12V LED headlight recommendations?

[nonlineartom]

What do you use for lighting the way in winter? I'm looking to make use of the DC/DC converter to run some LED lights in an attempt to lower the risk of ending up as a smear on the road, what have you found best for headlights and tail lights ?

 

[dogman dan]

In 12v, there is now an endless selection of led lights for jeeps and buggies. No idea if any are good, but the purpose is to go 90 mph off road in the dark. Should throw a beam far enough for a bike I'd think. Often about 2" x4" with a swivel mount, so easy to adapt to a bike.

 

[hjns]

• Cree powerleds: complete ebike.ca version, ebay version
• Review of the Luminators by Ypedal 2010
• 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 convertermay still be available, and there are numerous Ebay versions to be bought as well.

 

[Ariane]

What do you use for lighting the way in winter? I'm looking to make use of the DC/DC converter to run some LED lights in an attempt to lower the risk of ending up as a smear on the road, what have you found best for headlights and tail lights ?

Hi,

Strongly recommend those Headlight I will use 4 of them next summer on my new ebike but I'm little bit insane. 2 of them is more than enough, Geomangear shipping is fast and I will deal with them in the future, also any laptop power pack at 14 Volt and under with around 4 amps can do an nice DC-DC for it. For tail lights explore Geomangear website.

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_41&products_id=143

Good day!
Black Arrow

 

[ohzee]

I have bought about 4 magic shines myself then I found the following lights.

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-2/Black-Model-44-LED/Detail.bok

There are some ebay sellers where you get them for 70$ US from HK - i bought from there and the link and they
both seemed identical to me. Still they throw a lot further then the magicshines do. I run them all together
for some excellent night time riding.

I have been looking at some of the cree light bar's. They do look like fun - very tempted to try and build one myself
as it doesnt seem to complicated and looks to be about 1/2 the cost.

GL

 

[StudEbiker]

I haven't bought one yet, but this looks like a good deal on a 12v light.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-1200-cree-q5-wc-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-5-led-flashlight-2x18650-3x18650-4x16340-57380

 

[fractal]

I have 2 cycle lumenators from ebikes.ca and they are just AMAZING!!! Just connect them to your battery and thats it! They have their on converters. They dont use a lot power and they are super bright (like as bright as a car)

 

[ohzee]

I haven't bought one yet, but this looks like a good deal on a 12v light.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire-tr-1200-cree-q5-wc-5-mode-1200-lumen-white-5-led-flashlight-2x18650-3x18650-4x16340-57380

I have bought 3 of those flashlights. Going to give 2 away as xmas presents for family.

They are very good solid lights and I highly recommend them. Their light is a bit tight for the bike when I used it
on there , but it had a far throw.

 

[ohzee]

I have 2 cycle lumenators from ebikes.ca and they are just AMAZING!!! Just connect them to your battery and thats it! They have their on converters. They dont use a lot power and they are super bright (like as bright as a car)

yea those lights do look nice , but man they are pretty pricey 299$ is a lot though I know it's good quality and value.

 

[docnjoj]

I still love my Magicshine, especially on flashing mode during the daytime. Motorists really notice it and miraculously become courteous! It's wonderful!
otherDoc

 

[d8veh]

12v lights have had their day for bike applications. The new generation of Cree T6 LEDs are miles more efficient and brighter. You can buy lights with their own re-chargeable lithium packs that last several hours, so IMHO it's not worth going down the DC/DC converter route unless you want to charge your cell phone or whatever. This light is like a searchlight:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-XM-L-1800-Lumens-LED-Cycling-Bicycle-Light-bike-Headlamp-HeadLight-Lamp-/260896332481?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item3cbea21ac1

 

[nonlineartom]

I want to use the DCDC converter because I don't want to have 3 batteries to charge all the time or risk being out on a night ride and have the headlight battery go flat on me. I realise these lithium pack headlights al seem to run on 8.4V so I can just tweak the DCDC to work at that voltage. Cree seems to be a big name in these things

 

[dogman dan]

That's an important consideration. The morning I hit the idiot walking the bike lane dressed in all black, my battery was lower than I realized. I was running a nice 24v halogen from an EVG bike, and powering it from a 24v tool nicad. Seemed like I could see fine that morning, but clearly not good enough to see a ninja in time. It was the day of the time change, and suddenly pitch dark later in the morning. Hit that doofus going 27 mph.

Now I rarely ride in full dark. I wait for the dawn glow, and run a flashlight style bike light for them to see me, not for me to see. I'm so old now, I don't really go out after dinner anymore.

 

[ebent]

I use one of these. http://www.bikelights.com/stella300.html They sell them with a battery buy if asked they will sell them without a battery. I feel the same as you do Tom, I don't want multiple batteries. Amazing to get that much light from such a small unit. I use a red tail light from grin. http://www.ebikes.ca/lights/ It has on, off, and flashing. The headlight has low, high, flashing and off. Both led. Both very low electric draw.

My 48v to 12v converter powers a busbar. From there It powers my lights, a motorcycle stereo with small speakers, and a cigarette lighter for charging cell phones etc.

 

[docnjoj]

I use 2 Lyen converters at about 12-13 volts. One powers the Magicshine and the other powers my rear view camera and screen.
otherdoc

 

[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/te...fkapping/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/cruiser-parts/bicycle-lights/soma-torpedo-bicycle-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/cruiser-parts/bicycle-lights/soma-torpedo-bicycle-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-880-LED-MTB-road-bike-light-torch-huge-2000-Lumens-NEW-2012-/150806689296?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item231cc77610#ht_4238wt_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.