Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - The best headlights under $50 thread

If I were in the market for a new light, I'd try http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16501. I'm still a huge fan of my P7, http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16501, but I think the 16501 MC-E may offer a slightly longer arc of light.

I e-mailed dealextreme about my defect light. I don't think I'm going to buy from them again, unless I don't mind just eating the cost if something doesn't work right when I get it.

Here's what I get:
hello
may delivery uncertained reason caused the problem
could you please have it repaired in your local?
may i will give you $5 as a compensation
thank you for your understanding

How do you mount this little guy ... ???

http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_12623_4.jpg
MTE SSC P7 C-Bin 900-Lumen 8-Mode LED Flashlight. $45.90 free ship.
Brighter than automobile headlights on high mode, medium and low power modes for longer run times. Flash modes make you visible even in bright daylight.
P7 flashlights are selling out almost as fast as there listed. Hurry if you want one.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060

use a twofish cyclopblock or use the mounts you can find on dx, 8274, 12000. the DX mounts don't fit on 31.8mm OS bars though.

How do you mount this little guy ... ???

I use http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8274 on both of my bikes.

How do you mount this little guy ... ???

You can make one of these and it will probably work better than anything you can buy commercially:

http://davidclary.com/images/mount.jpg

REVIEW OF THE Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-53/Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-CREE-Q5/Detail
I'll tell you what. For $27 bucks w/shipping. This thing is excellent. It blows away the Cateye HL-500 Opticube that I replaced it with. The Opticube running on Alkalines would last about 3-4 weeks before the beam got weak. On the Ray-O-Vac Hybrids that I switched to. It would last about 10 days or so. Which was OK by me, because they're rechargeables. Good for about 1000 or so cycles. The Romisen on the Ray-O-Vacs lasts about 4 days before the beam gets weak. ( I have a 45 min. commute in the morning). And I'm satisfied with that. No big deal. Using rechargeable batteries, it seems you have an unlimited supply that beyond the initial costs, will cost you virtually nothing.
The flood on this thing is huge. And I can put the spot about 50-60 ft in front of me. Cars notice me, and it doesn't get washed out in streetlights. Great bang for the buck! I use the used inner tube for a mount cause it works better that the thing I got from DealExtreme for $1.90. So I feel that I didn't lose anything from that standpoint.
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REVIEW OF THE Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-53/Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-CREE-Q5/Detail
I'll tell you what. For $27 bucks w/shipping. This thing is excellent. It blows away the Cateye HL-500 Opticube that I replaced it with. The Opticube running on Alkalines would last about 3-4 weeks before the beam got weak. On the Ray-O-Vac Hybrids that I switched to. It would last about 10 days or so. Which was OK by me, because they're rechargeables. Good for about 1000 or so cycles. The Romisen on the Ray-O-Vacs lasts about 4 days before the beam gets weak. ( I have a 45 min. commute in the morning). And I'm satisfied with that. No big deal. Using rechargeable batteries, it seems you have an unlimited supply that beyond the initial costs, will cost you virtually nothing.
The flood on this thing is huge. And I can put the spot about 50-60 ft in front of me. Cars notice me, and it doesn't get washed out in streetlights. Great bang for the buck! I use the used inner tube for a mount cause it works better that the thing I got from DealExtreme for $1.90. So I feel that I didn't lose anything from that standpoint.
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I can't testify to the run times because I always recharge my batteries after each ride, but for brightness and value, the Rominsen is a winner in my book. :thumb:

Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight: Thank you for the feedback!

I have been looking at this light, the ESE AF2, and recently the L-Mini as well. I am leaning towards the L=mini due it being smaller with the same output.

Ayone have a L-Mini, likes/dislikes?

Chris

Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight: Thank you for the feedback!



Get it from Shiningbeam--fast service!

what's the run time on the romsen Q5? My single mode TR-801 Q5 is good for at least 3hrs, and is still going as of 7:15pm today.

bit over 4hrs before it dims to unusable light.

Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight, anything similar with a flashing mode?

Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight, anything similar with a flashing mode?

Check out the L-Mini from Shiningbeam. 5 modes, 18650 battery though. It is what I am leaning towards. Optional reflector also for a "spot" or more of a flood.

