12V LED headlight recommendations?

[Quajochem]

I've found some REALLY usefull information on a Dutch blog on headlamps, (in English) very elaborate:
http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/index_en.html#andere-koplampen-zonder-afkapping

This guy even compared the beams and all pros and cons!
http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/lichtbundel/lichtbundels_en.html
good and informative reviews!

And the philips is best from his test, not because of the best brighness, but because of the wide beam wich makes it very practical and because nobody gets blinded by it, which is a big plus, because the Magic Shine is just simply too annoying for upcoming traffic and unsafe because of blinding them! it's just waaay too bright.
Conclusion Magicshine: "The Magicshine is amazing for the price, and shows what more light can do. It gives more comfort and it is nice to have more light on the road than the Edelux gives (which is the case for a short distance from the front wheel) as I've experienced when comparing it to the Edelux. However, the circular beam is annoying to oncoming traffic, and even dangerous in some cases as you get totally blinded for a fair distance, and whether set on high beam or low beam makes almost no difference to that. Further, the beam doesn't give a smooth light carpet that the Edelux gives, which means it's actually not any better than the Edelux (for riding on the road). So it shows that more light on the road is very nice but also that a beam with cutoff is necessary for not annoying oncoming traffic, safety, and using the available light efficiently."

Philips Saferide 80

My first impression on 1 August: Wow, that looks to be nearly a car headlamp! Best bike lamp (for on the road) that I've ever seen, it blows the Magicshine and Ktronik lamps away...

http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/verlichting/koplampen_accu_afkapping/Philips_LED_bike_light/index_en.html
It's not 12v but hey who cares? It's under 100 dollars and just put a DC converter in the battery compartment and you're done!

[hjns]

I've found some REALLY usefull information on a Dutch blog ....(...)

I read his blog (including the Dutch parts). Yes, the information on the lamps is very useful, and he did a nice and thorough job looking at the lamps from all angles.

However, the writer seems to have some weird notions that everything HE does is purely objective, while at the same time ranting on about what others did wrong to him and to the world, especially related to Linux and online forums. So, like most information on the Net, take everything with a grain (pile) of salt.

[chisixer6]

I am considering getting one of these light for my yescom powered ecrusier bike, mounted on the double crown fork.


http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/cru ... -headlight.

[TopCat]

Have a look on this link...

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35095

Regards
Tom

[nonlineartom]

I am considering getting one of these light for my yescom powered ecrusier bike, mounted on the double crown fork.


http://www.chubbyscruisers.com/shop/cru ... -headlight.

I have one of these, very light being made of plastic and the light is good for being seen by others but is absolutely nothing compared to a Cree light, I got mine for show more than anything for the triple clamp forks on my cruiser. Still haven't figured a way of mounting it in the middle of the forks though...

[Scruffoid]

I personally use two of these beasties.

Running a cree LED and is focusable so i got one on spot and one on broad. Run on standard AA batteries so if they go flat while your out stop in at a service station.

I use 2800maH rechargables in mine and get s huge running time on high power.

http://www.yourhomedepot.com.au/products/led-lenser/h14-headlamp-zl7499-4-in-1-210-lumens-na/torches

[chisixer6]

nonlinearTom;

I will probably get it later April, but to mount it I may mount it like I did on my Harley upgrade from 5" to 8" headlamp, by bolt to under or or over the bottom brace clamp, if you want higher bolt to upper clamp brace. Another way, was to fab a bracket that between the two fork tubes, say half way in between the upper and lower brace clamp. Will let you knlw whem I get the light. Main purpose for light is to be seen by others and autos, streets here in Chicago are brightly lit. Just got to watch those nasty pot holes.

[cwah]

I'm thinking about getting the Magic shine MJ-880 but it seems a bit expensive:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/magicshine-mj ... 238wt_1348

Any idea where I could find something similar but for a cheaper price?

[hjns]

Lights

• Cree powerleds: complete ebike.ca version
  
  
• ebay version
  
• Review of the Luminators from ebike.ca by Ypedal 2010
  
• Magicshine 900 lumen lights
  
• Other LED lights
  
• Stella light
  
• Most lights will need something like 12V 1.5A. If you want to power your lights from the battery you may need a DC/DC converter to step down from whatever voltage you use to 12V. The complete ebike.ca version descsribed above has this built in. Lyen's DC/DC converter may still be available, and there are numerous Ebay versions to be bought as well.
  

From my noob link collection on the first page of build thread.

[The fingers]

I use a Ray-O-Vac K2 Extreme helmet/head light in addition to the handlebar light. It provides light wherever you look, and the added movement attracts attention from side traffic without blinding them (if you need to jack light them a 250 to 500 lumen flashlight on a lanyard in your non-throttle hand can be valuable, I use mine frequently). The K2's brightness is adjustable, has a long battery life, but the rear red light feature is not bright enough so I keep it switched off as I have separate taillights and flashers for that. There are many helmet, head, and backpacking/rock climbing lights also if you desire a more hi-tec or lighter model.

[cwah]

Thanks guys,

I'm looking for small (very important) but strong and wide beam.

This one seems ideal:

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-24/LED-Turn-signal-fdsh--LED/Detail.bok

Signal light + normal light combined together. But damn 200$ that's way too expensive.

Also found this light:
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300694904042#ht_3048wt_1139

2000 lumen, stronger than the magicshine MJ-880 and also cheaper. It's maybe a good light?

[hjns]

This works fine for me. More than enough light to illuminate the road at 30mph, and also quite blinding for oncoming traffic.

