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I contacted Solarstorm direct and they came back with a price of £90 for 20 units delivered by Fedex (which might mean customs charges on top).
So £4.50 + 30% + UK postage will probably come out at £8 a battery holder.
I'm not interested at the moment (can't afford the panasonic cells and a charger at the moment), but I can forward the quote to anyone if they want to take it up. Email in profile.
Not sure if this has been done, but my X2's arrived last Fri charged up (not sure how much though).
If the battery was run right down how long does it take to fully charge them? Got them through the Crawley guy with a UK charger if that makes any difference.
I'm due to use them for first time tomorrow night and not sure about how much charging they need before then to get the best out of them....
[i]If the battery was run right down how long does it take to fully charge them? Got them through the Crawley guy with a UK charger if that makes any difference.[/i]
Until the light on the charger goes from red to green. I take it you go a UK charger with indicator LED? I bought from the Crawley guy and contacted him to confirm the light was supplied with a UK charger as per the pics - I got a 2 pin and 3 pin in the box.
Hey guys, some of you may have seen my post on mtbr and emailed me already, I just found this thread from Google. I must admit that my real love is touring so sorry if I'm a bit of an imposter here!! Just in case anyone's interested I have some of the Solarstorm waterproof battery boxes on their way to the UK, they should be here by the end of the week or by the beginning of next week, I also have a few sets of the Solarstorm X2 with battery boxes (instead of the cheapo battery boxes) with a UK plug I also ordered some high quality, Panasonic batteries. The batteries will be a wee bit later because of the current problems with getting Lithium batteries through HK customs but SHOULd be here by the end of next week
If you want me to put one aside for you or you have any questions my email is ollyboyd[at]hot mail.co.uk If you live in Edinburgh or Dundee you're welcome to pick them up, I can't give you the price of the sets until they pass through customs but they'll be very competetive. I'll send you one of the Solar storm boxes for £12.00 delivered.
Cheers, Ollie
Nice one Ollie :tup:
What LEDs are in the X2 lights you've got?
Hey Nealy, they're U2s I'll test them before I send them out so you don't get any dodgy emitter patterns!
Ollie
ollie, emailed you yesterday, after being pointed to the MTBR thread... did you receive it? (or is it sat in your spam folder...)
Hey guys,
Sorry there were a couple of emails in spam from yesterday. I'll keep checking it.
Ollie
I think the ssx2 is perfect on medium for majority of night riding, high is silly bright, great for twisty downhill id say.
Hi Olly, just mailed you
Cheers
Dom
top man Ollie! 🙂
I've just mailed you too Olly.
Cheers mate
email on its way...........
CBA to read the whole thread and sorry if it's been done but as a user of the single XML cheapie chinese spolight on my lid, I have found there is very little to no strain relief for the cable at the battery end and the lamp end. This resulted, after a years use in a short cicuit at both ends, proving at least there is short circuit protection.
But still an annoying failure.
A simple fix is to cable tie a loop in the cable at each end so the the strain is taken up by the cable, rather than the soldered ends of the thin guage wire and will hopefully avoid the need to re-solder the connections (bloody dificult at the lamp end) if you catch the cable on something
I've a Solarstorm head unit on order - does anyone know what connector's on it? I've also ordered [url= http://www.lightmalls.com/waterproof-4-18650-battery-set-for-led-bicycle-lights-with-magic-bag ]this battery[/url] which looks like the one sold by [url= http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/accessories/battery-packs--chargers.html ]C and B[/url]. Please tell me it's going to fit...
Hi Ollie, I'm also interested in your £12 offer, but can't find your email addy 😳
Right guys I'm off to bed, I'll reply to any more emails from you night owls in the morning! 😀
ivnickkate I've sent you an email.
I've a Solarstorm head unit on order - does anyone know what connector's on it? I've also ordered this battery which looks like the one sold by C and B. Please tell me it's going to fit...
Hey jruk that pack looks like it may just about fit at a push although it doesn't have the waterproof screw attachment. You may also find the runtimes are a bit disappointing.
Ollie
Ollie, put me down for a £12 battery box too please.
Last night's 2 hour nightride on medium with high for only descents. 2 bars left on both. Fast tech stock batteries
[IMG] 
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Saw a SS 3 on last night's ride, stupid bright..
Brand new set out for first time last night.
