PSA - Silly cheap 2...
 

[Closed] PSA - Silly cheap 200 odd lumen bike light/torch

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[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5w-LED-CREE-Flashlight-Torch-Bike-Bicycle-Rear-Light-R-/170481190527?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b178867f#ht_3830wt_814 ]Click here for Ebay link to light[/url]

[img] [/img]

£1.29 + postage from Hong Kong - comes to about £6 all in.
Allegedly 270 lumens, but I doubt it!

Anyway, I ordered one on wednesday and it arrived today 😮 That's pretty quick.

Just charging the AAA batteries now, and will give a report back on how good/bad it is when they're ready.

Looks like it'll make a decent backup headtorch. The bar mount it came with seems pretty sturdy, and the rear light seems ok in a cheap and cheerful way.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:09 pm
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Not oftenn reaching for my cards but WOW

I want a report as soon as its dark!


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:15 pm
 P20
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Yeah, got one, good for the money. I'll probably use it on flashing as a 2nd light on the commuter. Didn't need it, but seemed rude not to 😀


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:17 pm
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Bought two a few weeks ago... Shall be trying them in anger tonight.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:33 pm
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ta for the heads up just ordered one cost £5.81 bargain

will be great as a spare/for road use


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:42 pm
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Just had a quick look with the batteries half charged.

Seems to be about the same brightness as my £15 DealExtreme torch which I use as a headtorch (difficult compare properly in daylight!)

The light is quite a tight focused beam - so not much use on its own, but will probably be good as a head spot.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:45 pm
 P20
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It is quite a focussed beam, bright spot, brighter than my original hope 2led, but the hope has a much better, usuable spread. For the money though, you can't be robbed.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:52 pm
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Ordered one myself as a spare for commuting, and at a price you can't refuse


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:55 pm
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Would it be good enough as a helmet light?


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 5:57 pm
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That's what I'm planning on using it as.

Not sure about weather proofing - it does have o-rings where the body unscrews.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 6:07 pm
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Cheers for the heads up!

Just ordered one 😀


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 6:36 pm
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Just ordered +1


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 7:33 pm
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+1


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 7:45 pm
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I cracked

Its nearly cheap just for the rear....


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 7:51 pm
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Cheers - ordered a couple as back up commuter lights.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 8:10 pm
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Hmmm - just pressed the button here as well... 😕

How does the back light look? Decent enough?

Thanks for the heads up too.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 9:42 pm
 P20
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I haven't even looked at the rear light. What ever the outcome, it's only £6!


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:03 pm
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I'm tempted, but I'll wait till you lot get them

Please post up reviews!


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:09 pm
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how longs the batterys last?


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:18 pm
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Need a new rear light and at 6,00€ can't be worse than the last one I bought from Decathlon.

Cheers.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:22 pm
 will
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Cheers, i'll have one of those 😀


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:23 pm
 P20
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Just bought two as back up lights, shame they don't discount the postage when buying multiples.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:29 pm
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Excellent PSA, cheers dude - nice Saturday night, wine laden, buying spree 😉


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:32 pm
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Any pics of the beam?


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:42 pm
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Easily rig up a single 14650 battery to power this for extended run time


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:44 pm
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thats the idea, already got a couple of 7.2v lion battery packs here.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 10:48 pm
 Rio
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Looks tempting as a backup. Anyone tried the supposedly brighter purple one?

[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bike-Bicycle-Front-LED-Lamp-Light-Torch-Flashlight-7W-/250650919699?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights#payId ]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bike-Bicycle-Front-LED-Lamp-Light-Torch-Flashlight-7W-/250650919699?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights#payId[/url]


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 11:04 pm
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Purple one looks nice, no info on lumens though..

Q: What is Lumens output from this lamp?
A: tks for contacting! High intensity and High power 7W LED tks have a nice day!


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 11:12 pm
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......and just found this 7W one for £3.97 (with free postage).....cheap as chips!

[url] http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-Pocket-LED-Bulb-Light-Hand-Torch-Flashlight-7W-/370305225159?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item5637e951c7#ht_4215wt_860 [/url]


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 11:19 pm
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Just got the purple one, rude not to. 8)


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 11:20 pm
 Rio
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Just ordered a purple and a red. For that price you can't go wrong even if I just end up using them as torches.


 
Posted : 04/09/2010 11:35 pm
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I've ordered a couple of the purples as they are so cheap. Can anyone shed any light on what re-chargeables need to be ordered if possible for these? A link would really help as the battery codes quoted really mean nothing to me.


 
Posted : 05/09/2010 11:08 pm
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Just use rechargeable AAA batteries - literally available anywhere. Maplins are quite cheap, but I saw a 1/2 price offer on rechargeable AAs and AAAs in my local Tesco the other day, so look around.


