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LIGHT OUTPUT (BULBS):
Q. One of the lights on my Dual
system is brighter than the other?
A. That is correct. All Nite Hawk 12 Volt Dual systems are
supplied with a 10 watt bulb and a 20 watt bulb. The Nite
Hawk Viper Dual is supplied with a 5 watt bulb and a 10
watt bulb.
Q. Are there lower wattage bulbs
available?
A. The bulbs available for the 12 Volt systems are 10 and
20 watts. The 20 watt can be removed and replaced with a
second 10 watt bulb. The bulbs available for the 6 Volt
Viper systems are 5 and 10 watts. Use only Nite Hawk Parts.
Q. Can I use any MR-11 halogen
bulb?
A. No, only Nite Hawk MR-11 halogen bulbs are to be used.
Even though MR-11 halogen bulbs look the same, they are
not. These bulbs can differ in length and design. These
differences will cause the Light system to function incorrectly.
This could cause damage to the light head pods, or could
prevent the O-ring seal from working to keep your Nite Hawk
water resistant.
Q. Can I / How do I replace
the MR-11 halogen bulbs?
A. (The instructions are listed in the owners guide). Once
you have purchased a Nite Hawk replacement bulb remove the
light head pod from the quick release base. First: MAKE
SURE THE LIGHT IS COOL. NEVER TRY TO REPLACE A HOT BULB.
Next, unscrew the three screws that hold the front cover
in place. Then gently pry the MR-11 bulb out of the light
head pod. (A small flat head screw driver works well).
Now line up the two prongs on the MR-11 Bulb with the two
holes in the socket inside the light head pod and insert
the bulb. Finally, replace the front cover and tighten the
three front cover screws so that the front cover is snug
against the pod body - do not over tighten the three front
cover screws or they will strip the plastic. You can order
new Nite Hawk bulbs from your dealer or at the Parts &
Accessory Order Form.
Q. A rock hit the MR-11 bulb
and the glass cover broke, can I still use the bulb?
A. No. If the glass cover is broken the light should be
replaced immediately. Be careful when replacing the bulb.
You can order new Nite Hawk bulbs from your dealer or call
Nite Hawk toll free: 888-218-7777.
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LIGHT
HEAD PODS:
Q. How can I distinguish between
the 12 Volt 10 and the 20 Watt light head pods?
A. The 20 Watt light head pod has a silver dot on the bottom.
Q. How can I distinguish between
the Viper 5 and the 10 Watt light head pods?
A. The 0 Watt light head pod has a silver dot on the bottom.
Q. The light head is not completely
secure. What went wrong?
A. Ensure that the handle bar light base "Item C in
the instructions" has been installed correctly on the
handlebar. The directional arrow must face toward the front
of you bicycle.
A. Make sure that you have inserted the light head pod into
the light base. There should be a definite 'click' sound
as the quick release locking mechanism engages.
Q. Is it okay to ride in the
rain?
A. Yes, all Nite Hawk systems are water resistant. There
is an O-Ring seal in the front of the light head and one
in the bottom rear of the light head. (In addition, the
switches are fully water proof). The battery case has also
been designed to ride in the rain.
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SWITCHES
& POWER CONNECTIONS:
Q. I have small handle bars
/ grip shifts and do not have room to mount my switches?
A. Handlebar clutter is always an issue with cyclists. We
have endeavored to remedy this issue for those with this
problem. Most Nite Hawk systems has been designed with narrow
bases. (Almost half the width of the original Nite Hawk).
In addition, we have designed the Nite Hawk 12 Volt systems
with the capability of mounting both light heads on one
mounting bracket - simply mount one light head above the
handlebars and one below the handlebar using the innovative
down bracket.
Q. Are the switches okay to
use in the rain?
A. Yes. The switches have been designed to be fully water
proof. The switches incorporate a triple action injection
mold to accomplish this goal.
Q. The switches slide on my handlebars?
A. The light systems come with small rubber strips attached
to the bottom of the switch base. The instructions explain
how to mount the switch harness and then secure it with
the Velcro straps. This should take care of any sliding.
If this does not work then some double sided tape will do
the trick.
Q. The switch harness is not
long enough to reach my rear water bottle cage, do you have
a longer harness?
A. Yes. The extended switch harness is available through
your dealer or call Nite Hawk toll free: 888-218-7777.
Q. The power connections come
out sometimes when I am riding?
A. As a safety feature the power connections have been designed
to disengage if "yanked" or "pulled".
They will not simply fall out.
A. Check to make sure that when the switch harness was installed
there was enough slack so that the handlebars can turn without
pulling on the power connections.
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MOUNTING:
Q. The diameter of my handlebar
is too narrow and I cannot mount my bases securely?
