The big LIGHTS thread 2011-2014

Ouija

bamba wrote:

Ive mentioned this last year , but never quiet got round to it, building my own battery pack to run 2 502b xml2's with removable 18650,s.The power packs available, 4 cells type can only output 2 amps,so would have to use 2,the 4 cell water proof case above out puts 8.4 volts, so bit too high there, what the best options out there please.

For 4.2v packs you can always use something like this...



And then slide them in an appropriately sized can or wrap them in tape (can even stretch a couple of balloons over them to keep them waterproof).

Alternatively, buy a DIY kit like this and make up your own packs with how many cells you want.



(you can get 18650 versions of the same thing).

kiwimatt

Not sure if this has been flagged previously but ordered this from DX as an extra for the winter 24 bucks bit of a shot to nothing
http://www.dx.com/p/sl-8208b-2-cree-xm- ... AJF6mM2Q8Q

Shipped 3/8 then got this 25/8
"We’re writing to inform you that the package XX from your order XX has failed to pass the airline security check as it contains lithium batteries/knives or products that contain liquid which are now under extra scrutiny in world air cargo services. We therefore have switched it to another delivery channel to ensure the order is sent to you as soon as possible."

Not at all clear but looks like it's now coming Singapore Post surface mail? Could be here by Xmas... :roll: Ordering batteries locally might be best chaps!

mcnultycop

I got that same message from dx. Light never arrived, so I've ordered from elsewhere and put a paypal claim in.

Other stuff from china has arrived super quickly though recently, eBay TMARS arrived in three days.

diy

You might just as well use a variable voltage/ampage power pack which has all the protection and can be used to charge the cells too. But for a 4.2v light I've had no problem with input at 5v 2A . Its the driver that controls the amps anyway.

bamba

I was thinking that a power pack that can only output 2 amps will not be enough to run 2 xml2 torches, that each req about 2 amps, im im thinking that a 2 amp pack will only supply each torch 1 amp , yes / no ?

Ouija

bamba wrote:

I was thinking that a power pack that can only output 2 amps will not be enough to run 2 xml2 torches, that each req about 2 amps, im im thinking that a 2 amp pack will only supply each torch 1 amp , yes / no ?

Correct, but i'm not sure why you think 4.2v packs only put out 2 amps? I have a four cell 4.2v chinese pack that feeds into a homemade light with two XM-L2's driven by a 5 amp driver (2.5 amps each emitter) which works just fine.

bamba

All of the 18650 power packs i have seen state a 5v 2amp output, usually switchable down to 0.5a /1a/ or 2 a

Ouija

bamba wrote:

All of the 18650 power packs i have seen state a 5v 2amp output, usually switchable down to 0.5a /1a/ or 2 a

Ahh! I see. Your not talking about plain battery packs but USB style power banks used for mobile phones and such. Those do tend to be limited to only 2 amps output and 5v. Plain battery packs made up of 2 or more 18650 cells tend to be either 8.4v (if wired 2 in series and 2 in parallel) or 4.2v (if wired only in parallel) and don't have the 2 amp limit of most power banks.

bamba

right, you get me now, i see plenty of 18650 holders, where i can make my own, but then i have to come up with some kind of case to put it in, and the power banks have a good case but limited current output.
best option i can see a the moment is buy a cheap power bank and gut it.
anyone kmow what happend to this guy below, looks like he had a good set up but since packed up,,

http://www.luminousdiy.com/Light%20Kits ... 0Parts.htm

and another one that didnt last,

http://www.turboferret.co.uk/products.php

diy

we have to remember that the input voltage goes through a driver before finally powering the LED. The XM-L2 runs between 2.8v (700mA) and 3.3v (3A) so a 5v 2A unit should be for two lights at about 1.8A. Not too shabby.

