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#1
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
A couple of my old headlights died due to batteries accidentally being
left in them long enough to leak. The old lights were Cateye HL-EL530s, that took 4 x AA batteries. http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/HL-EL530/ tho mine wasn't that one, mine was the previous-generation that had a rectangular beam due to a second focusing cone inside the main reflector. I cleaned them up a bit with some vinegar and water, but they're probably toast. The reflector surfaces look pretty gray. So I'm shopping around for ANY kind of headlights that take 4 x AA batteries, and there is none. The best I can find is one that takes 3 x AAA, but that doesn't put out anywhere near what the previous lights did. The best that Cateye offers now is the EL135, which is 3 LEDS and only 2 AA batteries. http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/HL-EL135/ I don't need a whole lot of light, I had two headlights just in case one failed. And I don't want anything with an external battery pack, even for free. Years back the rechargeables cost too much ($100+ just for the smallest systems). Now they're cheap enough, but they suck compared to the disposable-battery ones. At Nashbar, the Nashbar-brand Wedge headlight is 100 lumens, costs $20 and uses 3 AAA batteries. The run time is given as 15 hrs on high, 30 hours on low and 60 hours on flashing. Nashbar also sells the Cateye Volt 100, the lowest-end Volt model. It is USB rechargable and the output is given as 100 lumens... But the runtime is given as "2 to 30 hours depending on mode". Uhhh... no sale. I'm trying to spend money here and just not seeing a lot that's interesting. Plus--on the LWB recumbent, the lights have to be mounted upside-down. And the old Cateye lights were "waterproof", while almost all of these new ones are just "water resistant", and I'd bet, not nearly so if mounted upside down in the rain... So far the best candidate is the little 3-AAA flashlights with handlebar mounts. They're round beams but have a spot-flood focusing lens at least. Plus they all have high/low/flash modes now. |
#2
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 2017-05-10 09:05, DougC wrote:
A couple of my old headlights died due to batteries accidentally being left in them long enough to leak. The old lights were Cateye HL-EL530s, that took 4 x AA batteries. http://www.cateye.com/en/products/detail/HL-EL530/ tho mine wasn't that one, mine was the previous-generation that had a rectangular beam due to a second focusing cone inside the main reflector. I cleaned them up a bit with some vinegar and water, but they're probably toast. The reflector surfaces look pretty gray. So I'm shopping around for ANY kind of headlights that take 4 x AA batteries, and there is none. The best I can find is one that takes 3 x AAA, but that doesn't put out anywhere near what the previous lights did. http://en.bumm.de/produkte/akku-sche...r/ixon-iq.html Quote "4 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, each 2100 mAh, no memory effect. Charging time approx. 5 hours using provided charging unit. Power supply by 4 non-rechargeable AA batteries possible". However, their stuff tends to be expensive. I said good bye to the li'l battery lights a long time ago and now have a 1000 lumen light on each bike. On the road bike powered by a 8.4V 8800mAh Li-Ion pack which gives me 4-5h at full bore. The MTB has a battery half that size. In the garage I plug in and it'll be ready for the next round. What I still have to do is make electrical boxes and regulators so I can power some modified bright rear lights that then also do not require swapping out batteries anymore. The topper would be a hub dynamo to keep things charged but that might never happen. The only mod I did to the front lights was installing diffuser discs so they won't blind others and throw a nice amount of light horizontally. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#3
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 9:44 AM, Joerg wrote:
snip Quote "4 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, each 2100 mAh, no memory effect. Charging time approx. 5 hours using provided charging unit. Power supply by 4 non-rechargeable AA batteries possible". For a lot of lights, the output is significantly less on primary cells. Alkaline batteries have high internal resistance and can't provide the current that NiMH AA batteries provide. There are some good 4AA flashlights that could double as a bicycle light but these are high-end lights and are expensive https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/ld41-fenix-flashlight/. There is this 3xAA bicycle specific light: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6FXCLN Someone selling a NOS HL-EL530: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cateye-opticube-hl-el530-cycling-light-/172654249234 There's also the option of powering a light with an external battery pack made up of AA cells rather than Li-Ion cells. For example, http://www.herrmans.eu/start-english/products?familyId=2208 will run on a 6-12V pack. But again, alkaline batteries will leave something to be desired. |
#4
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 2017-05-10 19:53, sms wrote:
