Jarery

I searched, but all i can find is threads regarding which light is best, cheapest, brightest, etc. So sorry if this has already been discussed and im just too dumb to find it.

I currently use a planet bike alias lighting system mounted to my handlebars. Half of my commute, is along an unlit river road, about 7 miles worth. There is no shoulder and cars tend to speed. So im looking for more light, and more chance of me being spotted.

So.....helmet mounted light is my next toy to purchase.

I cant afford a hid system. So i looking at another halogen system with a rechargable battery. I could get another alias system which uses nimh https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1127336761313

Or i can go to a Lithium Ion system, probably a topeak moonlight 3h system https://www.topeak.com/products/light_002.html

My nimh seems to not last its advertised time, most likely due to the cold temps of my morning commute.

Is a Lithium Ion battery ssytem less suceptable to the cold ?
Does a lith ion system weigh less? Since this system will be in my jersey instead of my bike frame.

Looking at the stats the topeak is less than half the weight, will it be brighter ? does it dim as the battery loses charge ?

Thanks in advance

tibikefor2

Batteries plus will custom make battery packs for you. www.batteriesplus.com

I have a nimh battery pack that lasts almost 5 hours for a 10 watt halogen. Cost me $65.

Jarery

I guess i worded my post wrong.

What i would like to know is the advantages and disadvantages of the nimh or the lith ion systems. Which is better in certain areas, which lacks what, etc.

Since i cant go for a hid, and need to get a halogen, id prefer to make my decision on which battery system will serve me best.

Rural Roadie

Have you read the Total Geekiness sticky thead?
While mostly about homebuilt lights it does go into battery types.

ItsJustMe

Uh, batteryspace.com has complete helmet mount HID light kits with LiIon batteries for about $200. One of the lights you linked to is $165. So maybe you CAN afford HID.

I have their DIY chassis mount HID. It works great. It was $105 for the light and $65 for the battery+charger. I went with NiMH due to better cold weather performance.

Apparently there is only one manufacturer in the world of MR11 HID lamps and ballasts, so you're getting the same thing whether you spend $200 or $500. The only thing you get on higher end models is maybe better mounts, battery saver modes and battery low indicators. The BatterySpace helmet mount has an inline controller so I'm not sure you wouldn't get those things with that model, either.

ItsJustMe

As far as LiIon vs NiMH:
LiIon is more energy dense per ounce, by a fair margin. The same power battery will be much lighter weight.
LiIon needs a slightly more complex and expensive charger, though a good NiMH charger is not cheap either (you can get away with a cheap charger if you don't mind chewing your battery up quicker).

NiMH performs better in the cold. LiIon shuts down almost completely near 0*F. NiMH degrades, but not nearly as much as LiIon. Take a fully charged cell phone out in 0*F weather sometime; it'll shut down in minutes.

If you're going to go helmet mount, then your pack will be in a pocket, so cold weather performance may not be an issue.

I went with a bottle battery because I have both front and rear lights to power and didn't want to be tied to the bike with wires. Also I think helmet mount is NOT good for commuting. It's great for trail riding where you need to look all over and around corners, but when I'm commuting, I need to look straight ahead, and the low angle of the light highlights potholes and washouts; those are nearly invisible with a helmet mount light.

By the way, you really need something substantial on the back. A headlight is nice, but not that noticable from the back where you need it. I use an amber xenon strobe as recommended in the Total Geekiness thread. I've driven in my car up behind people with LED blinkies, and I can tell you that they aren't good enough, IMHO, and are easily blocked by trunk packs, long raincoat tails, etc, and aren't bright enough in fog & rain. Reflective tape on your jacket is much better, strobes are the best.

Here's where I got my strobe from for $8.95
https://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bi...-3A&type=store

Here's how I mounted it:

Jarery

Hrm, so weight wise, the lith Ion is much better. But temp wise for commuting its gonna crap out in winter.

It will be used for a helmet mount light.

I hate spending $200 on a light if its going to have a dead battery after the trip to work and have nothing left for the trip home.

Anyone use a Lith Ion system for commuting in the winter? Does an inside pocket maybe keep it warm enough to get full battery time ? I need a good 2 hours of juice, 1 hour each way.

Eggplant Jeff

Any reason you can't charge it at work? A 1-hour battery + 2 chargers might cost you less than a 2-hour battery + 1 charger.

Jarery

Ya, hard to find a charger that works for sale on its own though

ItsJustMe

Not at all. batteryspace.com has chargers for anything.

Go there, click on battery chargers, drill in until you find what you want.

Jarery

Except when it gets sent to canada they charge like $25.00 us to ship, then add taxes, duty, brokerage, and exchange, and im looking at $200.00 bucks for a 20 dollar part.