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PSA - Silly cheap 2...
 

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

 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
 5AM
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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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guy in work bought one of these. He had it on his bike yesterday, it looks fine for £6 but to be honest that's about it. No seals on the torch, light output pretty dim, good bar mount though, rear light has loads of modes and no quick way of getting to 'off' - like 'press and hold'.

It's a £6 light set for just under £6 so not really an amazing bargain.


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 8:48 am
 Taff
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Hats this about smudge making up cell packs? Who is smudge and how much do his services cost?


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 10:37 am
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@thisisnotaspoon - No, not as bright as a Q5. Was hoping to replace the fenix I've been using for the last couple of years as a helmet light but last nights test run proved the fenix is brighter and has a better beam pattern.

For £6 you can't complain 'tho and I needed a new rear light anyway. If I didn't already have my bastid/fenix combo I'd be happy to ride with a couple of these. I wouldn't exactly call it "dim" (as others have) but I guess we've all been spoiled by recent LED's (I rode for years with a 10w/5w halogen cateye set up with a battery that weighed more than my frame and about 20 mins run-time on full, so compared to that these lights are brilliant!)


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 10:56 am
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As bb. Its not P7 bright but its loads brighter than my cateye commuter light. It's very lightweight too. The rear is a cheap rear, does the job, useful as a 2nd rear light. I've used the bracket for P7 torch, too.


 
Posted : 18/09/2010 11:20 am
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my purple one arrived today, must have got a dodgy one compared to everyone elses report........mines bloody bright.......very impressed to the point of going to get another.


 
Posted : 23/09/2010 9:31 pm
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Mine arrived yesterday, still haven't tried it properly yet. The rear is PITA to turn off, but will be fine if I have a disco at home.


 
Posted : 25/09/2010 3:06 pm
 Andy
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I bought one, was dissappointed with it when arrived but thought hey ho, for the price. Have since changed the batteries from rechargebles to duracells and is as bright as claimed, but suspect wont last long.


 
Posted : 25/09/2010 3:22 pm
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I bought one last week, and for 6 quid I was stunned at how good it was!

WTF do you guys expect for that money?!


 
Posted : 25/09/2010 4:27 pm
 Bazz
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Got mine, rear light failed to start but happy enough with the front for the cash, even managed to mount onto my helmet (Giro Hex) with the supplied bar mount, just took the rubber adaptors hold and it fitted right on no bodging required.


 
Posted : 30/09/2010 7:29 pm
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Actualy.............

After binning the crap supplied batteries, and sticking in some good rechargable ones, its brighter than my old Q5 torches, as others said though, beam pattern lends itself to head light use.


 
Posted : 30/09/2010 7:33 pm
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