Halogen lights for Bicycle Front Lighting
Although these lights were primarily designed for off-road use, where they are almost universal, many commuters and transportational cyclists now choose to use high-power halogen front lights which operate from a NiMH, lead-acid, or Li-ion rechargeable battery pack.
The lights used by most halogen rechargeable systems are cheap, bright but fairly simple: they project a cone of light (wide and narrow beam options are available) which is good for off-road use but not ideal for road use as it can dazzle oncoming road users. This is why rechargeable halogen lights do not meet legal requirements in some jurisdictions.
Many systems use standard commercial prefocused optics, making a wide range of power and beam width combinations available. Most systems allow simultaneous connection of different lamps – for example, a wide and a narrow beam for off-road riding, or a high- and a low-power beam for road riding.
Advantages of rechargeable halogen systems
- High power output
- Readily available
- Reasonable battery capacity
- Very reliable
- Can usually be easily removed from the bicycle or to prevent theft
- Lamps are cheap and widely available.
Disadvantages
- Limited run-time between battery recharges
- Hassle of being certain to keep batteries charged
- Batteries have limited life, typically 500-1000 recharge cycles
- Power cycling reduces lamp life