Let There Be Light :: Author : Harv
Yup! I have been shopping at Harbor Freight Tools again! This time I found a nine LED compact flashlight that is just perfect for bicycle headlight use. These are the latest generation of Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights that have appeared in hardware and Big Box stores. They take three AAA batteries in a neat removable cartridge. No fiddly plastic covers and tiny screws. This baby is made of all aluminum. The end cap screws off to reveal the battery cartridge. It puts out more light than my much more expensive 5 LED all plastic CatEye bike light. About ten bucks most places, on sale at Harbor Freight for $6.99 until September 11th. Lot number 93712.
I mounted it using a spare blinkie seat post clamp and an Adel clamp. You can use two seat post clamps, whatever comes to hand. If you will be removing the light frequently, use a wing nut to attach it to the handlebar clamp. You might need a short extension piece to bridge the two clamps. I made mine from a piece of aluminum about a half inch by two inches, drilled to clear 5mm socket head cap screws as shown.
Component Pieces, Adel Clamp is Attached to Flashlight
Detail of Assembly Showing Quick Detachable Wing Nut Mount
Complete Assembly
Harv…. you are so RAD!!! This light sooo beats the cheapo plastic one that I’m running on my bike right now. I’m gonna get me one of these!!! Thanks for the great tip!
Comment by shay — September 6, 2006 @ 12:10 pm
Hey Harv, I just bought a wireless brake light I think it’s cool. You apply the hand brake and LED’s mounted on the back of your helmet and under the seat come on just like on a motorcile or the 3rd light in the cars’ back window
Comment by Anthony — September 25, 2006 @ 11:34 am
Ooo…. cool! I might have to get this. How much does something like this cost?
Comment by shay — September 27, 2006 @ 9:43 am
I have even seen directional signals along with a stop light for bicycles. These signal lights would be quite functional, but could be confusing when rear blinkies are used. Probably best to set the blinkie on steady rather than blinking mode when this signal light is used.
Is your stop light visible during the day? You might try a trick the motorcyclists use to attract the attention of a following motorist: flash the stop light by rapidly pumping the brake lever.
Comment by Harv — October 2, 2006 @ 5:07 pm
Harv, just checked Harbor Freight’s website, they’ve got it online for $4.99, gonna have to double check if the actual store sells it for the same price.
Now that you’ve had some time to test this out, does the 9 LEDs eat up your batteries faster than the 5 LED CatEye? I know it’s sort a difficult comparison, that is, chances are the two lights use different types of batteries…. let’s just say, do you find yourself replacing batteries more often with the 9 LED light from Harbor Freight?
Comment by mike c — October 9, 2006 @ 11:38 pm
That’s a great on-line price! The retail store prices bear no relation to the on-line prices. There are retail flyers with their own sale prices. Sign up on-line for the retail flyers here:
http://tinyurl.com/5v3yu click on “Free Retail Flyer”.
I still have the original batteries in the 9-LED light, so I can’t make the comparison. But the battery life will probably be shorter as the 9-LED takes three AAA cells, and the Cateye 5-LED light takes 4 AA cells. I ride a lot at night and run my lights for hours at a time. But battery life has not been a problem for me.
Comment by Harv — October 10, 2006 @ 7:07 am
Just in case anyone’s still looking for these… I just called Harbor Freight in Pasadena, they carry the light for $6.99 on sale price (original $9.99), but they’ll honor the $4.99 price if you print out the Harbor Freight web site ad and bring it in with you! Guess who’s getting a new light…
Comment by mike c — October 10, 2006 @ 8:33 am
Hey Mike, that’s great news. I didn’t know the retail store would do that. I am going to keep that in mind for future purchases.
If your light seems to not work, or flickers, here is what you have to do: Screw off the back cap and remove as much paint from the threads as you can - use laquer thinner or nail polish remover. Ditto for the inside threads on the main body of the light. Then squirt a bit of WD40 on the threads and reassemble. Seems that the paint can prevent the ground contact from completing the circuit.
Comment by Harv — October 10, 2006 @ 10:27 am