AF7JA
100 W
eTrike said:
Same here. I have one permanently mounted on on my bike with a voltage regulator to the e-bike battery. Then I have a L&M 360 on my helmet.
The defuser is nearly a necessity for the magic shine clones.
What is best ebike lighting available?
- Thread starter Offroader
- Start date
Same here. I have one permanently mounted on on my bike with a voltage regulator to the e-bike battery. Then I have a L&M 360 on my helmet.
The defuser is nearly a necessity for the magic shine clones.
Grizzl-E
100 W
I have a bunch of these from Luna cycle http://lunacycle.com/extras/lights/luna-cycle-cyclops-led-light/ they are great for the price and they run up to 72v nominal. I have two on my fat bike to eliminate a single point of failure out in the bush.
But if you can afford it the ebikes.ca luminator is the nicest light I've tried. Put one on my dads bike and I'm jealous every time I ride it. The form factor and diffusion on it is perfect. Had I not spent the equivalent trying other cheap lights I would own one.
But if you can afford it the ebikes.ca luminator is the nicest light I've tried. Put one on my dads bike and I'm jealous every time I ride it. The form factor and diffusion on it is perfect. Had I not spent the equivalent trying other cheap lights I would own one.
WoodlandHills
10 kW
The Lumenator is currently listed as "out of stock" at the Grin store...........
I ordered a couple cheap lights from aliexpress.
One of these as recommended here, I like that it came with a proper mount.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC12V-80V-20W-Black-LED-Headlight-Handlebar-Light-Waterproof-Lamp-Universal-for-Motorcycle-E-bike-for/32501138512.html?spm=2114.01010208.8.9.kdjnL6
And a basic cree bike light which is really popular as listed here.
The cree light I can use one of those diffusers as etrike said, so it isn't a spot light and more dispersed.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-powerd-800LM-10W-LED-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Headlamp-with-3-Modes/32230250948.html?spm=2114.13010208.99999999.261.bVnrwO
What I intend to do is purchase some cheap lights to get an idea about what I really want and how I want the light dispersed. I also want to see if riding in the woods at night is even possible with a bike light, or is too unsafe to even consider.
Supposedly the best is one of these lights. Over $500 dollars from Lupine. They make the best lights and also the highest lumen light also. Maybe if I actually use my bike at night, as I never have, I'll consider one of these expensive lights. 5000 lumen light in a 150 gram package. The other cheap chinese lights are about the same weight and maybe only use about 1000 lumen maximum.
http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/bike_light_sets.asp
I know a super expensive light is probably not needed, but would make a fun toy. The way I see it is everyone bought the cheapest chinese products then there would be no innovation.
One of these as recommended here, I like that it came with a proper mount.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC12V-80V-20W-Black-LED-Headlight-Handlebar-Light-Waterproof-Lamp-Universal-for-Motorcycle-E-bike-for/32501138512.html?spm=2114.01010208.8.9.kdjnL6
And a basic cree bike light which is really popular as listed here.
The cree light I can use one of those diffusers as etrike said, so it isn't a spot light and more dispersed.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/USB-powerd-800LM-10W-LED-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Bicycle-Headlamp-with-3-Modes/32230250948.html?spm=2114.13010208.99999999.261.bVnrwO
What I intend to do is purchase some cheap lights to get an idea about what I really want and how I want the light dispersed. I also want to see if riding in the woods at night is even possible with a bike light, or is too unsafe to even consider.
Supposedly the best is one of these lights. Over $500 dollars from Lupine. They make the best lights and also the highest lumen light also. Maybe if I actually use my bike at night, as I never have, I'll consider one of these expensive lights. 5000 lumen light in a 150 gram package. The other cheap chinese lights are about the same weight and maybe only use about 1000 lumen maximum.
http://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/bike_light_sets.asp
I know a super expensive light is probably not needed, but would make a fun toy. The way I see it is everyone bought the cheapest chinese products then there would be no innovation.
