DIY bike LEDs. We make LED illumination of bicycle wheels with our own hands. Learn more about setting the backlight
With the arrival of warm weather, each cyclist takes out his bike, starting to prepare it for release. In addition, many cyclists want to decorate the vehicle, making it more attractive. It is not difficult and quite inexpensive to equip the elements of your bike with various types of lights, and such tuning will look very impressive in the dark. Bicycle lighting will provide increased safety on the road, as it will provide good visibility of the bike for cars, and this is a pleasant and important bonus.
You can create an attractive image with your own hands using simple means, which will not be difficult to acquire. There are several ways to make a bike light. A variety of options will allow you to upgrade vehicles in accordance with your preferences in colors, shapes, as well as requirements for brightness and practicality.
Types of backlights
Today on the bicycle market you can find a great variety of ready-made lights that you can easily equip your bicycle with. But if you decide to carry out your great design idea with your own hands, it will take some tools, a little time and patience. Equipping a bike with light elements is a fascinating and simple process, because you can make a backlight for a bike with your own hands, having only the standard skills of soldering and installation.
How to make LED strip backlight yourself
A fairly simple way for those who are friends with a soldering iron. To get started, you need to acquire some materials and tools. We will need:
- LED Strip Light;
- 12 volt power supply;
- soldering iron, solder;
- hot glue, double-sided tape;
- small switch.
When we have all the tools to create the bike lighting, let's get to work:
The light for the frame is ready. It remains only to check her work. Likewise, you can equip bicycle wheels with an LED strip. This method will be no less effective than neon tubes or caps. If you have decided how to make the lights on the wheels of a bicycle, and the choice fell on lighting with an LED strip, let's get to work. The whole process follows the same principle as gluing to the frame, only the tape is cut into small pieces in sections, and glued in parts. Most importantly, always consider the polarity when working with elements.
Diode light for wheels
Another equally effective and not so costly option. With certain skills, this method does not take much time. Required materials and tools:
- diodes in the right amount, up to 10 pieces are enough for each wheel;
- wires, the length of which must first be calculated by measuring the circumference, the diameter of the wheels;
- source of power;
- soldering iron, solder;
- insulating material;
- small switch.
Sequencing:
- We prepare the workplace, clean and degrease the surface on which the diodes will be mounted.
- We insulate with heat shrink or electrical tape those parts of the diodes with which they will be attached to the bike.
- Given the polarity, we connect with wires, solder, attach the diodes, isolating the contacts during work.
- We take out and fasten the ends of the wires to the place of the power source, which also needs to be fixed with clamps on the wheel hub.
- We attach a switch to one of the wires.
- Check if the light is working, mount the wheel on the bike.
Luminous tubes can be made in a similar way, and then fixed on the rim. To do this, the connected wires with diodes are hidden in a long transparent tube. Short tubes can be used in the same way.
Bicycle lighting will not only make its appearance, making it bright and visible, but also will greatly benefit from the glow effect. It will become safer to drive such a bike in the dark, because it will be clearly visible to all road users.
Bicycle wheel lights are a great way to personalize your two wheelers. There are many technological processes with the use of which you can bring your plans to life and make a glowing bike. The most common are: flexible neon wire; LED lamps, hoods, graphic animation system.
Bicycle wheel illumination is not only a designer bike tuning, but also improves the visibility of the bike and, as a result, increases the safety of movement on any night trails.
The backlight itself can be divided into three types:
- frame illumination;
- wheel illumination;
- complete equipment of the bicycle with illumination.
Nipple illumination
LED nipple caps are a popular and cheap way to decorate your bike.
In terms of electricity consumption, LEDs are the most economical, plus the low price category of LED devices has brought this type to the rank of the most common backlights.
LED elements include caps, graphics, LED lights and cords. The most elementary tuning is to screw the diodes to the nipple and a bright circle will appear when the wheels are spinning.
Batteries in such a backlight are enough for one season, since the LEDs light up only when the wheels are spinning, they go out when stationary. One of the big advantages of the LED is that it does not allow water to pass through and you can safely ride in the rain. The release is produced in different light scales and shapes.
Bicycles and scooters
LED bicycle wheel nipple lights are the most popular because of the small size, high efficiency and low cost.
And when the wheels rotate, the appearance of a completely luminous rim is created, although only two or one batteries are working.
