The big LIGHTS thread 2011-2014

steviemidnight

i require a new charger my current one is a pain especially annoying when trying to charge batteries of different levels it kind of cuts out very quickly: currently i have http://www.manafont.com/product_info.ph ... 40v-p-5643

This looks good anyone used:
http://www.lt-box.com/nitecore-i2-intel ... eries.html

steviemidnight

or may be this one:
http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-wf- ... 00-charger

I know DIY recomended this ( i think it was this model) a while back so i'd probably just go with this
http://www.lightmalls.com/trustfire-tr- ... ug-adapter

prawny

I've got the Ultrafire one, no issues so far, getting good run times out of liberated laptop batteries.

In other news I dismantled a year old magicshine pack that wouldn't charge over the weekend, two cells were fine and fully charged the other two were down at 2.5vish, I charged them up keeping an eye on them (they're protected by the look of it, torch wouldn't come on with them in before I charged them anyway) in my ultrafire charger and now they're full reading 4.16v each, you guys reckon they'll be ok? Or are they likely to blow a hole in my skull?

diy

If I was recommending chargers again. It would be adding these to my list:

http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/goods.php?id=14003325
http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/goods.php?id=14002339
http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/goods.php?id=14004058

Since they have other uses.

I use the first one as a battery extender for my edge 800 or to top up my iphone after long enduro rides. The last 4 cell option could double as a power pack for 8.4v options with a usb cable adapter. The middle one could drive a stubby or pair of stubbies (5v is fine for most 4.2v drivers).

skankin_giant

Iv'e just bought one of these:-

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-li ... e-xml.html

For the price thought it was worth a pop, did think about the commuitor set, but after thinking about it the 500 Lumen back light might be a bad idea...Was meant to be here today, sadly Royal Mail has failed me!

Cheers Steve

kiwimatt

steviemidnight wrote:

i require a new charger

If you want to go the full anorak I have not regretted my purchase of one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turnigy-Accuc ... 0676231920
Run it off a laptop pwer supply or 12v car battery charger
Lets you condition cells/have some level of confidence in charging multi-cell packs/can see what level of mAH the cell charge has taken etc. All the charger you will ever need but probably overkill for bike lighting

-Archie-

This is indeed very good charger: I use it myself for long time...

smashed

Hmm, thanks skankin-giant.the candb-seen site seems easy, but an even bigger premium..

Is this likely to be from the UK? Or would I be better off purchasing from Candb-Seen in case it breaks in the rain etc...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-T6- ... 43b3ebfec6

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-li ... e-xml.html

jairaj

smashed wrote:

Is this likely to be from the UK? Or would I be better off purchasing from Candb-Seen in case it breaks in the rain etc...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-T6- ... 3b3ebfec6l

The description on the page says the item location is in the UK with 3-5 days delivery time so I guess it must be. Never sold anything on ebay so no idea how easy it is to fake this?

prawny

jairaj wrote:

smashed wrote:

Is this likely to be from the UK? Or would I be better off purchasing from Candb-Seen in case it breaks in the rain etc...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-T6- ... 3b3ebfec6l

The description on the page says the item location is in the UK with 3-5 days delivery time so I guess it must be. Never sold anything on ebay so no idea how easy it is to fake this?

It's possible that the item in in a UK warehouse but the supplier is in the Far East, a couple of things I've bought recently have been. Hopefully I wont have any issues but as I'm just using the torches these days I'd probably take the pain if they go bad. They're pretty cheap.

diy

I just thought it worth reminding people of the max output an XM-L can achieve given the comical claims from some of the small Retailers..

An XM-L T6 at 1.5A will deliver max 585 Lumen and 975 Lumen at 3A (Max current)
AN XM-L U2 will go 624/1040 at 1.5/3A respectively.

The absolute max for a t6 is 1400 lumens requiring 6A and a lot of cooling (i.e. a fan and cooling block)

That is not to put anyone off - 500 genuine lumen is insanely bright, but I want to make sure people don't go for one XM-L over another because one says 1300 Lumen and the other says 1000 Lumen.

Realistically you want one driven between 1.5A and 2.5A to get the best efficiency out of the LED.

stellamandude

kiwimatt wrote:

steviemidnight wrote:

i require a new charger

If you want to go the full anorak I have not regretted my purchase of one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turnigy-Accuc ... 0676231920
Run it off a laptop pwer supply or 12v car battery charger
Lets you condition cells/have some level of confidence in charging multi-cell packs/can see what level of mAH the cell charge has taken etc. All the charger you will ever need but probably overkill for bike lighting

How have you got this set up in order to change the "cells" ? Is it a DIY holder or an off the shelf item ?
I have a very similar charger, Imax B6, that is now redundant from it's previous use (RC Racing), it'd be good to start using it again

kiwimatt

stellamandude wrote:

kiwimatt wrote:

steviemidnight wrote:

i require a new charger

If you want to go the full anorak I have not regretted my purchase of one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turnigy-Accuc ... 0676231920
Run it off a laptop pwer supply or 12v car battery charger
Lets you condition cells/have some level of confidence in charging multi-cell packs/can see what level of mAH the cell charge has taken etc. All the charger you will ever need but probably overkill for bike lighting

How have you got this set up in order to change the "cells" ? Is it a DIY holder or an off the shelf item ?
I have a very similar charger, Imax B6, that is now redundant from it's previous use (RC Racing), it'd be good to start using it again

For Magicshine-alike multi cell packs just the male plug chopped off the crappy supplied charger and then put the bare wires onto the crocodile clips - mark the wires clearly +ve and =ve though.

