Dynamo hubs

[Siao]

So, I am in the process of getting a new C2W scheme bike, which will be used for a very long touring trip.

As it is just about to be built, I am thinking of dynamo hubs and if they are worth it, especially for long trips where there is little chance of charging phone/lights in the wilderness.

Anyone has experience with this? Is it worth it? And how does it work; I know you need the dynamo hub and an adaptor (USB), but I am interested to find out if anyone has charged power banks over the course of a day rather than just running commuter lights.

Also, when not in use, how much resistance is there? I know that bikepacking means a lot of weight and therefore effort, so anything to avoid unnecessary extra work would be good.

Any help/info would be much appreciated!

[Solocle]

Siao said:

So, I am in the process of getting a new C2W scheme bike, which will be used for a very long touring trip.

As it is just about to be built, I am thinking of dynamo hubs and if they are worth it, especially for long trips where there is little chance of charging phone/lights in the wilderness.

Anyone has experience with this? Is it worth it? And how does it work; I know you need the dynamo hub and an adaptor (USB), but I am interested to find out if anyone has charged power banks over the course of a day rather than just running commuter lights.

Also, when not in use, how much resistance is there? I know that bikepacking means a lot of weight and therefore effort, so anything to avoid unnecessary extra work would be good.

Any help/info would be much appreciated!

I like the lack of worry about lights that come with dynamos.

While I do have a USB charger, I don't have much experience with using it, I tend to use power banks for my USB devices (and wall chargers at civilisation). But it means that I don't have to charge lights as well.

As for drag, I don't notice it, even when in operation. It's there, but it's about 3 watts.

[WPA]

Been running a dynamo set up on my Brompton for ages, no hassles.

I would always recommend a Son 28 hub with son lighting, 5 year warranty

Well worth running a charging device as well, just hook up to a powerbank and charge your devices from that.

Lots of useful information here: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/dynamo-tech-help/

[Siao]

Thank you both, much appreciated. I'll have a look at that link too.

[mikecassie]

OP, I've done a 10 day bikepacking trip using a SON dynamo for power going to a powerbank with occasional charges from cafes etc when stopping to eat. I'd my iphone charge at night, charge my earbuds as and when but mainly at night and the Garmin 830 would get charged every 2-3 days directly while riding if it wasn't raining or in the evening once I'd stopped.

Trying to charge an iPhone direct off the dynamo doesn't work, you need to keep a good speed, which I couldn't so it'd drop out of charging, then in, then out thus discharging the phone faster.

It's surprisingly efficient, I honestly can't tell it's there although it is a heavy hub. I was also running Exposure dynamo lights so they would be on all day as well. I like the dynamo so much I have another set, so I can use 700c or 650b wheels dependant on where I'm going to ride.

[Solocle]

mikecassie said:

OP, I've done a 10 day bikepacking trip using a SON dynamo for power going to a powerbank with occasional charges from cafes etc when stopping to eat. I'd my iphone charge at night, charge my earbuds as and when but mainly at night and the Garmin 830 would get charged every 2-3 days directly while riding if it wasn't raining or in the evening once I'd stopped.

Trying to charge an iPhone direct off the dynamo doesn't work, you need to keep a good speed, which I couldn't so it'd drop out of charging, then in, then out thus discharging the phone faster.

It's surprisingly efficient, I honestly can't tell it's there although it is a heavy hub. I was also running Exposure dynamo lights so they would be on all day as well. I like the dynamo so much I have another set, so I can use 700c or 650b wheels dependant on where I'm going to ride.

I too have a second set, on my commuter bike. The SON Edelux II lamp I have on the roadie is definitely worth the extra outlay, though, the B&M cyo N on the commuter is a bit anemic for full night outside of street lighting - doable, but suboptimal. Came with the bike, though, so can't complain!

Both bikes have SP PD-7 hubs.

Cyo N:



The beam throw of the Edelux is just incredible tbh.

[Siao]

mikecassie said:

OP, I've done a 10 day bikepacking trip using a SON dynamo for power going to a powerbank with occasional charges from cafes etc when stopping to eat. I'd my iphone charge at night, charge my earbuds as and when but mainly at night and the Garmin 830 would get charged every 2-3 days directly while riding if it wasn't raining or in the evening once I'd stopped.

Trying to charge an iPhone direct off the dynamo doesn't work, you need to keep a good speed, which I couldn't so it'd drop out of charging, then in, then out thus discharging the phone faster.

It's surprisingly efficient, I honestly can't tell it's there although it is a heavy hub. I was also running Exposure dynamo lights so they would be on all day as well. I like the dynamo so much I have another set, so I can use 700c or 650b wheels dependant on where I'm going to ride.

Ah, thanks, this is what I was thinking, possibly charging a powerbank and then charge the phone overnight. I just didn't know if it is worth doing this or just get a big powerbank (25k mah or whatever) and charge it once every few days when we find a hotel or a cafe.

Still debating it!

[RizzoTheRat]

Mine doesn't have a charger port, but I don't notice any extra drag if I have my light on or off on my commuter. It's only about 5W so pretty small. Fixed lights are great, no forgetting to take them with you, or having to take them off when you lock the bike up.

A mate who did a big bike tour a few years ago got a solar rechargeable battery back that he strapped on top of his panniers during the day and then used to charge his phone at night

[Siao]

RizzoTheRat said:

Mine doesn't have a charger port, but I don't notice any extra drag if I have my light on or off on my commuter. It's only about 5W so pretty small. Fixed lights are great, no forgetting to take them with you, or having to take them off when you lock the bike up.