Disadvantages: low degree of luminescence and shutdown of the lights when braking the bike.
Graphic tuning
An improved version of the conventional lighting: modules - LD are installed on the nipples, which create a certain pattern when pedaling.
The graphic LED illumination system is much more complex and is not just for the rim.
Its peculiarity is that during the movement of the bike, an animation effect is obtained.
To create a cartoon, you need to graphically program the backlight for the bicycle wheels in advance.
After drawing up the schedule, the LED elements are attached to the spokes with special devices.
Mainly powered by AA batteries. Thanks to the animation effect, this kind of lighting is much brighter and looks great on a moving bike.
Such modules depend on the pedaling speed, and their cost is higher than that of conventional diodes with caps.
Neon lights
Cold flexible neon fixtures are made in the form of short tubes or long wires.
Tubes are usually made from a hard plastic material, as opposed to neon wire, which can be bent and wrapped around the contours of a bicycle's spokes.
Flexible neon tape is made in the form of a multi-colored cord, which, when the battery is connected, begins to transmit a glow around the entire perimeter.
The inner copper wire of the neon tape of various thicknesses is covered with transparent PVC foil in a variety of colors.
One piece of cord is attached to the inverter electrical unit, the other is fixed with a cap.
Light begins to appear as a result of the operation of the inverter: it produces high frequency alternating current. To turn on the power, just connect the neon contacts to the unit, then fix the neon wire and the inverter with clamps.
Tubes and strips with neon lighting shine much brighter and more powerful than their LED counterparts, but they consume more electricity and therefore require frequent battery replacement.
Conventional three batteries are enough for a maximum of two to three hours of continuous operation of 9 tubes, despite the fact that they glow only when the vehicle is moving.
Kits with any glow color are usually on sale, factory assemblies usually include neon strips, an inverter converter box with a voltage increase of up to 120 watts.
Plasti-Dip liquid rubber
At the moment, the most promising and optimal type of wheel illumination is a Plasti-Deep coating with a fluorescent glow.
This unique development is distinguished by the property of accumulating solar and artificial light and emitting it at night.
Plasti-Dip is a rubber-based paint, which, in addition to the glowing effect, also guarantees additional protection of bicycle parts from chips, rust and other mechanical and chemical damage. Before that, you need to disassemble it, remove all unnecessary parts, dirt, degrease the space. Old coatings do not need to be removed prior to applying liquid rubber.
Painting is usually done in three stages, each layer is applied separately after the previous one has completely dried.
- The first layer is the bond between the rubber and the bicycle spoke cover material.
- The second layer is the main one, they need to paint over the entire required area as carefully as possible, painting over all hard-to-reach areas.
- The third layer is a fixing one, corners, small gaps and irregularities remaining after applying the second are leveled.
The glowing rubber Plasti-Dip can be used not only for the spokes and rim of a bicycle, but also for completely painting the bike.
The degree and volume of the painted surface depends on the preferences and material position of the cyclist, since rubber spray is not cheap and is rather difficult to clean off.
When applying the spray, it is better to hang the bicycle parts on a wire from any convenient device and not turn over until completely dry (24-48 hours).
Advantages of Plasti-Dipom painting - during operation it will not be necessary to charge and change batteries, rubber paint with illumination with an unlimited period of validity, and is also an additional protection for an iron horse.
You just need to apply physical conditions a little and wait until it is completely dry - after that, the luminous wheels of the bike are provided for a long time.
A little about beauty. Everyone understands why a bike should be kept clean. It's nice and comfortable. Everyone understands why headlights are needed. It is safe and beneficial. But many go further. When you are seen more often with a bike than without it, it's time to think about presentability and beauty. And it is at this moment that many remember about tuning and begin to look for how to make the illumination of bicycle wheels by analogy with car decorations.
Why do it
First of all, backlighting is visibility and beauty. A bicycle passing by, its wheels burning in a bright, unearthly color, always attracts attention. At the bike rally there will not be even a single similar bike, and some, perhaps, will kindly envy the owner of a well-decorated bike.
In addition, backlighting has several "side" benefits:
- a bright bicycle is noticeable not only to other cyclists, but also to more dangerous road users, for example, motorists who are tired of a long working day;
- unconventionally decorated bicycles are much less likely to be stolen, because the operative search for "tuned" property is much easier, and the attention to the abandoned bike is much greater;
- such bicycles sell for more because various decorations and improvements show that the technology was treated with attention and did not refuse to service it.