Fully charged the night before (3 green). Plugged in yesterday and had one flashing green (eek). Still managed 2.5 hours of slightly nervous low + medium use. Hopefully might improve with a few charge cycles.....
On my old Hopes I've been running my son's 4Ah RC car Nimh battery with no problems (much more reliable and longer run time than the original Hope pack which they already replaced twice on warranty). There is a small weight and size penalty, but seem cheap, rugged and reliable compared to Lion and much more tolerant of less than ideal charge / discharge habits. Also means I can do a 30 minute recharge (£25 buys a delta V sensing charger that runs on 12V / 240V)
Oh bugger, looks like I've ordered the wrong battery...can anyone recommend one that will fit, run for a decent amount of time and not burn my garage down when I'm charging it please?
Still waiting on my X2 but thinking about batterys more and more ahead of it arriving...
anyone know how much current the 'X2' actually draws on "High" mode? I was assuming it would run both of the LEDs at 2.8-3A meaning the draw would be 5.6-6A... Right?
But [I]theblackmount's[/I] trial (3hrs run time from a 4x3100mAh battery pack) suggests the 'X2' is pulling something like 4-4.2A on high... doe it run each LED at ~ 2A (to manage heat?) or have I just got my maths way off?
I read elsewhere that they draw around 2A on high, which would fit in with a 3 hour runtime as 4x3100mAh batteries make up a 6200mAh battery when wired for 7.4v.
hi guys, did anyone have a link for a UK seller who sold the head unit without the battery and charger? What with all the concern over it, i'd planned to buy a better battery, but i don't really want to have to have 2!
anyone know how much current the 'X2' actually draws on "High" mode? I was assuming it would run both of the LEDs at 2.8-3A meaning the draw would be 5.6-6A... Right?
No, because the LEDs operate at around 3.2V whereas the battery is at 7.4V.
Someone posted earlier that they draw 2A from the battery. If you assume that the driver is 90% efficient and do the sums, you end up with just over 2A through each LED. This would give a brightness of around 1500 lumens, which is exactly what the manufacturer claims.
4x3100mAh is wired as 2S2P so you end up with a 7.4V 6200mAh battery.
The lights draw between 2 and 2.4 amps, depending on battery voltage. The driver seems to maintain a constant output, so when the battery voltage drops off the current draw.
The kit batteries seem to be between 2 and 3 Ah. Good quality 3.1Ah cells built into a 2s2p pack giving 6.2Ah should give 2.5 - 3 hours on high beam, and about 5 hrs using most med power, and high on downhills.
Heading out tonight with my X2 for the first time. Have that on my lid and a fluxient 3x u2 on the bars. Should be plenty bright enough 🙂
Having read the Cree data sheet it says the XML-U2 puts out a [I]calculated[/I] 742lm @2000 mA, more "honest" sources are calling the 'X2' a "1500lm" (2x750lm) light so that makes far more sense more efficient that running them both at the 3A max...
I was being lazy and just totting up A as if they were in series but then doubling the current the lamp draws... I'd ended up at the same run time numbers, but I was ignoring voltage, which the driver must reduce down to run the two emitters... Effectively Halve the voltage, double the current... right?
But then just how crappy are the stock battery packs then?
The battery pack had to be ~2200mAh for the 1 hour 15 mins on "high" that [I]Milkie[/I] reported, using 1100mAh cells? (laptop reclamation jobbies?), that is concerning...
I suppose you're looking at what ~£40 on some reasonable 3100 or 3400 mAh cells plus a bit for that housing and maybe some other bits?, so achiving that 3hrs plus run time on high is a good £50. But I think it's worth assembling a decent battery pack, not specifically for the 'X2' but because there seems to be a new chinese light doing the rounds every 12 - 24 months and I'd rather just buy a head unit for relatively little and run them off of a reliable power source than the viariable quality packs they come with as standard...
But then just how crappy are the stock battery packs then?
The battery pack had to be ~2200mAh for the 1 hour 15 mins on "high" that Milkie reported, using 1100mAh cells? (laptop reclamation jobbies?), that is concerning...
but seriously what do you expect for £21 for the whole set of lights, batteries, battery charger, battery holder, etc.
