Bicycle powered stereo
seikokid - 2012-04-25 09:51
Hi everyone. Im in need of some tech advise and help?
Firstly as a vintage digital watch collector its great to come across to another vintage collectors forum. Its amazing what you find out there when you look....
So,
retrodos - 2012-04-25 10:09
Not going to be as easy as wiring the walkman to the motor. You are going to need to custom the walkman a bit and built a custom AC-DC stepdown generator circuit, to do what you want it to. The best way to go about this is to run the motor of the transport of the walkman to the generator circuit. You still have to have a ac to dc bridge, as that dynamo is a AC generator and step the voltage down as 12v will burn the motor up!! 3 vdc is the max, as far as current sure be enough as it's a 6w generator. As far as the preamp/amp of the walkman to a separate regulated power source or off the original AA batteries, just disconnect the motor off the PCB and run that off your generator circuit, you are also going to need a small amplifier, so people can hear.
Just make sure you use a cheap or early walkman as they no FG coil or reel sensor. Even mechanical walkmans has theses. Just get a very cheap walkman, stay away from Sony, you have better luck with a no name brand.
seikokid - 2012-04-25 10:25
Hey retrodos
The dynamo Im looking at using is this - http://bike.shimano.com/publis...DH-3N30.-type-..html
I need to reduce it to 3v, which should up my Wattage to 6.0w.
I am looking at getting an early walkman due to it slowing down as the voltage decreases and it will need to have an auto reverse function.
seikokid - 2012-04-25 10:28
would you be able to reccomend some Model No.s of particular units I can search for?
there are so many !!! Digital Watches I know - Walkmans I dont 
Is there a reason i need to stay away form Sony. I would like to try and buy a NOS unit where possible
The unit will only be powering headphones, or if needed it will have a jack to a powered sound system
retrodos - 2012-04-25 10:34
would you be able to reccomend some Model No.s of particular units I can search for?
there are so many !!! Digital Watches I know - Walkmans I dont
Is there a reason i need to stay away form Sony. I would like to try and buy a NOS unit where possible
The unit will only be powering headphones, or if needed it will have a jack to a powered sound system
The newer egg shape Sony's have autoreverse and don't have reel sensors, or a relay to reverse, work pretty much by a mechanical lever and gears, they will work, plus cheap to get and easy to find. Something like the links below, as they use a regular DC motor. Just don't get the newer silver ones have a PWM pulse servo motor.
seikokid - 2012-04-25 10:41
Thanks.
Can i ask what the reel sensor does?
retrodos - 2012-04-25 10:45
Thanks.
Can i ask what the reel sensor does?
The links shown have auto reverse.
The reel sensor detect if the reel is moving, and if not cut power to the walkman, the one in link don't have this it mechanical control, so will be less issues.
seikokid - 2012-04-25 11:30
Sweet!
If you know of one that is in new condition I would be wanting to buy.
Thanks for your help. Ill keep you updated with the project.
Maybe will have some more questions?
plop - 2012-04-25 12:30
You wouldn't even need a fancy auto reverse walkman. A cheap and cheerful single side player plus a continuous loop tape would do the job. Voltage would need to be fully rectified to DC from the AC dynamo of course.
seikokid - 2012-04-25 12:51
Thats great news.
I think the endless tape is the perfect choice. saves the record company having to cut n splice a load of tapes
The dynamo is DC. its 6v but I will rectify that to 3V. Do you know what the average Wattage of walkmans are?
Can you suggest any more walkmans other than what has already been suggested. I just helps widen my search as I have 1 month to build this prodject
retrodos - 2012-04-25 18:08
Any of these will work, don't have to be autoreverse, as you are using a continuous loop loop tape. Would buy them new, as less likely to have issues.
seikokid - 2012-05-19 15:42
Hi guys, Things are looking good with the set up. Found a cool power converter that a German dynamo company sells. I think its not top end regulated too.
I just need now to be able to protect the Walkman from damage / being touched .
I want to mount the Walkman on the handlebars in a sealed IP rated box with a perspex front ( so it can bee seen )
Does anyone know of such a box available?
Pictures of final finished project will be posted.
driptip - 2012-05-20 17:35
looking forward to see the final product Seikokid.
seikokid - 2012-06-29 01:42
So guys. I managed to get a promo vid from the record company showing the bike in action. Hopefully some more build footage will be available in the future -
Thanks for all your input and assistance. Any info needed on Seiko Digitals - just give us a shout 
plop - 2012-06-29 01:48
That is awesome.
Congratulations on your success with this project.
Do you get to keep it once the promotion is over?
seikokid - 2012-11-21 13:17
No, it belongs to the record company
retro - 2012-11-21 16:24
Congratulations on the final project SeikoKid. 