Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Anyone use two dinotte tail lights?

Would that be overkill? I was thinking each could be pointed at a little different angle so you catch all drivers. How it compare to buying the 400-series tail light which costs $279 ?

Would that be overkill? I was thinking each could be pointed at a little different angle so you catch all drivers. How it compare to buying the 400-series tail light which costs $279 ?

Catch all drivers or cook them ?

Fit a few more of them and they might even push you along.....

;)

Mount it high. you only need one.

Mount it high. you only need one.

But what if it goes out ???

I've heard those lights can be unreliable.

:(

the biggest problem with those tail lights is the side visibility and close range intensity.
1 is good, 2 is completely overkill since the beam pattern out of those is wide enough to catch the attention, or irritation, of anyone behind you if you aim it correctly.

I use 2 140s on low.. Seperated from eachother by about 12 inches on a pvc pipe that is covered with red reflective tape. I find and others comment that it gives a much larger footprint then just one bright spot and it makes me look like a moped or motorcycle rather then just a bright dot.
Last night I had one of my dinottes go nuts in the rain so I'm glad I have two (in addition to a cherry bomb and superflash as backups and up higher lights to give an even larger light source). It seemed one of the batteries went kaput and it kept going out/on really really quick since the light worked fine when I switched the batteries after getting home. Even if you didnt' go two dinottes I'd always suggest a backup like a superflash to the one and put it somewhat far away so it makes you a little bigger to see.
Camera phone pic of the two dinottes
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GIFgiCQnK-8/SbCf11SC4bI/AAAAAAAAATM/g-dEO1NmgKE/s400/RearLightsfromADistance.JPG
I need to take real camera pics!

The 400 would be definate overkill and would eliminate redundancy and pack the lights really close together. Of course then you'd have the nice lithium pack instead of AAs. *shrug* This weekend hopefully I'd finish my homebrew rear lights to replace the dinottes because I want to run them off the same pack as my front lights. I'm going to keep it to two lights wide apart with a reflector in between.

As mentioned they don't really do much for side visibility. (pic pre cherry bomb, yellow light is from the fountain in the background)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_GIFgiCQnK-8/SbCf1HJLVVI/AAAAAAAAAS8/PL1OVbwOJm8/s400/ReflectiveWheels.JPG

But what if it goes out ???

I've heard those lights can be unreliable.

:(

I have 3 PBSF for back up.

I use 2 140s on low.. Seperated from eachother by about 12 inches. I find and others comment that it gives a much larger footprint then just one bright spot and it makes me look like a moped or motorcycle.
Last night I had one of my dinottes go nuts in the rain so I'm glad I have two (in addition to a cherry bomb and superflash as backups and up higher lights)

low? I remember my AA tail light in red only had full power strobe blink, full power slow blink and full power moderate blink.

I have 3 PBSF for back up.

I've just bought some of those for the first time :)

And some of the bspoke rear lights as well.

I'm going to have a rear light re-arranging party.

:)

I use 2 140s on low.. Seperated from eachother by about 12 inches on a pvc pipe that is covered with red reflective tape. I find and others comment that it gives a much larger footprint then just one bright spot and it makes me look like a moped or motorcycle.
Last night I had one of my dinottes go nuts in the rain so I'm glad I have two (in addition to a cherry bomb and superflash as backups and up higher lights to give an even larger light source). It seemed one of the batteries went kaput and it kept going out/on really really quick since the light worked fine when I switched the batteries after getting home.

I keep mine on the rapid pulse mode. My thinking is if you keep it on solid high, then cars just assume you are another fast moving vehicle from a distance. The pulse mode tells them you are something out of the ordinary and they need to plan their overtake.

low? I remember my AA tail light in red only had full power strobe blink, full power slow blink and full power moderate blink.

I have had two models.
One had High/Med/Low/On-off slow Strobe/On-Off Uzi Strobe (from memory not 100% sure)

One had two sets which you had to hold the button while it was off for 6 seconds to switch between
Group 1 High/Med/Low
Group 2 High/Low Strobe, High/Low Uzi Strobe, On-Off Slow Strobe (from memory not 100% sure)

I keep mine on the rapid pulse mode. My thinking is if you keep it on solid high, then cars just assume you are another fast moving vehicle from a distance. The pulse mode tells them you are something out of the ordinary and they need to plan their overtake.

