Battery "free" bike light.

  Step up and get your own "dynamo hum"...(FZ).  All jokes aside, its a simple dynamo light mounted to a Planet Bike light bracket.  On about 6 cranks I get 20 to 25 minutes of light.
  There is a 3.6 volt NiMH rechargeable battery that comes in the light.  SO, by free I refer to your out of pocket cost on batteries.

Step 1 Material

1. dynamo light....Harbor Freight, 2 for $8.
2. quick release light strap...most have a screw to change the mounting base, this is a Planet Bike
3. super glue
4. fingernail polish remover........or acetone

Comments

[randomray]

Good instructable . Good not to have to worry about your batteries dieing on your ride . I do recommend having a cheap red blinky light for the rear it be seen much better then a reflector . In the same vein lights or reflectors on pedals make you much easier to see also .

[602poop]

NICE, anything not to purchase batteries!

[XOIIO]

Yeah, um these do have batteries, they just recharge.

[onrust]

Are you positive?  I was told it was a capacitor.
Of course I may be wrong, and that's cool.

[XOIIO]

Yes, I've taken apart 10 or so of that kind of light. Each of them had lithium ion button cells.

[onrust]

Yes, you are correct. 
Since it was featured,  I'm not going to edit it.

[XOIIO]

It doesn't bother me if you edit it or not, I just like solving little misunderstandings and helping people understand how things work. 

[onrust]

  I thank you because I learned more about it......I went ahead and edited it anyways because it was wrong.  I'm also new here and thought I could not edit once it had been featured.
  Stay on point, please.  I WILL do more stupid stuff in "public"!

[TheZuke!]

Awww!
I was hoping it would charge via the pedals or wheels...

[rimar2000]

Anyway, with or without battery, is an excellent instructable. And if there are  batteries, but they are loaded by hand, are welcome.

[thelastonekills]

hold it
so this is a "Battery free bike light"
with a Battery in it ??????

[onrust]

I'm no tech, but I do believe that the dynamo charges a capacitor.
In the picture you can see it in blue shrink  wrap. 

[XOIIO]

Why would they shrink wrap a capacitor? I bet that you can see a line sticking up from one end to the other, which is a wire underneath. I can almost guarantee that if you rip/cut that open there will be button cell batteries.

[godofal]

i agree, i know he probably means no batteries needed to be inserted, and i understand that that doesnt fit in the title, but its also kind of deceiving...

but its a nice idea, nice instructable, and it works pretty good i think ;)

[Celt]

No no no, you see, its a dynamo-charged rechargeable battery, so you do not need to replace them.  Just crank the dynamo to recharge the internal batteries.  This is pretty cool, now imagine if you attached a cable from the dynamo to your wheel!  (hands free charging)!!

[Ganoderma]

Yeah, then you just have a normal light like found on about every bike. 

[Celt]

but the battery lasts soooo much longer.