Of course the two drivers will probably boost the current when consuming 5v instead of 4.2. If I had enough hands I'd test it. to see. But either way it would be easy to rig up a bypass to get the raw 4.2v cells. As long as they were not connected during charge you'd still get most of the benefit of the charge control.

but the simple option is two packs.

kiwimatt

kiwimatt wrote:

Not sure if this has been flagged previously but ordered this from DX as an extra for the winter 24 bucks bit of a shot to nothing
http://www.dx.com/p/sl-8208b-2-cree-xm- ... AJF6mM2Q8Q

Shipped 3/8 then got this 25/8
"We’re writing to inform you that the package XX from your order XX has failed to pass the airline security check as it contains lithium batteries/knives or products that contain liquid which are now under extra scrutiny in world air cargo services. We therefore have switched it to another delivery channel to ensure the order is sent to you as soon as possible."

Not at all clear but looks like it's now coming Singapore Post surface mail? Could be here by Xmas... :roll: Ordering batteries locally might be best chaps!

Ah well I take it all back...arrived today. Well done Singapore Post and DX. Damn this thing is tiny!
At first switch on it doesn't seem to be quite as bright as my T6 single head magicshine-a-like. Maybe it's just a bit more floody with the twin head. Need to test later when it's dark. And pleased to see they've upgraded the battery connectors so none of my existing homebrew packs will fit...! :x £15 though you really can't argue

diy

have you managed to connect it to a DC amp meter to get a rough idea of the output?

The loss of light over your T6 may all be down to the driver.

supersonic

They are more floody - overall output is higher, central portion not as bright.

diy

Sounds like a good mix. I think the days of needing high intensity spots went when we were running set-ups with 4-500 Lumen

What I used to be content with on my MTB I now run on my Road bike. :oops:

CitizenLee

Anyone know where I can get something similar to this? Needs to fit MJ880 battery...

http://bikelightreviewforum.forumotion. ... ery-cradle

Would prefer something solid rather than just velcro and rubble straps.

BloggingFit

kiwimatt wrote:

Ah well I take it all back...arrived today. Well done Singapore Post and DX. Damn this thing is tiny!
At first switch on it doesn't seem to be quite as bright as my T6 single head magicshine-a-like. Maybe it's just a bit more floody with the twin head. Need to test later when it's dark. And pleased to see they've upgraded the battery connectors so none of my existing homebrew packs will fit...! :x £15 though you really can't argue

I got a set of these last year off eBay and they're actually pretty good. The brightness is on a par with my Exposure Reflex but doesn't quite have the trail penetration which would be down to the lense quality. For the £20 or £30 they cost I really can't complain.

Ouija

davidmt83 wrote:

Considering this given all the reviews I've read about it.

Ultra Bright U2 XML 2 CREE LED Bicycle Bike Light headlamp Set 5000 Lumen UK:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200959831751? ... 1439.l2649

Review:

viewtopic.php?t=12967618&p=18849418

The Trustfire TR D0002 is slightly better (better battery, bar holder, remote switch etc)

And i think these are a slightly better variation on those twin head SolarStorms as one side is a spot and the other side a flood....

Though i think my next light will be one of these...

which ticks a lot of boxes. Trustfire battery pack (still the best pack out of almost 16 battery packs, including high end Magicshine and other boutique ones), remote switch, adjustable beams (so you could place three pools of light one after the other, instead of all in the same place). The only down side is the usual crap bar holder which i'd probably replace with a Hope one.

johnmcl7

Has anyone used these holders:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A ... M8LA7RLWOM

I need to order a couple of new mounts for a new bike, I'm using these ones at the moment:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycle-Light-Han ... unt+holder

They're pretty good although they need to be on a fairly narrow part of the handlebar, the other ones look like they may fit better on the handlebars and being able to adjust the rotation would be handy.

bamba

hmmm,

http://www.dx.com/p/solarstorm-xt40-4-x ... A2-u_ldWHh

Ouija

bamba wrote:

hmmm,

http://www.dx.com/p/solarstorm-xt40-4-x ... A2-u_ldWHh

Meh....

Paul 8v

I've had a look on here but I can only find old information where the links are dead.

