Originally Posted by
Unknown Cyclist
- The single P7 DX cycle light has a 4 x 18650 pack, whereas the homebrew is running two LEDs from the same number of batteries. It can't have better runtime.
I'll concede that point. I was thinking of runtime if you use the lower power modes on most p7s. I forgot that this light also has a multiple modes.
Originally Posted by
Unknown Cyclist
- There's no evidence that the P7 torches are better quality than the P7 cycle light, indeed common sense would suggest that DX gets them from a P7 torch manufacturer
The point being that the homebrew solution gives you the option of having better quality p7s, better housings, heatsinking, lenses, switches, etc. than is standard with this light. This won't necessarily always be the case, but the cost to upgrade the quality of the flashlight is marginal. Upgrading the DX light calls for some pretty serious mod's, from what I can tell.
Originally Posted by
Unknown Cyclist
- complete rubbish, you get A holder with 8 more connections to fail, extra weight and complexity and at absurd cost - give me a lightweight soldered pack any day. Plug a soldered pack in to charge or take a holder off the bike, remove the 18650s, charge 2 of them, wait a few hours and then charge the other 2 - it's a no brainer.
Not exactly. My cost calculation included 2 chargers, during which time you can use the holder with another set of batteries. Or, you can have 2 extra batteries and stagger the charges so you can still have 2 lights operating while 2 batt's at a time are charging. Or, you can forego the holder entirely and just put the batt's directly in the flashlight temporarily. If your p7 takes other kinds of batt's, you can use those as spares or emergency batts. None of this is an option with the DX light's dedicated soldered pack. As for extra weight, remember you are comparing one of these holders to two DX batt. packs.
Originally Posted by
Unknown Cyclist
- quality aside...you'll have long charge times unless you buy TWO chargers - thanks for adding the 'probably' though.
I figured 2 chargers initially. They're less than $8 ea. for a pretty decent one.
Originally Posted by
Unknown Cyclist
erm....there's no evidence that any of that is true. Why would it be cheaper to replace a P7 LED in a DX torch than replace a P7 LED in a DX cycle light ? (that might even have come from the same factory ?)
It might not be any cheaper to swap LEDs, but it might not even be possible depending on what you want to swap it with. What is nice is that you can swap entire lights , mix & match lights (i.e. red luxeon in rear), and easily replace broken components like switches, mounts, etc. The main thing is that you can still use the P7s as handheld flashlights. They're not married to your bike. I'm not a big fan of "integrated solutions" like this unless they are highly engineered. I still prefer a separate printer, fax, copier.
I'm not saying there is anything really wrong with this system. But it's far from a "no brainer". Most people who buy it will use it "as is". That's fine. But unless you do extensive mod's to it there are definite advantages to a separate component based system despite the admittedly high cost of that holder, especially if you're not into hacking up an already built light set in order to "improve" it. And especially if you already have a p7 or two. And double especially if you have already modded a P7 or two and would like to use them on your bike.