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NAHBS 2017: Sinewave Cycles introduces headlight with integrated USB charger that can be run off Dynamo, battery, or both

Written by Zach Overholt
13 Comments
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Battery powered or dynamo powered? If you’re looking for a new light and you find yourself asking that question, soon the answer could be… both. That’s because Sinewave Cycles has a new headlight that builds a number of features into a single unit. Not only does the light have the option of multiple power sources, but it will also provide power to other devices as well…

Called simply the Sinewave headlight, the cylinder shaped light includes three LEDs which put out 750 lumens in a spherical beam that is good for mountain biking and bike packing. The back of the light has a toggle switch with three positions, a USB charging port, and a battery input. The standard hard wired Dynamo connection exits from the bottom of the housing.

Depending on the mode you’re in, you can run the light completely off a dynamo hub, or completely off a battery pack, or a combination of both. With the toggle switch in the up position, the light will provide twice as much light at 8-10mph as it draws current from the battery as well as the dynamo. The bottom position is a charger priority mode where it provides a commuter strength light output while putting more power to the USB charger. The battery also allows the light to stay on when stopped, and the light includes a tail light output as well. Pricing is expected to run $325 for the light and the charger, with availability later this summer.

If you want USB power but don’t want the new headlight, Sinewave has a few new colors for their Reactor stem caps as well.

sinewavecycles.com

 
Zach Overholt
5,722 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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13 Comments
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Anonymous
Anonymous
7 years ago

Is there an uglier combination of head tube, headset and fork?

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Seraph
Seraph
7 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Aaaaaand “Useless Comment of The Year” goes to…!

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fred
fred
7 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

no

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Jesse
Jesse
7 years ago

Looks like a crappy design. Do they realize people ride in the rain? USB and barrel connectors and that $.05 toggle switch are horrible choices for anything but things intended to be 100% indoors.

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Paul
Paul
7 years ago
Reply to  Jesse

I’ve been using Sinewave and the Luxos U USB connections off my dyno hubs for years in the rain without issue.

Lael Wilcox just used the prototype of this light on her FKT of the Baja Divide and loved it.

What is your opinion based on?

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someguyinpdx
someguyinpdx
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Living in Portland and riding in the rain as much as we do, the open USB port and lack of plus cover definitely leaves me concerned for the longevity of this light in our environment. We’re not talking about an occasional shower.

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lop
lop
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

You’re seriously going to compare this bucket of Radio Shack parts to the Luxos U?

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Jesse
Jesse
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

I’m an electrical engineer + cyclist. I work for a company that designs computer boards and some of them have to be outdoor safe. The USB connector must be left out on our own outdoor designs or hidden behind water-tight cable glans. Even if there is a non-visible seal separating the interior electronics from the USB/power/toggle switch connector, water can touch the conductors, cause electrolysis, and corrode those connectors to nothing. Worse yet, water could get trapped in the interior nooks and destroy the battery or other electronics– this happened to me on a Light and Motion Urban 800 light, which uses a grommet + o-ring seal over the USB charge port, but which failed on me one rainy day and destroyed the light despite it. They replaced it under warranty, but I’m now very careful of that seal on rainy days. It doesn’t look like this light even has a seal!

You won’t find any connectorization like that in a car engine bay, and thats got the benefit of a hood to keep out the elements. WIth no sealing, those connectors would have to be packed with dielectric grease every insertion to stand a reasonable chance of surviving elements for any length of time. Individuals may get lucky and be able to provide testimonials of “it worked for me”, but its no way to design a product. This company is either naive or going super cheap.

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keville
keville
7 years ago
Reply to  Jesse

If this light is anything like their Revolution USB charger, Sinewave has likely gone out of their way to epoxy-seal the components internally, and use a non-corroding connector for the exposed USB plug. Perhaps not impervious to water entry for all eternity, but totally reasonable for the expected use case (non-submerged on a bike).

These guys are not naïve electronics designers, nor are they “cheap” on components.

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R Grouch
R Grouch
7 years ago

Grabs the popcorn as knowledge and experience was used against a hater. Watching for other uninformed comments to follow.

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s
s
7 years ago

Such haters here, a pity for this website.

I think it looks great. It doesn’t have the attractive machining of the Supernova Dynamo lights, but that’s more fashion than function. I’ve had the Sinewave Revolution for some time, and it’s impeccably constructed, and puts the other dynamo chargers I’ve had to shame.

With the extra functionality this light offers, I’d say this is a clear step forward toward what dynamo functionality should be, assuming it works as described.

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MrHandshake
MrHandshake
7 years ago

We need this in bikepacking and has been long overdue really. I can think of a number of improvements to this.

However, making the circuitry for these is very simple, even a custom pcb too. I’m not so good at the packaging aspect. I have a similar DIY set up on my bike, just without the machined casing and so it doesn’t look quite so polished

I am so surprised that Exposure don’t think there’s a large enough market for these. They cater to 24 hour races and really “ultra” races are a good market for these products so why Exposure don’t want to be involved I’ve no idea.

My problem with Sinewave is that their products are grossly overpriced and their electrical contacts are exposed to water. It’s as if their products are designed with arid desert trekkers in mind only and with the primary purpose of the potting compound being to hide the intellectual property inside. Ditch the USB and swap it for the alternatives. It’s not necessary.

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David Dean
David Dean
7 years ago

Dave from Sinewave here – as a few commenters have mentioned, we use an open USB port and epoxy sealed electronics on our other products and this has been a very successful design. They’re used in all sorts of foul weather without problems. Please send me an email if anyone wants to talk more about the design or waterproofing – info@sinewavecycles.com

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