MTE P7 900-Lumen LED Flashlight

duckson

Anyone got one or is this overkill for the unlit road/cycle path use? Although you have different output modes...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060

Pics:-
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/r ... ly_3797438


You can get this torch, charger, batteries (18650's) and bike mount for ~£40 delivered.

Torch
Batteries (18650 Lithium)
Charger
Mount

andy_wrx

Are you my unknown twin (a la Tyler ) ?

I'd been looking at almost exactly same as you, same batteries and charger,
except the 2-mode MTE http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623
or the Aurora version http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15691

All seem to be direct-drive 1x18650 SSC P7
Being direct, I think they'll get dimmer as the battery powers-down, until it goes off.
Doesn't look from the DX reviews that they're really 900 lumens, more like 600/700, but that should be enough !

For myself, I can't see the point of 5 modes : looks like high & low on a 2-mode is equivalent to high & medium on a 5-mode so I assume the 5-mode low is really feeble, and I can't ever see me wanting SOS mode, strobe would be somewhat scary/disco-lighty at 900 (or whatever it is...) lumen too.
I wouldn't want a lamp where I'd have to cycle through these modes every time I switched it on or off.

Have a go at a a search (the forum one : top right of this screen, but the second one down, not the All BikeRadar one, the one below it next to Member List)
Look for terms 'SSC AND P7' and author 'Dazzza' (NB three z's)

He's saying that Cree (who actually manufacture SSC LED's apparently) will themselves be bringing-out a P7 themselves shortly, but that this will be a more-focussed spot and the SSC P7 is a broader flood.

For bike use, I wouldn't want it to be too super-focussed a hotspot, and at 900 (or even 600/700) lumens, seems like to me it should have enough power to be a wider beam.

Have a look at these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtPbcUHnDkc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swO-BkN57Ic

I'm currently running a Cree Q5 2xAA I bought from DX as a hemet lamp and I'm happy with the quality and performance (certainly at ~11 quid...), but this P7 looks brighter still, perhaps as a handlebar mounted wider lamp in conjunction with my spot headlamp.

duckson

Whats the C-Bin mean in the model name? how does it differ to this one as it seems the same apart from the different head:-
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12325

bobpzero

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12761
this one might be better tho dont forget
http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk

duckson

That only has one mode would prefer a couple of options.

I've changed my order from the 5 mode to the 2 mode, andy_wrx is right...saves faffing through settings!!

I ordered this 2 mode:-

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12325

Cant see how it differs to the one in Andy's link, they are both P7 900 lumen and c bin emitters.

bobpzero

is that hong kong dollars? how do u get a real currency conversion to see what it costs in pounds sterling?

duckson

It tells you when you go to pay in Paypal.....although u can back out of the sale b4 then.

Stuck on a Giant

I've got one of these, and it's fantastic. I use it as a helmet mount for MTBing, and it's incredibly bright - brighter than my £350 Light & Motion HID light!
Runs fine for about 2 hours on full power, but then 30secs to change the battery for another 2 hours. Even then, it's a very gradual fade.

Consider how many of these you can buy for the cost of a USE Exposure light, or even the mighty Fenix!

andy_wrx

Tell us how you go on Stu.
Including how long it takes to arrive.

My Cree Q5 took a week (-ish, I think I ordered on Weds or Thurs and it arrived following Friday : they provided a shipping link for HK postoffice) and as I say, I'm plenty impressed with the quality for the price.
At the then ex-rate, it was ca £11 compared to £40 for a Fenix, but prices will have gone up slightly now as the £ has dropped
(are prices in $HKD ? does it even still exist or do they use Yuan/Renminbi now ? I assumed they were $USD prices and that was the ex-rate I got via PayPal)

duckson

Prices are in US dollars, it says USD exchanged to sterling in Paypal.

I'll let you know what i think when i get it.

Stuck on a Giant, I assume your talking about the 2 mode P7 i've changed my order to?
How good is the light on the low setting?

alfablue

bobpzero wrote:

is that hong kong dollars? how do u get a real currency conversion to see what it costs in pounds sterling?

I think it's US dollars, this gives a reasonably accurate exchange rate.

bobpzero

thanks alfablue & all. sure is weird tho being usd not hkd. now to decide what torch to get, having lookd at the majority of the reviews for various lights, im thinking of getting another romisen t5 mainly because of the running time + 400lumen
http://www.thephotonshop.co.uk/page37.htm

johnbirkby46213

Stuck on

which torch have you got? After all the ones mentioned in the thread, it's not clear (to me) which one you have.

johnbirkby46213

Jeez, this is one of a number of dangerous threads to be reading. I have 2 x P2D's which are fine for my unlit commute.
BUT.....
If you've got a brighter light than me then I jolly well have to have one! Its like the arms race all over again. And it has to be less than an arm and a leg in price!...which fenix et all usually are. After reading up what you guys are toying with i noticed a Fenix TK11 aghh!!! Must leave all threads about lights alone. Must leave all threads about lights alone. Must leave...

bobpzero

i hav a romisen rc t-5. photonshop link above will explain why i chose it over a load of the other randomly named lights. maybe i shouldnt hav listend to that other guy, who verbally rolled his eyes when i said i bought a 1yr old electron eph325 on ebay. the sad thing is once i got a romisen, all drivers dip their headlamps but when all i had was the electrons, a few drivers would keep up full beam.

johnbirkby46213

bobpzero wrote:

i hav a romisen rc t-5. photonshop link above will explain why i chose it over a load of the other randomly named lights. maybe i shouldnt hav listend to that other guy, who verbally rolled his eyes when i said i bought a 1yr old electron eph325 on ebay. the sad thing is once i got a romisen, all drivers dip their headlamps but when all i had was the electrons, a few drivers would keep up full beam.

