[Closed] Is it too soon for a lights thread?

The Nitefighter BT40 looks like it might be a good 'un, same format as the MJ872s I've been using for ages... Most of these XML x2 lights are obsessed with power and often have pretty poor beam patterns ime, the solarstorms and the like were such a step back. I don't know if the XML just naturally lends itself to spotlights better or what but that seems to be what people do with them, and we're way past the point where that made any sense imo.

Might pick up a BT70 though just to try, every year I buy a couple of new lights then sell them or bin them as they're not as good as the old 872s, maybe this year...

can someone please tell me the best universal charger for a solarstorm?

I know there's been threads on this but just need a link or just point me in the right direction.

I bought it last year so it might be a v2 or something, if that makes any difference.

many thanks in advance.

See my post on page 3 to a fluxient charger from torchey.

The Nitefighter BT40 looks like it might be a good 'un, same format as the MJ872s I've been using for ages...

My mj872 got nicked last year and I got a BT40 from gearbest this autumn to replace it.

They are certainly in the same ballpark light wise (and the new turbo is WAY brighter). Heat path / paste etc are better. Only caveats are:

A: bars only as its floody
B: once you decided which diffuser you want to use then you may want to use a dab of sealant around the glass to waterproof it a bit better.

Like all Chineses lights imo - its not perfect - but bonkers value for < £20 delivered(head unit).

Ordered my BT21 from Gearbest less than ten days ago, received today.

Charged it up and giving it a battery test........

So outside on the patio table I placed:

5 year old generic 1000 lumen - battery died after 30 minutes on High
3 year old Luminator - set on level 2 of 3 - 140 minutes
1 year old X2 - set on level 2 of 3 - 110 minutes

Straight out the box BT21 - set on level 3 of 4 - 165 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes) and still going...... pretty chuffed with that!

Quite happy to replace lights every year and recycle the bad ones through friends. Hopefully the battery will remain solid.

I've just switched it off...... don't want it frying itself...... 3 hours 15 minutes and was still going.

masher - Member

A: bars only as its floody

I've used one on head, one on bars for a long time, including a night downhill race Yep it's floody but it's powerful enough to give a decent cast, and the flood gives it a more "natural" beam so fills in peripheral vision better and helps your eyes adapt, not to mention removing hotspots etc. IMO of course but at this level I'd sooner have 2 floods than a flood and a spot.

The BT40 neutral full package with battery (which people report as being true to specs) has been reduced to £33 on GearBest. That's the current full package winner for me at the moment.

That's a great price. If I didn't already have a BT70 on the way I would snap it up.

One BT40s neutral full package on it's way. Thanks for heads up.
Is the connection the same as Solarstorm X2, but without the screw bit?
Got separate cells in an 4 cell case thats works perfectly with Solarstorm connections.

Another BT40s full package ordered, probably not strictly necessary but seems like a no brainer at that price.

BT70 ordered. Will report in when it arrives.

I cant believe they have dropped a fiver since i ordered one just 10 days a go! Still waiting for mine but it looks like its going to be next week so i reckon a fortnight turnaround.

Edit: website has them at 40 quid which is 2 quid more than i paid....

Edit 2: 33 quid is for the s version which is reported as having 200 lumen less and a different led.

My bt21 has arrived and on first impression it looks pretty good, i guess time will tell.
Are people using the orings to attach to bar/helmet or is there an alternative?

First post on here for ages... Just wondering, does anyone still make their own lights these days or is the Chinese stuff so cheap that it isn't worth it these days?

Years back I sold a lot of LED drivers after someone on here did a DIY conversion post for the Lumicycle lights. However, I've recently pulled the listings as I've not sold any drivers for months and very few over the last couple of years. I'm wondering if the market is still there and I'm just not finding it, or is it just no longer worth tinkering?

As a tinker who built about 10 lights I can only comment that it has not been worth it since solarstorm X2 and the like came out. DIY battery packs are IMO still worth it.

I've heard of a few people swapping drivers in Chinese lights for better ones recently, but nothing beyond that.

I've got a home workshop complete with lathe and milling machine and have built a lot of lights over the years for myself and friends. I still use a couple of them but have just ordered a NiteFighter BT21 as a result of reading this thread. I guess that tells you something!

I don't think I could buy the components to make a light like that for the cost the Chinese are doing let alone fabricate the body and put everything together. The fact that high-profile fabricators like Troutie have moved on as well tells you that the DIY scene is practically dead now.

