The big LIGHTS thread 2011-2014

diy

bat short - probably very easy to fix.

I've said before the pack is the weakness in all these bike lights. That is not to say that it cannot be fixed for very little effort.

start by drying out, then recheck the voltage. Its likely that protection circuit is being triggered due to the short.

nodman7

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NIB-New-Fashi ... 968wt_1110

its one of them, i'll dry the pack out overnight n check in the morning, then i'll need a fuse for the charger

sicknewt

Hi all,

Looking at buying a T6 bike light and trying to understand all the different specs quoted on ebay!

For example this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250943538396?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_2759wt_1182 says its rated at 900 lumens with a 8.4v 4400mAh lithium-ion battery pack with 4 x 18650 Batteries.

Does that mean it's completely different to this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NIB-New-Fashion-CREE-XML-XM-L-T6-LED-1200-Lm-Bicycle-Light-HeadLamp-HeadLigh-/150723863473?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item2317d7a3b1#ht_4016wt_1110 that says its 1600 Lumens with a 8.4v 6400mAh Battery Pack?

Or, are they going to be exactly the same and are just randomly quoting some numbers at me! If they are different which is the better one?

Thanks for help!

Nick

leaflite

They are likely to be very similar. These magicshine "copies" are available from many places and every place seems to sell one with a slightly different shaped casing/bezel etc. However, the electronics inside are likely to be identical, giving identical power outputs. A XML T6 led has a maximum output of just under 1000 lumens when driven at maximum current. However, depending on the driver, lens etc the output is more likely to be 6-700 lumens. Sellers quoting 900 lumens are giving a fairly accurate, theoretical rating. Sellers quoting 1600 lumens are just making it up in an attempt to get you to buy that one over the other 100 or so on ebay. This is the same with the batteries-they probably have a theoretical capacity of 6400 mAh, but an actual capacity of around 4400 mAh or so.

I would choose whichever was the cheapest.

diy

Agreed The "900" lumen example is 2.8A so "900" Lumen is in line with all the lumen claims of other light manufacturers like hope, ay-up, exposure etc. Most tend to claim the "bench" or ANSI (output after 2 mins I think) lumens of the LED, which don't take in to account the lens, impact of heat, voltage drop over time.

Realistically you could drop 100-200 lumen even in optimum conditions based on that. But it is at least a fair comparison to allow you to compare.

boothuk

Diy,

Are you still recommending that set-up on your other thread?

How about buying from the UK? I understand the US lead times will mean the delivery may take a while.

Thanks.

diy

My primary recommendation has always been torches.
501b XM-L T6 or U2.
lightmalls, manafont of deal extreme. They all come from HK
http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-501 ... flashlight
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.ph ... ack-p-7639

Though with Chinese new year you are looking at an extra 7-10 days shipping.

blablablacksheep

Digging up this topic for some advice.

Me and friends are doing the 100k London To brighton run/jog, and we going to need some lights for when it gets dark during it.

Looking for a head light that has following

1:Light, dont want to be logging heavy light on my head.
2:Fits securely to head.
3:Battery life!!, we going to need around 3-6 hours of life, even if it means taking couple of batt packs with us so be it.
4: decent light output, though dont need anything overkill
suggestions welcome

diy

I think I'd be tempted to go with something home made. Something as simple as a drop in connected to a head band, attached to a wire to a 2-cell pack in your pocket with a simple switch.

1 - you wouldn't get lighter
2 - blisteringly bright, and very floody without the reflector, so easy on the eyes
3- cheap about 10 quids worth of parts.

blablablacksheep

diy wrote:

I think I'd be tempted to go with something home made. Something as simple as a drop in connected to a head band, attached to a wire to a 2-cell pack in your pocket with a simple switch.

1 - you wouldn't get lighter
2 - blisteringly bright, and very floody without the reflector, so easy on the eyes
3- cheap about 10 quids worth of parts.

