Battery Packs and Wiring

[SilverSurfer]

I've got an EL-300, 2 Tesco Crees and a couple of Cateye rears - I'd like a central battery repository so that I can stuff a battery pack into a seat pack.

Ideally with a detachable block so I can uncouple the seatpack and take it indoors with me (leaving the wiring loom on the bike).

I presume that I'll have to do some calcs for voltage etc. and a bit of DIY? Is there a techie out there that can tell me what I need to do in layman's terms?

Cheers.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Do they run off two batteries each?

 

[SilverSurfer]

Crees - 2 AAs

EL300 - 4 AAs

Rears - 2 AAs or AAAs

Be nice if I could have all running off one lot

 

[PrettyboyTim]

It would have been easier without the EL300 as all the rest run on 3V, whereas the EL300 runs on 6. Without the EL300 you could have just connected them all with seperate wires to the battery pack, and provided the batteries were capable of supplying enough current, they all should have worked. I guess you could have run a 6V battery and run the two tesco lights in series, although I do seem to remember you have to be a little careful about that with LEDs. With the rear lights it'd be more complicated as I'm not sure what would happen if either of them was in flashing mode - if the resistance of the circuit changes during the flashing cycles, then the voltage across it would change as well if it was in series with another flashing circuit.

I should probably point out that I am in no way experienced at all in electronics. Although I've read through much of 'Practical Electronics for Inventors', I've only made one circuit since then.

I'd suggest posting your question on The CandlePowerForums Bicycle Lighting section.

 

[fossyant]

Better off getting all those on rechargeables, and treating it as a back up situation - i.e. when one lamp dims the others are still going strong - just keep charging the sets as they run out.... You'll still have to remove the lights as the thieving scum will take them !!!

 

[SilverSurfer]

ok ta!

 

[beanzontoast]

Better off getting all those on rechargeables, and treating it as a back up situation - i.e. when one lamp dims the others are still going strong - just keep charging the sets as they run out.... You'll still have to remove the lights as the thieving scum will take them !!!

A agree. I have two front sets and two rear, all on rechargeables (AA and AAA). I just keep one spare set of each battery size with me in case. Doesn't weigh much or take up a lot of room.