Having said that, I am currently working on a unique road light that as far as I am aware, isn't commercially available anywhere. Before you ask, it's for personal use only as the amount of time and effort it takes for me to make these things by hand, it just wouldn't be commercially viable to try and sell them.

As good as Troutie's lights are, I doubt very much if he made much out of them once all things were taken into account.

Bump thread, just got 4 18650 efest 2600mah and nitecore charger, waiting for battery pack from gearbest. As i currently have a solarstorm x2 with 6400 and the run time is not that great. Should improve, hopefully.

BlackCatTech - Member

First post on here for ages... Just wondering, does anyone still make their own lights these days or is the Chinese stuff so cheap that it isn't worth it these days?

Years back I sold a lot of LED drivers after someone on here did a DIY conversion post for the Lumicycle lights. However, I've recently pulled the listings as I've not sold any drivers for months and very few over the last couple of years. I'm wondering if the market is still there and I'm just not finding it, or is it just no longer worth tinkering?

I'd love to still have a play around with my own lights, but the cost of the parts just means that it is hard to justify when compared with the light sets coming out of China nowadays.

I had 4 (or maybe 6) of your drivers a couple of years ago; I tried the 670mA ones and then the more powerful ones (were they 840?) in my Lumicycle cans. The higher current ones were too much for the housing & they overheated, which I think you warned me might be a real possibility.
But the 670's are still running fine.

Where were you listing the drivers? ebay? I looked there occasionally for your drivers, when I realised that I should probably look at doing a new version of my original conversion, but could never find them.

To be honest, I looked at refreshing some battery packs I've got recently with new batteries as mine are getting quite tired. But, even that looks like it will be more expensive than just buying whole new packs and chucking the originals in the bin. The batteries from a reputable source look like they'd cost more than just buying a ready made set.

I rarely post my videos on forums other than MTBR but I'm going to coyly post this one. It covers how to buy cheap Chinese lights. Personally I would spend more and go for the Fenix or Magicshine, they offer great quality per £££

[url=

Shameless plug, here's all of my light reviews in one place. [url=

Light reviews[/url]

I have helmet mounted my bt21 and although i have used the small rubber oring i would like it to be more sturdy as it seems the rubber on the bottom of the light isn't that grippy when on the mount. Its ok and should be alright but i think there is a chance it might just start slipping, any idea?

One day I'll get around to fitting a GoPro mount to my helmet and then screw a bit onto the bottom of my light to fit.

There's a link to a US guy who makes them, but also you could modify a cheap mount from GearBest/DX/etc.

I also saw stem-cap replacements with a GoPro mount on top. Seemed like a good idea to me.

Im on the look out for some lights for my commute, never done a winter commute before so need front and rear.

Any reccomendations? USB rechargeable for both and something to light up an unlit cycle path for about 10-15 minutes.

Thanks. 🙂

Watching with interest.

Im on the look out for some lights for my commute, never done a winter commute before so need front and rear.

Any reccomendations? USB rechargeable for both and something to light up an unlit cycle path for about 10-15 minutes.

Thanks.

[url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smart-700-Lumen-Front-light/dp/B00MMPH16M/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1441891938&sr=1-1&keywords=smart+700+lumen+usb+front+light ]This thing rocks[/url]

- my go to commute light and I carry it as backup for mtb .. it's bright enough on high to use for mtb as a main more or less anywhere. All in one design too, it's great value.

Just got a solarstorm xt40 and 2 18650 battery boxes from gearbest. Fast turn around. Got 8 efest 2600mah 18650 batteries and nitecore intellicharger i4 v2 off torchy from ebay. See how they go, got a old solarstorm x2 might have a look for a helmet mount?

Thread bump

BT70 ordered from Gearbest on 5th September arrived yesterday.
Initial thoughts. Woah! That's bright!
Not used it in anger yet.

NiteFighter BT21 arrived a few days ago from Gearbest. Everything suggests quality. The beam has a very wide throw with no hot spot

This thing rocks

- my go to commute light and I carry it as backup for mtb .. it's bright enough on high to use for mtb as a main more or less anywhere. All in one design too, it's great value.

Thanks for that! Awesome light fair play. Bought that and a Moon Shield rear light for 55 quid. Well happy with that.

Welcome 🙂 - I'm just off to buy a BT21, don't need one but all this raving 😀

Does the gearbest website render like a 5 year old coded it for everyone, or is it just me?

