new bike light

[ambroseliao]

My DX P7 headlight arrived today. It's this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25149 Three is another newer model that also has a helmet mount but supposedly has a lower current regulator for $.82 more!

The box was a bit beat up from the shipping since they only used a plastic bag with air buble insulation to ship it in. However, the contents were fine. The word "Magicshine" has disappeared from the box. The build quality of the light is quite good. It's surprisingly solid feeling. It's also smaller than I had imagined. The charger is very light and has a red LED when charging which turns green when the charge is complete. The battery comes in a nice bag with two plastic strap mounts but there's no strap. I'll need to come up with a velcro strip for it. The light is very bright and the blink mode is amazingly bright. It is definitely blinding if you should look directly into it.

One thing that others have mentioned which I will mention again. When you plug the battery to the light, the light comes on at full brightness even if turned off when you last used it. Also, the clicker on the back of the light has a very nice feel, the LED inside is always on when the battery is plugged in. This seems like an odd design choice. Why would you want to drain the battery from the LED when the headlight is not being used? Others have mentioned that the LED on the clicker turns red when it's turned on, however, mine stays green and is on all the time that the battery is plugged in. Not a real problem, just disconnect the power. The O rings used to mount the light to your handlebar is challenging to slip under the power cord that comes out of the botton of the light. I guess that way the O ring won't fall off if the light is removed from the bike.

This thing is indeed amazingly bright. I can't wait to try it in dark conditions and also in daylight in blink mode as a visibility aid. This is a terrific deal at around $80 shipped and with the battery.

Ambrose

 

[ktronik]

Hi ktronik,

If the driver has 3 regulators, I may as well get a 3rd LED. Price is certainly right. Which white LED would you recommend for a front white one?

Ambrose
(PS, I really appreciate your knowledge and help!)

Cree XRE or SSCp4 both are good, the cree will give a 'puncher' beam the SSC a smoother beam...but really depends on how you are going to mount it...& what optic you are using...either way it wired in parallel like the red units, & will of course flash...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15943

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1445

good luck with your DX light... mine died with in half an hour... hope yours is a fixed one...

K

 

[317537]

I can get these base leds with reflector without the torch from gadgets direct. How would four of these in series go?

Same current 2.8 amps but four times the wattage.

Would it be overkill?

 

[aaronski]

Just a heads up as the days get darker:
I ordered my magicshine LED light from DealExtreme which showed it as in stock/ the next day I check my order and it shows backordered and should be here in month. I'd just buy one from GEOmangear, same lag but a US company! in the meantime I'm using a 60 lumen flashlight to get home..

 

[ambroseliao]

Geomangear.com is selling the MagicShine P7's faster than hotcakes! They can't keep them in stock. They are back ordered until the 4-6th of October the last time I checked. It may be worthwhile to cancel the DX order and place your order through Geomangear for the possibly faster delivery. I waited about a month for mine to arrive from DX. I rode with it on flashing this morning and it is amazingly bright and increases my visibility greatly.

Ambrose

 

[Kurt]

I just bit the bullet and got to magic shines from the original Ebay link I posted. Works out at around US $100 each. The local guy has them in stock and shipping was only $6 for the two of them. Hope to mostly use them on the low setting for commuting but nice to have the extra bright option for other night time adventures.

See how I go will post my impressions when they arrive.

Kurt

 

[voicecoils]

I just bit the bullet and got to magic shines from the original Ebay link I posted.
See how I go will post my impressions when they arrive.
Kurt

Nice, I think you'll like them. I'm thinking I will start looking into the suggestions ktronik made for thermal improvements. The light body does get very hot after a while.

 

[Kurt]

I'm thinking I will start looking into the suggestions ktronik made for thermal improvements. The light body does get very hot after a while.

How about on the low setting dose the light run hot and for that matter is low good for street use?

