Foxfire Commuter Tail Light (FB-262): generous side lighting

[Paul_in_Maryland]

I've learned a great deal from CPF's bicycle forum. Now it's my turn to give back.

When my 23-year-old daughter needed a taillight to ride in South Philadelphia, I spent a weekend checking out discussions of bike lighting and bike safety. That's how I discovered that in 7 in 10 bike accidents, the cyclist is hit from the side. I decided to choose a taillight that would protect my daughter from the side.

But few taillights take side lighting seriously. Some give lip service to it, aiming 1 or 2 LEDs left and right. The Light & Motion VIS180 is a step up, firing bright amber side LEDs. The best sidelighters are the New Zealand-made Nightlightning Aftablasta (360 degrees); the 2011 Australian-made NiteFLUX RedZone 4, and the 2011 U.S.-made DesignShine. (I'll fill in the correct names after I've posted this.) But the VIS180 costs $90 U.S., and the other three cost even more. My daughter ordered me not to spend "too much," so I searched for a budget light with ample side lighting. I quickly ruled out all lights that use AAA cells; call me prejudiced, but I just don't believe that a light that used such small cells could be serious about side protection.

My search was rewarded when I discovered the Foxfire Commuter (FB-262) by Marpac. Available in red or amber, the 26-LED Commuter uses 4 AA cells (not AAA) and offers two safety assets that go above and beyond nearly every other bike taillight:

First its rear face is huge--about 4 x 6 inches, or 24 square inches, arrayed with 14 LEDs in 3 rows of 4, 6, and 4. You'll be noticed.

Second, an additional 12 LEDs illuminate the four 1-inch-wide edges, 3 per edge.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/39f0ulhXlxRIJq15hRULAQ?feat=directlink

Check out my many photos and videos of the Foxfire Commuter taillights on PicasaWeb. Feel free to embed specific photos or videos in your replies. I've also posted the videos to YouTube; can find them easily by typing foxfire commuter. The two main videos are Foxfire Commuter Tail Light (FB-262) vs. Planet Bike Super Flash (PBSF) vs. Oldsmobile tailllight and Foxfire Commuter Taillight (FB-262) amber, vertical, vs. Planet Bike Super Flash (PBSF).

As the photos show, I bought a pair of Minoura Space Grips, which I hoped would let me mount the Commuter vertically. As you'll see, I did manage to do so. But to no avail: The long edge contains no more LEDs than the short edge, and the 3 LEDs are spaced just as close together. So there's no advantage to mounting the Commuter vertically, other than presenting a narrower profile.

My holy grail was to to aim one Commuter left, another right, using a pair of 6x1-inch edges to illuminate the less-critical rear. But I haven't found a way to aim them the Commuter sideways; you'd have to mount to to a tube oriented fore-and-aft..

In any event, my daughter has already warned me that if the taillight too big, she won't want to use it. In anticipation of that, I've already removed the red Commuter.

Marpac makes other large flashing lights that might be useful for cyclists. There's a white F-262 model that's much brighter than the FB-262--first because it's white, second because all of its LEDs are ultra bright, not just some, like the FB's. Because it uses premium LEDs, the white version costs nearly twice the $25-$28 shipped that Amazon charges for the red or amber. And the white version doesn't come with the bike bracket; it's not sold as a bike light.

The company also sells a rechargeable version, in amber only, that omits the 12 peripheral LEDs but includes four NiMH AA cells and a charging port, That might be worth checking out.

 

[Bobblehat]

Paul .... this looks very interesting. A bit like a HHG on steroids (Holy Hand Grenade ... aka Cateye TL-LD 1100).

I also like AA driven lights, so this one got my attention. It looks like a big beast, but that is a good attribute in my book!

I can't find much using search engines about the manufacturer, or their website. I was trying to find what you got in the package, especially the mounting hardware and details about the run time on various types of AA battery. I'd also like to find a UK supplier or the best deal on a UK shipping from elsewhere.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Bobblehat,
Marpac, LLC's site is LEDSafetylights.com. There isn't much information out there about the F-262B or its magnetic-back emergency-light version, the F-262. You can learn a lot from the U.S. Amazon page, where you'll find four reviews and scores of photos posted by another owner and me.

The 262B takes the 262 and adds a plastic backplate and a typical (but unique) thumbscrew-tightened rubber clamp. The backplate contains slots for as many as four of these slide-on clamps; I tried to order more from Marpac but was told they're out of stock. Once they're available, their U.S. cost will be about $8 each plus shipping. The 262B is a heavy light; I'm using two clamps, having raided the second clamp from the red unit. Even so, it would quickly slip downward (drooping toward the rear tire) until I lashed the backplate to the seatrails by a nylon tie.

I suggest you email Marpac and ask where you can find the Commuter Light in the UK.

