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Ordered one of these yesterday as a replacement for my very aged P7 DX torch - been having some neck problems so going to run it as a head torch with batteries in camelback to reduce helmet wobbling mass.
And I've got a Lumicycle XPG on the bars which is made of solid tufftanium and lasts 200 hours on full power, so no great loss if the new one dies mid-ride.
Kevin1911 - email [url= http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/ ]MTBBatteries[/url] and they'll sort you out. I got some much netter quality cells and charger for my P7 torch from them, which have lasted years.
Kevin, try contacting [url= http://www.mtbbatteries.co.uk/mountain-bike-batteries/ ]MTB batteries[/url] not the cheapest but great products. My longest serving battery is one he supplied -3 or 4 years old now. Also his aftersale support is legendary.
I'm use an old MS-828 battery with mine, as my supplied battery was very poor, so any MS connector should work.
EDIT: See that ^^^ he edit that in after I started posting 😳 though you can never have too many recommendations
😉
(not done maliciously)
Ta, have dropped them a mail
I'm tempted - I have a stash of quality 7.2V batteries from Lupine days, so I need 7.2V lights I can attach to them. Most are 14.4 nowadays it seems.
Having said that, I could also do with something to run with, tha tmight be too big for head mounting without a helmet.
So many people missing the main point here, you can buy it in RED!! 😯
Must therefore be bags of awzum fast! as red is always fastest
I ordered two last Thursday which have arrived today.
As it says elsewhere the batteries will require waterproofing.
Though they work with both my Dinotte and old Magicshine batteries.
I took some rough and ready beam shots for a mate which you can find ->>> [url= http://www.thetestteam.cc/component/kunena/kit-review-advice/263-cheapo-chinese-lights-for-night-riding ]http://www.thetestteam.cc/component/kunena/kit-review-advice/263-cheapo-chinese-lights-for-night-riding[/url]
Richpips, who did you order it from, to get that quick a delivery time? M8's light look to have broken, and he was impressed by mine, so...
(mine took just over two week to arrive and had a rubbish battery, so would prefer not to use them again)
Mine arrived today, the under-the-desk test = bright! Some colleagues going home with arc eye tonight! 😉
As for waterproofing, I've previously stretched a standard party balloon over the battery pack and zip-tied the nozzle round the lead. Worked a treat, and fits back in the battery pack.
Mine was ordered Monday to arrive yesterday from [url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Bright-2x-CREE-XML-U2-LED-Bicycle-Bike-Light-Set-Red-Black-5000-Lumen-UK-/200959831751?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160 ]these UK guys.[/url]
40mpg, does it really only have the 3 modes?
As mine has 4.. cheers for the link though
Isnt £51 for a battery pretty steep??im needing a battery for my light but for that price i'd rather buy a whole light system for that,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-model-Fluxient-XM-L-U2-1100-lumen-Race-with-helmet-mount-and-bar-mount-/290981345342?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item43bfd6f83e
Richpips, who did you order it from, to get that quick a delivery time? M8's light look to have broken, and he was impressed by mine, so...
(mine took just over two week to arrive and had a rubbish battery, so would prefer not to use them again)
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130941337921 ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130941337921[/url]
Battery from Torchy Boy. £30
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290969390722 ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290969390722[/url]
Mine turned up last night, they seem quite good (and you can't argue for £25!). Certainly not 5000 lumens, but easily bright enough, i'd say maybe 900 lumen on mid power and maybe 2000 on full, though these are massive guesses at best. Didn't get a UK 3pin plug though 🙁
I gave mine a quick comparison test in the back garden last night:
Full Whack:
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Medium:
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Low:
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My old MJ836:
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Four4th Exodus 1200lm (my helmet light):
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SolarStorm/FandyFire, MJ836, Exodus
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The SolarStorm has a tighter beam than I would like, my MJ836 is wider. It is however a lot brighter than the other 2, so prob around 1500-1600lm in comparison. Will be riding with it next Wed eve to see how it is on the bars. I'm using my Samsung battery that I bought to run the MJ836 on, so not too fussed about the one that came with it (wifes got that now 🙂 ).
HEllo chaps, sorry for the resurrection but i thought an update would do nicely.
I had my first ride out yesterday with the Solarstorms, and after bodging a bracket on the helmet (hazard tape and cardboard), they sat quite nicley where my old MS sit.
My old MS were quoted at 900lumen, but most seem to think they were around the 800 mark, but nonetheless i found them powerful enough on the tight twisty stuff i like to ride, true some of the faster descent could have done with a bit more power and throw but i got on OK.
These new lights having 3 modes - my old MS seemed to be somewhere between low and Mid in terms of brightness, and for most riding i was more than happy to go round on low. The High setting was treeeemedous. Plenty of throw and not too "spotty". The ride last night was a shade under 2hrs, and with a mix of mid, low and the occasional high i came back with 2 green lights still showing (so i've obviously not got a duff battery).
Anyway, short summary, for £25 they are brilliant. I'd still go with around 2000 lumen on high, but nothing more. Good light as far as im concerned and more than plenty for most riding.
Sui
Used mine for the first time last night too, and as a helmet light. I cut down the frankly enormous helmet mount that came with the light to just use the middle D-shaped bit and the rubber band to attach it to a cross-member on my helmet (if that makes sense).
