WHY Batteries are BETTER Than A DYNAMO

[@almeder3260]

I would recommend using 2 chargers that equal the 1 larger one. If 1 malfunctions you have a backup and you can charge 2 banks twice as fast as 1.

[@johnhayes1641]

My son and I did a week-long trip in Maine and each brought a power bank that lasted the entire week. We were each charging a phone front and rear bike lights and a Wahoo GPS. My pro tip (I think I got it on this channel) was to leave my phone on airplane mode during the day. There was almost no cell service anyway, and it was a huge battery saver, while still allowing me to take pictures.

[@charlesr.carney6297]

I am a commuter and I ride in a lot of traffic. I have a dynamo hub powering a front and rear light plus a battery powered headlight and tail light for redundancy.

[@theadventurebiker]

I've used various sized battery banks and solar panels. Haven't owned a dyno hub to date yet. I think batteries on their own are good for trips lasting 3-4 days. Anything longer than that, then a means to recharge needs to be taken into consideration (if in remote areas). My current preference is 3 or 4 (depending on the trip) small individual battery banks instead of one large battery (I'm currently using WalMart's ONN brand in the 6700mah size for about a year now and have been quite happy with them). There are several reasons I chose several small batteries over 1 large one: 1.) Redundancy. If for any reason the electronics inside the battery (charging or output circuits etc, water damage etc) fail, its done. If you only have 1 battery then you're done electronics-wise but the likelihood of this happening to several different batteries around the same time is slim to none. So if one fails you still have others as backup. 2.) Packability. Several small batteries are usually easier to pack in your kit than one large battery. 3.) Charging speed & time savings (perhaps the most important). If you carry a multi port wall plug, a small solar panel for each battery, or an individual wall plug for each battery you can charge all your batteries simultaneously (provided that you have an outlet available to plug each one in). You can charge multiple small batteries at the same time to 100% in the same amount of time it would take to charge one small battery (a couple of hours at most) whereas a single large battery could take 6 - 8 hours or more to charge. In other words you can charge 4 x 6700mah batteries in just a couple of hours for a total charge capacity of 26,800mah whereas the time to charge a single 26,800mah battery bank could take half a day or more. Cheers, #theadventurebiker

[@ickeausberlin36]

It really depends on your style of riding. For a long weekend and/or with less energy hungry devices you will be fine with a power bank. Two years ago i was on a three month trip and I ultimately got tired of having to go to official camp ground instead of wild camping just because I needed to charge my devices. For 2018 I upgraded my bike with a dynamo hub. Unfortunately my front wheel spoke count was not compatible with the desired hub so I ended up having my shop custom build a new wheelset. I also installed a Sinewave Beacon making me spent more than 1000€ just to be able to charge on the go. Sounds kind of silly and at first I was not sure about my decision. But there is another very important aspect about a dynamo hub: You can run decent lights on it which you do not need to worry about. That was another big problem when I did my long trip. I remember riding at nighttime in a canyon. Pitchblack, just the stars above me. Occasionally a car from behind. Then car drivers started to hit the horn when taking over an I realised my tail light was out of charge. Not cool. Getting dynamo lights was a huge improvement and whenever the front wheel on my single speed commuter needs replacement I will definetely get a dynamo hub for that one too. So back to the charging, not only does it depend on the time you spent away from a power outlet, your amount of riding and the average speed need to be considered too. I went into long distance cycling lately and found out that when riding on paved roads for 200 to 300+ km a day you have plenty of power output. However if you are having slower and/or shorter rides (for example mountainous dirt roads or you are rather touring and enjoying the scenery) your dynamo hub will give you less energy. Also keep in mind that different dynamo hubs have different minimal speeds to start generate power. I run SON that starts to charge at about walking speed while I read that other (cheaper) models need as much as up to 20km/h to work propperly. While I had not been sure about my investment initially I am happy about the setup now and don't want to miss the dynamo hub any more. It both makes sure I always have the ability to run a light for as long as I want and I do not need to rely on other sources of power. Or at least not that much. Having a phone, a gps device, a mirrorless camera and also a gopro to charge can be difficult with a dynamo too, that's why I always use a coffee stop to charge up too. However the dynamo hub lets me be much more self sufficient which means I have more freedom to choose my route. I have no experience with solar panels so far but am considering checking them out as an alternative or when off the bike.

[@felixescober6798]

Wow sana all, now dinamo hub are good and out for sale

[@2cyclebikeraricstreet195]

What is the sinewave beacon?

[@somethingelse9535]

1000€, wow. I know it's an old post. But a Shimano dyno hub is like $30-$40 (from aliexpress), build the wheel yourself, DIY the USB charger (several on the intertubes), find a cheap LED light, whole thing made for relative peanuts. Shimano hubs are efficient too, lookup the lab tests.

