Blinkie light took a dive this morning
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stringbreaker
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Blinkie light took a dive this morning
I was about a mile from home this morning about 4:20 AM and stopped to get a news paper so I did what I always do and turned of all the lights on my bike. When I returned not 30 seconds later and turned on the lights my rear blinkie that has been so reliable and true just died and yep you guessed it the batteries were shot. I mean this thing was working like a champ when I left the house as bright as all get out and it just puked. Luckily I wear one of those killer green reflective vests and my jacket and rack trunk have reflective stripes on them but I was worried all the way to work. Needless to say there are some extra batteries in the rack trunk so if that happens again I can change em out on the spot. DUH always carry extra batteries.
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That's why I have two blinkies and charge them on different days. That way, I'll always have at least one blinkie working. It's kind of misleading with batteries and blinkies. When the battery is weak it will be bright for the first few flashes and then goes dim after you stop looking at it.
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Dual lights each way (at least a backup be seen light up front) and spare batteries is my vote.
Some people would probably find me nuts but here is what I run:
Dinotte 200L headlight (upgraded 5W) 4AAs
Cateye 300 Headlight 4AAs (to be seen backup light)
Helmet outlined with el-WIRE neon rope light 2AAs https://www.technomoves.com/e-wire_page.html
Dual PB Superflashes 2AAAs apiece
Dinotte Tail Light 4AAs
Lighted arm bands
Reflectors up the wazoo helmet/frame/barwrap/bags/tires and me.
Reflective clearcoat
I carry 4 spare AAs and 2 spare AAAs and 2 spare watch batteries
I have a charger at work that does both AA and AAA if neccessary.
The dinotte's replace a 15W halogen/trailer LED brake light I had been running with a 7 amp lead acid battery. It was Heeavy.
Looking at that I guess I am nuts. I end up talking to way too many police officers at night
Some people would probably find me nuts but here is what I run:
Dinotte 200L headlight (upgraded 5W) 4AAs
Cateye 300 Headlight 4AAs (to be seen backup light)
Helmet outlined with el-WIRE neon rope light 2AAs https://www.technomoves.com/e-wire_page.html
Dual PB Superflashes 2AAAs apiece
Dinotte Tail Light 4AAs
Lighted arm bands
Reflectors up the wazoo helmet/frame/barwrap/bags/tires and me.
Reflective clearcoat
I carry 4 spare AAs and 2 spare AAAs and 2 spare watch batteries
I have a charger at work that does both AA and AAA if neccessary.
The dinotte's replace a 15W halogen/trailer LED brake light I had been running with a 7 amp lead acid battery. It was Heeavy.
Looking at that I guess I am nuts. I end up talking to way too many police officers at night
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ebblazer,
That setup is more likely to get you hit.
That setup is more likely to get you hit.
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My blinkie has gone literally years with one set of batteries. Am beginning to wonder if they do even die. I commute home at night every day.
#7
stringbreaker
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I put new batteries in my blikie light and its so bright I hadn't realized it was getting dimmer, oh yeah and now I have one of those spoke lights on the front that flashes green and red and then I bought some valve cover lights that flash neon green I want to be seen thats for sure. I think the wife is getting me a 15 watt head light for my birthday which happens to fall on fathers day this year so I'm gonna make out like a fat rat. My son works for REI so I know he's going to get me some bike goodies. will fill you all in on the cool stuff I get for the Road Warrior, thats what I named my commuter bike.
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Originally Posted by RomSpaceKnight
My blinkie has gone literally years with one set of batteries. Am beginning to wonder if they do even die. I commute home at night every day.
If you ride a lot at night, an interesting solution is to visit your hardware store and get a charger with rechargeable batteries. But then, recharge them often and make sure you have two taillights because rechargeable remain at almost full brightness... until they die.
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There's a guy I see commuting some days. He has a blinkie light that is about the brightness of a firefly at noon. I think he needs new batteries.
I use NiMH AA rechargables. They don't supply as much voltage as alkaline AAs, but in the long run they're a heck of a lot cheaper. I recharge weekly. (My weekly total light time is about 2.5 hours, tops.)
I use NiMH AA rechargables. They don't supply as much voltage as alkaline AAs, but in the long run they're a heck of a lot cheaper. I recharge weekly. (My weekly total light time is about 2.5 hours, tops.)
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don't try this at home.
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I have a Topeak Redlite. One ounce with batteries. It attaches with a rubber o-ring. It uses two coin batteries, and lasts a long time. I carry spare batteries for it. It has two bright leds aimed straight back, and two more smaller ones aimed to the side.
So this would make a good second tail light.
I have the Topeak headlight, too, it uses the same batteries. It's a good front blinker, but I had to make a tether out of an inner tube section, because the strap tends to come loose.
So this would make a good second tail light.
I have the Topeak headlight, too, it uses the same batteries. It's a good front blinker, but I had to make a tether out of an inner tube section, because the strap tends to come loose.
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Originally Posted by Pippin
ebblazer,
That setup is more likely to get you hit.
That setup is more likely to get you hit.
I also have read about and personally have problems judging where a single blinky is so I only have only one light blink in each direction the rest are steady. Over tens of thousands of miles of commuting I have ridden in thunderstorms, hail, sleet, snow, fog during the day or night and have never had any drive over me because they saw my lights and reflectors. I figure I'll get hit eventually by someone paying no attention when I'm not paying enough attention or intentionally but it shouldn't be from someone distracted by my lights or not seeing them.