Flashlight for biking for under $30 with 200-300 lumens?

[groovyipo]

I am getting a bit frustrated and spent 4 hours today trying to figure out the best way to go about this.

I just need a flashlight I can mount on my bike that will last me 2 hours, withstand a tad bumpy ride 2-3 times per week. I would love to not blow more than $30 for the entire package. I would be fine with 2-mode (steady and strobe). I mostly ride on the dedicated bike paths (75%) and 25% on streets.

I would really like to be able to use AA, since I already have bunch of them and a charger... but I understand not many decent LEDs allow you that.

My current selection from DX is twice my budget.
MTE SSC P7 900-Lumen 5-Mode Super LED Flashlight (18650) - $35.73
TrustFire Protected 18650 Lithium Battery (2500mAh 2-Pack Blue) - $10
TrustFire All-in-One Charger - $8.81
Universal Bicycle Mount (22mm~32.8mm) - $3.97

 

[herulach]

Do you need to see or be seen? That might be a bit too little money if you need to see really well.

The nearest you might get is a couple of $10 AA torches from DX (Romisen RC-G2 for throw, Ultrafire C3 floodier) with Q5 emitters should see you good for 200 Lumens without any trouble. (Probably about 150 stock)

 

[xiejol]

First let me say there is nothing wrong with AAs. I personally use four rechargeables per light to give 4.8 volts to each one. Get some AA holders from Radio Shack (I'm using this one here) and a P60 dropin if you want cheap. Something like this. I took an old aluminum tube I had from a mop handle or something, cut it to fit, and stuck the dropin in it. Wire it to the battery pack, stick the battery pack in an old water bottle with some socks or something for padding.

Mount the light or lights (I have two) with one of these and you are set. If you want flood stick some matte finish scotch tape across the dropin. Oh, I also cut some plastic from a CD case for the lens. Stupid cheap.

AA holders - 1.99/each x 2 = 3.98
P60 dropins - 11.39/each x 2 = 22.78
Mounts - 2.85/each x 2 = 5.70

Total = $32.46

 

[groovyipo]

Since the bike path I usually take is almost straight 11 mile shot with several street crossings, there I just want to see far enough ahead to not run into an unexpected puddle or two. For street, I am not sure, my assumption something blinking will attract just enough attention to keep me a bit safer.

DIY route sounds interesting... just my only concern is that I may build something that breaks down too often AND from what it looks, it is missing the modes I need.

 

[groovyipo]

Do you need to see or be seen? That might be a bit too little money if you need to see really well.

The nearest you might get is a couple of $10 AA torches from DX (Romisen RC-G2 for throw, Ultrafire C3 floodier) with Q5 emitters should see you good for 200 Lumens without any trouble. (Probably about 150 stock)

Is this the one you were referring to?
sku.10727

 

[kuksul08]

If you are handy, you can build your own for about $45. This one has 400 lumens.

 

[spasticteapot]

What's in it?

 

[yellow]

nothing someone who has no clue yet can build and then is rugged enough to work on a bike,
like all this DX parts You found till now ...
... nothing one can recommend

they might work, or not. Both has a 50:50 chance.
Have the lights run through 10 sets of rechargeables, if they still work then, try on the bike.
Possibly You got a model that even stands bumps, dust and rain
(if so, consider Yourself a beloved by the gods)

Raise Your budget,
decide if 2*AA (= Fenix L2D or similar).
Or, better
1*18650 (1st of all Jetbeam Jet III, or one of the other makers often recommended here)

If You dont have cells and charger already, the 18650 Li-Ion route is the cheaper one,
overall it is the better (because most spice in cell + smaller, shorter light).
Considerably over Your budget.

 

[spasticteapot]

nothing someone who has no clue yet can build and then is rugged enough to work on a bike,
like all this DX parts You found till now ...
... nothing one can recommend

A flashlight is just an LED and a current limiter and some simple optics, and were it not for the confusing and often deliberately inaccurate nature of datasheets, I would not even be here. If you're not going to say something useful, don't say anything at all.

I've already got a 2-cell LiIon charger in the basement for this very purpose - I figure I'll build up a 2s 18650 pack and mount it under the bike rack. There's no way in heck I can fit that into a flashlight that will fit on a bicycle.

 

[herulach]

Dealextreme SKUs are 3607 for the romisen (spotty) and 1993 for the ultrafire (less so). 11022 is a q5 LED.

Even with the stock drivers these will give you enough light to augment poor street lighting.

Helmet mounts from DX (12000) is good, but for some reason puddles are very hard to see with just a headlight.

If you've already got a couple of 18650s, get one of the two mode P7s (much more reliable direct drive) then maybe one of turboferret's mod kits if changing batteries annoys you.

