First ride out on mine on Wednesday.
Beam works well as a head torch, and the unit is pretty light. I also tried it on the bars, and that was good too 🙂
Battery life was fine. I was down to 2 lights showing after about 2 hours of riding, mostly on the mid and high settings. Will re-cove the batteries at some point to seal them better.
In a comparison with my MJ-836 it was brighter on mid than the MJ-836 on full, and gave a wider and less spotty beam.
It was far brighter than my mates Ayups, though I don't know how old they are.
It's been great so far, and for £25 I'm not complaining & would recommend it over the single XML units.
I think that's a perfect somethingion of the SolarStorm.
I have a selection of other LED lights. All use the same batteries / chargers so each new £25 head unit is like a spares bonus free.
I was mainly using a single U2 lamp that was more than adequate to be honest - the SolarStorm on Mid is a better light. High is handy for dusk in the woods, but once it's properly dark Mid seems fine.
For those talking about the battery packs, just remember, the mAh rating will be almost as bad as the Lumens rating.
A 4400mAh pack will only likely be around 2000mAh, and they will VERY likely be reclaimed laptop batterys.
The Chinese are really bad at this sort of thing. They will go as far as wrapping the reclaimed batterys in some new cover which will have a stupidly high mAh rating, see most Ultrafire batterys on ebay.
While the packs may work for a while, it may only take a few months or maybe a year before they're finished and I am talking from experience.
Im hoping they haven't gone as far as to not bother with a protection circuit in the battery packs to save money, but you never know!
The batterys in the pack will be unprotected and should be connected to a separate protection circuit.
Just make sure you dont charge the packs while you're not in to supervise them and [b]NEVER[/b] over night while you're sleeping!!! And not on any flammable surface, like a carpet or under curtains etc...
Im not wanting to scare anybody, but just make sure you take proper precautions because the people who make these only care about getting your money, nothing more.
I recommend Smudge if you fancy a new quality battery pack, because at least you know what you're getting with him.
They do cost a bit, but remember, you get what you pay for.
Below is the sort of thing that happens a lot. That wee thing with the wire, IS the battery!
It'll be around 150mAh instead of the 3000-4000mAh as advertised.
[img] 
[/img]
Yeah that's why I was asking about the battery pack - would be mortified if I'd recommended it and it was a dodgy or unprotected one that caught fire.
I bought one of these but overlooked that it would come with a two pin charger.. 🙄 How are people getting round this? Is it just a chase of buying a travel adaptor as if I was a yank coming here?!
Personally I am flying to china every Sunday to re-charge mine 😉
Anybody try a Solarstorm X3 yet?
Bregante - Member
Personally I am flying to china every Sunday to re-charge mine
With the money I've saved on Exposure lights China is quite a viable option!
you can also buy the adapters in most Asda's
Well there's an incentive for the shopping trip tonight that the SO has planned for us!
Just ordered 2 X2's from Lightmalls. Fingers crossed they aren't duffers!
Also, I have an "open light systems" 2 cell pack which is 2.9ah and 7.2v
Does anyone know approximately how long the ss x2 would run from this (if compatible)?
Cheers
Andy
Regarding Batteries....
You could buy a balance charger like below for £13
[img] 
[/img]
and also a 5000ma lipo battery for £11 like below and wrap it in self amalgimating tape from screwfix £2.95
[img] 
[/img]
Charge it in a Lipo sack that cost £2....
[img] 
[/img]
That's what I am doing with an old ayup and it's perfect...
Also using the charger to charge my other 18650 batteries from my solarstorm and MJ872...both great lights.
I have also made a "bottle battery holder" I can put the lipo battery in a water bottle with a Connection coming out the top...Use this for my road bike and works a treat...again using self amalgimating tape to seal the top
[URL= http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy285/kbrembo/IMAG0070_zps6e20aa97.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy285/kbrembo/IMAG0070_zps6e20aa97.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
The X2 the OP linked to on the first page, Does it have the same connectors as magicshine? could i use my magicshine MJ872 charger/battery with the X2?
Thanks
MTBR thread says yes.
Kbrembo - are you using 2s lipos?
seems like a good idea as been meaning to get some and a charger for my rc stuff anyway, would much rather a proper balance charger.