On 5/10/2017 9:44 AM, Joerg wrote: snip Quote "4 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, each 2100 mAh, no memory effect. Charging time approx. 5 hours using provided charging unit. Power supply by 4 non-rechargeable AA batteries possible". For a lot of lights, the output is significantly less on primary cells. Alkaline batteries have high internal resistance and can't provide the current that NiMH AA batteries provide. For a light as expensive as the Ixon I sure hope the engineers have figured out how to design a proper switch-mode converter for constant LED current. Else they should be moved to the dog house for a while. However, alkaline don't last long for high light output. Just like with digital cameras where NiMH provides for more shots despite having lower capacity. There are some good 4AA flashlights that could double as a bicycle light but these are high-end lights and are expensive https://www.fenixlighting.com/product/ld41-fenix-flashlight/. There is this 3xAA bicycle specific light: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6FXCLN Someone selling a NOS HL-EL530: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cateye-opticube-hl-el530-cycling-light-/172654249234 There's also the option of powering a light with an external battery pack made up of AA cells rather than Li-Ion cells. For example, http://www.herrmans.eu/start-english/products?familyId=2208 will run on a 6-12V pack. But again, alkaline batteries will leave something to be desired. I never saw the need to make a battery holder for AA. 18650 Li-Ion cells pack so much punch that four or eight of them provide enough hours even for a really bright 1000 lumen light. If I did longer treks I'd invest in a hub dynamo or a solar cell and build an MPPT converter. On the road bike the battery ride in the right pannier (but only until the next mod) and on the MTB in an ABS box that can take rock hits. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#5
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
"Joerg" wrote in message ... On 2017-05-10 19:53, sms wrote: On 5/10/2017 9:44 AM, Joerg wrote: snip Quote "4 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, each 2100 mAh, no memory effect. Charging time approx. 5 hours using provided charging unit. Power supply by 4 non-rechargeable AA batteries possible". For a lot of lights, the output is significantly less on primary cells. Alkaline batteries have high internal resistance and can't provide the current that NiMH AA batteries provide. For a light as expensive as the Ixon I sure hope the engineers have figured out how to design a proper switch-mode converter for constant LED current. Else they should be moved to the dog house for a while. However, alkaline don't last long for high light output. Just like with digital cameras where NiMH provides for more shots despite having lower capacity. You might have some of that back to front. Ni-Nh isn't far off the Ah capacity of alkaline - but its **** poor at instantaneous peak current draw. Ni-Cd is size for size; comparable to lead acid for instantaneous current capability - but the Ah capacity is around 1/3 - 1/4 that of Ni-Mh. Ni-Cd have fairly rapid self discharge - Ni-Mh sold as; "ready to use" stay charged a fair bit longer in storage. Never use nickel chemistry batteries for rear lights - they have a "sudden death" discharge curve. They can look OK when you set off and dim out to a faint glow within minutes. There are rechargeable lithium units starting to appear - you can unclip the light and hook it to a USB charger, or take the cell out and charge that. |
#6
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 2017-05-11 14:26, Ian Field wrote:
"Joerg" wrote in message ... On 2017-05-10 19:53, sms wrote: On 5/10/2017 9:44 AM, Joerg wrote: snip Quote "4 rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, each 2100 mAh, no memory effect. Charging time approx. 5 hours using provided charging unit. Power supply by 4 non-rechargeable AA batteries possible". For a lot of lights, the output is significantly less on primary cells. Alkaline batteries have high internal resistance and can't provide the current that NiMH AA batteries provide. For a light as expensive as the Ixon I sure hope the engineers have figured out how to design a proper switch-mode converter for constant LED current. Else they should be moved to the dog house for a while. However, alkaline don't last long for high light output. Just like with digital cameras where NiMH provides for more shots despite having lower capacity. You might have some of that back to front. Ni-Nh isn't far off the Ah capacity of alkaline - but its **** poor at instantaneous peak current draw. NiMH can deliver a lot more peak current. My Nikon Coolpix can take 100-150 photos per charge in rapid succession on two AA NiMH cells, depending on how often I use the flash. With alkaline AA cells it conks out at around 20-30. I believe they warn about that in the manual somewhere. At purchase a Lithium primary battery was delivered for that purpose and they stated that if you must use non-rechargeables to use Li-cells. This is despite the fact that I am using low self-discharge Eneloop cells which aren't as staunch in terms of peak current as regular NiMH. Ni-Cd is size for size; comparable to lead acid for instantaneous current capability - but the Ah capacity is around 1/3 - 1/4 that of Ni-Mh. Ni-Cd have fairly rapid self discharge - Ni-Mh sold as; "ready to use" stay charged a fair bit longer in storage. IME NiMH is only better if it's Eneloop. Never use nickel chemistry batteries for rear lights - they have a "sudden death" discharge curve. They can look OK when you set off and dim out to a faint glow within minutes. There are rechargeable lithium units starting to appear - you can unclip the light and hook it to a USB charger, or take the cell out and charge that. In rear lights I either use alkalines or hook them to the central battery via a 3.3V converter. Got to re-do that on the MTB because it's rear end had to be gussied up. I just finished installing the battery, in a water-proof ABS enclosure bolted to a new diagonal bracing piece. Bicycles are so incomplete when bought new. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ |
#7
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 12:05 PM, DougC wrote:
