Lights.......Again...............

mabbo
mabbo Posts: 117
edited November 2013 in Road general
I guess everyone gets bored on this topic at this time of the year,but thought I'd post this anyway. Did a post a weeks or so ago about a bad experience with one of the cheap chinese jobbies, £38, lasted last winter only. So thought I'd invest in something better, reliable, warranted, so went and bought a Lezyne Deca light.
The light beam was brilliant, perfect for my commute home on unlit East Sussex roads. Supposed to last about 1 hour 30 minutes on absolute full beam. Problem is with the charging, the light is supposed to re-charge form a USB connected to PC. So I ride home in the dark, 1 hour 30 minutes. Then I put the light on charge on my PC, it's supposed to get to full charge in 10 hours 30 minutes. So, leave overnight, will be fully charged in the morning........
24 hours later and the green light still blinks, telling me the light is not fully charged. So how long will it last the next time I am out in the dark??
So.............I e-mail Lezyne direct in America. The answer came as somewhat of a suprise. Yes, the light will charge from a PC USB. Yes it will take 10 and a half hours to do so. However, sometimes, after a "couple" of hours, it will knock itself off charge. You then have to unplug it, and re-plug it to start it charging again. So, basically every couple of hours during the night I have to leap out of bed to check if it's stopped charging or not. My missus is not impressed.
The light has now been returned to supplier as faulty.
Buying a HOPE Vision 1 instead, may not be as powerful, but runs on normal batteries.
If this fails, I'm buying a turbo trainer !!!!!!
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Comments

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Lezyne and charging problems seems to be a recurring theme..
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    Buy one of these, best light I've used. Sourced from UK supplier, full spares and accessories backup. Bloke who sells them even talks to you on the phone.

    http://www.crgmoto.co.uk/new-gloworm-x2 ... 2182-p.asp

    http://www.glowormlites.co.nz/products?product_id=24315
  • Go for a Hope Vision 2 with the Epic battery pack. The battery's a bit bulky, but I run my Vision 2 front light and my recent new purchase, a District rear light on it, it's as bright as a UFO landing, and the battery lasts for literally hours. So far this winter, I've charged it ONCE, and that was only 'cos I wasn't sure how low the battery level was!!!

    I ride approximately 1 1/2 hours to two hours a day (commuting plus a few extra miles on my way home in the evenings), and the thing just keeps going and going and going!!!

    Very highly recommended!!!!!!!!!
    Scott CR1 Pro (Build in progress!!)
    Giant Defy 3
  • GiantMike
    GiantMike Posts: 3,139
    I have one of these...

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultrafire-WF-50 ... B00BMLI6JS

    ...and 2 batteries. Quite happy with it.

    Cheap, charges quickly. Won't be the end of the world if it dies or gets lost/stolen.
  • mabbo wrote:
    I guess everyone gets bored on this topic at this time of the year,but thought I'd post this anyway. Did a post a weeks or so ago about a bad experience with one of the cheap chinese jobbies, £38, lasted last winter only. So thought I'd invest in something better, reliable, warranted, so went and bought a Lezyne Deca light.
    The light beam was brilliant, perfect for my commute home on unlit East Sussex roads. Supposed to last about 1 hour 30 minutes on absolute full beam. Problem is with the charging, the light is supposed to re-charge form a USB connected to PC. So I ride home in the dark, 1 hour 30 minutes. Then I put the light on charge on my PC, it's supposed to get to full charge in 10 hours 30 minutes. So, leave overnight, will be fully charged in the morning........
    24 hours later and the green light still blinks, telling me the light is not fully charged. So how long will it last the next time I am out in the dark??
    So.............I e-mail Lezyne direct in America. The answer came as somewhat of a suprise. Yes, the light will charge from a PC USB. Yes it will take 10 and a half hours to do so. However, sometimes, after a "couple" of hours, it will knock itself off charge. You then have to unplug it, and re-plug it to start it charging again. So, basically every couple of hours during the night I have to leap out of bed to check if it's stopped charging or not. My missus is not impressed.
    The light has now been returned to supplier as faulty.
    Buying a HOPE Vision 1 instead, may not be as powerful, but runs on normal batteries.
    If this fails, I'm buying a turbo trainer !!!!!!

    It's not a charging problem. It's a user one, sorry! To explain you can't really expect a PC (which gives out a small amount of power) to charge it that quickly.

