tyrion

Yeah, not sure how I want to proceed. Ultimately, I want a dynamo system. In the meantime, I get by with this light.

Do you have a link to your larger battery pack?

Thanks.

noglider 

Some folks might be tired of hearing me say it, but I love my dynamo lights better than any battery light. I have them on the bike I ride the most. I also put them on both of my wife's bikes since she can't remember to charge batteries. She doesn't normally ride at night, but it's good for her to be prepared in case she finds herself out at night. Charging a tail light is no big deal, but a headlight is different, because it draws so much more power. I've often thought my headlight was properly charged when it quit mid-ride. It's a huge relief to know with fully certainty that my lights work every time I get on and roll the bike. I leave the switches in the "on" position. In the long run, it does not cost more than a battery powered light.

wphamilton

It was this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GDY3WSS but "currently unavailable"
but this is similar https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-.../dp/B01MSP9XE6 It's going to be cheap off-brand (maybe crappy) batteries but still, bigger than the one that comes with. You just have to be sure that the connectors match your light, not both male or both female, and that the light wants 8.4 volts. There are some strange ones, that look exactly the same, that use 5 volts.

PS, dynamo lights would be great if you don't mind the up-front cost, and it's kind of like making a commitment. Someone like me, I only run the lights when it's dark and this cheap stuff works great and lasts (when it doesn't die right away) so I'm 100% happy with the battery lights and cheap headlights like you have. I have a second one that I take off my road bike until winter and I use the original battery pack on that.

KraneXL

NR makes great lights. They're not prefect and expensive but built like a tank. The prefect light for off-roading types.

CliffordK

For those Chinese CREE lights, look up "Waterproof 8.4V battery pack" on E-Bay (or probably Amazon).

You'll find either hard plastic refillable battery cases, or hard plastic cases with batteries (that are sealed, and not openable).

Kapusta

CliffordK

Many of the Shimano hubs are hitting the market, at least on E-Bay, pretty cheap.

A hub like SON is a bit more expensive, But, you could probably get a cheap dynamo setup for $100 or so, with no batteries to replace, and hopefully fewer worn out parts to deal with than a battery system.

Hopefully I'll get my dynamo running this fall... then just hoping the thieves will ignore it.

Of course, one limitation of the dynamo is that is will be mostly mated to a single bike, so if you tend to ride a half dozen bikes, it could be a bit of a hassle.

tyrion

I didn't even know they sold the cases separately. Good to know.

no motor?

I've gone through a couple of aftermarket battery packs for my Magicshine lights, and the next pack I get is going to be one I fill with decent cells.

wphamilton

I'm wary of the driver circuit not having overvoltage protection and cell balance on the ones that you can refill. It may be no worse than the cheap sealed multi-battery packs, but something about that concerns me and I'd be reluctant to try a generic case, maybe look for a known reliable product even if it means pay a little more.

SylvainG

Oh, and BTW, get some fire/explosion proof case when charging those cheap Lithium Ion battery packs...

01 CAt Man Do

I've been a buyer of cheap Chinese type lights for more than 15 years. While I don't own one of lights that you linked to I'll give you my opinion based on what I know. I looked at the provided video. I'm surprised they included the video because the video makes the highest output look only around 300 lumen. One of the reviewers ( on Amazon ) did provide some static photos. Those made the lamp look very bright. Based on those photos I'd say the highest mode is around 1000 lumen. The question is; "Which do you believe, the video or the photos". I would tend to believe the photos but only because many people reported the light to be bright. Just keep in mind that no way is the output going to be 2400 lumen. I'm surprised that Amazon is allowing the seller to make such a claim .

Now with all this said I can't really say not to buy one. For $24, a lamp head and two cell battery...that's pretty good bang for the buck. ( assuming of course that the lamp works and has no problems ) Please note that 20% of the buyers rated the product two stars or less. That's a significant number of dissatisfied buyers. Doesn't mean you won't get something that works but you will be rolling the dice as I like to say. Likely the tint of the beam pattern will have some blueness to it which is typical of cheap Chinese lamps using T6 emitters. The seller claims this lamp provides a "flat beam pattern". I'm assuming this is Chin-english for a cutoff beam pattern. None of the photo's or video I viewed showed this but judging from the ad photos the lamp might be using an optic to help narrow the beam pattern.

For $24 I say go for it. If you are a member of Amazon Prime you can return the item if something is wrong with it. If you use this lamp on the highest mode, are able to see very good for 100 ft. and have the run time ( on high ) last two hours, I would say you got your monies worth as long as it lasts a year.