Commute all week on a single charge.
If you're like many Rock the Bike readers and community members, you crave the Side Visibility the Down Low Glow provides, but you already have a handful of devices you need to remember to charge up regularly -- your cell phone, digital camera, and MP3 player, to name a few. The longer these devices last between charges, the more the benefits of using them outweigh the hassle of having to remember to recharge them. And with 25% longer battery life, the Down Low Glow just took a big step in the right direction.
By working closely with our suppliers of rechargeable batteries and CFL lamps, we've increased the capacity of our batteries without increasing their size or weight, and reduced the power consumption of our light tubes without decreasing their brightness.
Here are the numbers from recent testing with a fully charged, standard DLG battery.
|
Dual Tube system: All tests begin at 12 noon. 12 - 3:10: Both lights at full brightness. 3:10 - 3:45: One of two light tubes at full brightness. The other at 50% brightness, indicating low battery. As you get to use your DLG system regularly, you'll realize that it's always the same tube that goes dim first. Once you figure out which tube stays bright longer, make sure you position that tube in the front of your bike, where it delivers the maximum safety benefit. 4:10 - 4:20: Both light tubes noticeably dimmer than full brightness. DLG safety benefit diminished. 4:35: Light recedes, no longer providing effective visibility. |
|
Single Tube system: Test data yet. What follows are conservative estimates: 12 - 5:30: Light tube at full brightness. 5:25 - 6:00 Light tube at 50% brightness, but still providing a safety benefit. 6:15: Light recedes in tube, no longer providing effective visibility. |
One thing to notice about these numbers is that Dual-tube Down Low Glow systems now have a full hour of 'low-battery' light. This 'low-battery' light still provides you with effective visibility, and is an easy cue for you to know when to recharge your battery.
Most bike commuters can get where they're going at night in less than an hour. This means that as long as your DLG was at full brightness on your last ride, you know you'll at least be covered for safety on your ride tonight. Even if the DLG begins to dim on your ride, it will continue providing you with useful side visibility for another hour (closer to two hours on a single tube system).
Social rides are different. On a social ride, you may want to stay out for hours, so you'll definitely want to start with a fully charged battery.