Solight Product FAQs
What is the SolarPuff™ made of?
The SolarPuff™ is a U.S. patented product comprised of 4 main components: (1) a solar panel that captures photons from sunlight; (2) a rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery that stores power; (3) LED bulbs that produce the light and (4) PET material that is specially architected to self-inflate into a cube.
Please note that our PET material is recyclable, and it is not made of toxic PVC like other inflatable solar lamps available in the market.
How long does the SolarPuff™ stay illuminated after one full charge?
After a full charge of 8 hours in the bright clear sunlight, the SolarPuff™ provides up to 8 hours on the high setting and 12 hours on the low setting. If the SolarPuff™ is in the bright sun for only 7 hours, it will last for 7 hours on high setting and approximately 10 on low setting. If the SolarPuff™ is charged in the sun for 6 hours, it will last 6 hours on high setting and so on.
How big are Solight Design lanterns?
Solight Design lights vary in size. View the product specification table below or look at the individual product pages to get a sense of their size. Check each product page under the description and you can find the size of each product. All our lights fold down to under 1" thick and pop open into different-sized cube volumes.
How bright are Solight Design lanterns?
Solight Design lights vary in brightness and performance depending on which product you have. The standard unit of measurement for brightness is "lumens" and this is indicated on the individual product pages, or in a chart on the respective product page. We measure the lumens of our lanterns by 3rd party testing centers.
SolarPuff™ Lumens: Low Warm (40 lumens), Low Bright (40 lumens), High Both (90 lumens), High Blinking Both (90 lumens), LIGHT SENSOR (90 lumens)
Helix Lumens: Low Warm (40 lumens), Low Bright (40 lumens), High Both (90 lumens), High Blinking Both (90 lumens)
Twilight Lumens: Red (25 lumens), Red SOS (25 lumens), White Low (25 lumens), White High (45 lumens)
Qwnn™ Lumens: Candle (25 lumens), Low (80 lumens), Medium (300 lumens), High (600 lumens), Blinking (600 lumens)
What is the difference between the SolarPuff™, Helix and Twilight?
The SolarPuff™ and Helix Hybrid both have warm and bright light. They contain the same 4 base settings: Low Warm (40 lumens), Low Bright (40 lumens), High Both (90 lumens), High Blinking Both (90 lumens)
The SolarPuff™ has a sail cloth material commonly used on the sails of sailboats. It has a beautiful pattern that diffuses the light and the material itself is engineered for extreme weather. The SolarPuff™ has a light sensor setting which can be toggled for automatic on/off when the light levels are low. You press the button for 3 seconds and it can toggle back and forth between manual setting and LS (light sensor setting).
The Helix has a diffuser material that is called EVA and it twists open and closed. The twist action allows it to pack flat smaller than other lanterns. The EVA is translucent and makes the light look like an ice cube.
The Twilight is the smallest of the product line. This one has both red light and white light and includes 4 settings. (1) Red light (2) Red blinking (3) Low white (4) Bright light. This mini lantern is popular for kids!
What is the SolarPuff™ Light Sensor mode?
Press and hold the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds to switch between manual and light Sensor mode. In Light Sensor mode, the light automatically turns on at dusk and off at dawn.
How to test light sensor mode:
- Make sure your SolarPuff™ is fully charged.
- Go outside or into an area with direct sunlight.
- Press and hold the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds to activate light sensor mode.
- Test the sensor by doing the following:
- Cover the solar panel completely (you can hold it against your stomach or hand to block the light).
- Then flip it to expose the panel to sunlight.
- Repeat this a few times.
- When light sensor mode is active, the lantern will turn on when the panel is blocked and turn off when it is exposed to light.
Are Solight Design lanterns waterproof? Can I submerge it?
Yes, our SolarPuff™, Helix, and Twilight lights are waterproof and dustproof! They can be submerged up to 1 meter (FL 1 STANDARD IP-67) which means it is protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes.
Do I need to inflate my lights?
Solight Design's patented self-inflating LED technology was designed to create a lightweight, portable lantern that could pack down flat for easy storage and charging. Pull open by pulling the handle and holding the solar panel and the cube will pop open and diffuse the bright LEDs through the expandable bladder. The diffuse, glare-free lighting is great for lighting up a tent, reading at night, or taking on a walk to light up your path. The pull open component of the Solight Design invention avoids any oral inflation by mouth and protects against spreading germs. Its flat packability also responds to the distribution challenges of humanitarian aid organizations. One carton of SolarPuff™ lanterns consists of 120 lights and weighs just 28 lbs reducing shipping costs and improving portability for often hard-to-reach communities in need of light.
