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The 1200 lumen DX Light

65 posts & 31 voices | Started 9 months ago by on and on | Latest reply from z1ppy

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on and on - Member

Mine was delivered today after 8 days of the initial order being placed.

I have a comparable flashlight with a smooth reflector to do a side by side test.
the light isn't 1200, it never could be with that LED.

I'd estimate high to be around 400 lumen out the front, and low to be be around 250 out the front.
out the front means after losses from the reflector etc like BHP in engines before transmission losses.(this can be a 20-35% loss for most lights).

The beam is very tight due to the smooth reflector so not ideal for off road as the only light. A bit of scotch tape on the lens may help get rid of the hotspot and add some flood.
having said that ,it would be bloody good as a helmet light to compliment a nice bar mounted light.

£28 delivered is a great price for what is a usable light which is grunty enough to get you through the winter nights.(just don't expect to cook any wild life)

Posted 9 months ago #
BenHouldsworth - Member

How's the connection between the light unit and battery? mines not the usual snug sleeve and will probably need holding together with a bit of tape for security each ride

Posted 9 months ago #
on and on - Member

it's plenty tight enough not require any modification.
I'll open up the light tomorrow and have a look at the build quality, soldering etc

Posted 9 months ago #
neilsonwheels - Member

Defiantly brighter than the "900" I have got and plenty bright enough for my bimble round Cannock chase on a Thursday night.

Posted 9 months ago #
on and on - Member

It will probably appear brighter due to the beam being more concentrated for throw .Unless the beam was a wide and as bright to the edge as the 900?

Posted 9 months ago #
steffybhoy - Member

I would say it's a good bit more than 400-lumen.
I was out last night, and my mate had his 'NiteRider Pro 600'.
The dx 1200 was noticably brighter, i'd estimate it to be around the 800-900 mark.
I was using an old p7 torch on the bars and had the dx 1200 mounted to helmet(blown away I was).
The troutie liberator must be quite something being much more lumens than the new bastid(would like to see it in the flesh).

Posted 9 months ago #
lowey - Member

The troutie liberator must be quite something being much more lumens than the new bastid(would like to see it in the flesh).

It is mate. Just a stunning light.

Posted 9 months ago #
tomaso - Member

Took mine out last night to replace the flagging Hope 2 and it is much much better. Plenty enough light when combined with a Chinese torch on the helmet - also running an XML. Ride finished at 10:15 last night and the battery coped an hour and half on full whack.

For the money you can't fault it, but I will reserve judgement for a proper wet night and see if it still holds out then!

Posted 9 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

Mine just arrived. Slightly annoying that the connectors aren't the same as the original Magic Shine Bastid, but I was prepared for that (post on dealextreme discussion).

Very very tight spot. Can't decide whether it will be a good balance with the old P7 on the bars or not - it might remove all shadows and give me no depth perception. I'll try it over the weekend.

Has anyone tried swapping the reflector with the old p7? Might give a go later on.

Super cheap, but I can't help thinking that I would have been better spending extra for the 4xXPG one.

Posted 9 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

Alex, looking at my P7 & XML (Smudge not DX unit), the reflector look exactly the same - they have the orange peel type reflectors.
Aren't yours?

I'm tempted to try playing with the lenses though, not becuase I think there an issue with the XML, but just cause I like playing with them & there cheap as chips..

Couple of options:
http://www.mtbl.robs-x.com/page15/page21/rapidcart/index.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300545626206&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Posted 9 months ago #
benz - Member

z1ppy...

Great links - thanks!

That selection of lenses will be rather handy....

Cheers

Posted 9 months ago #
benz - Member

Reflectors....anyone know whether DX sell the orange peel reflectors for the MS and MS clones....I've looked but am probably blind.

Posted 9 months ago #
montylikesbeer - Member

see links above

Posted 9 months ago #
on and on - Member

A simple way to diffuse the hotspot is with a bit of this on the lens.

Posted 9 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

My XML reflector is definitely shiny and smooth.
dx sku.82510

I haven't got my p7 to hand, but I'll investigate whether it can swap later.

Posted 9 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

They almost swap over.

The old P7 I've got has a lip around the lens-end which fits over the outside of the casing.
The new XML one doesn't have that lip, so when I put the old orange peel reflector into the new XML, the bezel doesn't screw fully in.

It's enough to test though and I have to say just changing the reflector over makes a HUGE difference to the spread of light. I'd really like to make it a permanent mod.
Thinking that I'll file it down to fit.

I've seen the P7 reflectors available separately at £10, but that seems very steep, does anyone know an alternative?

Posted 9 months ago #
van cough cough - Member

If you think it's only 400, how can it be brighter than the 900 (I presume P7) when those put out 500-700?

I have two fronts, one for each bike, one came in the exact same box as the ubiqitous magicshine 900 and looks identical in everyway to the macicshine, but it didn't have the magicshine logo on the light or box. Got it about 2 years ago from an ebay seller in HK for about £55 all in. It has been brilliant. No problems with battery (4400 Ah) or light. I got a D bin P7 900L light from torchythebatteryboy, a uk seller on Ebay a few weeks ago that has also been brilliant apart from the charger failing, though the seller sent me a replacement straight away! Still brilliant, in fact has a lovely thumbscrew aluminium bracket which is great (first version has the Lupine like O ring attachment that has been very good). This second light is also sold as a Sub66 Grenade elsewhere on Ebay.

