Cat Eye HL-EL500, toast?
 

So I was riding at a good clip, 30ish down a hill, and hit a bump, which unfortunately sent my Cat Eye HL-EL500 flying to the ground. It sucks, because I love this light -- it's the best headlight I've owned. I've been running it with rechargeable AAs, which work great.

Anyway, not it doesn't work. Anyone know anything about repairing this light? Does it have a replaceable bulb? I couldn't tell from my quick examination.

Take it apart and see what is broken.

Good luck. Usually it's the flimsy battery contact tab coming loose. Unfortunately the thing's glued shut, good luck getting it open. I bought 2 of them. The battery contact thing failed on the first one, I smashed it open to get the luxeon module out. I'm in the process of moving for the next 2 weeks but if I can find the 2nd el500, it's yours.

Same problem, different cause. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to get into the bulb part of the unit without inflicting permanent damage, meaning little pieces of plastic all over everywhere. I have just purchased another one on eBay (they can be had for roughly $35, shipping included), after which I may get a little more physical on the bad one :crash: to see if there is a way to actually fix the damn thing. I suspect not, and I did notice that the Cateye website says nary a word about replacement bulbs or other parts for it.

I agree, it's a great light for the money - I just wish you could do repairs on it.

BTW, you're braver than I am. It's a good light for comparatively little money, but I don't think it's 30 mph worth of good light.

As Seen On TV provides us with the Dremel mototool or irs equivalents. Cut the b****r apart on the glued or ultrasonically welded joints for easy reassembly. To me a watt per mile per hour - minimum - is a rule of thumb I just invented. There is a kids cartoon show where the lead character holds his sword to the sky as lightning bolts spray thru the air and yells, "I have the Power!" It is the way I feel about bike lights.