Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: fd3 on 16 November, 2019, 12:12:44 pm

Title: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 16 November, 2019, 12:12:44 pm
I bought an IQX from Rose which stopped working entirely after three weeks' use.  The replacement is also faulty (it doesn't hold charge, won't switch on half the time and will change to daylight mode in the middle of a dark unlit cycle path in the middle of the night).
I am considering asking for an 80lux Cyo instead of a third replacement IQX, but I am not sure that I can trust B&M's QC if they manage to serve me up two lemons.  What is everyone else's recent experience?
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Hot Flatus on 16 November, 2019, 12:27:08 pm
Persist with the IQ-X until you get one that isnt faulty.

Mine has been rock solid for several years and it is great.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 16 November, 2019, 12:33:09 pm
I've got two which are now about 3 years old, one of which is a replacement for one which had the not-switching-on-unless-in-motion fault.  As I operate them from an inline switch, I can't vouch for their continued correct switch behaviour, but since they seem to be doing the producing light (and switching betwen night/day mode) things properly, I'm not particularly bothered.

There does seem to be a serious quality control issue.

I'm happy with the Cyo Premium on my Brompton, but the extra width of the IQ-X beam is invaluable on a recumbent.  I found myself riding on an unlit cyclepath by the light of the Cyo-R on my hybrid recently, and was distinctly underwhelmed (it normally gets used on urban roads with streetlighting).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 18 November, 2019, 11:41:53 pm
Worked today, wonder whether it can magically fix itself?  It appears to switch itself on when I start moving, is this normal?
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 19 November, 2019, 12:06:21 am
It appears to switch itself on when I start moving, is this normal?

It is if it was switched on when you stopped moving...


IIRC Cudzoziemiec has one that likes to switch itself on at random.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Ivo on 19 November, 2019, 07:41:03 am
Worked today, wonder whether it can magically fix itself?  It appears to switch itself on when I start moving, is this normal?

Bumm considers this a safety feature. I consider this a fault.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: JonB on 19 November, 2019, 08:34:12 am
I've got two which are now about 3 years old, one of which is a replacement for one which had the not-switching-on-unless-in-motion fault.  As I operate them from an inline switch, I can't vouch for their continued correct switch behaviour, but since they seem to be doing the producing light (and switching betwen night/day mode) things properly, I'm not particularly bothered.
I think mine has that fault, have to spin the wheel and then hit the switch to get it on or just push it when I start to move. It will hold the standlight and turn off when stopped but won't switch on again until on the move.  It's a good light and works ok in other respects which is why I've not bothered to return it, I've got Cyo premium's on other bikes which work as they are supposed to - these are great value for money and functional.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Nightmare-1 on 19 November, 2019, 11:57:07 pm
The reason you can't switch it on is because the switch needs to have POWER to operate & seeing as it's a DYNAMO light guess where that comes from when the capacitors are dead?

Yep! you guessed it The DYNAMO which only produces POWER when the wheel rotates.

So you have to be moving before you can switch on the light.

NOT a very clever design, but apart from recalling all the IQ-X's and redesigning with a physical switch, there wasn't much they could do.

So they declared it to be a design feature. :facepalm:

I refuse to call it a "Safety" feature because it's daft.

It does light up the road nicely though on my ICE Qnt. :smug: And YES, mine does have the "fault".
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 20 November, 2019, 12:24:17 am
The reason you can't switch it on is because the switch needs to have POWER to operate & seeing as it's a DYNAMO light guess where that comes from when the capacitors are dead?

The fault isn't that it can't bootstrap from a fully discharged state, it's that they aren't using stored charge to maintain the switch functionality for a reasonable period (at least several days) after switch off.  I've no idea if that's due to the capacitor discharging faster than anticipated (leakage?  unexpectedly high quiescent current?) or because it's failing to reserve sufficient stored charge to preserve the switch operation (standlight failing to switch off at some voltage threshold?  assumptive time-based switchoff?), but it's clearly a fault.

Evidence:  Having owned two IQ-Xes that are (or at least were when new) able to switch back on after being switched off and the bike stopped for several days, and an email from B&M saying that this behaviour is a fault, and that I should return the light to the retailer for a replacement.


