Introduction: Lightrider DIY Bike Light
Made a DIY version of the revolights http://www.revolights.com
total cost for one wheel is about 35 dollar
instead of a microcontroller i use simple reed magnet switches
the two outer rings consist of 18 Led's in 6 groups each all is powered by two AA batteries they are located on the hub
the only thing i don't have because i use the reed switches is the cool animation like revolights when the wheel stands still
Materials:
36x High Power 8mm Led's (18 on each side)
2x two meter long Aluminum stripes 15mm wide (in my case shortened to 1,75 meter)
6x Reed magnet Switch
2x 2meter 7 pin flat ribbon cable (one for each side)
2x 7 pin mini plugs (for easy installation)
Zip ties to mount the whole thing on the wheel
Soldering iron
Hot glue gun
Drill
Attachments
Finalist in the
Bicycle Contest
Participated in the
Hurricane Lasers Contest
1 Person Made This Project!
adamrabbit made it!
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72 Comments
8 months ago
How are the aluminum strips attached to the wheel? Did you remove the wheel spokes to run them through the strips? And can you be more specific about those hi-power LEDs.
7 years ago
So I guess im not 100% sure how Reed magnet Switchs work, but they dont start to get messed up at higher speeds from sentrafrugal force do they?
7 years ago on Introduction
can you please make a step by step instruction?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
why do you need one? It's pretty simple. You start with the outer rings that hold the leds, depending on what leds (single ones, strips, etc) you wanna use and decide how many sections you wanna have on that ring. Then you buy the equivalent amount of reed-switches and some pin-cables that have the "specific amount" of pins plus one for the positive battery terminal. Put your leds on the ring and start connecting each pin with a section, connect the positive with all of them. Then you go for the inner ring and connect the same amount of reed-switches in a circle and connect them all to the negative battery terminal on the one hand and to the equivalent section of the outer ring on the other hand, just have to make sure that each reed-magnet is connected to the section that beams at the front when this specific reed-switch passes the magnet. And if you want to make things easy, you connect the inner and outer rings with connectors.
7 years ago on Introduction
8 years ago on Introduction
and if this would be powered by electromagnetic induction? i did a personal version of the magnetic induction powered tail light, check out:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Magnetic-induction...
imagine to substitute the magnetic switches with coils, and put a magnet
strong enough on the fork... with a little capacitor for every led
section i could it's possible to achieve an amazing result.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
that's actually a pretty good idea the only problem would be that it stops lighting when you stand still.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Yea, it's true. Would be very complex to add capacitors for every section... Now i'm testing this circuit, maybe you could be interested into: https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-contactless-magnetic-bike-rim-dynamo/step6/
Cheers!
8 years ago on Introduction
What do you mount the leds on? Aluminum strips? I was wondering if they would get corroded over time.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
yes i used aluminum strips they don't corrode
8 years ago on Introduction
Can anyone mention how this holds up in wet conditions? Long commute to work that is not always dry.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
never had a problem it's just 3 volts.
9 years ago on Introduction
WOW
excellent project!!! I will made it
HC
9 years ago on Introduction
This is excellent! How's version two coming? I'm really excited that I can do this myself!!
9 years ago on Introduction
Any update on more simple and clear instructions, I really want to build this! and those Revo lights are just ridiculously expensive!
9 years ago on Introduction
Could this be done with LED strips? http://www.ledsupply.com/r8030aa-white.php
Seems like it would require less wiring? They can be cut into 3 LED sections and wired to the reed switches... Are they too low powered?
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Of course you can use led strips. I am actually into building one with led strips for my rear wheel, i just have to finish them. They lay around in my workshop since three months or so :D
When i finish them, i make a new instructable for Version 1.0
9 years ago on Introduction
What kind of output do those LEDs have? About 8000mcd?
9 years ago on Introduction
Any idea as to when 2.0 is being uploaded? Keen to build one but will wait for the 'updated' model :)
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
Sorry that you guys have to wait so long. I hope i get it done in about a month or so, the problem is that i have not much free time to do it.
But i will upload the instructable as soon as possible!