Step one:
Choosing a location for a Ok702L

There are two factors that must be kept in mind when considering a location for the Ok702L: adequate sunlight and a suitable ambient temperature.

1. Adequate sunlight
   The Ok702L is solar-powered; to operate each night throughout the year it requires an adequate amount of sunlight to recharge its batteries.

    

   An introduction to the charging process

   At dusk, the Ok702L will be "activated" and it will be discharging its batteries while emitting light output. At dawn, it will turn off, and its solar panels will begin to recharge its batteries. Sunny days will result in the batteries recovering more energy than was expended the night before. On days with little or no sun (due to cloud cover, rain, or fog), the Ok702L may only recover a partial recharge, and thus there will be a power deficit from the night before. THIS IS NOT A CONCERN. All Carmanah Lights have excellent storage capacity and are designed so they do not require sunlight every day.

   With a fully charged battery, the Ok702L can operate for up to 600 hours without recharging, depending on the flash code and intensity settings. For example, if we assume there is thirteen hours from dusk to dawn, the unit is "on" and the battery discharging for ten hours out of a 24-hour day. The unit will therefore last approximately 46 days (600 hours / 13 hours per day) without any sunlight for recharging. When nights are longer (i.e.: 16 hours), the unit will last fewer days without recharging (i.e.: approximately 38 days).

   For the Ok702L to continue operating perfectly, it must recharge at least partially before the 600-hour buffer is completely discharged. However, this recharging can be spread over the 600-hour (46 day) discharge time. Consequently, the unit can go several days without any sunlight and then receive very little and still continue operating.

   Despite the power storage capacity of the Ok702L, it is still important to consider three factors when finding a location for the unit:

    

   • Average daylight
     Local weather conditions determine the amount of sunlight an area receives each year. Areas with, on average, at least .75 hours of sunlight per day or more (including the winter months) have adequate sunlight for all Carmanah Lights. Most of the world receives this minimum. The measurement to determine average daylight can be obtained from your local weather office.

      

   • Shade
     Even the sunniest locations will not be adequate for proper installation if the Ok702L will be in the shade for most the day. It is important to ensure the unit will not be in the shade at least during midday.

      

   • Winter
     During the winter season, the sun is lower on the horizon. This has two potential effects. First, obstructions such as trees, buildings, and mountains that do not shade the Ok702L during the summer may come to shade it during the winter. Second, for locations beyond 50° latitude north or south, winter causes significantly shorter days and longer nights. This may result in the unit not having sufficient recharging time during the shorter days.

    

2. Suitable ambient temperature
   The temperature of the batteries in the Ok702L during recharging/discharging affects the lifespan of its rechargeable battery power system, and consequently the overall lifespan of the unit. Although the unit can operate normally between the temperatures of -40° C (-40° F) and 80° C (176° F), its expected lifespan may be reduced when the ambient temperatures are consistently higher than 25° C (77° F) during recharging/discharging.

   Although the Ok702L will operate most effectively in moderate areas, it can certainly function in areas with ambient temperatures over 25° C (77° F). A key factor will be that the unit is not usually charging/discharging during the warmest part of the day. Unlike colder areas, hot areas generally tend to have many hours of daylight, which allows the unit to fully recharge every day. Since the unit does not need as much time to recharge, it will fully charge and kick out of the recharging mode before the ambient temperature is too high.

Step Two:
Activating the Ok702L

Simply remove the Ok702L from its shipping box and the unit is ready to go! The light will automatically activate as soon as its photoelectric switch recognizes it has been exposed to light.

Please note that the Ok702L also has built-in intelligence that automatically deactivates it after 20 hours of complete darkness (i.e.: for seasonal storage and/or transport). It is recommended you keep the unit's shipping box, in the event you need to store or transport the unit at a future date.