Li-Ion batteries are used in all current Light & Motion dive lights. Here are some helpful tips to keep you happy and your light healthy:
1) Out of the box, always fully charge your system before its first use. Systems are shipped only partially charged and must be fully charged to achieve proper run time. Most lights require a break-in period of a couple dives and charges to accurately calibrate the run-time indicator lights.
2) Charge before you dive if you haven't charged it in the last few days or weeks. Naturally, Li-Ion batteries will slowly lose their charge when not in use. If you're ever feeling like your run-time (burn-time) was low on a particular dive, think back to when you charged it last. If it was recent, try a run-time test to verify the condition of your battery. Use the link below for instructions on how to test your light.
3) Give the light a full charge before storing it long-term. It is recommended to pull the light from storage every 8-12 weeks and top off the charge. This will not only improve the longevity of the battery, but also taking a moment to test the light prevents any surprises if the light fails to turn on as you prepare for the first dive trip of the season.
Depleted lights that are stored without receiving a charge will likely enter deep discharge in a short amount of time. The lights will go into a protective state (hibernation) then begin to decay. This results in a slow loss of runtime, and once the battery cannot achieve its minimum voltage to perform, it will fail to turn on. There isn't a predictive formula to determine rates of battery decay and it can vary depending on ambient temperature, remaining charge, and the Sola model.
A light that doesn't receive a charge for a minimum of 24hrs after it has been completely drained (discharged) has the potential to enter hibernation to protect the battery. This can happen after a day of diving, or months after storing the light depending on the remaining charge. Hibernation has a distinctive symptom--trying to turn the light on or charging it will yield no response from the indicator lights.
Use this link if you think your Sola battery may be in hibernation. It will guide you through the steps to "wake" it back up.
4) Check in with your light at least 4 weeks prior to any trip. Is the battery charging; do all the functions work properly? If not, this gives you plenty of time to contact our customer support team and resolve the issue.
Please leave us an email so we can help get your light ready for the next adventure!