Another dynamo relavate thread (Plug III / Revo content)

[slowupslowdown-under]

Afternoon All

Just starting to think about dynamo set ups for forthcoming events and adventures and was hoping that some one on here may have some answers!

Current set up is SP hub powering a Revo light via a kemo which splits power to either a piggyback battery / GPS or the light.

Cheap and works well enough but available space is going to the limited so moving to the Plug III is being considered.

No problem with the use / division of power between gadgets during the day (GPS / iphone etc), but come the hours of darkness, will the Revo light work on full power if connected directly from the Plug III USB port or not? And, if it depletes the energy in Plug III battery, will it run directly from the power coming from the hub?

Anyone with big brains know the answer??

Thank you in advance!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've no idea Pete ... however, don't do anything rash, I may have something arriving here in a day or 2 you could be interested in

[Taylor]

I'd go for the Sinewave Revolution and a female connector.
Can be positioned anywhere on the bike.
Can't fault mine.
You'll still need to use your small cache battery for gps voltage drops though.

[slowupslowdown-under]

Stu - spoiler alert please!

[slowupslowdown-under]

Taylor - what are the pro/cons with the sinewave over the Plug III? Didn't you look into it a while back??

[Justchris]

You have a reliable system already. Dont change it. Sine wave, plug etc all the same thing. Just a current converter. Ac/dc switch.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Stu - spoiler alert please!

I'm saying nowt yet, won't be long though.

[Taylor]

Pretty much what I said above.
The revolution can go anywhere on the bike, either cable tied or in frame bag/top tube/feedbag/etc.
It will need your existing cache battery for the gps but the plug 3 needs one too, theirs is hidden down the steerer tube.
You can get a female connector to solder to the revolution then it connects straight to you revo male plug.
Your cache battery can be charged from a wall socket to top it up if needs be. Plug 3 can't.
Down side is light/charger is one or the other, you can't use both at the same time, although you could wire it into the hub alongside the revo cable and have two cables running up the fork leg.
Can be moved between bikes easily unlike the Plug system.
Next time your down this way, pop in and have a gander.
Neil has a post in his blog, he has a very similar set up to me,
http://www.composite-projects.co.uk/201 ... the-trail/

[ianfitz]

Pete I'm sure mark has a synwave with a female connector you could look at.

I have a spare female connector that's exposure compatible that Mart of this parish was kind enough to post me a couple of.

I just got a mini kemo like yours for a second bike setup. Works well with an extra battery.

[Mark E]

Hi Pete, Ian's right, I have got a sinewave that I'm really pleased with. As Taylor mentions above, I've wired mine into the hub in tandem with the revo cable.this means I've got two cables running up the fork-I've heat shrinked them together for neatness. It gives the option of light and charging, light with sinewave not connected to anything and also both together. I'd recommend a cache battery as the edge 800 drives you mad if it's connected straight to the sinewave as it keeps losing charge if you are as slow as me off-road! You're welcome to come and havea look at it later in the week

[slowupslowdown-under]

cheers mark!

will text you.

do you and fitzy fancy some cx miles next week?

[ianfitz]

cheers mark!

will text you.

do you and fitzy fancy some cx miles next week?

I'll be building up my cx bike from my winter road bike once spring is here. Both disk. Could with getting some of the CX tyres I lent you too.

[slowupslowdown-under]

Stu - I think I am going to push the button on this! Thanks for the headsup!

Fitzy - will drop the tyres round. AW has a pair also I recall

[slarge]

I just pushed the button a few days ago. Waiting for postie now.

May have a big kemo for sale and a repaired mini kemo from slowupslowdown for free in a few weeks.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Part 2 of the Cycle2Charge review / test / whatever can be found here.

http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... art-2.html

[rufus748]

I've Pressed the button.
Which buffer battery do people use?

[slarge]

I use a portapow 3400mAh but there are loads around. The important thing to go for is the ability to charge and use the USB output at the same time, which a lot of packs allow but not all.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Anker seems to be a popular make, various capacities from, not much to huge.

[rufus748]

I bought an "Anker 2nd gen Astro" but it doesn't charge and discharge at the same time. Is that just that particular model does anyone know?

[ianfitz]

I use an anker 3000 which doesn't do both. But it will fully charge my phone in ~30 minutes. I'm dubious about the lifespan of cheap batteries that will do both. Sub tenner from amazon.

Not an electrical engineer. It just seems a complicated thing for a battery to do

[numplumz]

Your review states 500ma output Stu, but I though I saw 1000ma on the translated site, any ideas?

[slarge]

I read 1000mA as well, that's one of the reasons I invested! I'll borrow a current clamp from work when it arrives and test it.

[Bearbonesnorm]

You're right fellas, there seems to be some conflicting info and it does indeed state a max output of 1000mA on their website and the performance graph there would seem to back that up. However, the spec from other sources on the web does say 500mA.

I'll change the review to 1000mA for the moment and contact them just to clarify ... sorry for the confusion.

I'll borrow a current clamp from work when it arrives and test it.

That'd be handy Steve.

[Bearbonesnorm]

After speaking to Cycle2Charge I can confirm that the max output is 1000mA and it's fuse protected @ 1.2A.

[johnnystorm]

I've Pressed the button.
Which buffer battery do people use?

The battery pack Neil Composite uses is back in stock again at 7dayshop.com and I've bought a twin pack with a mate. It's 4000mAh and comes with a handy 4 in 1 cable that has Apple 30 pin, Micro & mini USB and an old skool nokia output. Slightly annoying (dunno if it's a new edition) it also has a weedy torch built in that I found lighting up my frame bag the other morning! It does do charge/discharge simultaneously.

http://www.7dayshop.com/products/7daysh ... ONE4S-7003