Perhaps the body of the light being hot is a good thing as the heat is being wicked away from the globe/led and into the body of the light. Other than mounting more heat sinks on the body I don't think there is much more you can do.

Kurt.

 

[ktronik]

I just bit the bullet and got to magic shines from the original Ebay link I posted.
See how I go will post my impressions when they arrive.
Kurt

Nice, I think you'll like them. I'm thinking I will start looking into the suggestions ktronik made for thermal improvements. The light body does get very hot after a while.

If you got from Geoman, thermally you are right...but if DX bought would be worth it...they have a good habit of dieing if you pull them apart...from what I have read...if its hot, thats good... not hot bad...

K

 

[aaronski]

I just bit the bullet and got to magic shines from the original Ebay link I posted. Works out at around US $100 each. The local guy has them in stock and shipping was only $6 for the two of them. Hope to mostly use them on the low setting for commuting but nice to have the extra bright option for other night time adventures.

See how I go will post my impressions when they arrive.

Kurt

I got fed up waiting for DX and ordered from dapedaler on ebay. I ordered at 3pm PST in San Francisco and the light arrived noon on Monday. Not bad for free shipping! The thing is plenty bright. only problem is that my handlebars aren't straight, and it doesn't seem that you can angle the light, so it points a few degrees to the side.
If anyone else needs a light pronto to get home this seems like a good way to do it.

--Aaronski

 

[Kurt]

I got fed up waiting for DX and ordered from dapedaler on ebay. I ordered at 3pm PST in San Francisco and the light arrived noon on Monday. Not bad for free shipping! The thing is plenty bright. only problem is that my handlebars aren't straight, and it doesn't seem that you can angle the light, so it points a few degrees to the side.
If anyone else needs a light pronto to get home this seems like a good way to do it.

I also have bent bars that already have CA and a small warning bell mounted on them so the space is getting tight on the straight sections. If I find there isn't space to mount the light directly to the bars. I am thinking of making a small bracket that uses the two bolts for the handle bar clamp. This bracket will have a small length of SS tubing welded to it then I can mount the light to this tubing just like it would have on the handle bars just a little forward of the bars. If I get creative I might even cut the tubing a little longer and mount my CA on it as well. I find myself wishing my CA was out front more. Makes it a little safer to quickly read the screen without looking down so much.

looking forward to some night riding this weekend if it arrives this week.

Kurt.

 

[adrian_sm]

I got fed up waiting for DX and ordered from dapedaler on ebay. I ordered at 3pm PST in San Francisco and the light arrived noon on Monday. Not bad for free shipping! The thing is plenty bright. only problem is that my handlebars aren't straight, and it doesn't seem that you can angle the light, so it points a few degrees to the side.
If anyone else needs a light pronto to get home this seems like a good way to do it.

I also have bent bars that already have CA and a small warning bell mounted on them so the space is getting tight on the straight sections. If I find there isn't space to mount the light directly to the bars. I am thinking of making a small bracket that uses the two bolts for the handle bar clamp. This bracket will have a small length of SS tubing welded to it then I can mount the light to this tubing just like it would have on the handle bars just a little forward of the bars. If I get creative I might even cut the tubing a little longer and mount my CA on it as well. I find myself wishing my CA was out front more. Makes it a little safer to quickly read the screen without looking down so much.

looking forward to some night riding this weekend if it arrives this week.

Kurt.

This made me think of something I stumbled across a while back that you may find interesting.
could do the trick. There are other versions around, but this is the one I could find with a quick google.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Minoura_Space_Grip_SG1_Handlebar_Extension/804758424/

 

[voicecoils]

I am thinking of making a small bracket that uses the two bolts for the handle bar clamp. This bracket will have a small length of SS tubing welded to it then I can mount the light to this tubing just like it would have on the handle bars just a little forward of the bars. If I get creative I might even cut the tubing a little longer and mount my CA on it as well.

This made me think of something I stumbled across a while back that you may find interesting.
...

