Yeah… the thread management stuff can be done by other people, and I’ve been slowly making tools to make that easier, but it seems The Miller’s most important roles have been behind the scenes making things actually happen.
Yeah… the thread management stuff can be done by other people, and I’ve been slowly making tools to make that easier, but it seems The Miller’s most important roles have been behind the scenes making things actually happen.
Very true. I can definitely focus time & work on perfecting the prototype & create the ultimate practical lantern that was originally intended, but i do need help with the logistics, development, communications with a manufacturer, (good candidates would be Thorfire, Illumintop, etc.) and a testing/developing team for specific parts as in the Driver design, ( as yourself have those abilities that i do not) programming, charging & USB incorporation ideas, and usability functions and working out the final production design to be practical, functional, and have the best of the lantern world while keeping the initial cost in a range where it will be a seller hit.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Yeah… the thread management stuff can be done by other people, and I’ve been slowly making tools to make that easier, but it seems The Miller’s most important roles have been behind the scenes making things actually happen.
Very true. I can definitely focus time & work on perfecting the prototype & create the ultimate practical lantern that was originally intended, but i do need help with the logistics, development, communications with a manufacturer, (good candidates would be Thorfire, Illumintop, etc.) and a testing/developing team for specific parts as in the Driver design, ( as yourself have those abilities that i do not) programming, charging & USB incorporation ideas, and usability functions and working out the final production design to be practical, functional, and have the best of the lantern world while keeping the initial cost in a range where it will be a seller hit.
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
Yeah… the thread management stuff can be done by other people, and I’ve been slowly making tools to make that easier, but it seems The Miller’s most important roles have been behind the scenes making things actually happen.
Very true. I can definitely focus time & work on perfecting the prototype & create the ultimate practical lantern that was originally intended, but i do need help with the logistics, development, communications with a manufacturer, (good candidates would be Thorfire, Illumintop, etc.) and a testing/developing team for specific parts as in the Driver design, ( as yourself have those abilities that i do not) programming, charging & USB incorporation ideas, and usability functions and working out the final production design to be practical, functional, and have the best of the lantern world while keeping the initial cost in a range where it will be a seller hit.
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
That is the plan, to possible make the BLF lantern interchangeable with the Q8 battery tube body/base. I wish i had an extra Q8 body/host so that i could incorporate that into the upgraded prototype. Thorfire built a great light with the Q8, and know they could do the same with the BLF lantern.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Thanks for the update, DBSAR; hope you’re able to find some joy and peace in this difficult season you’re going through. We appreciate you and can wait — your happiness/health is most important.
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
That is the plan, to possible make the BLF lantern interchangeable with the Q8 battery tube body/base. I wish i had an extra Q8 body/host so that i could incorporate that into the upgraded prototype. Thorfire built a great light with the Q8, and know they could do the same with the BLF lantern.
I’m working on getting you a Q8 for further development. I will PM you as soon as I hear back.
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
That is the plan, to possible make the BLF lantern interchangeable with the Q8 battery tube body/base. I wish i had an extra Q8 body/host so that i could incorporate that into the upgraded prototype. Thorfire built a great light with the Q8, and know they could do the same with the BLF lantern.
I’m working on getting you a Q8 for further development. I will PM you as soon as I hear back.
That would be awesome. Right now I have the original prototype taken apart to re-design & simplify some parts, but incorporating the Q8 components to the revised prototype would be a benefit to its compatibility, and possibly lower cost of each unit if we can work it out with Thorfire to build the production model, as they already have the design CADs for the Q8 body parts.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
That is the plan, to possible make the BLF lantern interchangeable with the Q8 battery tube body/base. I wish i had an extra Q8 body/host so that i could incorporate that into the upgraded prototype. Thorfire built a great light with the Q8, and know they could do the same with the BLF lantern.
I’m working on getting you a Q8 for further development. I will PM you as soon as I hear back.
That would be awesome. Right now I have the original prototype taken apart to re-design & simplify some parts, but incorporating the Q8 components to the revised prototype would be a benefit to its compatibility, and possibly lower cost of each unit if we can work it out with Thorfire to build the production model, as they already have the design CADs for the Q8 body parts.