Stumpy - They were listed on eBay up until a couple of months ago when I pulled the listings. It seemed that paying to have them listed and getting no sales was counter-productive. I might try again - might as well do something to try and shift the stock as the components are bought and paid for so even if I just cover costs that is better than writing it off.

First ride last night with the BT70 and it's good!

Didn't bother with a helmet light as I knew I'd get 3/4 of the ride done in daylight/twilight but the last descent with just the BT70 on the bars was more than fine. Turbo is bright 😀

Much brighter than the MTB Batteries light I've used on the bars for the last year or so.

Seems very well made too, a step-up from the other Chinese lights I've bought and used. Carry case with all of the accessories etc. is a nice touch as well.

My Hunk Lee battery just arrived.
Looks good - I also bought a reliable-looking charger at the same time as it was cheap. Nice thick wire, but haven't seen the wire on the BT70 to compare.

Will be using it tonight.
I went for this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321320198129

a) because it has panasonic cells
b) because according to reports, higher capacity cells are great individually, but often discharge unevenly, so that 2S2P packs can often perform under-spec.

[img] [/img]

What is the difference between the 'full package' and the 'simple set' on the nitefighter bt70? ta

Simple set is just the light unit and mounts. Full package means you get that plus battery pack, charger etc.

Gearbest now doing alu GoPro mounts for the BT21/40s/70 for a quid, that seals the deal so a BT40s package and some mounting stuff all on their way.

Just received a Yinding light set from Gearbest, never had a proper bikelight before just used some Cree flashlights like the old fenix ones.

So far very impressed the light even on the low setting is good enough for riding at a normal pace off road and on trickier sections med was fine most of the time.

The light seems pretty well constructed and most reviews seem to rate the battery pack that comes with them as being fine for the money.
Definitely a highly rated budget light unit.

The fact that high-profile fabricators like Troutie have moved on as well tells you that the DIY scene is practically dead now.

Just started using one of these bought for £42 on Ebay and am very pleased with it.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/lights/front/product/review-one23-ex-bright-1000-front-light-12-46582/

how do you know what rechargeable batteries fit what lights when going down the china / ebay route? i've got a magicshine battery (and light) and want to connect a front and/or rear light to it, but not sure what connections would go with what - is there a way to tell?

Hunk Lee battery performed as well as hoped - BT21 3 hours on mid setting and the light only moved onto the second led colour (blue out of 4) for the last descent.

Really pleased.

Edit: I should say that previously with the solarstorm battery case and 4xkeeppower 3100mAh batteries, I always had the problem that one battery would discharge before the others so runtime would be limited (about half that of the Hink Lee Panasonic)

Sounds good Alex. Have you tried it with BT70 yet?

I didn't get a BT70 in the end - I cancelled after reading that I wouldn't able to use my existing battery pack (which is obviously now moot). A friend has just ordered the full BT70 package though so I may have a test soon.

can anyone recommend a case for the 4 x 18650 batteries ?? - ive got the generic solarstorm style one which I bought last year and was out on the 1st night ride last night, the light was switching off on every bump... very frustrating!...I put the issue down to the case as when tightened up it would intermittently come back on - and ive got 4 x genuine panasonic batteries

I've looked on ebay and they all look the same and seem to come out of the same factory - so should I just get another or is anyone using another case or setup to house there batteries?

any advice appreciated

Do you have the original solarstorm case (with the springs at the bottom and fixed contacts in the cap)? If so I pulled out the silicone seal in the cap and trimmed out around the batteries, just leaving the edge in place to keep the case water tight. I think it is too thick and stops the batteries making proper contact in the cap. This can also cause the problem Alex mentions of batteries discharging unevenly.

I've got the original solarstorm case but the springs are in the top cap that unscrews and the fixed contacts are in the bottom of the main case.

The battery stickers had worn off and I accidentally put the battery's in the wrong way around so am wondering if something has shorted in the case - but it does seem to be an similar issue as you have described

For info, Gearbest delivering around 14 days. Torch arrived yesterday, BT40s package on a separate order should be here in the next couple of days.

First ride out on the bt21 full package and i was very impressed. Things to note are that the light seems a bit more yellow than my magicshine which is odd but i think it may just clash with that light. It was hard to tell when it was on turbo mode as there wasnt any great step up from high mode, yet again that could be down to the other light. These are very very small details and shouldnt put people off buying them plus it wasnt really a good ride for lights.

