Best Battery?

[Paulq]

I am looking to buy my first 'serious' bike light and have a few to choose from. All of them need an external battery pack and despite searching the forums I can't seem to find any specific recommendations.

Can anyone help (preferably with links) find a decent battery that's easy to attach to the bike and that will power one of these super zillion lumen lamps I have been reading about for a decent period?

Cheers.

 

[Cycleops]

Battery technology has not improved greatly in maybe the last seven or eight years, look at the life of your average Smartphone. Most high consumption gadgets use li-po batteries which have reasonable capacity, are quite light and don't suffer "memory" effect like rechargeable ni-cad or metal hydride ones. So it would need to be a Li-po but don't ask how to mount one on a bike, if it's an additional one it will be a bit of a lash up I'm afraid. Maybe someone else has some first hand experience of doing precisely this and can advise.

PS You will need some sort of circuitry which cuts off the power when the battery reaches a certain point. If a Li-po battery becomes fully discharged it will swell and maybe catch fire.

 

[MrWill]

You get 3400 mah out of one 18650 now! Get A Fenix BC30 such a good light.

 

[Paulq]

Hmm not really any the wiser. What do people use to power the XML T6?

 

[MrWill]

Eh? You are on about an emitter there?

Theres newer emitter out, XM-L2 T6.

Two of them in a BC30, powered by 2x 18650 batteriers. There is not a better bike light honest.

Get a charger and two protected PANASONIC 18650 batteries, and the Fenix BC30. My best reccomendation.

 

[Paulq]

Mr Will I don't know what you mean by 'emitter'. I have seen this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAVFY-Recha...6461&sr=8-16&keywords=cree+T6#customerReviews

Advertised as a 'bike light' and the question I am asking is 'if I buy one what battery pack do I need to power it'? Some are supplied with battery packs which is fine, but not all are. Am curious as to how good/safe they are as they are much cheaper than, for example, the Fenix or some of the Magicshine offerings.

 

[potsy]

Mr Will I don't know what you mean by 'emitter'. I have seen this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAVFY-Rechargerble-Headlight-Activities-Traveling/dp/B00NFIJRWG/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1416426461&sr=8-16&keywords=cree T6

Advertised as a 'bike light' and the question I am asking is 'if I buy one what battery pack do I need to power it'? Some are supplied with battery packs which is fine, but not all are. Am curious as to how good/safe they are as they are much cheaper than, for example, the Fenix or some of the Magicshine offerings.

You can use the supplied battery pack or buy a battery holder and put in your own 18650 batteries, this has the advantage of being safer, and will probably last longer between charges depending on the power of the batteries you buy.
Not a cheap option but the light units are so cheap if one breaks then you can just buy the unit only as you've already got your own powerpack

 

[Cubist]

Go to Dealextreme and search for pannovo battery pack. You can put 4 x 18650 batteries in it and use that to run your lights. If you get 18650s make sure you get genuine protected ones form a reputable dealer like MTB batteries or Torchy the Battery Boy. Don't buy the cheap ones on eBay, they are the ones that burn your house down for you.

 

[fossyant]

You'll find a cheap battery pack uses 1500 mah or if lucky 2200mah batteries. In a typical pack this is in total 3000 or 4400 and not the silly figure quoted. You can build your own pack with what's suggested above for about £40 to £50 which will have a capacity of 5200. (2600 mah batteries) or 6800 with 3400 Panasonic packs.

 

[Paulq]

Thanks I'll go with those suggestions for batteries and a pack thanks a lot. Just a final question as I never realised batteries are so complicated - for that kind of battery pack and charger do I need flat top or button top batteries - Torchy lists both.