On that basis, I suspect it's a quality control of components issue, rather than a fundamental design flaw.  Which isn't to say that a hard switch wouldn't neatly avoid the problem (while introducing the usual mechanical ones).  My guess is that they've been caught out by a batch of capacitors not performing long-term like they did in the lab, and hand-waved the issue to avoid a recall.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Phil W on 20 November, 2019, 06:54:27 pm
I have fitted a Cyo premium senso plus light to my recumbent today. It has a switch for off, senso, on ,  daylight running LEDs, stand light and 80 lux. Comes on tonight as soon as you spin the wheel if in senso or on mode. Seems remarkably good value as well compared to the Luxos and iq-X lights.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 20 November, 2019, 07:16:38 pm
I reckon those are the sweet spot for bang-per-buck, and they're a proven design.  The IQ-X beam is wider (and slightly brighter), though.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 20 November, 2019, 11:46:37 pm
I wonder whether the low light could be due to low capacitor charging - but then I would expect that if I pedal over 10mph that should power the light without needing to cycle for a couple minutes with the light off.

I am rather stuck as the light has now functioned for the last three days with no issues.  On the other hand it did fail epicly and the previous model (that I sent back) did so too (but that time 7 miles from hoke on low lit roads).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: rogerzilla on 24 November, 2019, 04:09:47 pm
You can turn the light on when stopped if there is residual charge in the capacitor.  This lasts for a while but will probably leak away overnight.  In contrast, the Cyo capacitor holds charge for weeks and weeks.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 25 November, 2019, 09:55:26 pm
Well, it went off while riding in the dark again tonight ... twice (both times at speed).

F- it, I'll ask for a swap to a Cyo Premium.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Brucey on 25 November, 2019, 11:25:11 pm
FWIW I don't feel a burning need to have a standlight, auto-on off, daytime running lights, or any similar gimcrackery in a dynamo front light. Unfortunately most of the brighter B&M lights (like the IQ-X) come with these things whether you like it or not, and (to my mind) this is bound to decrease reliability.   I'd far sooner have the nice housing with just a reliable light (and good optics) within it.

I have recently made an observation about cheap dynamo lights which may be of interest.

In days past, if you wanted more light at speed you could run two 6V lights in series and you would (given a few givens) get about twice the light at speed when using many different generators. However this did come with less light at low speeds. This approach still works with LED lights.

The alternative approach was to use two lights in parallel; however this usually does not result in more light because the current is simply shared between two lights. If LED lights are used, and all the current is passed through the LEDs, pretty much the same thing is true (give or take a bit of efficiency variation with current, which is slight).

However cheap-ish LED type dynamo lights are (usually) designed to use 2.4W @6V (so as to comply with StVZO standards) but do not pass all 0.4A through the LEDs.  The LED devices used may have a rating of 1W or less, which means that the current going through them (when warm especially)  may only be 0.2A or so; the rest is just wasted. Note also that such lamps are often capable of reaching full brightness at low speed, often when the generator is only producing about 5V or so.

I also note that quite a few hub generators will happily produce a bit more than 0.5A when driving loads which draw current at about 5V or so.  This varies a bit but 0.6 or 0.7A is often on the cards. It is also possible to get a rear light that only needs about 30mA or so, which leaves a bit more for the front light(s) too.

The net effect of all this is that if you attach several such LED lights in parallel (I have tried up to three) then you do seem to get more light. [ I also plan to try four lamps in two pairs, both series and parallel. ]

So one scheme is to run the lights as 'normal' most of the time, i.e. with a standard rear light and just one front light, when conditions are mostly such that a 'be seen' light would be adequate. Then, should more light be required (e.g. on an extra-urban night-time ride) then a pair of extra front lights can easily be added (eg on a QD handlebar mount of some kind) and connected by  simply by piggybacking on the rear light terminals.

An attraction of this scheme is that your eggs are not expensive eggs and they are not in one basket either; any one lamp could fail and it wouldn't be the end of the world.   I don't know how the end result compares (in terms of overall light output) with just one bright light, but I suspect it may not be that far off.   

cheers
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 November, 2019, 08:49:56 am
It appears to switch itself on when I start moving, is this normal?

It is if it was switched on when you stopped moving...


IIRC Cudzoziemiec has one that likes to switch itself on at random.
I do. Nowadays I never turn it off because there's no point and because there's a slim chance of its suddenly turning itself on being misread as an invitation to proceed (like flashing headlights). Fortunately it's never turned itself off.

Both that and the other one have the won't turn on unless moving fault, which I'd be inclined to say is a faulty capacitor; if you turn it off while the standlight's going then immediately on again, it works, so my deduction is the capacitor isn't storing whatever it needs for initial illumination. But please don't trust my electrical "knowledge". I've taken a similar attitude to JonB on this.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 26 November, 2019, 11:18:28 pm
FWIW I don't feel a burning need to have a standlight, auto-on off, daytime running lights, or any similar gimcrackery in a dynamo front light. Unfortunately most of the brighter B&M lights (like the IQ-X) come with these things whether you like it or not, and (to my mind) this is bound to decrease reliability.   I'd far sooner have the nice housing with just a reliable light (and good optics) within it.

