Suggestions on lighting systems

I'm fed up with my Niterider Trailrat always burning out its bulb!
I've burnt out four bulbs in the last year and a half! I'm not even
knocking the thing around or dropping it. It always burns out
suddenly when I turn it on.

Is this kind of thing normal? Are all lighting systems going to
have this kind of trouble? I looked at Niterider's web site and they
claimed that a bulb should last years!

So I'm considering getting a more reliable lighting system, instead
of continuing to shell out $20 every four months. I was thinking
about one of the Niterider digital models, but I've read some negative
reviews, and Niterider is kind of on my **** list right now....

Can anyone give me some advice? I'll be using it for commuting in
Los Angeles. About 3/4 of the time I ride on streets with overhead
lights. I've been happy with the Trailrat so far except for its short
bulb life. I'd love it if I could get something with a smart charger
and longer battery life. Also, a fork mount option would be a bonus.

-David

I've been delighted with my Schmidt dynamo hub and fork mounted
headlight. There are no batteries and the drag is imperceptible. It
wouldn't be suitable for off-road night rides, though.

"David Johnston" wrote in message
m...
I'm fed up with my Niterider Trailrat always burning out its bulb!
I've burnt out four bulbs in the last year and a half! I'm not even
knocking the thing around or dropping it. It always burns out
suddenly when I turn it on.

Is this kind of thing normal? Are all lighting systems going to
have this kind of trouble? I looked at Niterider's web site and they
claimed that a bulb should last years!

So I'm considering getting a more reliable lighting system, instead
of continuing to shell out $20 every four months. I was thinking
about one of the Niterider digital models, but I've read some negative
reviews, and Niterider is kind of on my **** list right now....

Can anyone give me some advice? I'll be using it for commuting in
Los Angeles. About 3/4 of the time I ride on streets with overhead
lights. I've been happy with the Trailrat so far except for its short
bulb life. I'd love it if I could get something with a smart charger
and longer battery life. Also, a fork mount option would be a bonus.

-David.

Sounds like a problem with the wiring in the head unit. You tried talking
to Niterider?

Mike

I strongly suggest a $50 fix.
Get the CatEye OmiCube with the
5 LCD lights in it.

It is powered by 4 AA batteries
and the charge lasts for 1 yr dude!

I have it and a Planet Blinking White
3 LCD light ($10) on my Lightning Thunderbolt
recumbent and find it great for night riding
in the Suburbs of Glendora, CA. (25 miles East
of LA.)

The Cateye throughs out one hell of a lot of
light for a AA Battery powered.

Don Boring
Glendora, CA USA
dboringATispwest.com

are you up to making your own?
l did, was the best $50 l ever spent, and $12 of the was for the back light
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~drgagnon/
http://www.thefathippy.com/
lasts 3hours+ with a 20w bulb

look for a thread, Home Made Lights......Thanks Hippy, in aus.bicycle

Tim McNamara wrote in message ...
I've been delighted with my Schmidt dynamo hub and fork mounted
headlight. There are no batteries and the drag is imperceptible. It
wouldn't be suitable for off-road night rides, though.

The Schmidt dynamo hub is appealing, but it's so expensive for
something that doesn't produce a lot of light. Also, I don't know how
I'd feel about the reduction in light, going from 10 Watts to 3. Yes,
going to 6 watts is possible with a secondary light, but that comes
out to about $250 without even factoring in the new rim and spokes.

In response to the Cateye LED light, that doesn't look like it has
the sort of power I'm looking for (though I admit I've never actually
tested one out).

-David

(David Johnston) wrote ...
Can anyone give me some advice? I'll be using it for commuting in
Los Angeles. About 3/4 of the time I ride on streets with overhead
lights. I've been happy with the Trailrat so far except for its short
bulb life. I'd love it if I could get something with a smart charger
and longer battery life. Also, a fork mount option would be a bonus.

I used a 15w NiteRider on my commute for years but never felt the
light was adequate for paths and unlit roads.

A couple of years ago I bought a SigmaSport Mirage - 25w (5 and 20w
lights). It's not sophisticated - no smart charger, heavy battery -
but it's bright, durable, lasts several hours on a charge, and best of
all is crazy cheap for that much wattage. List price is $70 but I've
seen it on sale for about $60 (Nashbar or Colorado Cyclist). It's a
steal at that price. I've used it several times a week through 2
winters so far with no problems at all.

Michael

David Johnston wrote:

In response to the Cateye LED light, that doesn't look like it has
the sort of power I'm looking for (though I admit I've never actually
tested one out).

I took the Cateye 5-LED light to France this month, just in case I
got caught out in the dark. It was so bright that oncoming cars were
flashing their high beams at me. I was impressed. I was designated
the nighttime lead rider, due to the brightness of my light.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://www.terrymorse.com/bike/

On 25 Jul 2003 15:10:53 +0100 (BST), David Damerell
may have said:

David Johnston wrote:
Tim McNamara :
I've been delighted with my Schmidt dynamo hub and fork mounted
headlight. There are no batteries and the drag is imperceptible. It
wouldn't be suitable for off-road night rides, though.
The Schmidt dynamo hub is appealing, but it's so expensive for
something that doesn't produce a lot of light. Also, I don't know how
I'd feel about the reduction in light, going from 10 Watts to 3.

Don't worry about that. The beam patterns of the better headlights for
this use are remarkable. I use the Bisy headlight, and although I mount
two 3W battery headlights (one LED, one halogen) as backup, I am perfectly
happy to ride in the dark (ie, no streetlights) with the Bisy alone.

The reason this works is that with a 3W conventional bulb, only about
one quarter of the energy used (at best, and generally much less) is
converted to light; with an LED, it's more on the order of two-thirds.
Most of the wattage of a regular bulb goes into making heat, not
light. The comparison is similar to fluorescent vs incandescent for
indoor lighting; the energy usage of fluorescents is trivial by
comparison to regular bulbs. There are a few people making LED
converions for MagLite flashlights, and the probable life expectancy
for the batteries in an *average* user's possession is much longer
than their shelf life. The light pattern isn't as tight since the
conversion uses multiple LEDs in a small cluster, but it's about the
same level of brightness.



--
My email address is antispammed;
pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.

Werehatrack wrote:
may have said:
Don't worry about that. The beam patterns of the better headlights for
this use are remarkable. I use the Bisy headlight, and although I mount
two 3W battery headlights (one LED, one halogen) as backup, I am perfectly
happy to ride in the dark (ie, no streetlights) with the Bisy alone.
The reason this works is that with a 3W conventional bulb, only about
one quarter of the energy used (at best, and generally much less) is
converted to light; with an LED, it's more on the order of two-thirds.

This is completely irrelevant, since dynamo-driven headlights use
conventional bulbs.
--
David Damerell Kill the tomato!