Thinking the exact same thing. Here's what I came up with:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Handlebar-Computer-Space-Saver-Carbon-Alloy_W0QQitemZ370265865550

Kurt's handy with a welder so he could probably fab something up in 5min anyways though

 

[Kurt]

I received one of the two magic shine lights in the post today. Looks like they stuffed up the order and only sent one.I am in the proses of sorting that out the 2nd one today. Anyhow first impressions of the one I have after opening the black box.

Its much smaller than I was expecting. both the light housing and the battery. This is a good thing as some of the halogen lights I was looking at were HUGE!.Over all construction quality looks fine especially for the price.I have only removed the lens cover for a quick look. plan to pull the light completely down over the weekend and do a 2nd QA on it before putting it to extended use.

I decided it would be a good idea to charge the battery before powering up the light for the first time. I plugged the little charger into the wall and the green led came on. Once the battery was plugged in the led went to red. After about 10 mins the led went to orange. I presume this meant it was charged and stop it there but perhaps it turns fully green again when fully charged I am not sure?

I strapped the battery to the frame of my bike with the Velcro pouch they supplied and it fitted well. Because the light is so small I didn't have any trouble finding some room to mount it on my handle bars. I used the smaller of the two o ring supplied to hold it down. I did find that when using the rear push button the light housing would move a little out of position. If I didn't hold the housing while pressing the button. Its not a big issue but I might look into building a little length of tube out front that I talked about in my previous post.i would use a larger OD tube than my bars so that there is more tension on the o ring. Or I could just get a smaller o ring or a little bit of double sided tape might be all it takes.I will live with it as is for now.

The light output is very good I cant see myself ever wanting anything brighter. In fact I am very satisfied just to run the light on the low setting . Low uses 70% less power and is fine for street use. Run time and Battery life will be much longer on the low setting. Perhaps the light its self will last a little longer at the lower power level. I only tested the light in my home theatre room.Its fairly dark in their even in the day time. I am looking forward to tonight when I can go for a ride with it on the street.

All I need to do now is get my 2nd light for my wife's bike sent to me and spend some time QA the light over the weekend. I will report back with my battery run time to data and some beam shots on the weekend.

Kurt.

 

[fabiograssi]

what do you guys use for the back light? I need a good red back light. I want it to be visible during the day because I usually only ride during the day.

I made a light I call 'the blinder'. it uses 3 red high power LEDs (from DX)

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1776

driven by a AMC7135 16 mode driver, with all 3 LEDs wired in parallel. total drive current 1050ma to led string from battery around 500ma with a 50% duty cycle of flash...

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7612

powered by one li/ion cell.

no optics or reflectors, so it has a 70 deg viewing angle. Its so crazy bright I can not bear to look @ it...

very cheap & cheerfull, that can be made bigger or smaller without much effort...totally visible in the day....& absolutely blinding @ night....

I can provide pics if needed.

K

Dear Ktronic:

Can you help me, posting the wiring diagram for this setup? Where to solder the LED wires and the battery wires in sku.7612????

F

 

[ambroseliao]

I'm looking for a wiring diagram as well. I don't have the parts from DX yet, but expect them RSN.

Thanks Ktronik,

Ambrose

 

[ktronik]

from this list:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=188227

we have this pic:

this is for making a new driver for your MShine... gives 2.4A from a 3.6v batt...(has different modes, is dimmable)

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q262/netkidz/Flashlight/Mag/MAG-P7-1-driver.gif

this for 2.8A (1 mode only)

(thanks to netkidz for pic)

if just for the red flasher, just wire up the left driver on the first pic...same as pic for batt+ batt- LED+ LED-, but not the other connections to the other PCB...it is not used for the 3 LED flasher, but could be if you wanted to drive more leds for signaling space ships or something, 6-10 LED would be ideal...hook them up the same way, all LEDs in parallel...

hope that helps...

