| |
Main
Date: 23 Mar 2007 04:57:25
From: DougC
Subject: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
I saw one of these somewhere, it had a separate battery pack and a rear
red LED as a "tail light" (I think this was the DiNotte)....
This seemed like a great idea but when I actually went looking for them
online, all I could find were very expensive setups--HID type-stuff,
costing $200-$500. And you could buy a helmet-mount for an extra $15 or
$20.
For what night riding I do, I get along just fine with a 1W LED Cateye
EL500 (cost=$50), but a helmet-lamp would be a pretty useful addition.
Does anyplace that ships to the US make a similar [self-contained]
helmet-mount lamp?
Or alternately, is there some secret really-good way to attach a
[cheaper] normal handlebar light to a vented MTB-style helmet. I have a
feeling this may be the only ultimate solution, but can't immediately
think of any really good way to do it.
~
|
|
| |
Date: 23 Mar 2007 18:17:43
From: nash
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
"DougC" <dcimper@norcom2000.com > wrote in message
news:0wNMh.157$8N5.20@newsfe06.lga...
>I saw one of these somewhere, it had a separate battery pack and a rear red
>LED as a "tail light" (I think this was the DiNotte)....
>
> This seemed like a great idea but when I actually went looking for them
> online, all I could find were very expensive setups--HID type-stuff,
> costing $200-$500. And you could buy a helmet-mount for an extra $15 or
> $20.
>
> For what night riding I do, I get along just fine with a 1W LED Cateye
> EL500 (cost=$50), but a helmet-lamp would be a pretty useful addition.
> Does anyplace that ships to the US make a similar [self-contained]
> helmet-mount lamp?
>
> Or alternately, is there some secret really-good way to attach a [cheaper]
> normal handlebar light to a vented MTB-style helmet. I have a feeling this
> may be the only ultimate solution, but can't immediately think of any
> really good way to do it.
MEC has a $3 and $3.50 turtle white and red led and also sell the attachment
for the helmut.
another $3 or $4. It may not be bright enough for you though. Has 3 flash
modes.
Different colors. headband now too
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692875&bmUID=1174673756827
they ship everywhere.
|
| |
Date: 23 Mar 2007 06:43:24
From: SMS
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
DougC wrote:
> I saw one of these somewhere, it had a separate battery pack and a rear
> red LED as a "tail light" (I think this was the DiNotte)....
>
> This seemed like a great idea but when I actually went looking for them
> online, all I could find were very expensive setups--HID type-stuff,
> costing $200-$500. And you could buy a helmet-mount for an extra $15 or
> $20.
>
> For what night riding I do, I get along just fine with a 1W LED Cateye
> EL500 (cost=$50), but a helmet-lamp would be a pretty useful addition.
> Does anyplace that ships to the US make a similar [self-contained]
> helmet-mount lamp?
Cateye says that their EL120 and EL410 can mount to a helmet.
"http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/341"
Planet Bike has a $10 helmet mount rear lamp.
http://ecom1.planetbike.com/3010.html (stores sell it for $10)
|
| | |
Date: 30 Mar 2007 18:12:07
From: DougC
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
SMS wrote:
>
> Cateye says that their EL120 and EL410 can mount to a helmet.
> "http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/341"
>
I didn't see any EL120 on the website.
I got a EL410 and it doesn't really attach very well, and it isn't
really bright enough anyway. It's only a 3-AAA light but the problem (I
think) is that it uses three LEDs with plastic lenses in front of them,
instead of using a single LED in a proper full reflector. It attaches
just fine to a handlebar, but not to anywhere on my helmet.
I'll have to look around and re-think this matter further.
I didn't really want to bother with a $200+ external battery unit, but
it looks like that may be the only practical option.
~
|
| | | |
Date: 31 Mar 2007 22:21:52
From: SMS
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
DougC wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>>
>> Cateye says that their EL120 and EL410 can mount to a helmet.
>> "http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/341"
>>
>
> I didn't see any EL120 on the website.
> I got a EL410 and it doesn't really attach very well, and it isn't
> really bright enough anyway. It's only a 3-AAA light but the problem (I
> think) is that it uses three LEDs with plastic lenses in front of them,
> instead of using a single LED in a proper full reflector.
Yes, that's the problem with most of the el-cheapo LED lights. I always
laugh when I see these flashlights with a gazillion LEDs, since a single
1W Luxeon LED, properly focused, is far brighter.
The Princeton Tec EOS uses a 1W LED and comes with a helmet
mount and handlebar mount. It's $29.99 from Amazon, with free shipping,
$39.99 most other places, see
"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O6XE12/sanfrancisc0b-20"
Considering that a 1W Luxeon flashlight sells for $10, that's pretty
expensive, but you're paying for the mounting system.
|
| | | | |
Date: 31 Mar 2007 15:20:25
From: DougC
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
SMS wrote:
>
> Yes, that's the problem with most of the el-cheapo LED lights. I always
> laugh when I see these flashlights with a gazillion LEDs, since a single
> 1W Luxeon LED, properly focused, is far brighter.
>
> The Princeton Tec EOS uses a 1W LED and comes with a helmet
> mount and handlebar mount. It's $29.99 from Amazon, with free shipping,
> $39.99 most other places, see
> "http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O6XE12/sanfrancisc0b-20"
>
> Considering that a 1W Luxeon flashlight sells for $10, that's pretty
> expensive, but you're paying for the mounting system.
I may do a home-built. A $12 CREE led on a cheapo flashlight head, run
off a $20 rechargeable battery pack. A cree run at ~1.5W would do just
fine for me.