I was thinking of a DIY job myself but the main issues i was worried about were the wieght of the torch on my head compared to say one you buy in a shop which is "pre made with strap" ie this "running torch"

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/petzl-tikka-xp-2-head-torch/

Sinse i would be "running" with it, i dont want something that going to be uncomfortable either.
The torch i linked too seems to get good reviews on the web, and has 160H batt(though i really only need around 6 tops)

So suggestions be wellcome. for kit wise what to get, as id like to get it soon as, so can train with it during night runs to get a feel for it.

supersonic

The Petzl Tikka XP 2 is bloody awful, 60 lumens will barely light anything up.

If you want small and light I'd get one of these and some sort of mount.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.ph ... 340-p-8880

diy

There are plenty of headlight options out there, but you ideally want the light to have a belt mounted cell option.

As already said I would buy either an XM-L or XPG drop in with as few modes as possible, remove the springs (and possibly the reflector too) and solder two 1mm+ wires to the + and -, mount to a head band and then run this to 3 or 4 belt mounted 18650s in parallel, with an inline switch.

This:
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.ph ... 18v-p-4051
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Batte ... 45fde29338

draws 1.2A at 4.2v, so will give you 350 Lumen, connected to 3* 2.6-2.9Ah 18650s should cover your needs. The advantage of the linked drop in is that is can take a wide range of voltages, so you can have plenty of cell options including both parallel and serial configs (3*4.2 is well under 18v).

It wont look great, but it will be light, bright and fairly cheap.

ryan_w-2

Bought a brand new 2012 Mk3 Exposure Diablo today, £139
Should work a treat with my 2012 Toro!

blablablacksheep

supersonic wrote:

The Petzl Tikka XP 2 is bloody awful, 60 lumens will barely light anything up.

If you want small and light I'd get one of these and some sort of mount.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.ph ... 340-p-8880

Have you seen them though?

The thing is, i seen a couple out and they dont seem that bad, and given that running forums they get very good reviews from people and sites it very tempting.

Again, DIY option but i dont fancy doing soldering ect just for a head torch.

Biggest problem with getting complex with all the wires and such is it more likely to fall apart when im running, i really want something that is going to be hassle free which i can easly wear on head and doesnt feel like im wearing a battery pack :shock:

I know torches are great for light, but their battery useage is shite from what i seen, around 1-2 hours on max power which is kind of useless.
Need a torch which can be easly mounted securely to head, and can last max power with decent wide beam (narror beams dont work with running) for around 3 hours, then i can just have another battery pack in backpack to use once it runs out.

also as little weight as possible will help as i dont want to run with a brick on my head for 6 hours..

supersonic

Yep, they are shite. Well for 40 quid they are. I'd pay a a fiver, like the similar ones on ebay.

The torches listed are way more efficient than the Pretzel. WIth multi modes you get the choice. The reason why the one you listed has good runtimes is because it puts out the same light as 4 candles in a jam jar.

They get good reviews from people who know no better.

Or get this for a tenner that has some up to date bits in it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/600-Lumens-CR ... 4162135a4b

blablablacksheep

Il probably go with the torch method as some of these china ones look as comfy as a brick strapped to your head which no use for running for more than 3 hours:)

Torch wise looking for something small and light but has a output which is wide beam and batteries which can last around 3 hours(will take 2 lots to last the time duration)

Then il just make a head strap as i know there are quite a few torch head straps out there.

suggestions?(not sure if a XML style like my T6 on my bike be a good type due to small spot beam)

Rushmore

I think i'm going to go for this as recommended by Supersonic

viewtopic.php?p=17265285

However, please let me know if there is any changes that I could make to improve it...

I'd order the 3.7v protected batteries instead of the lower blue ones so hopefully that will have a better burn time as long as they are the same type of battery size and protected i'm guessing this is ok to do.....

but correct me if i'm wrong...

Ouija

Why not go for even higher capacity 2800mAh from someone like torchy the battery boy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-2800mAh-18650-3-7v-2C-5-6A-drain-case-/290666348522?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item43ad107fea

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Torchy-2800mAh-18650-3-7v-Li-ion-batteries-protective-case-/290665840183?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item43ad08be37

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-2800mAh-18650-3-7v-batteries-case-/300654998629?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item46006f3465

blablablacksheep

Did look at that and just got a question though on it.