Just one at the moment but I am going to buy a few more....
I have also made a small cable which goes from Magicshine connector to deans...so I can charge all magicshine batts etc.
You can buy them in Maplin.. £1.99
[url= http://www.maplin.co.uk/dc-power-line-sockets-43091 ]Clicky[/url]
[img] 
[/img]
Sorry I meant 2s as in voltage, 7.4v?
Was thinking would probably be a bit much to run 11.1v 3s as most only come with 8.4v batts
Yeah 5000ma 2s 7.4v
I used to use a single Cree XML-6 but the beam is quite narrow and focussed, and a head torch is essential.
Now swear by this, the Solar Storm, bought from fasttech, one on bars pretty much removes the need for a helmet mount. Spread is superwide, battery indicator on the back, build quality is excellent, and batterys of great quality from the x3 i've seen so far.
http://www.fasttech.com/product/1285800-solarstorm-x2-cree-xm-l-u2-4-mode-2000-lumen-led-b
Got mine [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200959831751?var=500183329081&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 ]Here[/url]. Fast dispatch 2 days. Uk plug, Build quality is excellent and the beam is great.
@Cruzcamp - Thats the cheapest I've seen. Is this the same as the one in the OP even though its rated at 2000 rather than 5000? Im guessing so it looks the same.
Cheaper at lightmalls even with postage added ($9. 50)
Ordered 2 earlier.
Hmm not sure if any of you guys seen this but put me off buying any cheap lights from HK for a bit.... Seems to be specific to lithium batteries :
http://www.fasttech.com/forums/stickies/t/1037107/hk-post-delay-in-outbound-air-mail-services-10
Just ordered the spangly red one from Lightmalls.com choosing postal option that includes battery postage for the princely sum of £22.73, fingers crossed now 🙂
Well big bloke.... I done the same 🙂 found the light for 20.80 Inc postage on ebay BUT no mention of battery shipping option so paid the few quid extra and got the red one from light malls. Already have a lumi thingy from mtb batteries (smudge) which is awesome but this cheap one will be great second light for commuter.
Keep me posted when you get it and I will do the same!
hmm so do those lightmalls and other web stores ship from HK and thus going to be affected by the lithium battery ban?
As stated above, there is a specific shipping option to allow postage of batteries.
[url= http://www.lightmalls.com/solarstorm-x2-2u2-2000lm-led-bike-light-head-red-head-lamp-only ]Bugger![/url]
Lamp only for $20, wish I'd spotted that first I've got enough spare battery packs, might order one anyway... 2x 2x XML lights... Hmmmm
J273 - i'm not sure if its the same as OP, it comes in a black and red box with X2 on it, but there is also an identical looking one made by FandyFire, and other clones which look similar but differ. Fakes of fakes of fakes LOL But the fasttech solar storms have been flawless so far. I'd wager the UK seller buys in bulk from fasttech and makes £7 profit a light.
@doncorleoni mates turned up in 5 days last week. Mine ordered yesterday from Fasttech was dispatched today so i'll let you know!
Just bought a pair of the single XM-L lights off ebay for £38, with batteries, chargers, etc. At that sort of money you can't go wrong - it's worth buying the set just for the light on its own.
Did a quick spin with one on the bars and one on the helmet and they're pretty effective, but as others have pointed out the single XM-L doesn't have much of a light spread - definitely more of a spot light.
Will the twin LED version give a better spread, or is it just a brighter spot? Something with a broader beam to go on the bars would be better.
As far as batteries and chargers go I got over 2 1/2 hours out of both lights at full power before the low battery warning came on. I can't imagine I'd need more than that for my uses.
The plug in chargers don't look like they're upto much so I'll get a decent quality lipo/li-ion charger and use the existing batteries until they die.
I had a test ride with the twin setup from the OP's link. Ordered last weekend, came Wednesday; complete with 3 pin plug!
Great spread from handlebar mounts, no real hotspot just a big flood of bright light. Lasted 2 hours easy on the charge it came with (2 bars on the level).
For less than £30, they are very good.
The solar storm twins have a far better usable beam. Especially on twisty stuff. The single Cree looks primitive now in comparison.
