Help me replace my Halogens with LED flashlights...
 

Due to expiring batteries, I have decided to change from my 30 watt halogen setup and go to LED flashlights. Can i achieve acceptable results? I would like to run two handlebar mounted flashlights. I would like one with a shorter floodier beam and one for a long throw of light.

Run time isn't a huge issue, but would like to get at least 1hr.

Recommendations?

Here's a few more flashlight links for research:

http://www.4sevens.com/
http://www.elektrolumens.com/
http://www.dealextreme.com/products....sort.relevence
http://www.exposurelightsusa.com/
http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/m...ghts-c-27.html

You need to decide if you want ease of use AA, AA Rechargeable, 18650 etc.

I'm guessing 30w Halogen is equivalent to 700 to 900 lumens if say you get 30 lumen per watt. To be in the safe side, 1000 lumen should be as good and most likely better than your 30w halogen. Since you are looking at two flashlight, you have many choosing to pick from if you choose to use 18650 batteries. Personally I like a thrower to be at least 700 lumen and use like a 300 to 500 lumen for the flood. That combo should be better than your 30w halogen. Keep in mind that lots of DX flaslight lumen rating are overated, while flashlight from Shiningbeam, Fenix, 4seven and other good quality store are rated more close to the actual lumens.

1) pick you battery choice
2) find your price range
3) choose your lumen preference for the throw and flood

I picked up this AA flashlight from ShiningBeam about 6 weeks ago, and it has worked out very well. I mounted it to my helmet with a couple of strong bands and it provides so much light its unbelievable. I have a Planet Bike 2watt headlight also mounted on the bike, but it doesn't put out anywhere near as much light. The PB cost twice what this flashlight cost also. Wish I had saved myself some money and just purchased 2 flashlights. I use the light with Sanyo Eveloop AA rechargeables and get about 3 hours on high.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...h-N3-II/Detail

The best setup would be 2 of the lights at the bottom of the page, which would be 400 lumens per light and give you 80 minutes at full power but 2 hours of runtime.. The R5 light will give you 3+ hours of runtime but is 300 lumens per light, 2 of these together is a fine setup..

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...4-II-R5/Detail

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire-...er_p_2279.html

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire-...ry_p_3141.html

http://www.lighthound.com/Twofish-Lo...nt_p_2252.html

for 20.00 more get 450 lumens, slightly reduced runtime vs the romisen R5..:

OP Reflector for a little more side spill http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...-rocket/Detail

Smooth Reflector for better throw: http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/t...et-Cree/Detail

If price is not an option the best and brightest single cell light is the Elektrolumens EDC-MCE Light - http://elektrolumens.com/EDC-P7/EDC-MCE.html

The Elektrolumens light is the brightest single cell light I've used.. Easily 700 lumens out the front.. Runtime is 50 minutes to 1 hour.. It is best to bring an extra cell just in case when using a direct drive light like this..

Good info. My next question is how secure are the lock blocks? I ride mainly on very rough dirt roads, which are very jarring. Can i expect these flashlights to stay in place?

yes the lockblocks will work fine, on rougher trails you will get some bouncing..

I like this mount for larger lights and more secure feel, you will not have a bouncing issue.. They work with 26.0 and 31.8 bars as well

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-360-Bike-Bic...item5ad4d8fed7

You will need a small piece of rubber to put next to the light for a super snug fit..

That looks similar to this one? Anyone know if they are of equal quality? I am planning to order from shiningbeam and would just as soon make a one stop shop.

I got those from Shiningbeam holding my MG X Thrower. The Twofish lockblock bounced to much because of the larger reflector head. It is a very solid mount. One disadvantage of this mount is that it not as easy to remove the flashlight off the mount as compare to the Lockblock. If the battery cap is much larger than the body of the flashlight, you will have to remove the cap before sliding the flashlight off. Otherwise it is also harder for someone to just take it off since I usually leave my lights on the bike when I lock it up. If interested, I can post a picture of this mount later today.

Can you use that mount with 31.8 handlebars??.. It looks very similar, but not exactly the same..

Please do.

I am unsure but not an issue as I am running mountain bikes.

If my fuzzy math is valid, 31.8mm is about 1.25 inch. I tried on a pill bottle where the diameter measure 1.25 inch and it fits with the smaller rubber shim. I also tried on my seat post which is close to 31.8mm by my caliper measurement and it also fits. You may have to use a layer of old tire tube just to make it a little bit snug as you can see in the picture that the clamping screw is all the way in.

That mount comes with two rubber shims, one is super thick and one is super thin. However the adjusting screw has a lot of give to it as to allow for a wide range of opening.

Here are some picture showing the Thrower attached to the drop bar. You can see that the battery cap is larger than the opening but getting the cap on and off to recharge the battery is no problem. Just getting the light off is another issue.

I just got this email from Costco. If you are a member might be worth a look. I am not certain of their size but 2@ 900 Lumen I think I'm going to check them out. I'll post but after black Friday as I go nowhere near a store during this time.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...atesFlashlight

@Colleen: never seen so many lights on a bike.......in my life! You probably get a lot of motorist flashing their lights at you:)

Colleen.. Thanks for the info on the mount.. I will give one a try and see if it works,it certainly looks big enough for 31.8 bars.

I thought I was overkill, having 2 lights on my bars.. That is an impressive setup..

Did I mention I also got one more thrower on my helmet along with the lights on my handlebar :)

Truth is that I run them on Med setting most of the time. Having the two Thrower mounted lower on the Drops help shine the road better without blinding oncoming traffic with spillage from the beam. I do use Hi mode when I ride in the rain. There is something about water on top of the blacktop on the road that eats up lumen along with the droplets of rain that cuts out the brightness. Another thing I noted about having extra light is that I get less Right Hooks from car after passing me. Their interior is lit up after they pass me from my lights (mostly from my helmet light) and I think some driver thought there was a car on their right when they don't expect that much light from a bicycle.

Yeah, you've got some wattage in the cottage as they say. Ever thought about changing the saying under your avatar to "I'm an illuminated girl"? :thumb:

I like it, got a flashy tone to it. I"m thinking more in the line of "I let all my flashlight do the flashing" :)

I thought I had "plenty of light" - last Monday evening I almost got nailed by a pizza delivery driver less than mile from home. I was running an MS on low mode and a Dinottte on flash.

In this case, the idiot was following another car through an intersection and not even bothering to look "left or right" ..... He had a stop sign but chose to roll through and accelerate. Silly me - I thought he saw me and was stopping.

I wonder if I had another 1000 lumen spraying ahead of me if that would have made a difference.

I would think so. I hate blinding cars with my lights but I notice two things:

1) I used to have cars at intersection wanting to turn right into the road I am on. When I used to run less light with a blinkie, they see that I am on a bicycle and some %^&* driver just don't give a darn and cut right in front of me. I lost count of how many time that has happened to me. (damn CA drivers). With more lights that glares in front of them, they will actually stop and wait till I am clear as they have a harder time judging the clearance room between me and them while not thinking I am a bicycle. I used to run more floody light but then notice dirver shielding their eyes from oncoming traffic, then I installed thrower which are more forward aim and less floody and that made some difference.

2) The distant between the mounting point of my lights makes me looks more like a motorcycle if you look at me face on. Not all cars respect motorcycle but I do believe they respect motorcycle more than bicyclist. I'm thinking of turning the Minora Bessor mount 180 so that the lights are on the outside of the bar to get more spread but that means they will be in the way of my hands when I'm in the drop.

I wrap one layer of cut-up inner-tube over the bars before installing the LockBlocks. That provides enough elasticity and friction to keep the thing in place over rough terrain.