Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
Reload this Page >

Front light suggestion (under $40)?

Search
Notices
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets HRM, GPS, MP3, HID. Whether it's got an acronym or not, here's where you'll find discussions on all sorts of tools, toys and gadgets.

Front light suggestion (under $40)?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-12-11, 04:46 PM
  #26  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
yes I have both lights.. There are some decent charger / battery combos on ebay.. I will give links later when I am home. The R5 light is right at 300 lumens, They do have a model of the R5 that is 450 lumens, that one of the BFers reviewed quite extensively but is just over the 40.00 price..
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 12:35 AM
  #27  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Isn't XM-L both floodier and more efficient than XP-G? It seems like XM-L would be a better choice. And there is really no difference in cost.

Last edited by MechanicalMan; 02-13-11 at 05:46 AM.
MechanicalMan is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 02:09 PM
  #28  
Senior Member
 
FlatSix911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Altos, CA
Posts: 1,775
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Here is a another deal for a 100 lumen light ...
Available on February 13 at https://sellout.woot.com/
Smith & Wesson Luxeon LED Tactical Flashlight $18 + $5 shipping

Features:
  • Combines State of the Art Luxeon LED technology with
    (2) AA batteries for up to 100 lumens of pure white light
  • Luxeon solid state lighting combines the energy savings of
    LED plus the brightness and beam range of a conventional flashlight
  • Twist on-off momentary tactical switch
  • DC/DC regulator technology maintains constant brightness over battery life
  • Runtime: 2 hours on constant on setting
FlatSix911 is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 03:59 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Not that great of a deal considering you can get a romisen with 2x to 2.5x the output for the same price range..
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 07:17 PM
  #30  
Senior Member
 
FlatSix911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Los Altos, CA
Posts: 1,775
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by socalrider
Not that great of a deal considering you can get a romisen with 2x to 2.5x the output for the same price range..
Link please?
FlatSix911 is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 09:13 PM
  #31  
LET'S ROLL
 
1nterceptor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NEW YORK, NY - USA
Posts: 4,782

Bikes: 2014 BMC Gran Fondo, 2013 Brompton S6L-X

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 306 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by FlatSix911
Link please?
Costco also sells a 150 Lumen 3 flashlite pack for $20.
It replaced this older set:

1nterceptor is offline  
Old 02-13-11, 09:36 PM
  #32  
LET'S ROLL
 
1nterceptor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NEW YORK, NY - USA
Posts: 4,782

Bikes: 2014 BMC Gran Fondo, 2013 Brompton S6L-X

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 306 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by CabezaShok
That light is only 2 bucks more, do you own one?....can you recommend a good 18650 charger+battery kit/combo that wont break the bank?
https://www.dealextreme.com/p/dsd-186...rger-black-936 price is $6.87

1nterceptor is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 02:56 AM
  #33  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
the dsd charger works fine, a little slow but that is ok.. Never had any issues with mine, they can be bought with cells for under 16.00 shipped from us based sellers. The top end of 18650 chargers is the Pila but it is 50.00 shipped..

https://cgi.ebay.com/new-18650-charge...item2c5941e0d9
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 06:25 AM
  #34  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kansas City, Kansas, AKA The Heart of America
Posts: 92

Bikes: Diamondback Windwood Citi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
https://www.bontrager.com/model/06990 This is Trek's BontRager Ion 6, which uses 6 white LED lights with a rated output of 500 candlepower and only costs US$35. It has a runtime of 60+ hours on three AA-batteries. The light can illuminate objects out to 100m but can be seen from more than 300m away.

Last edited by mnaines; 02-14-11 at 06:44 AM.
mnaines is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 10:16 AM
  #35  
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
4Sevens has a new charger out. It's $25 shipped worldwide.


This is our own single-bay smart charger. It has a constant-current, constant-voltage (CC/CV) circuit. This means it will maintain a constant current to the battery until the terminating voltage (user selectable) is reached, then it will maintain a constant voltage; thus, the current is naturally reduced as the voltage approaches the terminating voltage.

