DIY Bike Lights

[Type R Tom]

The OH rides to work every day and as the clocks have changed wanted some new bike lights, she wanted USB so could charge them at work if necessary and we ended up settling on a Cateye Volt 200 front and rear set for £50.

They arrived today and are bright, however as far as I can tell they are a simple single LED connected to a small battery. This seems like a staggering mark up to me which got me thinking, could it be done better and cheaper.

Now I’m no electrical engineer but could you combine a one of those USB backup phone batteries to an LED and install it in an existing bike light, after all the one piece I can’t make is the lens! I’m thinking battery (5v 3A output) to a step up Voltage regulator set to 9v connected to a 10w PCB led with driver?

As I said, I’m not 100% up on this but am I moving in the right direction?

Edited by Type R Tom on Friday 4th November 11:22

[SoliD]

Might as well just get some cheap Cree units from ebay, sounds like a lot of hassle for something you can pick up working for less than £20 for 3000 lumens.

[jrb43]

Probably. But after all that, you'll have something that looks like an IED lashed to your handlebars. Ebay is your friend.