get a minoura space grip and use a handlebar mounting block, sku 8274.
otherwise use a twofish handlebar mounting block which is velcro.

See my sig for inspiration.

I've had my Trustfire battery in the UltraFire charger for about 5 hours now. Shouldn't it be charged by now?

Get a digital multimeter and measure the voltage. If it's equal to 4.2V, it's done. If it's greater than 4.2V, stop charging since you may have a problem with the charger (it's overcharged). If it's less than 4.2V, it's not done yet.

I read up on the ultrafire WF-139 charger that I got, and found that it can, in some situations, overcharge the battery before stopping the charge. I checked the voltage at the end of some charges for some of the trustfire batteries I have and they read about ~4.32V and dropped to 4.2V within 10 or 20 mins. I guess charging past 4.2V degrades the life of the battery and can be very dangerous if it continues to charge past 4.2V.

I purchased the Pila IBC charger (http://www.flashlightz.com/product.p...product=171829) and can recommend that charger. Even though it doesn't say it works with 18650 batteries, it certainly does. It properly terminates the charge using the constant current/ constant voltage algorithm.

Why oh why does the ultrafire charger overcharge? I dunno.

It just finished. I figure near 6 hours.

recommendations, if you're getting them from DX:

you want the P7 C-bin, (or D/E bin which are better)
the main problem with P7 and MC-E LEDs for throw is that the emitter is a large 4-in-1 diode and has a rather wide emitting angle compared to a single diode Q5.
there's nothing on the market right now for a throwing P7 or MC-E, but there are DIY solutions, so it is possible.

MTE P7-C: 12623, 16092, 13060
not sure about the other makers.
trustfire with it's massive head might be a better thrower than MTE P7 lights. 13336
batteries: 5790
charger: 6105

mounts-
handlebar mount: 8274
helmet mount: 12000
for 31.8mm bars there's nothing on DX that's suitable.

I just found that out the hard way. I thought it would fit 31.8 and I swapped my commuter big sweep bar for drops today. I got to pop the light on and :bang::bang::bang:

However, I put a small zip-tie through the holes and pulled it taught with a 4th Hand tool and it seems to hold pretty securely. I am interested to find a better 31.8 mount as I have a few people that want to buy one of these lights off me and they have 31.8 drops.

TwoFish CyclopBlock (big brother to the LockBlock). http://www.lighthound.com/Twofish-Cy..._p_6-2251.html

I don't think a battery that comes off the charger at 4.32V is anything to worry about if it's stabilizing at 4.2V quickly like that.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=154222

The discussion there begs to differ, as well as some informative links provided by users. The problem isn't that it goes to 4.3 and then settles to 4.2, it's that if you don't remove it from the charger, it could remain at 4.3 or higher, which reduces the lifespan of the battery. I'm not an expert, but if peeps at a forum addicted to flashlights and li-ion batteries are worried about a charge of 4.3 or higher, I think the average person should at the very least take note.

The Ultrafire 1000l P7 has pretty good throw:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/...a629f79cc4.jpg

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15572

2x 18650 light. I'd be afraid of it falling off the bars unless it was secured in two spots.

but otherwise looks good.

Thanks for the all the info. Just ordered the 16092 w/ batteries and charger. Should be great for the shorter day.s

Here's a pic with my 3 X Q5 (2 X18650s). It doesn't budge. The P7 is similarly tethered, but with 3 velcro mounts.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/...c92595457b.jpg

that is the kind of setup I was thinking for the 2x18650 flashlights, lol

did you shim the rear one to get the light to point down?

Yep, shimmed.

Simple, cheap and secure, but limited on-the-fly adjustment (not a major problem for me as it's my road bike set-up).

I’m about to take the P7 plunge and just wanted to make sure I’m getting the right stuff. I’m leaning towards a 5 mode light since I think the 8 is overkill. What’s the difference between the two below?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092
Also which mount should I get for my handlebars (Salsa Moto Ace Bell Lap, 26.0mm)? I see 2 were recommended in this thread.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8274
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004
And the battery and charger below will work with this?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790 - battery
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105 - charger
Thanks!

Rdubbz,

good luck on taking the plune. This week I received the flashlight with 16092--very bright. I also got the batteries with SKU 5790 and the charger with 6105. Good news is that once it shipped from DX I had it in about 7 days.

As to the mounting, it's kind of hard to get right, I'd just order a few of the cheaper ones and see what works, they are all pretty inexpensive anyway. I needed more than one anyway since I'm planning on swapping between bikes. If the cheaper ones don't work, I'd splurge on 13004. I would not get Twofishes Lockblock as that it is a little too small for the 16092. I believe that the larger Twofishes product (Bikebloack??) would work. In any event, I don't think DX sells those, try 4 sevens. From DX, I ordered 8274 and 15342 and I'm still experimenting with those on my two bikes. I might get 792 as well if the other two don't work.

I have had absolutely no problems with the $1.90 Universal Bicycle Mount. Sometimes, simple is better. Only wish I had bought several.

thanks JPCowan. I pulled the trigger and got the 16092, 2 battery packs, charger and ended up getting both mounts. I figure the mount I like the least will go on my backup bike.

Yup; I bought one the first time, and bought the second when I got a second bike. Both are great; I just pop the light back and forth.

And the 8-mode is the only P7/MC-E I'll buy. The different strobes have come in handy several times (most recently last night, when the 3/sec strobe was better in the fog than high for visibility in traffic).

+1, I'm looking for a 2nd flashlight and would like to use AA's. I thought I saw one linked here somewhere, but I couldn't find it. I'm currently using a Romisen.

18650s are the future, man:thumb: Use your AAs in your portable cassette player.

Question about chargers. Some people upthread are reccommeding SKU 6105 seen here:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6105

I read somewhere not to buy a cheap charger. I also read this this charger is great:
http://www.flashlightz.com/product.p...product=171829

And works with these batteries:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790

Which charger should I get?

Many thanks!

if you check closely, those pila 300/600 batteries are not the same as 18650.

18650 is 3.7V~4.2V, the pila 300 is 4.5V, pila 600 is 6V.

18650 is the same diameter as CR123A, and they give the same voltage, but they're not the same height.

the digital charges faster than the trust fire, except you're limited to 18650 batterys. if you want to charge other sizes, trustfire is good. but for 18650 only the digital is much better.