Introduction: 1000+ Lumen MTB Light - Drill / Miter Saw
FIRST POST!! Last year I set out to create a MTB light (Helmet and Bar) for trail riding without breaking the bank and with reasonable tooling and parts sourcing. Everything here was sourced from Fastenal, Newark Electronics, Battery Space and LED Supply.com To say the least, I'm very happy with the results and have even sold MANY of these. The only power tools used were a miter saw (with non-ferous blade), drill press, dremel tool and sander (for finish work.) hand tools and a soldering iron as needed. I had a calibration lab measure the lumen output for this item over a period of time and the average output was around 1125lum per setup. I'm driving these MC-E LED's at 700mA each (separate driver for each one) which would equate to 1400lum but once you figure in heat, optics, etc, you have a bit of loss. Batteries are 14.8V 4.4AHr Li-Ion which are great and I'm running one spot and one flood lens on each setup (run time has been full power for >3 hours without noticing any loss in light output). Mount was from a $3 flashlight from eBay. Driving the LED's separatly has a couple advantages, main one for me is if one goes out,... you're not in the dark :-)
Step 1: Brief Instructions
The first and most critical cut is slicing the main aluminum box - the cut is made the exact thickness of the LED's plus the lens and housing to hold them tight (no glue for the lens so you can change later if needed. I used 80/20 Inc extrusion to hold the work while cutting
Step 2: Heat Sink
Second most critical part - the heat sink. YES, if you stop pedaling with these lights (since you're driving them at 700mA each) they WILL heat up and get dimmer - pedal faster ;-) The heat sink is simply aluminum bar stock with slits cut - i used spacers in the holder to align them equaly. Bevel the edges afterwards. Sand with 220 to get a smooth finish for later mounting the LED's
Step 3: Step Bit and Dry Fit
Drilling the lens hole and dryfitting. Yes - use a set of calipers - tape measure is not accurate enough.
Step 4: LED's and More Dryfit
Align the LED's with the holes by overlaying the material - use artic silver to attach them. Dry fit the whole think. Also - the only part I bought from Fastenal were the long and VERY skinny screws - I tapped and drilled in the past but this was by far a better approach.
Step 5: Final Pictures
The wiring - it's pretty basic: battery, cables, switch, driver then LED ;-) I added a couple final pictures with the mount visable. Again, the mount in this picture was taken from 2 eBay flashlights - worked really well. Hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for checking this out!
Step 6: Schematic / Parts List
Hope this helps.
Parts: (Total Price ends up being around $207 depending on sorce of materials.)
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51 Comments
6 years ago
A hacksaw and file would do this in the same time as the machinery set-up...! The result the same.
10 years ago on Step 5
can i buy this from you? how much would it cost?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Yes, it has taken a while to get the CNC machining up and running, the new designs completed etc but in short, yes these will be for sale. I will also be selling a very inexpensive kit of the machined case for the DIY crowd too :-) basically, add an LED, driver, switch and battery and you're up and running with one of these. To date, I'm still running my original pair and they are still the brightest thing on the trails and roads!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Hang tight... Revision 2 is coming soon :-) I may be offering a CNC milled version where you pick/choose your own parts! I'll post when it's ready. Thank you so much for asking!
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
How much would the cost be? If its in my range, I'd love one for my mountain bike.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Count me in, too. "Bright" idea! :)
10 years ago on Introduction
You indicate that you sold many of these - how much and can I buy one? Thanks,
Alastair
misobrilliant@gmail.com
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Emailed Separatly - There was not much margin in it after teh parts and time but yes, I would make them again. My turn around is long right now - Santa's workshop is in full swing ;-)
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
I would be interested in one also if your still building them?
Please email me the details @
fireballbob@Hotmail.com
Thank You
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
i would like to have one also.
please email me the details @
bilalbinsiraj@hotmail.com
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Understood. I'm in no rush. If you make another, I'd like to buy it! Thanks!
misobrilliant@gmail.com
10 years ago on Introduction
Nice ible
just below i saw Doonular asking if fan could be added to the design. can be done difficult but not impossible.
i have another one.
add a sensor that detect the wheel movement or speed and if below a certain speed range the MAIN LED's would turn off (save it from over heating) and a secondary small led would turn on (so that you can see your way and not invisible to others in the dark).
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Good idea - how about this: the drivers have an input that can be a resistance, dc level or PWM. I could use a 2 wire RTD mounted in the heats sink to measure the temperature. This would be fed to a comparator with a trim pot on the other leg. The result would be when the RTD reaches "x" temperature, the comparator puts a determined dc level on the LED drivers causing them to dim. Once the heats sink cools, the dc level would drop and the LED's would be at full power. I like it! To be clear though, I've never had a problem with overheating using this big heat sink (really, the whole case draws heat away too.) my comment about heat was only precautionary. Thanks
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
sounds good enough.
i come to think of it overheating wont occur as LED's will be operating at night time and after sunset temperatures drop significantly, in case you are riding downwind or coasting behind a large vehicle the heat-sink wont get enough wind over it hence over heating :) .
10 years ago on Step 2
Sorry for such a newbie question, what is the aluminum stock. And where did you source? I am a woodworker who is willing to tinker in metal.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I hear you - I've used this stuff for many of my woodworking tools and the accuracy improvements alone are worth it. 80/20inc.com is my source - mostly from their web store on ebay and through Fastenal. There are many other brands and sizes other than 80/20. Do a search for 80/20 on lumberjocks.com and you'll find a bunch of ideas.
10 years ago on Introduction
Would be cool to set this up so that it uses a reCycle, or something similar, to recharge the batteries while riding. http://www.igreenspot.com/charge-your-battery-while-biking-with-recycle/
10 years ago on Introduction
Your light is excellent!
I noticed your reference to drilling and tapping for fasteners in the past, and that you now source long skinny screws. The red anodised extrusions (and probably the silver ones) usually have provision for "roll tapping" with fluteless taps, or with thread forming screws. This provision is not always a full circle, often only 270 degrees, but makes life easier. "Tri-Lobular" screws are among the suitable types. Establish the correct size fastener by measuring the hole with a vernier, or a digital caliper, then search for a screw whose "effective" diameter matches that measurement. Note that, because no cutting of threads occurs, the diameter of the hole is larger than the normal tapping size. I usually use fluteless taps in my battery drill on low speed, taking care to align the tap accurately with the hole.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I should clear this point up - the long and skinny screws are to hold the whole "sandwiched" part together (covers, front, hearsink and back.) These screws fit nice an nsnug without forcing them into the setup. The screws I tapped are for attaching the mount to the underside. Although it hit me last night that in the furure, I'll probably just rivet the mount to the underside or made a 3D print that clips onto the side of the red case.
10 years ago on Introduction
FYI, the LED can be had for cheaper here:
http://dx.com/p/cree-xlamp-mc-e-k0-wg-370-700-lumen-led-emitter-on-20mm-star-board-mce-wg-k0-16145
They also sell drivers, lenses, lithium batteries and misc flashlight parts. I've built a few flashlights from parts there. Since it is shipping from Hong Kong though, expect deliver to take 1-2 months.