If they will code me one from Amazon, I told them I would pay to ship it to you in Canada. I really want to see this project happen. This is the best lantern idea to come around in a long time. Hopefully they will respond to my email sometime tomorrow.
If they will code me one from Amazon, I told them I would pay to ship it to you in Canada. I really want to see this project happen. This is the best lantern idea to come around in a long time. Hopefully they will respond to my email sometime tomorrow.
sounds great. This will enlighten my spirits to get this rolling. (which have been on a low side for awhile)
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
*+UPDATES,April,16,2018 -
So with the help of fellow member here on BLF, RobertB and Miranda of Thorfire, we acquired a Q8 to use as a new prototype for the BLF lantern. it has been discussed before that building the lantern as compatible with the already awesome BLF Q8, will reduce costs especially if we work with Thorfire to build the production model, as they already have the blueprints and design criteria for the Q8.
- i do need to talk to talk to the developers & designers of the Q8 driver, as it may be possible to use that driver for the lantern, if i can figure out how to reduce the maximum output amps on it maximum modes to around 1.2 amps, ( or even up to 1.5 ~ 1.7 amps to the LEDs then somehow have it step down either by timing, or wired remote temperature sensor mounted on the lantern head. As we all like the mode-groups & programming of the Q8, they woudl probably work great for the lantern too. (only issue is if that will cut costs down, and if we can add the charging input, (and possibly the USB powerbank feature)
So once i receive the Q8, it will be focused on as the prototype for the BLF lantern. I hope the team from the Q8 development can chime in here with help & suggestions.
I have already spoke to Miranda of Thorfire on the thoughts of working with them to build the ultimate BLF lantern.+*
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I hope i can talk with Tom-E on the driver before i decide to utilize the original Q8 driver as the lantern driver, ( if not we will have to go with the new complete design.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I’ve held off your far, but now that things are moving I have to admit I really want one of these. Put me on the list for 1, depending on price and release date.
If you just want to use (as close as possible) the Q8 driver design but lower the effective max output, the simplest thing might be to just replace the FET with a bank of five AMC7135 chips, and use the same firmware. You would then have a 5 + 1 driver instead of the Fet + 1 driver the Q8 has now. If the more stable 350mA chips are used, the max output would be 5× 350mA which is 1.75A total. If you wanted to save one chip and the space it takes up, the driver code would have to be modified just a little to use both banks (four plus one for a total of five) together in the highest mode.
By the way, Tom E isn’t the only one that could make the (very minor) adjustments needed to the code for this modification. Texas_Ace or ToyKeeper could easily do it, I think, as well as others. There are also several who could draw up the physical layout for the modded PCB.
—
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
If you just want to use (as close as possible) the Q8 driver design but lower the effective max output, the simplest thing might be to just replace the FET with a bank of five AMC7135 chips, and use the same firmware. You would then have a 5 + 1 driver instead of the Fet + 1 driver the Q8 has now. If the more stable 350mA chips are used, the max output would be 5× 350mA which is 1.75A total. If you wanted to save one chip and the space it takes up, the driver code would have to be modified just a little to use both banks (four plus one for a total of five) together in the highest mode.
By the way, Tom E isn’t the only one that could make the (very minor) adjustments needed to the code for this modification. Texas_Ace or ToyKeeper could easily do it, I think, as well as others. There are also several who could draw up the physical layout for the modded PCB.
That could work if we went that way. We woudl need to talk to DEL & Tom-E first to make sure they are ok with their driver being incorporated in the lantern project, and their thoughts on ideas of the programming, etc. Toykeeper has made some good suggestions too on this. I just thought since Thorfire has already built the Q8 with that driver, it could make it easier to adapt fro use in the BLF lantern project.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
If you just want to use (as close as possible) the Q8 driver design but lower the effective max output, the simplest thing might be to just replace the FET with a bank of five AMC7135 chips, and use the same firmware. You would then have a 5 + 1 driver instead of the Fet + 1 driver the Q8 has now. If the more stable 350mA chips are used, the max output would be 5× 350mA which is 1.75A total. If you wanted to save one chip and the space it takes up, the driver code would have to be modified just a little to use both banks (four plus one for a total of five) together in the highest mode.