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 7:41 am
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I can't imagine the run time will be anything to shout about from 3 AAAs! Still it's easy enough to carry spares, I suppose


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 8:59 am
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how are you guys mounting these on a helmet? does it come with something suitable or is it merely a boj job 😆

cracking VFM i must say!


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 11:02 am
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"I've just ordered 2 "

7w would equate to 40mins from 1Ah AAAs - so millage may vary - but cheap enough to hack a power connector to for externals.


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 12:30 pm
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[url= http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19182 ] looks light they are really 1 watt /30 lm -torches[/url] 🙄


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 4:38 pm
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That's annoying if true! Still cheap for a spare commuting light though, but not the bargain it seemed.

If they are pants, then I apologize 😳


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 5:51 pm
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don't fret still worth a punt for £6

remember that includes a rear one as well so what can we expect really ❓


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 6:08 pm
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I wonder what the environmental policies are of the far eastern factories that spew out this cheap stuff.


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 6:16 pm
 Rio
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If they are pants, then I apologize

As one who's had to ride home holding a 1W Tesco torch in my hand after my Lumis packed up I'll be happy even if they are only 1W - they'll do what I want and act as a backup!


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 6:30 pm
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Yup the handle bar mount and back light are worth £6 alone.


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 6:55 pm
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I wonder what the environmental policies are of the far eastern factories that spew out this cheap stuff.

I imagine they're pretty much the same as the far eastern factories that spew out the more expensive stuff.


 
Posted : 06/09/2010 7:00 pm
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so anyone actually used this off road yet???? any one bodged it into a helmet light yet???

surely some ones gonna give an off road mtb review soon??!!?!!?


 
Posted : 07/09/2010 12:52 pm
 ski
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For those that have them, how long did they take to post?


 
Posted : 07/09/2010 1:16 pm
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Took about 1 week - 10 days to arrive I think.

Tried them out at the weekend - two mounted on the handlebar. Quite a tight beam, I setup one up for close stuff, the other focusing a bit further away - gives a reasonable but narrow beam of light up to about 20-25 feet.

I paired these with a helmet mounted DX / magicshine. Seems like a good combo, they were good enough to allow me turn off the magicshine and save its battery when riding riding tarmac, walkers paths, etc.


 
Posted : 07/09/2010 2:08 pm
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If I'd known that they weren't really 7W I'd have gone for puple. 7W from AAA didn't compute. Still I need a light full stop so I'm happy


 
Posted : 07/09/2010 10:17 pm
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I'm toying with the idea of getting 3 - 2 on the bars and 1 for the helmet, but have concerns about run-times.....

I suppose it will be an inexpensive foray into the world of riding after dark....


 
Posted : 07/09/2010 10:20 pm
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Hmm was hoping two on the bars and one helmet mounted would do me for after dark trips - maybe not now 🙁

Any chance someone can post a picture of the beam(s)? Perhaps zigzag69 would be so kind with his 2 bar mounted set up? 🙂


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 1:15 pm
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+1 purple one here


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 6:22 pm
 pcb
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Sweet backup commute light


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 8:02 pm
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Anyone had a chance to compare the beams of the red or purple lights to the 1W tesco torches?
Are they brighter?
Reckon the run time would be shorter though.


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 8:07 pm
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Still waiting for my two to be delivered.


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 8:37 pm
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The three AAAs fit into a holder that then goes into the lamp. Does anyone know if there is actually any sort of single battery that could be used in replace of the pack? Just thinking a single unit of that size might pack a bigger capacity than 3 AAAs.

Shindiggy - when did you order yours and where from? The same eBay shop as the OP?


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 8:48 pm
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ordered mine from the ebay shop, only about 5 days ago so i'm not worrying, just being impatient,

My other half is soldering a driver and 7.2v rechargeable to them if they are bright eniught to bother with.


 
Posted : 08/09/2010 9:43 pm
 Rio
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Got mine this morning. Not surprisingly the purple one and the red one seem to be the same apart from the colour! A quick check indicates that they're about the same brightness as the Tesco 1W torch but it's very battery-dependent; the Panasonic batteries that came with the purple one don't give anything like as much light as a fresh set of Duracells. The rear light comes with a slightly flimsy clothing clip; Mrs R has told me that this one has to be used when I'm out running on dark evenings 😐

May try to get some beam shots tonight if the rain holds off, then decide if it's worth modding one to take a better battery.

Edit: The batteries that came with the purple one are Pemasanig, not Panasonic, so not surprised they seem to have the internal resistance of a goat. Apologies to Panasonic for not spotting the blatant rip-off!


