emman123

I was thinking what would happen if I get one of those Chinese headlights on ebay such as this one:

" '13000' Lumen 8x CREE XML T6 LED Torch Bicycle Bike Light Lamp 12000mAh EU Charger"

13000 Lumen 8x CREE XML T6 LED Torch Bicycle Bike Light Lamp 12000mAh EU Charger | eBay


I doubt it's really 13000 lumen but probably it's still powerful even if it's 'only' 2000 lumen
now If I get a red or amber lenses which could somehow fit onto this light and convert it into a tail light,
how many lumens will I gain, will it work and what will be the disadvantages?

thank you!

- Emmanuel

Looigi

Monochromatic LEDs emit one color and put all their lumens into that one color. White LED lamps emit a broad spectrum of colors (AKA white light). A colored filter produces color by virtue of blocking all other colors, so much of the light that the white LED puts out will be blocked and you'll be losing a lot of lumens and efficiency. A 65 lumen red LED may well be brighter than what you wind up with after putting a red filter in front of a much brighter white LED.

10 Wheels

Try this one. 2500LM CREE XM L T6 LED Bicycle Bike Head Light Hunting Lamp Headlamp 4x18650 | eBay.

With This Lens. Action-LED-Lights ? Wide Angle Lens - RED

emman123

thank you 10 Wheels, but I understand from Looigi this kind of solution wouldn't be as powerful as a 60 lumen red rear light for instance Serfas, or in your experience using these lenses you recomended produces a more powerful than 60 lumens light?

ItsJustMe

You want to get an actual red LED, not put a filter on. The light will get extremely hot with a red filter on - most of the light that the LED is putting out will get absorbed by the filter, and the only thing that can happen to it is to turn it into heat.

If you start with 500 lumens, you'll be lucky to have 100 at the end - more likely 60 or so, and you can just go buy a good 60 lumen light that will be much more compact and designed to mount properly for < $35.

Plus, most of the battery power is just pissed away as heat.

Get a red light to start with, or buy a red LED module to replace the existing one.

2manybikes

On top of the other problems, you will end up with a large bulky light that needs a separate power source. Also it is not designed to be visible from the side, as a good tail light will be.

Get this and be done with the project. And save a few bucks.

CygoLite Hotshot Micro Rear Bike Light - REI.com

emman123

yeah I did consider a hotshot and was quite ready to get myself something more substantial than my blinky something like a hotshot or Serfas but then "ItsJustMe"
one of the forum members showed me a video he made of these lights and the DS 500 during full sunshine (the time when I ride) the only rear light that seemed to make an impression and create any noticeable effect in the full sunlight was the DS 500. then I was thinking about a cheap workaround as the DS 500 is costly.... I guess there is no valid cheap workaround....
but then why "10 Wheels" recommended something here, surely it works for him\her no?

ItsJustMe

As you say, the Hotshot (IMO) is not in any way a daylight visible taillight.

However, take a look at the Pulse60 on this one, I think it qualifies as "visible" though probably not "commanding attention in the daylight" as the DS500 does:

https://youtu.be/CSo39h_xzFc?t=6m23s

And also, the Magicshine light in this one:

https://youtu.be/12xDjS-ot8w

(admittedly a nighttime comparison)

The Magicshine is about equivalent to the old Dinotte 140R taillight (I used to own both, though I don't have any video).

Though nothing really is a competitor to the DS500 (apart from the Dinotte quad red, probably close to as good and at $190 with battery it's a good $50 cheaper even if you get a very cheap battery for the DS500.

emman123

thank you ItsJustMe I see what you mean, the Axiom does have some visibility and at night it seemed to me as good as the Magicshine rear light I suppose the Serfas in the night video is like the Axiom right?
yeah, having watched the new camera video all over again (I think I already watched it 6 times), there is that point where you have the DS in low and then in high, and then I feel like forget about it that's the ONLY one that actually make a difference, I can see how as a driver seeing a DS500 might change my decisions with regard to how am I going to relate to that 'thing' on the road, with the other lights, I see a cyclist with a red thingie which blinks around their butt, I might still want to overtake them too close or push them around a bit to clear the way for my BIG CAR hehehe
sigh... how is the serfas the 80 lumen version?

fietsbob

theres red tape for those who cannot replace taillights right away , Big Box auto department.