I keep my superflash and and cherrybomb on blink and my dinnotes on low solid during the night when I do 90% of my riding. When I use the strobe pointing back I got alot of hate and when I followed my wife I can see why since it is absolutely blinding and if you want to see where you are going you can't not see it. When I have it on low pointed back I get people to easily see me and track me but they dont' get blinded by the pulses from a really bright light. The smaller blinkers plus the reflective triangle tell them I'm not a car.
It also very much depends on the weather conditions, light conditions, surrounding lighting, road types and lots of other things so somewhere else I might have them different.
(lights off on this pic)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_GIFgiCQnK-8/SbCf2W9LvpI/AAAAAAAAATU/Y-q1-SX7axo/s400/TiangleFromaDistance.JPG
I have been known to have a larger reflective flag too but lately people have been trying to intentionally run me off the road or hit me when I use it so I think they think I'm trying to make some sort of political statement flying the american flag so it stays at home.

I have been known to have a larger reflective flag too but lately people have been trying to intentionally run me off the road or hit me when I use it so I think they think I'm trying to make some sort of political statement flying the american flag so it stays at home.

Why would they do that ?

the thing is, the dinotte tail lights are designed in such a way that it has great long distance visibility, but up close they're totally annoying and counterproductive because the hot spot is too intense.

they would benefit greatly in close range from a design like the PB superflash which has large diffusing lens.
but you know, trade-offs.

Why would they do that ?

texicans...

texicans...

And that is ????

Would that be overkill? I was thinking each could be pointed at a little different angle so you catch all drivers. How it compare to buying the 400-series tail light which costs $279 ?

I use 2 of the AA-140Ls for commuting; one on the seat post and another on my helmet.



But what if it goes out ???

I've heard those lights can be unreliable.

:(

Nah. They're sealed from the weather. I've used one in rain, snow, sleet, cold, wind, hot... I've crashed with it on ice a couple times. It's still ticking!

I do wrap the batteries with duct tape to keep them from moving around in their holder, then I place the entire bank into a sandwich bag and wrap the end so water dosn't get to the holder.



the biggest problem with those tail lights is the side visibility and close range intensity.
1 is good, 2 is completely overkill since the beam pattern out of those is wide enough to catch the attention, or irritation, of anyone behind you if you aim it correctly.

I thought so, too, but I've had a couple close calls riding to work in the morninng on a road that has 3 lanes in the same direction, 45 mph speed limit, no shoulder, but good visibility--I take the far right lane. With one 140L I had a couple occassions where they just about drove right up to my rear wheel, but with 2x 140L, so far, I'm seeing much more caution being taken. Of course, this won't stop the JAM who's got their head down while texting or otherwise pre-occupied with their phone.

And that is ????

Texicans is sort of an in joke around here. People like to call us Texans texicans.

The term started when Texas was under the authority of Mexico I believe.

As to why people might try to hit the poster when he is sporting a ginormous reflective flag, etc. I think that they may be drawn to the flashing lights, etc. Too much light could be hazardous I think.

How many stories have you heard of an emergency vehicle that is stopped on the road with it's warning lights blazing, getting hit from behind? It happens all too often.

How many stories have you heard of an emergency vehicle that is stopped on the road with it's warning lights blazing, getting hit from behind? It happens all too often.

I find this hard to believe. If it is true, then we should all be dead with our little dinotte lights.

The term started when Texas was under the authority of Mexico I believe.

I thought Texas was part of Mexico before it was taken from the Mexicans ???

Not 'under the authority of' ??

Lets not leave Spain and France out then as well! They have claims to us prior to Mexico's :D

Lets not leave Spain and France out then as well! They have claims to us prior to Mexico's :D

You've lost me completely.

Texas was part of Mexico.

The only people who had claim to it were Mexicans.

America took Texas from the Mexicans.

That's historical fact, right ?

You've lost me completely.

Texas was part of Mexico.

The only people who had claim to it were Mexicans.

America took Texas from the Mexicans.

That's historical fact, right ?

No, Texas was Bought from Mexico.

Here are teh flags that have flown over the piece of plant Earth that is currently known as Texas

http://www.lsjunction.com/facts/6flags.htm

The way I understand it, Mexico won it's freedom and indepenence from Spain. Mexico granted Stephen Austin the right to bring settlers into the region. They were known as Texians and were to be loyal to Mexico. Relations between the settlers and the Mexican government grew sour and the Texian army fought for and won independence from Mexico.

