Frequently Asked Questions

Providing this much light requires a lot of energy. Your choice of BatPak comes down to two factors. How much light do you want or need, and how long do you need it? More light and longer run times require more energy and hence a larger BatPak. So we offer three sizes of BatPaks.

In this video, Ben Light introduces the various components supporting the RA light including the three BatPaks.

 

The RA light has 20 levels of brightness so you can manage your power consumption to meet your needs. This table lists how long the batteries will last starting from a full charge. The numbers are for a single RA at a corresponding brightness. To get battery life for two RA running at the same brightness, divide the number of hours by two.

SETTINGS RUN TIME
# Lumens BatPak 1 BatPak 2 BatPak 3
20 800 3 Hours 6 Hours 9 Hours
19 650 4 Hours 7 Hours 11 Hours
18 525 4 Hours 8 Hours 13 Hours
17 425 5 Hours 10 Hours 15 Hours
16 350 6 Hours 12 Hours 18 Hours
15 275 7 Hours 14 Hours 21 Hours
14 225 8 Hours 16 Hours 25 Hours
13 175 10 Hours 19 Hours 29 Hours
12 150 11 Hours 23 Hours 34 Hours
11 120 14 Hours 27 Hours 41 Hours
10 100 16 Hours 32 Hours 48 Hours
9 80 19 Hours 38 Hours 57 Hours
8 65 22 Hours 45 Hours 67 Hours
7 50 26 Hours 53 Hours 79 Hours
6 40 31 Hours 62 Hours 94 Hours
5 35 37 Hours 74 Hours 111 Hours
4 30 44 Hours 87 Hours 131 Hours
3 25 52 Hours 103 Hours 155 Hours
2 20 61 Hours 122 Hours 183 Hours
1 15 3 Days 6 Days 9 Days

To keep it simple, we sized the BatPaks with their total energy corresponding to their model number. The BatPak 2 lasts twice as long as the BatPak 1 and then of course the BatPak 3 lasts 3 times as long as the BatPak 1.

The standard BatPak2 and BatPak3 have been replaced by the new version BatPak2F and BatPak3F that include the fast charging feature. In addition to faster charge times, the operation has been enhanced and is described in this video... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQ8VmPF4KQ

Our original intent was to power the light using any standard USB power bank. However, upon testing various power banks on the market, we discovered they are designed to charge devices rather than power lights. Most have a power management scheme wherein they shut down when not needed for charging. That is, when they detect a current draw below a prescribed level, the typical power bank thinks the device is fully charged and it's okay to shut down. That doesn't work for running our light at lower brightness settings or on flash mode. 

So we designed our BatPaks to stay ON as long as the light is ON... until they exhaust their energy supply. And we use a 4 hour timer where the BatPak stays ON regardless of the current draw. The benefit of that is you can turn ON the BatPak and stow it in your pocket, pouch or pack. Then when you need the light you simply hit the power button on Ra. 

The BatPak2 and BatPak3 have three USB ports. The end port (furthest from the charge port) is recommended for charging phones and other devices as the 4 hour timer will shut off the light here. If that happens you simply turn on the BatPak to resume using the light. Better yet, use the other two ports for your lights.

In summary, your power bank should work fine at higher brightness levels. But to benefit from all the functionality of the Ra light, you'll need the Kogalla BatPak. 

The Kogalla UltRA Trail Light is brighter than five quality headlamps. It spreads 800 lumens of bright warm light around 120 degrees to light up the area rather than a spot. That much light requires a lot of energy. It's not practical to put a battery inside the light strip. We want the light to be versatile so it can be worn in many applications. To do that it must be small and lightweight.

So we provide the captured USB cable to connect to the external power source that works best for you. With three sizes of BatPaks you can choose as much power as you want or as little as you need.

And yes, the light must be connected to your power bank to work. We like the water hose analogy. You must connect your hose to a water source to spray a lot of water. Otherwise, you just have a squirt gun.

 

Kogalla products are covered by a one year warranty with the exception of those containing battery cells (battery products have a 180 day warranty). Kogalla warrants that products are free from defects in workmanship and materials under normal consumer use.

