Cheap, powerful rear light?
#76
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
you can't use blinking tail lights in the UK or most of Europe as far as I'm aware. (I know someone will correct me on this)
use both for best effect. one flashing to get attention, and another solid to allow people behind you to get a good judgement on how fast they are gaining on you.
for in-city use, PB super flash is one of the best in this regard.
use both for best effect. one flashing to get attention, and another solid to allow people behind you to get a good judgement on how fast they are gaining on you.
for in-city use, PB super flash is one of the best in this regard.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#77
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
you can't use blinking tail lights in the UK or most of Europe as far as I'm aware. (I know someone will correct me on this)
use both for best effect. one flashing to get attention, and another solid to allow people behind you to get a good judgement on how fast they are gaining on you.
for in-city use, PB super flash is one of the best in this regard.
use both for best effect. one flashing to get attention, and another solid to allow people behind you to get a good judgement on how fast they are gaining on you.
for in-city use, PB super flash is one of the best in this regard.
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't know about goofy light regs, but I suspect Germany is pretty much the same as the rest of Europe....
My red Ultrafire WF-501B arrived today.
Firstly, it's BRIGHT !!
Here's some measurements, with a fresh battery:
Current draw at battery = 850 mA
Voltage measured at LED = 3.56V
Weight = 137g inc. battery
I put a fresh battery in at 7.33pm and the torch ran continuously until 11.30pm.
So the runtime is 4 hours less a few minutes on a single 18650.
I'm very happy with it and it fits the Fenix mount perfectly.
Luckily the Fenix mount also fits my seatpost very well, a fairly traditional 27.2 mm.
Build quality is very good, torch can be easily disassembled.
Seems well regulated, gets warm but not hot.
Not much else I can say really, cheap and lots and lots of red light.
Last edited by Unknown Cyclist; 03-23-09 at 06:19 PM.
#79
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If your light doesn't blink, you blend in with the surroundings. The blinky aspect makes you stand out and that's the whole reason for a light. This is not an opinion, it's fact. If your tail light doesn't blink, it's not as good, period. Get a Planet Bike SuperfFash. It's all you need. If you want more, get 2. You will get nothing better, you can get brighter, but not better.
Some of these are on solid, some on flash and I'm just adding a high power rear light as we speak
I'm not sure I'm going to blend in with the surroundings.
Blinkies are fine, but on their own they aren't 'better' than a fixed light.
A single blinky can be very difficult for a motorist to get a fix on.
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I knew there was at least one country which required no blinking tail lights.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#82
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Some of these are on solid, some on flash and I'm just adding a high power rear light as we speak
I'm not sure I'm going to blend in with the surroundings.
Blinkies are fine, but on their own they aren't 'better' than a fixed light.
A single blinky can be very difficult for a motorist to get a fix on.
I'm not sure I'm going to blend in with the surroundings.
Blinkies are fine, but on their own they aren't 'better' than a fixed light.
A single blinky can be very difficult for a motorist to get a fix on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEccxPPwXmI
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Be careful, this unknown cyclist had flashing lights and it appears that a motorist got a fix on him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEccxPPwXmI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEccxPPwXmI
#84
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#85
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
https://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/R...t_for_bicycles
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, Germany has it's own regulations which are under the StVZO regulations. Below is a translation of them.
https://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/R...t_for_bicycles
https://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/R...t_for_bicycles
Munich is in Bavaria, not Germany.
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Actually, I'm not here just to argue I posted details of the new red Ultrafire from DX (this is the Cheap, powerful rear light thread) - did you read it ?
Last edited by Unknown Cyclist; 03-24-09 at 02:03 AM.
#89
Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 27
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ok, Mr. Unknown beat me to the punch because I was too lazy (and busy) with ski patrol last weekend. he provided a good baseline report, mine will be less technical and more observational.
