Innovations.
The 2007 NiteFLUX range adds a range of innovations to the solid foundation of the previous NiteFlux products. All features serve a useful purpose and add value and function with no gimmicks. The icons and paragraphs below outline just some of them.
Designed in Australia
All NiteFLUX rechargeable lighting systems are designed in Australia by experienced designers and engineers who actually ride. NiteFlux products do the job with performance and reliability to spare.
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Quality Construction
NiteFLUX lighting systems all share a solid alloy construction with premium anodised finish and laser etched logos for the ultimate in durability. NiteFlux lighting systems are exhaustively researched, tested and implemented. Our process of innovative electronics and industrial design results in high performance lights and components that will last many years of use. We build lighting for the regular user and the core components are built to last. The VisionStick Series Head units are strong - strong enough to park a car on top of!
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Electronic Brain
All NiteFLUX rechargeable lighting systems have a Brain (Electronic Management System). The Brain manages a range of control systems that optimise performance, prolong battery life and give optimum lighting control.
A pre-programmed micro controller with our own proprietary software controls functions like: Constant Watt Technology, low Battery warning, discharge protection, lighting modes, multi volt battery formats, soft start (halogen) Lamp replacement reminder (halogen)
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Constant Watt Technology (CWT)
Constant watt technology means constant brightness throughout the entire ride. CWT is built into every 2007 NiteFLUX rechargeable lighting systems.
Normally as the intensity of light significantly drops off with the natural decrease in voltage that occurs in the battery over the first 20% of the battery discharge cycle, as the battery progresses through its discharge cycle the intensity of the light continues to drop following the curve of the battery discharge.
Non - CWT lighting systems are getting tired when you are, so just when you need more help your light is losing light intensity making your job even harder.
With NiteFLUX's CWT function this will not happen!
Conversely the NiteFLUX CWT function keeps the power output at the most efficient predetermined level; most batteries depending on the sophistication of the charge management will over charge the battery which can lead to the battery holding extra voltage. For example a 6volt battery could be holding as much as 7volts after being charged, if this over charged battery was then connected to 6volt Halogen lamp it would be over-volted in the first part of the discharge cycle, some of our competitors lighting systems are already likely to be over-volting the light source so when battery is connected the extra unregulated voltage can do long term damage, reducing the life span of light source.
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Multi Stage Heat Sinking
A strategically designed large alloy heat sink, in conjunction with the outer alloy headlight body, provide three levels of stepped heat sinking. This draws heat quickly and effectively away from the LED, ensuring it maintains an optimal running temperature, even at higher wattages. Cooler LED's = Brighter Light.
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Li-Ion Batteries
It should be noted that Li-Ion batteries offer the ultimate in battery performance, it has double the battery capacity and is significantly lighter when compared to similar NiMh or NiCad batteries. Because Li-Ion batteries need sophisticated strict charge management they have not been widely used by the majority of lighting companies, to deliver consistent hi-quality Li-Ion battery charging at volume price points is something that can not be done by low tech manufactures using cheap off the shelf electronics. Further more Li-Ion batteries that have poor charge management or ineffective PCM's can be dangerous and will suffer from very poor life expectancy.
(Note: NiteFLUX uses there own proprietary patent pending PCM for class leading AAA Gold standard charge control)
The majority of chargers/power supplies on the market have outputs that are not strictly controlled especially at a level that is expectable or will deliver premium charging for Li-Ion batteries, this makes it impossible for the majority of lighting manufactures to guarantee optimum Li-Ion battery charging. That's why NiteFLUX batteries have there own proprietary in-built PCM for AAA Gold Standard charge management.
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Intelligent Charge Control (ICC)
A failing of many other bicycle lighting brands is complicated unreliable battery charging. NiteFLUX has set a new standard in Li-Ion charge control by building a sophisticated battery charge controller into every NiteFlux Li-Ion battery canister this comes in the form of a electronic circuitry called a Protection Circuitry Module (PCM).
