Dynamo comparison: electrical output (power, waveform) and vibrations

This section will be expanded gathering data from various places on my website and adding stuff I didn't write down yet etc.

Test of dynamo hubs

I tested the SP PD-8, SP SD-8, SP PD-7 (=HB015), Shimano DH-3N80, Sanyo NH-H27. Still to do: Shimano HB-NX70.

Using the special dynamo driver with which I power 3 XM-Ls I've measured the power supplied to the LEDs. The results show that the Sanyo NH-H27 indeed supplies less power than the other dynamos. Further it turned out the power supplied by the SD-8 (dynamo meant for small wheels) in a 622mm wheel is a lot lower, in line what I had expected at first considering the specified wheel size; a true 2.4W dynamo should provide a bit more power. A test as done according to StVZO/TA with a resistor of 12 Ω is yet to be done.

2011-12-10: Here are the results in a graph:

The experimental dynamo driver is optimized for Shimano dynamo hubs, so perhaps with some tweaking power output can be improved with the others (Power output for the DH-3N80 is highest of the dynamos I've tested so far).

Note that the current through the LEDs is limited to ca. 0.85A in the driver (as it was originally meant for the LBL; the Rebel LEDs are rated to 1.00A maximum) and when using the Shimano DH-3N80 you get to this current at below a speed of 30 km/h, which causes the curve to go down. So it's possible to get more power from that dynamo at 30km/h.

The measurements of the PD-7/HB015 are not linear while all other dynamos's have a nearly linear relationship of power/speed. This could be the result of a few problems I had at one point with measurements due to connectors not making good contact from vibrations. I need to check that by redoing the measurement.

More data here.

Test of Sunup generator

The Sunup cannot be tested in the same way using that dynamo driver, as that is specifically meant for alternating current source. I have tested the power output of the Sunup in a different manner: A single XM-L, or 2 or 3 in series attached directly to the Sunup generator and measured the current through the LEDs and the voltage over the LEDs.

2011-12-10: Here are the results in a graph:

Detailed results in table form are on the Sunup review page.

Last modified: Mon Dec 3 01:12:03 CET 2012