I just placed my order from DX for mine, 700-900 lumens for $45 + bats and charger. Was wondering if anyone is using them already.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060
55-60 minute runtime on high with a 18650 battery

Here's some shots I found on CPF

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2528098396_04dfc7f7e1.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z1/output_2007/flashlight/P7andC3.jpg
http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z1/output_2007/flashlight/P7andC3_100feet.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/aric43/CIMG2209.jpg?t=1210421322
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/aric43/CIMG2208.jpg?t=1210421388
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/aric43/CIMG2216.jpg?t=1210421555
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/aric43/CIMG2218.jpg?t=1210421773

I'm waiting for optics. The only thing available now is a flashlight reflector, and thats getting poor reviews because its a standard reflector they machine a little to fit the P7. As soon as a 10X20 or 15X30 becomes available I'll be all over it.

I got my light in yesturday. Went for a short 15 minute spin around the naborhood bout 10pm last night. I'm VERY VERY impressed on how much light this thing produces. It has alot of flood and good throw to it as well. This will be perfect for MTB rides, the beam pattern is simular to my friends HID trail rat. Unlike the Felix L2D, where the hotspot is about 4ft wide thrown at 20-25ft and the spill is about 8-10ft wide. The MTE P7 light doens't really have a hot spot, but the lighted area is larger then the splill of a L2D but BRIGHT. I can light entire house from 80-100ft away AWESOME. The slow strobe is nice, I can use that at dusk before it gets dark. I'll try to get out tonight again but with a camera in hand. This thing is AWESOME. I'll also need to test the run times of the bats on both High, Med and strobe as those will be the settings I'll be using the most. The low setting is like a old AAA mag light. Th fast strobe is just too fast, SOS is just that. The Police tactical strobe is a series of fast strobs with a pause. I might find a time to use this over running striaght low strobe mode.

what are the burn times on other modes.. It claims 60 minutes on high.. I am more interested in something that gives me 2-3 hours of burn time with at least 300-400 lumens.

With that light on strobe mode cars could not say that they did not see you.

Even in bright sunlight that would be very attention getting.

I have a 200 lumen Cree Q5 flashlight on my helmet, I can't imagine the brightness of the 900 lumen one.

No joke...I have a little Dorcy tactical light that's 120 lumens and it is reeaaaaaaaaaaally bright. I can't imagine the 900 lumen one either...is that right? Wonder if there's a difference in the way it's measured or something cuz, if my light was 9X brighter than it is, it would kill someone...

From what I've read on CPF the true output of that light is in the 350-400 lumen range. That being said, it's a damn bright light for the money. Now only if runtime was longer.....

BTW, one of the Chinese makers is deigning a P7 long runtime bike specific light. Info here: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=176719

what are the burn times on other modes.. It claims 60 minutes on high.. I am more interested in something that gives me 2-3 hours of burn time with at least 300-400 lumens.

I didn't get to ride last night, got stuck playing the new Battlefield Bad Company with my brother who is on leave from Iraq.

I'm gonna head out for a ride tonight about 7. Plan to run a new battery off on Med mode. My batteries have been charged to 4.0volts. Takes forever with that cheap $10 charger I got. Appartently it will overcharge the batteries up to 4.24volts, but not sure how long it take to get that extra 1/4volt out of that sucker.

When I got the light, I took it apart. The LED was wired with some thin 22-24 gauge wire to the PCB board. I changed the wire out for some 18 gauge. When removing the driver board, I noticed it was a newer version then I saw on previous post of CPF. They took out the parallel resistors pack for a diode looking chip. I noticed the difference after I rewired the LED. I havn't been able to get a amp reading off the light, can't figure out how that works yet. They say the P7 need 2.8amps to run full 900lumens, but this is a C bin so 700-800lumen LED. I'm assuming they changed the design of the driver board to stay closer to specs, But I can't comfirm that yet. Even if it draws 2.0amp @ 3.6v battery, that's 7.2watt LED headlight. Same 2amps on overcharged 4.2 battery is 8.4watts of power. Now if it was closer to spec, lets say 2.7amps @ 3.6v battery = 9.7watts. same amps of 2.7 @ overcharged 4.2v battery is 11.3watts of power.

