What are 18650s -- I've never heard of them?

Do they fit in standard chargers, or do they require something special?

And what does "regulated" mean?

Lithium Ion batteries, you need a special charger for them.

Regulated means they are protected from overcharging and from being overly discharged. Definitely buy the regulated ones, they are a bit more, but they are safer.

Overcharging lithium ion batteries can lead to fires. :mad:They should not be left unattended when charging.

I think someone said they are the batteries used to power laptop computers.

If you open a laptop battery pack, you'll find a bunch of 18650 cells inside. Usually between 6 and 9.

Yes they are, that was a problem a few years back with the laptop fires. I am not sure if they were not regulated back then or just had a problem with the regulation. They have gotten better, at least you don't hear about any laptop fires on the news anymore (at least I haven't), but that still does not mean they are 100% safe.

You should never charge them unattended, doesn't mean you have to watch them the whole time, but you should at least be in the same area.

I do not mean to scare anyone, many of these batteries are used daily with out incident. You just need to respect them.

Does anyone know if any of these mounts allow for mounting on a bar that is neither perpendicular nor parallel to the forward direction? I want to mount them to the outside corners of a "trekking" style handlebar. I'm trying to avoid locations that would cause me to lose hand positions as well as work around lowrider panniers and handlebar bag.

I have no experience with it, but this mount might work for you.

https://www.4sevens.com/product_info...roducts_id=388

Anyone have any ideas on this DX P7 light? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092

I'm kind of tired of waiting for my 8-mode and might change it up for this. The idea of starting on high seems nice and it's regulated apparently. The battery life looks to be just a little shorter but I don't think it'll matter too much since I'm going to do something silly like hook it up to a 20Ah battery pack (I'm getting two of these P7s).

Yeah, if I didn't want to wait, I'd get one of the two new regulated 5-mode P7s.

Which ones are those?

Edit: I sorted them by release date and I think I see the two you are talking about. One has 2000mAh circuit current output, and one has 2800mA current output? Which one should I get?

Get the 2800mA one. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092 The higher current output should mean a brighter light on high.

As an update to the thread, I've had my P7 for about a month now, and it's hands down one of the best bike-related purchases I've made. I just came home from a night ride with it (to a friend's house and back), and the greatest compliment I can give a piece of gear is that I don't have to think about it when I use it. The P7 in front is like that. I know I'm visible to cars approaching me, as well as to cars close behind me, and I can see whatever's in front of me. It's great.

alright i just placed an order for 2 of these babies
the 8 modes one
2 bike mounts
and enough batteries to last me for a 3+ hours trip.
my longest commute time has been 2 hours, so having spare batteries for 3+ hours should be plenty enough.
and also ordered a charger

Entire setup ran up to 150 aprox

still cheaper than the high end systems that only offers 240 lumens.
for the price of 1 HOPE Vision, i now get 2 better flashlights that can even outperform high end heavy lights systems.

I just ordered the 5 mode, batteries and charger as all are in stock. I wanted to go with the higher output P7, but I didn't want to wait 1-3 months as some others have. $65 shipped. Not bad at all!

My two 5-mode P7s finally shipped, I'm very pumped. I can't wait to blast 1000+ lumens + my L2D on my helmet.

you'll enjoy the lights, I've been running the MTE 8 mode on the bars since summer, and been enjoying them alot. Been speed tested to 38mph so far, so nothing to fear when it comes to the P7 setup.

Looking for a lighter weight helmet light right now for the techy MTB trails, something either Q5 or R2 format.

this is the pack i got to power my future p7 project. $10 for a 4000mah lithium pack w/charger, selectable voltage output, jacketed colied cabled, nifty bike-sized enclosure, remaining power level meter.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

i don't know how it will do on a p7 yet, but for $10 i couldn't pass it up!

did a ride early, came up on the last hill and found two rider without a light climbing....pitch black yah smart choice. First thing they guy said "that's an awesome light" I told him not bad for a flashlight LOL. I rode with them the 1/2 mile down a 9% grade downhill back to the car.