A. If the bases will not clamp to the handlebars with the
rubber strip provided there are several ways to solve this
problem. You can cut a piece of an old bicycle inner tube
and use it in conjunction with the rubber strip provided,
or you can use a piece of electrician tape with the rubber
strip provided. (This is a rare occurrence).
Q. The bases are too wide /
I do not have room to mount my switches / cycle computer?
A. This is a very rare occurrence with Nite Hawk systems.
The bases have been specifically designed with handlebar
clutter in mind. They are almost half the width of the original
Nite Hawk's bases. However, if the consumer has extremely
narrow handlebars or other items on the handlebars we have
designed an innovative solution to this problem.
All Nite Hawk Dual systems have been designed so that a
dual light set can be mounted on one base assembly! One
light head mounts above the handlebars and the other mounts
below the handlebars using the innovative down bracket.
This should remedy the problem. However, If the consumer
has other items on the bike and is still having difficulty
mounting the system or the switches then they will have
to decide which accessory they want/need the most or they
can change items as needed.
If space is at a premium, the switches have been designed
to be mounted on the stem if there is no room on the handlebars.
Although this is not as convenient for switching, the option
is available.
Q. I am having difficulty installing
the bases onto my handlebars?
A. Ensure that you are following all the instructions in
the owners guide.
A. Look at the two base pieces. One will have a directional
arrow on it with the word "Top" below it. The
other base will just have a directional arrow. Ensure that
the top base is on the top of the handlebars and the bottom
base is on the bottom. The bottom base has a hexagon shape
in the two mounting holes for the nut to fit into. Insert
the nuts into the bottom base and then insert the screws
through the top mounting holes on the top base. Ensure that
you have the rubber strip between the handlebars and the
two base pieces for grip.
A. Make sure both directional arrows are facing forward
on your bicycle. The bases have been engineered to only
fit together so that both arrows face the same direction.
Q. Do I have to use the Down
Brackets?
A. No, the down brackets only have to be used if you want
to mount your lights below the handlebars. It keeps the
light beam unimpeded by your cables.
Q. How do I mount the light
heads onto the down brackets?
A. Follow the mounting instructions in the owners guide.
You install the base assembly onto your handlebars. Next
you slide the down brackets into the bottom half of the
base on your handlebar - you will hear a definite 'click'
sound. Then you slide the light heads into the down brackets
- you will also hear a 'click' sound at this point
Q. My down bracket fell out
when I was riding?
A. Make sure that you pushed the down bracket securely into
the bottom half of the base you installed onto your handlebars.
You will hear a definite 'click' sound when the quick release
mechanism engages.
Q. Which way should I mount
my lights, above or below the handlebars?
A. This is up to you. There are benefits to each. The main
reason for mounting the lights below the handlebars is to
protect them in case you crash. The handlebars will take
the impact instead of your lights. You also get the light
closer to the ground and may have slightly less light dispersal
than if the lights are mounted above the handlebars. However,
some individuals prefer to mount the lights above the handlebars
so that the light is higher up and the light pattern more
closely matches the angle and distance of your eyes to your
ride path.
Q. I have two bicycles (street
& off road). What is the best way to move my light system
from bike to bike?
A. You can purchase light bases and harnesses separately.
This makes for easy interchangeability. You can purchase
these parts at your dealer or call Nite Hawk toll free:
888-218-7777.
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BATTERY
INFO:
Q. The battery is not lasting
the posted run times.
A. Has the battery been charged? Follow the instructions
provided with your Nite Hawk system.
A. Are you using the 10 & 20 Watt lamps together? I.e.
Run time combined is 35 minutes. Any amount of time while
at 30 Watts will significantly affect the run time of the
10 or 20 Watt lamps. For example: The run time for the 10
Watt bulb is posted at 2 hours and 15 minutes. The posted
run time for 30 Watts is 35 minutes. If the battery is discharged
at 30 Watts for 12 minutes then the battery will be 33%
discharged. This means that if the rider switches to 10
Watts the remaining ride time will be 1 hour and 30 minutes.
This is a total ride time of 1 hour and 42 minutes vs. 2
hours and 15 minutes. A difference of 33 minutes! The impact
of even a few minutes at 30 watts will significantly affect
the ride time at 10 or 20 watts.
A.What was the temperature? If the temperature is cold the
battery will be affected. This is called derating the battery.
The battery is derated at an accelerated rate as the temperature
approaches 32 degrees F (0 degrees Celsius). All types of
batteries are affected negatively by cold temperature.