When I ordered the light, I was looking for a dual L2D setup, so 380 combine lumen off those two lights in turbo mode. That setup would have been about $160 shipped. I'd be happy to have that combined power coming off a single unit and I believe this lil light produces MORE light then 2 L2D would and at only $70 total for the light, bats, chargers and mounts. I'm not a light expert so i can't comment on the technical stuff. But I'm more into riding and speed & I want to find the limits of this light both on and off the road:thumb:

I went out for a 40 mile ride earlier but started about 6:30, didn't get home til almost 9:30pm:eek: But damn it was fun testing out the new light. I can cruise at 18-20MPH with the slow strobe which gives high power burst. The faster strobe is nice with Med mode lighting but I fear it might cause bad things for on coming cars. The Med mode is great for climbing at slow speeds or more city lighting where you don't need 100% of the light. High mode was simply awesome. I tried to out run this light and couldn't on the flats. I got it close to 30mph on the flats and still had more room for speed. I went downhill I normally do at 32-35mph and did it at normal speed with this light:clap:

now for the pictures
Medium mode
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/jsigone/flashlight/universalstudiosSCRIPPSbuilding105.jpg
High mode:thumb:
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/jsigone/flashlight/universalstudiosSCRIPPSbuilding106.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/jsigone/flashlight/universalstudiosSCRIPPSbuilding102.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/jsigone/flashlight/universalstudiosSCRIPPSbuilding103.jpg
bush about 15ft away.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/jsigone/flashlight/universalstudiosSCRIPPSbuilding112.jpg

^^^

What's the runtime on med and high?

Run time test results so far
Max charged battery is 4.24v so they say
I charged it to 4.10v cuz I got tired of waiting and wanted some type results before I head home.
High Mode: 1h10min before it dimmed, ran another 20 minutes before it dimmed again. End of test. With a fully charged 4.2 bat it should go longer. Battery at the end of the test was 3.42v

My second battery isn't charged yet, its reading 3.8v, so still a ways to go. I'll have to do another test later tonight. This charger blows. I might need to get another pair of batteries($10) rather then invest in a better charger($60-100). Seems like it's going to take a full 24hrs to charge 2 batteries. It charges one at a time.

so I got the final results of MED mode of this light.

Battery started at 4.22v
2 hours @ 3.87v
3 hours @ 3.82v
3.5hours @3.79v
4 hours @3.76v
4.5 hours @3.75v
5 hours @ 3.74v
5.5 hours @ 3.72v
6 hours @ 3.70v
6.5 hours @ 3.67v
7 hours @ 3.35v and was a little bit dimmer. And could go longer..

I'm waiting for the batteries to charge up and try the strobe soon using this same test method.

What bike mount are you using with this light? It looks too beefy for the Fenix bike mount.

so I got the final results of MED mode of this light.

Battery started at 4.22v
2 hours @ 3.87v
3 hours @ 3.82v
3.5hours @3.79v
4 hours @3.76v
4.5 hours @3.75v
5 hours @ 3.74v
5.5 hours @ 3.72v
6 hours @ 3.70v
6.5 hours @ 3.67v
7 hours @ 3.35v and was a little bit dimmer. And could go longer..

I'm waiting for the batteries to charge up and try the strobe soon using this same test method.
At what voltage does the light start to dim? Also, what is the real life lumens count on medium? Any idea?

Dimmed at the 7 hr mark but even then it could have still ran for a bit longer. It's hard to tell how much the light degrades through the voltage drop without a light meter. Not gonna spend 50+ bucks for a meter to test a light that was only $45. So next best thing for me is to check the voltage of the battery at set intervals.

I based my math off of the new Fenix TK11 using a Q5 LED at 225lumens max for 90 minutes or 12 hours @ 60 lumens. Using that info I estimate 338 lumens coming off this light. I got that number from the runtime at 60 lumens over the 12 hours, plugged in my 7 hours to figure out X is (what a single LED produced) x the cluster of 4.

X= 84.6lumens per LED x 4= 338.4 combine lumens - efficancy of the reflector which is unknown.

So Med mode is around 1/3 of total possible power output.

While certainly bright, the consensus of the folks at CPF is that the light is nowhere near 900 lumens. More like 600 on high.

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=195228

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=196364

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=195805


EDIT: A search through CPF also shows a runtime on medium at about 2 hours. It doesn't make sense that high would have a one hour runtime and medium (50%, no?) would have a seven hour runtime.

I think it's rated at 900 at the LED - whatever is lost in the reflector. So if they are getting arounf 500-600 then it's not a very good reflector design.

Honestly I was very surprised it lasted that long on Med, since I read the same thing on there.

I think it's rated at 900 at the LED - whatever is lost in the reflector. So if they are getting arounf 500-600 then it's not a very good reflector design.

Honestly I was very surprised it lasted that long on Med, since I read the same thing on there.

Are you sure you had it on medium? The math just doesn't compute.

Try looking up the spec sheet for the SSC P7 LED. I think that it's rated 540-700 lumens at 2800ma.

Are you sure you had it on medium? The math just doesn't compute.

From the pics, it looks like medium is a lot less than 50% of high.

Are you sure you had it on medium? The math just doesn't compute.

:thumb::roflmao2:

:thumb::roflmao2:

What's so funny about that? Of all the reviews I've read of this light your results are unique, with all the others in the same ballpark.

yah I'm sure it was on med, second highest power output on this torch lasted 7+ hours. Ran in front of a fan never got warm/hot (would simulate me riding with it on).

yah I'm sure it was on med, second highest power output on this torch lasted 7+ hours. Ran in front of a fan never got warm/hot (would simulate me riding with it on).

