Well I knew that eventually it would happen, I also knew that in so producing this they would manage to shoot themselves in the foot at the same time, and they haven’t let me down.
First I would like to explain about Chinese methodology. They have factories producing the different components which are then selected to assemble into the final retail product. As such they are producing a huge quantity of bike lights, headlights, and torches all assembled into bodies produced as aluminium die castings. Now I have to say that the quality of these castings is extremely high, I am using them as a basis for my new Lynx series of lamps.
Unfortunately, after this stage is where things start to go slightly astray.
The new lamp is produced under a brand name of “NaturalShine” and in the form of two models, the Caveman 3000 and Caveman Compact. Not having had opportunity to see one of these I can only judge by photos and description and apologise to both manufacturer and reseller for any errors.
Here are some links to websites currently offering these, no doubt more will follow and at some stage they will probably be available from DX and Kaidomain as well. Also other lamps will appear based on the same aluminium die castings.
http://www.naturalshine.eu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=147:caveman_3000&Itemid=117 http://professionalsportlights.com/gb/caving/17-caveman-compact.html Now that you know what they are called you will be able to google up other links for yourself.
From the description its obvious that they are using bike light drivers with the 3000 model having its 5 LEDs parallel wired which is their standard practice. As you will see it operates with all 5 on at once through a range of settings including 3 silly flashing modes that we all love to hate. The idea of having one beam to four bare emitters simultaneously is very Chinese!
The Caveman Compact looks by far the most useful of the two as it offers choice of either just the beam or combined beam and flood, obviously using some kind of relay circuit similar to my old UniStar. Only thing here is that I bet money that the relay is outward to the driver so combined mode shares the total output. Again we have the obligatory flashes.
In true Chinese style it also claims a maximum output of 3000 lumens from two emitters.
The thing to remember as well with these lamps is not to expect any useful ‘walk mode’ that gives compromise between a practical light level and battery life, but one big plus for these though is IP 68 waterproof, assuming that quality control does not miss the odd bad assembly.
As I have said the most useful of the two seems to be the compact, and one website is offering it at 175 Euros. Eventually when production increases the price will probably come down and then no doubt people such as me will be buying them in to modify the electronics to a more useful and practical format prior to reselling.
My avatar is a poor likeness.