Commuter dynamo setup

py · 25-07-2018 11:17am #1

Looking to get my commuter bike setup with dynamo lights, which is used for travelling in/out of Dublin city and occasionally to the local shops in all sorts of weather. Distance wise it'll probably be about 2500Km/year. Was looking for some feedback/guidance on what I've picked so far and if there's anything else I'll need.

Hub: Shimano DH-3D32
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/shimano-dh-3d32-disc-hub-dynamo-670772

Front light: Herrmans H-Black MR 8
https://www.rosebikes.com/herrmans-h-black-mr-8-dynamo-powered-headlight-2666689

Rear light: Herrmans H-Trace (have pannier rack)
https://www.rosebikes.com/herrmans-h-trace-dynamo-rear-light-for-pannier-rack-2666683

Does the hub/lights come with cables to connect them up or is that an additional purchase? Anything else I'll need to buy?

Thanks in advance.

Weepsie · 25-07-2018 11:39am

That'd give a basic, but reliable set up I imagine. You can buy a premade dynamo wheel from them or this hub is slightly cheaper https://www.rosebikes.com/shimano-dh-3d37-disc-hub-dynamo-671189 (though I can't quite find the main difference)

If it's road legal for germany, I'd trust it to be good enough (the light that is)

If getting delivered to Ireland, you have to order through rosebikes.de by the way. If parcel motel, then .co.uk is fine too.

py · 25-07-2018 11:54am

Weepsie wrote: »

That'd give a basic, but reliable set up I imagine. You can buy a premade dynamo wheel from them or this hub is slightly cheaper https://www.rosebikes.com/shimano-dh-3d37-disc-hub-dynamo-671189 (though I can't quite find the main difference)

If it's road legal for germany, I'd trust it to be good enough (the light that is)

If getting delivered to Ireland, you have to order through rosebikes.de by the way. If parcel motel, then .co.uk is fine too.

I'd got that dynamo above selected but delivery time for it is 52 weeks for some reason. Not set on purchasing from Rose, just came across it first and it had everything in the one place.

Weepsie · 25-07-2018 11:57am

Rose and SJS (in the UK) have the best selection I think, but Rose have better prices. SJS are very good at getting back to queries though and I've bought bits from them.

Hmm, I'd keep an eye on it. I wanted something and it went from out of stock, to 52 weeks to 3 days on Rose.

Sign up for the newsletter for 10 off your first order. and they do free delivery over 100. I'm meaning to order from them soon.

Here's the premade wheel. https://www.rosebikes.de/rose-trekking-vorderrad-28700c-dt-swiss-545d-disc-shimano-deore-dh-3d37-disc-nabendynamo-2665584

benneca1 · 25-07-2018 8:58pm

I got a nice dynamo wheel made up by strada wheels in UK google them they use sp dynamos and wheels are well made. CRC have an exposure revo and dynamo hub for 270. I know a mate bought one and I think for about another 70 cycle superstore built it up. Check with them ud have to pay for spokes and build the going rate for a build is about 50 euro or thereabouts

Weepsie · 25-07-2018 9:20pm

Should add, mine were built in Humphries (I got a set) and Mavic a319s. Still going strong 18 months later.

ted1 · 25-07-2018 11:14pm

I’d go for a front light with a higher lux
https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-iq-x-led-headlight-837399?product_shape=black

Or even

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/herrmans-h-black-pro-dynamo-headlight-2666687

ford2600 · 26-07-2018 7:10am

py wrote: »

Looking to get my commuter bike setup with dynamo lights, which is used for travelling in/out of Dublin city and occasionally to the local shops in all sorts of weather. Distance wise it'll probably be about 2500Km/year. Was looking for some feedback/guidance on what I've picked so far

Get a wheel rather than a hub, the Rose price is very good. I've one of their dynamo wheels and it has been very robust.

A disc hub keeps you future proofed also.

