New dynamo hub from Supernova

[alexb]

Seems to include a built in USB charger on the heavier of the two hubs, or you can opt for an ultralight hub. The Infinity 8 hubs can have the magnets retracted to eliminate drag.
No prices yet.
http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/news/article/supernova-infinity-dynamo-hubs-first-look-31130
More details on the Supernova website:
http://www.supernova-lights.com/en/products/infinity_8.html
http://www.supernova-lights.com/en/products/infinity_s.html

Peter White is estimating that the Infinity S will be about $240-260 and the Infinity 8 $270-290

[Sergeant Pluck]

Looks good - if all true, it could be enough to swing me towards dynamo lighting at some stage.

Does the lightweight version do all that the big version does?

[Kim]

http://www.supernova-lights.com/en/products/infinity_s.html

*little moment*

[vorsprung]

Two questions

1) will it supply more than 500ma?  high power LED lights want to use more than 500ma

2) will it be as reliable as the Schmidt and Shimano offerings?

[interzen]

Two questions

1) will it supply more than 500ma?  high power LED lights want to use more than 500ma

2) will it be as reliable as the Schmidt and Shimano offerings?

3) Are they going to supply it in a 36 hole drilling as well?

Shimano-style connector is a win, as is centre-lock disc fitting. 32h only is a fail, at least from my personal POV (there are very good reasons why I specced the Surly with 36 spoke wheels ..)

Will be interested to see how it stacks up against the Schmidt and Shimano dynohubs, though.

[Kevina9]

Very pretty (the small one) but at 189 euros (199 for the big one) in Supernova's online shop, I reckon my next dymano will be a ~£50 Shimano from the likes of Rosebikes.

[Greenbank]

USB connectivity doesn't look like it's part of the plug, from the words on the page I'm guessing that will just be one of these, which is nothing to do with the hub itself:-

http://www.tout-terrain.de/2/products/components/the-plug/

Two questions

1) will it supply more than 500ma?  high power LED lights want to use more than 500ma

Probably not, most dynohubs are 0.5A constant current devices. The faster the wheel goes the greater the voltage, but you always get 0.5A out of it.

2) will it be as reliable as the Schmidt and Shimano offerings?

Who knows.

[interested]

Two questions

1) will it supply more than 500ma?  high power LED lights want to use more than 500ma

I am sure that "Shutter Precision" are the OEM maker of these hubs :
http://www.sp-dynamo.com/spproductswitchdisc.html

So according to their homepage it tops out at 600mA, while Shimano and SON's hubs tops around 650mA.
They don't show efficiency, so I suspect that it doesn't compare so well.

2) will it be as reliable as the Schmidt and Shimano offerings?

IMHO, no. The switch-able hub may test well in their lab, but the weather in Northern Europe is just cruel to bicycle parts; rain, high air humidity, and road salt makes a highly corrosive environment. Even Shimano with their many good engineers have released hubs (early Nexus 8 IGH's) that disintegrated when subjected to serious winter use in NE.
There are no service diagrams*, so it is pure guesswork when it comes to what amount of sealing they use, but until I am proven wrong, I must assume that it isn't good simply because "Shutter Precision" doesn't seem to have much experience when it comes real user feedback from users in Northern Europe.

*no service diagrams=no sale. I would never buy such an expensive product without instructions on how to service it, or without diagrams to judge the quality of the internals. Does it requires special tools to service? Can the bearings only be serviced at the factory?

--
Regards

[mrcharly-YHT]

I am sure that "Shutter Precision" are the OEM maker of these hubs :
http://www.sp-dynamo.com/spproductswitchdisc.html

Why are you sure of this?

Its hard to see from the pics, but the hubs look to be a different shape.

[interested]

I am sure that "Shutter Precision" are the OEM maker of these hubs :
http://www.sp-dynamo.com/spproductswitchdisc.html

Why are you sure of this?

Its hard to see from the pics, but the hubs look to be a different shape.

Several reasons. Look at the connectors they are identical; same form, same indentations. The switching plate is different, but the basic form of the Infinity 8 and the SP-switch hub is identical, down to how the shape of the rotor holder looks. The diagram shows this nicely. They even measure the same; tops out at 7 volt at 30 km/h. The small Infinity S doesn't appear in the SP product section, but look at  news section, and compare the pic of their new 2011 hub with the supernova hub:

(sorry for the animation)
They too look very similar, except for the disc rotor; Supernova has evidently licensed Shimano's proprietary centre-lock system.
SP is also the only new company I know of that has made a switch-able dynamo hub (AFAIK Renak has something similar), so based on their looks, technology, the measurements and the fact that Supernova doesn't have the capacity to develop such a hub, it is fair to assume that SP are indeed the maker of these hubs, albeit with some customization.

[Sergeant Pluck]

The SP website suggests that they produce these in a joint venture with Formula hubs, so presumably Supernova use the innards from SP and source their hub shells elsewhere or make their own.

[thing1]

Some UK pricing now available from Practical Cycles: http://www.practicalcycles.com/userimages/procart98.htm

Supernova Infinity 8 Switchable Dynamo Hub £185.00
Supernova Infinity S Hub Dynamo £175.00

No availability indicated.

And no 36 hole version. Boo.

[interzen]

And no 36 hole version. Boo.

No sale, then, at least for now.
If-and-when the old SON on my Dave Yates finally gives up the ghost I may reconsider - at least on that bike I could get away with 32-spoke wheels.

[Adam]

Some UK pricing now available from Practical Cycles: http://www.practicalcycles.com/userimages/procart98.htm

Supernova Infinity 8 Switchable Dynamo Hub £185.00
Supernova Infinity S Hub Dynamo £175.00

No availability indicated.

And no 36 hole version. Boo.

At those prices, I can't see many being sold, when you compare how cheaply you can pick up a Shimano one.

[corshamjim]

Or indeed a Sturmey one like wot I just fitted to my Pashley.  Or indeed a Dahon one.

[andrew_s]

Some UK pricing now available from Practical Cycles: http://www.practicalcycles.com/userimages/procart98.htm

Supernova Infinity 8 Switchable Dynamo Hub £185.00
Supernova Infinity S Hub Dynamo £175.00

No availability indicated.

The same hubs are being sold by Velo Orange (and others?)

$130 or €150 is cheaper than £175

[PloddinPedro]

I'm too lazy to peruse their website but does anyone know if either of these two new hubs will drive a Supernova Triple satisfactorily?

[madcow]

http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=HUSP132K

Looks like ISON DISTRIBUTION are now importing and undercutting Supernova.

[alexb]

USE are also selling a dynamo headlamp. The market is starting to get very interesting...