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

[stumpy66]

Another query, how does these cree t6 lights attach to the hope light bracket, ive looked at pic but cant work it out

 

[stumpy66]

Try this : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-Lunar-2X1-Watt-Rear/dp/B00452O6LI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1389781946&sr=8-5&keywords=smart bike light

I wouldn't take power from your cree light. They eat battery, you don't want to loose both lights if the battery goes flat. This one's blindingly bright. I've had mine for a while. It's a bugger to open, but that not a bad thing as it's going to be very waterproof, and the AAA batteries last a really long time.

Thinking about it the Crees use 2 or 4 parallel cells (the 4 cell units are 2 pairs of parallel in series) giving 4.2 and 8.4 Volts respectively. Well the 3 T6 lights I have use these configurations.

Most rear lights I've had/seen use 2-3 AA's or AAA's these give 1.5 Volts each cell giving between 3v and 4.5 volts each. So there is an issue with under/over driving the rear lights. Over driving LED's sounds a death knell for the control circuit, and LEDS.

Plus... The 18650 batteries in modern lights are not AA size. They are not like re-chargeable AA or AAA's they are slightly larger then AA's and give a higher voltage then AA's. Part of their design is a control circuit that controls the charging and how the power is supplied to the lights. This control circuit control's the charging and discharge to avoid over charging and over depletion. Interfering with or by-passing this control circuit can result in dead batteries from over draining, and even worse fire/explosion from over charging.

You will remember the days of ni-cad batteries where you charged them for X hours. These days are mostly long gone apart from things like cheap shavers etc.

li-po chargers will not charge Ni-Cad's and vice versa. One of the positives behind the size difference is that 18650's will not go into ni-cad chargers.

That said, most laptop batteries use these 18650 batteries. With some knowledge it's possible to remove these batteries to make your own packs. Do go and buy a controller as mentioned above and a properly rated li-po charger.

Please treat Li-op batteries with kid gloves. Any rough treatment can result in catastrophic failure of the cell. Often dropping then can cause internal damage. These cells are not like your average AA.

Ordered, although from probikekit £12.50 delivered

 

[potsy]

Another query, how does these cree t6 lights attach to the hope light bracket, ive looked at pic but cant work it out

Very carefully, with a fettle and a change of bolt

 

[Cubist]

If it's anything like the light brackets I have, you unscrew the screw holding the O ring mount onto the lamp unit, and then thread the bolt from the Hope bracket up into the housing. Check it fits the threads of course.On my brackets you needed to turn a washer/spacer over to keep it all nipped up, and used the original screw.

 

[stumpy66]

If it's anything like the light brackets I have, you unscrew the screw holding the O ring mount onto the lamp unit, and then thread the bolt from the Hope bracket up into the housing. Check it fits the threads of course.On my brackets you needed to turn a washer/spacer over to keep it all nipped up, and used the original screw.

Thanks will have a look

 

[fossyant]

This one?

Managed to check mine today. These are U2 LED's. The front silver bit unscrews so you can pop out the relfector. The rear cap unscrews also. The LED's for the halo are burried deep inside the unit, next to the U2 LED - the halo is effectively a clear plastic outer tube that goes back over 1cm into the body.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I used an M4 bolt on my light to fix it to a Hope mount, with a nut to take up the extra length.

 

[fossyant]

Had a reoccurrence of the battery supply being interrupted by poor road surfaces using the unprotected cells. Took off the tape padding and added a rare earth magnet to the end of each battery to make it longer. Hopefully this works a treat in the battery packs.

Ran all four batteries through my Xtar charger to check how evenly charged they were after a couple of weeks use and charging via a magicshine charger. All 4 charged within 10 minutes of each other. Spot on.

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Had a peep around to see if anyone posted the folowing but cant see nowt so......

The following work well for all my lights inc this http://www.lightmalls.com/media/cat...u2_4-modes_1000_lumens_4_x_18650_battery_.jpg

and the fatter Cree ..........

Tra laaaa ..... http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/bike-lights/twofish-lockblock.html

or, [and this stuff is the dogs goolies if used with rare earth magnets]..... 'SUGRU' (look it up or have a peep at thier Youtube videos as I can't post a link here cos work restricts the sites I can access. My GPS is now beautifully held in place with sugru and rare earth magnets, with no need to ever worry about retention bands snapping. My lights are also attached by sugru to my helmet.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Had a peep around to see if anyone posted the folowing but cant see nowt so......

The following work well for all my lights inc this http://www.lightmalls.com/media/cat...u2_4-modes_1000_lumens_4_x_18650_battery_.jpg

and the fatter Cree ..........

Tra laaaa ..... http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/bike-lights/twofish-lockblock.html

or, [and this stuff is the dogs goolies if used with rare earth magnets]..... 'SUGRU' (look it up or have a peep at thier Youtube videos as I can't post a link here cos work restricts the sites I can access. My GPS is now beautifully held in place with sugru and rare earth magnets, with no need to ever worry about retention bands snapping. My lights are also attached by sugru to my helmet.

@fossyant has the top light and I am currently waiting for a deliver. I've used the twofish lockblocks for years, using mag lite AA in them. I still carry one around with me with the Mag lite as my emergency light

 

[Hacienda71]

I wonder if you could buy a red lense for a U2 light. Need something a car driver won't miss on the rear.

 

[fossyant]

Had a peep around to see if anyone posted the folowing but cant see nowt so......

The following work well for all my lights inc this http://www.lightmalls.com/media/cat...u2_4-modes_1000_lumens_4_x_18650_battery_.jpg
.

I've got two of these. Nice and compact and good for commuting because of the halo for side visibility - it's bright on it's own. Main LED is quite focussed, so not lots of flood, which is ideal on lit roads.

 

[fossyant]

I wonder if you could buy a red lense for a U2 light. Need something a car driver won't miss on the rear.

Try a C&B Seen rear light at £30. Temporarily out of stock, but they get these in fast anyway !

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/rear-lights.html

 

[Hacienda71]

Try a C&B Seen rear light at £30. Temporarily out of stock, but they get these in fast anyway !

http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/bikehead-lights/rear-lights.html

Mmmm I'm liking that.

 

[fossyant]

Looks good @Lien Sdrawde

http://sugru.com/magnet-kit

SUGRU - hmmmm