Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Cateye EL410 or Planet Bike Beamer 3/5

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.




Elusor
06-06-07, 12:48 PM
is anyone use EL410 (Cateye company) for Beamer 3, for Beamer 5 (Planet Bike Company)?

for best? for brights? to choose?

si there for compare online?


bigfo
06-07-07, 06:14 AM
Planet Bike has a light finder on their website that is pretty helpful to see how the beams look in the dark. It only compares Planet Bike lights but it can give you an idea of the Beamer 3 & 5. If you lookaround on the forums I'm sure somebody has a comparison

Elusor
06-07-07, 11:14 AM
Planet Bike has a light finder on their website that is pretty helpful to see how the beams look in the dark. It only compares Planet Bike lights but it can give you an idea of the Beamer 3 & 5. If you lookaround on the forums I'm sure somebody has a comparison


of interest for, the planetbike 3 has the 3 x LED and cateye has the 3X LED
in my location is planet $20, is catey $50

cateye for brighter?
is curious not has
the people are not hs the both?


Michel Gagnon
06-07-07, 10:09 PM
I have looked and tried an EL-410. My trial was in the shop, wiith my own Beamer 5 in hand for comparison.

How do they compare?

With fresh batteries, I think the total light output is roughly the same.

EL-410
The EL-410 throws all the light in a tight circle, so it's best to light things far away. But in a totally dark environment, I would prefer a bit of stray light on the ground too.
It has a translucent ring all around, which gives side visibility. I would put electrical tape on the top to avoid partial blinding from that.
It is said to be submersible (dixit Cateye), which means it won't stop working if you ride in hard rain.
The "clamp" is very ingenious as it works on almost anything. But I didn't feel it was as secure as the clamps used on Planet Bike lights.
It uses 3 AAA batteries, so it's not rechargeable-friendly.


Beamer 5 (sorry, I did not experiment with the 3)
Like most Planet Bike headlights, it uses 2 AA batteries. So if you get rechargeables, you can charge them in pairs.
It resists to midst or to a short rain, but not to 2-hour downpours. So my Planet Bike headlights now live in a plastic bag.
Illumination: there is a centre spot and four accessory ones. Overall, it means less light in the centre than what you would get with the EL-410, but also some light close to your bike wheel to help you see potholes.

Conclusion
Though both would offer you visibility, I think the Beamer wins by a tiny margin because it's more visible than the EL-410 off-axis.
Amongts these two, I might prefer the Beamer 5 for city riding, and none of them by themselves as your sole lighting source.
But to further my recommendation, I would suggest the Planet Bike Blaze: still 2 AA batteries, rugged construction, but with a better beam, especially on the road.

Elusor
06-08-07, 01:34 AM
I have looked and tried an EL-410. My trial was in the shop, wiith my own Beamer 5 in hand for comparison.

How do they compare?

With fresh batteries, I think the total light output is roughly the same.

EL-410
The EL-410 throws all the light in a tight circle, so it's best to light things far away. But in a totally dark environment, I would prefer a bit of stray light on the ground too.
It has a translucent ring all around, which gives side visibility. I would put electrical tape on the top to avoid partial blinding from that.
It is said to be submersible (dixit Cateye), which means it won't stop working if you ride in hard rain.
The "clamp" is very ingenious as it works on almost anything. But I didn't feel it was as secure as the clamps used on Planet Bike lights.
It uses 3 AAA batteries, so it's not rechargeable-friendly.


Beamer 5 (sorry, I did not experiment with the 3)
Like most Planet Bike headlights, it uses 2 AA batteries. So if you get rechargeables, you can charge them in pairs.
It resists to midst or to a short rain, but not to 2-hour downpours. So my Planet Bike headlights now live in a plastic bag.
Illumination: there is a centre spot and four accessory ones. Overall, it means less light in the centre than what you would get with the EL-410, but also some light close to your bike wheel to help you see potholes.