Told him where he can get it, another new P7 customer out there!!!

which p7 flashlight is the best? and which charger should i get?

The best P7 is any P7 in stock! I've read horror stories about 1-3 month backorders. The 5 mode was in stock, so I just ordered it yesterday.

My status is currently "On 10/15/2008: Order Received - in stock" :) Sweet!

Are you going to hook that up as a remote power source?

I've bought two, one 2-mode and another 5-mode, they've both been sent out and I'm waiting for the mail man to deliver.

MTE P7 lights are inherently better than the Aurora brand. more flood, according to candlepower and the reviews on dealextreme page.

the trustfire all-in-one charger is not good, low amps so it takes forever to charge the batteries. I counted around 10hrs to charge 2x 18650 batteries.
1A charger, if you only have one light to charge, then: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5837

i think it will work out the same, if you charge 1 single battery using the Trustfire all in one charger vs. this 1A charger

the Trustfire AIO charger is rated 500mA for 2 batteries.

reading from the other chargers that support 1 to 4 batteries, this is the table:

- Charging currents:
1 battery @ 1400mA
2 batteries @ 700mA/battery
3 batteries @ 465mA/battery
4 batteries @ 350mA/battery

I like my MTE light, a friend asked me to order one for her. Hope they are in stock...

Am I to understand from this thread that DX's 2-5 day shipping estimate is inaccurate?

If they have the item in stock, it'll probably leave their Hong Kong facility in 2-5 days. From there, figure 7-10 days to reach the continental U.S., so be patient :)

it's airmailed from HK, but 2-5 days was pretty accurate for my order.
I've yet to find out how fast the actual torch will arrive.

Received my 5 mode MTE today. Lights the h3!! out of my back yard. Does not feel cheap at all. Looking forward to some night rides with it.

Well didn't order another P7 for my friend, happens I was looking for a good spot light with good throw for my helmet and told her that I'd order her one too. If she didn't like it I'd trade her my P7 + the difference of the JetBeam III that was ordered cuz I'm sure two of these suckers are overkill and have twice the runtime of the P7:thumb:

Takes the same 18650 bat as the P7 so I only have to carry one style and one inch shorter then the MTE P7 which the helmet would like.

http://www.dealextreme.com/productim...ku_13775_5.jpg
$72 http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13775

Model: JET-III PRO IBS (3.7V Special Version)
LED: CREE 7090 XR-E (Q5 bin)
Max Output: 225 Lumen (Torch Lumen)
Reflector: OP aluminum reflector
Lens: Sapphire crystal
Material: T6061 T6 aircraft aluminum alloy
Finish: HA III Military grade hard annodized
Battery: one 18650 rechargeable Lithium Battery
Input voltage: 0.7-4.2V
Switch: Reverse push button switch
Waterproof: Accord to IPX-8 standard
Dimension: Bezel diameter 33mm, Tail diameter 24mm, Overall length 128mm
Weight: 115g
Patented Product.

Output & Runtime:
18650 Rechargeable Lithium Battery
Max Output: 225 Lumen, lasting for 1.5 hours
Default Mode A Output: 180 Lumen, lasting for 2 hours and 15min
Default Mode B Output: 20 Lumen, lasting for 21 hours
Min Output: 2 Lumen, lasting for 150 hours


Main selling point was the IBS curcuitry:

JETBeam's innovative UI---I.B.S. (Infinite Brightness Setting), new driver circuit and related fresh models.

Compared with the UI of former JETBeam products, I.B.S. is superior in easier operation and better use. There are three memory modes in I.B.S. circuit, each mode can be set by users for different brightness levels or functions. The brightness setting as well as strobe frequency of I.B.S. are infinitely variable, with no traditional preset limits at all. The I.B.S. UI is very simple and straight, users will be able to adjust the brightness / function of the light within shortest time. Thanks to the free setting of the 3 memory modes, users are going to have more than one million brightness / function matching, which shall meet the requirments of most.