By the way, Tom E isn’t the only one that could make the (very minor) adjustments needed to the code for this modification. Texas_Ace or ToyKeeper could easily do it, I think, as well as others. There are also several who could draw up the physical layout for the modded PCB.
That could work if we went that way. We woudl need to talk to DEL & Tom-E first to make sure they are ok with their driver being incorporated in the lantern project, and their thoughts on ideas of the programming, etc. Toykeeper has made some good suggestions too on this. I just thought since Thorfire has already built the Q8 with that driver, it could make it easier to adapt fro use in the BLF lantern project.
Yes, I agree.
—
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
Code should be easy to adapt. I already abstracted out most of the hardware details so UIs can be ported by simply changing some bits in the underlying library.
The hard part is designing a driver with all the desired capabilities. DEL already did a lot of the work though, and hopefully he’ll be willing to finish the rest.
Code should be easy to adapt. I already abstracted out most of the hardware details so UIs can be ported by simply changing some bits in the underlying library.
The hard part is designing a driver with all the desired capabilities. DEL already did a lot of the work though, and hopefully he’ll be willing to finish the rest.
With yours & DEL’s help it can be a reality. (as i’m a dumb post when it comes to programming and driver designing.
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I sure hope ToyKeeper’s candle and sunset modes will be incorporated. Those little details will take this lantern, which is already going to be amazing, over the top.
I sure hope ToyKeeper’s candle and sunset modes will be incorporated. Those little details will take this lantern, which is already going to be amazing, over the top.
I agree, those modes woudl really make this lantern unique
—
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Don’t worry DBSAR.
As long as you are okay, everything is alright.
You need to stay healthy and happy.
My very own high current Beryllium Copper springs: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/64047
Liitokala Aliexpress Stores Battery Fraud: http://budgetlightforum.com/node/60547
Yeah… the thread management stuff can be done by other people, and I’ve been slowly making tools to make that easier, but it seems The Miller’s most important roles have been behind the scenes making things actually happen.
Very true. I can definitely focus time & work on perfecting the prototype & create the ultimate practical lantern that was originally intended, but i do need help with the logistics, development, communications with a manufacturer, (good candidates would be Thorfire, Illumintop, etc.) and a testing/developing team for specific parts as in the Driver design, ( as yourself have those abilities that i do not) programming, charging & USB incorporation ideas, and usability functions and working out the final production design to be practical, functional, and have the best of the lantern world while keeping the initial cost in a range where it will be a seller hit.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
interested. please include me in the list
Thorfire would definitely be a good candidate. Especially with 3000 Q8’s already floating around. All they’d have to make is a head to your spec.
That is the plan, to possible make the BLF lantern interchangeable with the Q8 battery tube body/base. I wish i had an extra Q8 body/host so that i could incorporate that into the upgraded prototype. Thorfire built a great light with the Q8, and know they could do the same with the BLF lantern.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
@ DBSAR: It sounds like you have a lot of issues on your hands that are way more important then a BLF camping lantern.
Take it easy and take care of your priorities first. The rest is luxury.
Cheers and thanks for the good work!
Nico
Thanks for the update, DBSAR; hope you’re able to find some joy and peace in this difficult season you’re going through. We appreciate you and can wait — your happiness/health is most important.
Interested!
I’m working on getting you a Q8 for further development. I will PM you as soon as I hear back.
That would be awesome. Right now I have the original prototype taken apart to re-design & simplify some parts, but incorporating the Q8 components to the revised prototype would be a benefit to its compatibility, and possibly lower cost of each unit if we can work it out with Thorfire to build the production model, as they already have the design CADs for the Q8 body parts.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
If they will code me one from Amazon, I told them I would pay to ship it to you in Canada. I really want to see this project happen. This is the best lantern idea to come around in a long time. Hopefully they will respond to my email sometime tomorrow.
sounds great. This will enlighten my spirits to get this rolling. (which have been on a low side for awhile)
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
PM me if/when this happens, RobertB.
