[cycleologist]

Anyone here have any experience with a TrustFire P7-F16 SSC P7-WC? I was going to order a MTE SCC-P7 torch from DX but I saw the Trustfire P7 on there also. I'm thinking of ordering 2 of these:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18695. One to mount on the bars the other to mount on the helmet.

For the helmet light, would I be better served by the TrustFire TR-801? I've seen a few people on here using the MTE P7 as a helmet light. I'm not concerned about the added weight on the helmet from the P7 - added 1/2 weight to the helmet and rode around and was ok with the heft. I was thinking two 900 Lumen torches would be better than one 900 Lumen handlebar mounted light and two 230 Lumen helmet mounted lights. Is the beam pattern on the TR-801 better for a helmet application? Comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[Boyonabyke]

The TR-801 in the single mode currently is hit or miss on actually getting Q5 emitters. If you get them with P4 emitters instead of what is specified, it's a PIA dealing with Deal Extreme, and the light put out is completely inadequate for night riding on a bike. If you get a set of real Q5's, then it's worth it.

Myself, I'd go with the 5 mode P7 and make sure you order them with an "M" bin emitter. 2 of those, one for the bars, one for the helmet, should be plenty of light. Buy spare batteries too, they last about an hour or a little more when you run these P7's on high.

 

[cycleologist]

Thanks Randy. I read your post on the Q5/P4 issues, what a pain. I hope you got that sorted out. That is part of the reason for me contemplating on going with 2 -p7's and not a p7/tr801 combo.

 

[Boyonabyke]

The $19.98 model 5 mode TR-801 makes a great helmet mount light. It's direct enough and will reach out and touch what you want to see in the distance. It also, even on high, has a good run time of about 2.5 hours.

I don't think TrustFire/Deal Extreme can fiddle with other emitters in the 5 mode, as the circuit board with the PWM for the various modes is mounted underneath the emitter. I haven't heard of anyone getting a mixup on the 5 mode models. Myself, I really like my

18650 P7 "C" bin 5 mode.... it throws a great floody beam, run time is about 75 minutes on high, and it makes a great handlebar light. I'm completely satisfied with how well it works for my mountain bike riding conditions on single track.

That said, be prepared to have to fiddle with retainer rings on the tail switches and O rings on the fronts of the lights to get some reliability. Assembly standards are not up to what Americans are used to as "plug and play" simplicity. Sometimes you get to play QC and troubleshoot your own woes.

 

[capnstem]

Randyboy - i've ordered over 7 trustfire-tr801's from DX and not had any issues with any of them. In fact, I think you are the 1st person that I have read about that has encountered this particular problem.

DX look like a shop front for a number of direct-to-buyer chinese companies and I seriously doubt that they did it on purpose.

Additionally, one of my TR-801's recently developed a dry joint and would flick between a high/low mode - even tho it was a single mode light. I have re-soldered the connections and it has fixed it.

 

[Boyonabyke]

capnstem... here you go...

The baseline Q5 on the left, the 3 imposters in the November shipment.

Obviously, not the same emitters or boards.

Have you ordered any Trustfire 801's in November or later of 2008? This was from an order placed 11-11-08, and I switched every single pill to the body and battery/tail switch that was on the bright light, with no improvement on these single modes, which, through the process of elimination, has left me with the impression that these emitters are not Q5's, nor do the boards have the "Cree" logo.

Perhaps you can explain what the problem is with these three lights that I returned? I don't think that Deal Extreme did it, but I do believe TrustFire may have done it, substituting or putting in cheaper emitters to bolster their bottom line. Just my experience, yours may be different, but the 3 I got from the November order were not bright enough for riding at night on my bike, compared to the 2 that I ordered in October.

BTW, you can read about the problems on line on Deal Extremes website... both of the Q5 based TR801s now have complaints, one about emitters, the other about the current board used on the 5 mode and and the lack of brightness.

 

[capnstem]

Thanks for the pics. What a PITA - they are vastly different.

capnstem... here you go...
Have you ordered any Trustfire 801's in November or later of 2008?

Yup - got three for xmas. I sent them up to a friend.

Perhaps you can explain what the problem is with these three lights that I returned? I don't think that Deal Extreme did it, but I do believe TrustFire may have done it, substituting or putting in cheaper emitters to bolster their bottom line. Just my experience, yours may be different, but the 3 I got from the November order were not bright enough for riding at night on my bike, compared to the 2 that I ordered in October.

Totally agree - dont think that DX did it. I don't envy your position on this matter - cuz DX won't be the fastest to respond. One could say that you pay for what u get, but I have 2 riding buddies that bought some Fenix torches (look likes a Q5 that take 2 x CR123A batteries), and both their LEDs developed a brown spot under the glass hood after a couple of rides. They were pathetic in the brightness department after that. Those Fenix torches are well over $60.

BTW, you can read about the problems on line on Deal Extremes website... both of the Q5 based TR801s now have complaints, one about emitters, the other about the current board used on the 5 mode and and the lack of brightness.

I did a search for TR-801, and I just noticed that a 3 mode P4 version has been released. Maybe someone in the assembly plant got them mixed up. That is a version I have not seen before until today.