All these expensive HID systems have 10W or 15W HID lamps, I don't need
that much light,,, and,,, I don't wanna pay their prices.
I'm still looking for a way to get two or three different power levels
for it, though.
~
|
| | | |
Date: 31 Mar 2007 15:17:45
From: nash
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
I'll have to look around and re-think this matter further.
I didn't really want to bother with a $200+ external battery unit, but
it looks like that may be the only practical option.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
That would be unspeakable to use in Surrey. Would not last 5 seconds left
alone.
|
| | | |
Date: 31 Mar 2007 15:16:21
From: nash
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
MEC's new turtle is $9.50 and is double the brightness. In fact I think you
can now put two on the front adapter for the helmut. Works for back and
front. I have mine their permaneantly and use that helmut whenever I am out
at dusk.
All tolled an easy $20/30 with tax. Oh most importantly they are now water
proof.
Do not knock it cause of how cheap until you tried it. :)
|
| | | | |
Date: 31 Mar 2007 08:35:18
From: Bill Sornson
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
nash wrote:
> All tolled an easy $20/30 with tax.
"All tolled", Gracie? Good one.
Bill "intentional...right?" S.
|
| | | |
Date: 30 Mar 2007 23:36:26
From: Bill
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
DougC wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>>
>> Cateye says that their EL120 and EL410 can mount to a helmet.
>> "http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/341"
>>
>
> I didn't see any EL120 on the website.
> I got a EL410 and it doesn't really attach very well, and it isn't
> really bright enough anyway. It's only a 3-AAA light but the problem (I
> think) is that it uses three LEDs with plastic lenses in front of them,
> instead of using a single LED in a proper full reflector. It attaches
> just fine to a handlebar, but not to anywhere on my helmet.
>
> I'll have to look around and re-think this matter further.
> I didn't really want to bother with a $200+ external battery unit, but
> it looks like that may be the only practical option.
> ~
>
Buy a Cat Eye Opticube HL-EL300 and tape it to the helmet. It has 5 LEDs
and uses 4 AA batteries. You get good light output for a while on
alkalines so I just dropped down to rechargable NiMh. I get a little
less light but it lasts longer and you can buy 10 batteries and a
charger for a little over $20.00. With the Cat Eye at $30.00 you won't
be sinking a lot of money into something that might not work the way you
want.
Besides, the light makes a very handy flashlight when not in bike use.
Bill Baka
|
| |
Date: 23 Mar 2007 08:33:01
From: Peter Cole
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
DougC wrote:
> I saw one of these somewhere, it had a separate battery pack and a rear
> red LED as a "tail light" (I think this was the DiNotte)....
>
> This seemed like a great idea but when I actually went looking for them
> online, all I could find were very expensive setups--HID type-stuff,
> costing $200-$500. And you could buy a helmet-mount for an extra $15 or
> $20.
>
> For what night riding I do, I get along just fine with a 1W LED Cateye
> EL500 (cost=$50), but a helmet-lamp would be a pretty useful addition.
> Does anyplace that ships to the US make a similar [self-contained]
> helmet-mount lamp?
>
> Or alternately, is there some secret really-good way to attach a
> [cheaper] normal handlebar light to a vented MTB-style helmet. I have a
> feeling this may be the only ultimate solution, but can't immediately
> think of any really good way to do it.
> ~
See the recent thread in rec.bicycles.tech (1W Luxeon).
|
| |
Date: 23 Mar 2007 11:03:59
From: Ron Hardin
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
DougC wrote:
>
> I saw one of these somewhere, it had a separate battery pack and a rear
> red LED as a "tail light" (I think this was the DiNotte)....
>
> This seemed like a great idea but when I actually went looking for them
> online, all I could find were very expensive setups--HID type-stuff,
> costing $200-$500. And you could buy a helmet-mount for an extra $15 or
> $20.
>
> For what night riding I do, I get along just fine with a 1W LED Cateye
> EL500 (cost=$50), but a helmet-lamp would be a pretty useful addition.
> Does anyplace that ships to the US make a similar [self-contained]
> helmet-mount lamp?
>
> Or alternately, is there some secret really-good way to attach a
> [cheaper] normal handlebar light to a vented MTB-style helmet. I have a
> feeling this may be the only ultimate solution, but can't immediately
> think of any really good way to do it.
> ~
The 1W single-led forehead-strap-mounted things offer nice additional light
where you need it, about $40. Also useful in the house when the power goes out,
or when you have to refill the generator at night.
It's very nice when you're in the high beams of some oncoming car to be able to
see the edge line of the road ahead off your right-front.
Avoid looking at oncoming traffic with it.
--
Ron Hardin
rhhardin@mindspring.com
On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.
|
| | |
Date: 23 Mar 2007 12:35:53
From: DougC
Subject: Re: What's a cheaper helmet-mounted headlight?
|
Ron Hardin wrote:
>
> The 1W single-led forehead-strap-mounted things offer nice additional light
> where you need it, about $40. Also useful in the house when the power goes out,
> or when you have to refill the generator at night.
>
> It's very nice when you're in the high beams of some oncoming car to be able to
> see the edge line of the road ahead off your right-front.
>
> Avoid looking at oncoming traffic with it.
I own a couple cheapies and have seen lots of these, some very cheap,
but I don't know how well they'd really work.
I can't wear one below a helmet, because I wear a sweatband.
And I've seen the Pelican Recoil headlamp in use ($60) and as a
spot-beam it's pretty impressive, but I don't know how well it would
attach to a helmet.
~
|
|
