Need a tail light that uses regular batteries
#26
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Note that while the 65 may have more lumens than the Superflash Turbo it's beam pattern is ring shaped and super wide meaning most of the light does not direct toward any person behind the cyclist. Side by side comparison the older Turbo is much more visible. I sent the 65 back.
I have not used the Turbo.
Or on a day like the photo they are both turned on.
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I used to do that, too, because the red plastic cover would pop off the base but the base never actually came off the mount. I moved the light to my road bike last night and wrapped the perimeter of the cover and the base with electrical tape. However, the rubber band didn't make it. Mistake.
Typical installation. Prevents both jumping off the mount and body separation.
I...When you see your light is dim, with AAA batteries you can swap them out for either new or re-charged ones and get back out on the road again. I recall once accidently leaving my taillight on and the batteries were shot when it was time to ride home from work in the dark. A quick trip into a Walgreens for some new (and over-priced because of the store) AAA batteries and I was safe to go home....
#28
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I agree that the 65 has a very wide beam. For bike touring, I put both on my bike. I use them in daytime in flash mode. If I am mostly riding on straight roads, I am inclined to use the plain Superflash that has a tightly focused beam to the rear, but if I am doing up and down or winding roads, I use the Superflash 65 for the wider beam so that following traffic that might be off to the side or above me is likely to see it.
I have not used the Turbo.
Or on a day like the photo they are both turned on.
I have not used the Turbo.
Or on a day like the photo they are both turned on.
#29
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I've had good luck with inner tube rubber bands. They don't last forever (hence 2) but they last a long time and heaven knows, I've got a lot of raw material to work with...
I like the rechargeable AA or AAA systems for just this reason. Also, they just get dimmer whereas many of my USB-recharge lights turn off at low voltage. I run multiple lights forward/rear for redundancy, but I'd rather have a dim light than none at all.
I like the rechargeable AA or AAA systems for just this reason. Also, they just get dimmer whereas many of my USB-recharge lights turn off at low voltage. I run multiple lights forward/rear for redundancy, but I'd rather have a dim light than none at all.
I used to recommend the white color Ikea Ladda AAA and AA batteries over Eneloops, but they have changed their models and no longer make them. So, now I recommend Eneloops. I started using Eneloops over a decade ago, some of mine that are that old are still working like new.
Touring, I am charging up my batteries in a AA/AAA charger that is powered by USB, use my power bank to charge them, the dynohub charges up the powerbank.
The single green LED in the photo below means one AAA is still being charged, the others are charged up.
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#30
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Have you checked how wide the 65 beam is on a wall or similar? I found it to create a 10'+ diameter circle even 10' back - worse is the center part is much dimmer than SF regular or turbo. So wide it the thin circle of brightness will be out of sightlines even on a very curvy road. The standard/turbo SF beam is not really that narrow either when tested against a plain wall from 30' back, at a 100' back it is wider than a 3 lane road.
I live next to a small park. Initially I was worried about the 65 for the reasons that you cite, but I put both my plain Superflash and my Superflash 65 in flash mode on my rear patio on a sunny day. Walked across the park and I could still see both lights at quite a distance, and if I walked around so that the angle changed, I was still happy with how bright the 65 was in flash mode.
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#31
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#32
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I used to recommend the white color Ikea Ladda AAA and AA batteries over Eneloops, but they have changed their models and no longer make them. So, now I recommend Eneloops. I started using Eneloops over a decade ago, some of mine that are that old are still working like new.
#33
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I use Ladda AA (white color) batteries in my GPS, that works fine in temps from the teens (F). But for high flow rate usage like a flashlight you might need disposables in really cold weather. I have used that to keep track of my route for cross country skiing.
On the other hand I tried to use my camera on Monday outside, temp in the upper teens (F) and although the Lithium Ion battery had been charged up the night before, it only had one yellow bar for power. Indoors where it was warm, that battery showed fully charged again.
When someone says cold, I really have no clue how to interpret that, as I grew up in Minneapolis. To me if you spit and the spit breaks when it hits the ground, that is how you know it is cold out.
Now I live down south in southern Wisconsin where temps like the photo are rare, but occur. It is supposed to get down to minus 8 (F) on Fri night here.
#34
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Ladda has been dying for me, rather abruptly, below 0C. Last night I threw Ladda and Eneloop into the freezer, I think -7C. The battery tester recognized Ladda as dead and Eneloop as OK. When I say cold, the vagueness is actually intentional. When you go out for the day in the morning, you cannot exactly tell what the temperatures will be. Even on the scale of a year, reviewing what batteries you have on the bike vs weather is awkward. Personally, I want to have a setup that is going to work near 100% of times, no matter what.
#35
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P.S. Obviously any chemical battery (though presumably not nuclear) will eventually die out if you lower temperature enough. There was a guy describing experiences of riding on S Pole, but I could not find his writing online recently. He had to regrease his bike completely, because the regular grease solidified, and he might have needed to get rid of some plastics. In any case, I aim at temps down to -30C, though recently we barely get to -20C. The NiMH have been near to useless below -15C or so, no matter what brand. However, the lithium technologies pushed down the utility to lower temp. In my main power station on the bike, I even use some less common lithium batteries that perform better at low temp than the popular.
#36
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P.S. Obviously any chemical battery (though presumably not nuclear) will eventually die out if you lower temperature enough. There was a guy describing experiences of riding on S Pole, but I could not find his writing online recently. He had to regrease his bike completely, because the regular grease solidified, and he might have needed to get rid of some plastics. In any case, I aim at temps down to -30C, though recently we barely get to -20C. The NiMH have been near to useless below -15C or so, no matter what brand. However, the lithium technologies pushed down the utility to lower temp. In my main power station on the bike, I even use some less common lithium batteries that perform better at low temp than the popular.
Arctic explorers need to use mechanical watches, watches with batteries do not work for them in cold.
Riding a bike at the S Pole, that sounds a little rough. Rohloff has suggestions for different lube oil in their hubs in really cold weather but if it is colder than about 20 (F), I do not use a bike.
If this is strictly for winter use on a bike for lighting, perhaps skip battery power completely and use dynohub lighting?
About 45 years ago I needed to use some battery powered flashlights in below zero (F) conditions. I found Rayovac Heavy Duty to be best, they were cheaper than alkaline batteries at that time. But I do not even know if you can buy non-alkaline disposable batteries any more.
Maybe a battery store like Batteries Plus would have some suggestions?
#37
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https://www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/nmr/inside.htm
Arctic explorers need to use mechanical watches, watches with batteries do not work for them in cold.
Arctic explorers need to use mechanical watches, watches with batteries do not work for them in cold.
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About 45 years ago I needed to use some battery powered flashlights in below zero (F) conditions. I found Rayovac Heavy Duty to be best, they were cheaper than alkaline batteries at that time. But I do not even know if you can buy non-alkaline disposable batteries any more.
Maybe a battery store like Batteries Plus would have some suggestions?
About 45 years ago I needed to use some battery powered flashlights in below zero (F) conditions. I found Rayovac Heavy Duty to be best, they were cheaper than alkaline batteries at that time. But I do not even know if you can buy non-alkaline disposable batteries any more.
Maybe a battery store like Batteries Plus would have some suggestions?