 

[xiejol]

Yellow, I'm not sure if you were being helpful or sarcastic. While most of us would shell out more money on lighting (myself included) that is not what the poster asked for.

My cheapo lighting setup will one day be replaced by nice bright P7s, but until that day comes (father's day is soon) these will suffice. It has survived numerous batteries (a mixture of two dozen rechargeable AAs and a handful of RCR123a that have a separate battery pack) and bumps, bruises, and spills over the past several months. I've put it on both my road bike and mtb, along with a cheapo headlamp (135 lumen RR from Target on sale for $7.50) and ticked off my friends who shelled out $300 for their dimmer setups.

While it isn't fancy it has worked and will probably continue to work for the long haul.

There isn't anything wrong with better setups, they may work and they may not, most often higher cost equals better quality, but not always. Cheaper stuff from DX may not work as well, but it is so cheap you can easily replace it. No matter what your setup you should always carry a backup light and a way to mount it. In my own experience my setup has been more reliable (especially the batteries) than a couple of the guys with high-end systems.

Here is the el cheapo from the front sporting the diffusers cut from an old florescent light cover. You can see the weird textured aluminum tubing from an old extendable light bulb changer I had broken. The inserts fit inside perfectly and they transfer heat fairly well to the outside. The back is sealed up with good old JB Weld. It is mounted with two of the shotgun light holders from DX (before I found the twofish clones at KD).

Here is a rearshot showing the wiring and the switches waterproofed with an old road tube, the most useful tool on the planet.

Here is a shot of the battery holder, thanks to the ADA Tour de Cure for the bottle.

And finally the inside of the battery case, padded using foam from a shipping container from work.

There are some improvements I will make when I get the P7s, like moving to 18650s and moving the batteries out of a bottle cage. For now, however, this setup works nicely. I used RCA connectors for switching between the AA battery packs and the RCR123As.

 

[xiejol]

BTW, oncoming traffic will probably have no problem seeing you coming. My drop-ins have a strobe mode, but I never use it. Most people wonder what the heck I am long before I make it to them. Make sure you have a light in back, something bright red and blinky if possible.

 

[groovyipo]

What are my alternatives NOT from Dealextreme? I had horrid experience with them and will never deal with those scumbags again.

So I am back to the drawing board after waiting for close to month and a half for stuff from DX.

 

[znomit]

Kaidomain
Though its pretty much the same level of service.
Ive been waiting 6 weeks for eneloops from DX too. :thumbsdow

 

[xiejol]

Yeah, if you don't want to use DX than Kaidomain is really the only other option for cheap parts. KD has a few things DX doesn't have and vice versa, but it costs more on everything.

I did order a new light for my helmet from focalprice.com, sku LF433B. I'm hoping it takes P60 inserts so I can upgrade it, but I haven't gotten it yet.

I hate the two week (if I'm lucky) wait ordering from Hong Kong, but the prices make it worth it.


On a side note, I did take some pics of the setup with the new Glad Press N Seal diffusers

Also, here is the current 18650 battery pack. Cheap, but effective. I'll make my own out of some scrap plastic when I get time.

 

[Linger]

Also, here is the current 18650 battery pack. Cheap, but effective. I'll make my own out of some scrap plastic when I get time.

Awesome battery pack. I've done the same thing with aw imr 16430's for a testing station.


groovyipo,
you can get two lights from shiningbeam ($16X2=$32), and two-fish holders from 4seven's ($8?) and run your AA batteries...to get your 3h run time, change the batteries.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-20/Romisen-RC-dsh-G2/Detail
Romisen RC-G2 Cree Q5 Flashlight "Black" (1xAA)

*OUTPUT: Twice the side spill than the regular model
*Features a Cree XR-E Q5 Emitter
*Constant brightness: 100 Lumens

or you can upgrade for another $3 each

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-149/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-G2-II/Detail
* 100% brighter than the regular RC-G2 Cree P4 model
* 50% brighter than the RC-G2 Q5 model
* This new model comes with a customized new driver and Cree Q5 LED

* LED type: Premium Cree XR-E Q5
* Orange peel aluminum alloy reflector
* Tactical momentary-on forward switch
* Glass Lens
* Powered by 1 x AA (1.5/1.2V)

Buy two lights, strap then on with two two-fish blocks, and you're good to go. Carry a spare set of cells with you if you're gonna be a long time. This set up is very durable, if you crash, they'll survive. Also highly up-gradable when you switch to 18650 cells (it WILL happen), you can still use the two-fish holders for your better lights, and the rominsens are still useable hand torches.

Best,
Linger