MTB Winter Lights?
Discussion
Dr Imran T said:
I should add that anyone running a torch utilizing a 18650 battery, the O/E batteries provided by ultrafire and the like are not very good.
They never achieve their true capacity.
I've done plenty of research on this and have a number of high power torches that use 18650 batteries.
Best thing to do is invest in some genuinely decent 18650 batteries.
These are about as good as they get:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-XTAR-3400mAh-PROTECTE...
A bit cheaper:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-Panasonic-ins...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-GENUINE-Panasonic-34...
These cells above make a huge difference in run time
Brilliant thank you. They never achieve their true capacity.
I've done plenty of research on this and have a number of high power torches that use 18650 batteries.
Best thing to do is invest in some genuinely decent 18650 batteries.
These are about as good as they get:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-XTAR-3400mAh-PROTECTE...
A bit cheaper:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-Panasonic-ins...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-GENUINE-Panasonic-34...
These cells above make a huge difference in run time
Do you have any comparison on the difference they make to run times vs ultrafires or similar cheap 18650 cells?
^^ I don't have any technical data but there is plenty of data on the candlepower forums.
The difference is significant and worth the extra outlay of buying some good quality batteries.
Perhaps 40/50 % extra run time (maybe even more).
You may need a new charger mind. As these high power batteries are sometimes longer and slightly wider.
I would also invest in a decent charger too. The plug in the wall ones that come free are a potential fire hazard.
A good quality battery will provide both reassurance that your light source isn't about to die any minute and in some cases make redundant the need to carry a spare.
HTH
The difference is significant and worth the extra outlay of buying some good quality batteries.
Perhaps 40/50 % extra run time (maybe even more).
You may need a new charger mind. As these high power batteries are sometimes longer and slightly wider.
I would also invest in a decent charger too. The plug in the wall ones that come free are a potential fire hazard.
A good quality battery will provide both reassurance that your light source isn't about to die any minute and in some cases make redundant the need to carry a spare.
HTH
I have a CREE eBay job that I bought recently, and have tried out last night.
2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
D4MJT said:
I have a CREE eBay job that I bought recently, and have tried out last night.
2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
I had this happen with my single LED XML T6 which I bought last winter. Apparently the new batch has a low voltage sensor so it drops to low power and the green LED turns to red.2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
I was also cycling pretty fast on a deserted country road on a cloudy night! I cycled 3 miles home one-handed, holding my iphone with the torch app turned on to guide me home!
littleandy0410 said:
D4MJT said:
I have a CREE eBay job that I bought recently, and have tried out last night.
2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
I had this happen with my single LED XML T6 which I bought last winter. Apparently the new batch has a low voltage sensor so it drops to low power and the green LED turns to red.2 worthwhile points, mine has 3 x LED's in it, which I imagine accounts for the tragic battery life. From a full charge I got 31 minutes out of it last night before it died.
The other (and main) point though, is that mine didn't go dim and die out, it simply turned itself off. At this particular point I was doing 19.8mph according to Strava, cycling in the back of beyond means no streetlights, so it got dark very quick
Worthwhile knowing, I expected it to die down and get dim, and it just completely cut out. It was quite exciting.
I was also cycling pretty fast on a deserted country road on a cloudy night! I cycled 3 miles home one-handed, holding my iphone with the torch app turned on to guide me home!
I am running 2 x single led Crees on the front, they come "fully charged" but they only lasted 45 mins and died suddenly, following a proper charge they have been fine. I had one fail on a bumpy fast downhill section of my commute, having two this wasnt an issue and it was my fault not securing the connection to battery properly
I have the low voltage sensor models, but I have never seen them drop other than Green. I usually run them about 2 hours each before charging and they have never just died or even dimmed, I am just being prudent.
littleandy0410 said:
I had this happen with my single LED XML T6 which I bought last winter. Apparently the new batch has a low voltage sensor so it drops to low power and the green LED turns to red.
I was also cycling pretty fast on a deserted country road on a cloudy night! I cycled 3 miles home one-handed, holding my iphone with the torch app turned on to guide me home!
It does indeed have an LED that turns from green to red, and it had, but I was expecting it to dim out rather than flat die lol.I was also cycling pretty fast on a deserted country road on a cloudy night! I cycled 3 miles home one-handed, holding my iphone with the torch app turned on to guide me home!
I also cycled the remainder of my trip one-handed holding my iPhone out as a torch
Turns out my charger has died completely for my cree battery pack. Any recommendations of where to grab a decent one?
Ironically I had a charged spare battery with me. That wasn't charged due to the death of the charger (the "charged" light is now stuck on green, but puts no juice in) so as I wasn't paying much attention, I left it for a couple of hours, saw the light was green, unplugged and put it in then"charged" box.
Unfortunately on the same trip I also failed to bring spare batteries for the spare light. It almost got me home!
Not a fun evening, turns out that even with a spare and a spare light, there are circumstances you can get caught out.
New kit requirement, spares for main and spare light....
I've gone triple redundancy on the rear (both chainstays and the seat post on my road bike) and I'd have been ok on the MTB as well (main cree and two backup torches) but unfortunately I just don't have the bar space on my CX bike for a third.,,,
Ironically I had a charged spare battery with me. That wasn't charged due to the death of the charger (the "charged" light is now stuck on green, but puts no juice in) so as I wasn't paying much attention, I left it for a couple of hours, saw the light was green, unplugged and put it in then"charged" box.
Unfortunately on the same trip I also failed to bring spare batteries for the spare light. It almost got me home!
