[SDCBC] Batteries (was Bike mantra...)

[Gene Carman]

I actually have 2 of those old Sanyo generators...  the last one died 
a couple years ago with the internal bearings going dry and the thing 
causing more drag than it should.  That generator was my second leg 
in a three leg lighting system that uses a Niterider 32 watt system 
as the primary lighting, a Sanyo generator as the backup to the 
battery system, and a basic alkaline battery system forming the final 
or tertiary leg of my system.   I have never been without light.  I 
am however looking for a suitable replacement for the Sanyo 
generator.   I actually had a cross-brace designed and installed on 
my commuter so the Sanyo generator would ride high on the wheel 
instead of down low and dirty.  (nothing more than an extra tube 
brazed in a location that allows the generator to work at the top 
vice at the bottom bracket).

At 09:07 PM 12/31/2007, Robert Leone wrote:
>Dear SDCBCers:
>
>
>Stephan Vance wrote:
>   Nobody carries them locally that I know of,
> > but someone should. Those are the only negatives.**
> >
> >
> >
> > Stephan Vance
>
>I THINK I've seen a few dynamo sets in Veloculture on La Jolla Blvd, the
>old Sanyo-branded ('80's) system where the generator roller worked off
>the center of the tire (mounted by the bottom bracket) instead of the
>sidewall. Specialized (some of the Globes), Bianchi (Castro Valley) and
>Novarra (REI house brand, check out the "Fusion") are some the bikes
>available or orderable locally that come with generators (sidewall or
>hub). However, as they're an expensive and rarely ordered item it's no
>wonder those wishing to add generator capability to their current bike
>fleet get to experience the joys of local bike shop special orders or go
>internet-shopping with Peter White Cycles, Velo-Orange and I don't know
>whom all else.
>
>Then there's rechargeable batteries. However, they currently have their
>own problems. Lead-acid batteries are reliable, but weight like a lead
>ingot. Feeding consumer NiMH rechargeable AA and AAA batteries into
>small bright lights sort of works, except most NiMH (there are
>exceptions coming out onto the market, I'm told, but they've got premium
>pricing) cells have a high "self discharge" rate. They lose "juice"
>comparatively quickly just sitting there. Example one: I came across a
>commuting cyclist switching batteries around at night in Mission Bay
>Park. His ready replacement set of NiMH cells were dead, so he was going
>with the back-up back-up alkalines. Example two: My father claims he'd
>put freshly charged cells into his digital camera a month or so before
>he tried to take some panoramic landscape shots, or was it the cat
>eviscerating a persimmon, I forget.
>
>As a fountain pen user, I am somewhat habituated to ordering small
>parts, obscure fluids and special tools from far away. But at least
>someone out there in brick-and-mortar and on line sell these things.
>Still, I miss the pen counter at H.G. Daniels on India Street.
>
>Robert Leone
>
>Robert Leone
>
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