Rebel LED bike light for messenger bag

I know what you are all thinking, yet another of the dozens of LED bike lights, well needless to say I am taking a slightly different spin on the idea. After reading Mackstann's instructable on his LED backpack bike light I knew I had to build one that would fit my needs. The challenge I faced was that I don't use a backpack, I carry a Timbuk2 messenger bag which uses only one strap. The problem is that whenever I put on the bag and go riding I sinch up the main strap, so the light needed to be able to slide or strap onto the strap. I also wanted to contain all the batteries and electronics on the strap, so I would avoid having to run wires all over the place.

I only want front lights because I have a Lithium Glo-toob on the back of my messenger bag which works fine. I will use two of the White 100 Lumen Endor Stars and an 8 "AA" battery pack.

Specs:
Output - 360 Lumens
Power - 6.7 Watts
Runtime - 3+ hours
Batteries - 8x 1.2v Ni-Mh
Cost - $120

Step 1 Parts List

2x Endor star lenses
1x Tube of silver thermal epoxy
1x 700mA Powerpuck driver
2x Endor star 100 lumens (180 @ 700mA)
From LED Supply
1x JB Weld (Mackstann thank you for introducing this to me, it works so much better than silicone)
Any of these Dealers
1x 8 "AA" battery holder
1x 9v battery snap
1x Miniature Toggle switch
Radioshack (so over priced)
1x Camera/ iPod / Gadget pouch
Circuitcity
It is this little $8 pouch that brought my entire project together (wow that's sad), because this was the enclosure that needed to attach to my bag strap. It was after some fiddling around with the 8 "AA" battery pack that I realized it fit perfectly in my small camera bag, well circuit city has dozens of these to choice from so I took a trip down there and found exactly what I needed. It has a firm clasp that won't slide around even when riding, and the LEDs can pop right out of the top.

Parts I already had lying around:

-Aluminum plate
-Heatsink
-8 AA Ni-Mh batteries and charger.

If you are looking for Aluminum or anything else for that matter go to Mc-MasterCarr.

You will also need basic soldering supplies, and shrink wrap helps

Comments

[curlyfry562]

Update: My rechargeable Ni-MH died, so I tried running it on primaries and it works, even thought the voltage is more than a little over spec. No heating issues either, that silver epoxy is paying off.

[mackstann]

Hey! Cool!

[tstartrekdude]

Cost - $120 0_0...wow
take a look at this site http://www.dealextreme.com

on this site you can get two q5 led emitters( more efficient, and brighter) for about $13, a 5 pack of 700ma driver bored's for $10 some thermal compound for $3 or you could get a "drop in" that is a reflector emitter and driver all in one for about $15.

besides paying way to much, you made a very nice light, it looks nice and neat and would be nice for a work light.

[curlyfry562]

I am familiar with deal extreme, with some of there parts you get what you pay for, and generally I try to steer away from them, although I am glad you mentioned there Cree Q5 stars, because I wasn't aware they had gotten that cheap, I might consider them for future projects.