TIP: If you know that you will be riding in the cold, charge
the battery for 1 to 3 hours before you ride "even
though it is at full charge already". This will warm
up the battery and give it a surface charge. If the battery
is used right away, it will stay warm and use the extra
power the surface charge provided. This will improve the
performance of the battery in cold temperatures. Also, ensure
that the battery is not being stored in a cold location
just prior to a ride as this will decrease the run time
of the battery.
A. If the temperature of the storage area for the battery
is high, the battery will self discharge at an accelerated
rate. This could result in lower run times if the battery
has been in storage and not in use for a few weeks.
A. Has the battery been properly maintained. I.e. Charged
after each ride. If the battery has been left in a discharged
state (even for longer than two days) the battery will begin
to sulfate. This will cause permanent damage to the battery.
Always follow the charging instructions in the owners guide.
Q. What is the voltage of the
battery? What is the amp rating of the battery?
A. If you have one of the Nite Hawk 12 Volt systems your
battery opperates at 12 Volts. The amp rating of the battery
is 2.6.
A. If you have one of the Nite Hawk Viper systems your battery
opperates at 6 Volts. The amp rating of the battery is 4.5.
Q. How do I compare a 6 Volt
battery to a 12 Volt battery?
A. The only way to compare a 6 Volt battery to a 12 volt
battery is to get a common frame of reference. This is the
total power of the battery. The total power of a battery
is known as the wattage of the battery. To get the wattage
of the battery multiply the Volts times the Amps. I.e. The
common 6 Volt battery used in Bicycle Lighting is the 6
Volt 4 Amp. 6 Volts x 4 Amps = 24 Watts of Power. The Nite
Hawk battery is 12 Volts x 2.6 Amps = 31.2 Watts of Power.
This is a large difference in Power (7.2 Watts of Power!).
Q. Do you have a NiCd battery
available? / Why don't you use a NiCd Battery?
A. We do not use NiCd batteries. We use Sealed Lead Acid
(S.L.A.) battery technology. There are two main reasons
why we have decided upon S.L.A. technology.
These are:
1. The S.L.A. battery is very consumer friendly. It can
be charged at ANY stage of discharge (This means that the
battery can be discharged completely or for only five minutes
and be charged). This is very beneficial for those who occasionally
go for shorter rides than a maximum discharge, have their
ride cut short, or for a commuter who only discharges part
of the battery on the way to work but needs to give the
battery a charge for the ride home.
2. The second reason we have decided upon a S.L.A. battery
is because they cost much less than NiCd batteries. It keeps
the system price down and when it is time to replace the
battery the cost is not a shock. The only disadvantage that
S.L.A. batteries have over a NiCd is the energy density
(This means the power per pound ratio). NiCd's are a little
better. However, the difference is quite subtle and the
cost difference easily makes up the shortfall.Eg. If longer
run time is an absolute priority a second SLA battery can
be purchased at a reasonable price.
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CHARGING:
Q. How do I charge my battery?
A. Follow the instructions provided in your Nite Hawk system
owner's guied.
Q. Is the charger automatic?
A. All Nite Hawk systems except the (Avenger & Dual)
come with a fully automatic charger. You will not have to
worry about overcharging your battery. As soon as you are
finished your ride follow the instructions for charging
as detailed in your owners guide and the charger will automatically
determine which charging mode is needed and for how long.
Once the battery reaches full charge, the charger will constantly
monitor the battery to maintain a full charge.
Q. Does the Nite Hawk 12 Volt
& 6 Volt automatic charger have the required safety
approvals?
A. Yes. Nite Hawk has the approvals for Canada and the United
States. The safety approvals are cUL for Canada and UL for
the USA. TIP: The consumer should be careful when selecting
their bicycle light as not all companies have the legally
required safety approvals.
Q. Does the automatic charger
that comes with the Nite Hawk Pro charge the battery in
less time than the charger that comes with the Nite Hawk
Dual & Avenger?
A. Yes. The charger that comes with the original Nite Hawk
system takes 15 to 18 hours for a full charge. The automatic
charger that comes with the Nite Hawk Pro takes 8 to 10
hours for a full charge!
Q. Does the battery have to be fully discharged before it
is charged?
A. No, the battery is a Sealed Lead Acid (S.L.A.) battery.
S.L.A. batteries do not have to be fully discharged before
they are charged. They can be charged at any point in the
discharge cycle. In fact, the best thing you can do for
your Nite Hawk Battery is to charge it as soon as you are
finished your ride - Even if the ride is only a few minutes.
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GENERAL
INFORMATION:
Q. I have a Nite Hawk system
and I want a helmet mount?
A. There is a Helmet Mount Kit available to upgrade any
rechargeable Nite Hawk system. To order a Helmet Mount for
your system contact Nite Hawk toll free: 888-218-7777.
Q. I am worried that the battery
bottle may fall out of the holder as I am an aggressive
rider?
