Commuting - Recommendations for LED headlights

I've had several Cateye EL-200's and a Nashbar Brilliant headlight (similar to EL-400) that have stopped working after a few months on the bike. I'm not sure if it is a water or a vibration problem but at some point the light starts shutting off with every bump. Then eventually it fails to turn on. I've had 4 headlights do this and one tail light.
Anyone have recommendations for a bright durable LED light with a flashing mode. I have a brighter primary head light I just want a second one to be a backup and as a flasher.
Craig

Check the battery contacts on the headlight, especially the EL-200.
The EL-400 is a bit more robust, I can't see how that'll fail that quickly..

Check the battery contacts on the headlight, especially the EL-200.
The EL-400 is a bit more robust, I can't see how that'll fail that quickly..
I did check the contacts and they appeared to be fine. The batteries fit snuggly and all the connections appear to be unbroken, although I know its possible a small unseen crack could open circuit the entire thing. I think it is more of a switch problem because before it completely quits working, it will sometimes take several attempts to turn the light on.
The EL-400 was a light I was considering. How is it for water resistance?
Thanks
Craig

I've had several Cateye EL-200's and a Nashbar Brilliant headlight (similar to EL-400) that have stopped working after a few months on the bike. I'm not sure if it is a water or a vibration problem but at some point the light starts shutting off with every bump. Then eventually it fails to turn on. I've had 4 headlights do this and one tail light.
Anyone have recommendations for a bright durable LED light with a flashing mode. I have a brighter primary head light I just want a second one to be a backup and as a flasher.
Craig

This happens to all the Nashbar brilliant lights eventually and many others.

It's just a little invisible oxidation or dirt on the contacts. Spray a little WD-40 on a very clean rag or a clean paper towel. Then carefully wipe the contact points on the batteries, and the contact points in the lights. In the Brilliant wipe the ends of the springs in the back of the light too. Don't wipe all the WD-40 off the contacts.

Problem over for a long time. Longer than when the light was new. It takes longer to get a problem with the WD-40 on the contacts.

Don't even put a finger print on the contacts on lights like that, just the oil from your fingers will eventually cause a problem. If you ride in the rain, open your light and bring it inside to air out overnight.

I did check the contacts and they appeared to be fine. The batteries fit snuggly and all the connections appear to be unbroken, although I know its possible a small unseen crack could open circuit the entire thing. I think it is more of a switch problem because before it completely quits working, it will sometimes take several attempts to turn the light on.
The EL-400 was a light I was considering. How is it for water resistance?
Thanks
Craig

see my last post, it's not the switch.

see my last post, it's not the switch.
Thanks, I'll give that a try.
Craig

Thanks, I'll give that a try.
Craig

I'd be interested to hear how you make out after you have done it and gone for a couple of rides.

The EL-400 is waterproof to 50 ft.

from http://www.cateye.com/en/products/viewProduct.php?modelId=18&catId=7&subCatId=2

"The innovative magnetic switch allows us to achieve a waterproof seal to 50 meters/ 165 feet. "

I love this light - as of right now, it's my primary, but I'll soon be getting a L&M Vega as the primary and use this solely as a flasher and secondary.

I live in the Houston Bay Area, so weatherproofing is critical, because it could rain at any moment.

On my EL-200 the plastic rails that attach to the mount broke. One rail broke at both ends and the other at one. I presume that the vibration on a road bike was too great, one rail end broke and it started flopping and broke the other two. I ordinarily like plastic (done well) but found this disappointing.

motto: __start slow, then ease off__

"The innovative magnetic switch allows us to achieve a waterproof seal to 50 meters/ 165 feet. "

Cateye's magnetic switches were good for a laugh a few weeks ago.

I have one of their 3-LED white lights as a headlight backup, I keep it in my bag. One day I opened the bag up, and the light was on. I turned it off. A few hours later I opened it up, and it was on again. Weird, I had just set it down next to my desk. It turned on 2 more times that day. The last time I set it down and it turned on while I was looking.

I figured out that its tail where the switch is was bumping against a cheap set of over-the-ear headphones I keep in there; the magnet from the headphones was switching it on.

How old is the light? E-Mail Cateye and ask them what to do. Cateye has an excellent customer service dept that stands behind their warranty 200%!!