I'd get a better front light; the IQ-X is a really good light. The plastic bracket is crap though; ask Rose to replace with standard steel b&m bracket. There are two bolts on plastic one and light bounces all over place; steel bracket sorts that.

Kim on yacf.co.uk is an authority on all things dynamo related

Between hub and lights you should have all the cables/connectors you need. Fitting is basic stuff. Put a little grease on hub connector; you'll be glad you did when taking off front wheel!

The IQ-X might be overkill but it'll be audax capable also

ford2600 · 26-07-2018 11:20am

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=101369.0

Brucey & Kim are the ones I listen to in those threads.

The hub you linked Brucey reckons is fine but lower quality bearings and sealing to the DH 3N 80. For 2.5k a year it's be fine but if you intend to ride 300's etc I think you'll be in the buy cheap buy twice category.

Servicing these hubs is really difficult without shearing internal wires, so make lbs fully aware of that when the time comes.

Weepsie · 26-07-2018 11:30am

ford2600 wrote: »

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=101369.0

Brucey & Kim are the ones I listen to in those threads.

The hub you linked Brucey reckons is fine but lower quality bearings and sealing to the DH 3N 80. For 2.5k a year it's be fine but if you intend to ride 300's etc I think you'll be in the buy cheap buy twice category.

Servicing these hubs is really difficult without shearing internal wires, so make lbs fully aware of that when the time comes.

I've the DH 3N 80. Can't fault it whatsoever. Sure a SON would've been nice, but it does what I need.

Have since bought the DH T785D (I think) to get a set of discwheels made up but may not use it.

Spa Cycles also build dynamo wheels I think. They use Shutter Precision disc dynamo hubs. About 130 I think.

py · 26-07-2018 3:27pm

Thanks for all information thus far folks, really appreciate it. So the bike is hydraulic disk brake based and it's not going to be used for anything other than commuting, I need to N+1 to get something suitable for audax/touring but that's a way off yet. When I do, I'll be going for a Son manufactured dynamo.

I think buying a front wheel will probably work out cheaper so have come across these on Rose (one that Weepsie linked to) and bike24. Rose wheel doesn't appear to have rim tape and can't see a reference on Bike24 so will have to ask them if it does. Never fitted rim tape so might an ideal time to learn and save a few euro.

Given that it's only going to be used for commuting in Dublin City Centre and a few cycles around the sububs, would I need a high lux light on the front? I was also liked the idea of having a light on the rear rack as well as the mudguard, don't know if that 's overkill though.

AndrewJRenko · 26-07-2018 7:51pm

py wrote: »

Given that it's only going to be used for commuting in Dublin City Centre and a few cycles around the sububs, would I need a high lux light on the front? I was also liked the idea of having a light on the rear rack as well as the mudguard, don't know if that 's overkill though.

The two back lights is a nice idea, though you might be better having one traditional battery back light as a backup option, rather than a 2nd light dependant on the same system.

It flags up a broader issue of how often people buy non-commuting bikes for commuting, and not thinking about rack, mudguards, lights etc when choosing their bike in the first place.

cdaly_ · 26-07-2018 9:44pm

I use this front light as a commuter and this 80 lux light for audax. If your commute is on unlit roads, the cyo premium is worthwhile, otherwise the eyc is plenty.

This rear light includes a brake light which, I reckon, is really good for commuting.

py · 08-08-2018 9:46pm

Thanks again for all the advice folks.

py wrote: »

Front light: Herrmans H-Black MR 8
https://www.rosebikes.com/herrmans-h-black-mr-8-dynamo-powered-headlight-2666689

Rear light: Herrmans H-Trace (have pannier rack)
https://www.rosebikes.com/herrmans-h-trace-dynamo-rear-light-for-pannier-rack-2666683

Ended up going with the above lights and the wheel that Weepsie mentioned early in the thread. Opted against the additional mudguard light as where I park in work it's likely to get smashed against a wall in the bike rack. Will definitely be going for higher spec hub and lights when I get around to getting the Audax bike sorted, just need the sprogs to be a few years older before getting the time to do more events.