Not a fun evening, turns out that even with a spare and a spare light, there are circumstances you can get caught out.
New kit requirement, spares for main and spare light....
I've gone triple redundancy on the rear (both chainstays and the seat post on my road bike) and I'd have been ok on the MTB as well (main cree and two backup torches) but unfortunately I just don't have the bar space on my CX bike for a third.,,,
TwistingMyMelon said:
To be fair chaps, this is a prime example of why you should always run 2 x lights front and rear.
Yup, this was probably the only ride when I didn't have my spare - a Smart 35 Lux. Sod's law, and all that!I now run 2 XML T6 lights, and keep one either off or low at all times.
Viperzs said:
It's very interesting people talking about dodgy batteries and chargers. It looks like you DO get what you pay for after all...
My Lupine worked flawlessly last night and I programmed the functions to suit my ride; 2 step beam from one touch of the button.
On the other side of the coin:My Lupine worked flawlessly last night and I programmed the functions to suit my ride; 2 step beam from one touch of the button.
My 2 x£16 crees have been working faultlessly, been using them 10 miles each way 4 days a week down pitch black lanes, if they go I'm f
ked. I run one on the day ride in and two on the night ride ride home, I keep them on the bike 24-7Run two, so tested how long the batteries last and gave up at 5 hours continuous use it was still going strong. I bottled it and charged it!
Running the batteries in a water bottle keeps them dry and all the crap out. I have had no un expected flats batteries or issues, I was hitting about 40mph down a bumpy lane and one light flickered off, it was fine as I still had the other to guide me. Turned out I hadn't pushed the connector in properly. ALl the wiring and lenses are still in good condition
I over tightened the holding screw on one so it is now a bit loose, I wrapped some insulating tape round as a bodge stop gap a month ago and haven't done a propper fix, although tbh I dont think I will as the bodge is fine!
Used the head attachment when I went in a loft the other day and they were brilliant for that
I was a bit sceptical when I purchased them , I didnt want to invest a lot as I wasnt sure how often I would ride through the winter, as it happens I am coumteing as much as the summer.
I can understand why people want the reassurance of paying more for a branded tried and tested lights and I was planning to do the same, but tbh I dont think I will.
A down side is they are too bright, but perfect on empty roads, as they give a tunnel of light. I dont want to p
s off motorists so I dip & dim them when around cars.iiyama said:
The Solar Storm X2 showed up today. UK plug, battery is mounted inside a rubber case and the build quality is good. £30 inc P+P from a UK seller off the Bay. No reason to buy anything else imo peeps. Fill yer boots!
Be aware though that there are Chinese copies of the this Chinese made product! Cant vouch for the lights that don't have Solar Storm silk screened onto the top of the light.
Mine arrived last week and I notice it has 'Solarstorm R' printed on top rather than 'Solarstorm TM' so on this basis I suspect it's a clone. It too has the rubber battery holder and uk charger. It works well though so I'm not complaining, yet.Be aware though that there are Chinese copies of the this Chinese made product! Cant vouch for the lights that don't have Solar Storm silk screened onto the top of the light.
In combination with a helmet-mounted MJ808 clone it's all the lights you'll ever need for pitch black road and track riding, and all for less than £60.
TwistingMyMelon said:
On the other side of the coin:
Mine too. I have two on the front, and ride an 8-mile circuit every evening. I use them dimmed (and tilted downward) on the road, and on full through the woodlands. My route is 50/50 of each.I have never run out of charge. One indicator went red once, indicating it was time to charge. Apart from that time, I've bottled-it each time and charged them before strictly necessary. I get about 8 hours of mixed use (low/bright) between charges.
Just started researching this myself. Looking at Cree U" lights for my girlfriends bike so she can ride at night. Currently using my 10 year old or so Ni Cad night ride lights from when I used to ride trails in the pitch black.
eBay and others seem to sell what appear to be fantastic valve compared to the big brands, or is this only at face valve and nothing more?
What would people consider bright enough for ridging off road and what battery would be expected? I'd want a few hour battery at least.
eBay and others seem to sell what appear to be fantastic valve compared to the big brands, or is this only at face valve and nothing more?
What would people consider bright enough for ridging off road and what battery would be expected? I'd want a few hour battery at least.
Dr Imran T said:
I should add that anyone running a torch utilizing a 18650 battery, the O/E batteries provided by ultrafire and the like are not very good.
They never achieve their true capacity.
I've done plenty of research on this and have a number of high power torches that use 18650 batteries.
Best thing to do is invest in some genuinely decent 18650 batteries.
These are about as good as they get:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-XTAR-3400mAh-PROTECTE...
A bit cheaper:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-Panasonic-ins...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-GENUINE-Panasonic-34...
These cells above make a huge difference in run time
Hi,They never achieve their true capacity.
I've done plenty of research on this and have a number of high power torches that use 18650 batteries.
Best thing to do is invest in some genuinely decent 18650 batteries.
These are about as good as they get:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-XTAR-3400mAh-PROTECTE...
A bit cheaper:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SenyBor-Panasonic-ins...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-GENUINE-Panasonic-34...
These cells above make a huge difference in run time
Can anyone advise me whether the above batteries would be a good replacement for my lezyne light? Its stopped holding charge and the lezyne spares are a) out of stock b ) quite expensive...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lezyne/led-sup...
The existing battery says its a 18650, 3.7v 2400mAh, 2 amp protected. What difference is the higher rated mAh going to make?
Cheers
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