Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Opinions on a front light I am thinking of buying

I am thinking of buying this light: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_508964_-1_201632_10000_201634

This is the light that I was using: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_135718_-1_201529_10000_201537 It lets vehicles see me but doesn't light up the ground in front of me.

I guess what I am asking is will the Sigma light be better by a whole bunch of just marginally better. I have a hard time comparing them since one gives the power in Lumens and the Cateye in candlepower.

Any opinions appreciated.

Gabe

I have that Cateye EL320, not very bright, even in the middle of the small center spot.
I do not know about the $100 light, it's hard to imagine it could be as good (bright and long lasting) as the Magicshine MJ808, which I use now and costs $90.

I think the Sigma is in here if you look
http://fonarevka.lux-rc.com/

I can guarantee that the Magicshine from Geomangear will beat the pants off this light in brightness.

If you put that next to a Magicshine, which is $15 cheaper, you won't even be able to tell if that thing is on or not; the Magicshine will completely wash it out.
If you're looking for ease of mounting, I'd go for a P7 flashlight. Even in low mode it'll beat that light, and will last a couple of hours on a charge. It'll set you back $70 here (http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=155&zenid=nq5cril6hvbd1eknjcjjt4pg55). The flashlight mounts super easy, the only real downsize is shorter runtime than the full Magicshine (due to having one rechargable cell instead of 4).

Well folks...I bought the Magicshine (and the helmet mount)!

Well folks...I bought the Magicshine (and the helmet mount)!

Congratulation. I doubt you will have any regret with the MS. Before I found this forum, I spent too many hard earn cash wasted with lights that was in the $50 to $100 range. I came close to getting >$200 lights until I looked into this forum and saw the recommendation for lights under $100. I've been a happy camper since. Ooooppss, I've meant happy biker.

For folks looking for good deals on lights, we should point you to dealextreme.com. read the customer reviews before you decide what fits your needs best, and prepare for a slow shipment directly from Hong Kong (but less expensive than shipping in the USA!).

Geomangear will ship the Magicshine same day you order it and you'll have it in 2 days, for $5 more than DX (assuming it's in stock, which it appears to be at this point). Ordering from DX is not a great idea in this case, though I do order from them a lot.

Also DX has laughable customer service, while Geoman has excellent service. Worth the $5 IMO.

I now have the Geomangear Magicshine light and love it, but I do have a few questions, I was gonna call them but just thought I'd post here.

1. Info pack said battery gives 300-500 charges, does this mean I have to buy a new battery then? If so, that kinda sucks.
2. Should I unplug the light from the battery when not using light?
3. Info pack said to not fully charge battery, how am I supposed to know when battery is close to being charged but not fully charged?
4. It claims to be waterproof, how "waterproof" is it really?

Thanks to anyone who might have these answers or any other tips on the Magicshine.

I now have the Geomangear Magicshine light and love it, but I do have a few questions, I was gonna call them but just thought I'd post here.

1. Info pack said battery gives 300-500 charges, does this mean I have to buy a new battery then? If so, that kinda sucks.
2. Should I unplug the light from the battery when not using light?
3. Info pack said to not fully charge battery, how am I supposed to know when battery is close to being charged but not fully charged?
4. It claims to be waterproof, how "waterproof" is it really?

Thanks to anyone who might have these answers or any other tips on the Magicshine.

1. Until someone makes a rechargeable battery that lasts forever this is about as good as it gets. Take good care of them if you want them to last this long. There is lots of information on this already here and elsewhere on the web if you search for it.

2. I leave my light connected when I go into the store, etc but for anything over about 10 minutes of non-use I unplug it.

3. I don't think there's a big problem with 'fully charging' the battery but you don't want to store it for long periods fully charged. I usually use mine for a 45 minute commute and just charge it before I go. If I'm just about town for shorter trips I charge it less frequently. In general, you don't want to drain it all the way or leave it fully charged for long periods. Also, don't store or use the battery at extreme hot or cold temperature.

4. Most of the problems with the lack of waterproofing seem to occur when the protection PCBA gets damaged. I've had one short out just riding on wet roads. I wouldn't count on the pack being waterproof at all, unless it's changed significantly since I got mine they are NOT waterproof. Keep them dry and you should be OK. If you do fry a PCBA, read this (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?612137-MagicShine-connection-problem-not-connector-related-but-deffective-circuit-board) post.

I now have the Geomangear Magicshine light and love it, but I do have a few questions, I was gonna call them but just thought I'd post here.

1. Info pack said battery gives 300-500 charges, does this mean I have to buy a new battery then? If so, that kinda sucks.
2. Should I unplug the light from the battery when not using light?
3. Info pack said to not fully charge battery, how am I supposed to know when battery is close to being charged but not fully charged?
4. It claims to be waterproof, how "waterproof" is it really?

Thanks to anyone who might have these answers or any other tips on the Magicshine.
How long is your commute that 300-500 charges will use up the battery even remotely quickly? If you charge it twice a week year round that's still 3 years of use by the most conservative estimates.

I now have the Geomangear Magicshine light and love it, but I do have a few questions, I was gonna call them but just thought I'd post here.

1. Info pack said battery gives 300-500 charges, does this mean I have to buy a new battery then? If so, that kinda sucks.
2. Should I unplug the light from the battery when not using light?
3. Info pack said to not fully charge battery, how am I supposed to know when battery is close to being charged but not fully charged?
4. It claims to be waterproof, how "waterproof" is it really?

Thanks to anyone who might have these answers or any other tips on the Magicshine.

Adding my comments:
1. that's as good as any rechargable batteries get. An iPod, a laptop, they all have the same limitation. In fact, most laptops contain exactly the same cells (LiIon 18650) as the MS light.
2. Up to you. The LED on the back will drain 6 minutes from your runtime for every 24 hours it's on.
3. I wouldn't LEAVE it fully charged. It's not horrible for the light, but if you're going to leave it for a long time (weeks or more) it's better to leave it at about 60% charge. Personally I try to fully charge just before using it for a commute, which is about 45 minutes. When I use it on my 3rd commute of 45 minutes, I'll charge it before the next day, but I'll not put it on the charger until just before bedtime, so it only charges for about 7 hours before getting used immedately again.
4. It's not. OK, the light is, and the cable is, but the battery pack is not. Wrap a plastic bag around it such that the wire exits the bag at the BOTTOM after you've put it in the carrier (IE so that water hitting the front/top runs off instead of inside the bag). I also taped the seams of the battery, but I think the plastic bag is more important. The tape probably wouldn't hold in a really heavy rain.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

But....how do you know how charged the battery is? I don't see an indicator that shows a % or if it is fully charged or anything?

I am thinking of buying this light: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_508964_-1_201632_10000_201634

This is the light that I was using: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_135718_-1_201529_10000_201537 It lets vehicles see me but doesn't light up the ground in front of me.

I guess what I am asking is will the Sigma light be better by a whole bunch of just marginally better. I have a hard time comparing them since one gives the power in Lumens and the Cateye in candlepower.

Any opinions appreciated.


Gabe

I am using the Cygolite Milion 200.

http://cygolite.com/products/new/Milion/milion200.html

I bike 14 mile each way on New York City streets. I normally charge it up twice a week. It can be charged through a USB port on your computer. I find the flashing light amazing and the 200 lumens really light up the road. I have found other bikers coming in the opposite direction are blinded by the light. However, cars really see me on the road. I had the cheap Cateye light before. It is worth spending the extra money I find for safety alone.