[cwah]

But is it blinding the traffic because it doesn't have a wide beam? not completely sure how that works works

[cwah]

Received my Magicshine MJ-880 today and pluged it to my 12V converter:


This light is incredibly small for 2000 lumens and perfect for a small bike such as the Brompton.

Just a problem:
It makes a lot of heat when I turn it on... still a bit afraid to run it at 12V rather than the 8.4V standard... I hope it will keep working for a long long time..

[ohzee]

That magicshine is nice , but 200$ US is quite a bit of money for a light for me.

Still if it lasts at 12v I would say it's pretty temping.

[cwah]

Yeah, if you're looking for a small and powerful light, this magicshine seems to be the way to go.

I purchased it for £97 (156$) without the battery as I didn't need it on ebay

[Scruffoid]

the $30 4 cree LED unit from ebay works very good. You can get both 12V and 24V - 90V ones and they draw about 9watts of power. I have commuted with mine now for a week or so at midnight for 28km and it is just great.

There is a link to it in another post in this thread or go and check it out in the for sale - new items posts.

Scruff

[DVDRW]

My poors man Light that beats every expensive ready to use light:
50W LED ~11$
DC4.5-60V to 1.2-30V 90W PSU 12$ - to running 50W led (dimmable) from 48V battery
Heatsink + Reflector + 2 degree lens + making waterproof ~15$

[potatorage]

My poors man Light that beats every expensive ready to use light:
50W LED ~11$
DC4.5-60V to 1.2-30V 90W PSU 12$ - to running 50W led (dimmable) from 48V battery
Heatsink + Reflector + 2 degree lens + making waterproof ~15$

So what heatsink, reflector, and lens are you using?

[ohzee]

Yea like to see video of this in action also.. you can drive that led with just the dc-dc converter ?

[biohazardman]

It's really hard to beat the Magicshine lights for the price vs output. I guess those who whine about them being to bright don't know how to push the button to dim them down? They have several settings different depending on what/where you purchase. Me I like mine on full when in the dark and even at that the output is less than half what a single car light is. Still I made a shade for the top of mine that keeps the beam down a bit for oncoming traffic . If I'm in the city I run them dimmed a click or two as there are usually streetlights to help. Out on the open road two of them, I just buy the heads at about $40 US, are the ultimate for in the pitch black 20-30+MPH kind of night driving. I was sad to see that Geomangear went out of business awhile back so you won't be getting them there.

Magicshine
http://reviews.mtbr.com/blog/magicshine-mj-808/

Lots of lights MTB review
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/lig ... uctlisting

Alternate mount for Magicshine
http://www.el34world.com/Misc/bike/BikesLights38.htm

Schwinn light
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7716&start=15#p118711

K-light
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15106

My other post on lights with links
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16748&p=244934#p244934


Many pages of lights and beamshots
http://s199.photobucket.com/home/amticoman/allalbums

[d8veh]

You need to change your thinking about bike lights. The modern ones with Cree T6 LEDs are easily bright enough for for ebike applications. Three T6s are about equivalent to a 12v 60w halogen car headlight in the amount of light that they give out, except that they're much lighter and will run from a small, light Ultrafire pack, which is far simpler than using DC/Dc converters etc.

Branded bicycle lights are starting to use Cree T6 LEDs and they're rather expensive. You can can get unbranded ones, which are exactly the same for a fraction of the price. You can now get a five T6 torch that has rechargeable Ultrafires for about $50, which will give out so much light that it'll push your bike backwards. One T6 is more than adequate for riding unlit cycle trails at night time. Three T6s is overkill. Just search Ebay and you can find them.

[Alan B]

There are many different situations that we ride in, and the lighting requirements differ. To handle these situations the proper light pattern will work better than the typical flashlight type pattern (which is generally a very poor choice for night biking with too much light in the small center of the beam and not enough elsewhere). Regular bike lights are generally not designed for ebike speeds and may not cover well enough at distance. Many bike lights are just LEDs thrown into random reflectors and the light is not patterned properly for street riding. Look at motorcycle light patterns to see something that is more appropriate. There are very few legal LED headlights, hopefully this will change as they might be the best for ebikes.

I ride along a 50 mph highway with a wide bike lane and my Cycle Lumenator puts out lots of light but I can't see far enough at times with oncoming lights. The hazards in the bike lane include rocks, gravel and the occasional tree branch. On the other half of my ride I am curving through a twisty road with narrow lanes and oncoming cars so need to avoid blinding the drivers and need to see to the sides for turns. There are no street lights on either of these roads but cars do provide some lighting and lots of glare.

I think for my riding I need both good patterning and low/high beams. Low beam should be kind to oncoming eyes and light up the road nearby both to the center and sides; high beam needs to reach out and light a defined rectangle far ahead as well as leaving the close in lights on.

I have a couple of other lights that I will test, but I suspect none of them are really designed well for this use.

[pdf]

Magic Shine and DC/DC convertor for me. Works for me! The lights from Grin Cyclery have a built-in DC/DC convertor so would be more convenient to install. They charge for the convenience, but everything I ever got from there was very well made.

[hjns]

I have now two front lights and two rear lights. All of them connected to a 12V dc dc converter.

For the rear, I bought a DOT approved Moped light (halogen) with brake light (halogen). When I touch the brake handle, it will not only cut off the motor and do regen, it will also activate the brake light. Makes me feel safer when braking and have some stupid car on my tail.

For the front, I have a DOT approved halogen Moped light which is blended. In a stark dark night, it will only allow me to go <20mph / 35kmh. For higher speeds, I activate my CREE superled. I switch between the blended light and the superled using a conventional 3-speed switch, located directly under my left thumb. So I can switch immediately from superled to blended, in order to not blind ongoing traffic which may overrun me when blinded......