Ok, still waiting for a reply
interested
interested depending on price if I haven’t already posted. (cant remember)
*+UPDATES,April,16,2018 - So with the help of fellow member here on BLF, RobertB and Miranda of Thorfire, we acquired a Q8 to use as a new prototype for the BLF lantern. it has been discussed before that building the lantern as compatible with the already awesome BLF Q8, will reduce costs especially if we work with Thorfire to build the production model, as they already have the blueprints and design criteria for the Q8.
- i do need to talk to talk to the developers & designers of the Q8 driver, as it may be possible to use that driver for the lantern, if i can figure out how to reduce the maximum output amps on it maximum modes to around 1.2 amps, ( or even up to 1.5 ~ 1.7 amps to the LEDs then somehow have it step down either by timing, or wired remote temperature sensor mounted on the lantern head. As we all like the mode-groups & programming of the Q8, they woudl probably work great for the lantern too. (only issue is if that will cut costs down, and if we can add the charging input, (and possibly the USB powerbank feature)
So once i receive the Q8, it will be focused on as the prototype for the BLF lantern. I hope the team from the Q8 development can chime in here with help & suggestions.
I have already spoke to Miranda of Thorfire on the thoughts of working with them to build the ultimate BLF lantern.+*
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
interested +1
NarsilM – configurable e-switch firmware for Multi channels, new v1.2 BETA
I have not “seen” Tom E for a long time.
Sorry for my poor english.
You can change single 7135 to extra pcb with 4-6×7135 and set ui as 1%-100%amc-100%fet. Configuring fet pwm level to 1.2-1.6A output is not best idea.
Low-cost copper pills, spacers, optics, drop-ins.
I hope i can talk with Tom-E on the driver before i decide to utilize the original Q8 driver as the lantern driver, ( if not we will have to go with the new complete design.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I’ve held off your far, but now that things are moving I have to admit I really want one of these. Put me on the list for 1, depending on price and release date.
Find all my reviews of flashlights and more gear at www.bmengineer.com
If you just want to use (as close as possible) the Q8 driver design but lower the effective max output, the simplest thing might be to just replace the FET with a bank of five AMC7135 chips, and use the same firmware. You would then have a 5 + 1 driver instead of the Fet + 1 driver the Q8 has now. If the more stable 350mA chips are used, the max output would be 5× 350mA which is 1.75A total. If you wanted to save one chip and the space it takes up, the driver code would have to be modified just a little to use both banks (four plus one for a total of five) together in the highest mode.
By the way, Tom E isn’t the only one that could make the (very minor) adjustments needed to the code for this modification. Texas_Ace or ToyKeeper could easily do it, I think, as well as others. There are also several who could draw up the physical layout for the modded PCB.
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
That could work if we went that way. We woudl need to talk to DEL & Tom-E first to make sure they are ok with their driver being incorporated in the lantern project, and their thoughts on ideas of the programming, etc. Toykeeper has made some good suggestions too on this. I just thought since Thorfire has already built the Q8 with that driver, it could make it easier to adapt fro use in the BLF lantern project.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Yes, I agree.
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
Code should be easy to adapt. I already abstracted out most of the hardware details so UIs can be ported by simply changing some bits in the underlying library.
The hard part is designing a driver with all the desired capabilities. DEL already did a lot of the work though, and hopefully he’ll be willing to finish the rest.
With yours & DEL’s help it can be a reality. (as i’m a dumb post when it comes to programming and driver designing.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I sure hope ToyKeeper’s candle and sunset modes will be incorporated. Those little details will take this lantern, which is already going to be amazing, over the top.
Just discovered this wonderful addiction.
Interested.
BLF A6 / Astrolux A01 / Emistar D4 v2 Nichia 219C / Emisar D1s 5000K / Astrolux MF01 / BLF FWA3 (soon-ish)
I agree, those modes woudl really make this lantern unique
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
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