The net effect of all this is that if you attach several such LED lights in parallel (I have tried up to three) then you do seem to get more light. [ I also plan to try four lamps in two pairs, both series and parallel. ]
I mostly agree with the first paragraph, though I would like a standlight.
I thought that a luminosity-or-is-it-lux-log-thing meant that two identical lights only give 10% more light (or summat).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 26 November, 2019, 11:47:18 pm
I thought that a luminosity-or-is-it-lux-log-thing meant that two identical lights only give 10% more light (or summat).

The eye's response probably factors in there?  Certainly adding a second identical light source doesn't result in all that much perceived difference.  The main advantage of having two lamps is that you can point them in different directions, though that's an advantage that's been steadily decreasing as beams have got wider...
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Brucey on 27 November, 2019, 12:39:57 am
I think the eye is differently sensitive in a kind of logarithmic way, so if you want something to subjectively appear to be 'about twice as bright' you need ~x10 the instrumented brightness.

BTW I have tried a few more experiments and it turns out that the cheapo lights I am using get pretty bright when the measured AC voltage (on my DMM) is only about 3.5V. I have not checked it with a 'scope yet but I expect the voltage waveform to be pretty much flat topped. 

This means that running such lights in series does not result in much loss of brightness at low speeds; most generators produce ~7VAC (peak) at quite low speeds and as soon as they do there is some light rather than none.

The shimano hub generator I am using will power four of the cheap lights (to a good brightness, possibly not full) even with all four in parallel. With the four in pairs, parallel and series, there is 'really quite a lot of light'.  However it is going to be a bit OTT to have four separate lights on the front of the bike!

cheers
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 November, 2019, 09:11:07 am
FWIW I don't feel a burning need to have a standlight, auto-on off, daytime running lights, or any similar gimcrackery in a dynamo front light. Unfortunately most of the brighter B&M lights (like the IQ-X) come with these things whether you like it or not, and (to my mind) this is bound to decrease reliability.   I'd far sooner have the nice housing with just a reliable light (and good optics) within it.

The net effect of all this is that if you attach several such LED lights in parallel (I have tried up to three) then you do seem to get more light. [ I also plan to try four lamps in two pairs, both series and parallel. ]
I mostly agree with the first paragraph, though I would like a standlight.
I can't see the point of not having a standlight. It adds the very useful, reassuring function of being seen when stationary at junctions or just stopped at the side of the road for a banananana or whatever, as well as a little light for searching in saddlebag etc. But the fact that we have the word standlight at all says something about attitudes; it's just German for parking light or side light, or to use the modern terminology position light (Standlicht).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Carlosfandango on 27 November, 2019, 10:42:38 am
They're great when they're working, but.....

I've got an old B+M Luxos, it's been good, but then one of the tangs to connect the rear light broke off, it's corroded. I contacted B+M and they sent me some new tangs and I've managed to solder the new one in place.

However, the components are densely packed inside the casing and not positively located, so getting the light back together with everything in the correct position is very, very difficult. I haven't achieved it yet.

Deep breath, calm, try again.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: grams on 27 November, 2019, 10:53:55 am
The most likely point of failure on a dynamo setup is the external wiring, followed by the headlight bracket. Worrying about the complexity of the electronics inside the box* is madness, especially something as simple as a standlight.

(* unless it's a Luxos U, because they're shite)
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Brucey on 27 November, 2019, 11:45:43 am
I can't see the point of not having a standlight. It adds the very useful, reassuring function of being seen when stationary at junctions or just stopped at the side of the road for a banananana or whatever, as well as a little light for searching in saddlebag etc. But the fact that we have the word standlight at all says something about attitudes; it's just German for parking light or side light, or to use the modern terminology position light (Standlicht).

you are not legally required to show any lights when the bike is stationary. The advice is that you shouldn't be out in the road, stopped, e.g. when  making a right turn if you are running dynamo lights but that is all.


In terms of 'not being seen' when stationary and therefore being run into, I don't think you have much to worry about there, not unless you go out of your way to dress bike and self like a stealth ninja. Modern cycle kit is liberally decorated with reflexite and the biggest risk of anyone running into you is because folk don't always look where they are going; you could be lit up 'like a ****ing Christmas tree' and it wouldn't make the slightest difference.

There is a small risk if you pull across an unlit junction from a standstill; you might not have been seen by (say) a car turning right across your path.   Here a front reflector is useful (a legal requirement in Germany and other places) and I usually run with a few spoke reflectors on the front wheel too; they show up very well and when there are only a few of them it often causes most other road users to do a double take which is no bad thing.

