ewerk or plug ii - opinions?

[sthig]

well my new amplified cable (that thingy in the pic posted a few posts up) is coming in on Friday, we'll see how that works.  if it does, it would rock

[pickupel]

From the Horse's mouth (Tout Terrain)

"you are right about the PAT cable. It enables charging at lower speeds compared to the normal cable of the classic version.
We tried a Powermonkey Extreme battery and it didn’t work with the Plug. The reason is that it needs an input current which is too high for the Plug.
The Classic version of the Powermonkey works fine though."

Thanks for that, looks like I'm going to have to buy the Classic! Hope the P.A.T cable helps.

[sthig]

I noticed some difference, not a lot.  I've been on the roadie or trainer more than my mtb so I don't know exactly.

longer rides next week on mtb and will be able to tell for sure.

[intheways]

I can't believe I missed this thread.  The SON28 is my favorite piece of kit.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Biologic Reecharge (http://www.thinkbiologic.com/products/reecharge-power-pack).  I'm usually not a big fan of their products, but the Reecharge has been great.  I've tried to kill it so I could get a Plug or E-werk, but it won't die.  It's basically the E-werk and a cache battery built into one.  Easy to remove too.

[sthig]

alrighty - 70 miles yesterday testing out the Plug with various electronics.  I used the power amplifier to help boost it

things that worked at speeds to 9mph-ish

charged my htc one x phone
charged my edge 800
charged my urban 550 light n motion light

things that kind of worked as long as I was hitting 11mph

voltiac rechargable battery

things that was a fail (and pretty pissed about it)

goal zero
taz 1200 light n motion light

honestly, I think the power amplifier is hokey...I guess it does it's job, but doesn't do it as well as I'd hoped.  Still, I was able to get my main three concerns a charge (phone, light and gps) at a lower speed of 9mph. 

wish i'd gone with the ewerx...will make the plug work for me.

[Dusza]

Sorry to hear that Scott, I've had similar results to yours and ended up sending back my Plug for a refund.

Just received an e-werk, let's see what it's worth...

[Ironman_u]

Hi everbody from Spain.
This is a very interesting post!!!

I have a Goal Zero 10 Adventure plus kit, but I want to use a dynamo hub (probably SP after reading Rob Dean blog). The GoalZero Guide 10 Plus battery pack is brilliant. I can charge iphone, Kindle ebook reader, AA batteries for Garmin etrex, and AAA for the front/head torch...

But I thought, that the hub will not charge the GoalZero battery pack... :-(

What about using a softhema cable, like Rob Dean, and switch between the light (night) and the battery pack (day).
Are you sure that the hub will not charge the GoalZero battery pack connected directly to the hub with the softhema cable?

Pdta: Thanks a lot, Pickupel, for the camcady us charger mod... Should you thing it will go with the battery of a Panasonic GF1 camera?

Cheers and sorry for my poor english!

[Dusza]

Ironman, if you get your hands on the softhema, I'd be interested to hear your source. I've tried contacting the the manufacturer without any success.

In regards to charging your GoalZero, I think it's not only a matter of the dynohub. Your charging kit plays a significant role and TT's the Plug is just incapable of providing more than 5V/0.5A output.
I will be trying out the e-werk together with the goalzero pack sometime in the near future. I'll give a shout how it went.

[sthig]

powermonkey classic battery WORKS

[Ironman_u]

Ironman, if you get your hands on the softhema, I'd be interested to hear your source. I've tried contacting the the manufacturer without any success.

In regards to charging your GoalZero, I think it's not only a matter of the dynohub. Your charging kit plays a significant role and TT's the Plug is just incapable of providing more than 5V/0.5A output.
I will be trying out the e-werk together with the goalzero pack sometime in the near future. I'll give a shout how it went.


Hi Dusza.
Should you try please to charge the Goalzero pack directly from dynamo hub without the TT Plug?
Regards!

[Couloirman]

I posted this in the other dynamo thread-- didn't know there was a dedicated one to this topic!

What options are out there for rigid carbon forks that can be used with The Plug II? I am building up a cheap carbon bike from xmiplay and was going to use their fork as well: http://xmiplay.en.alibaba.com/product/1445165663-214087827/2014_Newest_15mm_thru_axle_29er_carbon_fork_carbon_29er_rigid_fork_carbon_29er_mtb_fork.html

Can I just use a drill and put a hole in it for the wiring? What forks are people using with the Plug? Did they need to be modified? Anyone using a rigid carbon fork with a Plug II?

[Yogi the Barry]

Sinewave [formerly Brightbike] Cycles Revolution - Here's another dynamo hub powered USB charger option, although you have to build your own switching setup for it, to select hub output to either the light or charger.
1A output, only 37g, no battery in the design [both a pro and a con], no highspeed shutting down [per the FAQ], waterproof, made in the USA and I hope Santa gives me one real soon...  -Barry
http://www.sinewavecycles.com/collections/all/products/bright-bike-revolution

[Nathan Jones]

Sinewave [formerly Brightbike] Cycles Revolution - Here's another dynamo hub powered USB charger option
http://www.sinewavecycles.com/collections/all/products/bright-bike-revolution