LewTwo
1 MW
I ordered one of these just to see what they were using to solve the 12-80 volts delima.
http://www.banggood.com/Motorcycle-E-Bike-Car-LED-Spot-Light-Headlight-12V-80V-3W-Universal-p-922259.html
Most low voltage regulators I have seen have an upper limit of 40 volts.
I am guessing they use a zener diode to limit the upper voltage to something useable like 24-30 volts.
Then a second regulator or zener for their working voltage .... or perhaps just a single 12 volt zener.
http://www.banggood.com/Motorcycle-E-Bike-Car-LED-Spot-Light-Headlight-12V-80V-3W-Universal-p-922259.html
Most low voltage regulators I have seen have an upper limit of 40 volts.
I am guessing they use a zener diode to limit the upper voltage to something useable like 24-30 volts.
Then a second regulator or zener for their working voltage .... or perhaps just a single 12 volt zener.
Ykick
1 GW
LewTwo said:
Several of us have used those for nearly 2 years. They're "ok" but the rivets do loosen and the cheap tin construction is not very weatherproof. Not a very good beam either. No focus.
These are a much better deal, IMO - http://www.ebay.com/itm/3W-DC12-100V-Motorcycle-Electric-Bike-Bicycle-Waterproof-LED-Headlight-Hottest-/131441444409?hash=item1e9a854639
Cheaper, better beam and overall construction is much more solid. Aluminum/white color might be a downer for some bikes but I sprayed one flat-black and it looks great.
LewTwo
1 MW
Yep --- ugly as sin.Ykick said:
I was ordering some other stuff from them and wanted to see the electronics. Anyone bother to open one of them up?
True that.Ykick said:
Same question: Anyone bother to open one of them up?
Ykick
1 GW
LewTwo said:
I've opened 'em all up but all I can say is there's a board inside which performs the dc-dc. Fair number of components but I never really studied it enough to tell how it works. I might have a dead one laying around? If so, I'll throw a pic up.
Edit to add:
View attachment 1
Ykick
1 GW
Offroader said:How did you mount these to your bike?
Actually 2 bikes and soon to be a 3rd -
Fairly simple, whatever clamp(s) I had laying around. It would also mount using one of the bar clamp bolts on the steering stem if I wanted....
LewTwo
1 MW
Definitely more to it than I would have expected. I see at least three ICs. Should prove interesting.Ykick said:
Ykick
1 GW
Offroader said:
Not really a spot, more of a flood pattern that really works well IMO. I don't think it's blinding oncoming traffic either. I'm fairly sensitive to that and it's actually better than the cheap tin black one in that regard.
If I want a spot I go with one of these - http://www.ebay.com/itm/371470444820?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Bought a dozen of em over the last 3 months and a coworker another 6 or so...
Runs a long time on most 18650's I've scavenged from laptop packs. Tie-wraps to my Mirrcycles easy enough, kick it on if/when need a spot lamp, leave it off or flashing the rest of the time.
LewTwo
1 MW
Hey - you have my mirrors (but I left out the center shaft).Ykick said:
I have been looking at these for mounting:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311570856207
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182030233001
LewTwo
1 MW
Ykick said:
Well this is what they are now (or at least on the day that they shipped mine).
Even less components than were on your board.
Without any markings (other than pin1) it is kind of hard to guess what that 8 pin chip on the back is.
D1 = M7 = Diode Rectifier
D2 = "SS110" = Diode Rectifier
Finally got my 3 LED bike lights as shown in the picture. Two cheap ones $7 and a slightly more expensive $25 dollar one. Went up to $32 today, but probably will go back down.
The dual LED yinding 900 simply blows the other two away in every way.
It is much lighter and smaller than the other two. Much brighter. The dispersion is great, it isn't like a spot light like the two others. This one has a neutral white option and it looks really good. Neutral White is supposedly a better and safer light to use.
This particular light was recommended in the mountain bike forum as the best bang for your buck light. It was actually produced again at the factory in china to a high spec and only offered on gearbest.com.
It looks to have decent optics in the light to help disperse the light pattern.