[@ickeausberlin36]

@@2cyclebikeraricstreet195 Hey, it's a pretty neat light with a build in USB Charger.

[@ickeausberlin36]

@@somethingelse9535 You may be able to make something similar yourself, sure. But is it really comparable? The SON hub is top quality stuff. By now I have three bikes with dynamo hubs. Only for the commuter bike I went with a Shutter Precision hub. Also it is made in my home country where it will always be more expensive to produce than in Taiwan for example. If you are a wheel builder, hats off, nice for you. I got my set made by an experienced wheel builder in town. We planned according to my needs and there has been no problem with the three sets I got made for different bikes so far. Onroad or Offroad, crossing countries and continents. When I think about how much he actually charged for buildung the wheels and that he needs to live of that I don't think I overpaid. Also we chose reliable components to make the wheels last. The Sinewave beacon also is bulletproof and made by a small company in the US and including taxes was about 350€ alone. You may get away much cheaper, fair enough. But when in the middle of nowhere I want to reduce the chance of getting stranded because something breaks. Also I like shopping local or buying from smaller companies instead of ordering from aliexpress, but that's just my opinion of course. And I am grateful I am able to spent my hard earned cash an something like bike parts in the first place. I see how the price point seems to be steep, but when I think about how long the gear lasts and how much I enjoy using it, I do not regret it.

[@zbronstein3901]

I think comparing a battery bank to a dynamo hub is little dishonest. A battery bank is going to be better than a dynamo hub at charging devices, every single time. They serve two separate tasks, but the dynamo hub is also able to do what a battery bank can do which leads to the comparison. The biggest benefit to a dynamo hub (imo) is being able to mount your lights to your bike and never having to worry about charging them ever again. Having the option to charge your devices is just icing. That said, I wouldn't want to have to rely purely on my dynamo for charging my devices and that makes carrying a battery bank crucial. If I was racing I wouldn't want to use a dynamo hub and over the course of the race a battery pack is enough. If I am commuting or riding at night a dynamo hub is life-changing. If I am touring having a dynamo is nice to not have to worry about my lights, and having a battery would be crucial to keeping my devices charged unless my only devices were a gps and/or a cell phone I'm not using very often. Dynamo's don't really provide enough current to keep frequently used devices charged.

[@rathorrath401]

You can use the hub to charge a battery bank, which will charge your devices. Best of both worlds. Plus you could have a smaller bank, or 2 smaller banks, which would mean shorter charge time and easier top ups with the hub

[@krollpeter]

Right. These lights are always available, never fail, no need to switch anything, or keep on routing cables. I have a solar-powered rear light (about 8h flashing, auto-on), the headlight is connected to my front hub dynamo and always on.

[@PaulVizard]

Unless you can stop for hours to charge up a large battery pack, solar is a excellent way to maximize the use of a battery pack. Don’t try to charge your devices direct from a solar panel (or dynamo). My foldout solar panel (28w) will charge my 10,000mAh battery during a day of cycling and about 50% in the rain.

[@steveb1972]

Russ, I swear by my Anker 20,000 mAh charger, similar design to yours. It serves me well when out bike packing.👍🏻

[@radbikeadventure]

Steven Bird Yes! we’ve used an Anker 10,000 and another off brand battery for our world tour and have never been short on 🔋 ⚡️ . They’re awesome.

[@phillipp1399]

Sure is nice peace of mind to have your power bank getting topped off with your dynamo all day though. No worries about leaving a charging battery unattended or finding an outlet in busy areas. Not strictly necessary, but awfully nice.

[@phillipp1399]

You may be traveling in a world different than the one available to me. When all the eggs are in one basket, I’m extremely anxious when that basket is out of my sight.

[@andrewnorris5415]

Agreed, once you have tried a dynamo, you never go back. Mine is great. With that and my drink safe water filter bottle - I don't need to go to the shops all that much, just for a food top up. Total independence. Never worry about light batteries running out because it is cold. I love night riding on tour. Despite what he said, there's ample power to run a light ad charge devices at the same time. Some lights even have usb outputs on them! I often tour on my own - and it's more important then - no one else to rely on for phone charge or light.

[@patientswim6888]

@@andrewnorris5415 Hi, Any chance you can tell me which hub youre running? Im about to order a dynamo wheel but Im worried Im going to somehow pick the wrong one and I wont really be able to charge a battery from it. Cheers!

[@KellyS_77]

If you ever decide to look into solar, one great way to make it work is actually to plug the battery bank into the solar panel. The battery provides consistent power, whereas the solar panel may be intermittent (because if clouds or shadows). Many devices will stop charging if there’s an interruption in power (a cloud, etc). The solar can slowly charge the battery, and the battery then charges the devices. The solar can help keep the battery topped up.

