Lights - 5 LED or 1 Watt LED

jedster

Daniel B,

I have an earlier model of that electron with a single 1W LED. It is very well built, very bright but very directional. This means that you get a narrow beam a long way up the road but can't actually see very much of the road surface in front of you.

I managed to strap mine to a helmet with cable ties and it stayed-put all winter. It certainly gets drivers attention if you zap them with it. However I have now taken it off because a) I think it is a little too dazzling for that application and b) I got a bit uncomfortable about having something hard strapped to my helmet - got to think it could cause the helmet to fail if you took a blow to the light.

I do use a llight on my helmet but its a very small, light, feeble plastic thing.

J

daniel_b

Thanks for that chaps,

I had a reply from them via e-mail, so the message went trough, and apparently the oprder went through as well!

Thanks for the reply jedster, this one is to compliment an ayup, and we plan to use it on flashing mode as an additional 'I'm here' beacon - I think handlebar mount will make more sense, but good to know you did manage it on the helmet - might see what it feels like when it arrives, hopefully later this week - will post my findings after a bit of use.

Cheers

Dan

Specialized Needs

alfablue wrote:

Hi Daniel

The details are:

E-mail us at sales@vapextech.co.uk with any questions you might have.

Phone on: 01474 850552 (10.00 - 16.00 Mon - Fri)

.

I would guess that the order has not gone through if you have no acknowledgement. I have always found the site worked okay, but I guess there may be a temporary glitch. The charger I would recommend is the "Vapextech LCD,WORLD (110v/240v) ,ULTRA FAST 1 HOUR CHARGER " for £14.55

Ruddy hell. A local company to me (about 200 yds). And I've ordered off Vapextech through eBay several times. Must go and have a nose around. Bet they don't do collection, though :? I thought that area was all residential (although it is quite a hotchpotch around here); could work out of a garage, or elsewhere and have that as the registered address, I suppose.

Stuart

daniel_b

Just noticed, that for anyone who wants the Electron 5, Parkers have it for £9.50, with no P&P:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/referrer/froogle/productID/5811/groupID/1/categoryID/11

Debating getting one as well - the fact it throws a bit of light back onto the rider sounds rather useful.....

Dan

cougie

If you want a good set of rear lights - get two Smart 0.5W LEDs. Aboyt £20 for two. Have one on flash and one on steady. Great visibility.

As for the front light - theres lots of choice out there - search the forums for other good lights - look on Road Know How and also MTB.

daniel_b

Cheers for that Cougie, due to the setup of my gf's bike, I need one that will mount on the rack, so one will be a smart for usre, the other one could be, but I went for a different make.

We've got some awesome front lights (ww.ayup.com.au) so the extra ones are exactly that, just an extra hand really, and incase of battery failure by any of the units on the way in/home.

When I have it all setup, I was thinking of posting a picture of it all 'lit up'
If I start a new thread (weekend probably) with pics, will others contirbute accordingly?!

Dan

alfablue

I know you are already sorted Dan, but for other people's info, there is a bracket for fitting Smart Superflash lights to rear racks - I use it when touring with panniers (£2.69 delivered from Dotbike).

daniel_b

alfablue wrote:

I know you are already sorted Dan, but for other people's info, there is a bracket for fitting Smart Superflash lights to rear racks - I use it when touring with panniers (£2.69 delivered from Dotbike).

Ahhhh B%$£&^$S!

:oops:

Cheers Alfablue, I shall bookmark that, as depending on if this other one is anygood, may need to get one.....

Look what I just found for £1.49.....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=29392


Dan

Bugly

considering get one of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... nerID=1913

3 hour burn time claimed at 960 lumens

lost_in_thought

Daniel B wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I know you are already sorted Dan, but for other people's info, there is a bracket for fitting Smart Superflash lights to rear racks - I use it when touring with panniers (£2.69 delivered from Dotbike).

Ahhhh B%$£&^$S!

:oops:

Cheers Alfablue, I shall bookmark that, as depending on if this other one is anygood, may need to get one.....

Look what I just found for £1.49.....

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=29392


Dan

You don't need those!

the pen-style clip on the superflash slides over the bit you attach that bracket to and holds on pretty well... I've never lost one yet!

daniel_b

Hi LIT,

I think your rack must be a different design, mine has a rounded top from the top plate of the rack, and only holes to screw something into, no place where you could clip it on.

This arrived today:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/5816/groupID/1/categoryID/11/v/aaf0f165-c5cc-41b6-b414-094bc59fd42f

I can see what the rave reviews were about on CRC now, quality is far bettrr than I thought, has a real solid feel to it, nice machines aluminium case, rubber seal where the batteries go in, decent quality battery holder, and the handlebar mount looks good as well, and apepars to be fine for normal or oversize bars.

Have only tried it out in a darkened room with no windows, and the first impressions are excellent, certainly not in the same ballpark as the ayup's, but for £11.95 I'd say it's a bloomin good buy.

Dan

daniel_b

alfablue wrote:

Vapextech are a great source for batteries, they have 4 x AAA 1100mah batteries for £4.40 delivered, they usually arrive next day. For low consumption rear lights I suggest the hybrid versions "Instant", these are 850mah but retain their charge for much longer (maybe a year) so they are good for applications that are not used often or consume little when they are. They are £4.25 for 4 or 8 for £7.75.

Hi Alfablue,

the batteries and charger arrived today (prompt delivery), and I am currently charging the 1100 ones to try in the Electron light that also arrived today.

A question for you regarding your post qouted above - After some recommendations on another post, I am going to get a Blackburn Mars 4.0 rear light, this has a 1W LED, so in your opinion would this be betetr with the high power 1100 batteries, or stick to the 850's?

I need to order some more anyway, but thought I would ask your advice beforehand!

Cheers

Dan

alfablue

Hi Dan

The 850 hybrids are better where there will be a long period between uses or recharges. This time of year you will probably use the light frequently. The 850's and 1100's should (I think) deliver the same current (and therefore brightness) just the 850's will run down first. Maybe use the 1100's in winter, and the 850's in summer when your light only gets used occasionally but you want to know it will have some charge in it whenever you need it. If you use the 850's now, it will be fine, just lower run time, but I would expect you would get maybe 20 hours on flashing, anyway.

As you have a smart charger you can safely recharge them even though they may only be partially discharged. They do benefit from an occasional full discharge, as long as its not an over discharge, occasionally. To prevent over discharge, turn the light off when it dims significantly or completely - it may still be drawing current. Also, try and use batteries in sets that have the same amount of charge, using a fully charged one with a part charged one is not good. I have marked my batteries with a permanent marker so I keep them is sets.

daniel_b

Thanks Alfablue,

I've ordered more batteries, so in total 12 1100's, and 8 800's.
That should keep me in batteries for sometime

Dan