Cateye EL610 **warning** Melts on charge

tomgth

Bought Cateye EL610 6 months ago - has worked fine until it decided to generate so much heat that it decided to melt whilst being charged. This was charging on a table with nothing else around it - thankfully! I just wanted everyone who has one to be careful and those that were considering it to think twice. Not happy – should have bought a Hope Vision
Contcated Zyro, who import them, who told me to email Wiggle who (though normally excellent) have done sweet FA.

Surf-Matt

I was SO close to buying one of them but went for the Hope 1 instead. Phew!

alfablue

Cateye and Zyro are junk - wiggle is usually better. Make sure your email isn't sorting the wiggle email as spam, I usually get a rapid response.

redddraggon

Wiggle took two days to replace my Single shot plus.

Sent it back on a Tuesday - recieved the replacement on the Thursday.

alfablue

Oh, and Lithium batteries are known to explode/catch fire.

Clever Pun

single shot plus or just the 610?

woodyonthebeach

I got one of them the other. Think I may have to keep a close eye on it when charging.

I'm surprised I did not notice the heat coming from it when it was having the first charge. Left it on over night on the carpet in my hallway. Could have gone very bad.

Bollocks best go back to my other Cateye. No problems with that as of yet.

As yet I have never had any complaints with Cateye gear. The lights last me ten times longer than others I have bought.


Thanks for the heads up.

alfablue

I (and others) have had trouble with plastic parts breaking, and Zero warranty support from Zyro. Their lights are also overly expensive for their performance, and they rate them using units that few other manufacturers use, making comparisons conveniently difficult. For a Japanese company I would expect higher standards of design and engineering.

Surf-Matt

Are Cateye Jap then? Thought they were French?

My old Cateye lasted ages (EL510) but the other one (same) cracked very easily and died.

Got a new LD610 rear light and that IS a very good bit of kit.

The Singleshot Plus is £90 - a lot for what you get I reckon. Hence me spending £72 on a Hope 1 - which is nuclear bomb proof and brighter.

alfablue

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

woodyonthebeach

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

woodyonthebeach

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

hondafanatic

woodyonthebeach wrote:

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

wow....and opportunity to talk about cars, specifically Japanese cars...woohoo!!!!!

mussstttt....resissssssstttttt....


arghhhhhhhhhhhh

alfablue

woodyonthebeach wrote:

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

Exactly what I would expect, usually they are at the cutting edge of technology and engineering, and with excellent build quality. Cateye let their country down!

alfablue

hondafanatic wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

wow....and opportunity to talk about cars, specifically Japanese cars...woohoo!!!!!

mussstttt....resissssssstttttt....


arghhhhhhhhhhhh

If I didn't like beautiful cars, I would get a Honda.

hondafanatic

alfablue wrote:

hondafanatic wrote:

woodyonthebeach wrote:

alfablue wrote:

yes, Japanese "CatEye is the leading manufacturer of cycle computers, lights and reflectors to cyclists in the world. Founded in 1946 in Osaka, Japan".

I know its not the right the sort of forum. But if the Japanese can make cars that are boom proof they should be able to make lights that could be used to take over small countries.

wow....and opportunity to talk about cars, specifically Japanese cars...woohoo!!!!!

mussstttt....resissssssstttttt....


arghhhhhhhhhhhh

If I didn't like beautiful cars, I would get a Honda.

nooooooo.....don't get into a protracted conversation about cars....you'll get us banned....

*cough*1967 Honda F1 Car*cough

alfablue

You are quite right Hondafanatic, lets stay on topic

*cough* 1950, 1951 Alfa Romeo F1 car*cough*2007/2008 Honda F1*cough*

hondafanatic

alfablue wrote:

You are quite right Hondafanatic, lets stay on topic

*cough* 1950, 1951 Alfa Romeo F1 car*cough*2007/2008 Honda F1*cough*

Yes...it's a terrible thing to happen to a bike light...potentially dangerous..


*cough*Alfa8C*cough*

Surf-Matt

At least Hondas work.

Alfa are now dull chassis GM cars in drag...

Apart from the 8C - which still has a dodgy chassis...

Back onto lights - have Cateye lost the plot with front lights? Seems so.

alfablue

Yes, Cateye have lost their way!

Alfa's do work. Mine have worked for 80000 miles! Also, the use of the GM block for the latest V6 is tragic (was the best V6 ever made), however, the cylinder head is all Alfa, so the engine is Alfarised. The cars are still based on Alfa chassis (owe more to Fiat Tipo), the Brera/Spider are designed by Giugiaro and built by Pininfarina - they are not in drag! :twisted:

hondafanatic

now let's not turn this thread away from the fact that cateye have lost their way.

Also, don't start a car brand war, nobody will change their mind and nobody 'wins'.

Anyway, we're going to get banded if we keep this up. And that would be as tragic as when Alfa stopped doing rear wheel drive.

alfablue

Anyway,



I reckon you had a lucky escape with the battery, its probably best to use a plug in timer and put it on a kitchen worktop when charging lithiums.

Tempestas

I never see the point in contacting wiggle via email, their returns procedure is so simple and means you don't have to wait for a reply.

Just go to: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h/option/Return ... ure#Failed

Read it and follow the instructions, wait a few days and open your new item....

As for cars....this is a bike forum......

(I used to own a 156 though, awesome car but I replaced it with something more sensible....a Lotus Elise)

alfablue

You're right, I have always got super quick replacements from Wiggle - they won't quibble!

Oh, and all I said about lithiums, this light uses NiMH :oops:


(Alfa's were the official TDF cars, Honda make bikes...as did Lotus (Boardman). Alfa do bikes, too

Stewie Griffin

My Single Shot +1 works, as does my Alfa 156. The Brera is not built on an Alfa (or FIAT for that matter) chassis

Surf-Matt

But the Brera weighs almost 1800kgs - that's almost criminal...
Alfas are just another FWD car brand with GM engines that USED to be full of character. Just like Saab

Anyway - Cateye lights - anyone recommend them?!

chrissharp48

tomgth wrote:

Bought Cateye EL610 6 months ago - has worked fine until it decided to generate so much heat that it decided to melt whilst being charged. This was charging on a table with nothing else around it - thankfully! I just wanted everyone who has one to be careful and those that were considering it to think twice. Not happy – should have bought a Hope Vision
Contcated Zyro, who import them, who told me to email Wiggle who (though normally excellent) have done sweet FA.

Hi tomgth, the rails on that light have also cracked, two faults on one light. come on cateye sort it out...

nwallace

ick, not nice. But then batteries are known to overhead. I used to charge my NiCad battery packs for RC cars up until I could hardly hold them.

A mate bought some fenix lights, still waiting to see how good they are.

Nah you all have it wrong Merc W196 or Auto Union Type D. Don't get me started on GM.

tomgth

Clever Pun wrote:

single shot plus or just the 610?

It's the EL610 Single Shot Plus