Dead Frog
No - not this kind of dead frog, though it does look like an ideal isotonic, carbohydrate-based drink for after a long (or short) ride…
No - I mean my Knog Frog Strobe. I was given a red one last autumn, and thought that paired with a white one for the front, it’d be ideal for going on the Brompton. Small enough not to interfere with the folding, and bright enough for in-town use.
The trouble was, I’d only had the front one a few weeks, and only used it a couple of times (very short trips), when I switched it on and found the batteries flat. Bah - how could I be so stupid as to leave the light on a bike that I’d folded and carried into the house?
So I got some new batteries and put them in. Only to find in a few weeks (and a single use) that the batteries were again flat.
WHAT?!
Well now I reckon there’s a problem with the switch on that front light, and it’s somehow still drawing a small current from the batteries when the light’s apparently off. So this afternoon I went for a short ride to my local bike shop to get it exchanged.
There can be issues with moisture getting in and connecting the circuit. Its more prevalent on the Skink models but it could explain why your battery has gone flat so quick.
Making sure the light is stored dry can help. I’d dry mine off after every ride if it had been raining.
It never got wet once!
It’s a common problem. I have 3 that all run down without use within a few weeks and a friend has the same. I can use them as much as I like in those few weeks and they’re good. It seems like it’s time and not power use that runs them down? Very odd. I had thought that it might be the type of batteries that they use. I know some older watch style batteries start to react and run down once they’re removed from their packaging. I’d hope this isn’t the case for the design of cells that the Knogs use. Although they are small batteries so probably can’t hold much power anyway?
I always try to opt for lights that take AAA or AA batteries for ease. The Knogs Frog Strobes are too tempting and convenient in size to turn down though.
I’ve also had a couple of other different models of Knog lights die quite quickly due to small amounts of water getting in from riding in the rain. Not very resilient really!
mine has lasted for about two years and is only just starting to fade
I know that they moved production to a different factory at one point and had so many problems with faulty goods that they moved it back. Maybe we have some from the batch that was made at the bad factory? There must be a lot of them out there as they didn’t do any recalls on any of their products.
I generally don’t trust the Knog products now. I can’t have lights suddenly fail from mysteriously leaking power or getting wet when I’m out in the dark and rain. I’ve also had a couple of different ones of their lights where the stretchy housing has ripped or snapped.
I have the same issue. I have a front a rear set and the front one eats batteries (so far the rear one has been OK). I, like you, thought I had accidently switched it on but several sets of expensive CR2032s later then I am convinced the frog is croaked. It has never been wet.
I would avoid them in future.