Bike Lights and replacement batteries cost
11-02-18, 08:08 PM
#51
Senior Member
The other option is to get a light that runs off of common, easily replaceable cells like 14500 or 18650 lithium or standard AA size NiMH. I had a NiteCore flashlight that worked great as a headlight for a few years that ran off of 18650s. If I ever needed to replace one, I just went to Fry's. The only reason I replaced it is because I wanted something smaller, with a USB port, that was ANT+ compatible, so I got a Garmin. Has torx screws on the front of it, my guess would be that there's a 18650 inside it as well.
11-04-18, 08:35 PM
#52
Senior Member
If a light lasts you 3~5 years chances are that a new one would be significantly brighter than the old one even with a new battery. At least that is my experience so prolly better off with a new light. Alternatively use a replaceable battery light with rechargeable batteries.
11-05-18, 02:24 AM
#53
Banned.
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Vegemite Island
Posts: 4,130
Bikes: 2017 Surly Troll with XT Drive Train, 2017 Merida Big Nine XT Edition, 2016 Giant Toughroad SLR 2, 1995 Trek 830
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1916 Post(s)
Liked 310 Times
in
218 Posts
This is on my radar. Replaceable and rechargeable 18650 batteries
https://magicshine.us/product/montee...sb-bike-light/
https://magicshine.us/product/montee...sb-bike-light/
They do state that you have to use their proprietary 18650 batteries and that regular 18650 batteries won't work.
Still, they sell a single 18650 battery for $10 and you need two of them for that light.
Overall that's not too bad, if you get a decent running time from a set of batteries.
11-05-18, 05:51 AM
#54
Senior Member
Rechargeable batteries. Have one taillight which still uses them and my running headlamp. Or just get a USB chargeable unit.
11-05-18, 08:51 AM
#55
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
There are basically five parts to a bike light set: (1) the housing, (2) the optical reflector and diffuser lens, (3) the electronics and connections, (4) the battery and (5) the light. The battery is the more expensive part (if it is a good one, which NRs are). So why WOULDN’T it cost more than half the cost of a light set?
FIFY
11-05-18, 09:37 AM
#56
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
11-05-18, 11:38 AM
#57
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Not really. When considering manufacturer's warranty, one must think about what might fail. I had a Lumina light crack on the housing, where it slid onto its mounting clip. The NiteRider warranty covered the light fully, including the housing. I phoned them and they sent out just a housing for me to transfer the rest of the things.
On another occasion, an earlier NiteRider light had its charging socket fail, at the point where it mates to the circuit card. This was a known problem. They asked me to send in the entire light, and they returned it with only the circuit card/socket replaced.
So in terms of repair and warranty, one must consider all of the parts. That was my point.
On another occasion, an earlier NiteRider light had its charging socket fail, at the point where it mates to the circuit card. This was a known problem. They asked me to send in the entire light, and they returned it with only the circuit card/socket replaced.
So in terms of repair and warranty, one must consider all of the parts. That was my point.
11-05-18, 01:21 PM
#58
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Not really. When considering manufacturer's warranty, one must think about what might fail. I had a Lumina light crack on the housing, where it slid onto its mounting clip. The NiteRider warranty covered the light fully, including the housing. I phoned them and they sent out just a housing for me to transfer the rest of the things.
On another occasion, an earlier NiteRider light had its charging socket fail, at the point where it mates to the circuit card. This was a known problem. They asked me to send in the entire light, and they returned it with only the circuit card/socket replaced.
So in terms of repair and warranty, one must consider all of the parts. That was my point.
On another occasion, an earlier NiteRider light had its charging socket fail, at the point where it mates to the circuit card. This was a known problem. They asked me to send in the entire light, and they returned it with only the circuit card/socket replaced.
So in terms of repair and warranty, one must consider all of the parts. That was my point.
Nonetheless, I should not have called your post “dumb”. My bad.
Last edited by Kapusta; 11-05-18 at 02:51 PM.
11-05-18, 02:34 PM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 138
Bikes: 2017 Specialized Roubaix Expert, Surley Karate Monkey 29er hard tail
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 79 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have flown large scale RC gas and electric aircraft for years. Batteries are extremely critical. One of the best sources for high quality batteries has been:
BATTERIES AMERICA
BATTERIES AMERICA
11-05-18, 04:35 PM
#60
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Don't worry about it. I'd say that the original post does concern warranties, because they factor into purchase decisions, don't they? Good warranty, greater confidence in the purchase. No warranty, maybe one should proceed with caution.
11-09-18, 01:21 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,599
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 699 Times
in
436 Posts
You could use a bike mount for a flashlight, and buy whatever LED flashlight you wanted. Here's a site with mounts, and they have inexpensive LED flashlights also: https://www.dx.com/s/flashlight+mount+for?cateId=1699&cateName=Sports%20%26%20Outdoors&category=1643
Last edited by freeranger; 11-09-18 at 01:31 PM.
11-11-18, 06:55 PM
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,094
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 1,290 Times
in
743 Posts
If a light lasts you 3~5 years chances are that a new one would be significantly brighter than the old one even with a new battery. At least that is my experience so prolly better off with a new light. Alternatively use a replaceable battery light with rechargeable batteries.
