For some time I've had a hankering to try a LED front lamp. I recall
previous posts on this NG and elsewhere on the virtues of electrical
regulation to maximise battery life and optimise brightness. I lack
the skills for home-brew and had read that most of the ready-mades have
no regulation. So I bit the bullet and got myself an EverLED which, as
many here already know, is the well regarded 1W Luxeon Star LED and a
cunning regulator built into a standard PR bulb package.
Here's my impressions of it in my trusty Cateye HL-500 (no quantitative
measurements, so apologies in advance to number junkies).
Having read that it was more suitable for fixed focus lamps, I chose the
EverLED with the Lambertian emitter (i.e. the domed one, not the egg
timer one). They say it's rated at 1W, so I had no worries about
melting the lamp by replacing the Cateye's 1.25W halogen bulb.
Mechanically it really is a direct swap.
Despite using batteries that I would have replaced if still using the
halogen, there was a light sabre moment when I first flipped the switch.
But enough boyish glee.
Using it on my regular evening commute, the illumination on lit and
unlit roads was head and shoulders beyond what the original 1.25W
halogen bulb could do with fresh batteries. Later I compared the
illumination on unlit roads with that of my other bike's Dymotec 6 with
3W halogen B&M Lumotec Oval and things were less clear cut.
The EverLED was probably putting out a little more light that the B&M
but either its blue tint or the Cateye's optics didn't seem to make
things visible in quite the same way (or perhaps simply not quite as
visible). Beam spread from the Cateye was very good, making the verge
plain and still reaching far enough ahead for my usual moderate speeds,
though perhaps with a bit of a gap in the middle distance.
Back on lit streets I parked the bike at the kerb and walked away to
judge the lamp's 'being seen' quality. From any angle where I could see
the lens, the lamp showed up well and at all practical distances.
Interestingly it didn't look much bluer than those HID lamps that many
modern cars have. Maybe drivers will see it and think 'self' rather
than 'other'? Well, I can dream...
It's only been a few days but the lamp continues bright (on batteries
that were initially fading) suggesting that battery life will indeed be
very good.
So on balance I'm very pleased with the EverLED and relieved that it
works with the Cateye's reflector and lens. The EverLED isn't a cheap
bulb, but it's a good deal cheaper than the dynamo set on my other bike
and almost equals its abilities. It's easy to understand why some drool
over those 3W LED set-ups for dynamos from Solidlights. Now that would
be something!
Richard