Lights. CREE XML XM-L T6 / U2 etc Thread

[fossyant]

Not got the cheap light yet in the post, but the magicshines have a tight fitting connector which surrounds the male pin. If worried I would fit a bit of electrical tape round the join

Now the battery. I have modified my original batteries - wrapped the ends in electrical tape to ensure no water can get in as the shrink wrap just holds the sides together. Then carefully wrapped another layer over the whole battery with duck tape to add some protection and additional waterproofing. Water ingress kills the protection circuit, leaving either a dead battery, or one that may be prone to fail.

I know this is a faff, but the lights were cheap and the batteries they cut corners on.

New magichines now come with a better protected rubber coated battery - this is what I have with last years 808E

 

[potsy]

I haven't tried removing the existing o-ring handlebar mount on the light – is this mount modification as simple as removing one screw from the bottom of the light unit (that fixes the existing mount in place), and then attaching the light to the Hope mount using a longer screw...?

It is exactly that MrMac, though I was lucky in having the correct length screw as any longer and it might have touched some of the internal gubbins, I also fitted it the 'wrong way round' if that makes sense, ie the bracket was 180 degrees around when it was used on the Hope, this was to keep the bracket from fouling the wire.

My battery pack is in the Tribag that you suggested, works well and there is room for another or other bits and pieces, I have made it my dedicated spare battery bag, with one for the Moon and some aaa's for the rear lights

Getting on to the light itself on the commute, did it's first run last night, very impressed with it for the money, used it on full as I want to make sure my battery is OK and am trying to get an idea of run time.
Bit 'spotty' like people have mentioned, might be worth getting the wide angle lens instead, but definitely got me noticed on the roads, angled it down with the main spot around 10' in front of the wheel, didn't have anyone flash me or complain so assuming it wasn't too dazzling.

 

[mrmacmusic]

It is exactly that MrMac, though I was lucky in having the correct length screw as any longer and it might have touched some of the internal gubbins, I also fitted it the 'wrong way round' if that makes sense, ie the bracket was 180 degrees around when it was used on the Hope, this was to keep the bracket from fouling the wire.

Thanks potsy

My battery pack is in the Tribag that you suggested, works well and there is room for another or other bits and pieces, I have made it my dedicated spare battery bag, with one for the Moon and some aaa's for the rear lights

Glad that worked out – my second light hasn't arrived yet, and I've not ordered a Tribag/Drybag (yet), but definitely good to know that it works out as I thought it would. Sticking the battery and wiring in a top-tube bag should also solve any potential problem with the waterproofness of the connector too (as mentioned by billy above) which is, I guess, a good thing. Is there plenty room in the Tribag for 2x front light battery packs and wiring plus 4x AA and 4 xAAA do you reckon?

Getting on to the light itself on the commute, did it's first run last night, very impressed with it for the money, used it on full as I want to make sure my battery is OK and am trying to get an idea of run time.
Bit 'spotty' like people have mentioned, might be worth getting the wide angle lens instead, but definitely got me noticed on the roads, angled it down with the main spot around 10' in front of the wheel, didn't have anyone flash me or complain so assuming it wasn't too dazzling.

I have no Magicshine experience, but am also very happy considering the cost. As mentioned before, I've not run mine without the wide-angle adaptor, but when my second light arrives I plan to use it unmodified (as a backup and "high beam") – it'll be interesting to compare beams both with and without the wide-angle side by side. I'm expecting the unmodified one to be much more spotty, and probably throw a bit further too.

 

[potsy]

Thanks potsy


Glad that worked out – my second light hasn't arrived yet, and I've not ordered a Tribag/Drybag (yet), but definitely good to know that it works out as I thought it would. Sticking the battery and wiring in a top-tube bag should also solve any potential problem with the waterproofness of the connector too (as mentioned by billy above) which is, I guess, a good thing. Is there plenty room in the Tribag for 2x front light battery packs and wiring plus 4x AA and 4 xAAA do you reckon?

I would say there is room, just, I haven't even taken the battery pack out of the bag it comes in, if you do there'd be more room.
Just a quick point on the Tribag, not sure which ones you are looking at but mine is the Topeak one with the waterproof cover, they also do one without the cover which would be no good for this.

Have you exhausted the battery yet Mac?
I have a total of 1h 45 mins upto now on full power, light is still blue

 

[wanda2010]

Having no discipline when it comes to buying bike-related stuff , I've just pulled the trigger on one these lights. Should arrive on Friday. I'm blaming you guys for forcing me into overdraft mode .

Edit: Just to make 'the group' feel even MORE guilty, I've now added a wide-angled thingy to the shopping basket

 

[Mallory]

Out of interest has anyone tried this set from c and b seen??? http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/commuter-kit.html

 

[mrmacmusic]

I would say there is room, just, I haven't even taken the battery pack out of the bag it comes in, if you do there'd be more room.
Just a quick point on the Tribag, not sure which ones you are looking at but mine is the Topeak one with the waterproof cover, they also do one without the cover which would be no good for this.

Perfect thanks Yes, was looking at the Topeak ones, and might well go for the "Drybag" one (rather than the mesh one with rain cover).

