So, I thought I'd give my lights a charge yesterday, didn't want to find the battery packs had died from neglect come winter.
The wife dug them out, put my hope vision 4 batteries on charge, no problem.
Put the first DX cheapo light on charge, massive bang, the charger went pop and now has a big crack in its case. It tripped the MCB & RCD for the ring that the socket was on (not sure why the RCD went when the charger has no earth, I'm guessing it may have caused an arc somewhere?)
I put the failure down to the battery pack voltage dropping too low from not being charged, causing an overcurrent in the charge (which obviously had no o/c protection). NOT GOOD!
So, agreement between me and the wife that the DX stuff had a decent innings (1 winter!) and is now retired to the tip.
As I have the hope 4 for my bars, i'm looking for something to replace the P7 I had on my lid, thinking of Ay Ups, [url= http://www.ayup-lights.com/products/64/ ]this[/url] one is £150 ish, any views on it?
I know that they now do higher powered ones, but I'm just after something lightweight that I can have on my helmet to comlpiment the vision 4.
Also, has anyone been stung for import duty buying ay ups?
I didn't when I bought mine but that was a couple of years ago, I've read some have though. However if you just want something for the lid (and don't want budget import ones) I'd just get an Exposure Joystick or Diablo if I were you. I got a Mk3 Diablo last winter to replace a Mk 1 Joystick and it puts out a lot of usable light and I didn't notice the weight of it 9although worth looking at the newest Joystick if lightweight is your priority).
2nd joystick or diablo for your budget.
I have the Ay Up V4 set; both helmet and handlebar. I love them!
The brighter version doesn't weigh more, but you do sacrifice run time to get the added brightness.
My Ay Up's died just out or warranty.
Troutie turbo charged them.
Better still buy a Troutie light http://troutie.com/