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JF :debian: :verbike:jfparis@rouge.eu.org
Oct 31, 2026, 12:47 AM
@ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite
A2: Two things to look at the dynamo and the USB power thingy
1) I have dynamos of all brands (shimano, Son, SP). Honestly they are all good. Spend as much as you want but that is not necessarily a big difference.
2) This is what convert the AC to the 5V DC of the USB. Many different products here and that is where you wallet will hurt. I have a had a cheap Kemo M172n (works OK) and I also have a Sinewave Cycles Revolution on my other bike.
#BikeNite
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Replies

JF :debian: :verbike:jfparis@rouge.eu.org
Oct 31, 2026, 12:49 AM
@ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite Both are little boxes that need to be fitted in a top tube bag or something. You also need a buffer battery (because when not cruising the power can be intermittent).
There are some way nicer products integrated in the lights or that fits in the steering tube if money is no object.
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JF :debian: :verbike:jfparis@rouge.eu.org
Oct 31, 2026, 12:52 AM
@ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite That page has a lot of information and benchmark (a nice rabbit hole that will certainly help you part with more £££)
https://www.cyclingabout.com/dynamo-hub-power-drag-testing-schmidt-son-shutter-precision-shimano/
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Mark ChickDurableAce@vivaldi.net
Nov 2, 2026, 10:25 PM
@jfparis @ascentale @bikenite Thanks! After posting my question I stumbled across that website. It seems very comprehensive. I need to spend time to understand it!
What I've occasionally struggled with are electrical explanations which don't start from the perspective of 'if you want to do this, you will need [thing]', so your opening post in reply is really helpful.
I'm sure this has the potentially to get rather spendy!
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Matthew NewellMatthewNewell@mastodon.social
Nov 2, 2026, 10:35 PM
@DurableAce @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite
I have just found out by chance that getting the bearings replaced on my dynamo hub can only be done by manufacturers and will cost close to £100 plus weeks to send to Germany via Somerset
As I normally do all maintenance myself this is a body blow.
If you're investigating different hubs to buy, this is definitely something to bear in mind. But important to note both my dynamo hubs are at 75k+ with no degradation yet
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JF :debian: :verbike:jfparis@rouge.eu.org
Nov 2, 2026, 11:14 PM
@MatthewNewell @DurableAce @ascentale @bikenite
On the topic of serviceable, I have yet to send mine for service on 30k+ km
Also seen that one recently: https://www.kasai-tech.com/why-a-field-serviceable-dynamo-hub.html
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Matthew NewellMatthewNewell@mastodon.social
Nov 3, 2026, 8:58 AM
@jfparis @DurableAce @ascentale @bikenite
I will probably ride till I notice something grinding then reassess the situation. Frankly the build quality makes me think those dynamos will out last me
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Mark ChickDurableAce@vivaldi.net
Nov 3, 2026, 10:21 AM
@MatthewNewell @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite Is it a SON dynamo hub?
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Matthew NewellMatthewNewell@mastodon.social
Nov 3, 2026, 10:52 AM
@DurableAce @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite
Yes. Son Delux. It's heavy, expensive, and uncompromising but bombproof.
I only carry tiny emergency battery powered lights so have to rely on my dynamo.
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Colm Ó DonnchadhaColmDonoghue@mastodon.ie
Nov 2, 2026, 11:10 PM
@DurableAce @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite you probably want to look at your night cycling time
Lidl lights will run for 3-4 hours on a charge
Weight 75g each, so 5 will see you through a full winters night ride
And just a pair will get you a long time in the dark
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JF :debian: :verbike:jfparis@rouge.eu.org
Nov 2, 2026, 11:22 PM
@ColmDonoghue @DurableAce @ascentale @bikenite with all due respects, I believe you are missing the point of the dynamo: It is a plug and forget solution (not need to recharge it every 4 hours)
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Kimkim@fedi.social
Oct 31, 2026, 1:00 AM
@jfparis@rouge.eu.org @ascentale@sfba.social @DurableAce@social.vivaldi.net @bikenite@fedigroups.social And then consider whether carrying some power banks wouldn't be less effort for your use-case. Dynamos are brilliant because they mean you never have to think about bike lights; they're always there and ready to go. But a few watts don't actually go that far for charging devices, and modern batteries are cheap and very energy-dense.

With a fast-charging power bank and mains adaptor (65W) I can get about the same amount of charge in 15 minutes that I'd get from all day on a bike at loaded cyle-touring pace (using a B&M e-Werk and SON hub). Performance is likely to be better if you're lightly loaded, and worse off-road.

(A folding solar panel might also be competitive, depending on what you're actually doing and how sunny it might be.)

Another tedious issue is that USB connectors don't do well when exposed to water or rattled around, which adds to the faff of on-bike charging. (My solution is to keep the charger and battery inside the luggage, and have a simple socket direct to the dynamo mounted to the bike for it to plug into.)
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LovesTha🥧LovesTha@floss.social
Oct 31, 2026, 6:22 AM
@kim @jfparis @ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite battery banks also do other things :)
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Mark ChickDurableAce@vivaldi.net
Nov 3, 2026, 5:45 PM
@kim @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite Thanks Kim. That comparison versus power bank charging is surprising. Food for thought...
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viqviq@hackerspace.pl
Nov 3, 2026, 6:01 PM
@DurableAce
IIRC, from dynamo you can get about 3W if you're going at least 20 km/h.
It's not uncommon for phones to charge at 20W or higher.
Solar panel with 10-15W power (keep in mind, that's **optimal** conditions, don't *count* on that) should be pretty easy to mount, 30W might be possible. Keep in mind it's recommended to use that for powerbank, and use that to charge phone, as phones don't like power fluctuations that changing light will cause.
@kim @jfparis @ascentale @bikenite
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NNNNNN@urbanists.social
Nov 3, 2026, 6:24 PM
@kim @jfparis @ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite
For camping trips, I find dynamo lights simpler. I can usually charge my devices in the public washroom or the ranger station, but I don't leave them unattended. So I prefer devices I can recharge in <1 hour, and then I sit and read my ebook.
Most rechargeable headlamps take more time to charge than run-time, so then I try not to use more than 45 minutes of bike headlamp per evening.
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NNNNNN@urbanists.social
Nov 3, 2026, 6:34 PM
@kim @jfparis @ascentale @DurableAce @bikenite
I have also charged a power bank at 10W, to finish charging a headlamp in the tent.
And this 8xAA charger at 11W will fill 8 batteries to 50% in 60 minutes, giving me ~5 hours of 80lux headlight with an Ixon IQ Premium.
But waiting for an hour is some faff, and my dynamo headlight is 60lux without the wait.
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