Conclusion
Though both would offer you visibility, I think the Beamer wins by a tiny margin because it's more visible than the EL-410 off-axis.
Amongts these two, I might prefer the Beamer 5 for city riding, and none of them by themselves as your sole lighting source.
But to further my recommendation, I would suggest the Planet Bike Blaze: still 2 AA batteries, rugged construction, but with a better beam, especially on the road.

thanks many


i go buy BLT Ultra Doppler DX

http://www.blt-lights.com/ultraDopplerDx.htm
http://www.bayviewcycle.com/Acc_Images_A_L/Lights/BLT/ultraDopplerDx1.jpg

DucVDuc
06-08-07, 03:43 AM
A fenix torch would be way brighter.

Elusor
06-08-07, 03:48 PM
A fenix torch would be way brighter.
yes

i has l2d ce cree fenix 2aa

this serve light
not to use strobe for fenix for much distract

addition for more light

to add second to fenix, for blinky, look for secondary slower blinky

for fenix is solid on, blinky like slower, or blt light ultra doppler (5 LED), or flare dx (7 LED)?

or for Princeton Tec EOS? 1-Watt LED for blinky

1-Watt= 1xLED =narrow
5XLED= wider
7xLED=widest (best for see by motorist?)

3 X Lights:
========
-is to has the fenix l2d ce on handlebar (left) solid on,
-has for the BLT Flare DX for right handlebar (7X LED) 7X flasing ,
-for Princeton Tec EOS for helmut flahsing?

DucVDuc
06-08-07, 08:47 PM
Why not just 2 x fenix; one on bars solid, one on helmet flashing. More effective and cheaper IMHO.

pedalMonger
06-08-07, 09:50 PM
yes

i has l2d ce cree fenix 2aa



How do you like the Fenix? How have you been using it? Did you get a twofish yet, or find another way to use it on your bike?

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:35 PM
How do you like the Fenix? How have you been using it? Did you get a twofish yet, or find another way to use it on your bike?
twofish=13$+shipp?

planetbike blinky 7XLED= 9$

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3110.html

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3107.html

http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3008_1.html

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:39 PM
for use and ad welcroe strip:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442620473&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1181364438049

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:40 PM
How do you like the Fenix?
fenix powerful bright

muc muc light for 5X LED

:love: :love: :love:

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:44 PM
Why not just 2 x fenix; one on bars solid, one on helmet flashing. More effective and cheaper IMHO.
135 lumens flahsy? too distracts? :eek: for motor/cager?

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:51 PM
5.00$
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3107.html

2.00$
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3110.html

=7.00$
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.75$ (has clip, has mount, has welcroe)
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775657&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1181365088027

Elusor
06-08-07, 11:53 PM
Fenix is fast flash, much much fast
compare bike light LED danger!?

Elusor
06-09-07, 12:03 AM
http://i17.tinypic.com/6ew111l.jpg

Elusor
06-09-07, 12:08 AM
http://i18.tinypic.com/4qrhtzb.jpg

Donkey Hodie
06-09-07, 04:25 AM
wanna make me one of those?

Elusor
06-09-07, 10:50 AM
wanna make me one of those? hand is still bandaged blood from catters

/finger X 2

Elusor
06-09-07, 10:53 AM
wanna make me one of those?

to ad wellcro

surround fenix light

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442620473&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1181364438049

Grun
06-09-07, 04:36 PM
What exactly do you mean by Fenix? Do you mean Phoenix?
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/flyingphoenix1974/phoenix.jpg

Grun
06-09-07, 04:36 PM
Is this Cateye company any good?

pedalMonger
06-10-07, 03:18 AM
What exactly do you mean by Fenix? Do you mean Phoenix?



Fenix is a flashlight brand that's often used as a bicycle light. Discussed on this thread (and others): http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=305838

pedalMonger
06-10-07, 03:20 AM
Elusor, nice job adapting parts from other lights for your Fenix. Good recycling too!

Grun
06-22-07, 09:24 PM
i grabbed one, they are really quite nice
the fenixs