[@davelafontaine9832]

This is the advice my local camping outfitter gave me. Start with a battery bank. If I find myself camping longer than the bank will support, a solar panel is a good choice for topping up the battery. Five years later, I’ve never found the need for the solar panel (because my camping never exceed a long weekend and I’m careful about power consumption.). Thanks outfitter dude!

[@stephenpoole6015]

However, if let's say you're backcountry skiing from a base camp for days or weeks a solar panel can be very useful. You use it to charge the powerbank during the day while you're off skiing, then the powerbank can charge devices at night. This works very well. For cycling, I agree that just a powerbank can often be enough, provided you're not doing much night riding; if you are, a dynamo hub + lights is extremely useful, and it can top up a powerbank too. While I'm happy to keep batteries in the sleeping bag at night (or in a pocket during the day), if they're charging or discharging they stay warm enough not to be a problem IME, at least down to ~ -5°C.

[@mattandjonny5518]

I wouldn't have thought of carry on instructions, thanks for mentioning it! Always good reviews.

[@bookingboy]

Have you tried Pedalcell? It's a dynamo that is powered on the rim. It doesn't require a wheel to be built up, it is easy to mount, it puts out more power than a dynamo hub, it doesn't require the sun, and it will keep going when your battery has emptied.

[@nxross]

Thanks Russ for this video. I tend to get carried away nerding out on bike components and dreaming up my next upgrade which for a while now has been a dynamo hub wheel. I appreciate your honesty here! How many burritos can I buy with the money I didn't spend on that snazzy hub?

[@sagehiker]

My experience comes from hiking and keeping phones, gps, SOS device alive and now going into touring. I went with two quick charge 1000 mh Ankers. I often throw one in a bike bag even on day rides. My dubious pro tip: make sure you have the right cables or adapters.

[@krollpeter]

This is a much better suggestion than all these separately to charge lights and other accessories.

[@chrislowe3060]

Hadn't thought about flight restrictions. Good to know as I'm planning a paddling trip in the UK next year.

[@landonashby2029]

I've been using an Anker 20100 for years. Found d myself needing an upgrade with the new cell phone. Looking at the Anker version of this with the PD. More expensive ut it has an aluminum housing and comes with the charger. Been looking hard at this one too. Excellent review! Honestly the only reason I'm going to go with the Anker is I've had great success with my current pack. Although its inadequate with charging the new phone it's still very capable of keeping other things charged like the GoPro and USB rechargeable lights.

[@ET-Rex]

Landon Ashby yes, Anker ftw! Mine is incredible.

[@dh5370]

Both! Pack a powerbank, and recharge it with your dynamo via sinewave while riding.

[@BikeTouringMike]

My tip is to find a battery that is under 100 Wh so you're cleared to fly with it without any restrictions (like Russ said). Usually batteries around 26000 mah and less are OK. Second thing is to go for a battery with a high input. 2A input is a minimum, preferrably more than 3A. This means shorter charging times for when you find a place to charge your battery. For instance a 26000 mah battery will take at least 13 hours to charge at 2A, so you might want to go for a battery with higher input if you want to be able to charge the whole battery over night.

[@standrewpics]

I used that battery charger trekking in the remote Himalayas a few years ago. Charged up with a foldable solar panel . You are right re keeping batteries warm in sleeping bag at night.

[@matthewguenther6925]

100% on the battery pack. I always carry at least one 10,000 mAh battery whenever I am out (even just an hour or two), just because you never know when you need a little extra battery power. I have 2 Anker 10000's, they are just a little bigger than an Altoids tin, ~6.5 oz, and I got one on sale for $20 and the other for $25. Together they will get my phone and gps through at least a week of rides.

[@SorteDiaboli]

I bought a Velogical rim dynamo, it's actually a generator + "Universal power supply" from their web site, not long ago to my fat bike and I am happy with it. The "Universal power supply" is a power bank with a USB port. Portable solar power works a few months a year here in Sweden, so I can't rely on solar power alone. I know the video is four years old, but we can keep the discussion alive. Technology don't stop developing.

[@musicalintuition]

Some power banks have 12v outputs, which you could theoretically use to power front and back lights designed for ebikes.

[@E.S.Franck]

