Review: UniqueFire HD-016 dual beam Bicycle headlight

Interesting light really. I don’t like the 18650 format too much though. I would prefer AA powered lights. One thing, for trailing, I think a neutral light is better.

Garry, no. I've said it is powered by 2S2P (ie. 8.4V) pack, but normaly in SS2X leds are connected in series The last one was not.

Selle was bonlighting2014 at ebay. Must say it si not good. I pulls only 0.9A from battery pack A had to add R500 sense resistor to improve output a bit.

Well, you can build your own AA 6S battery pack. I'm working a lot with Li-Ion 18650 and they are very good regarding energy density. They are also safe enough if you treat them right. AA is of course even safer.

I wonder what the driver is like in the LightMalls head only (currently $12.99). Any idea? Can't remember if it was posted about at MTBR or not.

-Garry

No, I don't have a clue.

Actually I'd probably chance the $15.99 one on Amazon first.

-Garry

If you do, please let us know about its internals. At least there over at MTBR

As posted over at MTBR, I just ordered the "SecurityIng" version of this light from Amazon ($32.99). Then the next thing I knew my finger slipped and I also ordered an SSX2 (due to ledoman confirming that the SSX2 driver will mount in this HD-016). This would give both LED's on (wide & narrow) at the same time with Low-Med-High modes and a hidden strobe. Lagman's review confirmed that the original driver also runs on 4.2v input, which really appeals to me (to use unprotected cells in parallel), so I am torn between keeping the original driver or swapping the SSX2's driver. (I really just bought the X2 for the driver.) I will post back with my findings.

I really think this HD-016 will be the perfect light for me! I can finally stop accumulating all these lights! (Yeah right! ).

Thanks Ledoman! I should send you the bill!

-Garry

You might be able to run the X2 driver on 1S cells if you wire the LED's 2P.

I tried to run my X2 with 1S cells while is still had the stock 2S LED wiring. I didn't expect it run, but was curious if it might possibly had a booster circuit in it. It didn't run. It would flash once every time I hit the momentary switch though.

Today I've got information from Gearbest you can use coupon for this light.


So the link is: UniqueFire HD-16 Cree XM-L L2 2400lm LED White Bicycle Headlight Flashlight 4 x 18650 with Head Strap Battery Charger-32.41 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com

Coupon: HD16
Price:$27.99

Will update the original post, too.

Just received my HD-016 "SecurityIng" version from Amazon. Battery had enough juice to run through the modes one time before it died. Will test it out later. First impressions is that it looks good!

(That's my SSX2 package on the left.)

The box is just a generic bike light box. It says "XM-L" and "Natural White" which are both lies. It came with cool white XM-L2's.

BTW - I also received my SolarStorm X2 from Amazon. It did come branded as an X2 and not blank (I know that doesn't mean much, but I like to see it branded). First impressions on it - doesn't seem very bright on high. More testing and teardown on that one to come too, though I won't post it in this thread. In fact, I will just post further details on both lights in "My Bike Lights Thread" linked for your convenience in my signature :) . No promises though on when I'll get to tear downs.

-Garry

I have three different versions of the SolarStorm X2 from three sellers of eBay. One has 720 mA tailcap reading on high, one has 860 mA and one has 2190 mA (obviously the brightest). They all have SolarStorm X2 marks but when I opened them, they have different drivers (though the 860 mA and the 2190 mA are somewhat similar). :slight_smile:

I added 2x R100 resistors to the sense resistors of the 720 mA and changed its lead wires to AWG 22 and it now does 1567 mA. Added an R100 resistor to the sense resistors of the 860 mA and it now does 2883 mA. :wink:

BTW, after reading your thread on diffusing bike lights, all my three X2s now have DCFix on their left lenses. :beer:

Don't want to go too far off topic of the HD-016, but I did measure battery pack current to the X2 (@8.24v) - 0.855A on high :( . I haven't opened it up yet though.

-Garry

I just received my SecurtyIng version from Amazon.



I haven't torn it apart yet, but I've taken current readings and got some beamshots.

Current pulled from 2-cell battery pack at 8.24v:
Off: 0.020A
Flood: 0.663A
Throw: 0.665A
Flood & Throw: 1.410A (Steady, not dropping)

(BTW - I am confident current readings I make are accurate.)

Flood is VERY wide! However the "flood" mode doesn't throw out far at all. I can't imagine "flood" alone being enough to ride with (except commuting where it is used more for "be seen" use. I think I would prefer the reflector be just a tad deeper in order to get a little more throw out of it.

Here are some beamshots. Pics taken with my same manual camera settings at roughly the same location so that my beamshots can be compared one to another. In the first set of pics, the distance to the trees I aimed between is approx. 185 feet (garage is beyond the trees at an undetermined distance - I really need to determine that). Approx. 275 feet to the house off to the left of the trees. (Note: you can barely see the trees or garage in the "throw" pic.)

Flood:


Throw:


Flood & Throw:


Now to my wooded trail spot:

Flood:


Throw:


Flood & Throw:


That wooded shot above really sells this light!

Full size pics can be found in my PhotoBucket Gallery.

Next is a full teardown and mod to XM-L2 T5 5B1's and a resistor modded SSX2 driver to run Flood & Throw LEDs at all times in a High-Med-Low (or Low-Med-High) arrangement.

-Garry

Wow. Thanks for the teardown and time to take those really awesome pics garry. Just want to make me grab my bike and go out here! I think a neutral tint would have been just gorgeous :slight_smile:

Just for the heck of it, let's compare the HD-016 to my SolarStorm X3. Now remember, my beamshot setups are not in exact locations, but do use the same camera settings. Both lights on "full output". SSX3 only received an emitter swap. X3 Current pulled from battery pack = 2.48A vs. the HD-016 pulling 1.41A.

Mouse Out = HD-016, MouseOver= SSX3:

Seems the X3 is wasting 1A more juice for similar level of output. Perhaps it's the setting (scene).

So here is the same mouseover across my backyard:

Ok, the X3 does have more output. I think I can get the HD-016 bumped up though to give me similar output for less current draw (i.e. be more efficient).

-Garry

wow the tints are so different, HD looks washed out. But pics are somewhat confusing for me.
The HD seems obviously better in the wooded shots but the X3 reverses the
order in the backyard shots, to me eyes.

I think that's because the X3's beam pattern is cut short with the wooded sides. Look closely in the distance of the X3 shots to the side of the center spot. I can see some more trees lit up than in the HD-016, not much but I see it. It didn't help that there were more leaves on the trees in the X3 shot and the tint difference throws you off.

-Garry

how many lumens is this really ? and whats its run times ?

Rough ballpark - 900 to 1000 Lumens? I'm basing that on what an XM-L2 puts out per Match's test at 1.4A and rounding down for losses in reflector & lens. Rough guess on run time: 2150mAh (per ledoman's test) / 1400mA current draw = 1.5hr. A "good" battery pack would get you closer to 3.7hrs! OR a good 2 cell battery pack would get you close to 2hrs.

-Garry