Bicycle 3W Led Retro Headlight

Hello everybody! :)
Today I gonna show you an interesting project - retro bicycle self cooling 3W power Led headlight!

Last season, my old lamp headlight had bad durability, non-energy saver and bad brightness :(
This season I have made a new one - here's an intructuble to my Led headlight

Step 1

You'll need:

2-3 Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (standart 18650 - 3.7-4.1 Volts 2000-2350 mAh)
One 3W Led driver. (Input = 8 -12V DC Output = 3 - 13.5v DC, 700mA)
One White Lumiled Luxeon Star 3W LED.
One lens for the Led with 8 or 12 degrees
old CPU heatsink (around 6cm x 4cm x 3cm) and 1.2 inch cooler (0.03A or something about that)
1 large toggle switch (two or three positions)
Some silicone or epoxy
thermal compound (also known as thermal grease or heatsink compound)
plastic or fiberglass for heatsink mount
old headlight for bicycle
Coffee tin can with onenind top for batteries and switches
some coaxial wires (2, 3, or even 4 small wires inside from PC)

Because I had used more complicated system for headlights and rear side + stop lights you might misunderstand some steps
It will be enough 2 Li-ion batteries ad single-position toggle switch...
Also you may use another Led driver - TR-0021B inpulse led driver 4 - 18V with direct drive

As a battery charger, I've used an old RC helicopter Li-Po charger (3.9-4.1V 900mA) EK2-0851 - E-SKY Balance Charger with Mains Adaptor 7.4v/11.1v with Auto cut-off with LED indicator

Comments

[Vranov]

Once, I've been using a block of 11 Leds from a pocket flashlight...
It was a full c**p! Durability was less than 100 hours!
Then, I have found an internet site http://www.luxeonstar.com/
And began searching this kind of Leds at local radio detail market. I foud it!
I've bought one 1W led, 300mA driver and a small heatsink - it was my first headlight. Because of it's quite low brightness, a've bought two 3W leds and more powerfull batteries. Now, this is my modification of the headlight)))
Almost year of working - I love cycling, even all night long
http://tardhaus.com:8082/~scolwell/LED/lamp/star_on_heatsink.jpg

[quaybusinessoffices]

Looks interesting and I definitely going to try this out.

[Vranov]

Thanks)

By the way, using my scheme, You may use any battery. Led contoller transforms the power to the working current.
I'm using two 3.7V (7.4 total) Li-Ion batteries, but it may work with 12V, or even 9V
But remember - <6V ; >40V

[bobcat1947]

Vranov,
Simply 'mahvelous'. Really. And you retained the old school look with the headlight case. I've just gotta figure out where to buy all the parts you refer to.
As a starter, where should I try to get the 3W LED?
Well done !

[Vranov]

As I'm living in Ukraine, and in our city you can find a radio components shop with elecrical odds and ends) Leds, drivers, wirings, and even transistors...
Try to find some kind of this... Or I can build one for you and post

[bobcat1947]

Thank you. I will start looking :D

[zazenergy]

that looks awesome!

[Vranov]

I was really surprised!
This Led with heatsink and a small cooler has been working since march 2011 by today! The overall durability is about 100 000 hours - almost forever!
Total cost is about 25$ without the battery charger!