Cree front lamp for dark lanes

[Benjahmin]

I know this subject has been covered many times, but I can't find them.
Last night I went out pre sunset knowing I'd return after dark. My Crivit/Lidl rechargeable lamp let me down, going intermittant.
So I'm after one of those cree lamps that I can connect into the bikes 36v system. I ride unlit roads in deepest rural Wales and need to see the potholes ! However it does need to dim easily 'cos I don't want to **** anybody off . So a good beam but with some sidespread would be ace.
Can anyone help? I remember anotherkiwi saying he'd got one that has drivers dimming their lights before coming round the corner. That sounds like the bussiness.
Thanks guys.

 

[Tabs]

I got one from ebay but it comes with it's own battery pack, it has three settings plus a strobe setting and it's very very bright don't think you'll get much better than that for £15.

 

[Highside43]

I got one from ebay but it comes with it's own battery pack, it has three settings plus a strobe setting and it's very very bright don't think you'll get much better than that for £15.

Plus one.

I bought one of those off flea bay too - think it was 25 quid for a 5 Cree lamp. Was very sceptical at first but thought for twenty five quid it was worth a punt.

Couldn't have been more surprised and pleased - much much better than my Lenzeye at 5 times the price. As you say, extremely bright and burns the retinas of small mammals in the way.

Now down to under twenty quid....

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-Cree-XML-T6-MTB-7200Lumen-Mountain-Bike-Bicycle-Cycling-Head-Light-Headlamp-/222209174497?nav=SEARCH

 

[Benjahmin]

That's great, thanks guys. May end up going for one of those, but I have a house full of chargers (who hasn't these days?) and really wanted to connect to the bikes battery.

 

[Alan Quay]

I have messed around with wiring in lights, but these days I have a couple of these with some 18650's. Last about an hour.



The light they give is plenty enough (I'm riding Devon country lanes, potholes the size of badgers, badgers the size of cows).

You could easily wire them in with a DC-DC buck converter.

https://fs.tc/p/1134202

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[anotherkiwi]

Mine is a b+m, the new one I will be mounting for the winter is connected to the battery and 70 lux but you may get sticker shock - about 85€...

 

[Benjahmin]

potholes the size of badgers

Is that all? I lost my wife in a local pot hole, but I had to get her out 'cos there was no insurance on her bike

 

[soundwave]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headlight-3-ModeWaterproof-18000Lm-10X-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Lamp-Headband-/151839967497?tfrom=161762341594&tpos=top&ttype=price&talgo=undefined

 

[Benjahmin]

18000 Lumens? Seriously? You'd be able to signal the space station with that
Looks like I'm going to end up with another battery/charger combo. I know D8veh linked a cree that could be wired straight in, but I can't find it.

 

[soundwave]

i doubt its anywhere near 18000 tbh if you tested it they are bright just the batts are naff and dont last very long.

 

[EddiePJ]

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/what-lights-do-you-use.22724/


http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/night-riding.23940/#post-301773

 

[tillson]

18000 Lumens? Seriously? You'd be able to signal the space station with that
Looks like I'm going to end up with another battery/charger combo. I know D8veh linked a cree that could be wired straight in, but I can't find it.

I think he's referring to the battery inside the light, an 18650 cell. It's a removable and rechargeable lithium ion cell as used in laptop battery packs.

 

[D8ve]

I think he's referring to the battery inside the light, an 18650 cell. It's a removable and rechargeable lithium ion cell as used in laptop battery packs.

No it's 10 Cree LEDs. They can be tortured to get a lot of light out.
But it will eat batteries and blind anyone in line of sight.

 

[Benjahmin]

Thanks guys. I can find lamps on Banggood that will operate from 36v, but the control is awkward, as they are meant for motorbikes, and would be bolted in place. So it's looking like a dedicated bike lamp, which unfortunately has a battery bag, but it is easily demountable. I was thinking of one of these as there is a wide range of light levels, so I shouldn't blind anyone else.
http://www.banggood.com/3-CREE-XML-T6-5000Lm-LED-Cycling-Headlamp-Bike-Rechargeable-Headlight-p-942448.html

 

[anotherkiwi]

It isn't the power it is the beam shape that is important for oncoming traffic.

 

[paul20v]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headlight-3-ModeWaterproof-18000Lm-10X-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Bike-Lamp-Headband-/151839967497?tfrom=161762341594&tpos=top&ttype=price&talgo=undefined

Typical exagerated rubbish spouted off by mickey mouse ebay sellers again who think purchases are stupid believing there hyped up specs ,
18000 lumens is never going to happen from that collection of 10 leds
The xm-l led chips if driven at a maximum of 3a each will only produce 1050 lumen peak power per led , this also requires some high quality elecrtronics in the lamp its self too run them stable and also some really good heat sinks all of which for the money i doubt you are going to get and also you will need some hi quality batterys too power it all up if running it all stand alone
Yet again your typical bull crap from a typical ebay seller from china
Dont get me wrong china does actually produce some quality products including lights from manufacturers like nitecore, fenix , olight etc but you dont find the bull crap specs from them either
Rant over .

 

[LeighPing]

It isn't the power it is the beam shape that is important for oncoming traffic.

I've pointed mine downwards, so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic. I made this video 2 days ago and have been out riding with the lamp switched on. None of the oncoming traffic have complained with flashing lights or by sounding their horns, and believe me they do when these lamps are not dipped. They're blinding, even on the lowest setting. 6600 lumens.

 

[soundwave]

you got the same light as i got and trust me its no where near 6600 id say its not even half that tbh.

what you want is some of these

 

[IR772]

I've pointed mine downwards, so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic. I made this video 2 days ago and have been out riding with the lamp switched on. None of the oncoming traffic have complained with flashing lights or by sounding their horns, and believe me they do when these lamps are not dipped. They're blinding, even on the lowest setting. 6600 lumens.

Is that a" flask" on your bike as it looks like it needs batteries to work properly.

 

[LeighPing]

Is that a" flask" on your bike as it looks like it needs batteries to work properly.

It's a flask of cold coke. Coffee when it's winter.

I've done 20 miles in the heat today. The ice cold coke is a welcome bevvy when you're miles from home.

I'd be out again now, but when I went down to the garage I discovered that my daughter has pinched the bike to go for a ride of her own. I'm happy that it's getting plenty of good use. I'll check the mileage when she gets back.