I’ve done up to seven day, self-supported MTB bikepacking trips with a desire to keep multiple devices powered (iPhone, Garmin sat communicator, lights, bike computer). I agree that if you know that over the course of 2-3 days you’ll not exhaust a battery supply then it’s a great solution. However, if not, solar is a strong option (I use a Suntastic model, personally). However, I think your statement about solars and sun is a bit vague, maybe even a bit off the mark. To be clear, it’s totally impractical to use a solar charger directly into nearly all electronic devices. Rather, it’s essential to charge a battery pack as an intermediary transfer device. Electronics do not like irregular current, and solar output is not perfect unless in direct sun. Think of solar and battery as a combination plan. The battery does not care if the charge is high or low or fluctuating...it’s only action is to collect or spend the charge. You can charge while riding (battery in a bag and solar strapped to an exterior.) Or, just charge up the battery at the end of the ride with the remaining daylight...and don’t we all want to end the day in daylight?! Some people buy an “all in one” solar panel with a battery built in. I have found these to be a poor option. They’re heavy, low capacity, slow to charge and mean that your solar and battery only work with each other (as compared to popping any solar panel or any battery to the other side). And if one fails, the whole thing is toast. Also, on super sunny hours, you cannot directly charge an electronic device. My battery pack has typically been about 10,000 MaH and I find that to be plenty when a solar top off is an option. In total, the combined weight is less than the pound of your 23,000 capacity unit, with more flexibility for a variety of wide durations. Down side is the added cost of the panel...and friends trying to mooch electrons all the time ;).

[@andreaguidugli6088]

great, inspiring and sometimes confirming the path less pedaled is that one... ciao

[@dianatheriault2913]

I just saw an add for Pedalcell, a rim dynamo which can be moved from bike to bike. Have you seen it? If not, would you review it?

[@marccarter1350]

Batteries are hard to recharge at night in the middle of nowhere. I do some tours through the black forest area, pure tent and wild camping. I use a dymamo on the front, solar panels dropped over my bags at the rear. If its late when I stop riding, I have no need to worry about my battery bank or phone. I also swap things over mid day to give most things a charge on the move.

[@OldschoolDT]

I prefer a dynamo hub for my bicycle lights, but a powerbank is a good idea to juice up your phone or your navigation device.

[@tomw3241]

how about charging your powerbank with dynohub during the day? It's already laced into the wheel and you don't need that much lights in the midle of the day.

[@OldschoolDT]

@@tomw3241 , in the first moment a good idea, but have destroyed several USB charging ports on my motorcycle in wet weather conditions, that I would prefer charging my powerbank in dry conditions.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I think it's a nice idea, but the bank is huge. My guess is that it would take days of riding to actually charge it in any meaningful way.

[@26realmc]

@@PathLessPedaledTV most people use two or more smaller chargers which charge quicker and you alternate.

[@guidojt]

Great video and honest!

[@EspenFrafalne]

Being dependent on finding a place to charge the equipment, and also having to sit and wait several hours for the battery banks to charge, is probably the main reason why people want dynamos or solar panels... I would prefer to have both these options for longer trips, in case there is a day with good weather, and i just want to take a day (or 3) off and sit relaxing by a lake or something :P

[@bramverbeek7109]

Another option for long treks is a Biolite, it burns found fuel (sticks, leaves, pine cones) so you don't have to bring that, and has a charging port that will charge a battery. Even when wet, gathering a single dead branch will have you make food for days. It is a bit heavy by itself, but a good thing if your trek is very long

[@Dellvmnyam]

When it’s cold I carry all my batteries and battery powered devices under my clothing as close to my body as possible.

[@stevemullin1195]

Have you looked at the PedalCell?

[@frogtantrum]

Great timing as I've been looking into getting a SON hub recently for device charging, paired with a Cinq Plug 5 Plus or Appcon 3000. The cost including a wheel build is prohibitive. I've got an Anker 28600 battery which serves me well for up to a week of touring (I only charge my iPhone SE) but for longer trips it would be good to alleviate device charging anxiety. Am still thinking about a solar setup to trickle-charge the Anker, but it's another thing to pack, and I like to keep things as simple as possible. And I tour in Scotland a lot, so that rules out much sunshine. I didn't realise that cold weather can kill the batteries - thanks for the tip. I'd be uneasy about keeping such a powerful battery close to me when sleeping through, just from a safety point of view, but maybe I'm just being paranoid.

[@zbronstein3901]

Look into Shutter Precision's dynamo hubs. Half the price of SON hubs but just as good. I love mine.

[@frogtantrum]

@@zbronstein3901 Thanks, I'll check them out.

[@dhiltonp]

2 things: charging a liion battery below freezing is what damages the battery. Discharging a cold battery doesn't kill it, but you get less power out than when it warms up.

[@biking261]

I use two batteries by Anker and a smaller one by portapow and the 2 Ankers kept the wahoo and phone going for four days back in the summer

[@gymcelmaxing]

What can I get I need someone that helps me peddle when I'm tired and I don't want a fat wheel bike what should I look for

[@rileytuplin269]

I rode the Arctic last summer with a solar panel and smaller battery bank. This year I’m going to use a SONdelux and a small battery bank.

[@supercasualbikingwithmelbo4855]

I’m such a pack rat i find myself packing 2-3 battery banks. I have the over prepared syndrome for sure.

[@bobqzzi]

I have a pile of dyno hubs, but this analysis is correct.

[@kevindean9613]

I totally agree ,I also use a Doogee phone they are built for out side use & mine has a 10000mh battery I only charge it once a week .