Thanks, that's pretty much what I was expecting.
Think I'll be ordering one of the twins for the bars and keep the XM-L on the helmet.
I think you'll be that impressed with the twins on the bars, you'll rarely turn the helmet light on LOL 😆
Quick question (or 2!)
I have decided I need these - enough good opinions out there sways it.
Do they ALL come from China?
Someone on ebay sells them for £34 but is UK based - I assume it will all be the same.
DX.com/lightmalls - where's the best place to buy?
I've heard things about Chinese chargers/batteries catching fire - put my mind at ease before I press 'buy' - and tell me where to buy them - cheers 😉
Rascal, I got mine off eBay from a seller that said uk based. When I paid the sellers company name was all in Chinese. Then it arrived 2 days later with an address fom somewhere near gatwick attached. HTH
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200959831751?var=500183329081&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 ]eBay link except they have gone up a fiver since last week![/url]
Bought from the UK guy.
Arriving Weds - hope its early enough so I can charge them for Weds evening ride 😀
I got mine from the UK one. I ordered a black, got red. And no UK charger but not a massive issue; got loads of those 2 pin adapters hanging around for various shavers. Light seems awesome!
Haven't got to use it in anger yet tho. Still enough light after work for a decent ride atm.
rascal i've had x3 from fastech hongkong seller, all come with UK plug and reliable. If you don't mind waiting go for it, otherwise pay the premium and go UK seller.
Can someone show a pic of how small it is please?
I've just ordered some for a first venture into some night riding this winter.
I had some of the original DX single lights I used to use when commuting for my old job, which i've dug out, but batteries look like they have long since died as they won't charge, or work the lights.
I plan to get some decent spare batteries, and use the old DX light on my head, is there a source for pre done packs I can just plug into the lights, rather than faffing around soldering stuff? I found MTBbatteries, but i'm loathed to spend twice as much on a battery pack as I have on the whole thing (me being tight no doubt).
Or should I get the soldering kit out? Is there a how to guide kicking around out there?
C and be seen have 4x18650 packs for less than £20.
There stuff seems to be the best of the Chinese stuff from a UK seller so considering them for a slightly Higher price than eBay stuff for my first 'proper' lights
Can someone show a pic of how small it is please?
I'll do that later, but for comparison, they are about the size of a Hope M4 caliper
Wow, that's small..
[img] 
[/img]
Found on MTBR 😉
I ordered some, too, last week. I'm used to riding with cheap Chinese lumens.
As long as they're slightly more powerful and burn for slightly longer than my [i]current[/i] cheap Chinese lumens (400 of the bad boys), I don't really care. 🙂
grumble gumble grumble.. I go to the trouble of taking photo's and what happens... grumble ...
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/10035140926_632d9dd146.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15253377@N00/10035140926/ ]Solarstorm X2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15253377@N00/ ]z1ppy2[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/10035210953_b6b2451017.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15253377@N00/10035210953/ ]Solarstorm X2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15253377@N00/ ]z1ppy2[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2820/10035073194_9b7eb30088.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15253377@N00/10035073194/ ]Solarstorm X2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15253377@N00/ ]z1ppy2[/url], on Flickr
PS: Tidy desks are for losers!
Solarstorm X2 by z1ppy2, on FlickrPS: Tidy desks are for losers!
You can see the desk. That makes it tidy in this office!
z1ppy - where did you get the bracket for your XM-L from? Could do with getting a couple for mine.
Mark, CRC, it was made/supplied by electron.
Unfortunately they sold out a long time ago, electron stopped making/supplying them & I've never found another source.
A calculator ruler!
I know, the g/f was throwing it out, so I had to have it (note the dust, it doesn't get used much). I'm a ****en hoarder!
For reference, there also a cat pheromone diffuser, a picture of me from 20 years ago, a disassembled chinese light, a box full of photo's, a nail file & clear polish all in that photo....oh and the padded shirt I use as my kitten's (day) bed
could you use these lights on your lid, if so how do you mount them, I was going to buy an exposure joystick tomo as a back up light but these do seem to be very good
could you use these lights on your lid, if so how do you mount them, I was going to buy an exposure joystick tomo as a back up light but these do seem to be very good
Mine came with a elastic headstrap - I just cut off the elastic and zip ties the mount to my lid. It looks like it grew there...
