"manuel borowski" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> GWood wrote:
> > Ya know, I looked at this and it doesn't sound all that wacky. Except
for
> > the wiring strung around, it might be good for a commuter bike. I know
when
> > I rode my hardtail as a commuter, I always forgot to turn off the
flasher on
> > the seatpost.
> >
> > But to keep this within the realm of MTBs: Here's a crazy thought.
> >
> > If a magnetic field from a presumably tiny magnet can provide the energy
> > required for 2-3 LEDs. Why not magnetize disc rotors and use the larger
> > energies generated there for night lights? Or at least to trickle
charge
> > the larger batteries required for night riding? Seems kinda wasterful
to
> > have all that metal on a bike and use it only as a friction device to
slow
> > down wheels?
> So that each and every magnetizable dust particle will cling to it?
> Don't think that's such a good idea
Indeed - there's MUCH better ways, especially for disc-equipped bikes. i.e -
small, very powerful 'rare earth' (neodymium etc.) magnets hard glued to the
wheel braking surface (motorcyclists actually have been known to do this,
that is glue one to the brake disc rotor, to run a bicycle style
speedo/odometer from), quite close together, N-S-N-S all the way around,
both sides, even, double up again and go front and rear for even more
output). Have the gen. coil(s) attached to the fork leg(s), use this to
directly run LED's (half the LED's on one half wave, other half on the other
to give a reasonably steady light, or rectify with a diode bridge and use
this way, or use to trickle charge a battery.
Could even go a step further, and put a brake light switch in there, power
is only diverted to the battery(ies) when braking, so slowing down uses the
extra bit of drag on the wheel from the dynamo/generator set-up as well as
normal braking forces.
Dead easy to do really, shouldn't cost too much in magnets either.
Shaun aRe