All JETBeam new models in 2008 use the newly-developed driver circuit. Compared with those used in former JETBeam products during the past few years, this new driver circuit has greater capability, when using one single Lithium battery, it generates amazing output, about 225 lumen (Torch Lumen) from one CREE Q5 LED. This new circuit not only has higher efficiency, but also lower low output. Combined with the I.B.S. UI, users can obtain as low as 2 lumen brightness level lasting for about 50 hours (when using one single 14500 OR RCR123A rechargeable Lithium battery). The input voltage of this driver circuit is the same, 0.7-4.2V, and is compatible with one AA battery, two AA batteries, one CR123A battery or one AA rechargeable Lithium battery. Different from former driver circuit, this new one is optimized for both one AA and Lithium to make it better compatible with both batteries, which enables the flashlight to maintain excellent circuit efficiency for any kind of batteries, and to reach amazing output and achieve extended long runtime. Moreover, this new driver circuit will be the most reliable and stable circuit in the history of JETBeam products, after a long time's testing, we found that the natural damage rate is much lower than that of the previous circuits,and this result strengthens the reliability of JETBeam flashlight. We believe, JETBeam flashlight with newly-designed driver circuit and I.B.S. UI will surely stand out from other competitors in 2008

Mode Switching
There are three modes in JET-I MK. I.B.S.---A,B and C. Under default, A is High brightness, B is Low brightness, and C the warning signal. When switched on each time, the light enters mode A. Lightly press the tail cap button, the light will go from mode A -> B -> C in cycle.

Entering the Hidden Menu
Aside of the three default modes, JET-I MK. I.B.S. can be adjusted to kinds of brightness and functions according to different requirements of users. Lightly press onto the tail cap button three times or more continuously within a second on any mode of A,B or C, the light enters Hidden Menu, users can set any levels of brightness or functions preferred for the certain mode. (e.g. Users lightly press the tail cap button three times continously when on A, then the light enters Hidden Menu, and users can set a brightness level or function for this mode; Likewise, if users enter from B, then you can set another brightness level or function for mode B; ect.) There are also three items included in this Hidden Menu---Brightness Setting, Special Functions Selecting and Reset Function.

Brightness Setting
After entering the Hidden Menu, the light goes into the Brightness Setting directly. Under this item, the brightness will go from Min to Max gradually, and stop at Max, then go back to Min and repeat the process, one cycle takes about 8 seconds. During this process, the light flickers once at Min, and twice at 50% output; and three times at Max (100%) to remind users the current brightness level. Users can switch off the light at any level you preferred, wait for more than 2 seconds to switch on, then the brightness you choose will be memorized as the mode from which you enter the Hidden Menu. Users can set different brightness levels for all the three modes according to own habits.

Special Functions Selecting
After entering the Brightness Setting item of the Hidden Menu, lightly press the tail cap button once, the light enters the Special Functions Selecting. Under this item, the light will perform all the special functions automatically. It firstly goes from 1HZ strobe to 15HZ strobe, which takes about 8 seconds. Then it goes on showing other special functions, including warning signal, standby signal (it flickers once every 8 seconds to remind the position of the light), 100% SOS and 5% SOS. If users would like to select any of the special function for the certain mode, only switch off the light under that function, and wait for more than 2 seconds to switch on, then the function will be memorized as the certain mode. Combined with the Brightness Setting, users not only have various brightness choice, but also special functions for different usage according to own habits.

Reset Function
After entering the Special Functions Selecting item of the Hidden Menu, lightly press the tail cap button once, the light enters Reset Function. Users switch off the light, and wait for more than 2 seconds to switch on, it resumes the default modes of A B C from factory (A: High brightnes; B:Low brightness; C: Warning Signal). If users do not need to reset, then lightly press the tail cap button once again, the light will go back to Brightness Setting item of the Hidden Menu.


Basically there are 3 modes that are pre programed (180/20/SOS) OR that I can customize those modes to whatever need ranging from the full 225 lumen to 2 lumens. So I'll probably set it to something like 150lumens, Max 225lumens, MED speed strobe.

Just as long as it's a real JetBeam, and not a counterfeit. Fake Tiablo lights found @ DealExtreme. Ouch! :(