NiteFLUX's unique specially designed Protection Circuit Module safe-guards the NiteFlux VisionStick battery from over-discharging, electrical shorts, thermal overloading and voltage spikes.
The PCM strictly monitors the battery charging cycle for optimum charge control ensuring the battery is not over charged or under charged - this prolongs the life of the battery and improves your run times.
Individual battery cell monitoring ensures all battery cells are being charged equally in a balanced fashion, this greatly increases the charge life and capacity of your battery and reducing the chances of future charging problems.
Individual battery cell monitoring is reasonably unique at this time in the bicycle lighting field, charging systems that do not have this depth of charge management can invariably end up with cell imbalances.
Cell imbalances inside your battery pack will cause a blockage in the cell chain preventing all the cells from charging equally, the longer this imbalance exists the worse the blockage and the greater the battery cells resistance to accepting a full charge, this leads to permanent cell damage and reduced run times/battery life.
The built in PCM also manages all the safety features that Li-Ion batteries require such as short circuit protection, over discharge protection, over charge protection and thermal cut-out.
From the user's perspective, charging is very simple; the battery gives an orange light while charging and a green light when done. The battery can remain connected to the charging power supply indefinitely as the built in controller maintains a safe level of charge at all times.
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Charge Status
Charging indication is built into all NiteFLUX Li-Ion batteries. Inside the battery there is a LED to show charge indication, the function of the LED is controlled by the protection circuit module ( PCM ), the LED shines out the clear bottom battery cap on 1cell and 3cell VisionStick Batteries while the charge indication on the 4cell batteries is centrally located LED in the centre of the top cap of the 4cell batteries - The LED shines Orange when charging and Green when charged.
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Low Battery Protection
Automatic shutdown of the light output occurs to prevent excessive discharge of battery, improving the long term battery life and performance.
Because of NiteFLUX's CWT operation you would not know when the Automatic Shutdown was about to occur - that's why we incorporated a low battery warning signal.
This low -battery signal occurs near the end of every battery discharge cycle in all NiteFLUX battery combinations.
This low warning signal is displayed by a brief blink through light output, the blink will increase in frequency as the end of the battery cycle approaches - the shut down process occurs in the last 4-5 minutes of the discharge cycle.
Over discharging batteries is one of the most prevalent reasons why batteries incur cell damage - NiteFLUX's automatic shut down prevents this and keeps about 10% charge capacity in the battery cells to protect them from being over discharged.
NiteFLUX 2007 Headlights have a Multi Volt Compatibility
Most lighting head unit formats on the market can only manage one input voltage. NiteFLUX VisionStick units are compatible with 3.7volt, 6volt,11volt battery which allows consumers to change and upgrade their battery formats.
VisionStick Battery compatibility for Constant Watt LED Head Units:
- 1 x cell Li-Ion
- 4 x cell NiMH-NiCad (year model - 2002 -2006)
- 5 x cell NiMH-NiCad (year model - 2002 -2006)
- 3 x cell Li-Ion
Note: The smart controller built into the head units automatically detects 1-cell Li-Ion, 5-cell NiMH and 3-cell Li-Ion.
4 cell VisionStick battery's model year 2002- 2006 require special start up sequence - the option can be is selected by holding the switch at the time of battery connection.
Runtime - on high/low/flash power as follows:
- 1-cell Li-Ion 2hrs/8hrs/8hrs
- 5-cell NiMH,2200mAh 3hrs/13hrs/13hrs
- 3-cell Li-Ion 6hrs/24hrs/24hrs
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High Intensity LED's
The use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in portable lighting is an industry that is growing very rapidly. NiteFLUX 2007 product line use only the best quality LED's available from the most respected manufacturers.
Market leading lumen maintenance, elevated standards of light output, thermal management and mechanical ruggedness make our choice High Intensity LED's the most relevant lighting source for super reliable everyday lighting.
Lumen life of our LED's is rated at 70% of original intensity after 50'000 hours use and a total service life of 100,000 hours.
Many counterfeits are available on the market today. Light output and long term function are dramatically reduced with these copies when compared to market leaders.