[@rob-c.]

Just a point on multiple front wheels with a dynamo if you have multiple bikes. Most bikes have standard 100mm axles so if you have either QR bikes or 12mm thru axle bikes the wheel can simply be used on whatever bike you are going to ride.

[@Choccytube]

so you can use a road wheel on a mountain bike too. And does the cable swap easily between bike to the light?

[@Free__Speech]

Carrying bigger power banks is far lighter than a dynamo hub wheel The average person will be happy with a power bank

[@benpm2568]

I wasn't expecting power bank as the answer but if you want, there are power banks that have solar panels included in them for more options.

[@__jeroboam__7087]

A bright front light uses a lot of juice, so if you want to ride at night IMO it tips the favor towards a dynamo hub if you've got the $

[@robertkerner4833]

Just found this video as I decide whether to put a dynamo hub on a mountain bike. I have dyno hubs on two road bikes I use: one set up for commuting/randonneuring where a headlight is required, and the other for gravel. The hubs work great for headlight and tail light, never having to remember to bring the light or keep it charged. Light output can diminish at slow speed, like crawling up a hill and there’s no meaningful output if you have to hike a bike. The commuter rig is also outfitted with a charging box that I find to be impractical because you have to run the light all day and, even then, it’s not quite enough output to charge a battery pack unless you’re really rolling for a long period of time. And they are expensive. All of this makes me think they are not the best solution for off road/ mountain biking where you can be going slow or pushing the bike. The battery tech is so much better now than when I bought my first set of battery powered lights and the battery brick was literally the size of the battery bank in this video! Imagine strapping that to your bars! One other thing, a lot of people make power decisions based on the notion they are going to a remote location for three years. Be realistic about what you really need.

[@sagehiker]

I am of both worlds. For my utility and commuter bikes, I am all for a dynamo and lights to get along on dark streets and illumination marking my bike for safety. Just grab bike and go. I also ride in Wyoming winter. That means the trip to the store in morning and evening, it is dark. For recreation and bike packing, I already have 10k banks for hiking and backpacking. And having more than 1-2 bikes makes having a dynamo for every wheel set would be crazy expensive and drive maintenance crazy.

[@philbarton3180]

Seems like the time has come to say that a dynamo isn’t necessary. In our touring in the mountain west, our longest time between charge opportunities is 4 days. My bikepacking rig has a SON 15 hub that I’ve used for several years. The cost of the hub + wheel build + USB charger + headlight + wiring is pretty darned high. I’ve had several challenges with reliability of silly things like the headlight mount. I could simplify my gear, improve overall reliability, and cut long term cost by switching to batteries. The one place where the dynamo excels is night riding. The 2 headlights I have are really bright and throw a great pattern. They are a perfect solution for riding all night. And I never do that. Time for a cycling garage sale!

[@sircrackien]

I absolutely agree with this! But Iid also say diversify your power banks into smaller 10000-12000 sizes. it will often times give you more powers, be lighter, and if one fails you will have another to fall back onto. Also because you have two, when you hit a power outlet you can change both of them at the same time about halving your power bank charge time (I really dont know why they dont have quick charging built into them).

[@bruin4937]

I have that exact same RAVPower external battery pack and it works great. Fits in my Topeak Fuel Tank, but has a long charging time (16-17 hours if on empty?).

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

4 hours if charged via USB-C.

[@bruin4937]

Path Less Pedaled Wow! I will have to check this out! Thanks, Russ!

[@bruin4937]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Ah, I just checked - you have a newer model. I have 3 2.4A USB output ports and 1 micro USB input port for charging. Thanks for your link - I just purchased the updated version in white from Amazon. Thanks, Russ.

[@rathorrath401]

Personally i use a small solar panel with a battery bank. I can attach the panel to my backpacking gear, or to my panniers and top up without having to worry about finding an outlet. Every point you made is valid, especially for smaller trips. If i am doing a shorter than 4 day trip, a large battery bank would be sufficient. You could also do a smaller bank and panel for the same kind of freedom.

[@estano9111]

Hey Russ, I'm new to the bike touring arena and I really appreciate your channel. I would love a video on GPS devices. do you simply use your phone? Garmin? Your recommendations as Cellular signal is certainly not guaranteed where I have been biking. Thanks Stan

[@leqin]

I have the best of both worlds - the awesome Hunt Search 29er wheelset making sure the lights never go out and the Power Bank 26800mah Portable Battery off Amazon.co.uk for just £23.99 ($30.86) and I wouldn't be without either of them and only to glad to own them. Great video Russ.

[@amadeusb4]

I do the same. Also, unlike a bike dynamo, the battery bank has uses when you're camping without a bike or when I tour on my motorcycle. The kinds of ports aren't that important as you can get a dongle which will fit whatever gadget you have.

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

Thanks. Very helpful, I will buy one.

