Fake Cree LED’s Flood the market but how bad are they really?

[eccc whippet]

We imported a few cheapies...after a couple charges...the battery pack would indicate it was fully charged...unplug and switch on...battery went flat within a second or two.

 

Sent the battery to be repacked...was told the batteries where fine...a component on the pc board had failed.

 

Disconnected the batteries and cleaned the solder off.

 

Bought a weatherproof case and 4 spare samsung batteries..for less than the price of a 4 battery vacuum pack.

 

Still using it.

[Skylark]

Beam pattern is where it's at. The cheap lights are usually a focussed beam to make them appear brighter, whereas the decent ones have a good spread which allows you to see more than what your bars are pointed directly at.

 

The one will win parking lot pissing contests, the other will actually be useful on the trail.

You right about the beam pattern on some of the lights but as I mentioned previously in this thread you can get replacement lenses for the cheapie bike lights that sort the beam pattern out, problem solved.

[Eddy Gordo]

I just bought a XP3 endurance light from Extreme lights

Cost me R2295 

 

It is a nice light, but way over priced

 

Maybe my expectations were too high, comparing to my $18 Chinese light from  Alliexpress 

Exactly and you would probably be able to buy the same or similar light for around R500 with free shipping on ali express

[eccc whippet]

 

Upgraded my faulty battery pack to this weatherproof housing with a power indicator and a usb plug...just in case i need to plug in my go pro or iphone [emoji3]

[Jaws677]

 

Upgraded my faulty battery pack to this weatherproof housing with a power indicator and a usb plug...just in case i need to plug in my go pro or iphone [emoji3]

Just beware not all battery packs are 5 V output , most are 7.2 V ( two series 3.6 V Li Ion cell in series)

 

Will be an expensive mistake on an IPhone

[Skylark]

 

Upgraded my faulty battery pack to this weatherproof housing with a power indicator and a usb plug...just in case i need to plug in my go pro or iphone [emoji3]

Did you order it from eBay?

Does it have a 5v USB output?

5v USB battery packs are so handy, can run/charge just about any mobile device these days.

[Mongoose!]

Upgraded my faulty battery pack to this weatherproof housing with a power indicator and a usb plug...just in case i need to plug in my go pro or iphone [emoji3]

Is the battery pack heavy?

[eccc whippet]

Just beware not all battery packs are 5 V output , most are 7.2 V ( two series 3.6 V Li Ion cell in series)

 

Will be an expensive mistake on an IPhone

I have used it to charge my go pro via the usb...I havent checked the output voltage on the usb.

 

I got the battery pack from battery experts in durban north.

 

3 things i enjoy about the unit...the usb for charging or just as a backup for the go pro...iphone

 

I have the original batteries from the pack which came with the light and 4 spare samsung batteries

 

Lastly the charge indicator...nothing worse than heading out for a ride and battery pack is flat.

[Rocket-Boy]

We imported a few cheapies...after a couple charges...the battery pack would indicate it was fully charged...unplug and switch on...battery went flat within a second or two.

 

Sent the battery to be repacked...was told the batteries where fine...a component on the pc board had failed.

 

Disconnected the batteries and cleaned the solder off.

 

Bought a weatherproof case and 4 spare samsung batteries..for less than the price of a 4 battery vacuum pack.

 

Still using it.

Are they 18650 batteries?

If you used 4x 18650's like the high drain type you get for electronic cigarettes then Im sure they would last for ages.

[Naas Vermaak]

Agree with you guys re the cheapies. However I have moved away from batterypacks 5 yrs ago. I use 2 x 900 lumens flashlights(diameters =135 x 25(35 head))...when I feel the need for riding singletrack at night - one is built into(notice not on top but into) one of my helmets and the other mounts onto my bike with special bikemount in under 5 seconds.

 

Alternating between the 2 flashlights plus riding with an extra battery in my pocket I have more than 6 hrs batterylife with me on any given ride...and NO rattling batterypack and irritating wires!

 

AND the really nice thing about a flashlight is that I can use it everywhere around the house and when camping etc etc.

 

Recently got a 2000 lumens one (use 3 x 18650's) ..fris donnertjie but packed with a punch, that gives me 1h15 at full charge for my shorter rides (4hrs @ 1400lumens) - ...cars don't like me

[Eddy Gordo]

Agree with you guys re the cheapies. However I have moved away from batterypacks 5 yrs ago. I use 2 x 900 lumens flashlights(diameters =135 x 25(35 head))...when I feel the need for riding singletrack at night - one is built into(notice not on top but into) one of my helmets and the other mounts onto my bike with special bikemount in under 5 seconds.

 

Alternating between the 2 flashlights plus riding with an extra battery in my pocket I have more than 6 hrs batterylife with me on any given ride.

 

AND the really nice thing about a flashlight is that I can use it everywhere around the house and when camping etc etc.

 

Recently got a 2000 lumens one (use 3 x 18650's) ..fris donnertjie but packed with a punch, that gives me 1h15 at full charge for my shorter rides (4hrs @ 1400lumens) - ...cars don't like me

Yeah, I am also using wide beam flash lights. Cant remember the Lumens but I know they shine about 150m .

[eccc whippet]

 

[Fat Boab]

You've got to love BikeHub. The OP starts a thread trying to advise of the disadvantages of 'cheaper' lamps, presumably competitor ones (I think this could be defined as negative advertising?), and the thread rapidly heads off towards DIY fixes to beef-up the performance of the self-same 'cheaper' lamps - long live BikeHub!!

[Martin PJ]

You've got to love BikeHub. The OP starts a thread trying to advise of the disadvantages of 'cheaper' lamps, presumably competitor ones (I think this could be defined as negative advertising?), and the thread rapidly heads off towards DIY fixes to beef-up the performance of the self-same 'cheaper' lamps - long live BikeHub!!

 

True, I buy a lot of junk on ebay and Aliexpress. Then see the exact same products (identical) for sale here on the Hub, advertised as very good products by the time they get to the Hub. Prices are 4 to 5 times more than direct from China and it is identical product.

 

I must say about bike lights, the prices on the Hub are honest. Think if you are paying R300 for light from unknown guy in China and some guy locally can deliver the same thing in a day, then he deserves his R500. You have to expect to pay a premium for local support, quick delivery and being able to hold the product in your hand before you buy it.

[Mongoose!]

You've got to love BikeHub. The OP starts a thread trying to advise of the disadvantages of 'cheaper' lamps, presumably competitor ones (I think this could be defined as negative advertising?), and the thread rapidly heads off towards DIY fixes to beef-up the performance of the self-same 'cheaper' lamps - long live BikeHub!!

 so true 

[Sidmouth]

I got one like this a year ago works fine, you do need someone in the UK that comes over, you cannot trust SA post.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3000Lm-XM-L-T6-LED-Bicycle-Bike-Cycling-Front-Head-Light-Headlight-HeadLamp-Set-/311126412060?hash=item4870944b1c:g:XQoAAOSwFqJWnfCK