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Photon Max Temperature Sensor Limited
An in-built temperature sensor attached to the main heat wall monitors heat levels and constantly relays this information to the Brain. If temperatures get too high, the Brain will power down the LED's.
This feature is designed to protect the LED's from heat damage if the headlight was to get to hot. Because of the radical heat sinking used in the Photon Max the temperature sensor limiting in normal night time operation will never come into effect.
The only time it may come into effect is if the rider is stationary on the max power setting for extended time. The temperature sensor limiting may also come into effect or if the headlight was accidentally covered by something for a extended period.
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LED LENS
The LED lens delivery system is a specially made precision prism utilising total internal refraction. It is near 100% efficient.
NiteFLUX LED optics are the tightest on the market. Other-brand LEDs often make the mistake of spreading the light too far and giving a weak effect. NiteFlux LED lights are always intense.
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High Density Halogen Lamps
Halogen lighting is where NiteFLUX started - so when it comes to halogen lamp technology, we only work with specialist lamp manufacturers to create premium quality High Density Halogen Lamps. High Density halogen lamps burn brighter and run hotter than standard halogen bulbs to maximize light intensity.
Soft Start - Halogen Lamps
The Brain employs precision power management technology to 'soft start' halogen lamps which greatly reduces lamp stress.
When a halogen lamp turns on, initial current surges can be up to 20x the normal level. This initial current surge is a common cause of lamp failure. The NiteFLUX soft start brings the average current up gradually.
It should be noted that the majority of bicycle light manufactures over-volt halogen lamps to increase the light output. This increase in light comes at the cost of reduced lamp life but this is standard practice as the improvements in light-output outweigh the cyclist's needs for durability. Unfortunately, with other-brand lighting systems, the effect of battery volts on lamp life can be unpredictable.
Most comparative lighting systems have little or no power control so when you a connect a battery that has just been freshly charged it will some times be carrying extra voltage, standard 6volt battery will often be reading as high as 7.5volt so when you attach a bulb that is already over-volted, to a freshly charged battery it will be dramatically over-volted giving more intense light output but the stress on the bulb is much greater in the first stage of the discharge cycle.
NiteFLUX uses constant watt technology to drive our halogen lamps in a controlled way. NiteFlux halogen systems give excellent light output with predictable service life.
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Safety First Lamp Management
Even so with soft start and constant watt drive halogen lamps don't last forever - so the NiteFLUX Brain monitors lamp life and reminds the user to replace the lamp every 100hours.
We set the reminder at 100hours as half life of the lamp should give plenty of time to the user to arrange for a suitable replacement.
For premium safety we recommend that the lamp is replaced as soon as possible after the lamp replacement reminder.
This lamp replacement reminder is shown by a brief double blink every minute through the output of the Halogen lamp. This feature is user re-settable at time of lamp replacement when you turn the headlight on the first time hold the main mode switch down for 60 s and only takes a minute to reset.
The safety first lamp replacement reminder feature will increase the safety of the cyclist using who are using this light as their only lighting source
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Day Light Visible
The NiteFLUX LED head lights and the HID headlights are Day Light visible. Use the extra white light of the LED and HID head units in flash mode to increase the motorists awareness of a approaching cyclist in day light conditions.
NiteFLUX VisionStick - Flash Light Convertible
The whole VisionStick range is Flash-Light convertible so the product literally lives up to its name.
Although NiteFLUX VisionStick is primarily designed as a ultra reliable functional Bicycle Lighting system for the regular cyclist, the fact that it is flashlight convertible is a very useful function that is widely appreciated by all users.
To convert the system to hand flash light all it takes is a quarter turn of the head unit to screw the battery to the head unit, within seconds you have one of the most sophisticated hi-quality, strongly constructed, flash lights/hand torch made in the world today.
