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

[discominer]

£16 delivered. Great light- but last night I was SMIDGAFd on a roundabout- me in primary, him coming onto the roundabout at the exit before the one I was taking, with my Cree beam right on his front, my flashing helmet lamp giving it laldy, flashing lamp on the bike, my hi viz and reflective strips; me shouting at him - and still he kept coming. He eventually stopped after he'd bullied me past the exit.

 

[fossyant]

PM's sent to those that wanted a battery box. I've loaded mine up and already using one for my rear lights. If you buy 'protected' cells then they are a little longer than flat top 'unprotected' ones so take a bit more pressure to close. I've so far got Senybor 2800 protected cells, and also Panasonic 'unprotected' 3400's which I will use on my 2xU2 lights.

A word of general advice with using a pack or home brew pack. Protected cells will shut off if the voltage drops too low, so you'll instantly be plunged into darkness. If this happens just plug the magicshine/T6 charger in and charge. A 'tripped' cell won't charge if you put it in a smart charger like the Xtar WP6 II, so need a quick blast from a magicshine charger to re-set the protection chip.

You can charge these packs from your standard magicshine/T6 charger. It's worth getting a stand alone charger like the Xtar to balance charge the cells once in a blue moon - this will prolong the life of the batteries. If you are using unprotected cells, I would recommend you have a stand alone charger so not to overcharge the cells.

 

[fossyant]

If you missed out on the packs, there is a link earlier on for a chinese seller, but you will have a month's wait for postage.

Alternatively this seller is doing the batteries plus the case for £39.99 which is fine as it's going to cost near to £30 for decent batteries.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solarstor...yclAcces_RL&hash=item1c39999321#ht_296wt_1399

 

[paul04]

Well after reading all the positive reviews of this light, I ordered one of ebay on sunday, it arrived today, fixed it on the bike and the battery is now fully charged, ready to test it out in the morning

 

[paul04]

Well tested the light out this morning, if your thinking of buying a front light, for the price this a excellent buy.
It's more like having a car head light on your bike.
I had to do a little adjustment when I got to work, as the light kept moving up, so a bit of insulating tape around the handlebar (to make the rubber band grip better) fixed it,

 

[paul04]

A quick question about this light, when you plug the light into the battery, the light switch glows green, is it ok to leave it connected without it flattening the battery, I have been disconnecting it?

 

[Andrew Br]

It will gradually run the battery down.
I don't know how long it takes because I always unplug mine.

.

 

[potsy]

A quick question about this light, when you plug the light into the battery, the light switch glows green, is it ok to leave it connected without it flattening the battery, I have been disconnecting it?

I disconnect mine but I don't use the light all the time as it's on my CX and I can't always be bothered to swap it over to my road bike.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

A quick question about this light, when you plug the light into the battery, the light switch glows green, is it ok to leave it connected without it flattening the battery, I have been disconnecting it?

I disconnect mine, but then again I am recharging them every day

 

[paul04]

I disconnect mine, but then again I am recharging them every day

Been using mine for 2 days (1 hour a day on low setting) so battery still ok. But will still carry on upluging it. Thanks for the replys

 

[Tyke]

Been using mine for 2 days (1 hour a day on low setting) so battery still ok. But will still carry on upluging it. Thanks for the replys

Keep an eye on the button it goes Red when the charge is low but not for long and the lights don`t dim you get full light then nothing. I use my old light as backup so I`m not left in the dark at speed if the battery goes flat.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Keep an eye on the button it goes Red when the charge is low but not for long and the lights don`t dim you get full light then nothing. I use my old light as backup so I`m not left in the dark at speed if the battery goes flat.

This is why I have two, have one on and when it goes red, I turn it off and turn the other one on.

 

[Tyke]

This is why I have two, have one on and when it goes red, I turn it off and turn the other one on.

So do I but sometimes one is on the other bike, and the old light is already on the bike. I agree 2 is the way to go and give a great light when both on together.

 

[Hacienda71]

The U2 twin I have seems to go into a low light mode when the charge is low rather than cutting out.

 

[fossyant]

That's the protection circuit kicking in when the voltage is low. You don't want to be letting the batteries run that low. Just keep them topped up as they do not have a memory, but lipo don't like a too low a charge as they can go bang if the protection circuit fails to stop over discharge and then you charge them.