Herrmans H-Track rack mounted hub dynamo (dynohub) taillamp
We at Intelligent Design Cycles have been in the process of developing high quality but affordable hub dynamo driven lights for a number of years. Our mission is to bring high quality hub dynamo driven lighting systems to the market that rival if not surpass the best in the trade, but would nevertheless be affordable enough that parents concerned about child safety would consider putting them on their children’s bicycles. During the course of this exercise we have personally tested all the best German, Dutch, Finnish and other hub dynamo lamps we have been able to find with the intention of bringing the best aspects from each maker into our products. Two years later … we are still hard at work (the product development process is a bit more difficult than this former international trade economist imagined). But …
There is one Finnish company we have some across, Herrmans that has developed a rack mounted hub dynamo lamp that is the brightest hub dynamo rear lamp we have tested. The H-Track outshines its top German LED tail lamp counterpart by a clear and wide margin in our testing. It is also literally brighter from behind than many 12V incandescent automotive and motorcycle tail lamps on the road today - this is not an exaggeration. The light that comes out of this rear lamp is not just powerful - but unlike 99% of rear lamps on the market - is optically engineered to meet the demanding German StVZO regulation for bicycle rear lamps. In tune with its counterpart for bicycle headlamps, the StVZO requirement for tail lamps derives from the data rich and extensively studied field of automotive safety. Drawing from its subfield relating to passive lighting in tail lamps, the light emitted from the H-Track is shaped to form a rectangular pattern (see wall photos) in order to minimize the waste of light going in directions (mostly upwards), which would do little to enhance bicyclists’ conspicuity. Specific brightness requirements at multiple points within this rectangle must also be met, which have been developed based on extensive real world experience relating to optimizing bicyclists’ conspicuity vis-à-vis vehicles approaching from behind. No less important - indeed perhaps even more so - is that fact that the H-Track also directs a significant amount of light diagonally and especially sideways. Indeed, automobile-bicycle accident collision research underscores how sideways and frontal conspicuity can be more important that rearward conspicuity. In short, the Herrmans H-Track is not just another bicycle tail lamp, but one that has been optically engineered to deliver conspicuity and safety based on extensive research and experience in the field of passive lighting for automotive safety for rearward lighting.
Our mission of making quality dynamo lamps available at reasonable prices means that we have procured these lamps at OEM prices. Passing this savings on to you also means that they come without retail packaging (good for the environment).
Although these lights are warehoused in Taiwan, they are actually produced in Finland (surprising?). Make no mistake, these workhorse lamps are designed to withstand use in very harsh winter conditions including outside storage for years after purchase. As an authorised retailer and distributor of Herrmans products, we also provide a 1-year warranty on these lamps.
Specifications
Compatibility: This lamp is compatible with all standard hub dynamos headlamps that we sell and are aware of, and is an excellent match with the SunUp Eco bicycle light generator.
Standlight: The standlight on this is very bright and will remain on for well over 4 minutes after the bicycle has come to a stop thus easily surpassing the German StVZO minimum performance requirement.
Switch: This lamp has no on/off switch, but must normally be connected to a dynamo headlamp that may have an on/off switch.
Overvoltage protection: In line with most modern dynamo lights we are aware of, the H-Track comes with overvoltage protection insulating the LED from excess power at high speeds.
Mounting hardware: The light comes with complete mounting apparatus for 50mm bolt spacing rear racks. This includes a 2 meter cable with spade connectors (headlamp end) and neatly trimmed cable (tail lamp end) as well as a connector for tail lamp.
Reflector: The integrated reflector is StVZO compliant "Z" standard quality meaning that it meets demanding German peripheral visibility requirements. This quality of reflector is noticeably more visible that non-Z standard reflectors ... seriously.
Intelligent Design Cycles is proud to be an authorised agent for Herrmans products worldwide. In short, dealer inquiries are warmly invited.
