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1.
Q: Can I design the light to my specification?
A: Yes. OEM orders are supported – we offer customized design as well as standard design. Our factory has passed the ISO9001:2008 and UL-STR quality management audits and our production capacity is reliable.
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2.
Q: Can I buy spare parts for my light?
A: Yes. We have all kinds of spares including battery packs, battery bags, O-rings, helmet straps, head straps, extension cables and more. Click on 'Accessories' for the complete list. You can buy directly from us or from our dealers.
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3.
Q: What is battery life expectancy?
A: The battery cells have a 3-year life span with good care and routine maintenance, and you can expect 300-500 charge/discharge cycles. The battery will discharge during storage, so charge to 50% capacity before storing to prevent over-discharge during a long period of storage. Every 3 to 4 months connect the battery to the light to use up the remaining capacity, and then charge again to 50% capacity before continuing storage. As with most batteries, several factors can influence their life span and performance – battery voltage and capacity can be affected by low temperatures, especially below freezing.
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4.
Q: Are UGOE lights waterproof?
A: Yes, our entire range of lights is IP65 qualified, which means the light and battery are protected from dust and low-pressure jets of water from all directions, with limited ingress permitted. This means they can be used in all kinds of weather including heavy rain. However, we strongly advise against submerging the lights underwater as they are not designed to operate this way.
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5.
Q: How many lux do our lights produce?
A: We do not provide lux values for our lamps, but only lumen values. Lux values are not reliable for judging the brightness of a lamp, because the luminance is only measured in one single point at a defined distance from the light source. The more focused the light, the higher the lux value. This value is not significant when it comes to real-life use; for example, a laser pointer produces an extremely high lux value, but it is not suitable for lighting purposes. A lumen, on the other hand, is a measure of the total amount of light produced by a light source.
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6.
Q: Which current technology being used to make cycling lights better?
A: LEDs have rapidly developed in the last several years, and they continue to push brighter and more energy-efficient lighting systems.
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7.
Q: Has battery technology advanced?
A: Battery technology has changed significantly since the rise of lithium-ion cells. The same compact batteries used to power our laptops, smartphones, and other consumer electronics are now found in bicycle lights. Lights are now lighter-weight and less bulky while maintaining the same run times, or even increased run times in some cases.
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8.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges for lighting manufacturers?
A: Staying up to date on the constant advancements in LED and electronics technology can be a challenge!
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9.
Q: People often get watts and lumens confused.What’s the difference between them?
A: Watt is the measurement of electrical power being used by a source, such as an LED. Higher wattage means a higher rate of energy being used and does not necessarily correlate to making the light brighter. On the other hand, lumen is the unit of measurement for the amount of light emitted by a source, and the higher the lumen does mean the brighter the light.
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10.
Q: What’s the best way to measure a light’s brightness?
A: An integrating sphere can be used to measure quantitative brightness, but it’s also the most expensive and least practical method for the average consumer. An easier way is to try different lights side by side, and compare the throw and side spread. See if the lights fit your needs, and try ones with different amounts of power.
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11.
Q: What do different flash patterns do?
A: Flash patterns are meant to be attention grabbers. However, flashing patterns should be used during daylight hours only. During daylight or dusk, ambient light already illuminates the cyclist’s path, so a steady beam (to see) isn’t as necessary. Instead, a flash setting (to be seen) can be a better option. Faster flash settings are more noticeable and geared to be used in higher-traffic situations, while slower flash settings can be used in lower-traffic situations.
Then at night, when there is minimal ambient light, the headlight’s steady modes should be used to properly illuminate the cyclist’s path. The high, medium, and low brightness modes help make sure cyclists have plenty of light to see what’s up ahead and to be seen from behind. If the setting is overpowered by the surroundings, then switching to a brighter mode is important.
Laws regarding lights may vary across jurisdictions, so it’s important that cyclists always check and abide by local and state regulations.
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12.
Q: What are some misconceptions about visibility at night for cyclists?
A: SProbably the notion that cycling at night is much more dangerous than during the day because of the lack of surrounding light. With proper lighting and safety precautions, cyclists can safely see and be seen from far distances. Proper lighting can be subjective but should include a light or combination of lights to help the cyclist assess and navigate their surroundings safely. This may include the use of a handlebar light to illuminate the way ahead, a helmet light to see farther up or around turns, and a tail light to be visible to the traffic behind. The use of these lights in conjunction with bright reflective clothing and bicycle reflectors is recommended to maximize a cyclist’s visibility at all times.
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13.
Q: What will the bike lights like in the future, or what’s the trends for bicycle lights? Any predictions for the future?
A: The modern USB-rechargeable one-piece design, first pioneered by Cygolite, continues to prove popular among cyclists. Following consumer demand, most current lighting systems are USB-rechargeable and will continue to be refined moving forward. We anticipate these lights to get more powerful and longer lasting with newer features that add to the safety and convenience of use for the cyclists. UGOE bicycle lights will develop along the trends as well.
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14.
Q: What suggestions do UGOE have for light system care that will help get the longest life out of the batteries, and light units in general?
A: Most lithium-ion batteries and chargers have built-in smart chips that optimize the lifespan of the battery when used regularly. For long-term storage, it’s recommended to have the battery partially charged and near room temperature.
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15.
Q: How does a bicycle dynamo work?
A: A bicycle dynamo is a type of generator attached to a bicycle to produce electricity for the bicycle’s lights. The top of the dynamo touches the tire’s rim, which spins when the bicycle starts moving. Currently, the term dynamo refers to mechanisms that are capable of producing direct current, such as the small devices fitted to bicycles to generate power for the lights.
Typically, a bicycle dynamo has one or more permanent magnets with coils of wire spinning inside their poles. The device consists of a stationary part called a sator and a rotating part called an armature. When the coil spins in the magnetic field created by the magnets, the magnetic flux begins to change trough the coils, resulting in an electric field that generates the charge carriers through the wire. This process produces an electric current. Small bicycle dynamos attain a low efficiency in converting mechanical motion into electricity. However, there are large machines, such as water wheels, that attain high efficiency under ideal conditions.
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16.
Q: How does a dynamo generator work?
A: Generating electrical power from a dynamo starts with a mechanical power source, such as a turbine. According to the Edison Tech Center, this turbine can be driven by steam, falling water, gas pressure or wind. The spinning turbine is connected to the generator via a freely rotating shaft that transfers rotary power to the dynamo.
At the heart of a dynamo's action is a single magnet rotating within the field generated by another magnet. The stationary magnet is known as the stator, and it generates a powerful field through which the mobile magnet can be rotated. The movement of this second magnet distorts the stationary field and generates an electric charge. Moving a wire back and forth inside this field generates an electric current that can be sent down the wires, as reported by the Edison Tech Center. These magnets usually aren't natural or permanent magnets, but electrically charged copper wires, which are easier to control.