Thanks Mark
Where did you buy yours, and where do you put the battery, is it heavy
Cheers craig
For those worrying about replacing the batteries before they even arrive, some with batteries which cost more than the solarstorm, don't. I get around 2.5-4 hours out of each charge depending what beam power I run.
I've taken to discharging them in the fridge from time to time, to fully drain the battery after a long ride 😆
Just ordered mine cruz. Apparently they're on holiday tho...
Milkyman: eBay sellers name is 360digital2011. Uk based and quick turnaround.
The single XML lights come with the headstrap. £18 each with all the bits. I just drop the battery into my camelback - the lead is plenty long enough.
My twin spot should be with me tomorrow from the same seller. From the pictures it looks like you don't get the headstrap with this one.
My XML is now retired haha you'll see what I mean when you compare them.
@ Wrightyson, I had another one dispatched on Friday, i'll keep the thread updated with shipping time scales.
This head strap - for helmet use or bare head?
I've taken to discharging them in the fridge from time to time, to fully drain the battery after a long ride
You dont need to do that with Li-ion, they have no memory affect and you'll probably do more harm than good.
Also, if you're going to store them for a long time, you do need to store them with 40% charge and somewhere cold like the fridge if you want them to last. Li-ion dont like heat and will loose capacity if you store them somewhere warm, like a living room.
This head strap - for helmet use or bare head?
It's for head use, you can just use the light holder fixed to your lid.
[URL= http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/emelgee/null_zps9ae99f28.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/emelgee/null_zps9ae99f28.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
[URL= http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/emelgee/null_zps5394970f.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u20/emelgee/null_zps5394970f.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
So, it seems that this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-5000Lm-2x-CREE-XM-L-U2-LED-Bicycle-bike-Light-HeadLight-Lamp-Flashlight-UK-/261275037793?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3cd534b061 mounted on the bars
and this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-1800-Lm-Bicycle-bike-Head-Light-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-/251288567677?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a81f73f7d mounted on a helmet are a decent setup?
Is the free rear light up to much cop?
Id say no . Since moving to solar storms on helmet and bars the xml t6 just doesnt get a look in anymore. It's last year's must have light.
I ordered mine last week, was emailed to say it would be here on Saturday. 🙁
afternoon all
what are the experiences so far of the bundled battery & charger? enough to get by with?
on lightmalls.com seems to be about £6 difference between the bundle, and the light by itself, so obviously thinking if its worth getting a balancing charger & new pack, or just to stick with the bundle for a while
Cruzcampo, got a link?
MrMF
I thought for the sake of six quid it was worth a punt on the battery and charger. Haven't received it yet mind! 🙂
I've had 1.5 hours on full whack and nearly 3 hours (when I switched it off, but was on one blob remaining power) on medium.
Medium is more than enough light imo.
Battery pack and charger that came with it.
Does anyone know if the twin XML U2 will fit on the headband strap used for the T6?
Mine arrived today and seems very bright- waiting for rain to stop/darkness to test properly!
yes, should fit fine, though I'd still prefer an option that didn't sit the light so high on your helmet.
I have seen some that would look at home on a land rover hunting animals int woods!
another UK based seller at £29.00 (with a free rear light!!)
I think that's the seller I used - came with 3pin UK plug and rear light. A happy buyer here although I don't know how he fitted it all in the box as I sure as hell can't replicate it!
How about the "6000LM" one for just under £40 from the same seller?
I used mine for the first time last night, mounted to helmet with my old magicshine P7 on the bars, have ordered another one (from the link above, thanks!) to replace the P7 just now. Very impressed with the light on offer for such little money.
For when twin lights aren't enough
[img] 
[/img]
Mine arrived this morning, charged it up and as the previous five pages confirm, its awesome. Orders another immediately.
it was not as bright as my Troutie lumenator and did not have the spread either - that 2400 real lumens BTW.
Good value though for the price.
Just think what we were paying for less 3- 5 years ago 😯
It would appear the laws of supply and demand are in force. They've gone up by £5, still worth it I suppose 🙂