1. Full runtime on mine was 3h45m. I don't think my battery was fully charged, however.
2. The o-rings are cheap. I already trashed the tail cap o ring. Off to the hardware store.
3. Highly visible in daylight. Just what I wanted.
4. My LED was not perfectly centered, but WHO CARES. I'm not using this as a flashlight.
5. The Led unit is a drop in and you could replace it with another drop in if you wanted to use it as a flashlight. Double duty! Bonus.
6. My wife thinks I'm going to attract airplanes (my commute takes me past Portland International).
7. It was 10 dollars!
8. If encouraged, I would still be willing to take pictures of daytime and nighttime compared to my Niterider rear light and Superflash.
pdxsteve
1. Full runtime on mine was 3h45m. I don't think my battery was fully charged, however.
2. The o-rings are cheap. I already trashed the tail cap o ring. Off to the hardware store.
3. Highly visible in daylight. Just what I wanted.
4. My LED was not perfectly centered, but WHO CARES. I'm not using this as a flashlight.
5. The Led unit is a drop in and you could replace it with another drop in if you wanted to use it as a flashlight. Double duty! Bonus.
6. My wife thinks I'm going to attract airplanes (my commute takes me past Portland International).
7. It was 10 dollars!
8. If encouraged, I would still be willing to take pictures of daytime and nighttime compared to my Niterider rear light and Superflash.
pdxsteve
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This icon indicates a joke is being made.
In post #78 I said
I don't know about goofy light regs, but I suspect Germany is pretty much the same as the rest of Europe....
Not really a correction as I don't know what regs different countries have.
To quote Wikipedia:
German-Bavarian relations
It is a common joke in Germany that Bavaria is not part of Germany. In fact a minority seriously agrees with this notion; the Bayernpartei (Bavaria Party) advocates Bavarian independence from Germany. It is important to note that Bavaria was the only state to reject the West German constitution in 1949.
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 76
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ok, Mr. Unknown beat me to the punch because I was too lazy (and busy) with ski patrol last weekend. he provided a good baseline report, mine will be less technical and more observational.
8. If encouraged, I would still be willing to take pictures of daytime and nighttime compared to my Niterider rear light and Superflash.
pdxsteve
8. If encouraged, I would still be willing to take pictures of daytime and nighttime compared to my Niterider rear light and Superflash.
pdxsteve
Yes Steve! If you would be so kind as to take some night/day photos of your light. I'm sure many of us here including myself would love to see some beam shots.
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 414
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And if I might add to ilovebicycling's request, please note the name of the light and model. It has gotten buried in the discussion.
#93
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#94
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
nearly 4hrs is really good run time for a light that runs on only one battery.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#96
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Obviously because either the board is working less hard or the LED is.
So it's likely that if used on short journeys the total runtime could be slightly longer.
Pity they don't do a 2 x 18650 version....
#97
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
or some cold weather testing. I find I only get 90% of regular output power and run times when I'm riding the P7 in under -2c conditions.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#98
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,258
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
makes my life easier to not have to say the whole name.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#99
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 414
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The reason I asked for a repeat of the name is this:
I lurked here for some time before making a series of purchases that moved me from generation one to generation two lights. But to be able to do so, I had to follow a number of conversations that became a bit confusing.
Therefore, the reason I asked for the product name to be mentioned was so others could easily pick up on the work you people were advancing. Make sense?
And thanks for your efforts.
#100
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As the battery voltage drops the current draw increases so that the watts supplied to the LED remains the same.
With a fresh battery the voltage is high and the current draw is low.
With a tired battery the voltage is lower and more amps are taken from it to compensate.
This enables the driver to keep the current (and therefore the voltage) at the LED the same.
Having said that, before the LED went out I shone it on a white surface, then when it went out I did the same immediately after fitting a fresh battery and it was a little brighter.
Maybe the when the battery is nearly depleted it can't supply enough amps to keep the wattage the same and then the output drops ? I don't know for sure, more run tests and measurements required.
I'd say that if the light output did drop as low as 50% before going out, it must have been in the last 2 or 3 minutes.
Hope this helps....