I received my SSX3 from Gearbest yesterday and it was spot on last night.

First time I have purchased a SS and it's been genuine (retail box, no screws in faceplate and correct connector in the rear)

For the price it's a bargain, I also picked up a 6 cell battery pack to use with it.

X2 on lid and X3 on bars, looking forward to testing it out in the night enduro at Degla 😀

First ride with the nitefighter BT40 last night, pretty disappointed.

Light is a lot yellower than anything else I've used, and doesn't have the penetration to be good enough as a helmet light, lagging way behind my 3 year old lumenator and the DIY LED upgraded Lumis from even longer ago.

Consigned to commuting duties, although one positive is that the battery is the same connection as the lumenator, so it'll make for a spare at the puffer.

The yellowness is the new neutral white LEDs. Appear less bright but more definition apparently. Will get completely lost if paired with a bright white older bar light.

The MTBR lot use the 40s as a bar light because it has low throw, and the long throw 21 on the lid. I prefer a torch on the lid so have gone for a Convoy S3 XM-L2. Can't test em till my 40s turns up.

If it gets lost paired with an older white LED, it's pretty pish for night riding with mates then.

It is a more 'natural' looking light, but I was hoping for a narrower beam, that's all.

BT40s turned up and looks good.

BT21 didn't although ordered at same time. I emailed them last night and they say they're having stock problems but expect them within 7 days so hopefully not too long. Build quality looks superb for the price.

Went to the dales last night and gave the bt21 a good test. I can confirm just like nobeerinthefridge says above that it does emit a yellowy light that does get lost with my magicshine light. Not really a problem as the magicshine is on the bar illuminating the path and 21 on the lid shining on everything else. I got used to it after a while but i might just buy another 21 (headunit only at £15) as it fits my magicshine battery and see what its like with 2 neutral white lights.

the bt21 is £26.81 now

I've splashed out on a set of Torchys BK 7even. Apparently 3300 lumen with decent run times.

£80, but after a few runs using them they seem good value compared to my mates £25 2500 lumen ebay specials which die after about two hours without warning

What lightweight 18650 battery torch is the current fave for your helmet?
My current one has died. Would prefer a spot and not too heavy.

What lightweight 18650 battery torch is the current fave for your helmet?
My current one has died. Would prefer a spot and not too heavy.

I use a Convoy C8 XM-L2 T6 (depending on your bar light you might want a U2) with a smooth reflector. It has a great spot with a neutral tint and the throw is fantastic.
You can configure it to have low, medium and high modes (eliminating the flashing modes).
It's not the most compact torch, but it fits neatly to my helmet using a couple of Go-Pro mounts.
Performs brilliantly and I don't notice the weight on my helmet.
It compliments my BT40S bar light a treat.
For the £8.80 that it cost me from Gear Best it was a bargain (it's a little bit more pricey now).

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_188779.html

I thought this would be the best place to post this rather than start a new thread.

I had a quick look on the C and B seen website which has recently been updated.

I noticed they now do some very nice looking multiple led lights with optics and nice large capacity batteries. They come with the new(ish) XP-L emitters

[url= http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/product-1900-lumen-bike-light-kit.html ]1900 Lumen bike light[/url]

[url= http://www.candb-seen.co.uk/product-3000-lumen-bike-light-kit.html ]3000 lumen bike light[/url]

Obviously not as cheap as Nitefighter lights but they do come with newer emitters and C and B seen offer excellent after service.

Whats the difference between these BT40s on Gearbest?

http://www.gearbest.com/bicycling-gear/pp_180805.html

and

http://www.gearbest.com/bicycling-gear/pp_182282.html

My guess is just head of unit.

No battery! lol.

I have narrowed my choice down to three models.

Hope R8 - £240
Exposure Maxx D - £310
Exposure 6 pack - £350

I have a solarstorm X2 currently.

Any one owned any or all of these and can steer me? Hope is a fair chunk cheaper at the moment.

I keep looking at getting new batteries for my Spokeshirts light that I bought about 5 years ago and building myself up a new battery.

But, looking up there at the lights that Kamenev mentions via c&bseen - a 1900 lumen light with decent battery from a UK supplier for <£60. It's hardly worth the effort of doing it myself!

hi, I have a hope vision 2 circa 2008 and the charger has bust. Its a 'push fit' charger - "two cells Li charger - model: CLI021A00144"

Can anyone suggest a decent value replacement? The only direct replacement I can see is a hope branded one from Jejames for £20.