    Here's what you need. Get the original apple plug, the big one. Or something that has the same power output. Plug the usb in and the plug into the mains. Then the light will flash BLUE indicating high power charging. It will take about 4 hours (well, my mega drive does). Get the extra battery as well (about £15). Keep that spare. You then have enough for 90 minutes in and 90 minutes home on FULL. Or about 2 hours each way on 500 lumens.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Manual here

    http://lezyneftp.com/download/71216-LZ7 ... R0-A_3.pdf

    As you can see 4-6 on high power, 10-12 on low.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,215
    Manual here

    http://lezyneftp.com/download/71216-LZ7 ... R0-A_3.pdf

    As you can see 4-6 on high power, 10-12 on low.

    But he says he left it on overnight and it still didn't charge (mentions it still not being fully charged after 24 hours!).
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    So a light that's perfect for nursing mothers and people with bladder problems but not an awful lot else. So glad I didn't buy one...
  • Pross wrote:
    Manual here

    http://lezyneftp.com/download/71216-LZ7 ... R0-A_3.pdf

    As you can see 4-6 on high power, 10-12 on low.

    But he says he left it on overnight and it still didn't charge (mentions it still not being fully charged after 24 hours!).

    Does the PC stay on?
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    Pross wrote:
    Manual here

    http://lezyneftp.com/download/71216-LZ7 ... R0-A_3.pdf

    As you can see 4-6 on high power, 10-12 on low.

    But he says he left it on overnight and it still didn't charge (mentions it still not being fully charged after 24 hours!).

    Does the PC stay on?

    Probably going into sleep mode - it's the same with most current smart phones with microUSB chargers. It'll take a PC hours to charge up a smartphone - but if you use the standard wall charger (three pin plug with a usb socket) it'll do it in a fraction of the time.
  • id use a plug with a usb power socket on it
    Specialized S Works SL2 . Campagnolo Record 11spd. rolling on Campag Zonda wheels

    http://app.strava.com/athletes/881211
  • Yep, PC charging is very slow (mostly). A plug will be better by far. But even plugs can vary. So, for example, the current iPhone charger will charge my Mega Drive with a green flash. But the original iPad one (10 volt?) will charge with the blue flash. So you need to get the best one that you can.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • PC will stop charging it after a while, which is the PCs fault more than anything - my laptop has one USB port that constantly charges things, the other two don't.

    I'd go back to the Lezyne light, and get a USB plug to charge it with.
  • mabbo wrote:
    I guess everyone gets bored on this topic at this time of the year,but thought I'd post this anyway. Did a post a weeks or so ago about a bad experience with one of the cheap chinese jobbies, £38, lasted last winter only. So thought I'd invest in something better, reliable, warranted, so went and bought a Lezyne Deca light.
    The light beam was brilliant, perfect for my commute home on unlit East Sussex roads. Supposed to last about 1 hour 30 minutes on absolute full beam. Problem is with the charging, the light is supposed to re-charge form a USB connected to PC. So I ride home in the dark, 1 hour 30 minutes. Then I put the light on charge on my PC, it's supposed to get to full charge in 10 hours 30 minutes. So, leave overnight, will be fully charged in the morning........
    24 hours later and the green light still blinks, telling me the light is not fully charged. So how long will it last the next time I am out in the dark??
    So.............I e-mail Lezyne direct in America. The answer came as somewhat of a suprise. Yes, the light will charge from a PC USB. Yes it will take 10 and a half hours to do so. However, sometimes, after a "couple" of hours, it will knock itself off charge. You then have to unplug it, and re-plug it to start it charging again. So, basically every couple of hours during the night I have to leap out of bed to check if it's stopped charging or not. My missus is not impressed.
    The light has now been returned to supplier as faulty.
    Buying a HOPE Vision 1 instead, may not be as powerful, but runs on normal batteries.
    If this fails, I'm buying a turbo trainer !!!!!!

    Sounds like a lot of messing around, just buy a wall charger for it.
  • peteco
    peteco Posts: 184
    I have 2 Lezyne lights. They both charge perfectly from a plug wall charger. I would never use a PC to charge a light - the power drawn is quite high, and that is not what PC USB ports were designed for.

    Pete
  • I beleive the standard for USB ports is max 500mA output. My wall charger is 2A.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    With these USB lights will they work while connected?

    If so what about a USB power supply.

    e.g. http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/product-14 ... rger_.html

    or ebay..