Assuming that it puts out 650 lumens for an hour on high, and you get 7 hours on medium, we can assume that medium is around a paltry 90 lumens, which is worthless for riding with.

I think with all the advances with LED's we will see some of the mainstream vendors using the P7 leds in the future.. I would like to see a dual P7 that can put down 1000+ lumens on high and can go down to 500 lumens for a lower mode.. Couple that with a good lithium battery pack and it will outshine anything we have on the market right now..

I have a Trinewt and it compares to my Arc HID light, but led's seem much more pleasing to the eye for night riding..

As far as the P7 light goes, I would like to see a true medium mode that can put out at least 300 lumens and can run for 3+ hours..

I think with all the advances with LED's we will see some of the mainstream vendors using the P7 leds in the future.. I would like to see a dual P7 that can put down 1000+ lumens on high and can go down to 500 lumens for a lower mode.. Couple that with a good lithium battery pack and it will outshine anything we have on the market right now..

I have a Trinewt and it compares to my Arc HID light, but led's seem much more pleasing to the eye for night riding..

As far as the P7 light goes, I would like to see a true medium mode that can put out at least 300 lumens and can run for 3+ hours..

You'd think so, but most of the mainstream bike light makers seem to be a few generations behind in the LEDs which they are using. The only exceptions I can think of are small boutique makers like DiNotte or Lupine.

I agree with much of what you said.. I remember when HID was all the rage and I would bring up led, it was not seen as a viable option at that time.. LED has just flown by many of the other technologies as far as brightest to energy savings capabilities.. I love Lupines lights but they price themselves so high I can't see how they get even a fraction of the market share..

^^^

It seems to me that the Chinese flashlight makers are the ones really pushing innovation as far as LEDs for everyday use are concerned. I'm extremely impressed and very happy with my Fenix lights. If one of the Chinese makers decided to produce high quality bike specific lights they could rule the market in a matter of years.

Assuming that it puts out 650 lumens for an hour on high, and you get 7 hours on medium, we can assume that medium is around a paltry 90 lumens, which is worthless for riding with.


yah I don't think I'll be using that mode alot unless going really slow. Though on the dirt, the flood might be decent enough to ride at a decent clip. The slow strobe is the 2nd fav of thos light. The light strobe is at full power and the speed of the strobe is pretty nice.

I still need to do a run time test of that mode, maybe on Monday when back at work:thumb:

I just ordered a TX11.. 225 lumens and 2.5 hour runtime with 18650 battery. Will see how it does.. The fenix lights seem to work well for bike riding because they seem to have more sidespill than some other lights.

I just ordered a TX11.. 225 lumens and 2.5 hour runtime with 18650 battery. Will see how it does.. The fenix lights seem to work well for bike riding because they seem to have more sidespill than some other lights.

I was just looking at that. It seems to have a long throw. Please report back on how it works for you.

I also noticed that Fenix is starting to produce lights with a variable focus, meaning that they can be switched from spot to flood.

the TX11 looks very promising as it uses the 18650 bats with the uber long run time.

Assuming that it puts out 650 lumens for an hour on high, and you get 7 hours on medium, we can assume that medium is around a paltry 90 lumens, which is worthless for riding with.

I have the P7 (5 mode) and I also have an 80 lumen LED flashlight that I got from Sam's Club. The p7 has high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS modes.

The low setting is 100 lumens, I say this because when compared to my 80 lumen flashlight, it is brighter. On the medium setting, it is much brighter than the low setting. I'd venture to say that it's 200 lumens+. As for the high setting, it is easily 600 lumens but not near the claimed 900 lumens.

I wish the strobe flashed slower.

Pardon my ignorance, but how do you mount these to your handlebars?

I can't wait for my P7s. I've got two on the way that I will rig up to a 15-20Ah battery pack. Both on medium sounds like a great balance between output and battery life, and then I'll always have the high mode available for when I really need to light things up.

there is another good long topic about the P7 here
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=464765

well deal extreme sent my order even though I tried to cancel it. Umm now I need a new charger and batteries. I can console myself in thinking that a new set won't take 2 months- just one.

well deal extreme sent my order even though I tried to cancel it. Umm now I need a new charger and batteries. I can console myself in thinking that a new set won't take 2 months- just one.

Buy them from a US seller and have them in under a week if time is a problem for you.

good USA seller for 18650's and charger is shiningbeam..

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-Light-Accessories/searchpath/2055/start/17/total/29/Categories

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-Light-Accessories/searchpath/2055/start/25/total/29/Categories

best 18650 cells I have used are from an US based ebay seller.. They are unprotected but burn longer than Trustfire, Ultrafire or AW cells.. These cells are from Japan and have given me about 15% more burn time over the cells above..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rechargeable-3-7-Volt-Li-Ion-18650-Battery-2400-maH_W0QQitemZ200261056818QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item200261056818&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14