The T6 XML i guess is the same as my bike light T6 Cree XML which is quite a "spotty" beam and has a sharp fade outside the main cone, this could be a issue as with running you want a wide beam rather than spot beam as it can make judging ditance ect hard during runs, so wide beams are best i believe.
(I say this as i would intend to run with 1 torch on head rather than 2, due to weight ect)

Also, out of interest, the weight of those torches, (120g) not including batterys, might be a tad heavy to run with for 6 hours on my head, anyone got one on their helmet maybe could comment on this?

But thanks for the info about protected batteries,( thanks for that ebay link, though quite exspencive, are they worth the cost/outage over those trustfire?)

Ouija

The Trustfire are ok. Nothing special. Actual output is closer to 2000mAh. A lot of battery manufacturers exaggerate the runtimes of the battery (Ultrafire being the worse). Those three batteries that i linked to either actually achieve their stated rating or, in some cases, actually exceed it. Remember that the battery as a usable range from 4.2v to 3.2v. Once drained below that you need to turn the light off and recharge (unless it's protected, in which case the battery itself will cut out to avoid damaging itself). So the longer the battery can stay in that 4.2v/3.2v range the better.

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/batteries_21.html

Rushmore

Ordered...

I looked at those other batteries linked but I didn't think they were rechargable so went for the trustfire batts...

If they suck I can always order some different ones...

I look forward to being able to ride at speed through dark singletrack..

Although I am a touch worried about the strength of the mounts to be honest....

Ouija

They were all rechargeable, hence the comment about the extra fat Senybor ones not fitting some rechargers. All protected batteries are rechargeable, by the way. There's no need to fit a protection circuit into a Li-Ion battery to protect it from overcharging or over draining if it's just going to be used once and thrown away. The protection circuits there to stop the aforementioned overcharging/over draining only on batteries that are going to be used again and again and again, as the circuit will substantially increase the battery life (overcharge or overdrain and the battery will slowly lose the power to retain a charge and drain a lot more quickly).

diy

There are good sources that say these cheap brand Chinese 18650s are just old laptop cells with new sleeves and a protection circuit.

The best cells I have came out of a lenovo notepad. Personally I'd say go japanese if you can.

Rushmore

Any idea on how long the delivery time is from deal extreme is?? ( standard free airmail.. )

bamba

About 3+ weeks from DX hongkong, usually a bit quicker from lightmalls or manafont around 2 weeks, think my last order was 11 days from lightmalls

scoobywrx

Found a great way to mount your lights. It consists of 2 sets of jubilee clips 25mm-25mm for the bars and 18mm-25mm for the light. Unlikely to snap or break compares to plastic mounts, easy to remove lights with the screw. Can be angled to any position you desire. You can have one light mounted or four like me. Just have bits of rubber inner tube to protect the bar and the lights

fritzz11

how does it handle with all that strapped on the bars, looks a bit heavy?

scoobywrx

To be honest I only fitted the 3rd and 4th light today. Not night riding til tuesday or wednesday. Have been out with the two strapped on with no changed with the handling. Four lights and batteries does add weight to the front end so it will be interesting!

diy

I've done plenty of rides with 4 on the bars - its my standard set-up when doing long night events 6hrs+, as I just run them on low and med. My lights are a tiny bit lighter, but on a longer ride its better than having the extra on the head.

I'd seen the hose clip option previously, but never seen anyone do an over and under option with hose clips.

scoobywrx

diy wrote:

I've done plenty of rides with 4 on the bars - its my standard set-up when doing long night events 6hrs+, as I just run them on low and med. My lights are a tiny bit lighter, but on a longer ride its better than having the extra on the head.

I'd seen the hose clip option previously, but never seen anyone do an over and under option with hose clips.

I have seen your set up and read many of your posts in the past. i did buy one of the 501b only one mode and had that on my lid. We ride for around 2 hours and it didn't last the distance......so I have gone back to my fandyfire 2100 which no quite as bright, last the duration. I think i will stay with the two C8 at the top but Im tempted with the fandyfire 2130 t6XML at the bottom.....claim of 100mins run time!!

have you tried any other lights of this size DIY??