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It flags up a broader issue of how often people buy non-commuting bikes for commuting, and not thinking about rack, mudguards, lights etc when choosing their bike in the first place.

It doesn't. I have existing USB chargeable lights which work fine and are regularly charged. I just want the convenience of a dynamo setup on my commuter bike.

doozerie · 09-08-2018 12:34pm

Good luck with your setup, having used a dynamo hub on my commuter for the last couple of years now I wouldn't willingly go back to battery-powered lights, the convenience of having lights "on tap" is fantastic. Plus the quality of light from good dynamo lights is superior to any of the battery-powered lights I have used over the years.

One thing I suggest is to allow some slack in the wires that you run to the rear light (I wrapped the wire around the rack tube a few times where the light is mounted so the slack is there but well out of the way). On both my commute bike and my wife's audax bike the only issue I've encountered is that the wires corroded where they connected to the rear light, so I had to cut a couple of centimetres off the end to expose some "fresh" wire. Replacing the entire run of wire wouldn't have been a particularly big deal but I was happy to postpone that for as long as possible.

py · 19-08-2018 7:39pm

Video from GCN on dynamos.

BrianHenryIE · 20-08-2018 1:34am

I just ordered a SON dynamo and Sinewave Beacon front light w/ integrated USB charger. Also bought the Additive Spacer One+One mount. Not looking at changing my rear lights anytime soon: Lightskin Seatpost, Reelight magnet light and light in the back of my helmet.

JMcL · 21-08-2018 2:43pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Here's the premade wheel. https://www.rosebikes.de/rose-trekking-vorderrad-28700c-dt-swiss-545d-disc-shimano-deore-dh-3d37-disc-nabendynamo-2665584

Nice price on those (and on the complete wheelset). One question - can they be run tubeless? The DT Swiss product page for the rim has "non-tubeless" as an "optional" feature, but I'm not sure how to parse that!

py · 23-10-2018 10:01am

Required a few extra things to get it up and running:

About 3 metres of cable to run to the back and on the front due to where I wanted to place the light.
Wheel I purchased didn't have rim tape, few euro from CRC.
Heatshrink to cover exposed cable internals.

It's been on the bike about 2 months now. As the days have been getting shorter, it's been getting more use and it hasn't skipped a beat.

Thanks for all the solid advice.

Weepsie · 27-10-2018 10:52am

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/dynamos/shimano-deore-lx-dht6702n-6v-24w-dynamo-front-hub-silver-32-hole/

This is a rim brake version, but that's a very good price for this. It's normally twice that. Wouldn't be far off the quality of the DH-3N80. Postage might not be great, but SJS are pretty good in general.

cdaly_ · 30-10-2018 11:51am

That is a 2.4W hub rather than a 3W. Might make a difference if you wanted to power a usb device also.

ted1 · 30-10-2018 11:56am

cdaly_ wrote: »

That is a 2.4W hub rather than a 3W. Might make a difference if you wanted to power a usb device also.

Makes a difference if you want a rear light !!!

Front tend to draw 2.4W and Rear draws 0.6W

Dipsomaniac · 11-12-2018 3:05pm

Hi,

I think I'm going to try a dynamo setup on my commuter. Nothing too special required.

So far I'm going with the following

Wheels and dynamo
https://www.rosebikes.com/rose-hybrid-wheels-28700c-dt-swiss-545d-disc-shimano-deore-dh-3d37-disc-hub-dynamo-deore-fh-m6000-2665585

Font light
https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t-senso-plus-front-headlamp-709235

Anyone have any recommendations on a rear light?

I don’t have a rack on my commuter and a lot of rear dynamo lights seem to mount to a rack.

Thanks

JMcL · 11-12-2018 3:24pm

Dipsomaniac wrote: »

Hi,

Anyone have any recommendations on a rear light?

I don’t have a rack on my commuter and a lot of rear dynamo lights seem to mount to a rack.