For individual 18650's I have two tiny button magnets (ripped off a conference ID badge I think) which stick to the crocodile clips and then onto the end of the cell - again be careful with polarity but I think from memory even if you get it wrong the Turnigy just comes up reverse polarity on the screen. Tends to only take about an hour to charge a single cell depending on how you set the charger to pump the amps into the cell - and I have a fair number of cells in rotation so haven't felt the need to bodge up a multi cell charge rig, it would be pretty straightforward to make one with an 18650 holder and a balance connector if you felt the need.
This is a cracking utility if you need wiring help on that sort of thing
http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/lipo.html

sparky.2002

@diy I like the look of that sky ray king...so I've just ordered 1.
I'll report back when it comes. Do you think it will really be half as bright as a 3t6 with external battery pack? 2000 vs 3600 lumen? Either way its got to be an improvement over a xpg 501b.

diy

I would say 2k lumen is reasonable for both lights.

apreading

Lightmalls annoying me now - they say that I have to send the faulty charger (that didnt work on arrival) back at my own expense and they will not refund the postage. I think I will have to file a paypal claim and see what that can do...

jairaj

Isn't that how all mail order works? You have to pay postage to return it back but I would expect them to pay postage to return new/fixed item back to you.

-Archie-

That's correct: return shipping is to be paid by customer.

andyrr

Re return postage - I'm pretty sure when I had to return a faulty charged and battery pack to DX I paid postage but they did refunc it. Could be wrong but I remember scanning the post office receipt to send them.

I think when it's only a £1 or so then paying for it isn't a massive issue but when you have to return a faulty item AND having to pay £5 (which I think mine cost roughly) for the privilege it's a little galling.

smashed

-Archie- wrote:

That's correct: return shipping is to be paid by customer.

Legally under DSR's they have to pay the return postage..but as they are not a UK company I guess they can do what they like.

apreading

jairaj wrote:

Isn't that how all mail order works? You have to pay postage to return it back but I would expect them to pay postage to return new/fixed item back to you.

Not if there they have sent a non-working item - I have a contract with them for a functioning charger, if they deliver a broken one then they have not fulfilled that contract and it should not be my expense to send it back. Yes, you often have to pay the postage initially but then get it refunded - they have refused to do that, and it needs to be shipped overseas, so wont be cheap...

Even funnier - they asked me to send a photo of the faulty item but visually there is nothing wrong with it - what they expected to see is beyond me...

-Archie-

Can't say anything about British law, but AFAIK note about return postage cost is commonly seen on most web shops and eBay items.

As for pictures: probably, the support staff is instructed by managers to ask for them (maybe, to simplify things in case of physical damage etc), and they just doing that every time "just in case".

Previously, I've had the case with failed BlueTooth hands-free headset from DX: it was still able to pair with the phone, but sound was not transmitted in either direction. DX refunded me without any problems, but guess what? They've asked me to provide the picture of that hands-free first! :-)

diy

Sorry about the experience - its one of the risks when buying overseas. DSRs don't apply to faulty goods anyway its SOGA. But neither apply in this case. DSR is right to cancel and seller can make customer pay return costs (if specified), but there are ways of the customer getting out of this. None of this really helps.

IME you are better off saying the charger was missing from the order rather than faulty.

I'd be tempted to get another charger off ebay (torchy's OEM chargers are pretty good) or try suntekstore (also ebay) for something with other uses. DX have a local UK warehouse too.

You might want to point them here and tell them why they are getting all these orders and how it sill immediately stop if we find they are not playing fair. For those who remember we went through a phase of recommending bestofferbuy.com, but they stopped being competitive and now I don't even bother looking.

bigad28

good god, this all gets very technical! some great info but some of it a bit over my head.
I'm after a set up that can last around 3 hours for off road riding, ideally a reasonable price, and I dint have to wait ages to get my hands on, any ideas?

supersonic

This:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cree-XML-T6-M ... 3f1ce2816c

bigad28

cool, thanks very much. you boys know ya stuff

mcnultycop

I've been fannying about not buying lights for a month or so now, so I've just clicked "buy it now" on the one Supersonic just linked to. I'm going to give one a go just so I can get out on the bridleways near me at night, and maybe then get another if I feel I need more light or a headlight. Cheers for the pointer.

supersonic

They are a bit 'spotty', but pump out a lot of light for the money, and decent battery pack.

diy

Looks like a nice package for the money...

"Cree XML-T6 1800 lumen chip" :roll: just need to delete the 1.

VWsurfbum

mcnultycop wrote:

I've been fannying about not buying lights for a month or so now, so I've just clicked "buy it now" on the one Supersonic just linked to. I'm going to give one a go just so I can get out on the bridleways near me at night, and maybe then get another if I feel I need more light or a headlight. Cheers for the pointer.

another one on your noggin and your game on for hitting the trails!