What this has to do with two DiNotte tail lights is beyond me.

It's beyond me too.

I'm not american, it's just that I never realised you would be assaulted for having an american flag on your bicycle.

So much for united & american........

Texicans is sort of an in joke around here. People like to call us Texans texicans.

The term started when Texas was under the authority of Mexico I believe.

As to why people might try to hit the poster when he is sporting a ginormous reflective flag, etc. I think that they may be drawn to the flashing lights, etc. Too much light could be hazardous I think.

How many stories have you heard of an emergency vehicle that is stopped on the road with it's warning lights blazing, getting hit from behind? It happens all too often.

Actually it happened twice in one day in full daylight, not riding into or out of the sun and at least 1/2 a mile from a right turn or intersection. Both times on a six lane road when the auto was the only auto in site. Both times the vehicles pulled up beside me and slowed like they were trying to see how fast I was going, to gawk or make some silly remark. The vehicles then slowly changed lanes right towards me. The first time I honked and they honked and continued then when I could touch their vehicle. I slammed on the brakes and they continued till they scrubbed the curb and sped off. The second time same thing but a car instead of an suv they started to move and I just stopped and they sped off and moved back into the center.

With that said I do think too much light especially too many flashers all going off at different times can be hazardous but that is just my opinion however it is another reason why I don't flash my dinottes. Most times especially with traffic everyone neatly moves single file into the passing lane well back and passes me without a problem. The loners are the ones to worry about.

Probably the people from Bartonville and Copper Canyon that want bicycles off the road completely because their roads are really narrow and have lots of little hills and curves which makes it difficult to pass. Maybe they thought I was trying to say get out of your car and ride a bike or something. Instead I thought I'd use my July 4th day parade flag and see how it was in the wind.. oops.

Actually it happened twice in one day in full daylight, not riding into or out of the sun and at least 1/2 a mile from a right turn or intersection. Both times on a six lane road when the auto was the only auto in site. Both times the vehicles pulled up beside me and slowed like they were trying to see how fast I was going, to gawk or make some silly remark.

Even I am confused why you would have a large reflective flag in broad daylight? Probably these cars must have been even more puzzled given how lonely the road was as you described. They saw an easy target to let out some aggression and did so.

The movement of flags on recumbents and trikes adds to daytime visibility..

Even I am confused why you would have a large reflective flag in broad daylight? Probably these cars must have been even more puzzled given how lonely the road was as you described. They saw an easy target to let out some aggression and did so.

I was leaving home and it was there all lonely since it only gets used once a year sooo I stuck it on my bike. Yeah easy target but oddly it has _never_ happened to me in Texas unless I had the flag. The road is _packed_ in car commuting hours and mostly empty before and after that.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GIFgiCQnK-8/Sa6S1GsMMwI/AAAAAAAAAR8/a1QJTLaoMd4/s400/HurricanewithFlag.jpg

But back on topic..
One Dinottes is enough (with backup like a superflash)
Two dinottes are used by some (in fact I know someone with two 400ls on the rear)
There are other things to identify you as a bicyclist like a Vest or a Triangle if you are worried about them thinking you are a car

...The 400 would be definate overkill and would eliminate redundancy and pack the lights really close together. Of course then you'd have the nice lithium pack instead of AAs. *shrug* This weekend hopefully I'd finish my homebrew rear lights to replace the dinottes because I want to run them off the same pack as my front lights. I'm going to keep it to two lights wide apart with a reflector in between...

You're probably already aware of this, but if you had the lith-ion version of the lights and a lith-ion dinotte light you can order a splitter cable from them (or 2 or 3, if you're running some lights on low) and run them all off one of their 4 cell battery packs. Or like I'm running 2 400L front lights plus a rear light this year, so I'm sorta forced to use 2 battery packs (I think - I'm going to switch it up and see what kind of run time I'll get). But if you're used to the AA batteries, lith-ion is waaaaay easier - I plug the charger in by where I keep the bike and I don't even have to take the batteries off the bike. I just plug the charger into the battery while it's still on the bike (have to unplug the battery from the light, though).

Of course - it's really rather expensive that way. Cost vs. convenience vs. time. :-)

Would that be overkill? I was thinking each could be pointed at a little different angle so you catch all drivers. How it compare to buying the 400-series tail light which costs $279 ?

