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Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?



 
 
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  #21  
Old November 23rd 05, 03:38 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?


wrote in message
oups.com...
Mike: My understanding is that they last a long time, but eventually
burn out. I did get a response from Dinotte that the light is under
warranty for two years, which includes the bulb. If it burns out after
that you have to return the light to them for bulb replacement (it is
not user servicable). Current bulb replacement cost is $40, but they
expected better and cheaper bulbs in two years.

I'm looking forward to hearing your opinion of the light. Hope you
like it.

Bruce


Bruce--

I got the light today, and managed to take it out for a short
nighttime cruise. Much brighter than the Hong Kong 21 LED eBay special I
have on my town bike, but the HK light was 10 bucks, too. My first
impression was disbelief that a light so small could possibly be very
bright. I was mistaken. The light is so bright that glancing at it directly
for more than a second is almost painful. The beam is not very tightly
focused, but that is a good thing. I found my entire lane illuminated, plus
some. I was only able to get out for a half hour, but the light didn't get
really hot. I'm sure it would after a couple of hours, but I don't intend to
take it out that long.
The mounting setup is pretty ingenious, and very simple. The light
itself is machined from a piece of aluminum, and it's about the size of a
roll of Life Savers, except a bit fatter. There's a scalloped cutout on the
bottom of the light that matches up with your bar, and the light is held in
place with a big O-ring. It doesn't look like a proprietary part, it kind of
looks like a vacuum cleaner belt. Should be easy to find another if/when it
breaks. The battery pack velcroes under the stem, and a separate strap is
included to secure the power cord. Total installation time is less than a
minute. Simple and elegant.
I will have more time to ride with the light and will post a followup
once I commute a few times with it. So far, it seems like a winner. If
you're considering one, Performance has them on sale, and their price is
better than Nashbar(but I think Nashbar will price match).

Mike


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  #22  
Old November 24th 05, 04:01 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

Mike: Thanks for the review, your comments are very helpful. From
what I understand from David Johnson's earlier post, the batteries are
just conventional AAs in some kind of holder. So it would be easy to
carry spares and swap them out if needed. Is that correct? The
Dinotte website doesn't describe the battery pack.

Bruce

  #23  
Old November 24th 05, 04:27 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 19:01:16 -0800, kayrideout wrote:

Mike: Thanks for the review, your comments are very helpful. From
what I understand from David Johnson's earlier post, the batteries are
just conventional AAs in some kind of holder. So it would be easy to
carry spares and swap them out if needed. Is that correct?


No, that is not correct. It comes supplied with AA-sized rechargeable
1.3V NiMH batteries, along with the charger. They say you can use
standard AAs in a pinch, but these NiMH batteries are available cheaply.
I'd get more of them, and keep them charged. The holder is also pretty
standard; I'd bet there are some at Radio Shack. A spare holder full of
freshly-charged batteries would be the best bet for spares, and I plan to
do that as soon as I get around to it.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize
_`\(,_ | our educational system and that in a few years it will supplant
(_)/ (_) | largely, if not entirely, the use of textbooks -- Thomas
Edison, 1922

  #24  
Old November 24th 05, 04:47 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

David L. Johnson wrote:
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 19:01:16 -0800, kayrideout wrote:


Mike: Thanks for the review, your comments are very helpful. From
what I understand from David Johnson's earlier post, the batteries are
just conventional AAs in some kind of holder. So it would be easy to
carry spares and swap them out if needed. Is that correct?



No, that is not correct. It comes supplied with AA-sized rechargeable
1.3V NiMH batteries, along with the charger. They say you can use
standard AAs in a pinch, but these NiMH batteries are available cheaply.
I'd get more of them, and keep them charged. The holder is also pretty
standard; I'd bet there are some at Radio Shack. A spare holder full of
freshly-charged batteries would be the best bet for spares, and I plan to
do that as soon as I get around to it.


Be aware that NiMH batterys are 1.2 volts whilst conventional dry cells
are 1.5 volts. Power increases with the square of the voltage so you
should see a difference in brightness between the two types of batterys.
If the light is designed with NiMH batterys in mind then you may risk
burning out the bulb with dry cells.

Marty
  #25  
Old November 24th 05, 05:31 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?


wrote in message
oups.com...
Mike: Thanks for the review, your comments are very helpful. From
what I understand from David Johnson's earlier post, the batteries are
just conventional AAs in some kind of holder. So it would be easy to
carry spares and swap them out if needed. Is that correct? The
Dinotte website doesn't describe the battery pack.

Bruce


Yep. The batter holder is just a plastic rectangle that holds the 4
batteries and fits inside the nylon case. DiNotte even includes a plastic
clamshell type case for spare batteries. Very considerate of them.


