Originally Posted by steveknight
maybe I should not have used the word cheat but inexpensive. I use the best connectors out there for my setup. I have a great computer controled system custom made for what I want fully sealed and it uses a magnet to control it so there is no switch to fail. I use the best sanyo cells out there. a very good computer controlled charger that no HID light charger can come close to matching. I use good bulbs that if in an emergancy and I don't have a spare can be bought at most lighting and home improvement stores. the housing is a car fog light housing that is steel and only 20.00 for a set of two.
yes mine is fully waterproof and as crashproof as any. bulb preplacemnt is easy and the unit does not have to be sent in like the L&M does (by the way it has pretty poor optics too) pretty much all the parts on my light can be bought at several places locally. can you say the same thing? when I did it I read up on it and talked to the experts and then did it right.
I have far more control over beam angle brightness light color and runtime then any commercial product out there. I can rewire it so I can put the cells anywhere I want and i can charge the cells really fast or really slow or antyhing inbetween.
I see where you're coming from here. I'm sure it's possible to build a good home made system. I'm just saying, like Merriwether, that when you compare systems, realize there is a difference between cheap and expensive. There is a reason why the high end systems cost so much. From what you describe, I guess I'd rather have your system, then a over the counter $100 system, whether it be Halogen, HID, or whatever.. But I'm sure you wouldn't build me one.