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[Closed] Cheap lights that won't explode or burn my house down

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I'm after some relatively cheap lights for a spot of night riding. Nothing fancy or super expensive required. TBH I don't know where to start so thought best to come to the collective mind for advice, cheers.


 
Posted : 19/10/2014 9:38 pm
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Mtb batteries Lumentor.


 
Posted : 19/10/2014 9:41 pm
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C and B seen


 
Posted : 19/10/2014 9:50 pm
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Cheers for the suggestions. The c and b seen 1000 lumen light looks pretty much identical to the ebay cheapo that I got a year or so ago. The beam looks overly focused on one point and not an even spread.


 
Posted : 19/10/2014 10:45 pm
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Mapdec.com have some good cheap lights. I bought the thumb 1 for my lid and it's ace.


 
Posted : 19/10/2014 10:58 pm
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C and B seen here.......

http://www.evomtb.co.uk/cb-seen-cree-xm-l-t6-led-1000-lumen-cycling-bicycle-bike-light-headlight-head-lamp

Then for a better light spread add this diffuser.........

http://www.evomtb.co.uk/cb-seen-wide-anglediffuser-lens-for-10001200-lumen-bike-lights

And if you want to get really posh add a quick release mount instead of those horrid rubber bands 😉

http://www.evomtb.co.uk/cb-seen-handlebar-mount-for-1000-lumen-1200-lumen-bike-lights


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 6:09 am
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[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/that-time-of-year-is-coming-again-whats-hot-in-the-lighting-world?replies=381 ]alternatively, read the thread that's running on this very forum[/url]


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 9:10 am
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+1 for Mtb batteries got one of the old ones and the lumen 800 both been very good light..


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 9:56 pm
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alternatively, read the thread that's running on this very forum

To be fair it's easier to just ask than it is to navigate or search on this forum. A wealth of useful info and helpful people STW may be, but user friendly it is not.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 11:48 am
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Oops - just remembered that I've come to work and left my Chinese lights on charge.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 12:53 pm
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Got a charger from C & B seen to replace the nasty Chinese one that failed. Was a little suprised to see that it looked the same as the nasty one when it arrived.

The text on their site reads "C&B Seen is a UK based distributor of own-brand high-tech cycling, diving and utility lights..."

So maybe it was the same as the nasty one after all. Whatever, it works and my house has not exploded.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 12:56 pm
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Those C&B seen lights look like rebranded Chinese £15 a pop-explodie batteries lights.

I wonder if there is any genuine difference (better chargers?) or if they are straight rebrands.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:20 pm
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I went for the more expensive one, which isn't the same, and appears to be better.
http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/cabs-02-series---cree-xml.html

No particular reason why the charger and battery should be the same just because the head unit is though - I'm certainly not the only person to use one without any issues.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:35 pm
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What's your budget?
Those moon lights from merlin look good for £100.

I've got a magicshine head unit for £40ish and a decent battery pack from MTB batteries for £37.
Does the job fine.
Considering what I used to use when first night riding, a Smart Halogen 12w single lamp, I'm surprised I didn't crash and die.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:40 pm
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Look on the big light thread, quite a few good options for under £100.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:45 pm
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Has anyone got the C&B Seen all in one light.. the city slicker I think?

Looks a deal for £80 if the light is usable.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 2:35 pm
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that won't explode or burn my house down

You've always got that risk with any lithium battery, even the expensive ones. Just it's a much lower risk compared with cheap.

The important bit is the battery. Doesn't matter much about the light (if you're ignoring quality, functionality, easy of use & fitting, performance, durability, warranty etc), but the battery and charger needs to have protection circuits in there to cope with the common problems and prevent a run away, and be of decent quality and build such that they're not dangerously assembled, comply with safety regulations in the UK (and don't believe a CE logo from China), and aren't made from recycled laptop batteries that at the very least will only last a couple of months.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 2:54 pm
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any old cree torch and bike mount, then decent batteries and charger from someone like torchy the battery boy, or something from MTBbatteries for a complete system


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 3:07 pm