  #26  
Old November 24th 05, 05:34 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?


wrote in message
oups.com...
Mike: Thanks for the review, your comments are very helpful. From
what I understand from David Johnson's earlier post, the batteries are
just conventional AAs in some kind of holder. So it would be easy to
carry spares and swap them out if needed. Is that correct? The
Dinotte website doesn't describe the battery pack.

Bruce


Second reply. :-) The batteries are rechargeable AAs, but those are readily
available. The ideal plan would be to have two sets of batteries or more,
and always carry spares. The manufacturer gives a three hour run time on the
low setting, and their idea of low is very bright. Running out of juice
shouldn't be a problem.


  #27  
Old November 24th 05, 07:33 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:47:39 +0800, Marty wrote:

David L. Johnson wrote:
Be aware that NiMH batterys are 1.2 volts whilst conventional dry cells
are 1.5 volts. Power increases with the square of the voltage so you
should see a difference in brightness between the two types of batterys.
If the light is designed with NiMH batterys in mind then you may risk
burning out the bulb with dry cells.


If they say you can use alkalines in a pinch, presumably the light
includes a regulator. If it's a led light, that's doubly likely.

Jasper
  #28  
Old November 24th 05, 07:56 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

Jasper Janssen wrote:
On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 11:47:39 +0800, Marty wrote:


David L. Johnson wrote:
Be aware that NiMH batterys are 1.2 volts whilst conventional dry cells
are 1.5 volts. Power increases with the square of the voltage so you
should see a difference in brightness between the two types of batterys.
If the light is designed with NiMH batterys in mind then you may risk
burning out the bulb with dry cells.



If they say you can use alkalines in a pinch, presumably the light
includes a regulator. If it's a led light, that's doubly likely.


If the light draws very much current, then alkalines will suffer a
voltage drop (relatively high internal resistance), even when new.
Can't say if the DiNotte's 1-3 hour burn time would constitute a high
enough current for AA alkalines to drop the voltage to ~1.2 volts, but
it's a possibility.

Maybe somebody with a DiNotte wants to put some alkalines in and put a
voltmeter across them while the light is turned on.

Mark

  #29  
Old November 24th 05, 08:41 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Anybody using the DiNotte Ultralight?

A couple notes on the DiNotte Lighing systems that I learned. (my
background/experience is both as a user and as a formere buyer for the
bike side of a small specialty shop) I have been using this light for
about 1 month now.

First off, I concur that the lights work great. very bright. the
other night while on an evening ride here in Seattle with my girlfriend
we decided to let hers run down and see how long it would put out light
beyond the low battery warning. (after low battery indication) we ran
it for the better part of an hour--with diminishing brightness, but
still if I rode ahead and looked back at here it was very visible which
for driver visibilty/safety standpoint is awesome--although it was too
dim to count as a legit headlight after that much time it was still
visible as a safety light.

the snap in battery pack holders are easy to find at radioshack, so
carrying two or more for a longer jaunt is cheap and accesssible.
also, there is the option to get a C cell battery pack which will
extend the burntime significantly (not sure on how long), or you could
make your own.

when researching these for our store, I learned a couple things about
the voltage, etc that has been previously discussed. first, the light
is protected from over voltage, so using 1.5V AA's will not burn out
the LED. secondly, the internal circutry in the housing to regulate
voltage also maintains the correct output so that the light does not
gradually lose brightness right from the get-go (like you would see in
an old halogen flashlight), but will only reduce in light output when
the batteries are signifcantly drained.

I have used/tested several other systems including the Cygolite 3W LED
systems, Planet Bike Insight and Alias, Vistalight, Nite Rider, and
probably a couple others. I really like this system and would
encourage you to try it out if you get the chance. If you have an
established Local Bike Shop, they can get these for you also. DiNotte
is very friendly with small dealers.

my 2 cents on possible improvements/additions are perhaps a way to
house the batteries in a more watertight housing...I have not had any
problems here in rainy old seattle, but it could be possible for rain
to penetrate and short the battries (not the light housing, only the
battery pack) and create problems. not an issue for fair weather
riders, but a nice idea for 24 hour racers or the "hard core" or those
that get cought in a massive downpour. like I said, I have not had a
moisture problem yet, but it is a pretty open battery system and it
could happen. secondly, I think it would be cool it if it had a lower
output flashing mode (like planet bike) so that if you were riding in
enough light you could flip it to blinky headlight mode on the way to
work so you don't get run over and still have almost your entire
battery charge for a full on lit up ride home.

KC

 




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