[@Slappywag69]

I love my anker power brick, I take it as a matter of course on every ride of more than a few hours where I’ll be using GPS nav on my phone. I did learn one valuable lesson though at DK this year: when charging devices, these things can get hot! I had been keeping my phone and battery brick in one of those small top tube/behind-the-stem bags with a clear plastic top that allows use of the phone touchscreen...this way i could have it constantly charging and keeping the phone topped off. By late afternoon that bag had gotten so hot that my phone shut down from overheating! I lost nav for about 30 minutes until it cooled off and would restart. Now the battery pack stays in my frame bag and I just run the cable to the phone and charge when needed.

[@nomadbicycletours38]

Run 2 solar panels and 3 battery,keeps everything running 5 light's, phone,3 speak, and gps run solar to battery system and battery system to device, solar hard on phone if not connecting to battery system first

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

If you’re in a place that’s sunny.

[@amateurhouradventures]

Powerbank usually will suffice for 90% of everyday riding. Cost effective and definitely the most user friendly. Solar + powerbank is hard to beat for longer travels off-grid.

[@clawrence034]

A couple years ago I canoed 900km from Calgary to Saskatoon and we used a cheapo solar panel and a battery bank. The battery bank is important because it insulated your phone from charging irregularities from the solar panel that can wreck your phone battery. The whole setup was under $100.

[@patientswim6888]

Surely nothing is more user friendly than hopping on your bike and your lights always working with absolutely no anxiety about them dying in the dark? You still have a battery when you run a dynamo

[@CraigMcGregorNZ]

I use a dynamo hub and Sinewave. Mostly for convenience, especially for lights rather than because it is the only way. I have a similar setup for commuting, randonneuring and bikepacking. Now I just the bike industry to stop inventing new hub standards every other week....

[@glendel22hrx]

Hi! I would like to get Sinewave but having trouble to understand what means parallel wiring? In Sinewave they say "connect the wires to the dynamo along with the headlight cable (in parallel)" I checked everywhere on you tube just cant'find it, so if you can explain how you wire dynamo- lights and revolution that would be awsome thanks

[@EspenFrafalne]

​@@glendel22hrx Do you have more than 2 wires going out of the dynamo? If so, then maybe this article on "serial VS parallel" can help you. batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/serial_and_parallel_battery_configurations If it is only 2 wires however, then im not sure what they mean by connecting them in parallel...

[@richardharker2775]

Good points Russ. A few bikes of mine do dual purpose and swapping wheels and parts becomes tedious after a while, not to mention the inventory taking up valuable space. Could you live with one bike and gear?

[@ericpmoss]

I have a Taz 2000, and its battery absolutely fails below 60F. At freezing temps, it may only last a minute fully charged, coming from a warm room. Are other lights' batteries better? I'm thinking either dynamo or hoping I can run it from an Anker and a mini-USB cable.

[@alexbillotte6328]

Hi there - which TarpTent is that you're using in the video? I have been looking into new tents for several weeks. Right now, a couple TT models (Rainbow & Bowfin) are on my list.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Moment.

[@martinmartin5904]

Want something with similar power/mAh ,size & weight , but with a 12 volts output . Any idea ?

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

I've got a similar product and love it! They last forever

[@buckettraveler8398]

I just gave up on dynamos and solar panels and got a power bank also. I need one with usbc though

[@buckettraveler8398]

@@hansshaffer3788 cost number one. I rode my bicycle from the US to Panama and met dozens of other cyclists and only one had a solar Panel and he still charged everything at stops and there was a French couple I rode with through Nicaragua and their dynamos only powered their lights. Everyone else said they tried one, the other, or both and they said neither kept their stuff charged.

[@arcoulant87]

yes power bank for me ,took a 20,000 ma and a 12,000 on my trans am trip which was fine only went 2 days with out mains power.

[@PhilSnider]

I agree 100% battery banks are the way to go and what I will always be using, until solar panel technology catches up to my needs. Never thought about keeping the batteries in the tent with me to keep them warm, thanks for the tip.

[@chrislowe3060]

Yeah, battery life plummets in cold weather. I went to winter survival school in the Army and we always kept our batteries in our sleeping bag and close to our bodies for this reason.

[@PhilSnider]

@@chrislowe3060 They taught you that in the Army? You must have been in recently because when I was in 03-07 we didnt have to worry about that lol

[@chrislowe3060]

@@PhilSnider I was in from '87 - '97. We still had PRC-77 radios whose batteries were literally the size and weight of a brick! I'm also old enough that as a 19E I was still issued a M1911 pistol and M3 grease gun SMG.

[@PhilSnider]

Oh damn!! Yeah we didn't have to worry about those batteries lol... thank you for your service!