What is PVC and why is it important that our products are PVC-free?
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a type of halogenated plastic that contains two known human carcinogens: vinyl chloride and dioxin. These carcinogens are not only emitted in large quantities during production but on the plastic itself. Vinyl chloride is an essential component of PVC that is not used in any other plastic. Dioxin is a bio accumulative substance that builds up over time in human bodies and emissions from PVC are higher than other plastics. As Solight Design lights are meant to be safe for the entire family and pop open, Solight Design is happy to produce 100% PVC-free lights.
What is the difference between lumens and watts?
Lumens are a standard unit used for measuring brightness of lights, while watts are a unit for measuring the amount of electricity required to power an electrically-powered object. In light bulbs, watts are used to signify how much energy is required to power the bulb. Therefore, more energy-efficient lightbulbs may use fewer watts to produce the same number of Lumens (brightness).
As our Solight Design lights are solar-powered, and do not depend on an electrical grid, it is more relevant to provide the number of Lumens that our lights produce. That way, we may explain how bright the light they produce is, and how large of a space they can illuminate. Our SolarPuff™ and Helix are our highest-performing lights, and can easily illuminate a 10 x 10 sq ft space at 90 lumens on its brightest setting. Many of our customers find it comparable with battery-powered lanterns, and easier to maintain.
Did you know that 90 pounds of carbon emissions are saved per year if you use our SolarPuff™, Helix or Qwnn™ for 4 hours a day instead of a light bulb?
Troubleshooting Your SolarPuff™
How do I adjust settings or turn my light on/off?
Each of our lights has a red and white power button in the center or at the corner of the solar panel. Press this button firmly to turn your light ON, cycle through brightness settings, and turn it OFF. This button is slightly inset to ensure that your light will not be turned on by accident and lose charge.
Do the lights come charged?
The lights will arrive partially charged. We recommend that upon receipt, you charge fully by following the steps below.
Instructions
To charge the lights:
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Turn the light to the OFF setting.
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Place in direct sunlight with the solar panel facing the sun.
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Leave it in the sun for 8 hours for a full charge.
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If you can only charge for 3 hours you will get 3 hours of light on the low setting, charge for 5 hours you get 5 hours of light, and so on.
My light isn't working or doesn't turn on. What should I do?
Our lights are the best solar lanterns on the market with only a .04% defective rate. If your light isn't working or doesn't turn on, the most likely reason is that it needs to be recharged. Please follow these steps:
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Turn the light to the OFF setting using the power button.
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Place it in direct sunlight with the solar panel facing up. Avoid shady areas and don't charge through windows as they block light.
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Leave it in the sun for a full 2 days to completely recharge the battery.
After 2 days in direct sunlight, the light should work perfectly. These steps will resolve the issue 99% of the time.
Note for SolarPuff™ users:
If you've activated light sensor mode (by holding the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds), the light will only turn on when the solar panel is blocked (like when it’s in the dark). If the panel is exposed to light, the lantern will stay off—even if you press the button once. To test it, cover the solar panel (e.g. with your hand or against your body) to simulate darkness. This might be why the lantern appears not to work.
If the product still does not turn on after recharging, please email us at info@Solight-design.com. We have a worry-free 1-year warranty and want to make sure all our customers are happy with their lights.
What temperatures can my light operate under?
The Solight Design light has two temperature ranges:
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Temperature range to recharge in the sun which is 32 degrees F to 113 degrees F
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Temperature range to turn on lanterns which is -4 degrees F to 140 degrees F
Temperatures lower or higher than that can damage the battery and reduce overall battery life. To increase longevity of the battery, it is best to avoid recharging your light in temperatures below freezing. If you do need to use your product in sub-zero temperatures, we recommend recharging it when it is warmer and using the Medium or Low setting when in sub-zero temperatures to get the most run time hours out of your light before needing to recharge it again. If you need to recharge it and only have sub-zero temperatures, we recommend placing it in a sunny window or for a few hours each day during peak sun hours outside. It will take a few days longer to fully charge.
Can I recycle my Solight Design light?
Solight Design lights are made from completely recyclable materials. You can recycle Solight Design products anywhere that cell phones, digital cameras, or iPods are accepted for recycling (ex: Home Depot).
