NiteRider FireStorm User Manual

HID
NiMH

USER GUIDE

FireStorm

NiteRider and FireStorm are trademarks of NiteRider, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The
information in this document is subject to change without notice.

© 2005 NiteRider, Inc. All rights reserved.

DISCOVER THE NIGHT!

Thank you for choosing FireStorm™ from NiteRider, the
innovator in technical lighting systems. FireStorm uses high­intensity discharge (HID) lamp technology for bright, white
light. The FireStorm system includes:

• HID Solarc™ lamp

• Compact, lightweight nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery

• 2.5 hour fast charger

• Fuel (battery) gauge

• Frame and helmet mounting

To get the most from your NiteRider light, we urge you to
familiarize yourself with the following safety and operation
instructions.

1

PROTECTING

YOUR INVESTMENT

When not in use, always disconnect the headlamp from the
battery. To unplug, grasp the connector, not the cable.

Properly charge your battery to maximize its lifespan (see
“Battery Charging and Care” on page 10). To avoid damaging
your system, only charge your NiteRider battery with the
appropriate NiteRider charger.

While FireStorm will perform in wet weather conditions,
submerging it in water will damage the system. If you need a
submersible light, NiteRider manufactures industrial-grade
dive light systems. For information, contact NiteRider Dive
Lights at 858.268.3850 or visit www.niteriderdive.com.

RIDING AT NIGHT

While the FireStorm will improve your control and enjoyment of
night riding, please remember that cycling at night is an
inherently dangerous activity. In addition to using your lighting
system properly and riding with extreme caution, NiteRider
urges you to:

• never ride alone

• always let someone know where you are going

• wear a helmet and reflective clothing

• carry an auxiliary light and emergency supplies.

NiteRider, Inc.
8205 Ronson Road, Suite E
San Diego, CA 92111 USA

800.466.8366
www.niterider.com

SUPPORT

If you experience difficulties during product installation or
operation, NiteRider provides free telephone support on
weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Pacific Time) at

800.466.8366, ext. 4. You may also e-mail us at
[email protected].

WARRANTY

NiteRider stands behind its products with the following
warranties:

• Lifetime warranty on all mechanical components

• 1 year on cables and connectors, electronic components,
printed circuit boards, and HID bulbs and ballasts

• 180 days on rechargeable batteries and fast chargers

To repair or replace your product while under warranty, return
it (postage prepaid and insured with original sales receipt) to
the address below. Out-of-warranty repair service is also
available. For complete warranty information, please visit our
website.

2

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Parts List and Identification

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Quick Start

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Mounting the Headlamp

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Universal Handlebar Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Helmet Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Inserting the Headlamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Mounting the Battery

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Frame Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Pocket or Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Operation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Battery Charging and Care

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Using the 2.5-hour Fast Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Battery Initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Smart Battery Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Run Time

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4

PARTS LIST

AND IDENTIFICATION

Please verify the contents of your FireStorm system:
A. High-output HID headlamp

B. 4.0 Ah-13.2 Volt NiMH battery

(pocket/frame mount)

C. Universal handlebar mount
D. 2.5-hour fast charger
E. Helmet mount
F. Charger power cord
G. 36” helmet cord
H. Velcro cable tie

A

D

B

E

G

F

C

H

5

QUICK START

1. Fully charge the battery before the first use. See “Using the

2.5-hour Fast Charger” on page 10.

2. To mount the headlamp and battery, see “Mounting the

Headlamp” on page 6 and “Mounting the Battery” on
page 8.

3. Connect the battery to the headlamp.

4. To turn the system on and off, simply press and release the

headlamp power button.

6

MOUNTING THE HEADLAMP

The HID headlamp can be mounted to the handlebar or a
helmet.

Universal Handlebar Mount

The Universal Handlebar Mount (UHM) is designed to fit on
virtually any handlebar. Included with the mount is a 2.5-mm
Allen wrench, a pair of black rubber bumpers already in
place, and a thin rubber shim to customize the fit on large
handlebars up to 32 mm in diameter.

Turn the knob counter-clockwise, allowing the hinge to swing
open. Place the mount on the handlebar on the left side the
stem, orienting the rectangular notch in the slider clip to the
rear. Swing the hinge down to make contact with the
handlebar. Swing the hex bolt up, seating the knob into its
recess. Turn the knob clockwise to tighten and secure the
mount to the handlebar.

The UHM can be adjusted to accommodate any handlebar
angle. By loosening the 2.5 x 30 mm Allen screw, you can
move the swing arm back and forth to straighten the
headlamp. Tighten the 2.5 x 30 mm screw after the
adjustment.

NOTCH

SWING ARM

2.5 x 30 MM
SCREW

HINGE

KNOB

HEX BOLT

SLIDER CLIP

2.5 x 12 MM
SCREW

7

To pivot the headlamp, loosen the

2.5 x 12 mm screw located under the
slider clip and swing arm and rotate
the headlamp to the desired position.
Make this adjustment before
tightening the 2.5 x 30 mm screw.

