Commuting - New and Improved Cateye LED's

Cateye has now come out with a couple new LED headlights. I have one of the original LED lights, but these new ones look like a step in the right direction.

-Two slight variations of the original
1) http://www.cateye.com/detail_mod02.php?products_id=93
2) http://www.cateye.com/detail_mod02.php?products_id=92

-One vast improvement
http://www.cateye.com/detail_mod02.php?products_id=91

Does anyone have any experiences with these new variations?

I've only seen pictures, but that 5 bulb headlight, at 400 candlepower, looks like it could brighten up any road.

http://www.cateye.com/images/el300.jpg DROOL

Originally posted by Raiyn
http://www.cateye.com/images/el300.jpg DROOL

I'm drooling with you!

Very tempting :)

I've got the older EL100, 3 LED light and have been impressed, but if these new opticubes are brighter still I might splash out.

I also use one of the HD500 3 LED front relectors - not stunningly bright, but worth the extra few grams over a standard reflector as an emergency/second light -pity the waterproofing isn't very good on it...

Richard

That thing looks like it will give you a tan if you stand to close to the beam.:D

How bright is exactly 400 candlepower? How fast can i go in pitch darkness without "out running" the light?

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
How bright is exactly 400 candlepower? How fast can i go in pitch darkness without "out running" the light?
The EL100 LED light is 100 candlepower, so I suppose that means the new light is 4 times as bright. But then again, I guess a lot would depend on how it is focused.

Anyone know where the 5 LED version can be bought online?

-Darren

Nashbar has it in their printed catalog but not online yet. Try calling 1-800-NASHBAR.

Looks a bit like a Norelco shaver, doesn't it?

Anyone know the price? I may start looking for one in the LBS's.

As Raiyn mentioned above, it is available at Nashbar and I believe the price was ~$37 US.

Check out bransfordbike.com they were cheaper than Nashbar on the 110 which I am interested due to battery life and I think they had the 300 listed for about $25 if I recall correctly.

I'm curious to what 400 candle power ='s in equivlant watt output. I commute with a 10 watt - is this even close?

Originally posted by sscyco
I'm curious to what 400 candle power ='s in equivlant watt output. I commute with a 10 watt - is this even close?
The Cateye EL100 LED, which is rated at 100 candlepower, puts out a little less light than the standard 2.5W Halogen Cateyes. I would have to say the the 400 candlepower of the EL300 would be a vast improvement over the EL100, but no where close to a 10 watt light. I have the EL100 and a Vistalite 15W, and there is no comparison between the two. But, maybe the EL300 can bridge that gap.

Originally posted by Steele-Bike

The Cateye EL100 LED, which is rated at 100 candlepower, puts out a little less light than the standard 2.5W Halogen Cateyes. I would have to say the the 400 candlepower of the EL300 would be a vast improvement over the EL100, but no where close to a 10 watt light. I have the EL100 and a Vistalite 15W, and there is no comparison between the two. But, maybe the EL300 can bridge that gap.

It will be interesting to see -

Going on past experience, L.E.D. lights don't seem to give as good a beam as halogen, so aren't so good for seeing with but are very visible in terms of being seen by other road users. If this gives a beam as good as a reasonable 5W halogen, then I'll be happy enough using it as a sole light.

The runtime and weight savings over equivalant priced lead acid lights should make it a bargain.

Richard

How foolish of me...

here's the information you guys were looking for regarding how bright it was (the EL-300) Further Information on EL-300 (http://www.cateye.co.jp/cateye/hlhtml/el300.html)

:D

sayonara,
tt

Sort of a review:


http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/catalogue/detail.cfm?ID=14710

Good mail order company as well...

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
How fast can i go in pitch darkness without "out running" the light?

186,282 miles per second I think, but being in the dark will be the least of your worries. Everyone around you will start to age and you'll appear not to. :D

Not to mention that your mass will approach infinity. I've heard of "Clydesdale" riders, but I think it might be a little difficult to pedal that hard.:p

I have a very nice Vistalite setup with 5, 10 and 15W heads that I use singly or in combination, mostly the 10 by itself. Frankly, to me the 5W light is not as bright as my little Cateye micro halogen at 2.5 or 2.8, whatever it is. As nice as the big lights are, having to recharge every night is something of a pain. I have a little 3-LED headlight, as in, you wear it on your head, that I slip onto my helmet. It has been adequate for my city commuting and doesn't have to be moved from bike to bike. And it gets 80-100 hours from 3 AAAs. I plan to get one of the Cateye 5-LED lights to get more light on the road and have the same long battery life with my NiMH rechargables.

Well I buckled and went into the lbs at lunch-time. I'll give a full report once I've had a chance to give it a reasonable test but first impressions are impressive. I don't think it's five times as bright as the old el-100 but probably is a good three times, certainly the larger surface area should make it good as a 'be seen' light. Beam wise, I'll need to test it in the dark to get a true idea but it was lighting up reflectors well, on bikes 30-40 ft away in a semi-light room. Oh and it weighs very little more than the El-100.

Richard

How much in the Queen's currency Richard?

Originally posted by chewa
How much in the Queen's currency Richard?

List price £32.99, but the frequency of my spontaneous purchases meant I got it for £29. :)

Richard

I've just bought one this morning. Switched it on in the garage and it lit it up nicely:) Though the light wasn't as 'crisp' as a bulb but that is to be expected.

I do though like the lever on the mounting means I can swap from bike to bike without having to find a screwdriver:)

It'll be a couple of weeks yet before it's seriousy dark in the morning but I'll let you know how it goes.

One interesting point. Both the Opticube and my HL500 (Halogen light) use the same type of mounting but are rotated round 180 degrees from each other, why not the same way:confused:

I just picked up the three LED light, on sale. Then in the recent Nashbar there it s five LED light. I really like this light, helps me be seen out there when I'm commuting at night. The LBS sold me an additional mount for my other bike so I can swap them in and out, do the same with my computers too.