Still having problems with dynamo front to rear light connection

[asr...@yahoo.co.uk]

I have been having problems for months trying to reconnect the spade connectors from the rear to the front dynamo light after they came off (after several years of staying put). No matter how often I tried to reconnect, they kept coming off, likely on the less smooth sections of road. I eventually resorted to buying new spade connectors, only to have the same problem. I then bought as soldering iron and soldered the wire to the spade connector (and added heat shrink tubing), then soldered the spade connector to the front light (the metal bit has to be so damned small). Even then, it kept coming off, so I kept putting it back on and re-applying solder. Finally the left connection is on solid but the right one never holds, no matter how much I try, and I can't get the spade connecter on anymore because it is gummed up with solder, so have cut it off and am starting again with a fresh bit of wire.

I ordered some new spade connectors and have tried to start again, soldering the wire then soldering the conector to the bit on the light where it plugs on. Unfortunately the spade connectors they sent are too big and won't fit (I tried to get the smallest size), so I have now ordered another pair which are definitely the small ones which will fit. I now have to wait 2-5 days for these to arrive before I try again.

Why is it that a relatively simple task degenerates into some monstrous Herculean effort that makes me want to throw the rear light away and go back to battery power?

[Tosspot]

This must surely be the wrong size connector. I've used dynamo/spade
connectors for 30 years over what, 6 or 7 bikes without this issue.

Fwiw, depending on the light, sometimes the connectors have a small hole
drilled further up. If present threading the wire through this and a
dab of solder is permanent.

What light is it?

[Nick Maclaren]

In article <a8qdnT6m7o7Fi0PA...@giganews.com>,

Tosspot <Frank...@gmail.com> wrote:
>On 27/11/2019 00:21, asr...@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
>> I have been having problems for months trying to reconnect the spade
>> connectors from the rear to the front dynamo light after they came

>> off (after several years of staying put). ...

>
>This must surely be the wrong size connector. I've used dynamo/spade
>connectors for 30 years over what, 6 or 7 bikes without this issue.

I have seen it, and the solution is to crimp the connectors gently,
so that they grip the spade. That's possible with most connectors,
though sometimes it's easier to replace them.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

[asr...@yahoo.co.uk]

It is a B&M Luxos, the model with the USB charger.

I now have new spade connectors which are the right size and have been attaching to the wire and male connector, finished off with solder (hard to do because there is very little room to manoevure the soldering iron and solder in the right place). If this doesn't hold now I am out of options apart from having a rear battery light.

[Tosspot]

I'm running a couple[1] of Luxos on my cargo bike. They seem to work
find, well been there for a couple of years no problems.

Not the new one with USB charging though. Looks a bit handy.


[1] I'll post the pictures one day :-)

[asr...@yahoo.co.uk]

Yes it is handy. I have a Shimano Alfine DI2 11 speed hub, and when the battery gets low, I can charge it from the dynamo. It thus acts like the alternator in a car.

[asr...@yahoo.co.uk]

Well so far so good. Two journeys including a short distance over a rough surface and everything has held in place.

[Peter Clinch]

This is what works for me.
If it's too awkward to do them in place a gentle squeeze of the
unconnected spade in a pair of pliers/moles/crimpers will reduce the gap
enough to make the spade a tighter fit.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
NHS Tayside & Univ. of Dundee Ninewells Hospital & Med. School
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.c...@dundee.ac.uk http://medphys.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/