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.

There is no such thing as a fast charger for Li-Ion batteries. A conservative estimate of time charging and how much battery charge has been topped up is given at about 1:1, i.e. hours to charge = hours used. This estimate is good for use whether using the car plug unit or the mains plug unit, you cannot over charge the battery.

When charging, a red LED will indicate the lamp is in charging mode.

When the lamp battery is fully charged, the indicator LED will turn green again.

It is okay to recharge the lamp at anytime; discharging fully before recharging is not necessary or recommended.

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.

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.

Long-term Care

The lamp's charging socket has a cover. If dirt, mud, grit should pass this; clean out with nonconducting tools, such as a wooden toothpick etc. Never use a metal pin or metal tweezers etc, i.e. do not use anything that will create a short across the charging terminals. Creating a battery short will initiate a battery shutdown, the lamp will have to be returned to us to be reset.

If you notice the charging mode LED flickering when connecting the lamp to the charger you may need to clean the terminals. This is best done with a suitable 1mm diameter 'terminal cleaning roll' made from a 25mm square of flour paper. Flour paper is the very finest abrasive paper for wood. First clean one terminal, then re-roll the roll so it is inside out and clean the other terminal.

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.

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.

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 charger, however, as 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 4.18V - 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? i.e. 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. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion battery does not cause harm because there is no memory effect. '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.

Q9. My Lamp has developed a fault, can it be repaired?

A9. The TROGLITE^® is an extremely sturdy animal. However if you do have a problem, for a small fee we can repair and reseal your lamp. Please  contact us  before returning your lamp. We will always give a service that gives you what you want!

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.