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They say that necessity is the mother of all invention.......
Well its winter daylight hours now and I need to keep fit and for me that's cycling in the dark.
I need new bike lights to illuminate the path ahead as I cycle on a lot of unlit and badly maintained cycle paths and I also need to increase my visibility on the open road. After some thought I decided a pair of large diameter spotlamps is the only solution. Only they must be cheap and bright.
Several weeks of going to the carboot sales got me a matching pair of krypton bulb powered torches for 50p each and a trip to the local hardware store got me the rest of what I needed
The result is a pair of awesome bicycle spotlamps.
Well its winter daylight hours now and I need to keep fit and for me that's cycling in the dark.
I need new bike lights to illuminate the path ahead as I cycle on a lot of unlit and badly maintained cycle paths and I also need to increase my visibility on the open road. After some thought I decided a pair of large diameter spotlamps is the only solution. Only they must be cheap and bright.
Several weeks of going to the carboot sales got me a matching pair of krypton bulb powered torches for 50p each and a trip to the local hardware store got me the rest of what I needed
The result is a pair of awesome bicycle spotlamps.
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Signing UpStep 1Things you'll need.
You'll need a few things.
Two matching torches, the sort that take the big 6V batteries with the springs.
Two pipe clips.
Two nuts and bolts.
Some wire
Battery clip.
And a few tools
Hacksaw.
Glue.
Drill.
Soldering iron
Blow lamp. (Not essential)
The pair of torches I used were branded UNI-LITE UK200 and were fitted with 3W 6V krypton bulbs. My calculations are that 4 AA Ni-Mh batteries will last for about 3 hours. Experience tells me not to expect more than 1 1/2 hours per set of batteries when both lamps are on.
Total cost £8.71
Two matching torches, the sort that take the big 6V batteries with the springs.
Two pipe clips.
Two nuts and bolts.
Some wire
Battery clip.
And a few tools
Hacksaw.
Glue.
Drill.
Soldering iron
Blow lamp. (Not essential)
The pair of torches I used were branded UNI-LITE UK200 and were fitted with 3W 6V krypton bulbs. My calculations are that 4 AA Ni-Mh batteries will last for about 3 hours. Experience tells me not to expect more than 1 1/2 hours per set of batteries when both lamps are on.
Cost
£1.00 ---- Two torches from a car boot sale at 50p each.
£0.99 ---- Two jubilee hose clamps.
£1.32 ---- Power connectors x 2.
£0.40 ---- Battery holder.
£5.00 ---- New NiMh AA 2000mAh Batteries x 4
Bits from the bits box: (FREE)
Nuts and bolts. Inner tube rubber. innertube etc
Total cost £8.71
Real cost £3.71 (I already have many rechargeable AA batteries)
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I would think a rack somewhere on the bike would do the job of holding the batteries (and I am referring to the original ones). Reason for the smaller body is because the weight of the torch with the battery would rotate the torch backwards or forwards depending where the center of gravity is. So if he were to constantly go on bumpy roads, the lights would end up pointing down or something and not forward.
And I would think the torch would take a lot more power than the standard AA batteries can hold but thats just me.
As we are two peoples separated by a common language, I have just one question:
British English American English
TORCH FLASHLIGHT
SPANNER WRENCH
BRAZED ?? WELDED ??? SOLDERED?
Well done.
And the mount. Plumbing shops sell "Cushioned Pipe Clamps" which are just the thing for this.
http://www.grainger.com/1/3/superfix-cushioned-pipe-clamp