After visiting Berlin recently I noticed how many bikes used dynamos and liked the idea of a fixed front light powered by a dynamo.
The thought of not having to carry spare battries and the fact that my battery powered front light needed replacement anyway, I decided to try out a bottle dynamo.
This post is about what parts I used and how I fitted them.
Parts
Fit front light bracket
The Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Cyo RT senso plus comes with a chrome plated bracket which is suitable for most bikes, but sits the light quite high so I purchased the Busch & Müller front dynamo bracket for cantilever brakes, which places the light lower, around 1cm above the front tyre and slips under the front v-brake.
I fitted the dynamo bracket with an M5 40mm bolt and a self locking nut to the front fork.
Fit lumotec IQ cyo RT senso plus
With a 4mm hex wrench I attached the Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Cyo RT senso plus to the light bracket.
The light should be aimed around 10 metres onto the road.
Fit Soubitez dynamo bracket
Taking a 5mm hex wrench, I took off the bolt holding the front left brake arm.
I then attached the Soubitez dynamo holder to the brake arm and replaced the 5mm bolt.
Fit dymotec 6 (left sided mount)
With a 4mm hex wrench I attached the dynamo to the bracket.
It's crucial to align the dynamo with the centre of the wheel, while the distance between the tyre and dynamo roller should be 10mm.
- Dymotec6 fitting instructions
- Dymotec6 reverse view
- Dymotec6 fit 1cm from tyre
- Align dynamo to the centre of the wheel
My schwalbe marathon tyres have a dynamo track to optimise working with a dynamo bottle, so I aligned this with the dynamo roller.
I shortened the length of the cable to around 3cm over what was required to reach the dynamo connectors and I then exposed 1cm of bare wire.
I then attached each cable end to the sleeve end connectors that came with the light. The insulator and exposed cable ends, are pinched along the sleeve connectors two crimp points.
- Dymotec6 inline with dynamo track
- Dymotec6 inline with dynamo track side
- Dymotec6 connecting components
- Cable ends with sleeve connectors
I then covered the sleeve connectors with the supplied connector covers that came with the Dymotec6 connecting components. I wrapped some insulation tape around the sleeves for extra protection.
There are four terminals (2x supply & 2x earth) underneath the dymotec 6. The two connectors under the dymotec 6, nearest to the wheel are the supply side (black cable) and the other two, nearest to you are the earthing terminal (black & white cable). Pick one from each side to connect the relevant cable.
To engage the dynamo, you press down on the red button and the dynamo swings in to the tyre. Below the red button, to the side of the dynamo is a pressure adjustment (small knob), which if you turn left will decrease the pressure on the tyre, or if you turn right will increase the pressure on the tyre, useful in wet weather conditions if the dynamo is slipping on the tyre.
To disengage the dymotec 6 simply pull it away from the tyre, this is the one advantage over a hub dynamo, there is no drag once you disengage the dynamo.
To tidy up the cable wires, I secured the wires to the bike fork and frame, using black cable ties. (200mm x 2.5mm).
As I purchased the dymotec 6 from Germany it only came with german instructions, but SJS cycles has english instructions to fit the dymotec 6.
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