 
Posted : 13/09/2010 3:06 pm
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'internal resistance of a goat'

Surely a lube not battery issue ❓


 
Posted : 13/09/2010 5:29 pm
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So you get a fee goat....cool 8) I can sell the lawn mower now!


 
Posted : 13/09/2010 5:53 pm
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Got mine today. Will try it out soon, but the front light seems pretty sturdy, comes with a lanyard, but see no reason as I don't think the mount will let go in a hurry.

The rear light comes with a slightly flimsy clothing clip

+1


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 2:32 pm
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Also I can't appear to fit the rear light on any of my seat posts, the bracket is tiny.


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 3:50 pm
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So how bright is it then?

Is it a pathetic 30 lumens or nearer the 250lumens of the Q5 torch I was hoping to replace?


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 4:19 pm
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Got mine today. The rear light is going on the back of my helmet. The front bracket is rather good and the torch seems ok. For the cash you can't complain.


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 4:47 pm
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For the cash you can't complain.

I'm northern and I can!


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 5:04 pm
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mine came today too. The red one, it's a bit less bright than the Tesco torch. seems sturdy enough. Back one will do for general duties. A good buy all in all 😆 (really bought it as a torch for the car anyway)


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 5:17 pm
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mine came today (purple one), not overly impressed with light output but it would be a useful commuter light or even a robust torch for general duties, built well too and really i shouldn't moan as it was dirrrrt cheap. So i guess its an ok buy.


 
Posted : 14/09/2010 5:24 pm
 DezB
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Red one here, looks good for the backup commuting light I bought it for.

Rear light was DOA. Button doesn't work. Not really needed anyway.


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 3:30 pm
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i had one before but bought again for winter. They give a bit of light but i would say if you want a cheap night riding light go DX.

The mount is great, i still have my original one 😀


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 3:35 pm
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Mine arrived today for about a fiver front and back lights from Hong Kong in under a week, Bargain 😀


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 6:07 pm
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Got my purple one today but not tried it out yet.


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 6:15 pm
 ski
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Mine came today, only fault I can find so far, is the reflector is not coated that well, a few spots in the coating.

Will find out soon if it can handle the rain 😉


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 6:20 pm
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Mine also came today - quite impressed. Now - how can i sort a better battery for it?


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 6:24 pm
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mine came today too.

for the cash I'm happy as it's going to be primarly spare to leave in the car just incase I or a mate forgets a light it's not going to be bright but will save the day possibly


 
Posted : 15/09/2010 9:09 pm
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Ok not the greatest but for the price seen worse. Have noticed that there is no sealing what so ever around the coloured ring and lense might be a problem on wet rides.


 
Posted : 16/09/2010 1:08 pm
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Has anyone who knows about these things got their hands on one to see if it can be modded, even just keeping the case out of the unit and changing everything else.
It's the sort of thing I'd enjoy doing, but would need to be given a step by step as I haven't got a clue 😳


 
Posted : 17/09/2010 12:33 am
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The bar clamp holders also take a MTE SSC P7 torch. You have to mount them in reverse so the clamp end clamps up on the on / off switch on the P7 , as its a few mm fatter than the midsection . This does mean the torch is central over the bars so should be a tad more wobble / nose dive resistant.

I have the purple ronnie one, its OK in a Tesco torch kinda way .
However with the £ / $ rate these P7 Ultrafires from DX come in at £14.00

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.36356

Buy 3 for £42 , get smudge to make up a cell pack for 2 on the bars and keep 1 with an 18650 on your lid . More light than neccessary , with redundancy for what ~ £60. Manufacturer rated 2700 lumens , reality rated 1500 lumens.


 
Posted : 17/09/2010 6:52 pm
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Singletrackmind I like your idea above, it appeals to me a little more than going for the DX "bastid." Presumably I'd need to drill the battery casing to add a connector for any battery I might be able to get made up.

Any idea of how I would go about that, or a guide on best method perhaps?

(Sorry I really am new to this so please bear with me, and if I am going a bit OT I should perhaps start a new thread.)


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 12:54 am
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mine turned up last week, the light isn't as powerful as the tesco torch but but makes a great additional front light for my commuter.
the rear light is pretty good and it has the bonus of fitting into the clip holder on my panniers and topeak saddle bag so for that reason alone i might end up ordering another set


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 8:09 am
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had mine a week now, used for commuting.
light output isn't great at all from the front, the flashing mode is useless-its too quick and isnt bright enough, its probably half the light output that. the continuous mode is-it dosnt flash on long enough. The beam is too tightly focused for commuting use.

The rear light has too many gimmicky modes to cycle through before you get to the off mode. No proper mount-only a 'hairclip' thingy

bugger all waterproofing on either light. front holder/mount is good.

Wouldn't bother with again even if they are only £6 delivered.


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 8:28 am
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