    I use this to power my garmin and my phone on really long rides.
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    They're expensive but I bought a Lupine light and never had a problem in years of heavy use in all weathers. Not once. Bright light, long burn time, utterly reliable.
  • There are some good alternatives being mentioned but, for reference, have a look at Torchy the Battery boys light database. You'd be genuinely surprised what a Lezyne Mega drive knocks out (and the Deca aint far off).
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Hope Vision 2

    Road.JPG

    Lezyne mega drive

    Road.JPG


    Hope R4

    Hope+Vision+R4.JPG


    Lupine Betty 12 (£700!)


    Road.JPG
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Are those pictures all taken with the same camera settings? Can't compare them otherwise.

    £14 worth of lights:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQL6UnNmjk
    scroll to 1min and I adjust them to shine a bit further away.
    These two were on medium setting so around 3.5 hours run time.

    You can get them twice as bright for the same money with a 1.5 - 2 hour runtime
  • My personal favourite is the Exposure Toro. 4 settings and lasts long enough to get there and back on full noise for you and it's bloody blight on full setting.
  • diy wrote:
    Are those pictures all taken with the same camera settings? Can't compare them otherwise.

    £14 worth of lights:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQL6UnNmjk
    scroll to 1min and I adjust them to shine a bit further away.
    These two were on medium setting so around 3.5 hours run time.

    You can get them twice as bright for the same money with a 1.5 - 2 hour runtime
    Yes. They are. Torchy's site is utterly dependable in that respect
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    diy wrote:
    Are those pictures all taken with the same camera settings? Can't compare them otherwise.

    £14 worth of lights:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQL6UnNmjk
    scroll to 1min and I adjust them to shine a bit further away.
    These two were on medium setting so around 3.5 hours run time.

    You can get them twice as bright for the same money with a 1.5 - 2 hour runtime
    Yes. They are. Torchy's site is utterly dependable in that respect

    Just checked out that site, looks useful.

    Will be checking that out as I'm after a decent front light to use on the road bike and the mountain bike :)
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • It's excellent. His own cheap lights show up really well against the expensive stuff. I posted on the Mega Drive as it's about one of the only brand expensive ones he likes.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
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  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    I imagine he will keep his stock current too and replace his choice of XM-L T6 with the later XM-L2 T6 up. about 20% more light for the same current.

    I tend to find this place is up to date.
    http://flashlightwiki.com/Cree

    I don't doubt torchy's credentials, but those photos don't look like they have exif data in and the ISO definitely look different.
  • mabbo
    mabbo Posts: 117
    Just to let everyone know I sent back the Deca light. (I do understand PC's, the sleep option was turned off so the PC would continue to power, the fault was in the circuitry of the light.....basically it would never have charged overnight on a PC. As for buying an extra charger, then that just ups the cost again, I had budgetted up to £100).

    Anyway I now have a HOPE vision 1 LED. Bought from Halfords complete with charger and AA batteries for £83. (Yep, check it out, cheaper than any of the online providers).

    This light is brilliant on unlit country roads, at night, under tree canopies. On full mode it throws out more light than either my Chinese 3600 lumen jobbie,(Now defunct, see earlier), and more suprisingly more beam and a better light to see by than the Lezyne Deca light with 800 lumens. What's more the AA rechargeables give you 3 hours on max runtime. They also charge back up again quickly. If need be you can carry a spare battery pack of 4 AA's with no trouble.All in all wish I'd bought this right from the off.(I like the look of it to).

    No idea how Hope achieve all this with just 200+ lumens, but hats off the the guys in Barlick.
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    could you not just have got a usb plug from ebay for about a quid?
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • DSCF2756.JPG

    You sent back a deca and opted for that?!!!
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
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  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    diy wrote:
    I don't doubt torchy's credentials, but those photos don't look like they have exif data in and the ISO definitely look different.
    Exifs all present and correct:

    Hope Vision 2: 1/4 sec at f2.8, iso 3200 2011:08:27 21:16:31 on a Fuji FinePix S200EXR at 7.1mm
    Lezyne Megadrive: 1/4 sec at f2.8, iso 3200 2012:04:15 01:56:40 on a Fuji FinePix S100FS at 7.1mm
    Hope R4: 1/4 sec at f2.8, iso 3200 2012:05:26 22:57:03 on a Fuji FinePix S100FS at 7.1mm
    Lupine Betty: 1/4 sec at f3, iso 3200 2011:07:30 22:31:48 on a Fuji FinePix S200EXR at 9.4mm
    Hope Vision 1: 1/4 sec at f2.8, iso 3200 2012:01:01 02:16:11 on a Fuji FinePix S100FS at 7.1mm

    So the only odd one is the Betty, which was zoomed in a little more, affecting the aperture a bit. It looks to be aimed down more too.