ItsJustMe

Yes, the Axiom Pulse 60 seems to be a pretty much exact clone of the Serfas 60 lumen light. I have not compared them directly though, since I bought the Pulse 60 after losing the Serfas light (DO NOT TRUST their clip mount, the one that clips over a fabric strap - the Pulse 60 fabric clip seems to pretty much suck as well).

I have never seen the 80 lumen version.

The Dinotte lights are worth a look as well - their quad red and quad amber seem nice, and I have to say that the separate battery pack is a bit of a pain in the butt. I'd love to see a side by side Dinotte Quad Red against a DS500. I think the DS500 would still win in daylight, since it has 6 drivers and the Dinotte has 4, but the Dinotte is likely to be "good enough" and more convenient.

They say on the Dinotte site, "if your taillight isn't making drivers slow down, wait behind you properly and pass you safely, it's not doing its job." I tend to agree.

ALL daylight visible lights are going to have relatively short runtime. You don't get that kind of brightness and do like we did with Superflashes years ago - put two AAA cells in and run them for 2 months.

emman123

yeah good point Dinotte got there, that's exactly it and that's why I should have a powerful rear light... I would also like to see the quad red or amber in action especially during the day, maybe I'll start a new thread and ask if anyone tried these and maybe could share a video of their effectiveness in the full sun?

ItsJustMe

I'm resisting the temptation to buy a quad red now. I don't need one but I'd like to see one. I spend too much money on this stuff already.

emman123

buying one just to see it in action! boy what a novelty! well if it's good it can exchange one of the less powerful lights in your setup... but really with a DS you don't need anything else I think you are already as good as one can get...
actually I think if I would have had a DS I would have just use that one without the other lights because i think maybe it's confusing to see all kind of blinking lights.... it's enough with one powerful DS isnt it?
on the road today I saw a car with one of those rooftop automotive amber lights the ones that use the car's battery, it was very very powerful I could see it from far away in the full daylight, but unfortunately such a setup would be cumbersome on a bicycle... it would have had achieved the desirable effect though....

if you end up getting one of those self contained dinottes, would you be willing to make a video these light demo videos really help! for some reason I can't find ANY videos of this quad amber... no one wants to get it and make a video for us?

KenshiBiker

If nobody else comes through in the next day or two, I'll try to see what I can come up with (kind of busy until Friday). I have both a Dinotte Quad Red and a couple of Niterider Solas (2W) taillights. I run them both (actually two of the Solas plus the Quad Red) while I'm commuting, but just the Quad Red when I'm out riding recreationally. No question the Quad Red exceeds the output from the Solas by a wide margin; it's a very nice light.

sarah morin

This one would be better for you , i think
clich here from ebay

emman123

KenshiBiker that would be great if you can make a video of your setup especially in daylight, showing the solas and then showing the dinotte and then all of them together to show the superiority of the dinotte....

sarah morin thanks for the suggestion but I think I learned on this thread here that DIY'ing a headlamp isn't the best way to go about it...

TXSS

I was just starting to look into this same idea. I wouldn't give up on the idea so quickly, especially when no one here has even tried it.

The lens that 10 Wheels recommended gets positive reviews on Amazon. I plan on ordering one. I thought about 3M taillight tape. It has a maximum temp of 300 degrees.

emman123

TXSS how do you plan to avoid the over-heating problem? the tape might be fine but what about the lamp and the batteries?
having said that, if you go about it and it works for you please report back here so I (and everyone else who stumble upon this thread) may learn from your experience... thanks in advance

10 Wheels

The lens and light are on the top.The bottom ones are Dinottes 140Ls

https://www.facebook.com/10Wheels/vi...type=3&theater

TXSS

If the lens works, I won't need to try the tape. I'm not too concerned with the heat. If it is set to strobe, I have a hard time imagining it would get hotter than it set to constant high for an extended period of time. I also have a light that wouldn't work with this lens. I'd need tape for that one. It has cooling fins which should help.

Here is the Amazon link to check the reviews. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A3LAUHQ1KI9YJV

emman123

thank you TXSS

emman123

10 Wheels thank you, I would really like to see it or a video of your setup but the link doesn't work for me for some reason...
I get this error on Facebook:


[h=2]This content is currently unavailable[/h]The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

Doohickie

Why?

TXSS

I can't speak for emman123, but for me it would be an attempt to find a cost effective alternative to the DS 500. If it doesn't work out, I will end up purchasing the DS.