But for the most part a front standlight is a palliative for the mind rather than a practical help with being seen by other road users.


The downside to the standlight is that it is a device which is inherently prone to failure; 'supercapacitors' are not, er, that super in fact.  If the light is well designed, it still works as normal when the standlight takes a dump. However not all lights are like that and it often causes other problems. 

If you wish to avoid problems with corroded wiring and brackets breaking etc, just corrosion proof the wires properly and don't use shite brackets. A well-set-up system ought to be free of that kind of fault for decades, even if it sees all the weather.

cheers
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: grams on 27 November, 2019, 11:57:42 am
I was thinking of:
- Wire headlight brackets snapping at the base where the sharp bend is.
- Plastic headlight shells snap around where the bracket lugs stick out.
- Wires break (or more likely the connectors) when they get snagged on things, or short where cable ties wear through the insulation, etc.
- Ripping the plug off when you get a front puncture while tired.

None of these are avoidable with corrosion proofing.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 November, 2019, 12:31:49 pm
I can't see the point of not having a standlight. It adds the very useful, reassuring function of being seen when stationary at junctions or just stopped at the side of the road for a banananana or whatever, as well as a little light for searching in saddlebag etc. But the fact that we have the word standlight at all says something about attitudes; it's just German for parking light or side light, or to use the modern terminology position light (Standlicht).

you are not legally required to show any lights when the bike is stationary. The advice is that you shouldn't be out in the road, stopped, e.g. when  making a right turn if you are running dynamo lights but that is all.
Legally if you have a dynamo without standlight, you're supposed to only stop on the left, which makes right turns a bit difficult. I don't suppose anybody actually paid any attention to that rule even back in the pre-standlight days. But legality isn't my concern, it's that we're no longer in the pre-standlight days. You'd nowadays have to deliberately search for dynamo lighting without standlight. Why would you do that rather than choose one of the many easily available, brilliant (pun intended) and efficient dynamo systems with standlight?
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 27 November, 2019, 12:46:57 pm
- Ripping the plug off when you get a front puncture while tired.

I reckon the Shimano/SP lego-brick style connectors have an advantage in this respect, as (as long as they're aligned vertically) they'll disconnect well before ripping the cable off.  And if it does get ripped off you can re-make the connection at the roadside without any special tools (you just need a pokey thing to release the two halves of the connector).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 27 November, 2019, 12:48:01 pm
Legally if you have a dynamo without standlight, you're supposed to only stop on the left, which makes right turns a bit difficult. I don't suppose anybody actually paid any attention to that rule even back in the pre-standlight days. But legality isn't my concern, it's that we're no longer in the pre-standlight days. You'd nowadays have to deliberately search for dynamo lighting without standlight. Why would you do that rather than choose one of the many easily available, brilliant (pun intended) and efficient dynamo systems with standlight?

Quite.

Also, my standlight gets regular use for identification of keys at the end of the ride.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: rogerzilla on 27 November, 2019, 06:58:36 pm
My B&M Avy doesn't have a standlight but there is only one right turn on my commute where I ever have to sit and wait, and that's in a right turn-only lane protected by a traffic island.  It does have a big built-in reflector under the lamp.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Brucey on 27 November, 2019, 09:21:37 pm
….we're no longer in the pre-standlight days. You'd nowadays have to deliberately search for dynamo lighting without standlight. Why would you do that rather than choose one of the many easily available, brilliant (pun intended) and efficient dynamo systems with standlight?

Rear light standlights I think are a good idea and (IME) when they go wrong they don't usually cause the whole light to fail.

  However unless your front standlight meets the requirements of any of the applicable standards, then legally speaking it might as well not be there. In terms of being seen, a feeble glow-worm might seem to  be better than nothing but it may just give you a false sense of confidence.  In terms of actually being seen, if you are in the beam of a car's headlights and have reflectors/reflexite fitted, a typical standlight will hardly register amongst this lot.  So I have my doubts about the true value of such a thing.

  If you have to make a single right turn in a journey you would be as well (or better) off with a simple (and legal) blinky rather than a standlight. Come to think of it I would vote for front standlights to be blinky not steady, as that way they would be more likely to produce a legally compliant amount of light and would probably contribute better towards you being seen.

I also note that lamps with standlights often develop odd behaviours, eg not switching on a low speed unless the capacitor is charged, and decreased levels of brightness at low speeds until the capacitor is well charged.  It is most certainly not the case that such a thing comes without potential drawbacks.

