I mounted e-bike lights to my non-ebike with a 3D printed USB battery box and rear light mount
It's powered by USB battery bank and a USB-PD breakout module that tells the battery bank to output 12V. I put them inside a zip-lock bag inside the 3D printed box. It's water proof enough for the sonoran desert.
13 replies
Nicely done! I do something like this on my bike too, except it's just strips of neopixel RGB LEDs on the frame held in place with zip ties driven by a pi pico. As a result I can program different light modes (flash, solid, fade, rainbow party mode, fake police lights etc etc etc) and even turn signals.
Having a single battery means less to charge/replace. It all runs off a USB battery bank and lasts days. My lights also cannot be removed or stolen easily and even if you do what's the point it's just a strip of LEDs, it's all easily replaced even if they do. Having integrated bike lights seems more convenient for me and I don't have to worry about forgetting my lights when I go out after dark.
FreeCAD! 🙌
What's different about normal bike lights and ebike lights? I think here they are basically the same.
ebike lights have wires to connect to an external source of power. The vast majority of regular bike lights have integrated batteries. (Excluding dynamo powered ones of course)
Where is the advantage in that outside of an actual ebike with battery?
Having a single battery and integrated running lights that are always present is convenient compared to having discrete lights on the frame that need seperate charging/replacement and need to be brought with you and stowed when not in use. At least that's been my experience. Less to charge, less to remember to bring.
Yep, it's basically the SEO term I use to find "bike lights without a battery"
Is it cheaper? Or brighter?
So you added lights to your bike. Got it lol
Very nice, thank you for going above and beyond with all the pictures and images of the CAD. I don't recognize the brand of the bike, what is it?
It's a mongoose Envoy. I'm glad you liked the pictures!
That's wild, I just did the same with the same exact lights.
Nice! Looks good.