If night trekking is your favorite engagement, then you would know how helpful it is to have a compact light handy during the endeavor.
But what if the battery runs out of power? This is where the 2C Solarlightcap fits in. This cap is fitted with two LEDs. And most importantly, this is charged by solar power so that you are not left in the dark even in the most remote places, provided you have worn the cap in the sun for sufficient time. The light can also be a great help in focusing macro subjects in the dark.
The 2C Solarlightcap is an innovative design from the New Zealand based 2C Light Company. The cap features two strong LEDs emitting bright warm white light. The cap has a flexible solar panel mounted on the peak, which makes use of solar energy to charge the built-in NiMH battery. The charging time of the battery varies with the conditions. As an approximation, it takes three days to charge the battery to its full capacity. Then the cap is expected to operate continuously for approximately five hours on full beam or 36 hours on dim light mode. Two hours of charging in bright sunlight is expected to provide 1.9 hours of continuous light on full beam. This can be extended by using the light on dim or flashing modes. When checked with a light meter at full beam, the light provided a shutter speed of 1/2sec at f/2.8. Though this is not enough for lighting macro subjects, it can surely assist in focusing.
The Solarlightcap has one button that allows you to switch between different operating modes. The cap operates in four modes—Steady on, Alert flasher, SOS blinking, and Party flash. In the Steady on mode, the cap provides continuous light on full beam, while in Alert flasher mode, it emits intermittent pulses of light. In SOS blinking, light is emitted in such a way that it emulates the Morse code for SOS, which is an internationally recognized distress signal. In the Party flash mode, the emitted beam blinks continuously. In addition to this, there is a variable dimmer mode, wherein you can adjust the brightness of the light. The light has been designed in such a way that it does not shine on people’s faces.
The 2C cap is manufactured with breathable cotton and is weatherproof. It is hand washable (except the peak, which if immersed in water, voids the warranty). The cap is available in different styles and colors. The cap has a special microprocessor-controlled charging and discharging system, which prevents the battery from draining completely without warning. This switches off the light when there is a little power left. After this, it provides short bursts of light with every press of the button until the power is exhausted. If you use the dimmer, this reserved light can be extended to up to approximately 20 minutes.
The 2C Solarlightcap retails at an MRP of Rs. 1,899, and comes with a 1 year warranty. It is available with FotoCentre Trading Pvt. Ltd., Fort, Mumbai. For details, contact: Ketan Shah; Mobile: +91 9820110120.
Sujith Gopinath