Our charger can also be powered by USB and comes with a USB/MiniUSB power adapter!

Charger Specifications

* Two user-selectable voltage settings:
o 3.6V
o 4.2V
* Two user-selectable current settings:
o 0.5A
o 1.0A
* Compatible with the following battery sizes:
o 14500
o 16340 (RCR123A)
o 17670
o 18500
o 18650
o 26650
* Primary Input Voltage: 12.0V, 1A
* Secondary (USB) Input Voltage: 5.0V, 500mA
* Wall/outlet Power Supply Input Voltage: 100-240VAC
* Output Voltage: 3.6V~4.2V, 500mA~1000mA
* Included adapters: wall/outlet power supply, car accessory port adapter, and USB-to-MiniUSB adapter

https://www.4sevens.com/product_info....oducts_id=2582
Cyclist0383 is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 10:36 AM
  #36  
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: lower mitten
Posts: 1,555

Bikes: With round 700c & 26" wheels

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
How $11.99 sounds?


I bought it from this guy on Ebay. And he is "local" - USA You don't have to wait months - like from China.
Really fast shipping. https://cgi.ebay.com/Blue-240-Lm-CREE...item3f0647685d
lopek77 is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 02:52 PM
  #37  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by mnaines
https://www.bontrager.com/model/06990 This is Trek's BontRager Ion 6, which uses 6 white LED lights with a rated output of 500 candlepower and only costs US$35. It has a runtime of 60+ hours on three AA-batteries. The light can illuminate objects out to 100m but can be seen from more than 300m away.
Now this is where the vendors try to trick you.. Candlepower output is based on a distance of 1 foot from source, I don't know too many people who are pointing there lights straight down.. I imagine this type of light is using the old nichia leds, which may put out in the range of 30-40 lumens at best..

Vendors will use terms like 'BLINDING - EYE SEARING" to lure people in who do not realize that if they spent the same $$ on a quality flashlight, lockblock they would have 3x-5x more light at seeing down the road..
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 03:14 PM
  #38  
Senior Member
 
dougmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,040

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro, Strada

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by socalrider
Candlepower output is based on a distance of 1 foot from source
Not exactly. It's based on the light over a solid angle -- which could be measured at one foot, or it could be measured at a mile. You seem to be thinking of the foot-candle.

Candlepower is actually the obsolete term -- the modern term is candela -- though the two words can mostly be used interchangeably.

Either way, your point is correct -- looking at the brightest spot isn't very useful. An extreme case -- a 5 mW laser pointer is probably rated at many thousands, perhaps millions of candlepower, but it would be totally useless for lighting your path. Even lumens aren't perfect, but if you're going to look at only a single number -- lumens is likely the best choice.
dougmc is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 03:55 PM
  #39  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
I think vendors still use LUX and Candlepower when they are trying to fool people into buying there obsolete products like a light like this.. If you are getting 75 hours of runtime on 3xaa batteries, your light is useless for seeing the road.. If you are just using it for a flashing mode to be seen during the daytime or at dusk it will do the trick but there are better less expensive alternatives..
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 04:06 PM
  #40  
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by socalrider
I think vendors still use LUX and Candlepower when they are trying to fool people into buying there obsolete products like a light like this.. If you are getting 75 hours of runtime on 3xaa batteries, your light is useless for seeing the road.. If you are just using it for a flashing mode to be seen during the daytime or at dusk it will do the trick but there are better less expensive alternatives..
Lux actually is good as it's lumens per square meter. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.
Cyclist0383 is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 04:29 PM
  #41  
Senior Member
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: La Verne CA
Posts: 5,049