Contact Team@Kogalla.com to obtain warranty service. If your product qualifies you will be given a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number.

You must properly package the product, clearly marking the RMA number on the package. Send the product by your choice of carrier, with shipping costs paid by you, to Kogalla, PO Box 1054, Kaysville, UT 84037.

We will process your return and repair or replace your product at our discretion. If we repair it we will use new or refurbished replacement parts. If we replace it we will choose either a new product or one that has been refurbished using new or serviceable used parts and is at least functionally equivalent to the original product.

We will send your repaired or replacement product to you at our expense for product being shipped to locations in North America. For locations outside of North America, you will be responsible for the shipping expenses.

Kogalla offers a 30-day money back guarantee. For the first 30 days after you purchase your product from Kogalla, you may return it in new and unused condition for a full refund excluding shipping expenses. Products missing the original packaging will be subject to a 20% restocking fee. Products that are returned and appear to be in “used” condition and cannot be resold as new will not qualify for a refund.

Contact Team@Kogalla.com to request a return for refund. You will be given a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number. You must properly package the product and clearly mark the RMA number on the package. Send the product by your choice of carrier, with shipping costs paid by you, to Kogalla, PO Box 1054, Kaysville, UT 84037.

Charge times depend primarily on three factors. The first is battery size. The more energy a battery holds, the longer it takes to charge. The second is charger current. Common USB charger currents are 500 mA, 1 Amp and 2.1 Amps. The BatPaks can be charged with most standard chargers and can charge using up to 2.1 Amps. The third is how depleted the battery is. The following times are for a fully depleted battery.

CHARGING TIMES
Charge Current BatPak 1 BatPak 2 BatPak3
2.1 Amps 3 Hours 6 Hours 11 Hours
1 Amp 6 Hours 11 Hours 23 Hours
500 mA 9 Hours 17 Hours 34 Hours

If, for instance, a battery is only half depleted, the charge times will be roughly half of the above values.

The Kogalla BatPak is designed to power the Ra Adventure Light. It uses Lithium-ion battery cells which are rechargeable, high energy density, low maintenance and reliable. They should last 300-500 charge cycles or 2-3 years and with proper care may last much longer. It’s not as though they stop working but rather the capacity diminishes. The factors affecting the capacity and battery life include charge cycles, temperature and storage. Let’s review these in more detail.

Charging

A charge cycle is defined as charging and discharging with the variable of depth of discharge. Unlike nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries which develop a capacity memory when partially charged/discharged, lithium ion batteries actually prefer partial discharges. In fact, it is best to avoid fully discharging the battery frequently. That is referred to as deep cycling. Each cycle wears down a battery a small amount. Deep cycling decreases the life of the battery at a faster rate than partial cycling. It’s better to charge more often than to fully discharge.

Temperature

Extreme temperatures are hard on your battery. Ideally you would always use your battery at room temperature. At 73 F your battery should retain over 90% capacity up to 500 cycles. But that’s not practical and the BatPak is intended to be used outdoors.

The specification for charging temperature is 32 F to 113 F. It will perform well at the higher temperatures but the internal resistance of batteries rises when cold which prolongs the charge times. And the extreme temperatures when charging will negatively affect the battery life. For best results and longevity, you should keep your charging temperature in the range of 50 F to 86 F.

NEVER CHARGE THE BATPAK BELOW FREEZING. Charging below 32 F will damage the battery.

The discharge temperature is more liberal at -4 F to 140 F. That’s good news if you’re using it outdoors. As with discharging, extreme temperatures will impact performance. The lower temperatures will reduce the capacity and thus run time when powering Ra. While the BatPak will perform well at the higher temperatures, it reduces the battery longevity. To maximize the battery life and performance, the same moderate temp range of 50 F to 86 F is best.

Storage

Proper storage of the BatPak will maximize its longevity. Do not store your BatPak while fully discharged. When you have depleted the charge, restore it partially as soon as possible. Storing a fully depleted battery will shorten its life and if stored long enough, will prevent you from waking it up. It’s recommended that you store your battery at about 40-50% of capacity.

