6 volt or 12 volt

[lawnmowerman]

12v for me using two cyclon batteries in series, DVR2 regulator, belt drive kit to spin the dynamo a bit faster with LEDs all round. Not too keen on the headlamp "double dipper" so may go to a BPF halogen.

Jim

[rocker21]

fit a cibie Z beam light unit which is an H4 fitting, then go to classic dynamo and regulator conversions and buy one of their better ones, it has the same beam pattern as a standard H4 halogen light, got them fitted to all my bikes now, not cheap but works and you can adjust the dip from left to right hand drive or something in between. i agree the double dip stuff is not great.

[worntorn]

I have a zero volts system at present, the Lucas is shot.
I'm looking at the various options and tempted by the Alton with belt drive kit.
You get a sped up system which should produce decent power at fairly low revs, 150 watt max output,12 volts for bright lights, solid state voltage regulator and of course brushless permanent magnet alternator with warranty.
It's also a nice looking unit and drops a few pounds of weight off the bike vs Lucas E3l weight.
The downside is cost, about 400 GBP for the complete kit with tax.
Then , what is the cost for a Lucas rebuild ( armature gone according to testing) and so on?

Glen

[rocker21]

i have an early Alton which i have modified to take the srm belt drive , works a treat on my A7ss and has done for years, got LED lights all round and about to fit some period style indicators that fit into the handle bar ends like a mirror, should make night riding a bit better, hand signals don't get seen these days.

[duTch]

  Postage from UK is a deterrent, but for Aussies, I lashed out a couple of months ago and bought a LED insert from http://www.classicandvintagebulbs.com/page6.html, I think ~$75, plus postage and credit/paypal surcharge (won't use that again)..

 This one may be the same as previously just mentioned, but is actually brilliant in comparison, and same pattern as the H4 I was using, and even shimmers off the road-signs so I know it's functioning...   

 Also bought a pair of 12V ones (slightly different design) for $25 from a random ebay, and they seem ok, but haven't used them yet

 I'll edit in a piccy or two from the phone later if I remember

[Sav]

6v still here on both A7SS and A10SR and no intention of changing unless my ailing hip forces me to go electric start.

LED bulbs from DynamoRegulatorConverstions are so much better and headlight backed up by a dippable Exposure Strada 1200 light on the bars.

That combination has tranformed my night-time riding. the LED bulb gives the spotightand the Strada wide angle beam lights up the verges on country lanes that you cannot see well with headlight alone. I simply clip the Strada to whichever bike I am riding. Charge lasts 3½hrs on full beam and 10 hours on dip, amazing technology.

[Greybeard]

...headlight backed up by a dippable Exposure Strada 1200 light on the bars.

That combination has tranformed my night-time riding. the LED bulb gives the spotightand the Strada wide angle beam lights up the verges on country lanes that you cannot see well with headlight alone. I simply clip the Strada to whichever bike I am riding. Charge lasts 3½hrs on full beam and 10 hours on dip, amazing technology.

I think it should be good for that price!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exposure-Lights-Strada-including-Remote/dp/B01KMWQZFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533976741&sr=8-1&keywords=exposure+strada+1200

[duTch]

 I had a look on 'D-R-Conversations'  , and their light looks a look like mine,  but theirs doesn't show all the entrails.... here's the pics I took back then,  a bit deceptive due to a couple of street lights.... last pic is same street with lights turned off, and 20 metres further back on the speed bump but ambient light from the overhead street light,  engine off so had lost about a volt but doesn't matter anyway (no light on)

  With all lights on, they were drawing 1.1A high or low,  and 1.13 with brake light added (all LED )... I'll show pics up the other way tho too...

[mikeb]

Dutch - i've still got those classic dynamo regulator conversions LEDs both 6v and 12v on my bsas and they are still great. there's a series of pics and measurements comparing them with 'lesser' bulbs and halogens here: https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=11047
sounds like they are still the best out there, esp for 6v

[lawnmowerman]

6v still here on both A7SS and A10SR and no intention of changing unless my ailing hip forces me to go electric start.

LED bulbs from DynamoRegulatorConverstions are so much better and headlight backed up by a dippable Exposure Strada 1200 light on the bars.

That combination has tranformed my night-time riding. the LED bulb gives the spotightand the Strada wide angle beam lights up the verges on country lanes that you cannot see well with headlight alone. I simply clip the Strada to whichever bike I am riding. Charge lasts 3½hrs on full beam and 10 hours on dip, amazing technology.

Wow - for £260 you are almost into Alton alternator territory with an H4 bulb

Jim

[Sav]

You get what you pay for in this life! and you only need one for the fleet! plus they are available for about £190.

I'll see if I can manage a night shot.

[duTch]

 mike, I remember reading that, probably what motivated me. I forgot to mention that I'm using a Hella H4 reflector which seems to be about like the lower profile (shallower) ones of yours.
      It's a bit hard to see in my pics, but low-beam spread has the defined horizontal kicking up to the left- no fan and I haven't checked for heat.
 $90 AuClams compared to £60GB plus postage doesn't seem too bad after all (ATR, £60 = ~$105)

 Sav that looks handy, but even £199... pics will be good.

[Sav]

On the Empire Star 6 volt neg earth

1) The night
2) The 6v LED
3) LED plus Exposure light
4) Exposure light on its own
5) Lighting up the garage and showing the Emp with my home made riser bar for light / roller box / satnav on runs

Expensive but I believe my safety is worth paying for.

[duTch]

 
 That's fairly bright Sav, but the LED alone looks a bit 'spotty', and could be a bit higher, is that with high or low beam?

 What reflector/lens combo are you using?

[Slymo]

The LED bulbs I bought for my bike were happy with any voltage from 6-24v but were specific on polarity. For me they remove the argument about voltage although with good wiring and clean reflectors my 6v bike was indistinguishable from the 12v one in light brightness.