Highly recommend this one in neutral white, only offered at gearbest.com. Weighs only 60 gram.
http://www.gearbest.com/headlights/pp_133573.html
Can even get the gopro adapter for it.
http://www.gearbest.com/led-accessories/pp_240917.html#customer_review
Here is a good write up about bringing it back on the market.
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/36929
There is also a BT40S light that is also recommended. May be a bit brighter, but it is a bit larger. Something to consider. I'm looking into this light right now. These two lights are probably the best china made lights out there right now. By far worth the extra cost over those cheap $7 dollar ones.
The dual LED yinding 900 simply blows the other two away in every way.
It is much lighter and smaller than the other two. Much brighter. The dispersion is great, it isn't like a spot light like the two others. This one has a neutral white option and it looks really good. Neutral White is supposedly a better and safer light to use.
This particular light was recommended in the mountain bike forum as the best bang for your buck light. It was actually produced again at the factory in china to a high spec and only offered on gearbest.com.
It looks to have decent optics in the light to help disperse the light pattern.
Highly recommend this one in neutral white, only offered at gearbest.com. Weighs only 60 gram.
http://www.gearbest.com/headlights/pp_133573.html
Can even get the gopro adapter for it.
http://www.gearbest.com/led-accessories/pp_240917.html#customer_review
Here is a good write up about bringing it back on the market.
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/36929
There is also a BT40S light that is also recommended. May be a bit brighter, but it is a bit larger. Something to consider. I'm looking into this light right now. These two lights are probably the best china made lights out there right now. By far worth the extra cost over those cheap $7 dollar ones.
friendly1uk
1 MW
Common $10 ebay light punted as 30w in most adverts but actually about 10w. I put a mirror on axis with the led to send any light cast upwardly, back down to earth. It was hard to judge the angle indoors so ended up with a bit too much near field illumination, but I have since corrected this when I had to buy a new one. The first broke. The latest one has two brightness settings plus and an annoying disco effect, toggled through by flicking the power on/off rapidly.
At 150 meters the first line of tree's in the woodland could be made out as individual trunks.
I use the tinny little lights as rears, as in my profile pic over there
It would be nice to see the owl light in action with some indication of range.
Yeah I bought that last bt40s without batteries on Amazon, if that is where you were looking.
BT40S is a really nice light, you may be better off with it then the yinding 900 for a single light, it also is better with the heat.
I'm going to use the yinding 900 with narrow optics to reach out far and the BT40S as my main light because it illuminates everything up close and wide.
BT40S is probably best bang for your buck light.
BT40S is a really nice light, you may be better off with it then the yinding 900 for a single light, it also is better with the heat.
I'm going to use the yinding 900 with narrow optics to reach out far and the BT40S as my main light because it illuminates everything up close and wide.
BT40S is probably best bang for your buck light.
For $20, you get a rechargeable 1200 lumen light with three power settings on Amazon. I use this in addition to my dyno hub light when I will be in really dark conditions or know for certain I will pedaling around at night.
http://www.amazon.com/RioRand-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
http://www.amazon.com/RioRand-Bicycle-HeadLight-Flashlight-Headlamp/dp/B006QQX3C4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
Alan B
100 GW
Most of the lights featured in this thread are illegal and dangerous for street and shared bike lane use. They are not properly designed for roads and bike lanes and do not meet the requirements for those applications.
Offroad lighting is a different situation with different requirements and rules. Perhaps that should be in the title of this thread, if that is what is intended.
The best lights for ebike street use have patterned light output similar to what is required for car and motorcycle headlights. Anything else is dangerous as it causes drivers, pedestrians and other riders to be unable to see properly and they may endanger you as well.
For examples of requirements and properly designed ebike lights look for StVZO Compliant Optics, Ebikes.ca has some examples on their website that run directly from most ebike battery voltages, such as the Roxim.
To shield the light properly from oncoming eyes the LED cannot be directly visible by them. It must use reflectors or optics that shield the LED completely above the horizon so that no light goes there.