Backlight types
Despite the large selection of lighting elements, among cyclists, diodes and derivative combinations of diodes - ribbons and lanterns - have an absolute leadership. The fact is that other options are simply not suitable for the peculiarities of riding:
- Halogen lights consume too much power and require heavy batteries.
- Neon bulbs are easily damaged.
- Xenon is too bright and will interfere with the athlete.
The choice appears when the question arises about the location of the lighting. First of all, the wheels are usually decorated, since in motion you can get the maximum effect from lighting with minimal expenditure of effort. Secondly, usually a diode tape is used for this, the frame is decorated.
Other methods and elements of selection are extremely rare. Frame strips and wheel lighting kits can be easily ordered on the Internet as a ready-made kit, but this does not make much sense, since making the lighting with your own hands is faster and cheaper.
Making diode backlight
The most affordable resource for making backlighting is ordinary diodes, which are sold by weight in radio stores. There are two ways to place them:
- The diodes are fixed independently (most often on the spokes).
- A "LED tube" is made and laid similarly to factory tapes.
Let's start with the first option - fixing the diodes separately. For manufacturing you will need:
- diodes - 5-10 pieces per wheel. Size 5mm is enough, color is your preference;
- wires - we calculate the total length by the formula: Total wires = wheel diameter + wheel circumference * 1.5 (this is the cutting margin);
- soldering iron and solder;
- insulating tape;
- switch (not necessary, you can make it yourself from scrap materials);
- batteries;
- acetone.
Insulated LED with soldered wires
We carve out a couple of hours for work and start.
- We remove the wheel.
- We clean out the places for the diodes with acetone. They should be not only clean, but also fat-free.
- We glue the attachment points of the diodes with electrical tape to isolate them from the metal of the spokes and the rim.
- We check the outputs of the diodes for "+" and "-" in order to connect them correctly, mark them.
- We fix the diodes: the easiest way to do this is by bending the diode contacts on the spoke, then covering them with electrical tape, but you can choose more complicated methods (fill in with epoxy, buy special brackets).
- We connect the diodes with a wire, solder. Do not forget to insulate the contacts with electrical tape. In fact, everything can be done without a soldering iron at all, but the reliability will be a couple of orders of magnitude lower.
- We bring the wires to the bushing, where we fix the connected batteries with electrical tape or clamps. There is complete freedom here, you can organize a cassette for batteries, or you can directly solder several batteries (good alkaline "wards" can last a whole season at a low load).
- If desired, we fix a switch at the input of one of the wires.
- We check the performance of the system.
Making a diode tube
In addition, from diodes, wire and a transparent plastic tube (for example, a catheter), using a soldering iron at home, you can make a "diode tube": we connect the diodes, place them in the tube, fix them. The result is a universal lighting element that can be laid in the same way as factory tapes.
Using the Ribbon
It is much easier to use an LED strip (aka LED strip). It is usually sold in reels of 5 meters and consists of sections, a resistor and several diodes. Actually, it can be cut into these sections by placing it anywhere on the bike.
Backlighting with tape
It is convenient to use a whole tape on the frame, passing long luminous stripes, and cut into separate segments - attach it to the rim and spokes of the wheel, creating complex "pictures" when rotating.
The main thing when working with the tape:
- carefully check the polarity;
- cut only into segments;
- keep track of the overall long tape.
The use of tapes is more costly than the use of individual diodes. Depending on the number of cells and their capacity, tapes can easily drain even a powerful battery in a matter of hours.
Other methods
In addition to diodes, in reality only neon tubes are used. This element gives a very beautiful, soft light, but the main goals are not achieved through its use: it is visible not far, and the colors are not bright enough. Neon consumes more energy, and the bulbs themselves are quite easily damaged.
Neon frame lighting
At the moment, there are no alternatives for diode illumination, so it will not work better than LED strip to make a bike illumination. Although many craftsmen of self-installation can argue with this.
For example, the so-called RGB backlighting is gaining more and more popularity, when a set of diodes is controlled by a small controller, which, depending on commands, speed and other parameters, can create a unique dynamic pattern on a wheel or frame.