The dual functionality of the VisionStick gives a greater return on the investment for consumers; it's a product that can be used by all people not just the cyclist in the family
NiteFLUX patented Ballast and Trigger Assembly - HID / ARC 1.0
All arc lights depend on special ballast circuitry to power the lamp. All other-brand HID lights have the lighting part and the ballast share the same housing. Usually the ballast and lamp are a simple off-the-shelf module that the lighting company buys from another company. Housing the light and the ballast in the same housing makes the housing large and heavy and puts heat stress on the ballast electronics. This reduces the reliability of the system, especially in cheaper lighting brands with plastic housings.
The NiteFLUX HID ARC 1.0 uses a patented (pending) split system where the ballast electronics are kept safely away from the heat of the lamp. This system reduces the size and weight of the head unit and makes the ballast electronics more reliable.
In designing and manufacturing its own arc ballast, NiteFLUX also has complete control over all aspects of ballast function. For example, the NiteFlux HID ARC 1.0 is the world's only flashing arc light. The impact of this feature on day-time visibility for cyclists is fantastic.
HID / ARC 1.0 - Hard Wired
The battery is hard wired to the head unit we chose to do this to aid long term reliability.
At start-up a large 3000 volt current is generated by the ballast and delivered to the trigger assembly inside the head unit, this large voltage can cause problems with connections in HID systems, any slight contamination of plugs / connection can cause power transmission problems.
HID / ARC Flashing Mode - HID / ARC 1.0
No other HID system in the world has a flash mode currently, this makes the headlight especially visible at night and even in the day time.
NiteFLUX Handle Bar Bracket
The hinged handle bar bracket comes with sizing pads that allow a 21mm - 31.8mm Handle Bar adjustment allowing you to mount the headlight to any handle bar assembly.
The handle bar bracket is constructed from high quality plastic and is fibre reinforced for long tem strength that remains flexible and strong.
The handle bar bracket full removes from the bicycle when not in use laving your handle bar uncluttered.
The head unit has 360 degree pivot that allows custom positioning of the headlight to suit a variety of locations, the pivot tension can be controlled by a central screw that is of a self locking design that does not come loose.
NiteFLUX Quick Strap Double Bracket for VisionStick range
The Quick Strap Double Bracket mounts directly to your frame via your water bottle cage mounts, it fits neatly under your water cage if required.
The bracket has will carry up to 2 batteries, the battery has a neat pressure fit the double bracket and is quickly secured in place by the pull over rubber strap.
The Quick Strap Double bracket is constructed from high quality plastic and is fibre reinforced for long tem strength that remains flexible and strong. The rubber straps are UV stabilized to have long service life.
Heat Sinking and LED performance
Heat sinking and lighting performance go together because Hi-Intensity LED's have a maximum operational temperature, once this temperature is exceeded you get no increase in lighting output and you can potentially damage the LED.
If the thermal management is excellent you can run the LED at higher power increasing the light output while still staying within the maximum temperature guide lines.
All NiteFLUX lighting heads are alloy construction with purpose-built heat sinking for optimum cooling of LED emitters. This allows NiteFlux LEDs to outperform other-brand lights of plastic construction.
Alloy construction also makes the headlight incredibly strong.
Photon Max Heat Sinking
The Photon Max Head unit is installed with 3 Hi-Intensity LEDs, behind the beautifully sculpted covers is an extensively finned heat sink, the LEDs mount directly to a central heat wall, which is at the heart of the deeply finned one piece alloy casting. From the centre wall heat is transferred to the multi- facetted fins running horizontally on the sides and vertically to and bottom.
The surface area created from 19 separate fins increases the surface area massively for improved heat transfer and quick cooling. The design of the Photon Max allows cool air to flow through from front of the light and with the aid of the specially designed covers to capture and direct the air flow through the core of heat sink and out the rear of the light.
This design allows the natural movement of the headlight on the bicycle to provide a forced cooling effect allowing for a controlled Hi-Watt running of the LED's for significant improvements in light output.
This radical heat sinking is needed because when three Hi-Intensity LEDs are running at full power, a lot of heat is produced. In other-band lights the LEDs will rapidly hit thermal maximum, declining the effective light output.
Nobody in the lighting industry heat-sinks more successfully and radically than NiteFLUX.
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