Lights

RIP.

Are those no talent ass-clowns at Cateye still putting the fragile holding clip on the £25 light rather than the £2 mount? I went through about four front lights before I changed to another brand.

Have any of you ever installed something like this http://lightskin.co.kr/ into an existing seatpost?* The website says that it can be done, but I couldn't find anything anywhere except preinstalled ones.

*My dumb bike is a dumb east german one that went for the 24mm seatpost size to defeat the decadent west. It totally worked, in my case.

From the DD thread:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cree-Q5-LE...item3f11f3f83f

Should be getting mine in a few days, but if you like their facebook page you get 5% off.

Having used these on low in the DD, the main downside is that they can jump to the next mode in the cycle when you hit a bump. Some other people have reported the same thing in the DD thread.

Next time I'm going to shove a 1p coin or something in behind the battery pack and take care to do the end cap up tightly. This will make jolts less likely to break the circuit, I hope.

I couldn't recommend the 1800 lumen Cree lights more highly !! I've personally never had an issue with them skipping to the next mode ! I've got 2 on mine during the winter, just cut the wires and rewired them both up to one battery pack.

For the distance that i'm doing they last nearly a week (for commuting) running both off one pack. Absolute bargain if you ask me, and i've been past plenty of cars where these things illuminate the road more than car lamps !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x1800Lm-CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-Bicycle-bike-Head-Light-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-/251302855041?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item3a82d14181

Just need a new rear light now if anyone can recommend one ?

I'm looking for a rear light that can be mounted on the seat stay. Having just killed my latest cat-eye in the weather at the weekend it needs to be something pretty weather-proof due to the extra muck it gets thrown at it being a bit lower down.

Fibre flares seem ideal but, so far as I can gather, they're not actually up to the legal requirement for a light.

I ordered one of these, because for £2.87 with free UK delivery how could I resist ?

G3 CREE Q5 400 LUMEN FLASHLIGHT/TORCH: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

It took weeks to come. It is very bright at first, but quickly runs the single AA battery down.

Had a quick rummage with a volt meter: It seems that there are no driver electronics in it, it just applies the battery directly across the emitter and lets nature take its course. The emitter draws about 300mA at 700mV, and is fairly bright. I didn't measure its current draw at 1.2V, but I estimate it at roughly "too much".

So I've ordered 6 more, and I'll connect up all 7 in series and use a transistor to drive them at constant current from a bank of 6 AA NiMH batteries.

Will you be posting pictures of the finished article?

I have two q5 Cree lights for winter but they take 3xAAA and I tend to leave them on flashing mode to increase longevity so is be interested to hear how you get on with 6 in series

Will you be posting pictures of the finished article?

Yes, but it's unlikely to be pretty. There may be cable ties.

Anyone tried those knog blinder four bulb lights yet? Might pick some up for my brompton but wondered if anyone has any idea if they're alright?

A guy I ride with has them. I'm not particularly sure what they offer above regular lights, besides the fact that they flash in little patterns.

I just want USB chargeable lights that are quick to attach/remove.

My knog boomer has been great and fits that description.

Also look at moon lights.

I ordered one of these, because for £2.87 with free UK delivery how could I resist ?

G3 CREE Q5 400 LUMEN FLASHLIGHT/TORCH: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

It took weeks to come. It is very bright at first, but quickly runs the single AA battery down.

Had a quick rummage with a volt meter: It seems that there are no driver electronics in it, it just applies the battery directly across the emitter and lets nature take its course. The emitter draws about 300mA at 700mV, and is fairly bright. I didn't measure its current draw at 1.2V, but I estimate it at roughly "too much".

So I've ordered 6 more, and I'll connect up all 7 in series and use a transistor to drive them at constant current from a bank of 6 AA NiMH batteries.

The circuit you're proposing won't deliver the constant current required by non-linear devices such as LEDs.

The circuit you're proposing won't deliver the constant current required by non-linear devices such as LEDs.

I haven't proposed a circuit yet, I just said that I'll use a transistor :)

I was thinking of starting with this:

I think it should give reasonably constant current, so long as the transistor's current gain is fairly stable. I might replace the diode/resistor divider with a proper voltage reference buffered with a low power opamp, to save a bit of current there.

Ta for suggestions I'll have a look!

I just want USB chargeable lights that are quick to attach/remove.

Blackburn flee?

Bright, small, rear is easy to remove (I assume the front is too) good quality, lifetime guarantee (which works).

I don't know if they've improved but I always remember quality control issues with knogs as well as them not liking the wet. If you're set on hipster-cysts I'd just find some cheap off brand ones.

The Moon comet looks awesome.

Very tempted.

I don't want knogs for 'cool points', I'd just heard that they'd upped their game and were now pretty reliable, hmm. The moons look pretty good, I'll keep looking.

I haven't proposed a circuit yet, I just said that I'll use a transistor :)

I was thinking of starting with this:

I think it should give reasonably constant current, so long as the transistor's current gain is fairly stable. I might replace the diode/resistor divider with a proper voltage reference buffered with a low power opamp, to save a bit of current there.

Why not buck? Only 4 components if you DIY or LEDynamics make BuckPucks with various outputs.

Moon lights are awesome. Would recommend.

That BuckPuck looks good, thanks. I may get one. I'll stick with the transistor circuit for the prototype though, until I'm sure of the current I want.

I don't want knogs for 'cool points', I'd just heard that they'd upped their game and were now pretty reliable, hmm. The moons look pretty good, I'll keep looking.

Apologies if that sounded overly negative. From what I've seen the only thing they have over other lights is the securing mechanism... which lots of other people have now adopted.

I really like my Blackburn flea. I had the original AA battery charging one that died. Madison the UK distro were helpful and easy to deal with and I got a refund and bought the USB one. I think warranties on rear lights are useful as they tend to get wet and grimy. Anyway so that's a big +1 in my book.

I have only seen the front ones on other peoples bikes, but ultimately they're visibility/attracting attention lights. I think the rear could be a stand alone, but I'd rather have another additional front light for regular commuting. If it's just a spare/backup for riding to the pub/shops/backup the front would be fine. At the end of the day though you always need to have multiple lights if you're commuting when it's dark.

The Moon ones do look good, especially the front which is a lot brighter. But they are more expensive.

there's a lot of bad press on blackburn's reliability, lifetime warranty or no - never had an issue with moon though