CliffordK

I know what you say about USB devices. Whew!!! And, I highly dislike the old USB-B (came out with the Android a few years ago). I chew up cables and devices, and have a few lights that are non-functional due to the connectors wearing out.

The Apple USB connectors appear to be more stable, and I have high hopes for the new USB-C. We'll see.

What ever happened to those old boxy shaped taillights that I was getting in the late 1980's and early 1990's? Twin AA batteries, and lasted forever.

Ahh, perhaps similar to this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Bicycle...d/182255580704



Unfortunately there isn't a good picture of the back. But, it does look like it has a good gasket, and is shipped from the USA.

andychrist

Clifford, Apple’s USB cords are really flimsy. All the ones that came with my iPads including the Lightning cable on a 2017 pro model gave way pretty quickly at the jack, there is not adequate reinforcement there. Replaced them all with cheap Chinese braided versions that last and last.

Ha that eBay blinkie is just like the many whose covers have littered all the highways I’ve ridden with them.

tomtomtom123

Well then, you could simply create a new account. It only takes 15 seconds.

andychrist

Tried that with my current email address, says sorry that account already exists.

Doesn’t really matter because they don’t ship to the USA anyway — every result on All Offers page shows International Shipping: Unavailable

kingston 

The Toplight Line Permanent is 35,95 € shipped to the US. Add the Ixon IQ premium to your order and you will have the best AA powered lighting setup money can buy for around eighty bucks. Or for $13 you can have one of the crappiest tail lights available, which doesn't come with a rack mount, so you will have to fabricate some way to attach it to your rack. Your choice obviously.

andychrist

Thanks for that link, kingston, but I’m certainly not splurging eighty bucks just so as not to waste a four pack of AA eneloops!

Already have dozens of USB and AAA blinkies which perform fine as well as half a dozen high power front lights in 4000K neutral white that can all outshine automotive headlamps. Am simply looking for the largest illuminating reflector possible as a backup, doesn’t matter if it isn’t bright.

The B&M takes only a single AA and its run time is 40 hours, no flash modes. Do appreciate its enormity though.

For a cheap crappy tail light, the Serfas Stop Sign gets surprisingly good reviews. Supports two AA batteries and its run time on Flash is 120 hours. I don’t care if it isn't easy to mount to a rack, will keep the 9.5cm reflector already screwed into to the Ibera and attach the SSS to my seat bag, where it will be fairly well insulated from road shock. Not exactly what I’d hoped for but a more than acceptable compromise.

mtbtrlrguy

Any bicycle retailer should have AA-battery powered lights in their inventory.

andychrist

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

andychrist

A little smaller than was led to believe from Amazon but total serfas area prolly about the same as the reflector already mounted to my Ibera disk rack.

Stratus XPC Planet Bike Grateful Red Serfas Stop Sign by andyXchrist, on Flickr

Quality is actually much better than expected. LEDs are blindingly bright. Red reflector cover snaps tight to the lamp body, which in kind clips securely to the heavy duty silicone O-ring mount that’s absolutely the best I’ve ever seen of its kind.

Would have liked an option to swivel 90º so as to be able to attach it to the back of my rack horizontally but at least it retains its symmetry in the vertical orientation. After a bit of reflection now think it looks more correct this way, not as cramped between the kitty litter panniers and sorta mirrors their own up and down rectangular shape.

So problem solved, I guess.

Wiggle

I too think an AA or AAx2 taillight is a great idea:
1. Each AA cell holds about 2.5 times as much energy as a AAA and the cost difference is minimal.
2. It keeps the ability to hot swap batteries. I can see why some people like USB tail lights but personally I value the option to swap in cells quickly rather than waiting for a charge to build up. Also the light lifetime is limited and then must be tossed away.