On Thu, 27 Mar 2003 21:18:31 +1100, "Turbo.Fahel" <[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>
Quoted message said:Would you recommend the Vistalite and which one, the 5, 10 or 15w.
Given our pissweak dollar and local pricing in the Australian marketplace, IMO&E the various
Vistalite alternatives and their SRP arguably offer the optimum compromise of price vs performance
for most of us. I use and can confidently recommend them with the following caveats.
Taking into consideration your stated requirements. As you possibly already know, for riding on
lamplit roads (famil with Beverly Hills) or other areas saturated with light pollution, bicycle
front headlights really become semi-superfluous, and effectively act as a "what the!" attention
getter than being *required* by the rider to light the way.
For unlit bike path riding in the proverbial pitch black, IME&O a Vistalite of your choosing is an
ideal solution for those without an unlimited budget. ie: most of us. They are similarly effective
on unlit roads, although the speed at which you are riding will determine which wattage beam you
require to ensure you don't outride it.
As a guideline, for ambling along sub-20kph, properly adjusted, I find a (single) 5w projected beam
more than adequate. At around the 25kph, you're starting to outride it but can get by. ie: You'll
only spot the prominent rocks, holes or other unlit obstructions in time to alter track at that
speed. At 30kph, you're kidding yourself with 5w. A 10w or stronger is really required. 5, 10 or
15w, the beams all have excellent penetration, rather than diffusion. Combos work well, and can be
independently switched on and off for the prevailing conditions to maximise endurance.
Pretty obviously, for any 6v system the higher the globe wattage the brighter and more penetrating
the beam, the trade-off being less endurance per battery capacity, exponentially so. We'd all run
15w continuously if it wasn't for endurance constraints. Maximum endurance of a single 5w running on
a fully charged 2000mA nicad is stated at
2.2hrs. I find maximum practical risk of endurance to avoid overdischarging slightly less than this
at around 2hrs, and *effective* endurance closer to 1¾hrs per nicad. It's starting to dim and &
look pretty tired by the 2hr mark. Similarly Vistalight's specified 2.8hrs of a 5w from the 2200mA
NiMH is wishful thinking IME, and *effective* lighting being less than 2½hrs depending upon the
condition, age and maximum charge the battery will really accept. The latter cell conditional
caveat also applies to the nicads.
I have multiple Vistalite batteries and headlight units. That said, I prefer to run a single 5w
finding it more than adequate most of the time enjoying the safe *effective* 3½-4¼hrs endurance 5w
offers carrying just 2 compact slimline nicad/NiMH batteries. The problem I have with the 10w and
15w units becomes one of limited endurance vs the number of batteries you simultaneously need to
purchase, maintain, charge, and carry. If you were continuously running the higher wattages, NiMHs
(as supplied) and plenty of them, are a must.
For MTBing, IMO a combo of high and low wattage lamp units is definitely required which hits the
batteries (in continuous use) pretty hard. This is IM weenie night MTB experience offset by the
nature of night MTBing itself which is mentally and physically taxing leading to much shorter
endurance rides than you'll ordinarily do commuting, training or on bike path social night rides.
Vistalite strengths
-------------------
+ availability
+ PRICEpoint
+ portability - everything easily & quickly demountable
+ size - compact
+ weight - (relatively speaking)
+ availability of spare parts & replacement batteries
+ nicad or NiMH batteries available
+ 5, 10, 15w sealed globes available
+ can be used in multiples/wattage combo. Secondary switches etc available to facilitate this
+ reliable (IME)
+ robust (certainly will cop a physical hiding. I've witnessed some batteries continue to perform
despite woeful neglect from users.
+ battery mounting (doesn't occupy a water bottle cage; not slung from top tube or bars etc;
battery can be easily and compactly be carried in the supplied bracket, HydraPak pump pocket or
pump bracket.
+ headlight/helmet mounting - versatile alternatives
+ compact charger
Weaknesses and limitations
--------------------------
+ 6v system
+ endurance times with higher wattage globes
+ time to recharge - the battery units all have idiot proofed auto-resetting charge overload
protection. I haven't tried charging at higher rates myself, but presumably, this would limit
charging rates to around those spec. of the supplied chargers? The supplied chargers are 7.2v
300mA & 600mA for the nicad and NiMH units respectively. Battery fully charged capacities are
2000mA and 2200mA respectively. As can evidenced from this, practical time to ensure a full
recharge for a close to fully discharged battery (caution having been exercised not to over
discharge) is circa 7hrs for a nicad and 4½hrs for an NiMH unit.
+ more of a criticism than a weakness per se. Supplied chargers have no idiot light indication
indicating charging is even (a) taking place (eg: as per simple RC trickle chargers) and/or (b)
completed (as per eg: digital camera or mobile ph chargers). Relies upon feeling the transformer
for temp (yup it's charging) and gauging charge time.
+ replacement rain, dirt & mud rubber protective covers for battery jacks don't appear to be
available as a spare part item.
Iguana Bwana