Yes, it would be overkill. The 400 series tail light is also overkill. The 200 tail light already has a pretty wide lense, plus the plastic ring is semi-transparent so you can see it from the side. If you want real "90 degree angle" visibility, I'd highly suggest taking the money and buying those $30 battery tail lights, then just mounting them facing to the side. I believe Knog Frog's are lights which could easily be mounted sideways on various tubes on your bike.

The one exception is what that one guy wrote - if you specially physically mounted them a way apart horizontally, that makes sense.

Unless you have some bizarre streets, cars come at you either from behind or from 90 degrees. I don't think slightly tilting the light one way is going to make a difference in visibility for either of those - if you want to be seen from the side, put lights on the side. If you want to be seen as you're approaching an intersection, you need a good headlight - no one will see the side lights until it's to late.

I have one amber and one red mounted to the bottom of a milk crate about 11 inches apart with the amber on the left (nearest to passing vehicles). I keep both of them in the strobe/pause mode day and night. The timing of each light is slightly different so the result is a constantly changing pattern between the two which probably makes them even more noticable. It's probably overkill but I like it.

I've been wanting to get a second one for a long time and the following review on the Dinotte web site convinced me to get an amber rather than another red:


Levels the playing field
From Michel Kurita of Ottawa, Ontario on 9/18/2008.

I purchased a Dinotte amber daylight visible light a week ago, and I mounted it as a tail light. I believe a flashing amber light is more effective than red for tail lights because:
a)The unique colour stands out in a sea of red car tail lights
b)Amber is more visible to the eye
c)Amber means "caution"
d)Flashing amber means "slow moving vehicle"
e)Flashing red just means "prepare to stop" and if the purpose of a flashing light is to catch a drivers attention, then amber is much more effective at this.
f)This light is close to 130 lumens - my previous Planet Bike Superflash tail light is probably 20 to 30 lumens. Therefore, my tail light is as bright as a Lexus RX L.E.D. rear light array, but the Dinotte is more visible as it is amber. I also have been using 2 Planet Bike 1 watt L.E.D lights on the front (they are probably close to 100 lumens together - <i>just</i) visible during the day head on). I'm planning to upgrade this to 300 lumens.

The result has been that drivers no longer wait to make room for me at the last minute - their passing maneuver begins earlier, and they remain in that position, leaving me with a "corridor" lane as I approach a red light. Not one driver has tried to pass then turn right, right in front of me. I have not heard one obscenity, even though I know if you stare at the light, it is quite blinding.

I find this hard to believe. If it is true, then we should all be dead with our little dinotte lights.

Dead men don't post reports.

You need to avoid the "WTF response" which is a confused driver driving right into an obstacle cause his brain doesn't know whats going on. I saw this one night, we were standing near a car and motorcycle parked on the wrong side of a dark rural road, car had headlights on. A car came around the corned and drove directly into the vehicles (a minute earlier or later and three of us would have been in the way).

Thats why pedal reflectors, reflective vests and other stuff that make you look like a cyclist work so well, "oh, its a bike, I'll give it some room".

Then theres the fred response. "oh, ots a dorky bike with a zillion lights and a huge flag, I'll throw a beer can at it". You want to avoid that too.

Is the US Flag right side up in that pic? It almost appears to be on the pole with the stars at the bottom. If so, you might have been targeted because someone thought you were disrespecting the flag. Just a thought

I find this hard to believe. If it is true, then we should all be dead with our little dinotte lights.

It's true. People expect the vehicle to be on the road, and line up behind it. And then run into it if they can't stop or swerve in time.

It's true. People expect the vehicle to be on the road, and line up behind it. And then run into it if they can't stop or swerve in time.I've seen more than one report of a rear ending accident with a cyclist that was "lit up like a Christmas tree." There was one in the late '70s, I think it was in Wisconsin where the motorist dragged the cyclist for well beyond normal stopping distance. Not sure how that lines up with your scenario. I always wondered if it would be safest to get one of the flashing lights that they have on traffic barriers, but then I've seen reports of people hitting those for sport.

I have three Cree XRE red leds on the way. Not sure how many of them I'm going to use on the same bike. Right now, I have two PBSF on my commuter, I'll probably replace one of those with a dyno powered Cree.

I've just added some more blinkies to mine, I'm up to 9 on the back now.