Conclusion
Bike lights are an inexpensive and colorful way to stand out from the crowd of similar cyclists by creating your own unique image with the help of multiple diodes and your own skill.
Question 1 of 15
1 .
Are the Rules violated in the situations depicted?
Right
f) tow bicycles;
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
d) while driving, hold on to another vehicle;
f) tow bicycles;
Question 2 of 15
2 .
Which cyclist doesn't break the rules?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
b) move along highways and roads for cars, as well as along the carriageway, if there is a bicycle path nearby;
Question 3 of 15
3 .
Who should make way?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists are obliged to give way to other vehicles moving along the road.
Question 4 of 15
4 .
What kind of cargo is allowed to be carried by a cyclist?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
22. Shipping
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.4. The cyclist can only carry such loads that do not interfere with the operation of the bike and do not create obstacles to other road users.
22. Shipping
22.3. The carriage of goods is permitted provided that it:
b) does not violate the stability of the vehicle and does not complicate its management;
Question 5 of 15
5 .
Which cyclist violates the Rules when transporting passengers?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
e) carry passengers on a bicycle (with the exception of children under 7 years old, carried in an additional seat equipped with securely fixed footrests);
Question 6 of 15
6 .
In what order will vehicles go through the intersection?
Right
16. Passage of intersections
Not properly
16. Passage of intersections
16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
16.12. At an intersection of equivalent roads, the driver of a non-rail vehicle must give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
Tram drivers should also be guided by this rule. At any unregulated intersection, a tram, regardless of the direction of its further movement, has an advantage over non-rail vehicles approaching it on an equivalent road.16.14. If the main road at an intersection changes direction, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must follow the rules for driving through intersections of equivalent roads.
This rule should be followed by each other and drivers driving on secondary roads.Question 7 of 15
7 .
Cycling on sidewalks and footpaths:
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.6. The cyclist is prohibited from:
c) move along sidewalks and footpaths (except for children under 7 years old on children's bicycles under the supervision of adults);
Question 8 of 15
8 .
Who has priority when crossing a bike path?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists are obliged to give way to other vehicles moving along the road.
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.5. If the cycle path crosses the road outside the intersection, cyclists are obliged to give way to other vehicles moving along the road.
Question 9 of 15
9 .
What is the distance between groups of cyclists moving in a column?
Right
6. Requirements for cyclists
Not properly
6. Requirements for cyclists
6.3. Cyclists moving in groups should ride one after another so as not to interfere with other road users. A column of cyclists moving along the carriageway should be divided into groups (up to 10 cyclists in a group) with a movement distance between groups of 80-100 m.
Question 10 of 15
10 .
Vehicles will pass the intersection in the following order
Right
16. Passage of intersections
16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
Not properly
16. Passage of intersections
16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
16.13. Before turning left and making a U-turn, the driver of a non-rail vehicle is obliged to give way to a tram in the same direction, as well as to vehicles moving along an equivalent road in the opposite direction, straight or to the right.
Question 11 of 15
11 .
The cyclist will pass the intersection:
Right
16. Passage of intersections
Not properly
8. Traffic regulation
8.3. The signals of the traffic controller have priority over the signals of traffic lights and the requirements of road signs and are mandatory. Traffic light signals, except for the flashing yellow one, take precedence over priority road signs. Drivers and pedestrians must comply with additional requirements of the authorized official, even if they contradict traffic signals, road signs and markings.
16. Passage of intersections
16.6. When turning left or turning around at the green signal of the main traffic light, the driver of a non-rail vehicle is obliged to give way to a tram in the same direction, as well as to vehicles moving in the opposite direction straight or turning right. Tram drivers should also be guided by this rule.
Question 12 of 15
12 .
Flashing red signals of this traffic light:
Right
8. Traffic regulation
Not properly
8. Traffic regulation
8.7.6. To regulate traffic at level crossings, traffic lights with two red signals or one white-lunar and two red signals are used, having the following meanings:
a) flashing red signals prohibit the movement of vehicles across the level crossing;
b) a blinking white-lunar signal indicates that the alarm is operational and does not prohibit the movement of vehicles.
At level crossings, simultaneously with the prohibiting traffic light signal, a sound signal can be turned on, additionally informing road users about the prohibition of movement through the crossing.
Question 13 of 15
13 .
Which vehicle driver will pass the intersection second?
