On Sep 18, 12:54 pm, SMS <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Peter Clinch wrote:
> > SMS wrote:
> >> Reliability wise, nothing beats an LED light that can run on AA
> >> batteries.
>
> > Unsurprisingly, a remarkably selective piece of information from Scharf.
>
> Not selective at all. You were the one that brought up the problem with
> your dynamo lights. How many non-techies have multimeters at work to
> diagnose the problem and fix it. It sounds like you never actually found
> the cause of the problem, you just did the usual stuff of checking and
> cleaning contacts and connections and bulbs. That's the problem with a
> lot of dynamo setups, there are just too many points of failure. That's
> one of the main reasons they're not used as much as in the past.
Let's count "points of failure" for a generator set and for a
rechargeable light set of the type Scharf insistently pushes.
There are two wire connections at the generator. Ditto for the
rechargeable battery. No difference in "points of failure."
There are two wire connections at the headlight for either unit. No
difference in "points of failure."
There are two wire connections at the switch of the battery unit.
There is no switch needed for most generator setups. Two less "points
of failure" for generators.
The rechargeable setups require disconnecting wires frequently for
recharging. This is probably the reason that we hear many tales of
connectors going bad. Likewise, AA-style battery lights have
internal, spring-contact battery contacts that sometimes corrode,
sometimes lose contact. Generator contacts are fixed, not normally
disconnected, so fewer such problems. Another less frequent "point of
failure" for generators.
Both units usually feature wire to connect from the voltage source to
the lamp. Wires can break, but generator wires are usually
permanently fastened in place, meaning much less flexing, and probably
less breaking. Less failure for generators.
Rechargeable batteries have limited life, measured in hundreds of
charges. Generators' lives are measured in mulitiple decades. Less
failure for generators.
Rechargeable setups need a charger - often, a relatively expensive
electronic "smart charger." That brings in the possibility of the
charger's wiring failures, electronic failures, etc. No such failures
with generators.
So what are the "points of failure" you're talking about for generator
sets?
- Frank Krygowski