LightCap FAQ
Q. The light flickers during the day?
Q. Does the light heat up the water?
Q. The LightCap bottle feels heavy. How much does it weigh?
Q. How long will the light last?
Q. Does the light affect the water?
Q. What do I need this thing for?
Q. Why do I need a light in my bottle?
Q. Can I put something other than water in the bottle?
Q. Can I wash it in a dishwasher?
Q. Can I leave the light on all night?
Q. Can I take it up in an airplane without it exploding?
Q. Can I change the batteries?
Q. Does the LightCap need bright sun to charge?
Q. What's with the issue of BPA in water bottles?
Q.
The light flickers during the day?
A. The light sensor is turning it off. Cover
the light sensor (the small hole opposite
the switch on the top of the cap).
Q. Does the light
heat up the water?
A. No - LEDs put out virtually no heat.
Q. Can I use it
upside down?
A. Of course; the cap is totally sealed.
Q. The LightCap
bottle feels heavy. How much does it weigh?
A. The LightCap weighs 10.8 oz. A comparably-sized
Nalgene weighs 6.2 oz the difference is
4.6 oz. You get a BIGGER, BETTER bottle
AND a flashlight AND a lantern AND a safety
red light AND the coolest thing on the block
for 4.6oz. The weight of two swallows of
water. Gulp.
Q. How long will
the light last?
A. On a full charge (12 hours in direct
sun) the white LED will last 8-10 hours
while the red LED will last 16-18 hours.
You may get more or less time depending
on the temperature since battery performance
goes down in cold temperatures.
Q. What happens
if I drop it?
A. If you drop it 10 stories onto the street
it will probably break. So would you. But
under normal conditions (dropping 2-3 feet,
not onto a sharp edge) your LightCap will
be fine.
Q. Does the light
affect the water?
A. Nope. Never touches it. But at night
you CAN see how much is left!
Q. What do I need this thing for?
A. If you're going on a hike, backpacking trip, camp out, overnight kayak or raft trip, outing on your boat or in your camper, chances are good you'll be taking a water bottle with you. Chances are also good you'll be taking a flashlight, headlamp and/or lantern. And there's also the chance you'll forget your light or the batteries will be dead. When you take a LightCap, you NEVER have to worry about dead batteries or forgetting a light: it's always there. So instead of taking 2-3 different items, you only have to remember one. Simple, durable, versatile.
Q. Why do I need a light in my bottle?
A. You don't. But if you're going to take a flashlight/lantern AND a waterbottle, why not take JUST a LightCap instead? The LightCap is NOT a light in a bottle: it's a tough, well designed water bottle AND a solar-powered lantern all in one.
Q. Can I put something other than water in the bottle?
A. You bet. The polycarbonate plastic won't absorb flavors, smells or colors (so you won't have to worry that today's milk will taste like yesterday's lemon-aid). But why stop there: you can also stuff it with first aid supplies, a dry t-shirt or socks, camera or cell phone. Remember: it's water-tight…. and it floats!
Q. Can I wash it in a dishwasher?
A. The bottle: yes. The cap: no. While the cap is water-tight, it probably wouldn't enjoy the scrubbing bubbles or harsh heat of a dishwasher. Just wash it lightly (and quickly) with warm, soapy water and dry the top well.
Q. Can I leave the light on all night?
A. Sure! If it's just to use as a nightlight (or to find your water bottle in the dark) we suggest using the red LED which will last much longer than the white LED (and take less battery power).
Q. Can I take it up in an airplane without it exploding?
A. We sure hope so. We recommend that you loosen the cap if it's in your luggage (without water, of course). The seals in the electronic portion of the cap are designed to withstand pressures (or more precisely, lack of pressure) up to 40,000'.
Q. Can I use it underwater?
A. Although it might work if submerged for a few feet for a couple minutes, we certainly don't recommend it. And if you send it back to us for a replacement and we find fish inside we'll KNOW you did a no-no.
Q. Can I change the batteries?
A. Yes, if you're VERY careful and somewhat mechanical. Simply remove all the screws in the cap (being VERY careful not to lose all the little O-rings) until you unearth the two rechargeable AA Ni-Cad batteries. Change them for new ones if they won't hold a charge anymore (they are good for at least 1,000 cycles-3-4 years worth). Or return the cap to us and we'll do it for you.
Q. Does the LightCap need bright sun to charge?
A. No. In fact, it will continue to charge in ANY light. It will charge the fastest in bright, direct sunshine; less so in overcast or shady conditions (50%-80% slower). But it will even charge inside a room with the lights on. Whenever the solar panel is exposed to light, it's charging.
Q. Can I overcharge it?
A. Nope. Our charging circuit is designed to prevent that.
Q. Why have a red LED?
A. Several reasons. First of all, a red LED draws less power than white, so the light from it will last almost twice as long (up to 20 hours on a charge). If you just want a nightlight, need a red safety light, want to keep track of your water bottle at night, or live in Antarctica, use the red LED. Finally, red light 'protects' your night vision. White light dilates the pupils in your eyes (you know how long it takes to see again at night after you turn on a bright light). Red light doesn't dilate your pupil nearly as much, so your night vision is 'protected'.
