Bikehead

The Lightmanstrobes says the strobe takes 2 AA batteries.But a plus, they have ones that can be wired
so you don't have to change batteries. The one from BatteyPlus takes 4 AA batties,but no wired ones.
Don't know if 4 AA, as compared to 2AA makes that much diferance? Might just ride over this PM and look
at them at BatteryPlus.

Bikehead
If gas was free, I would still ride

40x14

Let us know how it goes at batteriesplus.

Also, I've been looking for a rear blinkie that blinks slowly, maybe 2x/second instead of 5-10x/second? Anybody know of something like this?

powerhouse

What is the brightest, most powerful safety light that can be CLIPPED to a pannier? The pannier I own has a small tab on it that might accommodate it.

I would prefer buying a strobe light but I'm considering other types as well.
IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO GET ONE THAT CAN BE SEEN BY MOTORISTS DURING THE DAY!

Does anyone have suggestions? Feel free to PM me.

Powerhouse

Bikehead

Powerhouse:

I use a Blackburn Mars 3.0, on the left pannier, during the day. I have been told by friends, that have
followed me they can see it well. I sure others, will have many suggestions.

Bikehead
I would still ride, if gas was free

acroy

I've been looking at recent offereings for basic commuter lights to recommend to friends, can you do any better than the Nite Hawk Raptor 10W system? 6volt, sla battery, 2.5hr runtime. I used one for a couple years and it was bulletproof, and still seems to be the best value for the $. any other contenders? i've since moved on to homebrew systems.

A plus on the Nite Hawk was responsive cust. service - these are real people, really in Canada, and they were fast & responsive when i wore out my original battery.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...ts%20on%20sale

ken cummings

I have been obsessed by stobes for decades. I finally settled on a medium sized one using about a watt. Brilliant at night, passable at sunrise/sunset, and just visible in sunlight if you look at it. Weight 6-8 ounces zip-tied to the rear rack. Even sealing loose parts I am not sure if it would work on a pannier. At $15+ give it a try. The daylight visible ones you see at airports and on energency vehicles can weight several pounds and more, sucking down 5 to 30 watts or more. Not for me.

Michel Gagnon

I assume you are talking about taillights. In that case, the new Planet Bike Superflash is hard to beat. It is quite powerful and has a somewhat variable flashing rate. I rode with one of these in flashing mode this November and December when part of my commute was dead into the rising sun. If they don't see you with it, they'll run into a bus. Battery life is also very good, so you shouldn't ruin your battery budget either.

gretnabikes

Check out gretnabikes, we are the North American distributor of Lupine Lights.

https://gretnabikes.com/default.asp

We are currently working on providing recumbent specific lights.

2manybikes

Gretna Bikes

My Edison 10 works great. When I dropped it hard on the concrete and broke the bulb you fixed it right away. It's been maybe three years, I can't remember ? It has a lot of hours on it. I find that the Edison 10 is known around here (this forum) and Lupines are all thought of as that light (Edison 10) and that price. The shorter run time lights for less money are never mentioned. They should be promoted more somehow. So should lights like the "Wilma", it's almost unheard of around here. Or some other less expensive models.
When someone finds out the price of the Edison 10, that turns them off to all Lupine lights, then they don't ask about the other Lupine lights, I think they have that price in their head.
People need to know about the Passubio XL and the lumen output for the price.

There is one other forum member that has an Edison 10 that I can remember. As far as I know there are only the two of us on this forum. There easily could be others that I don't know about.

The L&M HID is probably the one most recommended, and has the most owners here.
Many here like to read about new (to them) LED lights. It seems like everyone here comparison shops prices very carefully. A few of us shop lumens and run time per dollar, not many. Most new shoppers forget to consider run time.
Check out CandlePowerForums too.

gretnabikes

2manybikes!

You bring up some great points! The Wilma series "LED" keeps getting modified and will soon have the same lumen output as the L&M HID! Thats 500 lumens in an LED! Keep an eye on our site for the new models.

Todd

2manybikes

That should be a winner. Also let people know about the Lupine forum. I sent one person to it already.

Show the new LED light on this forum if you can! There are sections specifically for selling products in bikeforums. Good Luck.

Edison 10 in use.......

vrkelley

Wow 2MB that Lupine 16W HID is way brigher than my 35W HID!

gretnabikes

2manybikes!

Thanks again for the great pics!

Todd

2manybikes

Yep. Equal to a 65 watt halogen light. I've compared it to my car (55w) and a home made light (50w mr16 bulb) and they are not kidding. 65 watts halogen equivalent. Most HID lights are in the neighborhood of 4x the light of a halogen. Not always exactly 4x.

