Cateye strikes back

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Theres been some discussion about the EL-300's worth on roads. I can now say that it certainly
does a good job on completely dark roads. Mine lit up the road about 5 meters in front of me and
to the sides and several cars going the other way actually flashed their lights at me to make me
turn it down. Since that would mean turning it off I just flashed them back. Easy to do with the
swivel mount.

So I'm quite happy. It only sucks in halflit conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of
oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is too low to see the road or path properly.

Until I returned from my holiday, I was able to use my EL-300 as my primary light source to commute
to work. It was adequate to start the ride and by the time I arrived at work some 25 minutes later,
the Sun was up and I did not need it.

By the first week in September, sunrise was late enough for those of us in the lower lattitudes,
that the EL-300 was no longer up to task. I have now installed my SON wheel on my Giro and my
lumotec now provides adequate lighting to ge me to work.

For me, adequate lighting means that I need enough light to see 3 seconds in front of me to avoid
obstacles that might be in my path. At 30 kph, I need the route illuminated at least 22m ahead. As
you can see by your estimates, 5m is not enough unless you are happy traveling 7-8 kph.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

A negative note regarding the EL-300 - When I went over a rough spot in the road the other day the
mounting bracket broke right off the housing causing the light to drop to the ground. The light
still works, but can not be repaired for mounting on the bracket again as glue would not be strong
enough at all.

WBK

"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Theres been some discussion about the EL-300's worth on roads. I can now say that it certainly
does a good job on completely dark roads. Mine lit up the road about 5 meters in front of me and
to the sides and

several cars

Quoted message said:

going the other way actually flashed their lights at me to make me turn it

down.

Quoted message said:

Since that would mean turning it off I just flashed them back. Easy to do with the swivel mount.

So I'm quite happy. It only sucks in halflit conditions where you got

streetlamps

Quoted message said:

or lots of oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is too low to see the road

or path

Quoted message said:

properly.

Mikael

"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Theres been some discussion about the EL-300's worth on roads. I can now say that it certainly
does a good job on completely dark roads. Mine lit up the road about 5 meters in front of me and
to the sides and several cars going the other way actually flashed their lights at me to make me
turn it down. Since that would mean turning it off I just flashed them back. Easy to do with the
swivel mount.

So I'm quite happy. It only sucks in halflit conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of
oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is too low to see the road or path properly.

Mikael

********************************

I agree with you, Mikael, I have one and this is how I would rate mine.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>>

It only sucks in halflit conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of oncoming cars. Then the
lightlevel is too low to see the road or path properly.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>>>

Of course, my car doesn't do real well in halflit conditions either.
:-)

Lewis.

"Cletus Lee" skrev

Quoted message said:

For me, adequate lighting means that I need enough light to see 3 seconds in front of me to avoid
obstacles that might be in my path. At 30 kph, I need the route illuminated at least 22m ahead. As
you can see by your estimates, 5m is not enough unless you are happy traveling 7-8 kph.

Well its a guesstimate. I didnt get the tapemeasure out. Anyway I was probably going 30 kph and had
no problems. Thats the advantage of being (semi)young and stup... have good reflexes I mean. But
yes, a SON hub is probably the best you can get if you dont want to recharge batteries each night.
But I dont commute anyway.

Mikael 24C here today. The greenhouse effect can be a good thing.

I've heard rumors that in the Netherlands, the greenhouses are quite effective! "Mikael Seierup"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" skrev

Quoted message said:

For me, adequate lighting means that I need enough light to see 3

seconds in front of me to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

avoid obstacles that might be in my path. At 30 kph, I need the route

illuminated at least 22m

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ahead. As you can see by your estimates, 5m is not enough unless you are

happy traveling 7-8

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

kph.

Well its a guesstimate. I didnt get the tapemeasure out. Anyway I was probably going 30 kph and
had no problems. Thats the advantage of being (semi)young and stup... have good reflexes I

mean.

Quoted message said:

But yes, a SON hub is probably the best you can get if you dont want to

recharge

Quoted message said:

batteries each night. But I dont commute anyway.

Mikael 24C here today. The greenhouse effect can be a good thing.

