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Deal Extreme Torches
Someone was recently asking about DIY lights, cheaper options than Ay-Up, etc, etc.
Well - if you can't build your own but want that cheaper option there are various Cree powered torches floating around at very reasonable prices. There's an interesting post on MTBR about Deal Extreme gear for example:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?p=4798313&po...
Although DX appears to have some quality issues you cannot argue with their prices.
The TR-801 can be had with a Q5 Cree ($17.52):
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13095
If you look on DX there are 100s of torch options. Although they sound good, if you don't want to modify the torch for use with an external pack stay away from the SSC-P7 as they slurp too much juice.
There's another torch here with R2 Cree and 3 level dimming ($23):
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14601
Protected batteries (the MTBR post says these fit in the TR-801) ($10)/Chargers ($12.46 or $9.17):
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5790
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1251
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4151
Basically, for around 80 bucks you could have 2 torches, 4 batteries and a charger. My guess is that this would be around equal in brightness to a single Ay-Up head. The MTBR post says 2-ish hours from a charge. With a torch that dimmed (and used that dimming) you could get more, and you could take a spare battery just in case.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about Deal Extreme or these products, but they look OK. Do your own research and be aware of these quality issues talked about on other forums.
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G'day All,
I have a couple of of the SSC-P7 from DX, I am really happy with them, burn times seem to be a little longer
than what people have said on the forums, light although dimmed slightly (you don't notice it dimming until you replace the batteries)
was still very usable on the trail after 1hhr 45mins and it is no hassle to take a couple of extra batteries, very easy to change batteries.
Light output is fantastic, I have one helmet mounted one bar mounted, I also have a fenix TK11 (burn times approx 2.5hrs) on the bars which is a Q5 Led.
The SSC-P7 is a flood, wide beam and the TK11 is a narrower beam.
If any one has any questions about the setup let me know.
Matt
p.s I am happy with the quality of the lights
the ones you have that would be terrific. There are so many different ones to choose from it would be nice if those interested in this line of lighting could have a word of mouth recommendation.
As for DX quality, I think a lot of where people seem to be having problems is with components rather than complete units. Many complain about control boards DOA, leds not appearing to be the bin they are sold as, plastic lenses instead of glass etc etc. Always good to hear a happy customer
Out of interest, is the throw on the TK11 as good as that on the P7? If so, and I suspect probably not, you might find the set up better with the flood on the bars and the spot on your helmet.
Here is what I have, http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12623 I have 2 of them
The TK11 is similar brightness overall, but a much narrower beam, I had it on the helmet initially
but found that when looking at anything less than 3m away it was too concentrated.
I found that I can ride the fire trails of lane cove np with just a single helmet light, but if I put
all 3 lights on I have great coverage for up to 15-25 metres in front and 4-5m wide.
I am going to use this setup at the 24hr in a couple of weeks.
Man, they do seem like really good deals!
Kinda makes it hard to justify fabricating your own housing, electronics and mounts yourself....
Interesting..
What mounts are you using for your helment and bar?
Hi Gonz
I got one of these Ultrafire torches (WF-501B) in Bangkok recently and it's amazing, very bright and long throw. I've not used it off road yet as I'm waiting for the housing - http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004 but also check out http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8274 both are cheap as. I can't tell what the pattern will be like yet but it does look quite narrow (i.e. long throw), could be a good thing though.
Mine came with the Sony CR123A cells but I will be ordering another set as spares for when I am on longer rides. Might also get another Ultrafire for the helmet.
Hmmm... Deal Extreme...here is my mixed experience...buyer beware...
Being a gadget fan, their offers seemed too cheap to resist...so I went to town with a sizable order...
I had placed a total of 2 orders with them so far (~ $120), for approx 10 items (cheap lights, audio gear, web-cam etc) in total.
Summary of my experience:
2 items never actually arrived, but were replaced (without notification) with inferior parts;
2 items were of poor quality (the kind of stuff that used to give "made in China" a bad name)
1 webcam (clip-on for laptop) ...looked good on the website, but has a distinct "blind spot" in the centre of the picture (pixel defect).
The other items (some multi-LED handle-bar lights for my kid's bikes)...never got used because the mount was crap, (cheap plastic, stripped threads from the factory) and wouldn't have lasted 5 km's even on a paved road = unsafe. Only stays on with duct-tape ;-(
It seems to me that DX is a kind of outlet for all the "seconds" from the electronics manufacturing in Guangzhou. And they bet on the fact that most people couldn't be bothered returning a $ 12 item (including me
)
Search www.whirlpool.net.au for similar stories.
Or as a chinese friend (not Confucious) used to say: "buy cheap, buy twice..."
My 2 psi. - You might be more lucky...
Rgds, Hans
__________________
There are two paths you can go by but in the long run...
Hey Dylan,
What sort of housing are you getting?
Do you have a link for the Ultrafire torches (WF-501B)?
I'm going for one of these: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004
The WF-501B is here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15456
But going by what Rob was saying, and also the chap in that review I reckon the TR-801 looks interesting. I also ordered one this morning so I can let you know if you want. I reckon one on the bike and one on the helmet should do the trick, what ever happens it has to be a lot better than the heavy old style lights they will be replacing.
Eh? You have a UV touch? Are you sure this link is correct!?
What's wrong with that?
I meant this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1315
Doesn't get a brilliant write up on DX but on other sites it fairs well and I'm impressed with it, in fact some of the reviews here make me think there have been more than one version. I certainly do notice that the lamp ramps down as the battery fades though, but at least you will know it's on the way out instead of it just shutting off leaving you in the middle of nowhere.
