CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

Philips safelight dynamo light. £47.99 delivered

(19 posts)

No tags yet.


  1. custard
    Member

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Apart from how ugly it looks, it's meant to be a pretty good light asnd good value for money.

    However it's each to their own and that reviewer really doesn't like the (old model) IQ Cyo, which it has to be said gets glowing (badum-tsch) reviews elsewhere. They don't like how defined and focussed the beam is, which happens to be said is one of the features I like most about it.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  3. sallyhinch
    Member

    I think I've got that one. Something similar, anyway (this is the one I have). I don't use it very often because I don't commute but for rural cycling after dark it's the business. I'm using it with a bottle dynamo which took a bit of adjusting to stop it feeling like a real drag and it skips out a bit after you go through a puddle but the light keeps on shining because of the standlight and it soon reverts to full brightness. If you're using it with a hub it should be absolutely fine. I found that it transformed night riding from being something stressful and slow to practically no different than riding in daylight.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  4. wingpig
    Member

    Are there such things as readily-available dynamo light handlebar-conversion clamps for clamping a dynamo light built with the intention of being fastened to the fork crown (and using the frame as a conductor) to the handlebars instead? My aluminium head tube overhangs the top of my steel replacement fork by a good few millimetres, making it irritating and bodgey to mount a mudguard and presumably equally irritating to mount a light.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  5. Instography
    Member

    They seems readily bodgeable if you have a drill and self-tapping screw and a spare handlebar mount to drill into.

    Do they use the frame as a conductor? In the course of fitting one at the weekend there didn't seem to be any electrical connection between the light and the frame.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  6. steveo
    Member

    Its quite rare to use the frame as a return path these days most use twin core wire.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  7. Dave
    Member

    Great tip, I've just ordered one :)

    I've heard reports that they aren't as well built as the B&M lights which is the main thing that would put me off one, but since I've got many times my money's worth from my €35 IQ Cyo and it will die eventually, I'll have this sitting as a spare.

    Cheap at the price, so for only £48 an utter steal.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  8. crowriver
    Member

    This was timely as my wee halogen's mount snapped and it fell in the road on Saturday. I looked at the Philips, a nice light indeed and good price. Went instead for the B&M Lumotec Lyt B Plus LED lamp: very good price on Practical Cycles eBay store at the moment...

    Posted 12 years ago #
  9. kaputnik
    Moderator

    By chance, someone tweeted a link to Tour Quarterly magazine, which has a comprehensive review of Dynamo lights, including the Philips and the B&Ms

    Posted 12 years ago #
  10. custard
    Member

    okay then
    new codes

    now £38.99 delivered

    use code Philips2012 for
    then use code summer35nj
    free delivery,so £39

    Posted 12 years ago #
  11. wee folding bike
    Member

    Watch out for lamps which might use a the frame as a ground with out you knowing.

    I had a B&M tail light which was connected by dual core cable but was also connected via the frame. This caused the front light to pulse in some kind of beat frequency until I disconnected the rear one.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  12. wingpig
    Member

    Watch out for lamps which come with a bracket stamped out of cheese:

    Fortunately, being unable to mount the Saferide on the fork crown meant that when the bracket snapped this morning the light just rattled against the head tube and didn't dive between the spokes.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  13. DaveC
    Member

    I saw one of these safelights on Sunday on Dave's bent. Wish I'd got one now (tried the other week but the discount had expired) as it would go nicely on my winter bike so I only need swap the dynamo hub front wheel. If anyone sees another offer please post here. Taa.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  14. crowriver
    Member

    Watch out for lamps which come with a bracket stamped out of cheese:

    That happened twice to my 'old school' halogen lamp. Last time was on a CTC ride, it fell off into the road. I knew something was wrong, heard the rattling, and thought 'must fix at the next stop' but too late! Following rider stopped to pick it up...

    Anyway SJS sell a special reinforced crown fork mount from B&M that goes under canti brakes, which I picked up. Most standard mounts are designed to be used with calipers...

    Posted 12 years ago #
  15. sallyhinch
    Member

    eeek! Must check mine, it's developed a bit of a rattle... I expect better from Philips though

    Posted 12 years ago #
  16. Dave
    Member

    I didn't need to use the bracket (most recumbents have a fitting which basically replaces the bracket, i.e. the light bolts straight on to a perpendicular braze-on) but that's a good warning, as I was thinking of transferring it to SWMBO's Croix de Fer...

    It is really very bright, noticeably moreso than the Cyo I think, but not as well controlled - have had to point it down more. Also requires much more oomph to charge the standlight!

    Posted 12 years ago #
  17. Dave
    Member

    I saw one of these safelights on Sunday on Dave's bent. Wish I'd got one now

    Wait, you saw me? Curses!

    Martin got quite a nice one of a driver struggling to see my invisible bike on the route which also shows the Safeled in daylight:
    DSCF2557

    Posted 12 years ago #
  18. DaveC
    Member

    The thing I like about the safelight is the lack of flicker at slow speeds. My Cyo flickers ata crawl but your light appeared to be constant from the off. I guess it charges a large capacitor/battery? which powers the light so ironing out (recitfying) the supply.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  19. Dave
    Member

    It does flicker but not if you've been going fast - you'd notice it if you pulled away from stationary though I suspect.

    Will do a write-up to accompany my Cyo one, when it eventually gets dark.

    Posted 12 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin