Burton

From what I can gather from searching that thread and forum, those beamshots were taken at F/2.8, 1 sec., ISO200, so maybe they look deceptively bright. When I checked my own setup I was using ISO 100, f4 and an exposure of 1 second.
I think the best light on that page is only outputting about 8 watts vs the 10 I have now.

Richard Cranium

I agree - but still - if I'm going somewhere I like the idea of have several hours of run time in certain situations.

Actually the 26650 makes a lot of sense - but not too sure it would be a good helmet option - I guess that depends on whether the torch weight is kept down.

Either way - it is getting easy to have plenty of light - bigger issues on "ease of use" still remain for cyclists to debate........

cehowardGS

Even though I am torch-crazy, if several hours runtime are the specs I need, sure, you can get a torch to run for several ours, but those Magicshines, NiteRiders, Dionette and the like, all can do that without breaking a sweat..With the torches, you have to have quality cells, then you get your runtime. But, the lights running battery packs are kings of runtime.

Running a 26650 on the helmet is feasible, as the pictures in this thread shows. Weight not a problem. The joy of seeing that monster throw from a 26650 is awesome. I sold the 26650s that I shown mounted on my helmet. They were zoom torches. I sold them, and have two 26650 fixed beam torches on the way. When they come, I will mount one on my helmet.

In the meantime, and this is killer helmet action too. I have mounted a rated 1600 lum 18650 torch(XinTD copy) forward and a socalled 300 lum aa/14500 torch rearward on my helmet. Oh boy.. This was just an experiment, but it seems to be a keeper idea..





That baby up front throws a nice solid super bright beam, with a nice flood. The little baby in the back, runs off ONE AAA, OR A 14500. I have just been running it off one aaa. It is the chit...

a1penguin

18650 batteries are pretty small. I carry a spare in my seat pack.

Richard Cranium

Yeah - that looks like a great light. I tried using an LD20 but thought it seemed heavy. So I use a Coast "lenser" on super tight spot mode - it uses a 3xAAA pack. My setup looks like crap - it used strips of inner tube to attached the light and battery. But at least I can tolerate the weight - all day or all night....

I've never considered having a "power setup" on my helmet - the Coast has adjustable brightness as well as lens and allows my to check speed etc, without glare.

cehowardGS

I have read a lot of your posts, and I consider you a "registered flashoholic".

I know you know about carrying extra cells. But, I am an "apprentic flashoholic", I am just learning this!!

I started out with the cheap and crappy 18650 cells. They burned out quick. After that, I started carrying my
charger with me, and after the first leg of my commute, I charged them back up at work.
Then I started carrying extra cells. That made me better. But, I got good, when I started getting
quality 18650 cells, and also carrying extra cells. In fact, now, I put carrying extra cells right there
with carrying an extra innertube. Like I said, I am learning..

a1penguin

Yep, I started out with a MTE-15 P7 and a Trustfire TR-801 back in 2009 when I started riding again. Now I have about a dozen of the budget flashlights. My favorite is this https://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1053 DQG AAA very bright pocket light. I started out with the blue 5790s at DX. Mine have worked well. Last fall I purchased Kallie's Customs for my XM-L light and colder weather. And I've upgraded my charger to an XTAR WP2. I've resisted the call of Dinotte because I don't like battery packs and wires. My bike is cluttered enough as it is. Unlike you, though, I only put one flashlight on my bars. I ride at night after 9pm and there's almost no traffic, so I don't have to worry about blending in with car headlights.

UberIM

I own the Dinotte lighting 200 lumen light and 140 rear red light. They are FANTASTIC lights......I had a dealextreme "900" lumen flashlight and the dinottelighting 200 provided way better lighting. The shortcoming of the dinottelighting setup involves two aspects: 1. to recharge the AA batteries you have to take them out of a 4 pack holder. 2. If I leave my bike in a public area locked up the lights are painful to take on and off the bike. (My lights cost more than my ss bike :-))........... I have started using a NEBO 130 blueline: works great on the helmet or on handlebars and is much easier to charge and take on and off my bike...........

ItsJustMe

I found exactly the opposite. I had the same two Dinotte lights, and I found that either a "900 lumen" flashlight or the "900 lumen" MagicShine provided FAR better illumination. The $30 MagicShine taillight is almost exactly the same as the 140 Dinotte taillight, but costs 1/4 as much (OK, a bit less than 1/2 as much if you buy it with its own battery).

scoatw

I found this on amazon the other day. I'm going to get one as a back-up to my Romisen RV 235. AA is the only way I go. I've been using some of the same batteries for five years now. When I get the Terralux I'll give a review.


TerraLUX TLF-3C2AAEX LightStar220 3-Watt LED https://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLF-3...4491690&sr=1-1

you get a decent battery recharger like a LaCrosse BC-700 and your set for who knows how long.

sknhgy 

I second this suggestion. Recently I've said some bad things about my Dinotte 200L. I've started using it again on my mtb and I've fallen back in love with it. It's small and just powerful enough. It gets good run times on 4 rechargeable aa's. It looks good on my Rockhopper. It snaps on and off easily and stows away nicely in my seatbag. Good little light.

seeker333

I think the Dinotte XML-AA is a good choice for a person insisting on a AA powered bike light.

https://store.dinottelighting.com/xml...ight-p182.aspx

Also, I think it would work well for tourists who use other AA and AAA devices and want to minimize carried cells and chargers. The Dinotte XML-AA headlight seems to make a nice companion to the D140 taillight (interchangeable battery holders), which is bright enough to be daylight visible, and reliable enough to be useful for daily touring purposes.

sknhgy 

I wonder if they would upgrade my 200L?

cehowardGS

Here is the setup I am running now. Two Keygos M10s. They are single 26650 lights. They fit perfect in the $2.10 Two Fish copy mounts. The beam coming from a pair of these is awesome to say the least. Yesterday morning, at about 5 am, I am out.. Cars give me way big time. At one junction where I am making a left turn, a car coming up in the opposing lane is making a right turn to the same road, they WAITED FOR ME TO TURN FIRST!! They have all the right-of-way, but because of the attention span of these lights, they waited and motioned for me to turn first. In the morning when I come out, I have to merge into traffic sometimes doing in excess of 60mph. I have to take a full lane. I get passed by cars doing that speed. If I had 10 times the lights I have , I would not be underlighted in these circumstances. I have to be seen and respected or I will get HIT!! No ifs or doubts about it!

The double torches blend in nicely on my 88 Centurion Ironman Expert... SuperFlash Turbo on the rear, with two other rear lights on my person.

Richard Cranium

I've compared the Dinotte 200 AA with the original Magicshine and can report that the 200 AA on "high mode" is about as bright as the old MS light on medium.

For anyone who cares - this means that the older MS lights are most likely 150, 300, and 500 lumen, nowhere near the "900 lumen" rating they claim.

Of course- this is all "old info" - since both lights now come with xm-l LEDs - but I imagine the same "mis-rated lumen system" applies to the new LEDs..........

ItsJustMe

Someone here with an actual lumen meter measured an original MS a while back and it came out in the high 400's, like 468 or something.

colleen c

I just made a DIY homemade integrating sphere. I calibrated it and found my correction factor at 800 lumens range with a flood beam. My result are about 5 to 6 percent error. My test result on the old MS P7 808 came out to 527 lumens. That 468 lumens claim is probably right on target.

seeker333

Impressive initiative, Colleen. Can you cook popcorn in it too?

I just had a little debate with a light salesman over at mtbr, partly on this very subject - that a MS900 doesn't produce 900 lumens. I told him it was ~450, and he wanted a source for my claim. I didn't want to spend half an hour googling candlepowerforums for the dude with the integrating sphere and test results database. Can I just quote you?

colleen c

Funny you should mention this. I tested my Dry 3 x Xml in Direct Drive mode pulling 3+ amp per led and shining +2500 OTF lumens. I ran for three minute to check for lumen drop from heat. My sphere got warm from the light. I probably could have pop popcorn in my sphere. However there were also a smell of paint. That fume would not have made tastly popcorn.

fizbiz

Wow did this thread go off on a tangent. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Fenix LD22. Just shy of 200 lumens with a 2+ hour runtime on two AAs. I have about 12 AAs so I don't ever see myself running out of light. I also keep a cheap 3 AAA light that claims 150 lumens (45 min runtime) just in case of a failure of my primary. Also I just want to say...

USE SANYO ENELOOPS. They are the BEST NiMH batteries you can get and cost no more than products made by other well known brands.

RoadTire 

Maybe a litte off the main thread ...but it's all good, and as far as I'm concerned [hey, it's my thread :-) ] all the posts have been helpful.

I'm still vacillating on 18650 vs 26650 battery for my main light, mostly because I'm, uh, vacillating on the charger setup because my helmet light will be using the 18650 battery. It's pretty much down to "flip a coin" when the time comes for me to actually make a decision. cehoward has pretty much convinced me I should have a billion or so lumens available (I'll settle for 400 - 800 OTF) and colleen c came up with a helmet mount solution.

cehowardGS

Couldn't be said any better!! In fact, we are lucky to have knowlegeable people in the thread/forum that are willing to share..

IMO, and you know, I go for the big stuff , you can't go wrong either way. I have some 18650 lights that are rated, the same as my 26650 lights. Once we get over a certain point in lumens, we are okay. I would say around 700 and above. Most likely all those lights I have rated at 1300 and 1600 lumems, most likely are really something below a 1000. Be that as it may, they are bright and do the job.

The 26650 lights are a little fatter, and you will need different mounts. whereas, the 18650 can go with more mounts. On my 18650 lights, I like that open mount, where the light just clamps in. It is secure, and I can snatch it out at anytime. The 26650 lights have to be in that wrap around or clamp mount.

In summary, you are on the right track. Good lums up front, good helmet a light (IMO a must)and good lights in the back. I always prefer two of whatever up front. Carry spare cells and if you do go for the 18650 or 26650 get good cells, they do make a difference.

PhotoJoe 

My wife and I have been riding to loose weight and get back in shape. With winter coming, we don't want to loose the momentum. The last post is about 5 months old. Are there any updates or new recommendations in the 26650 world? Links to the best deals you know of? Best chargers? Best batteries. If the info already posted is still best, great. This industry is changing so fast, though......

Also, for those who have run dual lights, would you recommend running one M10 and one wider angle, or two M10's? Both lights will be mounted on my wife's bike. She does not want one on her helmet....yet.

Thank you!

davidad

Look here for a good selection including bike lights that run on parallel battey hook-ups. https://www.intl-outdoor.com/ The folks over at budget light forums seem to trust this site.

socalrider

Tried 5 different 26650 flashlight - as far as chargers go, most come with a cheapy 4.00 charger when you buy.. I bought this one and could not be happier. You can charge 2 - 26650 cells or 4 - 18650s - AA - AAA - and more.. This is us based seller and this is a good price and he shipped fast.

These are all the cells it charges: Compatible with Li-ion - 26650, 22650, 18650, 17670, 18490, 17500, 17335, 16340 (RCR123A), 10440, 14500, Ni-MH / Ni-Cd - AA, AAA, C

https://www.ebay.com/itm/120938187821...84.m1439.l2649

The Keygos M10a is a great light - good mix of flood but it is a throwing beast. About 2-2.5 hours on high mode depending on cells you use..

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...&_osacat=16037

Be careful buying cells - some are selling 3.2v and other 3.7v - not all 26650 lights will work with both. Some only like the 3.7v style - you will get flickering if you use 3.2v with the keygos.

I personally think the 26650 lights are a little heavy for helmet lights.. Lockblocks or equivalent work fine on the bars with 26650's.

For a helmet light - I like this model XML w/ 18650 cells - very lightweight ( Net Weight (g): 77g) and has a very floody profile

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1300-Lumen-C...item2c65f1fe20

This is my favorite light but it does have mode skipping issues if you use shorter cells.. It is the best combo of flood and throw and easily is 1000+ lumens out the front. Have not done any runtime tests but is brighter than the keygos or any of the other 26650 lights I have. If you get mode skipping you may have to use a rare earth magnet to keep this from being an issue while riding.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trustfire-A8...item5ae799a5c4

You will see a bunch of zoomable 26650 lights and I have bought 2 of them - most are OK - but not much brighter than the 18650 lights. The zoom function does move when riding, so you must find your happy spot and tape it so it will not move. You will get killer runtimes with these 3+ hours but effective brightness is around 600-700 lumens - on par with P7 magicshine in terms of brightness.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/110854464753...84.m1439.l2649

One nice thing about many of the 26650 lights is that they do come with a plastic sleeve so you can use 18650 cells and even 3xaaa cells.. Of course you will not get the output or runtimes of the 26650 cells. But nice in a pinch.

Youtube video being uploaded right now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6ybo0wwPEY

Lights in Video are in Order - MAGICSHINE p7 - Smaller 18650 Helmet Light - Zoomable 26650 Light - Keygos M10a and Trustfire A

The weights of the lights with battery are 4.2 ounces for small 18650 helmet light - all 3 of the 26650 lights come in between 8.8 to 9.4 ounces with cell.. As comparison the triple xml light I mention is almost 15 ounces in weight.