A mate who did a big bike tour a few years ago got a solar rechargeable battery back that he strapped on top of his panniers during the day and then used to charge his phone at night

I think the charger port is only needed if you want to charge devices, it has to change AC/DC. Otherwise the lights don't need anything extra. Silly question; do the lights stay on all the time or can you turn them off?

As for solar, my mate that did the same had to throw the solar panels after a week, didn't work at all. May have been cheap crappy ones though, that was 10 years ago.

[RizzoTheRat]

Siao said:

Silly question; do the lights stay on all the time or can you turn them off?

On mine the dynamo only powers the front light, and it has an on off switch on the light, although I usually leave it on all the time. It also has a built in capacitor so the light stays on, albeit more dimly, for several minutes when I stop.

My previous bike had a light sensor on the the lamp so it had on, of and auto modes. It went out as soon as I stopped though which was a bit disconcerting at junctions.

[Siao]

RizzoTheRat said:

Siao said:

Silly question; do the lights stay on all the time or can you turn them off?

On mine the dynamo only powers the front light, and it has an on off switch on the light, although I usually leave it on all the time. It also has a built in capacitor so the light stays on, albeit more dimly, for several minutes when I stop.

My previous bike had a light sensor on the the lamp so it had on, of and auto modes. It went out as soon as I stopped though which was a bit disconcerting at junctions.

Oh, that doesn't sound good, like the old timey wheel dynamos, it was off when you stopped rolling!

Ok, thank you for the clarification, very helpful. I thought it was always on, so always drawing power and giving some resistance.

[Solocle]

Siao said:

Oh, that doesn't sound good, like the old timey wheel dynamos, it was off when you stopped rolling!

Ok, thank you for the clarification, very helpful. I thought it was always on, so always drawing power and giving some resistance.

The lights often have a switch on them, but certainly on my roadie the charging unit has a toggle between powering the lights and charging the USB.

That's more convenient as a light switch, although I'll typically just leave them on. It does give a way of dipping the lights briefly as a courtesy signal, though

[Siao]

Solocle said:

The lights often have a switch on them, but certainly on my roadie the charging unit has a toggle between powering the lights and charging the USB.

That's more convenient as a light switch, although I'll typically just leave them on. It does give a way of dipping the lights briefly as a courtesy signal, though

That's great, I thought that technology would have moved, but, then again, you can never be sure!! Thank you for the pic too, it is always nice to see the real thing.

I am more leaning towards the charging side, I don't think I'll need the lights in this trip. It will be mostly off road, so we will be tired and want to stop by the time that lights would be needed.

[Solocle]

Siao said:

That's great, I thought that technology would have moved, but, then again, you can never be sure!! Thank you for the pic too, it is always nice to see the real thing.

I am more leaning towards the charging side, I don't think I'll need the lights in this trip. It will be mostly off road, so we will be tired and want to stop by the time that lights would be needed.

The standlight function is incredibly useful, way ahead of old bottle dynamos - and LEDs make a massive difference.

This is standlight (bottom light at the rear):

[James6112]

Since the advent of LED lights, can’t see the point of an expensive dynamo tbh.
LED backup is as cheap as chips, weighs nothing & small!

[RizzoTheRat]

The main advantage is you don't have to think about it.
My fixed light isn't as bright as my Cateye Volt 800, but I never have to think will be I be out after dark and need to take it with me, never have to remember to take it off if I lock my bike up in town, don't have to have a bag or pocket I can put it in while in the pub, don't have to remember to charge it, and I don't even have to remember to turn it on. I never used the Cateye any more.
Absolutely brilliant on a commuter or city bike, but probably not worth it for a proper road bike.

As for cost, a basic Shimano Nexus and a light are about £50, although of course you'd need the wheel rebuilt too.

[outnumbered]

Solocle said:

Don't tell me, another motorway you cycled on "by accident"?

[Siao]

outnumbered said:

Solocle said:

Don't tell me, another motorway you cycled on "by accident"?

The sign clearly says "not a motorway"!!! 😁

[Siao]

Solocle said:

Siao said:

That's great, I thought that technology would have moved, but, then again, you can never be sure!! Thank you for the pic too, it is always nice to see the real thing.

I am more leaning towards the charging side, I don't think I'll need the lights in this trip. It will be mostly off road, so we will be tired and want to stop by the time that lights would be needed.

The standlight function is incredibly useful, way ahead of old bottle dynamos - and LEDs make a massive difference.

This is standlight (bottom light at the rear):

I had to search what standlight is, but yeah, it sounds like a capacitor that keeps some charge so the light doesn't just turn off, right?

[Siao]

RizzoTheRat said:

The main advantage is you don't have to think about it.
My fixed light isn't as bright as my Cateye Volt 800, but I never have to think will be I be out after dark and need to take it with me, never have to remember to take it off if I lock my bike up in town, don't have to have a bag or pocket I can put it in while in the pub, don't have to remember to charge it, and I don't even have to remember to turn it on. I never used the Cateye any more.
Absolutely brilliant on a commuter or city bike, but probably not worth it for a proper road bike.

As for cost, a basic Shimano Nexus and a light are about £50, although of course you'd need the wheel rebuilt too.

And this is my problem; this will be a MTB, but will be used in a long tour. Basically we are going to follow the Tour Divide route, so we will be off the grid for days. Then again, you don't normally put dynamo hubs on a MTB when you're going on the South Downs! Which is what it will be doing outside this trip. I may ask them to send it with two front wheels, one with the dynamo and one normal one.