Chris

Planet bike's new BLAZE 1 watt light is really good. It is quite cheap at MEC in Canada(you can order on line) compared to what the regular suggested retail price.

I have 2 L-Mini's from Shiningbeam on the way with both the smooth and o.p. reflectors. Will report back when I get them on how they are. Only downside is they use 18650 or cr123 batteries since I got the version 3 of the light.

Chris

I went riding on some bad roads today and noticed a problem with my MTE P7 light. Every time I hit a large bump, the light cycles to the next mode.

Does anyone else have this issue?

Yes. I've been getting these more frequently. I ride mostly during dawn/dusk, so I have no idea if it is changing unless I put my hand in front of light to see what it is doing (I want it to be flashing).

I am using the 5-mode MTE.

Did you ever figure out a fix?

No riding with the L-Mini's yet as we have been getting some "great winter weather", but comparing the L-mini to the Lowes Task Force, I am impressed. The T.F. throws the light a little further, but the L-Mini has more "spill" light with the flood reflector. I think it will be a better bike light with the brighter spill light. Only downside is it takes 1x 18650 or 2x CR123 batteries (version 3only, v1 or 2 ONLY take 18650).

$30.00 and very small. I would like to see a comparison of beam shots to a fenix L2d since a lot of people like the Fenix, just to compare.

Here is a beam shot from another forum: Beam Shot, scroll down (http://flashlightnews.net/forum/index.php?topic=926.0)

Chris

Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED Flashlight, anything similar with a flashing mode?

I just got the RC-N3 and the RC-G4. THe RC-G4 seems to be the brighter of the two and it has a flash mode. It's just on/flash/off. It uses 2xCR123 or 1x18660. The two lights are $16.99 and $17.60 at Deal Extreme. I ran it for the first time this week and it's much brighter than any of the $30+ bike lights I've tried from Performance. It worked pretty well with the $1.99 mount at DealEx also (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8274), especially if you loop the strap around the handlebars for security, as the mount has an open top. I'm pretty happy with the flashlight, but still felt like I could have used more light. These were purchased as gifts and as a test case, and now I've got a positive take on these CREE flashlights, for very little outlay.

I'm going to be getting a Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED soon and thinking about using it with CR123A batteries but I'm not sure which ones to pick up. I want to use rechargable and I'd prefer a charger that will do at least 2 at a time. Any suggestions?

Also, I'm wondering how long these batteries will hold a charge. I usually charge everything on the weekends for the week ahead. I want to get at least an hour of usage out of a week old charge. Will this work with these batteries?

I'm going to be getting a Romisen RC-N3 CREE Q5 LED soon and thinking about using it with CR123A batteries but I'm not sure which ones to pick up. I want to use rechargable and I'd prefer a charger that will do at least 2 at a time. Any suggestions?

Also, I'm wondering how long these batteries will hold a charge. I usually charge everything on the weekends for the week ahead. I want to get at least an hour of usage out of a week old charge. Will this work with these batteries?

Get AW batteries. They are a little more expensive, but they are top quality and aren't known to vent flame when used in a series as some cheaper batteries are.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=184670

Ok I'll look into those. Another question. I have a niterider mininewt and I'll have the romisen rc-n3 soon, but I would like a 3rd headlight that strobes to attract attention that can also be used as a backup should one of the others fail. I have been using a blackburn quadrant, and I like the blink pattern, but the light isn't very bright or suitable as a backup, and is totally washed out by the mininewt, so I know it's going to be invisible once the romisen arrives. What other light (pref under $25) could I get to use as the strobe/backup that can stand up to the light emitted by the mininewt and rc-n3?

Also, when using this mount from DX
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8274
how do you keep the light in the channel? Is there a strap to lock it down or is the channel snug enough to keep hold while going over really bad potholed roads? Will this mount work with a rc-n3 or am I better off getting the twofish lockblocks or the conduit hanger option? I'll have more handlebar space when I remove the quadrant, so I'm not worried about space too much.

I got that mount for my romisen rc-nc and it doesn't fit. The light is too loose when mounted in it. I use the ol' used inner tube trick for mine, and it works well.