Bikes: Litespeed Liege, Motorola Team Issue Eddy Mercxk, Santana Noventa Tandem, Fisher Supercaliber Mtn. Bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by Ziemas
Lux actually is good as it's lumens per square meter. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.
I agree but most people have no idea what LUX is..
socalrider is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 06:00 PM
  #42  
Senior Member
 
Iowegian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Boulder, Colo
Posts: 1,801
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 101 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by 1nterceptor
Costco also sells a 150 Lumen 3 flashlite pack for $20.
I got a pack of those on a whim and they're fine for what they are. I ended up giving them as Christmas presents to my nieces and nephews for camping and they would also make good 'be seen' lights. I just wish I could figure out how to ditch the AAA setup and fit a 18650 in there.
Iowegian is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 07:58 PM
  #43  
Senior Member
 
dougmc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,040

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro, Strada

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Ziemas
Lux actually is good as it's lumens per square meter. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.
But it's not so good -- the number of square meters so illuminated also matters. Again, a laser has a really high lux value but is useless to light your path. If you give the lux and the number of square meters so illuminated, that's good -- but you just multiply and get lumens.

Ultimately, the "goodness" of a light can not be described by just one number -- but lumens comes the closest to doing so.
dougmc is offline  
Old 02-14-11, 08:54 PM
  #44  
Ridin' South Cackalacky
 
dahut's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Lovin' this thread - at last the information we need without umpteen pages of contradiction, excerpting arguments and pointless debate.

Thank you folks, thank you.
dahut is offline  
Old 02-18-11, 11:20 PM
  #45  
Ridin' South Cackalacky
 
dahut's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I went and got this light off ebay to see what I think:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...253D&viewitem=

Just over $20 with shipping from China.

I love the "Engrish" translation of the product description.
  • Output bright can come to above 500 lumens [lm]
  • Our products are firmly wired and comes with two chargers. Firmly wired?
  • The smaller AC adapter and 12V DC car-adapter provides added convenience
  • (LED indication for Power On / Charging / Full charge ).
  • Internal wiring applies the high efficient booster circuit, working voltage is wide and can utilize the batteries in the largest extent. Wow!
  • Waterproofing design
  • Aluminum alloy casing
  • Aluminum alloy reflector
  • 3 switch Mode: Strong Brightness / Normal Brightness / Flashing
  • Model of Battery required: 18650, 3.7v
  • Model of LED: CREE LED
  • Colour : Black
  • External Dimension : 46mm x 26mm x 175mm
  • Weight : 160g
It comes with this stuff - -

100% Brand New
1 x CREE LED Rechargeable Flashlight Torch
1 X Charger (110v-240v) for this flashlight
1 X Car charger
2 x 18650 3.7v 2400mAh Rechargeable Battery
1 x Plug Adaptor to suit your Country

I like the various recharge options and the power adapters. I also imagine that the TWO batteries will give a nice current reserve and I can always get some better ones if the light proves to be satisfactory.
I just want to try it out. I have another Chinese LED light, one of those big 72 LED monsters. It actually works pretty good for the $5 I paid. $20 for this one? What the heck, we'll see.
dahut is offline  
Old 02-19-11, 03:04 AM
  #46  
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
^^^

Don't let that put you off LED flashlights if it's dodgy quality. In my experience there is a huge difference between a $20 and a $40 light.
Cyclist0383 is offline  
Old 02-19-11, 08:00 PM
  #47  
Ridin' South Cackalacky
 
dahut's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,918
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Ziemas
^^^

Don't let that put you off LED flashlights if it's dodgy quality. In my experience there is a huge difference between a $20 and a $40 light.
Oh cerainly not. Im going in to this as an experiment - I know the quality may - or may not - be there. Its a cheap price to learn...
dahut is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lolisaac
Commuting
26
06-01-14 06:27 AM
kiltedcelt
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
61
10-24-12 01:14 PM
Myosmith
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
46
03-09-12 09:34 PM
jduvall
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
4
08-31-11 12:25 AM
Ramzious
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
1
08-14-11 03:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.