Store the BatPak at moderate temperatures (50F to 86F). It’s especially important to avoid storing at high temperatures for prolonged periods.

Summary

To review, never charge your BatPak below freezing and don’t store it fully depleted of a charge. If you care for your BatPak as outlined here, you should get 300-500 cycles before the capacity drops below 80% which will likely be about 2-3 years. It should last longer, however, the capacity will continue to drop over time and cycles to where it eventually becomes more practical to replace it.

Ra is waterproof but the BatPak is not. Ra is rated IPX7 which means it can be submerged in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. The USB ports on the BatPaks are vulnerable to water. If enough water gets into the ports then the BatPak will shut off.

Ra is exposed to the elements so being waterproof is a good thing. Typically the BatPak is stowed in a pocket, pouch or pack and somewhat protected from water exposure. If you stow the BatPak with the ports pointed sideways or downward, it will minimize the potential for water to drain into it. If your BatPak fills with water to the point it shuts off, drain the water and fully dry out the BatPak. Then you can turn it back on. However, we recommend you avoid that scenario by protecting your BatPak from water.

There are ten very powerful neodymium magnets inside the light. These allow you to attach the light to ferrous metal objects. 

There are ten similar but larger magnets inside the MagBack that line up with those in the light. This allows you to attach the light to certain clothing and gear. To do this you place the MagBack on the inside of your gear or clothing and attach the light on the outside by lining up the magnets. 

Magnets have polarity so you must be sure to orient the MagBack so that the polarity matches. If one row matches but the other row repels, simple turn the MagBack around so that the polarity matches and both rows attach.

Magnetic force varies with distance. The further apart the magnets are separated by the material of your clothing or gear, the less magnetic strength they have to adhere together. The thinner the material between the MagBack and the light, the greater the magnetic force to hold them together.

The short answer is... hold the power button down and the brightness will progress through twenty levels of light intensity from 15 lumens to 800 lumens.

RA operates in one of three modes: LOW, HIGH and FLASH. Each of those modes is adjustable. With RA in LOW or HIGH mode, push and hold the button to adjust brightness. While the button is held, RA will cycle through its brightness settings. When the desired setting is reached, simply release the button. RA will remember the new setting for that mode. When the lowest or brightest setting is reached, RA will flash three times before adjusting the brightness in the opposite direction. 

You can find more details in the User Manual.

Extreme temperatures are hard on your battery. Ideally you would always use your battery at room temperature. At 73 F your battery should retain over 90% capacity up to 500 cycles. But that’s not practical and the BatPak is intended to be used outdoors.


The specification for charging temperature is 32 F to 113 F. It will perform well at the higher temperatures but the internal resistance of batteries rises when cold which prolongs the charge times. And the extreme temperatures when charging will negatively affect the battery life. For best results and longevity, you should keep your charging temperature in the range of 50 F to 86 F.


NEVER CHARGE THE BATPAK BELOW FREEZING. Charging below 32 F will damage the battery.


The discharge temperature is more liberal at -4 F to 140 F. That’s good news if you’re using it outdoors. As with discharging, extreme temperatures will impact performance. The lower temperatures will reduce the capacity and thus run time when powering Ra. While the BatPak will perform well at the higher temperatures, it reduces the battery longevity. To maximize the battery life and performance, the same moderate temp range of 50 F to 86 F is best.


Proper storage of the BatPak will maximize its longevity. Do not store your BatPak while fully discharged. When you have depleted the charge, restore it partially as soon as possible. Storing a fully depleted battery will shorten its life and if stored long enough, will prevent you from waking it up. It’s recommended that you store your battery at about 40-50% of capacity. Store the BatPak at moderate temperatures (50F to 86F). It’s especially important to avoid storing at high temperatures for prolonged periods.

In summary, never charge your BatPak below freezing and don’t store it fully depleted of a charge. If you care for your BatPak as outlined here, you should get 300-500 cycles before the capacity drops below 80% which will likely be about 2-3 years. It should last longer, however, the capacity will continue to drop over time and cycles to where it eventually becomes more practical to replace it.


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