Right
16. Passage of intersections
16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
16.14. If the main road at an intersection changes direction, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must follow the rules for driving through intersections of equivalent roads.
This rule should be followed by each other and drivers driving on secondary roads.
Not properly
16. Passage of intersections
16.11. At the intersection of unequal roads, the driver of a vehicle moving on a secondary road must give way to vehicles approaching this intersection of carriageways along the main road, regardless of the direction of their further movement.
16.14. If the main road at an intersection changes direction, the drivers of vehicles moving along it must follow the rules for driving through intersections of equivalent roads.
This rule should be followed by each other and drivers driving on secondary roads.
16 Passing intersections
Not properly
8. Traffic regulation
8.7.3. Traffic signals have the following meanings:
A signal in the form of an arrow, allowing a left turn, also permits a U-turn, if it is not prohibited by road signs.
A signal in the form of a green arrow (arrows) in the additional (additional) section (s), included together with a green traffic light signal, informs the driver that he has priority in the direction (directions) of movement indicated by the arrow (arrows) over vehicles moving from other directions;
f) a red signal, including a flashing one, or two red flashing signals prohibit movement.
A signal in the form of a green arrow (arrows) in an additional (additional) section (sections), together with a yellow or red traffic light signal, informs the driver that movement is allowed in the indicated direction, provided that vehicles moving from other directions are allowed to pass unimpeded.
A green arrow on a plate installed at the level of a red traffic light with a vertical arrangement of signals allows movement in the indicated direction when the red traffic light is on from the rightmost lane (or the leftmost lane on one-way roads), provided that the traffic advantage is given other participants moving from other directions to a traffic signal allowing movement;
16 Passing intersections
16.9. While driving in the direction of the arrow included in the additional section simultaneously with the yellow or red traffic light, the driver must give way to vehicles moving from other directions.
While driving in the direction of the green arrow on the table set at the level of the red traffic light with vertical signals, the driver must take the rightmost (left) lane and give way to vehicles and pedestrians moving from other directions.
Recently we met a bicycle on the street with a very interesting illumination, to be honest, we were seriously surprised by this. Therefore, we decided to repeat the experience of these craftsmen and tell you what LED strip lighting is and how to do it correctly.
Bicycle wheels, illuminated by LED strip, always look gorgeous, by installing such lights, you will definitely stand out on the street. Plus, you can create good visibility both for yourself and for other road users. 
I would like to say a few words about how to choose a tape for a bicycle, first of all you should focus on its protection, at least IP 65, if you install more, it will be better. The cover of the tape must be rubberized. You also need to choose a battery, the total power should be 12 V. If you wish, you can add a controller, but we do not recommend doing this, and this is not an easy installation, and it is not a good idea to spend extra money. Find out how LED strip is better.
Backlight materials
Answering the question of how to make an LED strip for a bicycle, initially, you must prepare the following materials. It is not difficult to find them, they are in any store.
Bicycle wheel LED strip: detailed instructions
We want to draw your attention right away, there is nothing easy in this. Even experienced electricians spend about one day on such an installation. The process has many features, you will have to reread a few more supporting articles on this topic. But, the result will be justified in any case. If you are ready, gather your nerves into a fist, and let's do it all together.
Cutting the LED strip
First of all, we determine the length of the tape that is needed on the bicycle wheels. To do this, you can attach a regular lace, using it, the result will be accurate. Also read: how to choose a block for an LED strip.
Next, we cut the tape in the required place, as shown in the photo. 
These are the pieces you should get. 
We fix and solder the tape
To get a beautiful LED strip light on your bike, you need to be very serious about this stage. Here we have to do two serious things at once:
- Solder the tape.
- Attach it to the wheel.
Initially, we begin to solder it - this is the longest process that does not tolerate errors. The first time we soldered it a little wrong, and the tape did not light up in the end. When you start soldering, try to do everything neatly, rushing will only hurt. Read in detail: how to solder an LED strip. In the end, do not forget to insulate, the connectors are not suitable, use special silicone sealants.
With fastening, the situation is easier, you can use several methods:
This is the final result. 
We connect the power
Here we have to connect everything together, the stage is simple, but a little untidy, it is difficult to climb between the knitting needles.
Bicycle lighting with LED strip: photo
How to install LED strip on a bike: video