What I don't have any doubts about is that the standlight is the thing that is most likely to go wrong in many front lights.  Look inside a typical light and there is no concession to the fact that the light will see a lot of vibration; both the supercapacitor and the choke are usually mounted in such a way as they will simply fatigue off the board, sooner or later.  I'd far sooner that they spent money on things in the light that make it better and more reliable, not worse and less.

I always carry a backup light of some kind and I use this for thirty seconds whenever I have to navigate from the bike to the back door and/or lock the bike. This means I am always sure that the thing still works, without which it could be nigh-on useless.

Regarding bracket breakage; this is (obviously) more likely to happen if the lamp is heavy. I dunno how much extra the standlight/senso/DRL  gubbins weighs but it is some extra weight rather than none. I've never seen a wire-type  bracket break with a simple, lightweight lamp mounted to it.    You can avoid the lamp housing itself breaking by simply choosing a lamp that isn't too heavy and mounting it on a bracket that will move when it is clouted, rather than a stupid 100% rigid mount. Obviously the lighter the lamp is, the less tight the bracket needs to be, and the less likely any real damage is to occur.  Strategically placed spring washers in the mountings can help with all this.

Regarding wire breakages; I prefer not to use zip ties because they concentrate the bending strain in the wire at one point, and if they are done up tight enough to stop the wire from moving in service, it may not pull through when tugged. I normally use tape instead; if taped correctly the wires don't flex at one point and will pull through if they see a hard tug.  A Brucey top tip is to have a little excess wire doubled up under the tape; this means there is excess for repairs and it also means a hard tug will just cause more wire to miraculously appear rather than lead to a breakage.

  I have always arranged to have wires such that they will pull off the generator rather than break first; e.g. by having connectors that just pull out (I ran for about 25 years with such a setup; it never gave me a moment's worry). In more recent years (with a shimano hub)  I have just used the centre part of a shimano connector; this pulls off the generator quite easily and also allows the thing to be fettled/rewired very easily should this be necessary.  However if the wires are a bit flimsy, you could lose the plug off the end of the wire when the wheel is out I suppose.

On the subject of accidental damage I recently saw a (almost new) hub generator that got mangled into oblivion when a simple bungy cord hook got dropped into the front wheel.  It got dragged round with the wheel and smashed the connector block to pieces.

It is very easy to spend a fortune on lights and still end up with a system that is a bit shit.  However with a bit of thought and application you can have a system which is inherently more reliable and it doesn't have to cost a fortune or be a PITA to live with either.

cheers
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: grams on 28 November, 2019, 12:30:10 am
The lesson I've taken away is that you should probably carry a backup battery light whatever you do, and if you do that you don't need absolute reliability out of your dynamo system, and if you do that you can have whatever components you want and set it up however you want and not have to consider reliability above all else, which is a losing game.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Ivo on 28 November, 2019, 05:42:04 am
The lesson I've taken away is that you should probably carry a backup battery light whatever you do, and if you do that you don't need absolute reliability out of your dynamo system, and if you do that you can have whatever components you want and set it up however you want and not have to consider reliability above all else, which is a losing game.

This

The amount of redundancy varies from area to area. When I rode the Silkroute 1200 I carried a pre-mounted spare dynamo frontlight. And I needed it as the B&M light's bracket wasn't up to Uzbek road conditions.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Brucey on 28 November, 2019, 09:09:31 am
The lesson I've taken away is that you should probably carry a backup battery light whatever you do, and if you do that you don't need absolute reliability out of your dynamo system, and if you do that you can have whatever components you want and set it up however you want and not have to consider reliability above all else, which is a losing game.

anybody with half and ounce of common sense at least carries enough spare lighting that they can fix a puncture if needs be and these of course  double up as emergency lights too.

However I don't think it is an accident that I've been riding around in the dark for decades with various dynamo lighting systems and I have not had cause to use the backup lights as yet.  The likely reason for this is that I have been careful to choose components that are not intrinsically unreliable and I have been careful to install the parts using various commonsense arrangements that greatly reduce the risk of both damage and problems arising from it.

I'd suggest that if you choose intrinsically reliable parts, your emergency lights need be for emergencies only. However if you choose/install  poorly, you had better carry a spare set of lights and be prepared to use them.

cheers

cheers
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: jiberjaber on 28 November, 2019, 09:50:34 am
The lesson I've taken away is that you should probably carry a backup battery light whatever you do, and if you do that you don't need absolute reliability out of your dynamo system, and if you do that you can have whatever components you want and set it up however you want and not have to consider reliability above all else, which is a losing game.

anybody with half and ounce of common sense at least carries enough spare lighting that they can fix a puncture if needs be and these of course  double up as emergency lights too.

