Definitely two rear flashers ...

[SportMonkey]

How does flashing not save on batteries ... I've found with all of my lights that the batteries last longer on flashing than the other modes ... and if I'm worried about how much power is left in them for a journey I will set them to flash to eek it out to get home. (And if I get it wrong on the Hope then flashing is the only mode that will work for a short while after it won't power the other modes.).

The actual energy usage pattern can make the batteries last less time, the lamps themselves heat, there is capacitance in the system. Even your flashing pattern could have an effect, say chase as opposed to blink.

Your test above saying flash eeks our the battery - it may well do, it could still last less time for a whole charge. Most of these units use lights in parallel so if you're using a chase (less lights on at once) it will last longer, a straight blink may die quicker.

I really can actually keep going on this too.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Eke. Not eek. That's what women used to say when confronted with mice.

 

[Norm]

They certainly do last longer on Flash. Here's what Exposure have to say about their Flare burn times...

 

[cyberknight]

3 superflashes when i am out in the dark.

one on each pannier and 1 in the middle of the rack.

I also have a helmet flasher and enough reflective`s to land a plane (according to co -wrokers )

 

[mcshroom]

I usually go for one constant one flashing at the back. I've just got a Spanniga Pixeo to fit to my mudguard that doesn't flash, and have a 0.5W flasher on the rear rack (or seat stay when the rack is off)

 

[summerdays]

Eke. Not eek. That's what women used to say when confronted with mice.

Sorry .... mice/spelling ... I know which one I would rather be confronted by any day.... mice as long as they are outside the house so not leaving me presents on worktops!!!

 

[DrSquirrel]

The actual energy usage pattern can make the batteries last less time, the lamps themselves heat, there is capacitance in the system. Even your flashing pattern could have an effect, say chase as opposed to blink.

Your test above saying flash eeks our the battery - it may well do, it could still last less time for a whole charge. Most of these units use lights in parallel so if you're using a chase (less lights on at once) it will last longer, a straight blink may die quicker.

I really can actually keep going on this too.

LEDs don't have this turning on and off issue you are talking about. LED are not "lamps", as in Halogen.

If you are using an LED with a lower powered mode, it does this by turning it on and off really fast (called PWM) at 60hz+ if its only on for 50% of the time between, this appears 50% dimmer.

 

[sabian92]

I've got one rear light and one front light - I don't ride much at night and when I do it's in well lit areas. I use my lights during the day (and it sounds daft, but people do see them. I had a scary looking man on a bike chase me shouting at me - turns out he thought my light was on and I didn't know!). If I lived out in the sticks, I'd probably double up and have one on constant too (Front stays on constant, rear is a flasher).

 

[gaz]

In the darkness of winter i will often commute with 5 rear lights. 3 flashers and 2 steady. The steady's help drivers actually work out where you are and the flashers help draw their attention.

Why 5? Well when you are surrounded by other lighting (other road vehicles, street signs, shops etc..) then i want to stand out.

 

[SportMonkey]

LEDs don't have this turning on and off issue you are talking about. LED are not "lamps", as in Halogen.

If you are using an LED with a lower powered mode, it does this by turning it on and off really fast (called PWM) at 60hz+ if its only on for 50% of the time between, this appears 50% dimmer.

The actually do, but it's the circuitry usually - I'm not brave enough to take apart my Cats Eye to check, but I'd be surprised if they don't use at least on capacitor. Interestingly a lot of semiconductors perform worse when hot, ergo flashing can reduce it more than 50%. Plus there's also all the other circuitry, you'll be running a timer and bit register of some kind.

And LEDs are lamps in the sense I meant though

 

[jefmcg]

I always have at least two on at night after arriving home after cycling 12 miles through London traffic in the dark and rain and finding that water had got into it and it was off.

 

[BentMikey]

Almost all LED lights that I've seen last longer on flash. Considerably longer too, not just a little bit. Sorry SportMonkey, not on this issue.

 

[SportMonkey]

Almost all LED lights that I've seen last longer on flash. Considerably longer too, not just a little bit. Sorry SportMonkey, not on this issue.

I'm just giving you the science. They don't have to, there's no fixed rule. As I said above, they can even outperform their percentage on rate. Anyway, no more arguing, I've not had any experience on exact timings so I'll bow to your knowledge of actual usage.

 

[gaz]

I don't think there is a single person who has used an LED bicycle light and has found the flash mode lasts shorter than the steady mode.

THIS IS MADNESS

 

[SportMonkey]

Might I point out, the last time I used a bike light the law was solids only. Seriously, up until I started this job I'd not cycled more than 200 miles in 10 years.