I've had some direct and second hand experience with this unit.  I built a bike up for a tourist with a shimano hub, I like the overall simplicity of the unit.  Though honestly it seems a little cheap and like something that could be cranked out for pennies on the dollar.  That said my buddy has ridden across the country and is still out riding now well into the winter and the unit has held up for him without fail.  So I can speak for the reliability and functionality of one unit and I would say that I'm reasonably impressed.  Personally the unit seems really week and easy to break so making sure it is securely mounted would be extra important, I guess that's the price you pay for having an electrical system on your bike, but it would be nice to see the system evolve to something more durable, like a metal case instead of plastic.  Drawbacks aside, I like the little thing and it's a decent price.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: "cheap" and "week"
We're talking about the Sinewave Cycles Revolution and NOT the Bike2Power LightCharge, right?
Depending on the type of plastic, it might be more durable than an aluminum cased version. Have you cracked yours? "Week" [weak] - real experience or speculation about output or potential to break?
Compared to some of the other USB chargers out there, the Revolution is one of the few that does NOT shut off output then you're going really fast, will output a full Amp and it IS waterproof. If I had time to research AC to DC converter circuits - where is my old Electronics 101 text book? - I'd build my own. Yes, one could probably DIY one for $12-$15, but I don't have the time. For any product to be profitable, the ratio of retail price to manufacturing cost needs to be at least 8:1. That's just the way it is... unless you're Wal-Mart. I could be wrong, but I doubt the guys at Sinewave are driving Lamborghinis...

I've had some direct and second hand experience with this unit.  I built a bike up for a tourist with a shimano hub, I like the overall simplicity of the unit.  Though honestly it seems a little cheap and like something that could be cranked out for pennies on the dollar.  That said my buddy has ridden across the country and is still out riding now well into the winter and the unit has held up for him without fail.  So I can speak for the reliability and functionality of one unit and I would say that I'm reasonably impressed.  Personally the unit seems really week and easy to break so making sure it is securely mounted would be extra important, I guess that's the price you pay for having an electrical system on your bike, but it would be nice to see the system evolve to something more durable, like a metal case instead of plastic.  Drawbacks aside, I like the little thing and it's a decent price.

[Nathan Jones]

Re: "cheap" and "week"
We're talking about the Sinewave Cycles Revolution and NOT the Bike2Power LightCharge, right?
Depending on the type of plastic, it might be more durable than an aluminum cased version. Have you cracked yours? "Week" [weak] - real experience or speculation about output or potential to break?
Compared to some of the other USB chargers out there, the Revolution is one of the few that does NOT shut off output then you're going really fast, will output a full Amp and it IS waterproof. If I had time to research AC to DC converter circuits - where is my old Electronics 101 text book? - I'd build my own. Yes, one could probably DIY one for $12-$15, but I don't have the time. For any product to be profitable, the ratio of retail price to manufacturing cost needs to be at least 8:1. That's just the way it is... unless you're Wal-Mart. I could be wrong, but I doubt the guys at Sinewave are driving Lamborghinis...

Yes, total speculation, I think my review was pretty honest though.  It's a nice unit, it has worked well, but it seems a little too lightweight/fragile to me.  That said, looking at the e-work, it looks about as fragile, so whatever.  I think it's a good unit but I think all dynamo technology has a lot of room to evolve.  Seems like that's just the state of dynamo systems, they've gotten pretty good though, I'm impressed.

[pickupel]

I agree with the point Nathan's making. I remember when I first got my E-Werk — I thought it felt seriously flimsy and I was a bit worried that it would shake apart after prolonged use. It's still working after nearly three years though, so B&M's R&D department must be doing something right.

I'm not sure that an aluminum casing would be more durable than a plastic one though — plastics can perform better in fatigue tests than metals, particularly when exposed to a great deal of vibration (as a dynamo USB charger would be).

[wunnspeed]

I posted this in the other dynamo thread-- didn't know there was a dedicated one to this topic!

What options are out there for rigid carbon forks that can be used with The Plug II? I am building up a cheap carbon bike from xmiplay and was going to use their fork as well: http://xmiplay.en.alibaba.com/product/1445165663-214087827/2014_Newest_15mm_thru_axle_29er_carbon_fork_carbon_29er_rigid_fork_carbon_29er_mtb_fork.html

Can I just use a drill and put a hole in it for the wiring? What forks are people using with the Plug? Did they need to be modified? Anyone using a rigid carbon fork with a Plug II?

I used the Supernova Plug II last summer on the Grenzstein Trophy. My dyno at that time was a Shimano and fork the White Bros. Rock Solid. No drilling needed. I just used double-sided Velcro wire organizers to attach the cables to the leg and one wire ran through the steerer tube to the Plug II.

At the time I tried to charge everything (iPhone, iPod, etc.) directly from the Plug. That didn't work as well as I'd hoped. Since then, I've learned to charge power cells which you then use to charge your devices while you're running the light. I've also switched to a Supernova dyno hub. The new way works far better by the way. It's how I'm planning to run during the Highland 550 this coming summer.

[Yogi the Barry]

A bit off-topic, but still dynamo lighting related...

FYI - Exposure Revo at Backcountry.com, light/mount only, no hub. $165-ish I assume they include the very nice Exposure bar mount with the light head...

http://www.backcountry.com/exposure-revo-dynamo-light?ti=UExQIENhdDo6MToyOTpiY3NDYXQxNDExMDAwMDky

Edit: Same deal also at http://www.competitivecyclist.com

[Ianfitz]

I'm running an SP 8x hub with a revo and a kemo USB device. It powers an iPhone 4 at above 10kph.

[Yogi the Barry]

The Kemo 172? If so, how did you deal with the ground wire [schematic shows a ground wire going to the frame]? I didn't think the SP-8 was grounded...

I'm running an SP 8x hub with a revo and a kemo USB device. It powers an iPhone 4 at above 10kph.