Plus--on the LWB recumbent, the lights have to be mounted upside-down. And the old Cateye lights were "waterproof", while almost all of these new ones are just "water resistant", and I'd bet, not nearly so if mounted upside down in the rain... Why mount upside down? Can you not fashion a mounting bracket of some sort? If I wanted a battery powered light, I'd probably try the IXON that Joerg linked. But I'd do whatever necessary to mount it right side up, if only for the optics. -- - Frank Krygowski |
#8
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
The XION (plain and Premium model) may be all there is. I been looking
around a couple hours more and still found none that were 4xAA; they're either 3xAAA or 2xAA. I may try some cheapo ones on Amazon first however, since two of the XION Premiums would cost $90 + shipping. I didn't check out any Euro-specific brands because they usually cost so much more. Pretty much all the B&M lights that I've seen before were big expensive rechargeable ones. On 5/10/2017 3:33 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote: Why mount upside down? Can you not fashion a mounting bracket of some sort? If I wanted a battery powered light, I'd probably try the IXON that Joerg linked. But I'd do whatever necessary to mount it right side up, if only for the optics. The recumbent has chopper-style bars and a handlebar bag that covers the "top" side of the bars and prevents mounting lights right-side up. And with the Cateyes, they gave the same beam upside down. Usually I would remove the batteries in the lights I had, if I wasn't going to be using the bike much (like during winter). This time I just forgot. And I left the batteries in the rear lights as well, but none of them rotted. :| ------- Overall, the rechargeable performance is simply NOT in line with the prices. For the light that a 2xAA model that costs $20 may put out, it seems like you need to spend $50-$60-$70 for a rechargeable light to match it. Another thing I don't like about almost all of the lights I'm looking at, is that they have no horizontal adjustment at all. With the old Cateye lights, they had about 8 degrees of left-right adjustment. If the bars weren't perfectly straight where they were mounted, I still had a bit of room to adjust them centered, since I normally only use one at a time. I am aware of the extra bars just for mounting lights and whatnot. I didn't want to have to add that on. |
#9
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 6:45 PM, DougC wrote:
The XION (plain and Premium model) may be all there is. I been looking around a couple hours more and still found none that were 4xAA; they're either 3xAAA or 2xAA. I may try some cheapo ones on Amazon first however, since two of the XION Premiums would cost $90 + shipping. I didn't check out any Euro-specific brands because they usually cost so much more. Pretty much all the B&M lights that I've seen before were big expensive rechargeable ones. On 5/10/2017 3:33 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote: Why mount upside down? Can you not fashion a mounting bracket of some sort? If I wanted a battery powered light, I'd probably try the IXON that Joerg linked. But I'd do whatever necessary to mount it right side up, if only for the optics. The recumbent has chopper-style bars and a handlebar bag that covers the "top" side of the bars and prevents mounting lights right-side up. And with the Cateyes, they gave the same beam upside down. Usually I would remove the batteries in the lights I had, if I wasn't going to be using the bike much (like during winter). This time I just forgot. And I left the batteries in the rear lights as well, but none of them rotted. :| ------- Overall, the rechargeable performance is simply NOT in line with the prices. For the light that a 2xAA model that costs $20 may put out, it seems like you need to spend $50-$60-$70 for a rechargeable light to match it. Another thing I don't like about almost all of the lights I'm looking at, is that they have no horizontal adjustment at all. With the old Cateye lights, they had about 8 degrees of left-right adjustment. If the bars weren't perfectly straight where they were mounted, I still had a bit of room to adjust them centered, since I normally only use one at a time. I am aware of the extra bars just for mounting lights and whatnot. I didn't want to have to add that on. I've done custom mounts for several different headlights, mostly because I almost always have handlebar bags mounted. Those interfere with most handlebar mounted lights . But I'm pretty content when fabricating a mechanical solution to such a problem. -- - Frank Krygowski |
#10
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Is there any good non-rechargeable headlights anymore?
On 5/10/2017 7:12 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
... I've done custom mounts for several different headlights, mostly because I almost always have handlebar bags mounted. Those interfere with most handlebar mounted lights . But I'm pretty content when fabricating a mechanical solution to such a problem. Welp, I ordered a couple of tactikewl flashlights and some mounts off Amazon for about $50 (for two of each). The flashlights are 18650 or 3xAA and come with the rechargeable stuff, but also have the 3xAA insert too. They are claimed as waterproof and have no USB charging ports, so they /should/ (might?) keep working in the rain. There is not a great amount of choice it seems. Apparently roughly 95% of all the flashlights listed on Amazon is one of maybe 6 different China models, just sold under different names and prices. And if you disregard the "all-rubber-band-mounts" and the "fake-Two-Fish-mounts" that don't hold, then there's only about four different kinds of handlebar-flashlight mounts--a couple of which were only big enough for the 3xAAA lights, and so were clearly too small for the flashlights I got. I can make mounts too but don't really wanna. |
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