I have a bunch of lights coming to me soon, a mixture of P7's and 3xQ5 (claimed 1200 lumens and 4 x Q5) to sell on ebay. Havent seen these designs elsewhere so hoping to make a few bob and keep one meself.

Posted 9 months ago #
sv - Member

does anyone know an alternative?

'Sputtering' seems to be popular on that Candle Power Forum place.

Posted 9 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

'Sputtering' seems to be popular on that Candle Power Forum place.

Looking now...

Posted 9 months ago #
allthepies - Member

mines not the usual snug sleeve and will probably need holding together with a bit of tape for security each ride

I thought that initially but if you press the male/female ends together with a bit of force then they click into place and make a solid connection.

Posted 9 months ago #
domderbyshire - Member

I have now tested the 1200 lumen light on my road bike and it is great for on road use. The thrower aspect works very well in this context, for all you roadies out there. For £28 delivered it does a superb job.

Posted 9 months ago #
Gary_M - Member

thats good to know as I bought one to use on the urban road bits of my commute. Trouts liberator is more than enough for the proper dark bits.

Looks great for the money but not had time for a proper play with it.

Posted 9 months ago #
guitarmanjon - Member

Useful links there z1ppy. Might have to get one of those lenses that spreads the beam out wide as the £28 bastid does have a very concentrated hot spot.

Posted 9 months ago #
AlexSimon - Member

I'd be a little worried using it on the road - every time I have a play, and the spot is soo focussed that I end up with a blind spot where I accidentally glanced for a split second.
I'd hate to think that drivers vision would be compromised as they come towards me.

Posted 9 months ago #
Gary_M - Member

Just tilt it down a bit.

Anyway just had a look at might, nice and bright and the medium looks fine for the road. One question though when its connected to the battery is the red light on the switch always on or does it go out after a bit? Bit of a pain if it needs disconnected at the connectors all the time.

Posted 9 months ago #
jeansy - Member

I got my XML last week, really impressed so far. Bit whiter than the p7 with a slightly tighter, more concentrated beam, fair bit more throw. I ran the p7 closer to my wheel and the XML further out, this was the spots were similar in size and brightness.

Cables are different so I chopped up a MS extension and put on the XML and run them off one battery. I'd recommend disconnecting the light every time by the lead otherwise you'll possibly destroy the battery through deep discharge.

Posted 9 months ago #
finbar - Member

Mine's just arrived. I've got a bit of a newbie question i'm afraid: how long should i charge it for?

It doesn't say in the instructions and i remember reading a few horror stories last year about some chargers catching on fire

Posted 8 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

A few american horror stories... IIRC 2 maybe 3.. That's an amazing 2 ppl posted on the whole stupid MTBR forum 100page thread saying their charger had gone bad... and that ignore the fact that apple, sony, etc etc have all had issue like this in the past.

Light on charger, should be red when charging, and green when it's finished.

Posted 8 months ago #
finbar - Member

Cheers, z1ppy, that's reassuring. I didn't spot the light on the charger.

Posted 8 months ago #
duntstick - Member

Just bodged a diffuser for mine by covering the inside reflector with tinfoil.

Certainly gets rid of the intense hotspot.

Will report back later if it's any good.

Posted 8 months ago #
franciscobegbie - Member

Might try that or the scotch tape bodge tonight myself

Posted 8 months ago #
Pierre - Member

OK, silly question: _which_ 1200 lumen DX light? Had a quick search and there seem to be a few on there with different emitters.

Posted 8 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

Pierre there are two main options being talked about on here, either a single XM-L LED unit or a 3 XP-G LED unit, I believe most ppl are talking about the XM-L unit as it cheap.. the dealextreme XP-G is still cheaper than most 'branded' units though.

XM-L wise: You either have the dealextreme version 1 (very very cheap) or a slightly more expensive version 2, what the differences are, I couldn't say, though reports are starting to suggest the cheaper one is cheap for a reason (quality). Otherwise you can buy an XM-L from the likes of Smudge off here (I did) who at least gives it a more realistic lumen count (there all the same LED, the DX ones aren't any more powerful) or off Magicshine UK, both will be delivered quicker than DX ever could and you get UK support.

The 3 XP-G units are available on eBay, magicshine UK or dealextreme & are supposedly a more floody light, again supposedly giving a better overall light (I've not seen one in real life, so can't comment). Though as you can see the price goes up for them, and if your heading that way you may as well go for the 4 XP-G version IMO

Posted 8 months ago #
stayhigh - Member

I've seen XML's on ebay for around £35 from HK. I take it these are just the same generic light from a different seller? Thye look like they have the older style battery which IIRC had some issues with weather proofing?

Posted 8 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

Yes I imagine so, though calling it generic is not quite right. My unit from Smudge is unlike any of those I've seen on DX or eBay, so they are generic in that they use the same Cree XM-L LED, though the electronic's behind it, charger and battery could be completely different... I waiting to compare mine with the cheap DX one, but will post about it when I know more.

Posted 8 months ago #

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