Do not skimp on safety and install adequate lighting on your bike! The wheel light is far from obsolete: no battery, no battery to charge. Your light is always ready to work. Are you planning to install a bottle of light? We explain to you how to connect it in 5 steps!
Step 1 – Equip yourself with the necessary equipment.
The first step is a classic: you must first equip yourself with the necessary equipment ! You will need:
A wheel light
The light provides electricity for your bike lighting. It is essential for standalone power supply without a battery! Before installing it, see if your frame has a bracket (see photo below). And if not, you can mount a spoke light bracket on your bike. It is fixed on the fork or the stay.
Are you about to choose a bike? Just So beware, there are left and right light? Everything is in the spring: remember that it must an against the sidewall of the tire.
To help you choose between these two models, remember that on a bike where we fix the spoke lightly on the left side of the bike :
– fixed on the fork (towards the front): left light
– fixed on the bend (towards the rear): the right light
– fixed on the frame stays (towards the front – photo below): left light
– attached to frame stay (rearward): the right light
Explanation: A right light is mounted on the left side of the bike (fork or frame) when it is placed towards the rear of the tube or fork. Why? Only so that the light is pressed against the tire by the spring.
Note that generally, the bike lights are installed on the left side of the bike, either on the fork or on the frame stay.
Front and rear lighting
Your bike light should go. Why? For wheel light power. The front and rear lights of your bike can be LED, incandescent bulb or halogen bulb.
Electric cable
The electric wire for fire and wheel light is necessary to supply your fires with electricity. And do not forget clamps to keep your cables in place during assembly.
Lugs or connectors
Terminals and connectors make it possible to connect the cables to the spoke light and the lights. Choose a model according to your equipment.
Step 2 – Attach Lighting to the Bike
Position the light
Once the material acquired, start the installation! Start by positioning the light on the frame or the fork of your bike, as well as the bracket if necessary. Tip: do not tighten the light yet. I advise you to focus first on the assembly of the elements and then perform the adjustment, once the construction is completed.
Fix bike lighting
Now put the front and rear lights on your bike. There are different types of fasteners. Look carefully where your fires are. Put them in place, and tighten them properly.
Step 3 – Position and connect the electrical wires
Everything is in place, all you have to do is connect your light to your lighting system ! Here are two diagrams to help you, depending on your light and your lighting:
Some good connection tips
- Do not neglect the protection of electrical wires against the risk of tearing and against UV. Run the cables in the frame when possible, use a protective sheath for sensitive areas or use a self-adhesive power cable. Also, use clamps to keep the wires in place.
- Make sure that the length of the electrical wires is sufficient, especially when you turn the handlebars.
- For a steel frame: Lightly sand the contact areas between the light and the frame. A cable for the least is not necessary! The current flow back to the ground via the frame or fenders (if they are made of metal). A few inches of cable can suffice to reach the structure. It is a practical solution to improve the passage of the current to the ground, in particular, the bracket.
Step 4 – Set your spoke light.
The last step before the test: the setting is essential for the proper functioning of the lighting, but also to avoid premature deterioration of your equipment.
Adjust the position on the tire
Position the light roller on the side of the tire, neither too high nor too low.
Adjust the orientation of the light axis
The axis must go. Why? With the center of the hub. This is important to prevent the roller from rolling sideways (premature wear of the tire). Noteworthy also: tighten the light well to prevent it from moving!
Step 5 – You just have to test!
Go! It’s gone for the test. Place your bike on your shop floor or bike stand to see if the lights are working. Position the light against the side and rotate the wheel relatively quickly. See if your lighting works in the front and back! So it works?
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