Have you played with these new Cree Q5 LEDs Rob? I would imagine you would be adding them to your setup?
G'day All,
I have the fenix mount http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004 it works but rattles a bit and can be a little hard to get on if space is tight. So what I now use is http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000 for helmet mount and http://www.ledtorches.com.au/index.php?act=viewP... for the bar mount. I am really happy with this setup.
Cheers,
Matt
Are you able to post a pic of your setup?
give me a day or 2 I am traveling at present
With winter nights coming early I was looking for some cheap bright lights and after reading this thread thought that the TR-801's looked like what I was after.
I just got my TR-801's (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15335) today and put them on my helmet using universal mounts (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12000).
I have two more TR-801's but the two Fenix Flashlight Bike Mounts (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13004) didnt arrive with the package, it seems they are still "pending". Hopefully I will have them on the bars soon and be blasting out 4 x 230 lumens (retailer claimed brightness) on night rides.
4xTR-801's
2xUniversal Mounts
2xFenix Flashlight Bike Mounts
8xTrustFire 18650 batteries, up to 5 hours of usable light on high setting.
1xSoShine 4 channel battery charger
=$220
Need to have a test ride soon but looks very bright to me. I will post some set up pics when the bike mounts arrive.
Helmet set up front/back/side:
Hi Quentin
Those photos are good, I had been struggling to mount mine on the helmet so I think I'll grab one of those velcro mounts. Are you able to adjust the aim at all? They look like they might fire a bit high?
I also ended up getting a couple of the 801's and found them to be pretty good, certainly very light. Not quite as focused as my WF-501B but the wider spread might be useful (I too haven't had a chance to test them yet, perhaps tonight). I am curious to see how long they last, I seem to get different reports, so at the moment I'm hoping for 1.5 hours from each battery. For the mounting to the bike I ended up changing my order and going for the simpler http://www.ledtorches.com.au/index.php?act=viewP... (after reading cookiem68's comments on the fenix mounts above) which sped up my order. So that means I have 2x 801's on the bars and 1x WF-501B on me nut. Well over 500 ANSI Lumins - not bad for less than $80!
p.s. it appears that the deal extreme site is down at the moment...
The aim is not really adjustable with the velco mounts. I am quite luck that the vents on my helmet seem to be in the right place to get a pretty good aim. It might be a bit high but I have soom room to slide them forward a bit to lower the beam if I need to. Not all helmets will do this, have a look at your helmet and see if the vents are parralel and in a good spot to aim up the trail far enough but not to far, what ever suits your riding style.
I hope the site is not down to long as they still owe me some Fenix bar mounts. I saw the mounts on ledtorches.com.au and they looked good but tried to get everything I needed in one order, if the Fenix mounts are no good I will order some others.
I am going to run down all the batteries once and recharge them and then try a and wear then out to see how long they last. The deal exteme forum chats seemed to say that they last 2 hours on high and then fade in strenght for up to hour before switching off. So I hope to get over two hours out of each light. I have a spare set of batteries for rides so wont be left in the dark.
I will post pics of the bar mounts with TR-801's when they arrive.
I bought some velcro in large pieces from a dress making shop (I'm there so much) and used it to mount my helmet home made light, it worked very well, I used contact glue to stick one side of the velcro to the light and the other side just goes though the vents it was easy to adjust even on the fly. Depending on the shape of the light it may help to pack the front or back to get the aim right.
John.
Got any pics John
...of you in said dress
When you said you were into the 'Modiste Times' newsletter mate, good on ya mate!
Ladytoast due to the nature of the photos requested I thought it best to sent them privately
Anon.
Has anyone tried one of the P7 type lights?
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060
900 ANSI Lumens, that is an insane amount of power and very wide flood - too good to be true? Does it complement the more spot focused Q5's?
This is a figure put out as the possible maximum lumens produced by the led. It does not mean that the led you get may actually produce 900 lumens but some of the leds tested in a particular batch may have tested at 900 lumens.
Then you have to take into account what the driver, the electronic controller for the led, is actually delivering to the led and then also account for the amount of light lost from the optic, none of them run at 100% efficiency.
As a general rule the torches built around Soeul Leds, the manufacturer of the P7, don't have the throw of an equivalent powered Cree based torch.
Search for a torch that has a MC-E led in it, they are just starting to come onto the market. They won't claim as many lumens because Cree "BINs" their leds on a minimum output, not a maximum, but by all reports they have a much better throw than the P7 ones.
All that said, some of the DE P7 torches do work quite well as bike lights
Have a look here http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=436303
Bit of a long thread now but has some good user info there, not just manufacturers hype.
Most estimate that the P7 900 lumen torches are closer to 600 lumens. Quite a considerable difference
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16501
make sure you get batteries, charger and search for mounts.
Thanks Stuart, I'll wait till the Deal Extreme web site comes back online, every time I try that link it times out, been like that all day.
I just got back from the first night ride with my 2x 801's and 1x 501. Pretty good, although I don't think just the 2x 801's on their own would be sufficient, my helmet mounted 501 has a longer throw so works quite well as a companion. Life wise, the duration of the single 18650 cells are much better than the 2x CR123As which only seem to last a little over an hour for me. As I was riding I was thinking that perhaps the 801's would be better suited helmet mounted and perhaps something longer throw on the bike.....
I'll have to compare with other systems, but overall I think for the money (around $70) I'm happy to ride with them, they are so much better than my old halogen lights. The only thing I still have to work out is the mountings, the bar mounts don't have any horizontal adjustment so they point very slightly away from centre (around 4 meters away from the bike they are about a meter apart), not a huge issue but might bother some people.