I'm desperately trying to find a way of mounting my magicshine mj816 so it doesn't move around on the bars. I ordered the official magicshine clamp mount but it doesn't work with 31.8mm bars as they're too large.

It's a great value light but it's next to useless off road. If anyone has any ideas of how to get these to stay put I'd be very gratefull!

Ouija

Paul 8v wrote:

I've had a look on here but I can only find old information where the links are dead.

I'm desperately trying to find a way of mounting my magicshine mj816 so it doesn't move around on the bars. I ordered the official magicshine clamp mount but it doesn't work with 31.8mm bars as they're too large.

It's a great value light but it's next to useless off road. If anyone has any ideas of how to get these to stay put I'd be very gratefull!

Most people just use the Hope Universal Handlebar mount. Though depending on the light, you may have to use a longer bolt than the supplied one.

Paul 8v

Ah, now THAT looks more like it. In case anyone is thinking of buying the Magicshine one, don't. unless you have old style bars and even then the hope one would be better by the looks of it!

Craig24

Whats peopled opinions on all in one torches? Without separate battery packs?

Considering getting these -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Ultrafire-E ... 3f20c1272b

bartimaeus

I use torches... the newer XM-L2 501bs are ridiculously cheap at under £6 (from Lightmalls) and are usefully bright on MED for about 2.5 to 3 hours. The older XML-T6 are still good, but the drivers in mine run them longer in MED but with much less light. You are buying into a 'system' with torches... once you have a charger, cells and mounts then an 'upgrade' to the newest and best LED is usually about £10 a light.

I use a 501b XM-L2 on my lid and a C8 XML-U3 on my bars (would get XM-L2 now), sometimes with a second 501b on the bars as a backup. It works really well - good for 3 hours of riding, and carrying a couple of spare cells is no problem if you think you might be out longer.

The only thing that puts me off about that eBay set up is the 'zoomable' lenses... beamshots I have seen show the beam becoming very square as they zoom, and it's one more thing to go wrong . But wait to hear from owners of zoom lights as I may be wrong.

Craig24

Thanks Bartimaeus! Any suggestions on bar clamps for the torches? And best batteries to go for? Very tempting to go down the torch route. Seems to me less hassle than a separate battery pack.

johnmcl7

I like torch approach as well as it makes the lights easy to move between different positions on the bike or between different bikes entirely. I'm not recommending any of the sellers below, they're just the first ones I found which have the mount type I was wanting to show. For bar mounts I use this type:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bike-Cycl ... 462743cfff

I've not had any issues with them holding the torches in place although the supplied screw won't work if you've wider handlebars. I've seen this newer design but not had any feedback on it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360-Rotation- ... 51c30f3c84

Will probably order one and see how it is, for my helmet I use one like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Velcro-Helmet ... 3374fc963e

For 18650 batteries I use Torchy batteries from a seller on ebay.

John

tincaman

Paul 8v wrote:

I've had a look on here but I can only find old information where the links are dead.

I'm desperately trying to find a way of mounting my magicshine mj816 so it doesn't move around on the bars. I ordered the official magicshine clamp mount but it doesn't work with 31.8mm bars as they're too large.

It's a great value light but it's next to useless off road. If anyone has any ideas of how to get these to stay put I'd be very gratefull!

Try a piece of inner tube on the bar, mount the light on top of that

Craig24

Not sure if to go for XM-L2 or XML-T6, I take it XM-L2 should be brighter? But will compromise on run-time? I ideally would like 2 hours run time.

inkz

I've just ordered a http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171417596413 which Ouija posted above. It looks like just what I need.

I've been running two torches for the last couple of years, but they are annoying me on the bars of my road bike. I hate having to click both buttons when wanting to change brightness, and they get in the way of my cycle computer. I don't have much scope to move them around as my cables are internally routed which means they run flat along the bar before they disappear. They also aren't floody enough so I find myself holding back quite a lot.

This is mainly for use in the forest over the winter. The torches are more than good enough for around the town, in fact I only need the one. They have performed admirably.

I'll report back how I get on.