DURASTAR BICYCLE HEADLIGHT

Benex Durastar Bicycle Headlight, retail $16 (http://cgi.ebay.com...)
Manufactured by Benex (URL not known)
Last updated 05-04-04




The Durastar Bicycle Headlight is a compact, 8-LED bike light that has three modes (plus off), and feeds from three AAA cells. The Durastar is attractive, mounts to your bike handlebars, and can be quickly and easily detached from its bracket to take with you to help prevent theft or to use it like a conventional flashlight.

It comes in a silver and black plastic case, and is said to be water-resistant so you don't need to take it off your bike if it rains.


SIZE



To use the Durastar, feed it (see below) and mount it to your bicycle handlebars (see even farther below) first. Since I do not own a bicycle and the Durastar does not fit on my wheelchair, I won't have any pictures to show you how it's mounted.

Press and release the button on top of the Durastar once to turn the four center LEDs on, press & release it again to turn all eight LEDs on, press & release it a third time to blink all eight of the LEDs in unison at an approximately 2Hz rate (approximately 2 flashes a second), and finally, press & release the button a fourth time to turn the Durastar off.
Just like it says on the back of the shampoo bottle; lather, rinse, repeat.



To change the batteries in your Durastar, hold it upright and aiming away from you, then turn it 90° to the right. Insert the blade of a standard screwdriver or a coin into the slot you see, and turn counterclockwise (as if loosening it) approximately 1/4 of a turn until this lid pops up. Pull this lid straight out. This will be the battery carriage. Remove the three cells if necessary, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit.

Insert three new AAA cells into the chambers in this carriage, so the spring in each chamber faces the flat (-) negative terminal of the battery.

Slide the now-full carriage back into the circular opening in the side of the Durastar for it. Rotate (spin) this carriage until it slides down into the opening. Using your coin or screwdriver, press down on the lid until it's flush with the battery opening, and turn it approximately 1/4 of a turn clockwise (as if tightening it). It will stop turning when it's all the way on.

There are no statements of current consumption or expected battery life; I guess it's up to me to determine that. :-)




Photograph of the business-end of this light, showing the 8 white LEDs and reflector. The reflector is there for cosmetic purposes only; and does not aid in redirection of the light. The LEDs' own optics do that for you.

To affix the Durastar to your bicycle handlebars, place one or both rubber pads (included with the package) over your handlebars (depending on the diameter of the tubing) where you want the Durastar to go. Unscrew the screw on the bracket with a medium phillips screwdriver. Be careful that the nut on the other side doesn't get away. Slide the bracket onto your handlebars from the end of the handlebars. Slide it to where you placed the rubber pad(s), directly over the pad(s). Be sure the part of the bracket with the screw and nut faces forward. Tighten it firmly, not forgetting about that nut. With the bracket in place and tightened, you can now affix the Durastar to it. Place the post on the Durastar over the opening in the bracket for it, and press it down to snap it into place.

To remove the Durastar to prevent theft or to use it like a regular flashlight, press and hold in the dark clear red button on the back of the bracket, and lift the Durastar straight off. Then you can let go of the button.

I don't believe the Durastar is bright enough to use as a true headlight, but it will enable others to see YOU coming. So don't give up on it just because it's a bit on the dim side. Other pedestrians, bicyclers, and automobile drivers will definitely see you when you have a Durastar bike headlight on your handlebars.

There is no statement as to the degree of water-resistance, other than it reading "water resistant" on the front of the package. There is an O-ring between the battery carriage lid and the battery compartment, but when the light was relieved of its battery carriage and then suctioned, air was able to pass through. I don't know where the air is getting in, but it's getting in there somewhere. So while it may very well be weather-resistant, you probably don't want to drop the Durastar in creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, docks, seasides, puddles of frog pee, snowbanks, piles of slush, mud puddles, toilets, tubs, sinks, fishtanks, pet water dishes, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found. If it gets wet inside, remove the battery carriage and batteries, and set the pieces in a warm, dry place for a few days just to be sure it's all the way dry inside. If it fell into seawater or if something went potty on it, douche the parts off in fresh water before setting them out to dry to flush out the salt and so it doesn't smell like seashells or piss when you're ready to use it again.



Beam photo (4 LEDs lit) at ~12".
Measures 25,700mcd.



Beam photo (8 LEDs lit) at ~12".
Measures 51,900mcd.
Both measurements were taken using a Meterman LM631 light meter.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was bought on Ebay and was received yesterday (05-03-04). The link I bought it from is right here, and will expire on 07-29-04. When this link expires, you can check the View seller's other items page and see if this light is still being sold. As of today (05-04-04), there is one unit available.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Benex
    PRODUCT TYPE: Bicycle headlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 8
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow flood with soft corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Digitally-controlled pushbutton mode change on top of light
    BEZEL: LEDs and reflector protected by curved plastic window
    BATTERY: 3x AAA cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Splash-resistant at very minimum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Handlebar clamp, two rubber inserts or pads for clamp
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Benex Durastar Bike Light * http://cgi.ebay.com...






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