A. There is an optional Velcro strap available for the battery
bottle. The battery is held in place very well by design;
however, the Velcro strap is available for those who require
the option.
Q. I do not want to use the
cable ties that come with the system as I will be removing
the remote switch wire harness from time to time?
A. There is an optional Velcro kit that is available for
purchase separately. You can purchase the Velcro Kit at
your dealer or contact Nite Hawk toll free: 888-218-7777.
Q. I have two bicycles (street
& off road). What is the best way to move my light system
from bike to bike?
A. You can purchase light bases and harnesses separately.
This makes for easy interchangeability. You can purchase
these parts at your dealer or contact Nite Hawk toll free:
888-218-7777.
Q. I am a commuter and need longer run time on my ride home?
A. There are two options available:
1. You can bring the automatic charger to work with you
or purchase a second one for your work location. Remember
the automatic charger charges a 100% discharged battery
in just 8 to 10 hours!
2. Or, you can purchase a second battery and a second automatic
charger. Once you get to work put the battery on charge
that you used to get to work and use the battery that was
already at work for the ride home. The batteries will be
rotated and charged. Make sure to follow the charging instructions
in the owners guide. You can purchase these parts at your
dealer or contact Nite Hawk toll free: 888-218-7777.
Q. How do I replace the fuse
if it blows / Does the system have a fuse?
A. The system does have a fuse. It is a state of the art
high technology automatic resetable fuse. The fuse is sealed
inside with the battery. It is always looking for a short
circuit. In the unlikely event that the fuse sees a short
circuit it automatically changes its' chemical structure
and stops the current from flowing. The fuse then monitors
the short circuit and as soon as the short circuit condition
is over it automatically resets itself. The fuse takes less
than a second to engage if necessary and less than a second
to reengage once the short condition is over. This means
that you never have to replace a burned out fuse again!
Q. How do I replace the battery?
A. When the life of the battery has expired, return the
"battery bottle" to your dealer or Nite Hawk and
purchase a new one. You can order a new battery bottle from
your dealer or at the Parts & Accessory Order Form.
You should never cut open your battery bottle and doing
so voids the warranty and may cause injury.
Q. How is it possible to offer
all these features and still offer such an incredible price?
A. The system was designed to give the consumer all the
high end features but at a price that is more than competitive.
This was accomplished by designing the system from the ground
up with this goal in mind. One of the major cost savings
is that the battery used in the system is a Sealed Lead
Acid (S.L.A.). It is very consumer friendly and also has
a much better price than the alternative NiCd batteries.
Nite Hawk is closely aligned with a distributor of the S.L.A.
battery. The cost savings on the battery are passed on to
the consumer. Also, the initial engineering of the system
was very expensive in order to keep ongoing production costs
as low as possible. All of the savings are passed on to
the consumer in order to keep the retail price as low as
possible.
Q. My friends bicycle light
(my old system) has a longer burn time than the Nite Hawk
system?
A. The run time of the Nite Hawk stacks up very well against
any rechargeable system on the market. If the system does
not perform as well as another bicycle light then the systems
are not equal. I.e. The old system or the friends system
will not have the same amount of light as the Nite Hawk.
The Nite Hawk system has a 10 and 20 Watt bulb for a combined
total of 30 Watts. Most systems do not offer this amount
of light. The battery of the Nite Hawk is a very powerful
12 volt 2.6 Ah.
If these characteristics are the SAME as the friends system
or the old system, then the run time difference will only
be slight and the other system will be a NiCd system. (Check
the price difference vs. the run time difference - the NiCd
will be significantly more expensive) If the systems have
DIFFERENT characteristics and the run time of the Nite Hawk
is lower than the other system, then the light output capability
of the other system will be lower. I.e. The other system
may have a 5 Watt and a 10 Watt bulb or some other combination.
The standard 6 Volt systems available do not usually offer
the light output of the Nite Hawk. The standard 6 volt systems
have a battery that is 6 Volt 4 Ah. A 6 Volt 4 Ah has 24
Watts of power. The Nite Hawk battery is a 12 V 2.6 Ah.
Which offers 31.2 Watts of power (If the Wattage of one
battery is higher than another then the higher of the two
is more powerful).
TIP#1: If you want longer run time you can replace the 20
Watt bulb with a second 10 Watt bulb. This will decrease
the system to a maximum of 20 Watts. The less wattage you
use the longer the battery will last.
TIP#2: If you want longer run time you can also buy a second
battery bottle. This can be stored in the other water bottle
holder on their bicycle until thefirst one is used up. The
S.L.A. battery bottles are very affordable. You can order
a new battery bottle from your dealer or contact Nite Hawk
toll free: 888-218-7777.
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