[@andrewnorris5415]

I get you but it can be done cheap. I got a new XT dynamo hub for £30 from ebay. Built it up on an old rear wheel. The spokes were the correct len for a front xt dynamo build. I recharge a device and work the light at the same time no problem. Use a spinninga 60 lux dynamo lamp, £35, very efficient. The light goes bright at very low speed. Which means anything above 7mph I have upwards of 500mah to charge an additional device and plenty of light to see by. Going up to 1000mah at 15mph - with the light on! I have just one touring bike. Good tip on body warmth, I had charged my phone to 100%, but in freezing Scottish weather in a bothy - it dropped after 1 hour of use. Good job I had the dynamo the next day, it charged everything up. Can see how powerbanks work if not on a long trip or stop at cafes a lot. I like the sense of independence the dynamo gives. Sometimes I decide to stay out longer than planned if the weather is good. Up to two weeks in Scotland, and it is essential there.

[@SweetTodd]

What if you forget to charge the battery?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Don’t forget.

[@andyheilmann1656]

Me and my sister in did lots of traveling in rural Zambian and Malawi. Batteries were definitely the way to go for us. With some solar boost. We didn't travel by bike, so dynamo hubs weren't an option

[@spektrumB]

Yes, unless you will have no access of AC power for more than 4 days. Powerbank makes so much more sense than dynamo hub and solar panel.

[@CanIHasThisName]

I'd argue that unless you're riding for several weeks straight, battery banks are simply better. Nowadays there phones which can last for three days easily on 4000mAh, two if you need more usage. A bike computer will have maybe 1700mAh battery or you can get a watch like the Fenix 5x with less than 500mAh battery - both of these will last you 12 hours of navigation, so the whole riding portion of the day for most people. If you need nothing else charged, you can be at anywhere between 1800- 3800 mAh a day, so 26000maH battery may last you between 6-14 days. And IMHO even if you need more that, it's better to just buy a second battery bank than go through the trouble of installing a dynamo or faffing with solar.

[@BicycleTouringExplorer]

This is a power bank that I'm using and it is awesome

[@ROBinJVILLE]

I have a power bank that has a solar panel on one side. If there is sun, great. If not, it holds plenty of juice to charge my phone 4 times

[@kevinbiketour1]

On my cross country ride I carried 2 anker 20,000 mAh(mini amp hours) & it was not enough power while out west in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana etc.! I met two British riders with dynamo’s & if doing more than a 3 day weekend a trip a dynamo is now the only way I’ll role! Also I only need 1 battery bank now.

[@mjdorads]

I think one another advantage of using a dynamo is to charge your bicycle lights regularly. For me, it's kinda tiring having to install and remove those bike accessories just to recharge them for a long time. I feel like it would be nice if those accessories are ready to be used whenever you need to go. And you no longer need to worry about your rear signal light not protecting you when it suddenly died at night. It's like giving your bike power just like those from automobiles. Although you have to run some wiring on the bike but that's fine for me. And take note, a dynamo with a power regulator should be used to protect your stuffs from damage. We could actually choose to use both dynamo and power bank. Having a dynamo along side power bank saves your power bank some power. Bicycle related stuffs are charged using dynamo and personal gadgets using the power bank. Dynamo can also charge your power bank when needed. I know it can be costly but it depends on you.

[@alternativeduck9920]

I charge my backup battery bank with my dynamo hub. :)

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

How long does that take? A week? :)

[@alternativeduck9920]

​@@PathLessPedaledTV Honestly I don't know but a week is probably a good guess. Usually I try to find a grid outlet to charge completely from first, but it does help in desperate situations.

[@joeottsoulbikes415]

I fall into a middle road about this. I always have a Dynamo hub to power my lights. I have yet to find a light that will not die during critical times of a ride so all my lights on the bike run from a hub. I have a battery pack that will hold enough charge to reup my phone 6 times before dieting and that is what I use for my phone and camera.

[@timothypezet]

Once Graphene Batteries make more penetration in the market then the weight should drop significantly and the charge time should be faster by orders of magnitude. To me that will tip the balance away from Dynamo's. At the moment there are a few graphene powerbanks around but expensive.

[@dcmsr5141]

I'm sold on this power bank, is there a way to purchase this device and you guys get credit for it?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Sure. Through this link: amzn.to/33NvKh0

[@veriest1]

I've been pondering having one wheel I could use between all my bikes since they're all either 700c or 29er. A mountain wheel might be a little overkill on the Cross Check (with disc fork) or Las Cruces but it isn't worth trying to save weight to have two dynamo hubs. I'll probably stick with my batteries for a while though.

[@IonVladutu]

Hey anyone with the gumption can make a rectifier out of 4 diodes for pennies a piece, and wire a buck converter for less than 20 bucks on Amazon and have low cost and very robust charging set up.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

If you have the gumption you should make that video.