Helmet Mount

1. Unclamp the straps on each side
of the helmet mount and pull them
free.

2. Position the plastic mounting plate
as close to the centerline of the
helmet as possible, orienting the
parallel grooves on the slider clip
to the rear.

3. Feed each strap into and out of
two helmet vents, circling each
strap back to the upper edge of
the corresponding clamp.

4. Fasten the straps by inserting them into the clamps.

Inserting the Headlamp into
the Handlebar or Helmet Mount

Insert the headlamp mount into the
handlebar or helmet mount slider
clip from the rear of the slider clip
forward. Gently rocking the lamp as
you slide it may help. Do not push
the release lever when inserting the
headlamp into the slider clip; let the
lamp snap into place by itself.

To remove the headlamp, push the release lever and slide the
lamp backward.

Note

: After mounting the headlamp, adjust the headlamp so
it illuminates the road properly without distracting oncoming
riders.

Headlamp mount with
release lever

8

MOUNTING THE BATTERY

The NiMH battery can be mounted to the bike frame or
placed in a jersey pocket, hydration pack, or fanny pack.

Warning

: For safety reasons, a cyclist should never be
tethered to the bike. If the headlamp is mounted to the
helmet, do not mount the battery to the frame. Conversely, if
the headlamp is mounted to the handlebar, do not place the
battery in a pocket or pack.

Frame Mount

1. Thread the wide Velcro strap

through the slots on the top of
the battery clip.

2. Attach the concave surface of

the battery to a safe,
convenient location on the
frame (typically under the top or
down tube), placing the Velcro
strap over the tube but under
any shift or brake cables.

3. Secure the handlebar cord to

the frame using the thin Velcro
tie. Make sure the cord does
not interfere with any moving
parts.

Pocket or Pack

1. Route the helmet cord through a

helmet vent or along the outside of
the helmet using the thin Velcro tie to
secure the cord.

2. Connect the helmet cord to the

battery, making sure the cord does
not interfere with any moving parts.

3. Simply place the battery in a pocket

or pack.

9

OPERATION

1. Connect the battery cord to the headlamp or helmet cord.

2. To turn the lamp on, press and release the headlamp

power button. The LED will turn green indicating power. It
is normal for the HID bulb to flicker and change color as
the bulb stabilizes.

3. To turn the lamp off, press and release the power button.

The lamp will go out and the LED will glow amber for four
seconds. During this time the lamp cannot be restruck.

4. When the LED turns red, it is time to recharge your battery.

Turn off your lamp to avoid over-discharging and damaging
your battery.

Note

: If the LED is flashing, the battery must be

disconnected to unlock this battery protection feature.

Warning

: HID headlamps require adequate airflow during
operation (as in riding conditions). NiteRider discourages use
of the light in stationary conditions as excessive heat
retention can damage the lamp.

10

BATTERY CHARGING

AND CARE

Rechargeable batteries can last years with proper care. Most
importantly, fully charge your battery:

• before the first use

• after each use

• before storing

• every 45 to 60 days when not in use.

Using the 2.5-hour Fast Charger

Note: The charger will charge a fully depleted battery in
approximately 2.5 hours.

1. Plug the power cord into the charger and then the wall

socket. The charger will conduct a self-diagnosis and the
charging indicator light (located on the back, upper-left
corner of the charger) will illuminate green, then amber,
and then back to green.

2. Connect the charger cable to the battery. If the battery is

not fully charged, the indicator light will turn amber,
signifying fast-charge mode. If the light flashes when you
first plug in the battery, the charger is preparing an overly
discharged battery for fast charging.

3. When the battery is fully charged, the indicator light will

turn green and charging will shut off automatically.

4. Unplug the charger from the battery and wall socket,

grasping the connectors rather than the cables. (Leaving
the battery and charger connected indefinitely will not
harm the cells.)

Battery Initialization

Until the battery has been charged and discharged up to ten
times, you may experience shorter than expected run times
as well as higher than normal charger and battery
temperatures.

11

Warning

: NiteRider discourages battery initialization through
“bench testing” (operating the light in static conditions) as
the excessive heat generated can damage the HID
headlamp.

Smart Battery Protection

FireStorm’s “smart” battery incorporates thermal protection
circuitry that turns the battery off when it overheats from
charging, external heat, or a short circuit. When the thermal
protection circuit is activated, the system will lock and the
fuel gauge will become dark. To clear the system and return
it to normal operation, unplug the light from the battery and
allow the battery to cool.

Similarly, intelligent lamp technology protects the battery from
overly discharging by turning the lamp off at the appropriate
time.

Storage

Rechargeable batteries perform better and last longer if they
are brought to a complete charge before storing and every
45 to 60 days when not in use.

Disconnect the battery from the headlamp, and store the
system in a cool dry place.

12

RUN TIME

FireStorm will run for 4 hours on a fully charged
battery.

Run times are approximations and will vary.

NiteRider, Inc.
8205 Ronson Road, Suite E
San Diego, CA 92111 USA

800.466.8366

www.niterider.com

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