etherhuffer 

Anyone here have any good ideas on a simple in-line on/off switch for dynohub driven light? So many lights have no switch. I have been looking at micro switches and auto switches. Any pics of your solutions?

Tourist in MSN

I am not aware of any dyno powered headlamps without a switch except the very old Lumotec lamps that were intended to be attached to sidewall generators. What headlight are you talking about that lacks a switch?

etherhuffer 

A vintage Royce Union and a more modern Lumotec. Neither has a switch

2_i 

I use handlebar switches just because they allow me to change the status by moving a finger, not risking a mishap by leaning to the light or stopping. I search for the switches on Ebay using keywords "Triumph", "Lucas", "replica". Examples of those I might use are lined below:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401985543142

https://www.ebay.com/itm/151558702607

etherhuffer 

Lumotec 2 on left, RU on right

Tourist in MSN

If your Lumotec looks like the one in the photo and lacks a switch, it was intended for use with a sidewall generator. I picked up a used dyno wheel for $20 for my errand bike. I had the light in storage, so it made sense to use it. I do not need a switch on that bike, I just leave it turned on. That was the easiest wiring job I ever did, the hub and light are both grounded to the fork, so I only needed to run one single conductor wire that was less than a foot long.



I have no suggestions for a switch, I think that 2_i has the right idea thinking of a motorcycle high low beam or turn signal switch as those were designed to work in the rain.

Is it that important to have the ability to turn the light off?

etherhuffer 

Nice! I don't have to turn it off, in fact, I have recently been using my touring bike with SON hub and Edelux around town after breaking a frame on my usual ride. That light is to see down the road and works great, but what I have found is that cars see me far better even in the daytime and less car/bike interactions. I might just set it up and leave it on. My Lumotec 2 is not that bright. The vintage RU light I got an LED conversion kit with rectifier. It's really bright, but not a really focused lens. I just built a wheel with Shimano dyno for wife's bike, looks similar to yours.

Tourist in MSN

I initially got a dynohub when I built up my third touring bike. Earlier, and dynohubs were only useful for lighting, but by the time I built the third bike you could use dynohubs for battery charging and that is what I bought it for, for battery charging on tours. Eventually I bought lights too, they were nice to have and I did not have to worry about batteries as much. And, I liked the lights enough I added dynohubs and lights to other bikes as well.

Now, on a bike tour, my dynohub is only used for battery charging, dyno powered lights are off. If I use my S&S coupled touring bike for a tour and flew somewhere with the bike, I do not even bring dyno powered lights, I only use battery lights on those trips.

When riding near home, exercise rides, randonneuring, I leave the lights on for the same reason you do.

My point is that I almost never use the switch. The only time I use the switch is if I have been using the light and my GPS batteries are getting low, I will turn off the lights so I can instead use the power to top up the GPS batteries.

unterhausen

Velolumino and Rene Herse both offer light switches. Not inexpensive.

I just leave my lights on. Granted, I'm not using a 20 year old light.