Home made rear light £4

jeremyrundle
jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
edited October 2010 in Commuting general
I am all in favour of cheap SAFE and legal. Someone asked me what was the best cheap rear light under £5.

Simple.

Get some proper red plastic, from a craft shop, thin red about £1 for a 6" square. That is similar to the red used to wrap sweets and YES that will also do and that is free.

Buy a £3 1W or even £3 3w light from that sales website, unscrew the lens, place the red plastic wrapper over the unit and screw back the lens, trim off excess.

VERY bright, still or flashing light for £4.

We use these at night in Astronomy when observing.
Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html

Comments

  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    Nice hack. XXX approved!
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • asquithea
    asquithea Posts: 145
    Cheap, yes. Legal? No more so than most other lights.
  • PBo
    PBo Posts: 2,493
    asquithea wrote:
    Cheap, yes. Legal? No more so than most other lights.

    My guess is you could run into more legal problems in event of a crash because of the homebrew.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    How do yuo fix it to the bike? What are these 3w lights from "that sales website" you talk of?
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • jeremyrundle
    jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
    How do yuo fix it to the bike? What are these 3w lights from "that sales website" you talk of?


    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3W-Bicycle-Bike-C ... 3f044fd89b

    There are cheaper if you search
    Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

    Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    How do yuo fix it to the bike? What are these 3w lights from "that sales website" you talk of?


    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3W-Bicycle-Bike-C ... 3f044fd89b

    There are cheaper if you search

    Thanks. The only problem with torch lighting like that is that it's not very visible from the side or diagonally. However I use a Fenix torch as a front light, but it's always something I wonder about!
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • jeremyrundle
    jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
    There are plenty of "cheap" rubbish torches not visible from the side, I am more concerned about the cars "behind" me rather than the ones next to me, they should have already seen the light and at 3w they will, and for £4 !!!!!!!


    Or perhaps it simply gives someone an idea who already has a spare torch and needs a new back one how to save money and use what you already have.
    Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

    Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html
  • How do yuo fix it to the bike? What are these 3w lights from "that sales website" you talk of?


    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3W-Bicycle-Bike-C ... 3f044fd89b

    There are cheaper if you search

    Thanks. The only problem with torch lighting like that is that it's not very visible from the side or diagonally. However I use a Fenix torch as a front light, but it's always something I wonder about!

    A collar around the end of the torch made from some sort of semi translucent material (eg a yogurt pot) should sort that out
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,695
    I'd use one of these if they'll fit your torch: http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/accessories ... fuser.html

    For the rear, you don't need a unified beam, a diffuse beam is actually better as it's purely for being seen by rather than seeing by.
  • jeremyrundle
    jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
    Damn good idea, I have seen these available on E... for lenser torches for £5
    Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

    Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    How do yuo fix it to the bike? What are these 3w lights from "that sales website" you talk of?


    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3W-Bicycle-Bike-C ... 3f044fd89b

    There are cheaper if you search

    And hes lieing they are 1 watt max, they sell them at endingurgh cycles and deal extreme......

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18307

    $7.43 =£4.95 apprx

    Cheap rear light, i find these nearly as good as the smart superflash.....for about £2 posted.

    http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35036
    FCN 3/5/9
  • PBo
    PBo Posts: 2,493
    @ cyberknight

    dude - it says "not rain resistant" and the one review complains about it shorting out....what's your experience been?
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    @PBo I have one of those lights (£6, local hardware store). I use it as a helmet mounted spot. I'll let you know if it fails next time it's dark and wet. In the mean time heres what happened to it when I submerged it in the kitchen sink:

    5121196657_273e519eda_z.jpg

    P.S. I mix electronics and water for a living in PCs and take no responsibility four plonkers who try and copy me but fail miserably
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • djrock
    djrock Posts: 66
    I am all in favour of cheap SAFE and legal. Someone asked me what was the best cheap rear light under £5.

    Simple.

    Get some proper red plastic, from a craft shop, thin red about £1 for a 6" square. That is similar to the red used to wrap sweets and YES that will also do and that is free.

    Buy a £3 1W or even £3 3w light from that sales website, unscrew the lens, place the red plastic wrapper over the unit and screw back the lens, trim off excess.

    VERY bright, still or flashing light for £4.

    We use these at night in Astronomy when observing.
    I bet the light emitted is not red. More a pinky red than red. So not really acceptable.
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    PBo wrote:
    @ cyberknight

    dude - it says "not rain resistant" and the one review complains about it shorting out....what's your experience been?

    Dude?

    If you are referring to the rear light mine has never shorted out etc, i mount mine on the seat post and i have never had a problem with it .

    I have had rear lights mounted on the seat stays before now that cost a lot more and have shorted out with a lot of spray in really bad weather, its a bit of a daft place to mount a light in my opinion.
    FCN 3/5/9
  • jeremyrundle
    jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
    1. If you use RED plastic the light has to be RED not pink

    2. I have used mine on the bike in the pouring rain, they are soaked, what problems, none, ever, but you only have my word for that, or shall I also take a photo of them in a sink full of water too.

    We are arguing about £3, not a £250 light. I have three RSP lights on the back, check out the battery compartment that of the catseye also, plastic on plastic no "O" ring seals there.

    I have just fitted two LED Lenser P7s (not to be confused with cheaper torches that call themselves P7's check out

    http://www.ledco.co.uk/

    These are only supposed to be "shower/spalsh proof", at £40 each, but they withstand torrents.
    Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

    Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html
  • jeremyrundle
    jeremyrundle Posts: 1,014
    cyberknight posted at 5:30 am, dont you ever sleep!!!
    Peds with ipods, natures little speed humps

    Banish unwanted fur - immac a squirrel
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... heads.html
  • Initialised
    Initialised Posts: 3,047
    djrock wrote:
    I bet the light emitted is not red. More a pinky red than red. So not really acceptable.
    Use red paint
    I used to just ride my bike to work but now I find myself going out looking for bigger and bigger hills.
  • cyberknight
    cyberknight Posts: 1,238
    cyberknight posted at 5:30 am, dont you ever sleep!!!

    Just got in from night shift................. 4-5 miles on unlit country roads of a 10 mile commute .

    It was 6.30 ish i think the forum clock must be out :shock:
    FCN 3/5/9
  • PBo
    PBo Posts: 2,493
    PBo wrote:
    @ cyberknight

    dude - it says "not rain resistant" and the one review complains about it shorting out....what's your experience been?

    Dude?

    If you are referring to the rear light mine has never shorted out etc, i mount mine on the seat post and i have never had a problem with it .

    I have had rear lights mounted on the seat stays before now that cost a lot more and have shorted out with a lot of spray in really bad weather, its a bit of a daft place to mount a light in my opinion.

    cool, thanks for the feedback, and initialised - and of course I'll take your word Jeremy!!!

    dude? - i guess i was trying to put over my question as a genuine, friendly enquiry, rather than some kind of adversorial "those lights leak and are cr4p!"!!
  • djrock
    djrock Posts: 66
    1. If you use RED plastic the light has to be RED not pink
    I did not say pink. More a pinky red.

    Since as you said above the red plastic from a craft shop is similar to a sweet wrapper then its not a true red.

    I have tried a red marker and a red sweet wrapper. The red wrapper was better but I was not happy with the colour. Maybe the craft shop stuff is thicker and or possibly a deeper red?