Thanks

I haven't used these myself, but have come across them while researching:

attaching to a seatpost: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/lighting/busch-muller-secula-linetec-rear-dynamo-light-seat-post-seat-stay-fitting/ or for fitting to a rear mudguard: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/lighting/busch-muller-secula-linetec-rear-dynamo-light-mudguard-fitting/

ford2600 · 11-12-2018 3:32pm

Rear light. Seat stay or seat post.Good light, currently on pub bike.

https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-secula-plus-tail-light-for-mounting-on-seat-stays-or-seat-posts-709309

You know you want to... also on my pub bike
https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-iq-x-led-headlight-837399

cdaly_ · 11-12-2018 3:43pm

Dipsomaniac wrote: »

Hi,

I think I'm going to try a dynamo setup on my commuter. Nothing too special required.

So far I'm going with the following

Wheels and dynamo
https://www.rosebikes.com/rose-hybrid-wheels-28700c-dt-swiss-545d-disc-shimano-deore-dh-3d37-disc-hub-dynamo-deore-fh-m6000-2665585

Font light
https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t-senso-plus-front-headlamp-709235

Anyone have any recommendations on a rear light?

I don’t have a rack on my commuter and a lot of rear dynamo lights seem to mount to a rack.

Thanks

Looks like a good choice. The front light is excellent, probably more than you need commuting. I use it for country night time riding and it's more than adequate, even climbing at my 7kph max speed...

ted1 · 11-12-2018 4:53pm

New bike coming soon. Anybody see a good wheel with a thru axle as oppose to QR?

Weepsie · 19-12-2018 3:25pm

Anyone know if the connector for a Shimano Dynamo is basically the same as the Shutter precision one?

Ie: https://www.bike-components.de/en/Shimano/Dynamo-Hub-Wire-Connector-Cap-and-Cover-p3370/ &

https://www.bike-components.de/en/Shutter-Precision/Dynamo-Hub-Connector-p42182/

They look about the same, but probably some tiny difference to annoy me and make me need to order a new one.

NEvermind. Reviews in SJS suggest it will. Will be trying out an SP-PD8 on the croix de fer this weekend!

ted1 · 19-12-2018 4:03pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Anyone know if the connector for a Shimano Dynamo is basically the same as the Shutter precision one?

Ie: https://www.bike-components.de/en/Shimano/Dynamo-Hub-Wire-Connector-Cap-and-Cover-p3370/ &

https://www.bike-components.de/en/Shutter-Precision/Dynamo-Hub-Connector-p42182/

They look about the same, but probably some tiny difference to annoy me and make me need to order a new one.

NEvermind. Reviews in SJS suggest it will. Will be trying out an SP-PD8 on the croix de fer this weekend!

I’ve a spare Shimano one. In south Dublin if you want it.

Weepsie · 19-12-2018 4:06pm

ted1 wrote: »

I’ve a spare Shimano one. In south Dublin if you want it.

I might need one, I'll let you know. I may also have one knocking about. Thanks

Dipsomaniac · 07-01-2019 5:42pm

Hi all. Hopefully somebody can help as I have no idea what I'm doing. Finally getting ready to set this up as I'm installing a groupset from another bike while I'm at it.

I have a B + M Lumotec Iq Cyo Premium T Senso Plus Front Headlamp https://www.rosebikes.com/b-m-lumotec-iq-cyo-premium-t-senso-plus-front-headlamp-709235

My bike has disc brakes but luckily the fork crown is drilled and I would like to mount it there.

1.What order of bolt, washer, and nuts would I need to install it?

Would it be the main bolt with a washer, mount for light, washer, nut for some space from frame, washer, fork, washer, final bolt?

It sounds like a lot of nuts and washers. Do I need the extra nut and washer for space from the frame?

2. Is M6 the usual size required for the hole through a fork crown or does this vary from bike to bike?

Thanks

Commuter dynamo setup

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