K

 

[ambroseliao]

Hi Ktronik,

Thanks for posting that graphic. This is for updating the Magic Shine HA-III P7 head lamp, correct?

I'm looking for a wiring diagram for the your "The Blinder" light. I just received the parts last night. There are 3 LEDs and one driver board. I see that I should parallel the 3 LEDs. Now the question is, where do I connect the LEDs on "The Blinder's" driver board. I see how to wire the power (to the reverse side.

Thanks for answering an LED Noob's questions.

Ambrose

 

[ambroseliao]

I just read this today.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100502602.html

I want to be seen by drivers, even if it drives them crazy and wakes them up from texting or talking on their cell phones. Ktronik's The Blinder will sure help with that. I plan on placing one LED facing backwards and one each facing left and right. With the Magic Shine up front in blink mode, I should be visible in every direction with that setup. I also have a Planet Bike Superflash light mounted on the back of my helmet. I want to be a rolling light show that no one can miss!

Ambrose

 

[ktronik]

Hi Ktronik,

Thanks for posting that graphic. This is for updating the Magic Shine HA-III P7 head lamp, correct?

I'm looking for a wiring diagram for the your "The Blinder" light. I just received the parts last night. There are 3 LEDs and one driver board. I see that I should parallel the 3 LEDs. Now the question is, where do I connect the LEDs on "The Blinder's" driver board. I see how to wire the power (to the reverse side.

Thanks for answering an LED Noob's questions.

Ambrose

hey no probs for questions...

The pic is for when your Mshine driver blows...but for your 'blinder' you use the same driver...& wire the same way... that is like the pic... just forget about the other driver...

1: So Batt+ goes to the driver (on top like pic or underneath, both the same) AS WELL AS LED+
2: LED- gets wired from the LED to the 'pad' (marked LED- on pic).
3: Batt- is wired to the driver (on top or underneath)

Done.

 

[The Journey Guy]

1: So Batt+ goes to the driver (on top like pic or underneath, both the same) AS WELL AS LED+
2: LED- gets wired from the LED to the 'pad' (marked LED- on pic).
3: Batt- is wired to the driver (on top or underneath)

Done.

Hello. I am very interested in doing this project, however when I went to order the driver board, I noticed that in the photos they provide on their website that the layout seems to have changed. The pic you provided, and the photo on the order page are not the same. The components look to have a different layout now, perhaps a newer revision board? Anyway, would you be kind enough to double check their website, and advise as to the new board locations for connections? Thanks for your help and advice!

 

[ktronik]

1: So Batt+ goes to the driver (on top like pic or underneath, both the same) AS WELL AS LED+
2: LED- gets wired from the LED to the 'pad' (marked LED- on pic).
3: Batt- is wired to the driver (on top or underneath)

Done.

Hello. I am very interested in doing this project, however when I went to order the driver board, I noticed that in the photos they provide on their website that the layout seems to have changed. The pic you provided, and the photo on the order page are not the same. The components look to have a different layout now, perhaps a newer revision board? Anyway, would you be kind enough to double check their website, and advise as to the new board locations for connections? Thanks for your help and advice!

Ohh, I see, sorry about that guys...looks like it might be different again, from even the new pic...

So with the below pic you should be right with any PWM dimmable AMC7135 LDO regulator, LED driver...in fact any AMC7135 driver with more than one mode will work, I just like this one for the many flash modes...

K

 

[The Journey Guy]

So, batt - goes to the bottom right lead of the driver (I believe that's pin 4), yes? Thanks again!

 

[Scorefield]

I don't know much about LED's but my friends keep talking about SureFire flashlights and they keep saying that they are good, I dont know if these could maybe be used for a nice new bike light...nice to be seen when blasting off down the road in the night, safety first

 

[ktronik]

So, batt - goes to the bottom right lead of the driver (I believe that's pin 4), yes? Thanks again!

Doh, No, Batt - is the copper track around the outside of the driver...(letter B is on)

K