 

[brad72]

Thats a pretty serious light you've found and it does have excellent side visibility.

As a side note I also have a flasher or two mounted on the rear (red) and front (white) of my helmet so if the lower light is obscured the one on my helmet is bright as a button. The advantage of helmet mounted lights is when you look up a side street the flasher aims in that direction as well.

Twice as safe

 

[Bobblehat]

I'm in total agreement with Brad on this. Best, cost effective £3 I spent on safety was this, simple light:-

Saved me from many T-bones

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

The more I think about it, it's asking too much to demand that a taillight provide "in your face" levels of side visibility. If you're serious about preventing a side impact, you need a pair of decent yellow lights aiming left and right, preferably mounted in front--to the fork, rack, basket, or bag. Yellow provides color contrast against roads and clutter; moreover, most cars already use yellow for their side lighting, and as a bonus, it's twice as bright--65 percent as bright as white, vs. 28 percent for red.

Of course, no one wants to hassle with charging 3 or 4 different lights, so side lights need to be integrated into a headlight charging system. Will any headlight maker step up?

 

[Steve K]

Paul .... this looks very interesting. A bit like a HHG on steroids (Holy Hand Grenade ... aka Cateye TL-LD 1100).

<....snip....>
Cheers, Bob.

I hadn't heard the LD1100 referred to as the Holy Hand Grenade before, but there is some similarity in general shape (and not in any tendency to spontaneously disassemble itself). I have a LD1100 on my commuter as a backup to the dynamo system, and my only complaint is cycling through all of the modes that I never use.

and do I count to 4 or to 5 before throwing the light?? :)

regards,
Steve K.

 

[Bobblehat]

A quick search shows several bikey threads naming the LD1100 the Holy Hand Grenade (of Cateye)! I guess it's now stuck .... a bit like the Magicshine being forever christened "the bastid"!

After consulting the Book of Armaments, I find that 3 is the correct count!

Cleric: And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Brother Maynard: Amen.
All: Amen.
King Arthur: Right. One... two... five.
Galahad: Three, sir.
King Arthur: Three.

I've not had to use the deadly light for purposes of retribution .... yet .... but come pretty close on occasion. Doubtless when I do need it for that purpose, it'll do the job if my aim is true! (I use two, so will still have one left to wend my way home!) :devil:

 

[BrianMc]

The more I think about it, it's asking too much ... you need a pair of decent yellow lights aiming left and right, preferably mounted in front--... Yellow provides color contrast against roads and clutter; ..., it's twice as bright--...

Of course, no one wants to hassle with charging 3 or 4 different lights, so side lights need to be integrated into a headlight charging system. Will any headlight maker step up?

Exactly what I have been thinking. Night isn't a big problem. This light should be decent. Day yeah...more power.

Amber LED's are pretty low lumens per watt, so a white power LED with an amber lens is likely the best punch for the dollar and watt. Farthest back the light can be effective, is side of the helmet and that wil need a wide angle lens. But with a front and back lights on the helmet already, weight is becoming an issue. A common battery is also needed in such a setup.

On the dyno bike, I won't mind a separate side marker light up front on batteries.

On the other one, an integrated front/side beam system would be very nice.

Safety trumps convenience so likely a pilot project to work out the kinks, then a two-way light.

I hadn't heard the LD1100 referred to as the Holy Hand Grenade before, but ...do I count to 4 or to 5 before throwing the light?? :)

regards,
Steve K.

Thou shalt never countest to 5 lest thou be blowneth to smithereens. :)

 

[Bobblehat]

Amen!

This man showed us the way for side markers up front! http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?186066-Dyno-powered-triple-cutter-R2

Love those night shots Znomit!

 

[panicmechanic]

There's a serious contender for the hand grenade title: http://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/791285 :)

 

[BrianMc]

Amen! Love those night shots Znomit!

Love the shots too, really cool. Art not fact, though. What does a driver see? I suspect based on the side output of my helmet light it is good to excellent at night. Not enough power for daylight. I asked in the 'design a commuter tail light thread' if he'd do a video ride by. A decent camera is half the battle. But it would be a great help to see and not guess. I am thinking the same sort of thing with LED's firing sideways.

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Update: Even though I had removed the red light to soften her objections, my daughter took one look at the big yellow taillight and said, "No way!" I've replaced it with a Planet Bike Super Flash. She's happy.

Nonetheless, I still believe that bikers are best served by taillights that are large, amber, and generously side-lit. I've since found a model that may surpass the Foxfire in all respects: The 4AA, 24-LED Wiland Industries ML3 and its 4AA rechargeable mate, the ML5. The ML3 is sold on U.S. eBay as the "ML3 series 24". But the ML5 ($50 with charger) makes more sense; you can use it all the time, cost-free. Anyone care to test it against its nearest recharegable competitor, the amber Marpac SL-182RC?