Dynamo wheels - kept for best?

[welshwhit]

Thanks for the collective input about how hubs and rims, Shona at keep pedalling sorted me out with a SP PD-8x on a stans crest rim.

Just thinking about getting it taped and putting a tyre on it and turned to think about how folk use them?

Do you / is it advisable to just run it as a normal front hub? Will this have a negative effect on the life span? Are the contacts probe to corrode etc if not connected?

The thought has crossed my mind just to switch the tyre from my normanl rim, but if it's advisable to swap between the rims when not needing the energy then that's obviously not a great plan!

Thanks

Drew

[johnnystorm]

I use mine most days for commuting and run my lights all the time. Probably over 5000 miles like that so far with a revo/Redeye combo. I also have a Cycle2charge.de wired in. Occasionally I remove the plug and pop some more grease on. Pretty much fit and forget. For me the attraction is not having to think about charging lights or do I have to head back at a certain time.

[ctznsmith]

Even if I'm not running a light I usually have the cable plugged in (on?). It's my only front wheel.

[Artie Fufkin]

I run mine all the time. I have an SP hub on all my bikes and just swap the Revo light. I keep it on all the time, as Mr Storm says you never have to worry about charging/ running out of power mid ride and never get caught out when darkness falls.
Had no problem with any of the three!

[dlovett]

SP's are built proof. I use both of mine on every road/off road ride I do, whatever the weather conditions and even if I don't use the electricity it produces.

[mountainbaker]

I also use mine all the time, whether it's plugged in or not. Probably 5000 miles in it so far, running great.

[welshwhit]

Cheers folks,

Reckon it'll stay on the bike mostly then.

Just waiting on some last bits and then I'll wire it up.

Thanks

Drew

[atk]

Cheers folks,

Reckon it'll stay on the bike mostly then.

Just waiting on some last bits and then I'll wire it up.

Thanks

Drew

I finally found those connectors! Will get them in the post tomorrow

[welshwhit]

Cheers buddy,

I've got some "waterproof" connectors on the way too, I'm just wondering how waterproof they are actually going to be!?

Drew

[Zippy]

I've got some "waterproof" connectors on the way too, I'm just wondering how waterproof they are actually going to be!?

If they're properly tested/graded electrical connectors like those used in automotive applications, they'll be pretty good

[Mart]

Cheers buddy,

I've got some "waterproof" connectors on the way too, I'm just wondering how waterproof they are actually going to be!?

Drew

Oh interested in what these are and how they perfrom.

[larsmars]

I have over 9,000 miles on my first SP PD-8 and it's still going strong. My second one is the PD-8X with about 1,500 miles on another bike and no problems there either.

I just run it all the time, but sometimes people helpfully tell me to turn my lights off in day time if I am not paying attention.

L

[welshwhit]

I've got some "waterproof" connectors on the way too, I'm just wondering how waterproof they are actually going to be!?

If they're properly tested/graded electrical connectors like those used in automotive applications, they'll be pretty good

Hopefully, they are the automotive ones, it's how big they are when I have them next to the other bits that will be the deciding factor. Plan to bolster with heat shrink too.

Drew

[welshwhit]

Cheers buddy,

I've got some "waterproof" connectors on the way too, I'm just wondering how waterproof they are actually going to be!?

Drew

Oh interested in what these are and how they perfrom.

Hopefully they'll do the job, I'll try and update once they have arrived, they're just 2 pin waterproof connectors courtesy of eBay!

Drew

[JerseyMountainBiker]

I think my SP-8D has just died, only 500 miles on it grrr.

Home from work early set off and nothing from the light.

I have checked the wiring, all connections have tested fine.

Anyone else experienced this - anything else work testing before I start taking my wheel apart?

Thanks

[Taylor]

I had the same that was mentioned in an earlier thread.
'Twas the wires into the connection by the hub.
Remove, reposition and replace. All worked fine afterwards.

Try that first.

OR

You've plugged the cable into the outlet socket and fried the resistor in there. I've done that too.

[StuartG]

Hi, check the lights as well. My lights died and I thought it was the sp dyno, but it was the lights. The cache battery had gone in the lights, is pretty much useless.

[JerseyMountainBiker]

Taylor,

Thanks for the reply - took apart the connector, looked fine but I re-did the wiring, still nothing.

Wiring was in the correct port.

Stuart - how do I check the light?

Thanks

[StuartG]

You need to check to see if there is a current coming out of the dyno. I connected both to a friends set up and it was just a process of elimination. There are tools that a sparky has that can check if anything is coming out of the dyno, but it's above my simplistic understanding.

[JerseyMountainBiker]

Stuart - thanks - will see where I can get to without frying something!

[burty]

mine died after about 12 months use, it is being replaced by exposure as we speak,
may be third time lucky next week as they keep sending me the wrong hub

[JerseyMountainBiker]

Thanks everyone - dusted the volt meter off - not a flicker.

Guess I need to take the wheel part and send it off for a replacement.

Bit miffed I only got c. 6 months out of it (and unfortunately not very much mileage either!), don't fancy wheel building every six months.

Hopefully I've just been unlucky with this one.

[JerseyMountainBiker]

Sorry everyone - one more thing:

What is the best contact regarding warranty items - I think there might be a direct contact but can't seem to find it.

Thanks

[ScotRoutes]

Your best contact for warranty is the retailer you bought it from.

Likely they'll simply send it off to Ison but many distributors won't deal with the public directly.

[StuartG]

When I thought my issue was the dyno, I asked the same question. The reply was that in the first 2 years (the warranty) the should be sent back to the retailer. After the 2 years I believe ison have a repair or replacement service.