Bobp
Do you use a "twofish" mount for that Romisen on your bike? If not, what do you use please?

JB

bobpzero

yes i did use a "twofish" mount.

Stuck on a Giant

Duckson, I've got the 2 setting version.
I was rolling down some fireroad at about 25mph thinking 'this light is OK, but why is Dave's (which is the same) so much brighter' when I realised mine was on the low setting.
So even on low it's fine, but if you get a spare battery you've got over 4 hours on full brightness, so unless you've got a very long night ride planned, why would you not want as much light as possible?
A mate of mine has imported a number of these, and mine came with 4 batteries, so I could ride all night!

The Spiderman

I have just bought one.Highly reccomended.It must be about 3 times better than my old Blackburn X3 and thats before I hit the high setting!
I bought mine with 4 batteries (make sure you get the protected ones),a charger an adpator ,a mount and it was still only £45 delivered.I am strongly tempted to buy another to helmet mount for the mtb.
There is a review here: http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/mountain_bike_lights_review_led.html

blorg

Stuck on a Giant wrote:

I've got one of these, and it's fantastic. I use it as a helmet mount for MTBing, and it's incredibly bright - brighter than my £350 Light & Motion HID light!
Runs fine for about 2 hours on full power, but then 30secs to change the battery for another 2 hours. Even then, it's a very gradual fade.

Stuckon- are you sure about the 2 hours on full thing? Most references I have seen say 1 hour. It's the only downside for me (currently have a Fenix TK11 that does a bit over 2.5 hours on turbo.) Having to stop to change batteries every hour would be annoying, every 2 hours would be OK..

I would be very interested in comparisons between one of these P7s on "medium" or "low" and a something like a TK11.

EDIT: Stuckon, do you have a 2x18650 version? Maybe link the light you have?

Stuck on a Giant

OK, the battery I have (4 of) is the Trustfire TR18650 2500mAh 3.7v.
I'll admit I haven't measured exactly the run time on high, but I'm confident it's at least 1.5 hrs, and I don't think 2 hrs is far off.Don't you have a pub break??

cougie

Dammit - I've cracked and ordered one.

It was just too easy to click on it....

I dont 'need' it - but £40 for all those Lumens ?

It is like an arms race isnt it ? Wait til my mates get to check this out - they're already oohing over their Tescos torches, and I've not introduced them to my double Fenix set up yet. They've got a shock for them when my lil package arrives !

Tom Butcher

Christ OK I'm sold - ordering tonight when I get back from picking daughter no1 up from dancing. Is it the package linked in Spidermans post (MTB mag review) above that people are getting ?

duckson

Tom Butcher wrote:

Christ OK I'm sold - ordering tonight when I get back from picking daughter no1 up from dancing. Is it the package linked in Spidermans post (MTB mag review) above that people are getting ?

See my first post but ignore the torch link, i changed my order to the 2 mode from a 5 mode:-

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12325

Mine has been sent but it has yet to arrive.

Tom Butcher

Cheers - all sorted except for what mount to use - the one in an earlier link what everyone else is using - it'll be on a road bike with standard diameter (not oversize) bars.

Edit - actually ignore that I'll just get the mount mentioned - thanks

cougie

Yeah i just went for the two mode torch - that should be easier than the five mode one. The lock block mount works really well for the fenix torch so should be fine for this one too.
I can see that deal extreme site being addictive !

bobpzero

johnbirkby46213 wrote:

Bobp
Do you use a "twofish" mount for that Romisen on your bike? If not, what do you use please?

JB

if ur still wondering about the twofish bike mount (TWOFISH LOCKBLOCK BIKE MOUNTED TORCH HOLDER was the one i got) i also got some solid insertion rubber strip in the hope of less wobble. so ud be better off with the ortec pipe mount, even if it is £20

The Spiderman

The other alternative for bar mounting is to use the Fenix mount,which is meant to be more rigid.(Not sure its good for OS bars though.)
I`m currently using an adaptation of the mount from my Blackburn X3,but I think the twofish lock block might be the other option.
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix_mount.html
My P7 is the 2 mode version.The low setting is OK for low speed road riding.I have not yet determined what the run time is if you use a combination of low and high,but if you are using it bar mounted theres a nice big push button to switch settings,so you may be able to extend the run time,by using high only as necessary.

16simon

Anyone know if dealextreme sell a mount that's suitable for oversize bars?

cougie

The lock block mount is just made of rubber - so I wouldnt have thought that it would be a problem for it to be used on the OS bars ? Works well on both my road and MTB bars anyway - holds my Fenix very securely.

alfablue

cougie wrote:

The lock block mount is just made of rubber - so I wouldnt have thought that it would be a problem for it to be used on the OS bars ? Works well on both my road and MTB bars anyway - holds my Fenix very securely.

Works perfectly on my oversize bars.