OR you can return it to us for educational purposes and you will get a 40% discount on our store as a thank you! We use the recycled lights as part of the educational programs founded by Alice.
Do I need to inflate my lights?
Solight Design's patented self-inflating LED technology was designed to create a lightweight, portable lantern that could pack down flat for easy storage and charging. Pull open by pulling the handle and holding the solar panel and the cube will pop open to diffuse the bright LEDs through the expandable bladder. The diffuse, glare-free lighting is great for lighting up a tent, reading at night, or taking on a walk to light up your path. The pull open component of the Solight Design invention avoids any oral inflation by mouth and protects against spreading germs. Its flat packability also responds to the distribution challenges of humanitarian aid organizations. One carton of SolarPuff™ lanterns consists of 120 lights and weighs just 28 lbs reducing shipping costs and improving portability for often hard-to-reach communities in need of light.
How do I charge my light?
To recharge your light, turn to the OFF setting, place the light in direct, outdoor sunlight with the solar panel facing the sun (windows block light and can slow down charging). For optimum charging, place the light outside in an area away from shadows or shade. Charge times vary depending on time of year, location, and product.
How do I know if my Solight Design light is recharging?
While charging, the solar panel may get warm. It is the reaction from the sun to the solar panel. To ensure the solar panel is recharging the battery, place your Solight Design light outside in direct, outdoor sun away from shaded areas. You will be able to tell by the intensity of the light. The light will dim as it loses power.
Can I recharge it in a window or on cloudy days? What about the winter?
Windows block light and can slow down charging. For optimum charging, place the light outside in an area away from shadows or shade. Charge times vary depending on time of year, location, and product. In the winter, you will see slower run times because the sun is not as strong and there are fewer hours available for direct sun.
Is the battery replaceable?
Our solar lantern's batteries are not replaceable BUT don't forget they are recyclable! We offer a 1-year replacement warranty and our lights are made to last many years!
We have customers that still use their undamaged SolarPuff™ lanterns purchased in 2015!
How long will a full charge last in my light? How long will it last in storage?
Solight Design lights use a lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery, similar to the battery in most cell phones. Like all rechargeable batteries, it does lose a small percentage of charge over time (approximately 2% each month) when it is in storage and not being used. In order to ensure the product is fully charged when you need it, we recommend that you recharge the light in direct sun every few months. If you store a fully charged lantern in a drawer or closet, after 2 years your light should still work. The battery will be at ~50% capacity. Just recharge in the sun to return it to full charge.
Support Solight Design FAQs
How can I support Solight Design's Give Light Programs?
Our Give programs allow you to join our mission and get involved by helping sponsor safe, solar rechargeable lanterns for those in need. We have a few programs as making light accessible for all is what drives Solight Design forward. For each light you purchase, Solight Design will give a portion of the net sales to a non-profit organization who will distribute the lights to where they are needed most. We also work with several non-profit organizations around the world where you can buy and contribute lights directly to that organization. In addition, we have an option where you can choose a particular organization that you would prefer to support. Click here to donate.
Do you offer wholesale pricing for group orders?
Wholesale pricing is available for orders of 120+ lights. Please contact info@solight-design.com for more information.
Can I personalize or custom print my light?
Yes! We offer custom printing of corporate logos, designs, or instructions on all of our products. This option is available for orders of 120+ units, and you can learn more by emailing info@solight-design.com for pricing and further details.
How can I partner with Solight Design to give light?
If you have a registered 501c(3) non-profit organization and you would like to partner with Solight Design to give light to those in need please contact info@solight-design.com.
Ordering FAQs
I need help with my order!
We're sorry to hear that you're having difficulties with your order! Please contact us at info@Solight-design.com with any questions and we will do our best to respond within one business day.
Do I have to pay sales tax?
Because our headquarters is based in New York, customers living in New York State will have to pay New York state and city (when applicable) sales tax, but all other customers will not be charged sales tax.
If you are an international customer, please be aware that you are responsible for any applicable customs/duties upon receiving your package from the US.
Do you offer wholesale pricing for group orders?
Wholesale pricing is available for orders of 120+ lights. Please contact info@solight-design.com for more information.
Shipping and Returns FAQs
For shipping and warranty information please see our Shipping and Warranty Policy, or email info@Solight-design.com.
How can I contact you via phone?
Our team works hard to respond to inquiries within 48 hours. Our contact form is the quickest and most efficient way for our team to provide you with the best service; however, if you prefer us to give you a call, feel free to call 800-601-6150.