Lights

A build thread would be good.

heres an interesting site about leds and a has a few ideas http://led.linear1.org/category/practical-leds/

If anyone's got a Blackburn Mars 4.0 that suffers from the common issue of eating batteries while it's off (if you look at reviews, there are clearly a lot of lemons leaving the factory), and if you can't be bothered / are unable to get a replacement via the lifetime warranty, I think I've sussed it.

I got mine out of the drawer during a recent clearout, ready to bin it, but took it apart instead. If you remove the 2 little screws that hold the LED section to the back/clip section, you'll see the heads of 3 little screws which attach the clip. I think on some of the units manufactured, the screws contact the metal bar which is part of the upper battery connections. It stands a little proud of its plastic housing on mine. I left it disassembled with the batteries in for a week, and no drain - usually it would be dead in 2 days. I've covered those 3 screw heads with 2 layers of electrical tape and reassembled. A week later - no drain.

Sorry for lack of pictures and lack of relevance to almost everyone.

has anyone had any problems with the mount for a moon mask? I haven't yet but it seems like it'd be the first thing to cause a problem and a bit flimsy maybe.

My brother-in-law wants a coupleof the torches like the ultrafire for dog walking, he has mag lights but they are heavy, I said you can get them reasonably cheap but all the comments above are putting me off sending him to ebay.

I've check torchy's site but see no contact for sales and only ebay is full of the batteries.

Scilly Suffolk have you and help or am I a blind?

Budget is 30

That is really useful to hear! My RSP Steridian has exactly the same problem with batteries draining when off. I have no clue about electronics but I think I will try and have a root around to see if there is s similar issue. Thanks

If anyone's got a Blackburn Mars 4.0 that suffers from the common issue of eating batteries while it's off (if you look at reviews, there are clearly a lot of lemons leaving the factory), and if you can't be bothered / are unable to get a replacement via the lifetime warranty, I think I've sussed it.

I got mine out of the drawer during a recent clearout, ready to bin it, but took it apart instead. If you remove the 2 little screws that hold the LED section to the back/clip section, you'll see the heads of 3 little screws which attach the clip. I think on some of the units manufactured, the screws contact the metal bar which is part of the upper battery connections. It stands a little proud of its plastic housing on mine. I left it disassembled with the batteries in for a week, and no drain - usually it would be dead in 2 days. I've covered those 3 screw heads with 2 layers of electrical tape and reassembled. A week later - no drain.

Sorry for lack of pictures and lack of relevance to almost everyone.

has anyone had any problems with the mount for a moon mask? I haven't yet but it seems like it'd be the first thing to cause a problem and a bit flimsy maybe.

I had the mount break twice so now steering clear of them...

Bought a pair of Lezyne Macro / Micro combos
...
Unfortunately the rear has been killed by water getting in and pooling in the body.

Happened to my rear Micro as well. I suspect it's a design fault - the water is probably getting in through the rather loose rubber seal that doubles up as the on/off switch rather than the rear cover.

http://www.exposurelights.com/product/000086/reflex-mk1-(new)/

Bastards release funky new one after I shell out for their flagship model. How dare they?!

#whatthefuckisreflex

I'm thinking about a smaller Exposure light for commuting. Sirius, Spark, Joystick?

http://www.exposurelights.com/product/000086/reflex-mk1-(new)/

Bastards release funky new one after I shell out for their flagship model. How dare they?!

#whatthefuckisreflex

When climbing Reflex gradually eases off the power preserving battery life for when it is needed most. As soon as the light senses acceleration or that it is heading down hill, Reflex quickly brightens to give the maximum output.

They seem to assume that you go fast downhill and therefore need more light then. Sounds like there's a pitch sensor & accelerometer in the light, linked to the brightness.

Not very useful in road cycling then.

New one only worth it if the battery life is improved.

Not very useful in road cycling then.

New one only worth it if the battery life is improved.

I suspect it will be quite useful on long rides, as it will cut the power output when riding slowly, and increase it when riding fast. That could well extend the battery life noticeably, even on road. Handy too if it automatically brightened when going over a hill and down the other side!
If it is even as efficient as the 6 pack I have it will be amazing, I can easily get 24 hours use on the lowest setting on mine, that is the longest I have tried it, and it wasn't warning me to recharge it even then. It is nearly two years old now and the battery is still fine.
The new one looks like it could last even longer, 36 hours, they claim.

I dunno, with the light set on low, you get used to the brightness and able to see the darkened area fairly well as well as the beam.

With the accelerometer, there's not much chance of getting used to a certain brightness and suddenly when you had it bright, it take a while to get used to the lower setting all over again.

Not very useful in road cycling then.

Why? Sounds entirely reasonable that you'd want more light when going faster.

I dunno, with the light set on low, you get used to the brightness and able to see the darkened area fairly well as well as the beam.

With the accelerometer, there's not much chance of getting used to a certain brightness and suddenly when you had it bright, it take a while to get used to the lower setting all over again.

You must be riding in traffic-free areas. I've never gone for more than 30min of night riding before staring down the headlights of a car.

I would recommended looking away from the car's headlight and not get drawn to it.

Thanks for the egg sucking lesson. I don't look at headlights, but there's no way you can avoid your eyes adjusting to their brightness unless you close your eyes. Good luck with that.

If you close your eyes whilst cycling it forces you to use your other senses- which makes you a safer and more complete cyclist.

I'm thinking about a smaller Exposure light for commuting. Sirius, Spark, Joystick?

The Joystick is excellent, and the new Mk 7 is about 25% brighter than last year's Mk 6 I think. Only potential issue is that you'll need to charge it at least weekly on a 30 min e/w commute.

I haven't seen any reviews of the Sirius but it looks like a slightly less powerful and slightly cheaper version of the Joystick.

If you stay in the drop more, you can access the feeling of being closer to the road and thus connect better.

am selling my magicshines as they're overkill now i'm not riding the croydon backroads but i need a replacement set that's very good for commuting. i.e. can see and can be seen.

have a £50 evans voucher and happy to put ~£50 towards it if need be.

what are my best options?.

Hope Vision 1 with price match.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Hope-Vision-1-LED-Front-light_19885.htm

(use this link as it got free postage as well).

Greenwich, stopped to check my route to the pub to meet friends.
Drunk, potentially homeless guy clutching tinny, staggering down the road with his dogs, slurred to me "Aye...yee cannae miss yoooou with that lighttttt". Nod, smile, back away slowly.
Moon Shield. Loved by drunks! It's 60 lumens of red light disco...

I was playing about with Ingress a couple of days ago, and I had stopped next to the Balham Bowls Club, when a drunk guy came up to me, and staring at my helmet proceded to inform me that he liked the flashy lights on my head.

Helmet mounted Knogs do at least get spotted by some people then.