The Skinny on the Sun Jar
So you bought or are thinking of buying a Sun Jar? Here's the skinny on our best-selling product.
How does it work?
When the jar is placed in sunlight, the solar cell creates an electrical current that charges the battery over the course of the day. This energy is then used to power the LED lamp inside the jar. The light emitted is diffused by the frosted jar and gives the appearance of sunlight.
The Sun Jar has a built-in light sensor, and switches on and off automatically when it gets dark or light, respectively. The Sun Jar MUST be in the dark to light up.
Charging
The battery needs sun to fully charge, and your Sun Jar may need charging before its first use. Leave outside or in a sunny window in DIRECT SUNLIGHT. It will require several hours and, in overcast conditions, we recommend charging for a few days.
Sun Jars work best outdoors in DIRECT sunshine!
Manual Switch Off
If you do not want your Sun Jar to light up when it gets dark, set the switch to the "Charge" mode. This will conserve the battery life and charge the battery at the same time: lift the metal lever to release the lid and set to "Charge" (On older models this is the up or off position).
The Sun Jar will continue to charge in “Auto” mode.
Winter
Bad weather is bad news for Sun Jars! You may find that in winter, or during cloudy weather, your Sun Jar illuminates for less time than usual, flickers, or does not light up. In times of prolonged bad weather (when there is not enough natural sun to charge your Sun Jar) you can remove the battery and charge it in a normal battery charger.
Replace The Battery
Rechargeable batteries have a long, but not indefinite, life. After many charges, the battery may lose its ability to store energy.
Open the Sun Jar and lift out the rubber insert and solar panel. The battery is under the solar panel, replace with a standard AA rechargeable battery. Never use a non-rechargeable battery in your Sun Jar.
Water Resistance
Kilner Jars have a watertight seal, so your Sun Jar can be left outside in wet weather.
After a long time outside, condensation may build up inside, this will not damage the Sun Jar. To remove any moisture build-up, open the lid and ease out the inner workings, empty out the water and replace the inner.
