So here is the deal, for the 2nd time in less than a year, my halogen bike light on the front has popped due to cold. This is rather bothersome and I can't find any nice inexpensive LED alternatives in my country.
So I set out to do it myself, I have possibly gathered a list of components, but I am somewhat new at building electronics that doesn't just hook up to a pre-made micro controller prototyper.
So I would like to ask you kind people if my current assumptions and hardware list is correct or if I am totally in the woods and if I am, how I should go about doing it instead?
The list:
1*3W 650~700mA Constant Current Regulated LED Driver (8~40V Input),
1*2W 160-180LM LED (Rated voltage: DC 3.0V~3.2V – Rated current: 600~650mA),
1*6.3V 3300uf Aluminum Capacitor
The dynamo is a 10 year old AXA HR Traction, possibly without power control (rated at 6 Volt/3 Watt).
I was thinking I open the housing of my bike light, take out the old stuff, connect the wires to the current regulator, connect it's output to the capacitor (for power at intersections) and then hook up the LED and run it back to the regulator?
Will this actually work?
The numbers seem right to me, but again I have no actual education in electronics.
Best Answer
If it is to be used for smoothing the capacitor should not be in series with the circuit to the regulator. A capacitor in that location can assist with voltage provided at lower speeds, but that's getting fancier than is relevant at this stage.
An excellent page is Dynamo-Powered LED Light Circuits for Bicycles.
This has a large number of ideas and circuits.
Note that the writer has a few wrong ideas so take due care about why rather than what - but you will probably find a circuit to suit your there.
MANY relevant ideas
Note that dynamos TEND towards constant current and in many cases your can get more power just by raising voltage.
Headlight conversion http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/22/pashley-dynamo-headlamp-upgrade/
Dynamo to cellphone charger http://www.arenddeboer.com/bicycle-usb-charger-using-a-hub-dynamo-update
Dynamo to Minty Boost. http://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=19515
BSc project - related to 1st ref http://www.pilom.com/BicycleElectronics/BicycleElectronics.htm
OK discussion - http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110709001827AA3kp21