Tesco 1W LED flashlight

[Big John]

Has anyone used one of these on their bike yet? For an LED light it looks pretty impressive for the money - all for under a tenner. I've bodged a bracket together from bits I've found in my shed. It runs on 2 x AA batteries too,which are cheap to buy but I'm going to get some decent rechargables when I get round to it. So far I can't fault it.What's the catch everyone? There has to be one.

Until now I've been using a cheap Cateye but this knocks spots off it.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Yes - zillions and zillions of people - try a search on this (and other) forum/s. It used to be 3W, by the way - same torch same price. I use the Twofish Lockblock mount (£11.95 for 2 from TheTorchsite.co.uk) which works really well. The only catch has been the difficulty some have had in getting some AA batteries to fit some of the torches - again much discussion on the net.

 

[Noodley]

I had difficulty getting AA batteries to fit, so I peeled off the plastic covering.

The 'brightness' dims quite quickly, which is not very handy if you want to see where you are going.

 

[kfinlay]

I bought one of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280433608285&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

it has an aluminium body, has constant/flash modes and is very bright not had a chance to check out run time and post took 8 days or so but great little light and an absolute bargain at £5.62 for that money it's not worth doing without

 

[Randochap]

Those are not bicycle lights. I'd only use one as a backup for proper bicycle lighting.

 

[Big John]

Well I had no trouble putting a couple of AA batteries in so I've passed that hurdle.

I've bought a couple of digital camera strength rechargable AA batteries today so we'll see how they work out. A fellow clubmate bought a Fenix T2D (I think that was the model) and he had problems with loss of power and recommended the digital camera types instead of bog standard AA ones. So far he's had no more problems so I'm hoping these will do the trick. I'll keep you posted.

 

[RSV_Ecosse]

I bought one of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280433608285&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

it has an aluminium body, has constant/flash modes and is very bright not had a chance to check out run time and post took 8 days or so but great little light and an absolute bargain at £5.62 for that money it's not worth doing without

Just ordered one of those to use a supplementary light ( in conjunction with both my Tesco 1W AA Cree's I currently use, I might add!! ).

I've got an Edinburgh Bike Co-op Revolution Vision Hi Power LED ( reviewed in this months C+ mag ) that I have been using for about a year now and that one you have linked to in the eBay advert looks uncannily similar!! :-

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...2&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003154c003152c003247

 

[Downward]

Those are not bicycle lights. I'd only use one as a backup for proper bicycle lighting.

Why ?

This is my 2nd year with my torches and I can't see any issues.


The holders though - be wary when they get wet, they have a tendency to slip.

 

[Downward]

Well I had no trouble putting a couple of AA batteries in so I've passed that hurdle.

I've bought a couple of digital camera strength rechargable AA batteries today so we'll see how they work out. A fellow clubmate bought a Fenix T2D (I think that was the model) and he had problems with loss of power and recommended the digital camera types instead of bog standard AA ones. So far he's had no more problems so I'm hoping these will do the trick. I'll keep you posted.

Energizer rechargeables fit mine fine.

 

[amaferanga]

Why ?

This is my 2nd year with my torches and I can't see any issues.


The holders though - be wary when they get wet, they have a tendency to slip.

As with all the 'torch' lights, they're good for seeing with, but not so good for being seen (and I believe not a legal light if used alone). I always use mine with a proper bike light.

 

[nigelb]

I use two to see where I'm going (plus an older Cateye to ensure I'm seen).

You won't get much life out of dry cells, I'm using Eneloop AA cells, which work a treat. get 2-3 hours out of them I guess, have a charger on my desk at work and recharge each day.

Light wise, the torches are absolutely excellent, to the extent I'm wondering about butchering 3 to make a permanently fitted light, and just disconnect the battery pack to bring it in to charge.

Nige

 

[Downward]

As with all the 'torch' lights, they're good for seeing with, but not so good for being seen (and I believe not a legal light if used alone). I always use mine with a proper bike light.

Surely bang for buck your getting as much light from a £10 tesco job as £30 bike light. Don't forget most cyclists wouldn't pay £30 for a front light (Well none I know anyway)

 

[fossyant]

Do these use the same emitter then, as was called the 3w AA ? - is it still the same Cree LED ?

 

[nigelb]

Pass, its a single, very bright led, that's pulling the best part of 1A I think (will check when I get home).

Only downside I've found is its easy to dazzle oncoming pedestrians and cyclists, makes them a bit unpredictable when you're trying to avoid them (so I try to keep the torches pointing well down on the narrow bits, where there's oncoming "traffic").

Nige

 

[amaferanga]

Surely bang for buck your getting as much light from a £10 tesco job as £30 bike light. Don't forget most cyclists wouldn't pay £30 for a front light (Well none I know anyway)

I'm not saying they don't put out a lot of light. I have a Tesco 3W and to get a comparable proper bike light would likely be £50 plus. But where as a proper bike light will put some light out sideways, the torch lights have a don't. You can get a decent 'be seen' light for a tenner (or less if you get one from the likes of dealextreme).

For me its about covering my back so the numpty motorist that hits me can't claim I don't have legal lights.