However I don't think it is an accident that I've been riding around in the dark for decades with various dynamo lighting systems and I have not had cause to use the backup lights as yet.  The likely reason for this is that I have been careful to choose components that are not intrinsically unreliable and I have been careful to install the parts using various commonsense arrangements that greatly reduce the risk of both damage and problems arising from it.

I'd suggest that if you choose intrinsically reliable parts, your emergency lights need be for emergencies only. However if you choose/install  poorly, you had better carry a spare set of lights and be prepared to use them.

cheers

cheers

To add some balance to the thread in terms of reliability I have 27,000km of untroubled running of Luxus-U and 29,000km of IQ-X (of which I have 2 on different bikes).

Like all components there's always some quality control issues and the nature of the internet is such that it's usual to mostly see negative reviews and experiences when searching (not sure when the last time I thread asking how can I take something that is working OK and break it ;D )

Carrying some form of secondary lighting is just common sense though I tend to combine it with at least some usefulness rather than just being dead weight as a spare, so head torch (helps to better see around bends when at speed) and secondary rear battery light (for added rear visibility).  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 28 November, 2019, 12:56:11 pm
On the subject of accidental damage I recently saw a (almost new) hub generator that got mangled into oblivion when a simple bungy cord hook got dropped into the front wheel.  It got dragged round with the wheel and smashed the connector block to pieces.

Damaging the hub seems like a relatively optimal outcome in that scenario.  Nasty things, bungee cords.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 November, 2019, 02:30:13 pm
On the subject of accidental damage I recently saw a (almost new) hub generator that got mangled into oblivion when a simple bungy cord hook got dropped into the front wheel.  It got dragged round with the wheel and smashed the connector block to pieces.

Damaging the hub seems like a relatively optimal outcome in that scenario.  Nasty things, bungee cords.
Yeah. Remember when they were used as lower fixings on panniers? I got one caught in the wheel while riding and... actually it just pinged out again, but that was a much smaller hook and tiny cord compared to a load-fastening bungee. I've also got a proper bungee caught in a motorcycle wheel once; that ended up with decapitated bungee, but even the weeniest motor puts out a bit more power than my legs.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: fd3 on 28 November, 2019, 11:42:55 pm
I have a ... years old cyo (40lux model) which has been faultless.  The second hand "U" flickers a bit intermittently, I don't like it but it's okay on the recumbent (which I rarely ride at night).  The IQ-X turned itself off three times on the ride home tonight - I would believe that I just can't solder, except that the technicians at work gave it the once-over.
I don't see the point in having a light that requires a backup - yes, I should have something so that I can limp home if need be, but it should be the exception as opposed to the rule.  My experience with the IQ-X is that it will stop working more frequently than my battery lights run out.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: jiberjaber on 03 November, 2021, 07:35:01 pm
Well one of my 2 IQ-X lights has decided to no longer illuminate though using pin technology there appears to be connectivity all the way up the wire to outside the lamp and there are voles when I spin the wheel... I guess next job is to remove and unscrew it apart to take a look inside, hoping it's a wire thats broken inside but looking at the pictures of how they are dismantled looks like the wires are quite well installed so it might be more than just that!

I'll see what happens, might order a new one and move this one to the CdF to replace the U thats on there....
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 November, 2021, 07:52:03 pm
The electronic "soft" switches on the IQ-X and IQ-XS do have a mind of their own.  The light generally decides it wants to be on at the start of any ride, and sometimes resists any effort to turn it off.  The physical switches (although still electronic, and therefore crap) on the Avy and similar are better, just hard to use with gloves on.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 November, 2021, 09:49:01 pm
I long ago gave up trying to turn mine off. Just leave it on all the time. Better than not being able to turn it on! In all other respects it's a great light though.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: jiberjaber on 13 November, 2021, 09:20:57 pm
Well one of my 2 IQ-X lights has decided to no longer illuminate though using pin technology there appears to be connectivity all the way up the wire to outside the lamp and there are voles when I spin the wheel... I guess next job is to remove and unscrew it apart to take a look inside, hoping it's a wire thats broken inside but looking at the pictures of how they are dismantled looks like the wires are quite well installed so it might be more than just that!

I'll see what happens, might order a new one and move this one to the CdF to replace the U thats on there....

So new lamp arrived whilst I was away for work and I got round to fitting it tonight.

Still no working, so I had a brainwave (which I should have had earlier but perhaps spannering at 23:00 prevented me!) I swapped the dyno wheel to the CdF which has the U lamp on and spun it, dyno works. Attached the new lamp direct to the dyno, lamp works. Attached the old lamp to the dyno ... yep you guessed it, that works too!...

So reinstalled the dyno wheel back on to the fixed that I was fixing... snipped off the lead to the Igaro D1 which was wired in parallel to the IQ-X, reconnected old lamp.. we have light!

