Looking After Your TROGLITE™
 
Charging Information
 
The lamp uses sophisticated electronics to control the main LED Emitter and the 6 Pilot LED's. A Constant level of lighting is provided while the battery has a useful charge.
 
When the LED's cut out the lamp should be at least semi-charged ASAP.
 
A conservative estimate of time charging and how much battery charge has been topped up is given at about 1:1, ie hours charged = hours main beam use. This estimate is good for use whether using the car plug unit or the mains plug unit, you cannot over charge the battery.
 
Both the car plug and the mains plug indicate a green LED when plugged into power or powered indirectly via a timer-plug. This shows the charger is good to start charging. To limit spark potential while connections are made, the mains plug unit should be connected to the AC supply before connecting to the lamp, the car plug unit should be connected to the DC supply before connecting to the lamp.
 
When using the mains plug, a red LED will indicate the lamp is in charging mode.
 
When the lamp battery is fully charged, the mains plug LED will turn green again.
 
When charged from empty for about 10 hours the TROGLITE™ main light can last 12 hours continuous.
 
It is okay to recharge the lamp at anytime; discharging fully before recharging is not necessary.
 
It is always best practice, for safety reasons, to charge fully before use to insure the maximum light time is available. However, this is not essential. Example, using the lamp for short durations while the user notes the discharge times, there is no need to recharge the lamp until nearly discharged.
 
Please Note: When the Car Plug Unit is connected to the 12V DC supply or the TROGLITE™, the charger LED will show a continuous green. At present it does not show the Charging Mode as a red LED.
 
FAQ's
 
Q1. When using the car-charger with the vehicle ignition switched off, will the lamp still charge?
A1. Check the circuit of your vehicle car-plug socket. A quick test is to plug the unit alone into the socket. Check the LED colour while the ignition is turned off. If the charger LED lights up green when the ignition is off then it is ready to start charging. At present the 'car-plug charger' will not allow you to visually distinguish between charging and idle states. As with the mains plug the charger LED when GREEN will indicate a connection to either power supply or lamp battery.
 
Q2. Can the lamp be safely left on charge all the time, in say a store - or does the charger need to be unplugged once the green LED comes back on?
A2. When fully charged the mains plug LED indicates green. This means the lamp is fully charged. It will not charge any more. It is safe to leave connected to the mains plug. With all temporary electrical circuits it is safer to disconnect from any power supply if left unmonitored. Close inspection of connections is advised each time a connection or disconnection is made.
 
Q3. When using the mains plug on a timer-plug, after it switches off automatically will the lamp then discharge through charger?
A3. Either charger type connected to the lamp battery without a power supply will keep the charger low power LED alight; it will not discharge by very much. However, it is best to check the state of the battery before use by starting the charger again. A red LED on the mains plug will indicate charging mode but it should turn green very soon after.
 
Q4. What are the specifications for the charging rate?
A4. The normal charging current ranges from 500-800mA. The charging voltage is 4.2V - 4.25V DC. The TROGLITE™ is supplied with two charging systems that will recharge the TROGLITE™ correctly. Use of any other charger is NOT recommended and ill-advised. Charging with the wrong voltage WILL cause damage to the internal Li-Ion battery.
 
Q5. What is the best state for long-term storage - Fully charged? 40% charged? Empty of charge?
A5. 40%- 75% charged. There is no need to fully-charge the lamp. If possible store the lamp in a cool place, avoid keeping the battery at full charge and at high temperature. Manufacturers recommend storage temperatures of 15°C (59°F). Never store the battery fully discharged. Apply some charge before storage, and then charge fully before use.
 
Q6. Does the battery suffer long-term damage if left empty of charge?
A6. Yes and No! It is okay to leave it empty for short periods, but it is better for the battery to have 40%-75% charge as answer 5.
 
Q7. What is the maximum period before the lamp must be recharged? ie is it urgent to recharge?
A7. Lithium-Ion batteries do not like to being left in a completely discharged state for long periods. It is better to reapply some charge, sooner than later.
 
Q8. What is the best practice for my TROGLITE battery?
A8. Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion battery does not cause harm because there is no memory. 'Lithium-ion' is a low maintenance battery, an advantage that most other battery chemistries cannot claim. No periodic discharge/recharge cycling is required to prolong the battery's life. In addition, the self-discharge is less than half compared to nickel-cadmium.
 
Long-term Care
 
When using the lamp in wet conditions the external charging terminals may get damp. The terminals initially have Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) applied to them in order to protect them.
 
It is worth applying a blob of petroleum jelly directly into the 'dry' charging-hole, if using in wet conditions. This will safeguard the terminals from corrosion in the long-term.
 
Please note: The hole should be thoroughly dry before applying the petroleum jelly to avoid trapping moisture inside the hole.
 
Prevent Loss
 
It is recommended that you use a lanyard to secure your lamp against unexpected loss. Attach one end to the small ring on the lamp and the other to your caving helmet.