Still waiting for your necklace.

uphillbiker

Hi Guys,

I just bought the trailtech MR16 HID bike light and have a few questions about it. The performance is awesome. However, is it OK to use 11 volt lithium packs? I realize that batteryspace even sells a combo with that light and a lithium pack, but the instruction sheet recommends power sources of 12 volts and greater. The pack will get down under 11 volts even when half the charge is remaining.

The main issue is life of the bulb. Do they last longer using a true 12 volt source such as a metal-acid or a 10 to 11 cell nickel pack? What is the upper limmit on voltage imput--batteryspace recommends not using 4 cell lithium (13.8 volt).

If necessary, I'll buy a whole new battery pack to maximize bulb life.

Thanks guys.

acidinmylegs

Last year I put together a rather large review of LED based lights HERE. This year, I did it all over again, with eleven new lights. The new review is HERE.

Hope you enjoy.

Ken Wind

Great work, James!

I have two 5W Dinotte lights set up in the dual configuration, and the 500L looks like an awesome light. Do you know when Dinotte will be offering it?

How does the clamp on the 500L work? One of the best things about my Dinotte lights is how easy they are to put on and take off, even with gloves. Is it just as easy with the 500L?

The other two lights that really impressed me were the Princeton Tec Switchback 2 and the BR Lights C2. How quick and easy are the mounts on those lights to use? Is the BR C2 really going to be secure with that mount? It looks like a good bump could knock it out of position.

acidinmylegs

Hey Ken,

The BR Lights C2 is, in fact, very secure. They've positioned the mount so that it takes a bit of effort to knock it out of adjustment.

The Princeton Tec and the 500L both use (though not identical) a clamp that allows the light head to be slid off easily, even with gloves. I did miss the o-ring system of the smaller DiNotte's though.

I was able to attach and remove all the lights you listed with gloves.

GlowBoy

I bought the "wired" 12V Lightman strobe (in amber) a year ago for my homebrew light system. Its 5-sided connectors mate perfectly with the ones I cannibalized from my old TurboCat system, by the way.

I ran with it for a whole winter, but after doing a visibility audit on myself (parking my bike with everything on and confirming visibility from different angles and distances) I took it off. It's underwhelming, at least in amber. It gives off more light towards the sides than my headlights, but really no better than a good LED blinky. And on-axis it's LESS noticeable than a decent blinky once you are a block or more away, and not even close to the conspicuity of a 20W headlight. Will probably sell it at some point.

I'm sticking with LEDs. I've using some very bright automotive LEDs as running lights, and will probably add some flashing ones too. I wish bike light companies would make blinkies in amber. The LEDs are available, but for some reason commercial blinkies only come in white and red and these days.

ken cummings

Powerhouse, There are a number of strobe Safety lights out there from $12 on up. Almost all of them would require that you rig a way to fastenit to the tab on your pannier. Zip ties worked for me, never a failure and cheap to replace when I have to cut them off. A really impressive one meant for fork-lifts goes at $76.00, draws 2 watts at 12 volts, and leaves a little row of red dots in your vision in the Daytime. God help a tailgating motorist at night.

If you are interested I'll get the data for ordering one.

40x14

That's one thing I like about the blackburn mars 3.0.... two amber leds on the sides.

and "a patented flashing rate that has scientifically proven to be more visibile to the human eye at a distance".

socalrider

Just wrote about the Fenix L1D-CE, being used as a helmet light. This is the new CREE style led bulb which will be all the rage very soon. Dinotte is using it in there new 500L light. Here is the link

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/271695-new-cree-led-helmet-light-amazing.html

gretnabikes

Just letting you guy's know. Lupine is releasing new LED lamps. All 06 and 07 Wilma's can very soon be upgraded to 730 lumens! They will also be releasing a new Wilma kit that will put out 830 Lumens! Expect to see these options in the next month.

Zero_Enigma

Or the guy can take a Dinotte 5W and mount it backwards above his panniers and guntape (use clear tape) a red lens on top (or use that red clear Xmas wrap stuff you get or ask kindly for a 2.5inx2.5in clear red at a gift shop or grocerers gift area or flower section. Put that 5W on flash mode and don't stare at the light. Aim it at the drivers eye level or just in between car/suv level (which will be slightly above a cars eyes but still hitting them) and notice the distance gap. >

Might want to put a disclaimer on the panniers saying "flash mode worst then banned Pokemon episodes" LOL



Zero_Enigma

Zero_Enigma

Anyone know when Cateye will be releasing the TL1100 in North America? https://cateye.com/en/product_detail/280

Also I'm wondering if there are any 2xAA units that are like the TL1000 but in white for 180 coverage up front? I like the design of the TL1000. Also AA's laast longer then AAA's and becauseI have a lot of AA's so it makes interchanging batteries easy then having something with N or AAA's.


Zero_Enigma