The standard Q8 tail cap metal is to thin, i had to add a 1/8” thick aluminum plate inside the tail cap using JB-weld to make it thick enough to thread it so it can hold onto the tripod mounts.
What I am planning on doing in the interest list going forward is providing it to DBSAR sorted alphabetically by user name, so you can easily look in the first post and see where you stand. This would be updated every so often, maybe twice a month, or more often if folks want. It is pretty easy to do for me, the magic of a spreadsheet. I’ll add a link to it below, but it seemed like for some reason several folks are having problems seeing the numerically ordered interest list, so don’t be surprised if you have problems with this one as well. Just ask for permission to see it if you need to.
I’ll continue to keep up the order of interest document which I have been linking to for the past week or so as soon as people request to be added, but will update the listing in the spreadsheet sorted by peoples name just periodically, like every other week or so (as mentioned above). Hopefully this helps folks know where they stand in terms of how many lanterns they have showed interest in to date.
Just use any 18650 you have around, and it will work, as it uses the BLF Q8 battery tube, meaning both unprotected and protected cells will fit. And it has low voltage protection, meaning I would just use unprotected 18650s in this case.
I spoke to Barry a couple times so far via PM, once i can get a cross-section drawing done, and find somone who can to CAD design for the lantern to provide to them, then hopefully we can get it rolling more with them.
For lights with built-in low voltage shutdown I’m typically okay with using unprotected cells, even in a light that could end up being left on by mistake. Although with protected cells you will have a double layer of protection if one or the other fails.
These 10A continuous protected cells may be a good compromise for those that prefer to have that double layer of protection.
However I don’t know everything going on with the driver for this lantern yet, so I’m not sure if +10A capable cells would be required to achieve maximum output on the highest mode.
I have no idea if you tried that yet, but maybe you can ask thijsco to do some drawing? He was on the Q8 and GT projects too so he may add some experience with these projects too.
I would really love to help on this project, unfortunately I don’t have the time. I joined our fire department and the training has just started so that takes all my time atm.