They are bound to be reclaimed batteries as they are effectively free compared to buying 4 Panasonics with built in protection
Having read the Cree data sheet it says the XML-U2 puts out a calculated 742lm @2000 mA, more "honest" sources are calling the 'X2' a "1500lm" (2x750lm) light so that makes far more sense more efficient that running them both at the 3A max...
Yep.
I was being lazy and just totting up A as if they were in series but then doubling the current the lamp draws... I'd ended up at the same run time numbers, but I was ignoring voltage, which the driver must reduce down to run the two emitters... Effectively Halve the voltage, double the current... right?
By complete fluke, ignoring voltage gives the right answer in this case: the LEDs have about 3.25V across each of them, or 6.5V across a pair in series, which is about 10% less than the battery voltage - and you'd expect to see about a 10% power loss in the driver. So in this case, the current through each LED just happens to be roughly the same as the current from the battery.
But then just how crappy are the stock battery packs then?
The battery pack had to be ~2200mAh for the 1 hour 15 mins on "high" that Milkie reported, using 1100mAh cells? (laptop reclamation jobbies?), that is concerning...
I'd assumed that the stock batteries were just a single pair of 18650s in series, so two 2200mAh cells. Although if you look here:
[url] http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/18650-batteries-chargers.html [/url]
1100mAh cells are not unheard of...
Next noddy question Anyone ever built a battery using 26650 cells? found some 4000mAh, 3.7V - 26650 for a reasonable price...
I'd be building a battery using my current converted storage bottle as a housing so there's bags of space to fit them in... any reason not to try and lash an 8000mAh battery together?
It should run a single XML or P7 for ~5.25+ hours or the 'X2' for ~4 hours I think...
Next noddy question Anyone ever built a battery using 26650 cells? found some 4000mAh, 3.7V - 26650 for a reasonable price...
Should be an interesting build, I'd go for it. Will you cut the connector off your existing pack?
hi guys, did anyone have a link for a UK seller who sold the head unit without the battery and charger? What with all the concern over it, i'd planned to buy a better battery, but i don't really want to have to have 2!
Hey Spudly1979, I have some sets coming, someone else wants the charger out of one of them so you're welcome to the head unit and I'm sure I can find a home for the waterproof battery box.
Ollie
@wwpaddler ssx2 is mounted with strong sticky back velcro, quick to attach/detach, sometimes quickly add zipties for added security from branches etc
@painy get some pics!
@cookea
"But then just how crappy are the stock battery packs then?
The battery pack had to be ~2200mAh for the 1 hour 15 mins on "high" that Milkie reported, using 1100mAh cells? (laptop reclamation jobbies?), that is concerning..."
when you get the SSX2 for less than £25, and realise just how good medium is on the trails compared to £200-£300 more expensive Hope units etc, I think they are absolute bargains, and switching onto high when needed is to be expected for a 3 hour outing 😉
Marmaduke - when you say battery box, do you mean a box to put a battery in or a battery+box? Sorry for being thick. How does the one you have differ from the one I mentioned?
Ta!
Should be an interesting build, I'd go for it. Will you cut the connector off your existing pack?
I've got a spare connector from a previous dead battery, it'll be going in this setup:
[img] 
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[img] 
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It just uses an intermediate section of cable I made up to connect the battery to the head. You simply adjust how much cable it uses with the gromit and the slack stays in the bottle see:
[img] 
[/img]
Easily enough room to accommodate 4 x 26650...
Nicely done! I was thinking getting the Solarstorm factory to send some of their waterproof connectors as long as they're dirt cheap for similar DIY projects. [url= 
]Like these[/url]
Do you think a bit of water/dirt ingress makes any difference? Did you cannibalise something else for the sealed bolts?
I just used cheap connectors, I think I got them from maplin.
If your worried about crap ingress you can just give them a wrap of tape.
I'd be interested to see how you get on. My trusty 14.8V 4.4Ah Lumicycle bottle battery has just died, so I'm wondering what to do to replace it.
Mine arrived today, rode tonight.
Boght solar storm 2 led unit with 4 cell battery, also ordered 8 cell 10000 mah battery for increased run time.
Only took the 4 cell battery tonight, Its got good light very bright decent range, but had it bar mounted. Will try it on my helmet next time as it seems to cast a lot of shadows mounted on the bars. Im hoping the extra height of helmet mount will make this better.
Paid £21 for light & 4 cell battery & charger and £13 for 8 cell battery. Direct from China through ebay. All seems good for the money.