Lights - upgrade Lumicycle vs Chinese Cree XML vs ?

[JamesM]

No complaints in the long ebay lights thread.

Yes there are:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &start=555

 

[FluffyChicken]

A fair few of us have both the Cree China lights, but for cheaper than that and they are fine for (in fact more than fine as too bright on full beam) for road use.
Not used it on the trail though.
No complaints in the long ebay lights thread.

Cannot see why the PSU would be a problem, same as all the rebranded stuff over her, just needs and adaptor which should be supplied.
(many branded chargers I've had at work have snapped or given up in less than a year.)

Where are these reports on them by the way.

Got a link to the thread you mean Ben? And the lights you have?

LGF as normal kicked it off. I will say Delivery was a while, so you might not get them this year (it was within their quoted time)
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 13#1706813
'ROSE' but I see they now do different coloured ring if you search ebay.
Might be worth getting ones with a better mounts if you're going on the rough though (someone might be able to comment on the fixing offroad)

 

[FluffyChicken]

No complaints in the long ebay lights thread.

Yes there are:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &start=555

There a year ago and not sure even the same light... certainly not the one LGF bough as he bought it a year or so later...

As for the chargers, there is unfortunately no guarantee that it is CE approved properly, this is ebay. MOST are just Chinese imports being resold and not made within the EU. Unless someone complains, who is going to check ?
Like I said I've had plenty of proper ones go, that includes IKEA and Scientific companies so it doesn't worry me, they can all be taken apart and checked.
Of course I could spend the money and make sure HOPE have done the hard work. I cannot afford that, John might be able to

 

[JamesM]

Yeah you are correct the broken ones were not the one you posted a link too. One was an SSC P7 lights costing £50, the other was an XML-T6 costing £35 and the one with a dodgy switch and broken battery was a Magicshine. They are all different but basically the same. Who knows though maybe this years less than £20 version has addressed all the problems.

 

[02gf74]

been using this one this winter

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170900368871? ... 1439.l2649

no problems yet. it has proper albeit flimsy clamp (i reckon that will be first to break plus I replaced the nasty self tappers that hold the brkacet to the lamp by button head screws).

 

[john]

Of course I could spend the money and make sure HOPE have done the hard work. I cannot afford that, John might be able to

Not really, no....

Anyhow decide to go with a Chinese special as recommended by LGF > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0477864104

Will probably try and sort my lumicycle set over the next little while. Still have a HID which (hopefully works), will look at lithium batts and maybe LED upgrade.

Thanks to all for the feedback

 

[was8v]

For £8.50.....

I would be nervous putting these unprotected 18650 Li-ion cells in cheapo chargers in the house overnight.

If a cheapo Li-ion gets shorted then it will probably catch fire / explode pretty quickly, they give out their charge very quickly.

Some people put them on charge in a metal tin on an extension lead outside whilst watching from afar....

However, these Li-ion cells are in the majority of laptop batteries, so it may be worth sourcing a charger in the UK that you are confident is properly certified. Oh and maybe source some protected cells.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjF2lcVAHZo

Also 20A current when shorted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctgus00owo

 

[john]

For £8.50.....

I would be nervous putting these 18650 Li-ion cells in cheapo chargers in the house overnight.

If a Li-ion gets shorted then it will probably catch fire / explode pretty quickly, they give out their charge very quickly.

Some people put them on charge in a metal tin on an extension lead outside whilst watching from afar....

However, these Li-ion cells are in the majority of laptop batteries, so it may be worth sourcing a charger in the UK that you are confident is properly certified.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjF2lcVAHZo

Also 20A current when shorted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctgus00owo

As per my first post I have a RC / hobby charger / whatever you want to call it which I'd use to charge the battery with in all likelihood. You'd need a proper LiIon charger to charge the packs, not a laptop charger. The proper chargers will terminate (hopefully) when the packs are full, laptop charger doesn't do this afaik.

 

[was8v]

As per my first post I have a RC / hobby charger / whatever you want to call it which I'd use to charge the battery with in all likelihood. You'd need a proper LiIon charger to charge the packs, not a laptop charger. The proper chargers will terminate (hopefully) when the packs are full, laptop charger doesn't do this afaik.

The point I was making was that the cells are used in laptops and drills etc so are safe enough. I wasn't suggesting you use a laptop charger to charge these, as a laptop will have internal circuitry in addition to protect the cells.

As you say you should use a charger designed for li-ion to charge these, like others I am slightly suspicious of the chargers that come with the light units.

 

[john]

As per my first post I have a RC / hobby charger / whatever you want to call it which I'd use to charge the battery with in all likelihood. You'd need a proper LiIon charger to charge the packs, not a laptop charger. The proper chargers will terminate (hopefully) when the packs are full, laptop charger doesn't do this afaik.

The point I was making was that the cells are used in laptops and drills etc so are safe enough. I wasn't suggesting you use a laptop charger to charge these, as a laptop will have internal circuitry in addition to protect the cells.

As you say you should use a charger designed for li-ion to charge these, like others I am slightly suspicious of the chargers that come with the light units.

Fair enough, wasn't clear from your post.