The light has a definite spot with a lighter ring round, so perfect as a helmet light. On full, its slightly brighter than my Lumicycle XPG on boost, so I'd concur with around 2000 lumens.
I ran it on full for 1.5 hours and it started to fade a bit by the end, and showed 1 light on the power indicator. I'll give it a go on medium (which is plenty - others were complaining about shadows) next time and see how long that lasts.
I just need to play with helmet mounts now - its a bit high off the top of my helmet and prone to tree-whacking. I'll have to make something to mount nearer the front - however it gets bloody hot so need to insulate it from the helmet a bit (ie not metal mount) or my lid will melt!
now that's odd, becuase mine was stone cold when i finished my ride which i was surprised about, but then maybe that's due to running in on low to mid most of the time. Must admit i quite like it a bit more spot as opposed to flood, it reminds me i'm actually riding in the dark! 😀
So I got mine yesterday.
Not used in anger yet but its plenty bright.
Medium is a good bit brighter than a Hope HID light that I've had for a while.
As for the mount well its a bit basic but fine for handlebar mounting using the rubber band. However the mount is just attached by a single screw so its pretty easy to just remove the screw and then attach whatever mount you want.
I had an old Cateye doubleshot that although is well past it had a pretty decent helmet mount so I am using that for the new light.
A Hope mount from a Hope Vision 1 also fitted fine and made for a better handlebar mount.
No, its not 2000 lumens and would NEVER ever be!
It'll be around 1000 at best.
The old MJ-836 used an older P7 which is more floody and less efficient, and at best was probably giving you around 500, maybe 600 absolute max.
Remember, its not always about the lumens, its about how they are projected.
The XM-L has more of a spot than the quite floody P7.
If someone can find the current draw, you will be able to work out roughly the output is.
ok Lumens aside then - it gives me more light than i need. is that better? 8)
[url= http://dx.com/p/yinding-yd-2xu2-2-x-cree-xm-l-u2-1200lm-4-mode-white-bicycle-light-headlamp-black-4-x-18650-243661 ]Ive just ordered this one in the hope that the lens helps spread the light a bit because I know how spotty the ZM-L is.[/url]
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I have bought loads of led lights over last few years. So cheap now... unless you are buying from the UK...
I have the one in the first post. It's a great light.
I also just bought the 5 x cree t6 trustfire with 10000mah battery.. i looked into it on high when i got it.. it was like being on mushrooms for much time after.
I've ordered one from the OP too. Should be here on Saturday, can't wait.
Lightman, what's your thinking behind buying that light?
I can see from the beam shot it does look wider than my solarstorm and none of the others on sale give a beamshot to compare.
Had a quick play with my torches in the back garden after last nights night ride, the Solarstorm is definitely still a round central spot, that is wider/bigger, brighter with a better spread round the central spot than my old single XML unit.
It's been great so far, and for £25 I'm not complaining & would recommend it over the single XML units.
Well, I've got plenty single XM-L flashlights I use for biking, and while they all do the job, the XM-L needs something to help spread the beam just a bit more.
So with the aspherical lens, it'll give more flood than just a glass lens.
Quite how much of a difference, Im not to sure, as long as it doesn't affect the throw too much, I'll be happy.
I might play about a bit and replace one side with just a glass lens and see what thats like.
Probably a stupid question. I have ordered one of the solar storms and was looking to double battery life. Would a xy connector work to use another battery pack at same time and what to do about waterproofing the battery pack.
Batteries from torchy or candbseen, can't afford mtbbattery.
Thanks
If torchy's are anything like the better MS units (which I'd imagine they are), then they're basically plastic dipped, which are pretty damned good at keeping water out.
Do you really need double the battery life?
The lower setting are still damned bright, and unless you doing techie stuff all ride, you don't need it on full beam.
If that the case another option is to buy a 6600mAh battery, torchy sell them...
The battery connector option is way past my electric knowledge (which isn't a lot), can't see if you were out that long ,that 2minutes to swap batteries would be a major issue..
Otherwise waterproofing can be as simple as wrapping in a plastic bag and ziptying it tight.. or self amalgamation tape could probably work pretty well too, or plastic dipping...
EDIT: Torch is listing a torch with an 8800mAH battery, you could approach him and see if he'll sell one separately.. or search around for one
If you buy the Solarstorm from lightmalls.com you can purchase an additional battery. I bought a waterproof 4400mah for about £9 along with the light
Just ordered the "X2" from lightmalls - £22.80 (Inc postage) after conversion, rude not to really...
Before I suggest this to someone, from buzzing through this am I correct in saying these battery packs are unprotected?
p.s. love the lumen guessing
Unprotected from the elements or their own chargers?
In both instances I'd expect the answer to be no.
but then: [url= http://www.lightmalls.com/solarstorm-x2-2000-lumen-dual-head-bicycle-light-with-2xcree-xm-l-u2-led-4-modes-4-18650-battery ]They are silly cheap![/url]
unprotected in that there is nothing to stop you over or under charging them
The batteries do have a protection circuit separate to the battery cells, within the pack (how clever they are is a different matter).
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.
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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!