So I now have a new IQ-X to add to one of the other bikes....
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 27 January, 2022, 06:21:47 pm
Worked today, wonder whether it can magically fix itself?  It appears to switch itself on when I start moving, is this normal?

Mine has just started doing this  >:(  I'm guessing it's a fault and nothing I can fix?  My light is out of warranty and I'm thinking of getting in touch with B&M to see if they can repair it.  Has anyone tried this?
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: BFC on 27 January, 2022, 11:06:16 pm
Some B&M lights (IQ U) mention that they turn on automatically at temperatures of 4C or less in the information, they don't say if its a generic design concept or specific to this product to protect the Lithium battery. I haven't read the pamphlet for the IQ X.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: BFC on 28 January, 2022, 12:27:23 am
To test dyno hub/light set ups I use a moderately large hole saw (the smooth bit, not the teeth) to spin the dyno wheel up to road speed using a drill. Only ties up one hand, although a workstand with steering lock helps to release the other for button pressing. Anything that spins the wheel up to road speeds should work.

A willing(?) assistant would give a few spare hands, although the assistants willingness would decay rapidly with the boredom of holding the drill steady without any interest in the experiment.

I also have low frequency signal source for testing lights, but this does have a relatively high source impedance (50ohm) so not optimal for nominal 12ohm lighting systems.

Only true test is real world riding on the road, but the distraction of a basically faulty set up/item on the road is not worth the risk in traffic loaded environments.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 January, 2022, 06:36:05 am
Some B&M lights (IQ U) mention that they turn on automatically at temperatures of 4C or less in the information, they don't say if its a generic design concept or specific to this product to protect the Lithium battery. I haven't read the pamphlet for the IQ X.

You might be on to something here.  I have another IQ-X on another machine.  I wonder if that one is switching on automatically as well?
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: aidan.f on 28 January, 2022, 01:07:00 pm
Quote
I also have low frequency signal source for testing lights, but this does have a relatively high source impedance (50ohm) so not optimal for nominal 12ohm lighting systems
Squignal generator and audio power amplifier maybe? Although configuring the test source as a current limited generator would avoid magic smoke effects
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 January, 2022, 01:27:34 pm
Some B&M lights (IQ U) mention that they turn on automatically at temperatures of 4C or less in the information, they don't say if its a generic design concept or specific to this product to protect the Lithium battery. I haven't read the pamphlet for the IQ X.

You might be on to something here.  I have another IQ-X on another machine.  I wonder if that one is switching on automatically as well?

My other IQ-X is behaving nicely.  Both bikes are stored in the same garage which I doubt is less that 4 degrees.  I think my light has a fault  >:(
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: drossall on 28 January, 2022, 01:39:16 pm
So you have to be moving before you can switch on the light.

NOT a very clever design, but apart from recalling all the IQ-X's and redesigning with a physical switch, there wasn't much they could do.

So they declared it to be a design feature. :facepalm:
Completely stupid design. It's useless on any bike where you can't easily reach the light once you're moving. It's tricky on my Brompton, where the light is well down, just above the small front wheel, and a real stretch. It's even more hopeless when I've got bags on the front, which make it too heavy to lift the front wheel and spin before starting, and even harder to reach around the bag to the light once moving. So I have to stop, take off any bag(s), start the light, and refit the bags. Did the person who designed this ever ride bikes?

Really good and reliable light though, once running.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Lightning Phil on 28 January, 2022, 01:45:55 pm
Sounds rubbish and would never work on a recumbent where the light is well out of reach unless you can kick switch with your left foot whilst moving.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 28 January, 2022, 01:52:53 pm
Sounds rubbish and would never work on a recumbent where the light is well out of reach unless you can kick switch with your left foot whilst moving.

This is why I have mine wired through a switch on the handlebars.


It's very disappointing.  The IQ-X's performance is excellent, but they've ruined it with the soft on/off switch and poor quality control.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 28 January, 2022, 01:57:05 pm
Completely stupid design. It's useless on any bike where you can't easily reach the light once you're moving. It's tricky on my Brompton, where the light is well down, just above the small front wheel, and a real stretch. It's even more hopeless when I've got bags on the front, which make it too heavy to lift the front wheel and spin before starting, and even harder to reach around the bag to the light once moving. So I have to stop, take off any bag(s), start the light, and refit the bags. Did the person who designed this ever ride bikes?

