Installing a dynamo hub & lights on the Charge Plug commuter

[JhnBssll]

I fitted the rear light today, I'm waiting on some heat shrink before I wire it up and test it then tidy the cables. It should arrive tomorrow via the wonders of amazon prime

Anyway the light is nice and compact as I'd hoped, it'll be interesting to see how bright it is but from what I've read the B&M stuff is pretty good

 

[DRHysted]

I fitted the rear light today, I'm waiting on some heat shrink before I wire it up and test it then tidy the cables. It should arrive tomorrow via the wonders of amazon prime

Anyway the light is nice and compact as I'd hoped, it'll be interesting to see how bright it is but from what I've read the B&M stuff is pretty good

View attachment 449176

I’ve recently fitted one of those after water got on and made my old light unreliable. It’s really quite bright. I also have it backed up with a dynamo light fitted on the mudguard where you’re reflector is.

 

[DRHysted]

If I remember I’ll take some pictures.

 

[DRHysted]

Opps my rear is a different model (must be failing memory) & my installation is nowhere near as good as yours.

 

[JhnBssll]

Opps my rear is a different model (must be failing memory) & my installation is nowhere near as good as yours.

Pretty similar looking bike overall Even down to the blue Hope skewers

That rear light looks like it is the same model but the clear lens version I'm going to keep a battery powered rear light on the seatstay in case of problems with the hub or wiring. A neat install isn't always better, if it works it works. I'm just a tad anal about these things

Thanks for the pics, nice bike

 

[DRHysted]

Pretty similar looking bike overall Even down to the blue Hope skewers

That rear light looks like it is the same model but the clear lens version I'm going to keep a battery powered rear light on the seatstay in case of problems with the hub or wiring. A neat install isn't always better, if it works it works. I'm just a tad anal about these things

Thanks for the pics, nice bike

Yep, I use the fly6 as a backup rear light, I also keep a battery front light attached just in case something goes wrong.
Apart from when the rear got flooded I haven’t had any problems yet, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I fitted the rear light today, I'm waiting on some heat shrink before I wire it up and test it then tidy the cables. It should arrive tomorrow via the wonders of amazon prime

Anyway the light is nice and compact as I'd hoped, it'll be interesting to see how bright it is but from what I've read the B&M stuff is pretty good

View attachment 449176

I have the SON version of that but with the reflector fitted as well via the B&M bracket. Good solid light and cable.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I have the SON version of that but with the reflector fitted as well via the B&M bracket. Good solid light and cable.

Same rear light. In 6000km, the ‘spade’ fitting for the rear light has dropped out of the front light housing twice. Easily remedied though. I think every couple of years I will take the electrics apart, snip off the old, fatigued ends and replace and redo.

 

[JhnBssll]

The heat shrink arrived today so I finished off the wiring to the rear light - a quick spin of the hub suggests its working

I spliced two wiring kits together to end up with the correct terminals at either end. I made the join an inch or so from the rear light end of the wire and soldered the joints putting a small length of heat shrink over each. I then put a larger diameter heatshrink tube over these new connections and the spade terminals to keep it all dry.

Looks pretty neat from the back - Since I took this photo I have lined up the screw heads

And it's now hanging from the rafters again, hopefully the spokes will arrive tomorrow and I can build the wheel up and test it all out

 

[JhnBssll]

After lots of calls to the supplier the spokes finally made an appearance at the lbs this morning I picked them up after lunch and built the wheel this afternoon. All up and running now, I'm just waiting for it to get dark so I can go for a spin and adjust the aim of the front light

 

[JhnBssll]

I got a chance to cycle in today and test it out. Overall I'm really pleased with it - I can't tell it's there resistance wise and the light it puts out is fantastic. I think there's probably less light overall, but it is so well distributed that this more than makes up for it. I would go as far as to say the visibility is better than with my higher power battery light

A few minor niggles; the lens has fogged up slightly which is annoying, I'll be sending a photo to B&M and asking if it's normal behaviour but I suspect it isn't.

Also I didn't tighten the bracket fully to allow for minor adjustment, which had the effect of allowing the light to drop with every bump in the road I'll tighten it up shortly Overall a great upgrade once the niggles are sorted

 

[si_c]

I got a chance to cycle in today and test it out. Overall I'm really pleased with it - I can't tell it's there resistance wise and the light it puts out is fantastic. I think there's probably less light overall, but it is so well distributed that this more than makes up for it. I would go as far as to say the visibility is better than with my higher power battery light

A few minor niggles; the lens has fogged up slightly which is annoying, I'll be sending a photo to B&M and asking if it's normal behaviour but I suspect it isn't.

View attachment 451119

Also I didn't tighten the bracket fully to allow for minor adjustment, which had the effect of allowing the light to drop with every bump in the road I'll tighten it up shortly Overall a great upgrade once the niggles are sorted

Looks like the weather seal is imperfect, I'd say that's s warranty replacement unfortunately. Definitely shouldn't be fogged.

 

[JhnBssll]

Looks like the weather seal is imperfect, I'd say that's s warranty replacement unfortunately. Definitely shouldn't be fogged.

That's my feeling too. On the plus side, the light will only get brighter with no fog on the lens I've contacted the shop where I purchased the light from and will await their reply

 

[si_c]

That's my feeling too. On the plus side, the light will only get brighter with no fog on the lens I've contacted the shop where I purchased the light from and will await their reply

I doubt theyll do anything other than swap it out.

On the upside you've just got it all sorted in time for the part of the year it's most valuable

 

[JhnBssll]

After chatting to a couple of B+M techs I've decided to hang on to the light for the time being - they reckon the lens assembly isn't sealed, only the electronics are waterproof so some level of fog on the lens is unavoidable in certain conditions and that it doesnt affect the function. I'm not sure I'd completely agree with that but to be fair the lens cleared and it hasn't reoccurred since so I'll stick with it for now. They've logged it in case it turns in to an issue further down the line

I've got to say I'm still super impressed with the lights, definitely a worthwhile upgrade and one I'd reccommend to anyone considering it It still feels weird walking away from the bike with the lights still shining bright