dx head lamps

[degarb]

I have got junk from dx in past. Maybe times are better.

http://dx.com/c/flashlights-lasers-999/headlamps-906?sort=price&sortType=desc

Any of these any good? The runtimes seem paltry considering some are four 18650.

 

[khrystyan27]

Hi!

Anyone bought this light? I am planning to buy it, this summer, but i want some advices from someone who has it.

DX SKU # 188256

Thanks!

 

[JCD]

Hi!

Anyone bought this light? I am planning to buy it, this summer, but i want some advices from someone who has it.

DX SKU # 188256

Thanks!

How fast and through what kind of environments do you ride?

To me that light looks like it will be very floody. I like to ride fairly quickly, so flood isn't very useful for me, since it doesn't illuminate my path very many seconds ahead. That light, consequently, would be a poor choice for me. I have a buddy who enjoys riding very slowly, 8-10 mph. For him, flood is quite useful, since ten seconds ahead isn't very far ahead (in feet). For him, something similar to the light you ask about would be a good choice.

No matter how bright a light or how long its runtime, if a light doesn't provide a beam profile compatible with your riding style and riding environment, it's a poor choice for a bike light.

Edit to add: My rule of thumb with DX is to buy 2-3 of anything I order to make sure I'll (probably) get at least one good one. About half the time they'll all be good, in which case I have spares or something for an auction site.

 

[khrystyan27]

I need a THROW light under 60$ (with batteries).

What can you recommand me?

I want to buy only from DX, because it have free world wide shipping.

 

[khrystyan27]

Another thing i forgot to mention is my riding style.

The speed that i usually use to ride about 25-28mph, only on roads (no-off road).

I need just need a thrower (high beam), for road legal use i have 1x XM-L with elliptical lens.

 

[JCD]

The speed that i usually use to ride about 25-28mph, only on roads (no-off road).

Wow! That's pretty fast! Just ask your sponsor for something.

 

[khrystyan27]

Sponsor? What sponsor? :)))))

I do free riding (hobby) in weekends, about 30-40 miles a day, JUST FOR FUN ! :D

That's why i need a good lamp with decent throw, under 60$. I don't do professional things at all.

 

[degarb]

I just got http://dx.com/p/cree-xm-l-t6-600lm-3-mode-white-light-headlamp-bicycle-light-golden-4-x-18650-156263 last night.

First impressions/readings: Batteries were shipped dead. (After 1 hour charging) I read 7.4 volts (two series, two parallel), not 8.4 volt (who writes the manuals?) 1.15 amp high/.25 amp low, 2200 stated millamp hour at 7.4 volt pack (crappy, super low end 18650's apparently) So, in theory (if my meter correct and stated capacity correct), I should get about 8 hours and 20 hours on low and 120 minutes on high, if flat regulation. With a diffuse lux ratio comparison to the Fenix HP11, I get 125 lumens low and 600 lumen on High. 3,700 candela on low, and I think (didn't spend too much time on a crappy runtime setting I will never use) about 14,000 to 15,000 lux at 1 meter (don't recall exactly the number) on High.

Does not look water proof at all. ( I will silicone caulk the switch.) The head band is super small for my head (I will need to splice in more elastic). The hot spot is slightly larger than the HP11, but not significantly. Slightly ringy beam due to a low loss smooth reflector. The switch is always illuminated when head is attached to battery, which has dubious benifit and obvious downside.

In essence, I got a light with about half the efficiency of the fenix hp11 (due to typical guzzling DX driver), but this is overcome with double sized battery pack (which should easily attach to belt). The reports are that the battery charges slow. An investment of another $80-$100 in high end cells (and holders) and $30 4 bay charger, would make this a okay light with 6 hours on high, and 3 work days on low. [Though, with the low efficiency of the linear pwm (pulse width modulated) driver, I don't think it worth the effort. I will wait for the the future Fenix headlamps; and if they keep good drivers, invest more there. ]

So, for $42 and 2 months wait, I got a light that should shine for just under %80 of our typical work day with about %85 of the HP11 brightness. Time will tell how long the compents last. Fenix also has very a good warranty, ulike this light.

 

[JCD]

Those are typical average speeds of Tour de France riders, so finding a sponsor is a realistic option for an amateur cyclist who can usually ride at such a pace. That's not to say anyone will offer up a full support team for you, but free or heavily discounted equipment is plausible.

