Lately we have been selling and installing more dynamo powered headlights and tail lights from Busch & Muller and Schmidt as well as a few from Supernova. This post will cover some mounting options and some tail light wiring details.
We have the Nitto Lamp Holder for Nitto M-18 and M-1 racks. There is a left and a right side version depending, obviously, on which side you want to mount the light. I set up the left side mount on my bike and bolted on a couple of lights to see how it works. The mount can be bolted on anywhere along the stay but I think I would put it at the highest point that will still keep the top of the light below the rack platform. The bracket can also be clamped either on the outside of the stay or on the inside depending on the light being used.
This is the left side Nitto Lamp Holder. The right bracket is a mirror of this. The eye bolt with grooved washer slips over the end of the rack stay.
Nitto Lamp Holder for left side. Right side is a mirror.
This is the B&M Lumotec IQ mounted on the left Nitto Lamp Holder.
Here the bracket is mounted outside the stay.
This is with the bracket mounted inside the stay.
Schmidt Edelux on the Nitto Lamp Holder and M-18 Rack
This is the Supernova E3 Triple with handlebar mount.
The Schmidt Edelux ll on a fork crown mount.
This is another Edelux light mounted on a different type of fork crown mount
In the two above photos above can be seen the tail light wire, the ground leg terminated with a Schmidt ground connector which is sandwiched between the light body and the mounting bracket when the mounting bolt is run through. The other end is terminated with a 2.8mm connector and plugged into the mating connector in the base of the light. The Schmidt headlights use this configuration but the Busch & Muller lights have connections for two 2.8 mm fittings so one doesn’t have to mess with a separate ground connection when using a wired tail light. The hard-wired wire in the base of the light goes to the dynamo hub. All wired tail lights are wired into and operated by the headlight, not the hub.
Here I am making up the connectors for the tail light wire;
The 2.8 connector crimped on. Ready to crimp on the ground connector; don’t forget to put another piece of shrink tubing above the ground connector before crimping.
Oops, forgot the heat shrink tubing
ch
The wired tail lights have two 2.8mm spade connectors. There is a positive and a negative.
I finally got tired of having a battery tail light because it was just too undependable, partly because I often forgot to switch it off and the batteries died. I mounted the Busch & Muller Secula Plus fender mount light and it has been fantastic. There is no switch, the light is on whenever the headlight is on. And there is a built in capacitor so when I stop at an intersection the light stays lit for a few minutes. Simple, idiotproof, reliable and super bright!
Secula Plus fender mount light. Note the messy wiring!
In standlight mode; the light stays on with power from the built in capacitor. Neat!
SteveP March 24, 2015, 2:22 pm
B&M do offer a motion-sensitive rack mount rear lamp. It has a three position physical switch Off/On/Motion which is nice and tactile. This would stretch battery life. There is a battery-only model, a dynamo model and a combo (both battery and dynamo) model. Busch & Müller 4DToplight Senso Bike Tail Light
I have one bike outfitted with a dynamo system (SP). I have to say the wiring troubles me. Even the better coaxial wire is messy (an excellent tip I received was to use heatshrink tubing over brake cables to guide lighting wires).
The connectors are tiny (as are the conductors) and exposed to road salt and grime. They seem to be either too tight (can’t get ’em on the spade) or too loose (fall off). I’ve taken to covering them with silicone sealant once in place. A dynamo is a bit of a commitment, and you should probably still have at least a battery powered rear lamp (just in case). AA batteries are cheap and ubiquitous. Decisions, decisions.
Bike Hermit™ March 24, 2015, 2:41 pm
Steve,
I have the B&M 4DToplight on another bike and I really like it. It is bulky but puts out a lot of light to the rear and both sides. The senso feature is great for me since I forget to turn off the tail light about half the time.
Roland April 20, 2015, 7:33 am
Hi, can you advise which online retailer sells the 2.8 crimped male and female connectors? Thanks.
Bike Hermit™ April 24, 2015, 6:18 pm
We have the female connectors and can get the male connectors. email the Bike Hermit at biketouringnews.com. or cal him at 866-936-3176
Todd April 28, 2015, 4:56 pm
I’ve become a big fan of the dynamo system. Up until recently, I’d been trapped in the “the more lights and brighter lights, the better!” cycle. But for road riding / commuting, it isn’t about lumens (how much light is generated), but about lux (how much light is focused where you need it). And I love that I don’t have to worry about charging batteries or remembering to turn on / off the lights. I am running the B&M Luxos U and Toplight Line Brake Plus combo. I do still use a Li-Ion rechargeable helmet-muonted light and a tail light for flash mode, depending upon traffic. I’m saving to convert my other bikes to dynamo, it’s the way to go!
Bike Hermit™ May 4, 2015, 7:20 am
Todd, I just started using the Luxos U as well. Quite the light that. And you could charge your rechargeable battery using the converter built into the light and the USB port!
Choco March 4, 2016, 11:12 pm
Hi, how did you wire the edelux to the rear secula, i’m a bit confused how it should be done and don’t see your pics of how it finished off?
Edelux: terminal wire and ground wire –> goes to –> Secula: +terminal wire and ground wire it again?
Bike Hermit® March 5, 2016, 12:00 pm
Choco,
The picture in the post of the polished Edelux shows the ground connector terminal loop attached to the body of the light. The positive wire is connected with a 2.8mm female spade connector to the male terminal recessed in the body of the light. The other end of the tail light wires have 2.8mm female spade connectors which plug into the male terminals on the light. The Secula does not have positive or negative markings which I assume means the polarity doesn’t matter, but if the headlight is wired correctly and the Secula doesn’t light when the headlight is on the wires might need to be reversed.