Hopefully motorists will mistake me for a UFO and slow down for a look, thereby not driving over me....

I mainly ride 4-lanes (some 2-lanes) 10-12 feet wide and no paved shoulder. On-street bike lanes? You must be joking. One city council member thinks bike commuting is a great idea, everybody else thinks it's fringe lunacy. Bottom line, you gotta act like a vehicle and take the lane. Or risk your neck riding on sidewalks and contend with drivers pulling out of parking lots and driveways without stopping--or looking left--til they hit the curbline, and if it's an intersection, they think crosswalks are supposed to be driven into and blocked before stopping.

DiNotte taillights WORK. In low-traffic nighttime riding, cars move to the left lane several hundred YARDS behind me. The intense central beam seems to be an intentional design idea, and once drivers move left off axis, the light is visible without being glaring, which encourages them to move over. That's good for both of us.

PBSFs are adequate at night, but don't get drivers' attention at the distances DiNottes do. Still enough warning to give them time to consciously plan lane shifts rather than suddenly getting stressed at a too-close-for-comfort rider ahead. In daytime they wash out, whereas you can see a DiNotte flashing among car brake lights at a half-mile if you're looking for it, and if you're not, it's impossible to miss at 500 feet unless somebody is looking down texting.

I haven't been honked at by an irate driver in months. Drivers in a hurry get frustrated seeing a cyclist late, and finding themselves boxed in on the left, so braking is unavoidable, then driving slow until the lane opens is vexing.

DiNottes trigger early move-overs as drivers see the right lane being evacuated except for this lone flashing light far ahead. So they have time to calmly look around and merge left well before they get to you. The ones who don't do this seem to realize they have been inattentive, they don't blame you, so they quietly wait until the left lane opens up. At least that's what's happening here on the Great Plains.

In the mad rush to convert HIDs to LEDs for racing-speed headlights, which has produced great front illumination, DiNotte was the only company to realize ultrabright taillights could revolutionize rear-zone safety. The company is still the industry leader in this area.

They're high-priced (although offering more lumens per buck than other brands), but you get first-rate service. I ordered a 600L/400L one week before the 800L was announced, with an 800L/400L priced at what I paid. They graciously gave me a free upgrade. One of my batteries failed after 5 months. I paid $5 to send it to them, and a week later had a new one, postage paid by them. They offer trade-ups at reasonable prices. Li batteries do wear out, that's life, but DiNotte's are way cheaper than their competitors'.

Whats wrong with overkill:twitchy:? Here you go my 2 DiNotte 140AA tail lights in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IeBhnFglE4

I've always heard one should use two rear lights, one flashing, one steady. I keep the Dinotte steady with a Superflash on solid on the back of the helmet. I think that is adequate. I believe 2 Dinotte's would be overkill except maybe in the daylight.

I've always heard one should use two rear lights, one flashing, one steady.

Sounds like a good idea.... ;)


I keep the Dinotte steady with a Superflash on solid on the back of the helmet. I think that is adequate.

Aren't steady and solid pretty much the same thing ??

Aren't steady and solid pretty much the same thing ??

oops, yes. I flash the Dinotte. :o

The Spaniards stole the place from the folks who were here before. The Aztecs, Comanches and Apache. The main reason the Mexican Go. let in Americans is to be a buffer between them and the Comanches who kicked their butt every chance they got.

I think one should be enough after following three the other night. For night riding I would reccomend pointing it down so it doesnt blind the driver overtaking you.

One Dinotte is fine, have something for a back up, should the Dinotte fail at a critical time.
I use a Dinotte 140L with one Planet Bike Super Flash with two Smart Super Flashes, and a bright reflector.

Had them all on yesterday in rush hour traffic, durning a dark impending Rain Storm, on a highway.

I run a dinotte 140L on the rear and a PB superflash on my helmet. I find that with this combination, drivers give me plenty of room.

FWIW, I have a dinotte 140 daytime running light (amber lens) that I run in front when I commute on the roads during daylight hours. It does a great job of keeping me from getting right hooked and left crossed. I run both the dinottes off a single 4-cell LiOn battery pack using the Y cable I purchased.

I run a dinotte 140L on the rear and a PB superflash on my helmet.

What modes do you run on them?

What modes do you run on them?

The DiNotte is five pulses then a pause. The Superflash is, well in flash mode. I get plenty of room from drivers.