just arrived. The Vendor's store/item listed here:
https://www.batteryspace.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=1369
I'm commuter... about 30mi round trip daily plus many New Mexico weekend &
club rides. I went through all the LED lights trying to avoid more expensive HID/Halogen
setup, w/little satisfaction (cheap is sometimes expensive), then bought Alias 10w Halogen,
Part # 3026 from Planet Bike:
http://www.planetbike.com/highpower.html#
which I used for about 7 months until light was stolen w/bike a few weeks ago.
The Alias was more than satisfactory: light mount was flexible in positioning,strong
and very well made. Safe charger for NiMH battery pack. The 10w spot beam was
excellent, even on unlit roads. Only gripes:
a) advertised 2 1/2 burn time was not enough... too many times I finished night rides
w/battery gone. And burn time closer to 2 hrs.
b) Planet bike had no hardware for light<>battery pack extension, which was
too short to carry battery on belt or in pack. I made one up w/few things
from Radio Shack, but it cost about $20.
Ok, so bike/ight was stolen, I got new bike & I shopped lights... @ bike shops,
Google, Nashbar etc. for several evenings. I Decided to take a chance on this
BatterySpace light. I had email conversations w/one of their techs prior to
purchase, he was responsive and helpful. And their articles seemed professional
and informative. This light, @ $129, nothing else really close for that price. What
really sold me was 4 hr burn time for 15w. They sell bulbs for $2.99, so I bought
additional 10/12w flood and spot since the 10w was good enough before. I assume
that's going to jump burn time running 1 lamp a good bit above 4 hrs. I'll let u know.
So I unpacked it all today... a few problems.
- No battery pack case
- Charger connection to battery is blk/rd aligator clips, not dual pin
connector the light requires. In other words, I can't charge it.
(sigh).
I got on the phone, tech guy was responsive & helpful... he asked me to email
photograph which I did: said he suspected they sent me wrong charger. I'll
let you know how that goes. He said he would mail out the battery pack
(belt/handlebar) case.
So I thought by chance battery may be charged, and indeed it is. I'll take it out
for a spin after dark and report back.
Initial impressions:
- the dual headlight enclosure is aluminum... seems strong & well made.
Handle bar mount is 2 thumbscrews, seems solid enough. (The Alias mount
was a bit more secure IMO).
Right now, I'd give build quality +/-8.5, design 7.5.
- Documentation was near nil... nothing for the charger!!! The charger appears
to be made by batterspace from other components they sell, tied together in
moderately thick 2 piece shrink wrap black plastic. I kind'a like the Alias
hard plastic enclosure a little better now.
I have a concern wiring could
be yanked out of battery w/fall or accidental (something).
I'll reserve judgement on this until bar/belt case arrives and I use it a bit.
Ok, I'll update impressions of light after couple nights of riding, along w/response
and action by Batteryspace to straighten out charger problem.
FWIW, I bought several other items from them:
- I have a (name brand, forgot the name... label has long worn off) 3 mode,
flat light that came w/adjustable & robust elastic strap which can easily
go on arm/wrist/ankle (I attach it to rear of back pack) and makes a
good tail light. It takes 2 2032 disk batteries, which go for $4.99 a pop
in Walgreens. I use 'em up on average every 2 weeks.
So I ordered BatterySpace's 2032 LIon & charger for about $10. Listed here:
https://www.batteryspace.com/index.a...OD&ProdID=2421
Again, instructions/documentation a little better but as others have noted appears
to be written by non-native speakers... eg:, it's approx 100% unintelligable.
Instructions indicated charge time 1.2 hrs per battery (2.4 for 2 of 'em). This
charger got 'em both ready in about 40 mins. Charger seems just a tad flimsy,
but not too bad. There is warning against overcharging even though this is
supposed to be a "smart" charger. I asked tech guy about this when calling
on other stuff, he said a couple hours extra in the socket won't hurt but
try not to leave it in overnight.
Since there's warning in instructions not
to use charger in room w/carpet (presumably fire hazard warning), I think
I'll take that to heart.
Regardless, batteries charged right up and light works like new Energizer
2032s... so even if I only get 6 months out this rig, still damn good deal
for me.
Charger was supposed to come w/1 battery so I ordered 1 extra. Batteryspace
included 3 extra (4 total) at no charge.
- bought charger & 2 batteries for my Nikkon point and click:
https://www.batteryspace.com/index.a...ROD&ProdID=910
Instructions a little better, still not quite up to par. This charger seems better
made than 2032. Batteries charged right up in 3hrs <, as Batteryspace said.
These things cost +/- $10 a piece @ Walgreens, so again... won't take a lot
of recharges for this thing to pay for itself. And if burn time for these things
even close to what Batteryspace claims, I'll get at least 25% more pics per
battery out of these things.