The person who designed it presumably expected the switch to work as intended (ie. switch on without dynamo power using energy stored in the standlight capacitor).
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Hot Flatus on 28 January, 2022, 01:58:28 pm
I don't find it a problem to be honest. It's way easier to operate with winter gloves on than that stupid twist knob on the cyo. It is the best dyno light I've used by a country mile. I spin wheel with hand, and switch on, no bother. Appreciate that on a recumbent it poses a problem.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 28 January, 2022, 02:05:15 pm
The Cyo used to switch itself on and off automagically, thobut, so you only needed to touch the switch if you wanted to force it on for bad weather in daylight.  While I agree that the twist knob ergonomics aren't particularly glove-friendly, the knob-moving-a-slide-switch-and-exposing-a-light-sensor design seems to have been eminently reliable, and storing the desired operation state mechanically has obvious advantages.

The rot set in when the StVZO rules started requiring daylight-running lights, and B&M decided to use the light sensor for marginally beneficial reconfiguration of the beam.  Suddenly the recumbent/Brompton friendliness of automatic lighting was defeated.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 January, 2022, 02:12:54 pm
The switching on automagically thing as reported by OD is a fault in one of mine too. I just ignore it and never turn it off. If I was worried about the minuscule power drain from my thighs of Hoy, I'd do some training so I actually had thighs of Hoy. I am, obviously, thankful that the fault is turning itself on not off.

The not being to turn it on except when moving is a different, and far more common, problem. I don't think they're related: one's some sort of loose connection somewhere, the other's shoddy capacitors.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 January, 2022, 02:20:40 pm
The switching on automagically thing as reported by OD is a fault in one of mine too. I just ignore it and never turn it off...

I ought not to be that bothered.  But it just pisses me off that it is no longer working correctly.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Lightning Phil on 28 January, 2022, 02:25:23 pm
The Cyo used to switch itself on and off automagically, thobut, so you only needed to touch the switch if you wanted to force it on for bad weather in daylight.

And you can still do that with the Cyo premium. You can have the switch in 3 positions.

Off
Come on in poor light / darkness - main LED
Day light running LEDs  , and switch to main LED once it gets dark / dull enough

This is the one I have on my recumbent, 80 lux rating I think, and cost £45 which I think was good value.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Kim on 28 January, 2022, 02:37:55 pm
Really?  I have a Cyo T Premium on my Brompton, and the modes are:

- Off.
- Sensor selected between 'main beam full brightness + be-seen LEDs dim[1]' and 'main beam dim, be-seen LEDs at full brightness'
- Permanently in 'main beam dim, be-seen LEDs at full brightness' mode.

There's no setting that uses the sensor to turn the light off completely, like the older Cyos.  It's also notable that it draws more power in daylight-running mode than with the main beam on full.

It's an excellent value light.  Not quite as wide a beam as the IQ-X, but reliable and about half the price.  I reckon it's the most bang-for-buck.


[1] The change in brightness of the LEDs is barely perceptible in real-world conditions.  You can see it indoors with a bench power supply if you toggle between the modes a few times.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: BFC on 28 January, 2022, 10:14:03 pm
B&M lights seem to use volatile memory to remember (or forget!) their last state. Whilst the Lithium battery (IQ U) or supercapacitors (most others with software switching) keep the memory alive they are great.
Once the backup voltage drops they forget their last state and go into default (safe) state and turn on just in case as soon as they "wake up", then whilst riding at low speed the backup device never regenerates unless hitting decent speeds for a reasonable distance without interruptions (worse if running a rear light as well).
If you can get the backup to regenerate they will remember again, but it will not regenerate if the lamp/standlight is drawing more than the input from the dynamo can support for your actual ride speed and static time.
Turning the light off and riding for a while can fix some of them unless the backup is failing or defective - knackered Li battery, bad spring contacts or dry joints on supercaps... I have had all three failure modes on my B&M lights.
Adding other parasitic systems (charging devices) makes the regeneration problems worse.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 29 January, 2022, 04:54:27 pm
My IQ-X seems to have fixed itself as per BFC's description above.  I'm pleased.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: BFC on 29 January, 2022, 07:02:46 pm
My IQ-X seems to have fixed itself as per BFC's description above.  I'm pleased.
Ride faster or learn to work within the limits of the dynamo output at your speed (group rides can become a problem though!), Fred, BJ and Dakotas lighting systems will behave differently!

If you understand the way these lights have been programmed, it gives you a chance!
For "slow" riders or anyone stuck in traffic expect these lights to drop into "safe" mode at some time.

With lighting systems - rider confidence (and a backup plan or two) is essential.
Title: Re: Repeatedly faulty B&M light
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 January, 2022, 08:18:02 am
I don't actually know why my IQ-X started to misbehave.  I've had them for years and never had a problem.  Ho hum, one of the mysteries of life I guess.