*BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020)

One for me too.

Also interested in on (1) light.

I like where this is going so far, especially when there is a true WW option.
Camping light = warm light.
At least to me that is…

Grtz
Nico

Same here, I never understood folks that spend their evening outside with a cool white neon Coleman lantern. :confounded:

I’m in!

Had a situation where this light would have been the perfect solution

Please add me to the list for 1, this souds too good to pass up.

Interested in one.

Thanks.

I read on another thread that the lantern project is going for about 500 lumens on max. Is this true? I would imagine that this might be about the highest output that I would need much of time, but it sure would be nice to have access to a higher turbo level for those times where more light is needed.

Really nice project!

Please add me for one.

Thanks. :slight_smile:

As far as I’m aware, yes.

The driver is using true current regulation, not a FET+7135 design, and all MCU pins are already being used… so increasing maximum output is not very feasible without significant design changes.

It’s designed by someone who uses lanterns frequently for long periods, to be practical rather than flashy. Ideally, charge-able each day with a small solar panel, with enough runtime to last the entire evening, for long-term off-grid use.

I have a 650lm Fenix CL30R. I never use it on high, its just too bright for around the campsite.

I will take one as well.

Agreed on warm light.

I sure hope it’s a lot more than 500 lumens, that isn’t much for times where you’re trying to light up a decent sized camp. That said, when it’s pitch black out, your eyes adjust pretty well to lower light levels.

I have not measured it for lumens accurately, but it is the second brightest LED lantern i have (out of dozens of modded ones i built & modded) the problem is it can not be pushed to bright because of its compact size, ( there is not enough heat-sinking metal to prevent it from over heating. Lanterns differ from flashlights in that lanterns run continuously for hours at a time. Even with just two 7135 chips, on high, (at .700 amps) after a hour running the solid aluminum heatsink top gets hot. When i ran it with three 7135s at 1.05 amps, it got to hot to hold ot touch after a hour. it produces more light output thana 40 watt Incandescent light bulb, to push it brighter woudl require a much larger finned top heatsink. (thus it won’t be pocket-sized anymore.

I am actually not sure what 500 lumens from this lantern will look like. I am sure that it will be more than enough for campfires and cat fishing on the riverbank. If I need more light I will use more than one lantern. :slight_smile:

Will the lantern collapse when not in use? Or will you have to pack all that space with it?

no. (I don’t see how it would be possible to collapse a beer-can sized lantern with 4 18659 cells in it, would drive the price up to high.

The demonstration photos in the OP shows how bright it is to an extent. ( the first photos shows its brighter than a Coleman Fuel pressure camp lantern.

I’m extremely excited for this lantern. Please take your time and do it right. I think most of us are plenty patient and just want a polished end product. Thank you for tackling this project!

I am changing jobs in 3 weeks, so I have to concentrate on that for the next few weeks,. but after the change over I will have much more free time to focus on the lantern project finally. ( considering over the last year my life has been chaos with nearly no free time to work on projects.