At those speeds, you should probably be looking at a high quality XR-E or XP-E based light with a good reflector or optic that provides a narrow beam. Even in a reflector, a single XM-L doesn't provide the throw I need at the speeds at which I ride, and you will need more considerably throw than I need. That DX triple isn't likely to provide enough throw. Throw is not what triples are known for.

 

[khrystyan27]

Neah... where i live, no sponsors to be found. :(

All i do, i do it just for fun, especialy in weekends when i hangout with my friends, and come back at 12-1 am in a maniac style. (peaks of 30mph if i find a opponent on the road). :D

 

[degarb]

Those are typical average speeds of Tour de France riders, so finding a sponsor is a realistic option for an amateur cyclist who can usually ride at such a pace. That's not to say anyone will offer up a full support team for you, but free or heavily discounted equipment is plausible.

At those speeds, you should probably be looking at a high quality XR-E or XP-E based light with a good reflector or optic that provides a narrow beam. Even in a reflector, a single XM-L doesn't provide the throw I need at the speeds at which I ride, and you will need more considerably throw than I need. That DX triple isn't likely to provide enough throw. Throw is not what triples are known for.

What is roughly the candela needed? Then, I guess runtime needed. (I had mistype, the dx light (gold 600 lumen xml 4 18650) was 14 or 15,000, not 1500.) {I cannot see a runtime under 3-4 hours of reliable use for a biker. }

 

[JCD]

What is roughly the candela needed? Then, I guess runtime needed.

The necessary candela would vary from cyclist to cyclist, and also with environment. My rule of thumb is sufficient throw to see ten seconds ahead at cruising speed. That gives me plenty of time to react to any upcoming obstacles at typical speeds, and sufficient time to react on faster downhills.

Minimum acceptable runtime is strictly personal preference. My primary light, a Surefire 9P (or C3, depending on which one I happen to mount on the bar), runs for about 50 minutes on a single charge. It's quick and easy to swap cells (under a minute when I'm in a hurry, but I'm usually not in a hurry), so I'm not bothered by the seemingly short runtime. Most of my trips are much shorter than 50 minutes, so the runtime is rarely an issue for me. If I'm concerned about stopping too frequently on a recreational ride, I can just add a second light, setup identically, to switch to when the cells in the first light are depleted. I don't want to use an external battery pack. I like to be able to strip virtually all accessories off my bike in just a few seconds (and be able to reinstall them quickly). The shorter runtime of flashlight based lighting is a small price to pay to free me from an external battery pack. I also like the added versatility of being able to bring just enough spare cells or to extend my total runtime by bringing extra cells, primaries if necessary. I don't need five hours of runtime to go to the grocery store, but five hours may not be enough if I'm going for a particularly long recreational ride after dark.

Some cyclists may despise swapping cells at all during a night ride and find an external battery pack to be a small price to pay to avoid having to do so. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[khrystyan27]

Guys, I want your oppinion on this lamp.

It is good enough for a distant throw?

http://www.fasttech.com/products/16...storm-x2-cree-xm-l-u2-4-mode-2000-lumen-led-b

 

[JCD]

Guys, I want your oppinion on this lamp.

It is good enough for a distant throw?

http://www.fasttech.com/products/16...storm-x2-cree-xm-l-u2-4-mode-2000-lumen-led-b

It's hard to say without seeing it in person. Judging from the beam shots, it looks like it has a ton of spill, which often means throw isn't great. That's what I would expect from an XM-L in a small reflector, but I've much less experience with optics. The only way to find out for sure is to buy it and try it.

Keep in mind that beam shots can sometimes be very misleading.

You should probably read this thread.

 

[khrystyan27]

Maybe i am goana buy and modd it, changing the stock refelctors with aspherical ones.

 

[degarb]

I can now report back that the dx.com four 18650 pack has two dud batteries. 3.9 volt one two, while 2.6 volt on two, giving pack an effective 1500 milliamp hour capacity. 6.4 volt pcb cutoff.

This light needs 6-12 amp hour pack for light to have real usefulness. They do sell extrapack for 20-30 bucks. But the PRC skims on the metal lithium, making most purchases a bust. "Just a touch of the stuff in this one, just enough to call it a li-ion"-- which, apparently, is really short hand for little bit of ion.