Have you exhausted the battery yet Mac?
I have a total of 1h 45 mins upto now on full power, light is still blue

Rightly or wrongly, I opted to re-charge the battery today rather than fully deplete it – I've used it for 4 commutes now (~3hrs 40mins), using a mixture of mostly medium with maybe 25/30% high and some time at the low setting too. Once I get my second backup light, I'll see if I can stretch it to charging every 6 commutes (i.e. every 3 days) which would be ideal for me

Wasn't brave enough to go for 6 this time around (especially since I ran it on max for 90% of the commute this morning to try and persuade the red light to come on ), but I suspect I should easily get this runtime as I'm not running it at max constantly.

 

[fossyant]

Out of interest has anyone tried this set from c and b seen??? http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/commuter-kit.html

Yes, stop it, the rear light has me itching, even brighter than the Magicshine rears.

 

[fossyant]

Try not to run the lights too low on battery - once you know the light charge sequence I would suggest you charge before it gets to red. I certainly go for charge at Orange. These batteries don't like being run flat.

So far so good then on these cheapo's. Mine was delivered today, but went back to the Post office to be collected.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Fossy, am I right in think you could run this light off two 18650 batteries, they just wouldn't have the capacity of four, my thinking is ( as I am really very poor) I could get one holder and two batteries as back up to the main battery pack, which is usually recharged every 2-4 days.

 

[compo]

I had one of these delivered today from Ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500-lumen...xmNaTcjj5YmyshinatA5oCw=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Not a patch on the kit you guys are discussing but I have been outside in the dark with it and for what it is it is quite impressive. Only remains to see what the three AAA batteries life is like.

 

[musa]

I had one of these delivered today from Ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500-lumen-Zoomable-LED-Bicycle-Light-7W-Cree-Q5-Flashlight-Torch-/400337141717?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNXT&nma=true&si=7CZZxmNaTcjj5YmyshinatA5oCw=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Not a patch on the kit you guys are discussing but I have been outside in the dark with it and for what it is it is quite impressive. Only remains to see what the three AAA batteries life is like.

I run two of them they quite good however they don't throw light far ahead for me. For city riding it will do the job. I run 18650 batteries which has helped

Although saying that, one has appeared to stop working. Just wish my delivery on the t6 will come

i may regulate one of them to be a rear light..get some red laminate and cover the lense

 

[fossyant]

Fossy, am I right in think you could run this light off two 18650 batteries, they just wouldn't have the capacity of four, my thinking is ( as I am really very poor) I could get one holder and two batteries as back up to the main battery pack, which is usually recharged every 2-4 days.

Yes you can indeed. And the capacity would be pretty good if you got good cells by Xtar, Senbor, or easier via Torchy on ebay. You can just get one 18650 battery holder, wire it to a connector and you are off. You would need to recharge these with a battery charger for 18650's. Or you buy a pre-made pack.

I will double check connector sizes once my T6 gets picked up tomorrow, and check comparability with Magicshine ones, as their connectors are readily available.

The issue is with the protection circuit.

You have a cheap choice of 2 or 4 cell packs via ebay with a stuck on protection circuit. Look after it, recharge on time and you may get a year or more (more if you use it often - me it's just winter).

Home made packs need the cell holder, pre-protected cells and a charger. Costs a little more but the packs will last a long time.

I'm no expert but nearly freaked when I first read the MS battery issue a few years back. You need to keep an eye on them when charging, and check that they aren't left on anything that can burn. Flatting them kills them, unless its a quality expensive protected cell.

Bear in mind these cells deliver 3.7v and can whack out over 5 amps - compare that to an AA. This is why you need care.

That said, one MS battery died over the first winter as both were left out in the greenhouse as I wasn't having them near 9 bikes. One failed, one is fine today 3 winters later, slightly less capacity. I also have a new one from last year which is fine. TBH, charge them regular, away from combustables, so garage floor etc or in a tin box. They can only go bang under charging or short circuit, because they can kick a good electrical punch, even AA's can make a mess if short circuited. I've got over the initial panic now. If they show charged too soon, then test on the light, they will go blue or red fast. Time for a new pack ! Protect the battery from water ingress.

 

[fossyant]

Oh and you can run these lights off a 6 x AA pack (Maplin). But at 2500-2700 Mh you'd get maybe an hour on max or two on medium for a T6 front light !

I run two rear magicshine 818's of two 6 x AA packs (12 batteries = 2 x 6 x 1.2v = 2 packs of 7.4v ) 6 batteries fit in the same 4x18650 bag and I have these in my pannier. I use standard 2500 AA's and usually need two chargers to recharge the 6 over about 2-3 hours. I get about 5 hours off the 70 lumen rear lights, so 3 -4 days on steady, longer on flash. Advantage with the AA's is there is no protection circuit, so the LED just runs 'low' (don't run lipo batteries low) and my smart charger sorts out any imbalance between cells which you get every use. That said I've used the same batteries all year round for 3 winters now, with a smart charger.

I'll look for my know how which is on here. !

 

[Grayduff]

After Fossy's advice re the bracket I have fettled my spare Hope bracket and it now works perfectly with the T6, will have to get myself another now, just needed a longer screw which I had in the spares box
View attachment 15290

Please can you point me in the right direction for one of these brackets..