[@Choccytube]

Unless you're doing rides where you are away from civilisation for days on end then a powerbank is the way to go, and like you mentioned if you have multiple bikes it makes more sense. As for running out of battery this is very rare, plus you can use the powerbank when off the bike, which is more useful at the end of the day.

[@GoatRidesBikes]

The Supple Life cares not about heft! I mean...let's not load up a cast iron kitchen sink, but this is a great option. I think of extra weight as additional training!

[@technodrone313]

you can get a solid 1200 lumen head lamp on amazon for 30 bucks. comes with a pretty good battery pack. i have 2 sets.

[@dhiltonp]

Not only cheaper, but more efficient. For touring, dynamo hubs siphon off 2-5% of your power output (3-7w / 140w). Assuming your setup weighs 200 lbs, 1 lb of battery equipment is only slowing you down by .5% on a climb. If you're thinking "I only use my dynamo at night," you may be surprised. My B&M light has standlight functionality, which means that it's always drawing some power. There are still good reasons for the dynamo, but I thought I'd add one more reason to *not* use a dynamo.

[@dhiltonp]

Here's a funny thing: 5w / 500w = 1%. 2lbs / 200lbs = 1%. You literally have to put out 500w before climbing that hill with a dynamo is faster than with 2 lbs of extra gear.

[@richardwales58]

If you do a lot of commuting or just riding in the dark a good dyno hub is totally reliable

[@Choccytube]

Is it more reliable than a battery powered light, also when commuting I always use 2 lights at the rear for redundancy.

[@RobertPersons]

The biggest benefit of a dynamo is really not to charge electronics, it's to run the bicycle's lights. I typically have a small caching battery to charge my phone (voltaicsystems.com/v15/) which can charge on the 1 AMP @ 5 VDC USB output (from the dynamo) in 2-3 hours of riding, but I have unlimited lights as well. USB charging is nice but doesn't take the place of a real outlet or battery bank for a demanding power load; For me and my power load of bike computer (usb) and smartphone (usb c) there is plenty of power from the dynamo/small battery combo.

[@MarcMallary]

For a short trip a battery bank is good and it's important that it's quick charging. But for a long ride I do all the above.

[@po311737]

Totally agree 👍

[@ParliamentLiteOfficial]

Okay so I’ve only skimmed the video, and I can definitely see the appeal of a battery bank, but I can’t see how any power solution can beat a dynamo. Maybe if I’m long-distance touring and have to charge a bunch of devices, but the day-to-day practicality of a dynamo is unparalleled.

[@ickeausberlin36]

When long distance touring or racing I usually have my dynamo hub charge a power bank which is used as a relay to charge two other devices. Most often one of them is my gps while the other one might be a camera or my phone. This way I do not need to juggle with devices and when the devices are fully charged the power bank fills up.

[@xxgg]

When you buy one of these high capacity batteries, MAKE sure to buy one which allow for fast input/recharge of itself as it can take many hours without it.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. This one does a 4 hour quick charge via USB C.

[@TomLigman]

I have that same one. I still want the dynamo (and maybe also solar) to be charging things if I'm going out for more than 3 days.

[@Alniemi]

Why not both?

[@karlstine2065]

Sounds good.

[@PumpkinVillage]

Good point on sleeping with your electronics. I use a small stuff sack to put everything into to keep them in one place. Have the very same power bank. Love it. Thanks for the video, Take care, Al

[@echo-hotel]

Pumpkin Village Maple it doesn’t actually discharge though. It simply need to be warmed up once your ready to use it. Store them in a freezer if you want to test it.

[@oldbikefilms]

A 15600 mah Anker for the phone and lights works for me on a 5-6 days long tour.

[@normadicn5700]

Anker the best

[@urlewd]

Batterypack + Cheap - Requires long stops where you can charge - You could potentially run out of battery Dynamo+Batterypack ++++ Can power lights ++++ No need for stops + Never out of battery - Expensive (Or not, if you can build wheels and solder)

[@marckirk2345]

I had an Anker 21w solar which I recently sold. It weighed over 500 grams with cables and whilst it could output 2A @ 5V in direct sunlight, they are too limiting for cycle touring. It is bulky - you still need a cache battery and when it is overcast - good luck. You have to mount it to the bike which is not that simple and orientate it to the sun, again, not that simple. Also, rarely are you sat around on tour for many hours just chilling in the sun waiting for your 20,000 mAh Anker battery to charge at 2A. Even in full sunlight this would take over 10 hours in perfect conditions. In reality you can expect double that. The panels also degrade over time, so whilst they are fantastic when new they will become less efficient.

[@peppermintp2610]

I know that backpackers use these and then recharge their batteries on their zero/town days. I'd go this route, if had the need.

[@hl5bxw]

Thank you, this video helped me forget about Dynamo. :-)

[@CykelSierra]

Solar here in Brazil would be viable if the set up is not very expensive. The sun here is insane.