I use LED lights exclusively! My 18 LED red is very annoying to cars behind me, they switch lanes.
For REAL light out of the front, I had to build some lights but they work well. Those 5mm LEDs can't
touch Luxeon 1.25 watt or 5 watt LEDs, not even close. On my helmet is a Q ranked Luxeon (31 to 39
lumens at stock 350mA drive) it is regulated at 400mA and will soon have Fraen custom optics to
eliminate the side spill. The stock optics work at speeds up to 11-12 MPH (18-20 KPH) The new ones
should go to 15MPH (25KPH) It is nice to look at drivers and they truely see me. That brilliant
white (looks slightly bluish in yellow street lights) great stuff. For the frame, things got a lot
more complicated. Grabbed a 2D Maglight and filed down the reflector and installed an aluminum disk
for a heatsink. Mounted a 800mA regulator under the heatsink off to the side and a R ranked Luxeon
LED (rated at 39-52 lumens at stock 350mA drive) Checked it out and it is driven at 2.9 watts
(3.7VDC x.8A) With the reflector, it will throw a beam over 100 meters with no problem. I adjusted
it so I can cruise at 20MPH ( 33 KPH) and hit the brakes and stop before I run out of beam. The beam
is only about a meter wide but that is all I need. The helmet light takes care of the wider beam I
need for close up. The helmet light/frame light setup works better than my wildest dreams. If you
are going to build your own, the Luxeons to get for the 1.25 watt class are rated as R rank. Q ranks
work very well also as that is what is on my helmet light. My Brinkmann Legend 2AA helmet light runs
about 2 to 2.5 hours on a set of AA batteries, the 2D Mag eats a set in 7 to 8 hours. I bolt the 2D
on for the winter commute and the 2AA light stays mounted on my helmet year round...nice not to get
stuck in the dark and the 2AA is very light. Look Ma! No battery packs! A buddy of mine uses the
Cateye LED light and he was [censored] when my 2AA light just utterly destroyed his light in output. The
2AA runs at 1.4 watts so the 1/5 watt output of his Cateye can be explained. The R ranked Luxeon in
the 2D Mag running at 2.9 watts is insane, the beam is narrow but I wanted throw. To build the
Brinkmann Legend 2AA regulated Luxeon light, go here!
anlighten.comdefault.phpOpen ↗ 67a9a1cb8e12776f

Get the Badboy 400 Q3L "sandwich" and gut a Brinkmann Legend 2AA and put it together. Takes a minute
or two to complete the modification. I have Fraen low profile optics on order to concentrate the
light into a brighter and larger hotspot with no side spill. Let you guys know how well it works.
The Badboy 400 Q3L costs $45 and a Brinkmann Legend 2AA runs $10 at REI. While you are at it, get
the mineral glass lens for the Brinkmann on Wayne's site, $1.50 for the glass. The thing will also
fit in a minimag 2AA but the Brinkmann is better in that it has a tailswitch and thicker aluminum to
draw the heat away. The minimag gets too hot and requires a $4.50 Kroll tailswitch to turn it on and
off. Don't want needless wear on the sandwich by twisting the head. Around $63 for a Brinkmann 2AA
Badboy 400 Q3L with lens glass is not exactly cheap, it is nice to know that the LED won't burn out,
the light will stay a regulated smooth brightness and it is light for what it does. Heck, you can
actually take it off and use it as a flashlight. Sorry for the long explaination, building your own
takes some words to explain. If you thought this was bad, ask about how to build a 2D Mag Madmax+
R2H.

John H LEDs lighting up the night in N TX

[email hidden] (BentHeadSWB) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

anlighten.comdefault.phpOpen ↗ fe0 67a9a1cb8e12776f

also check-out:

elektrolumens.comFor Sale.htmlOpen ↗ theledlight.comdcbulbs.htmlOpen ↗
borderline-lighting.comborderline-lighting.comOpen ↗ superbrightleds.comled prods.htmOpen ↗

--

May all beings be happy. May they be joyous and live in safety. All living beings, whether weak or
strong, in high or middle or low realms of existence, small or great, visible or invisible, near or
far, born or to be born, Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in any state; Let none by
anger or hatred wish harm to another. Even as a mother at the risk of her life watches over and
protects her only child, so with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,

Sooo..........how do you build a 2D Mag Madmax+R2H?

Quoted message said:

Sorry for the long explaination, building your own takes some words

to

Quoted message said:

explain. If you thought this was bad, ask about how to build a 2D Mag

Madmax+

Quoted message said:

R2H.

John H LEDs lighting up the night in N TX

Quoted message said:

I agree with you, Mikael, I have one and this is how I would rate mine. It only sucks in halflit
conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is too low to
see the road or path properly.

This has been my experience. I dislike having to buy expensive batteries for my halogen, which in
all honesty did NOT do as good a job as the EL-300. The EL-300 has a wider beam which is more useful
to me. I don't ride fast, generlaly 15-17mph, on my daily commute and have never felt like I was
over-running my light. I have few chuck holes or debris to worry about though. I last put batteries
in my EL-300 early last dark season. I used it last night as a flashlight because it puts out more
light than my 2-cell flashlight.

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light, considering.

I also have 5 LED greenish-white blinking light in front, and several blinky red LEDs in the rear.

What LED helmet light are you using? Where did you get it?

Thanks, Bruce

[email hidden] (GeoB) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I agree with you, Mikael, I have one and this is how I would rate mine. It only sucks in halflit
conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is too low to
see the road or path properly.

This has been my experience. I dislike having to buy expensive batteries for my halogen, which in
all honesty did NOT do as good a job as the EL-300. The EL-300 has a wider beam which is more
useful to me. I don't ride fast, generlaly 15-17mph, on my daily commute and have never felt like
I was over-running my light. I have few chuck holes or debris to worry about though. I last put
batteries in my EL-300 early last dark season. I used it last night as a flashlight because it
puts out more light than my 2-cell flashlight.

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light,
considering.

I also have 5 LED greenish-white blinking light in front, and several blinky red LEDs in the rear.

[email hidden] (BruceW) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What LED helmet light are you using? Where did you get it?