Proper patterning of the light also allows much lower lumen output to be MORE effective than brighter lumen wasters. Most of the lumen ratings on cheap lights are way overstated, and much of their light is in the wrong place, so wasted and in many cases even worse because it interferes with your own night vision. The really bright low fringe light on junklight patterns bounces back into your eyes and causes them to lose sensitivity, effectively reducing your ability to see farther away and making your own headlight appear less bright.
A properly designed lighting system works better than a wasted lumen blaster, and is more friendly to pedestrians, other bikers and motorists. It also consumes less energy and increases your range. It is an important piece of ebike safety equipment.
Offroad lighting is a different situation with different requirements and rules. Perhaps that should be in the title of this thread, if that is what is intended.
The best lights for ebike street use have patterned light output similar to what is required for car and motorcycle headlights. Anything else is dangerous as it causes drivers, pedestrians and other riders to be unable to see properly and they may endanger you as well.
For examples of requirements and properly designed ebike lights look for StVZO Compliant Optics, Ebikes.ca has some examples on their website that run directly from most ebike battery voltages, such as the Roxim.
To shield the light properly from oncoming eyes the LED cannot be directly visible by them. It must use reflectors or optics that shield the LED completely above the horizon so that no light goes there.
Proper patterning of the light also allows much lower lumen output to be MORE effective than brighter lumen wasters. Most of the lumen ratings on cheap lights are way overstated, and much of their light is in the wrong place, so wasted and in many cases even worse because it interferes with your own night vision. The really bright low fringe light on junklight patterns bounces back into your eyes and causes them to lose sensitivity, effectively reducing your ability to see farther away and making your own headlight appear less bright.
A properly designed lighting system works better than a wasted lumen blaster, and is more friendly to pedestrians, other bikers and motorists. It also consumes less energy and increases your range. It is an important piece of ebike safety equipment.
Couldn't agree more Alan B.
If you are driving on the street or bike lanes, you can't have these ultra power lights.
I use the BT40s and Yinding 900 with spot optics to reach further out with a more narrow beam. I parked my bike and walked a good distance in front of it and I was blinded by the power of these two lights on maximum settings.
However, I need these strong lights if I ride trails or woods at night, this makes night riding a lot of fun.
What I do is when I leave the trails, I shut off my Yinding 900 and lower the power of my BT40S. I also point the BT40S about a 45 degree pointing to the ground to not blind anyone, but to give a little light so people see me. In the city where I live there is plenty of street lights so bike lights are not so important for seeing.
It really depends on what you are doing and what lights you need. But if you ride in the woods or trails at night you really want powerful lighting.
Optimally you would want a few lights, and one decent ebike light for riding on the streets. You then shut off the high powered lights when you leave the trail.
If you are driving on the street or bike lanes, you can't have these ultra power lights.
I use the BT40s and Yinding 900 with spot optics to reach further out with a more narrow beam. I parked my bike and walked a good distance in front of it and I was blinded by the power of these two lights on maximum settings.
However, I need these strong lights if I ride trails or woods at night, this makes night riding a lot of fun.
What I do is when I leave the trails, I shut off my Yinding 900 and lower the power of my BT40S. I also point the BT40S about a 45 degree pointing to the ground to not blind anyone, but to give a little light so people see me. In the city where I live there is plenty of street lights so bike lights are not so important for seeing.
It really depends on what you are doing and what lights you need. But if you ride in the woods or trails at night you really want powerful lighting.
Optimally you would want a few lights, and one decent ebike light for riding on the streets. You then shut off the high powered lights when you leave the trail.
Alan B
100 GW
Offroad needs are different. Perhaps that should be in the title of this thread to clarify that.
tomjasz
1 GW
Egads $2.83 delivered. Ouch!Ykick said:
VBG
MadRhino
100 GW
Yep.Alan B said:
On the street I have 4 blue Eagle Eyes and a small white flood bike light on the front, 4 red Eagle Eyes on the rear. In the city, we don't need much light for vision because everything is lighted anyway. What we need is to be seen. The blue running lights on the front are very efficient to draw attention, for the first impression of a driver seeing them coming is: Police. :wink:
Offroad, in mountain trails especially, a lack of light can be very dangerous. Also, we don't need to care about blinding upcoming trafic.
