.
Optics wise I have played with the following.
Carlos: I have various ones they are all realy bad...but nice and small.
Cree: Smaller 9 or 10 degree is fairly good but I wanted different styles to play with, the other style with differen sorts look too big to me for doing multi led stuff it would be nice to test them though.
Lidels: The circular spot one is very nice and I will probobly use it for my road bike as a single but is too big for multi led stuff. The square ones are what I am planning to use they look to be fairly good opticaly and are easy to build for. I have at least one of each sort that I have been looking at. I have not yet decided what I want in my final setup I will need to try them for real.
I also would of liked to try the small polymer optics ones as you could do a realy small 7 led setup with them but I saw a bad report on them and have not realy chased up a source for them.
I have max lux measurments and pictures for the ones I have tried if anyone wants more info.
Optics wise I have played with the following.
Carlos: I have various ones they are all realy bad...but nice and small.
Cree: Smaller 9 or 10 degree is fairly good but I wanted different styles to play with, the other style with differen sorts look too big to me for doing multi led stuff it would be nice to test them though.
Lidels: The circular spot one is very nice and I will probobly use it for my road bike as a single but is too big for multi led stuff. The square ones are what I am planning to use they look to be fairly good opticaly and are easy to build for. I have at least one of each sort that I have been looking at. I have not yet decided what I want in my final setup I will need to try them for real.
I also would of liked to try the small polymer optics ones as you could do a realy small 7 led setup with them but I saw a bad report on them and have not realy chased up a source for them.
I have max lux measurments and pictures for the ones I have tried if anyone wants more info.
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ifor - brown
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Re: what headtorch?
Everyone is way behind the times.
Myself and probably AR will shortly be running about in 'Stealth Mode' !
How many times have you spotted the control at night and tried to get in and out without being seen ? We've all tried bumbling about in the dark . It doesn't work when you're emitting more noise and expletives than a herd of elephants !
No. . . . I'm not going to tell you what we're up to other than to say that the wave length of light we'll be using is not in the middle of the spectrum !
Myself and probably AR will shortly be running about in 'Stealth Mode' !
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
How many times have you spotted the control at night and tried to get in and out without being seen ? We've all tried bumbling about in the dark . It doesn't work when you're emitting more noise and expletives than a herd of elephants !
No. . . . I'm not going to tell you what we're up to other than to say that the wave length of light we'll be using is not in the middle of the spectrum !
Last edited by grubby on Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
Oh the delights of air mail Maxflex 2 just turned up in the post... Now all I have to do is heat sink it and mount it in time for tonight without breaking it with my dodgy soldering.... Big old 6V battery pack will have to do as I am not going to hurry making up an li-pack with the batteries that came in from Hong Kong this morning as well dodgy quality but cheap. I want to test there runtimes for a start and one is DOA as it is. good job I bought more than I thought I needed... All this international shiping is fun I have had optics from Holland and Led and other bits and pieces from Germany....
Ifor
Ifor
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ifor - brown
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Re: what headtorch?
I can see it now. . . . . . . . .
You'll be at the far end of the wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . you'll have a shed load of points. . . . . . . . .the last bus has gone. . . . . . . . and suddenly. . .ZAP !. . . No light !![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
International shipping - Hhmmm !
I'm still waiting for two LEDs from Germany.
You'll be at the far end of the wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . you'll have a shed load of points. . . . . . . . .the last bus has gone. . . . . . . . and suddenly. . .ZAP !. . . No light !
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
International shipping - Hhmmm !
I'm still waiting for two LEDs from Germany.
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
wave length of light we'll be using is not in the middle of the spectrum !
Hope its not near the red end or your magenta overprint might vanish.......
- Paul T
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Re: what headtorch?
I couldn't possibly comment. . . . . .
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
grubby wrote:I can see it now. . . . . . . . .
You'll be at the far end of the wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . you'll have a shed load of points. . . . . . . . .the last bus has gone. . . . . . . . and suddenly. . .ZAP !. . . No light !
Whilst I trust my handywork, that's one reason I carry a (extremely small) backup - which may of course have other uses too...
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Re: what headtorch?
Adventure Racer wrote:Whilst I trust my handywork, that's one reason I carry a (extremely small) backup - which may of course have other uses too...
Aaarh ! You mean one of those Red 'Laser' pointy things for slide presentations ! Yes, I see. . . . . . blind the opposition ! Damn good idea. Only trouble is, I can often not identify who runs past me with both their 20w and my 20w on, let alone from 40m with a red LED pointy thing. I Wouldn't want to shine it at Mrs H accidently. I suspect in the ensuing melee, I might come off worse !
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
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grubby - light green
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Re: what headtorch?
grubby wrote:You'll be at the far end of the wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . you'll have a shed load of points. . . . . . . . .the last bus has gone. . . . . . . . and suddenly. . .ZAP !. . . No light !
I had plenty of practice of that on Saturday. I had failed to switch off the low voltage auto cutoff and as I was using my old 6V battery and the default cutoff 6V. I had been going about 2 mins when the thing switched off on me and I sepnt the rest of the course having to switch it on every minute... Lets you know how the times going though...
Rely nice night out and I managed not to get lost for the first time this season and probobly ran slightly better...
Ifor
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