Thanks, Bruce

[email hidden] (GeoB) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I agree with you, Mikael, I have one and this is how I would rate mine. It only sucks in
halflit conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is
too low to see the road or path properly.

This has been my experience. I dislike having to buy expensive batteries for my halogen, which in
all honesty did NOT do as good a job as the EL-300. The EL-300 has a wider beam which is more
useful to me. I don't ride fast, generlaly 15-17mph, on my daily commute and have never felt like
I was over-running my light. I have few chuck holes or debris to worry about though. I last put
batteries in my EL-300 early last dark season. I used it last night as a flashlight because it
puts out more light than my 2-cell flashlight.

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light,
considering.

I also have 5 LED greenish-white blinking light in front, and several blinky red LEDs in
the rear.

I think if he doesn't feel unsafe at 15-17mph with an 300, I think he's got more streetlights
that I do....

MLB <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I think if he doesn't feel unsafe at 15-17mph with an 300, I think he's got more streetlights that
I do....

Or maybe better night vision,eh?

-- R May all beings be happy. May they be joyous and live in safety. All living beings, whether weak
or strong, in high or middle or low realms of existence, small or great, visible or invisible, near
or far, born or to be born, Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in any state; Let none
by anger or hatred wish harm to another. Even as a mother at the risk of her life watches over and
protects her only child, so with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,

rorschandt <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

MLB <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I think if he doesn't feel unsafe at 15-17mph with an 300, I think he's got more streetlights
that I do....

Or maybe better night vision,eh?

-- R May all beings be happy. May they be joyous and live in safety. All living beings, whether
weak or strong, in high or middle or low realms of existence, small or great, visible or
invisible, near or far, born or to be born, Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in
any state; Let none by anger or hatred wish harm to another. Even as a mother at the risk of her
life watches over and protects her only child, so with a boundless mind should one cherish all
living things,

oh man, and I eat a bag of carrots every week!

MLB must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (BruceW) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

What LED helmet light are you using? Where did you get it?

Thanks, Bruce

[email hidden] (GeoB) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

> I agree with you, Mikael, I have one and this is how I would rate mine. It only sucks in
> halflit conditions where you got streetlamps or lots of oncoming cars. Then the lightlevel is
> too low to see the road or path properly.

This has been my experience. I dislike having to buy expensive batteries for my halogen, which
in all honesty did NOT do as good a job as the EL-300. The EL-300 has a wider beam which is more
useful to me. I don't ride fast, generlaly 15-17mph, on my daily commute and have never felt
like I was over-running my light. I have few chuck holes or debris to worry about though. I last
put batteries in my EL-300 early last dark season. I used it last night as a flashlight because
it puts out more light than my 2-cell flashlight.

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light,
considering.

I also have 5 LED greenish-white blinking light in front, and several blinky red LEDs in
the rear.

I think if he doesn't feel unsafe at 15-17mph with an 300, I think he's got more streetlights that
I do....

Remember that in streetlight areas your eyes adjust to reduce the glare of the lights, of course
this means that other light sources appear dimmer and areas of darkness seem darker.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Remember that in streetlight areas your eyes adjust to reduce the glare of the lights, of course
this means that other light sources appear dimmer and areas of darkness seem darker.

interesting

I found the lack of focused beam of light on the EL-300 distracting. They was no beam to direct
where you wanted the most information about. And, the diffused light illuminated my feet all too
well. It was hard to see the road for the distraction of my moving feet with the light mount on my
trike so near the bottom bracket. Next summer, I will go back to a cheaper more focused beam of
light for my night riding.

Gary McCarty, Greenspeed GTO, Salt Lake City

"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Theres been some discussion about the EL-300's worth on roads. I can now say that it certainly
does a good job on completely dark roads. Mine lit up the road about 5 meters in front of me and
to the sides and several cars going the other way actually flashed their lights at me to make me
turn it down. Since that would mean turning it off I just flashed them back.

Quoted message said:

What LED helmet light are you using? Where did you get it? Bruce

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light,
considering.

I happen to have it in my hand, and it is a Astro LED. It is silver, kinda shaped like a engine
nacelle on a 707 and has three LED's in a cluster in the middle of the reflector. It says "go to
www.specialized.com for more info", so I'd guess they built it. Cost
23.99 at my LBS. In case I fasten it to my helmet permanently, the front screws off to give access
to the batteries. It is fairly small and light, uses 4 'AA' batteries. Nothing special, but the
sleek shape and racey color easily adds 3-4mph I'd say :-)

Quoted message said:

What LED helmet light are you using? Where did you get it? Bruce

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I also have a different brand 3 LED helmet light, throws an impressive amount of light,
considering.

I happen to have it in my hand, and it is a Astro LED. It is silver, kinda shaped like a engine
nacelle on a 707 and has three LED's in a cluster in the middle of the reflector. It says go to
www.specialized.com for more info, so I'd guess they built it. Cost
23.99 at my LBS. In case I fasten it to my helmet permanently, the front screws off to give access
to the batteries. It is fairly small and light, uses 4 'AA' batteries. Nothing special, but the
sleek shape and racey color easily adds 3-4mph I'd say :-)