I like the concept of a less expensive version (e.g., plastic) for countries with no light or money. There could be a BLF project.
I do not think that AA batteries are suitable. In the target users, the AAs in-country probably cost some days of food. Decision points: have light for their children to do home work and reading, eat. Rechargeable only.
To be useful, it must be dead cheap.
If you want to pursue this, I would suggest including reasonable quality bare bones Li rechargeable and a low cost solar panel. Not garbage: but durable. Don’t leave it in the rain. This people can use without having to scrounge for batteries.
A target operation. Minimum - day of solar charging for 8 hours of night light. Possibly an external port for charging ultra cheap flashlights and maybe radios and very simple phones. These could be NiMh or Li for cost reasons. An absolutely lowest power LED portable/pocket light and area lighting would be huge.
If you can present a viable price package, you might be able to sell high volumes to the groups helping people with pretty much nothing, to help educating their children and making a more comfortable and productive night environment. Much better than fumes for various combustion generated light sources. And probably cheaper. I think there are those sorts of devices around. But a beautifully engineered BLF lantern - priceless.
Maybe we should be making a 4x18650 LT1A made of durable recyclable plastic.
To make it less expensive by using a plastic body, we’d need to sell a lot of units.
It would be using a 4x7135 driver with 4x SST-20s 95CRI at 3500k or 4x LH351D 90CRI 3000k/5000k, 4x included 18650s with capacities of 2400mAh, a micro-USB input for charging, and USB-A for output, along with a small handle.
I’d be for including a non-user-serviceable built-in Lithium battery pack, and making the whole light basically “not meant to be opened” so that the structure of the plastic body can be made simpler and waterproof. A single waterproof USB-C charge port with a rubber cover (port is waterproof without cover, but cover helps keep dirt out) would probably be enough. It doesn’t need to be usable as a powerbank. To be a bit cheaper, a set of 2x or 3x high CRI 4000K emitters would even be enough. But, I guess 4x would make it marginally more efficient in use.
Non easily replaceable 10000mAh internal cell with 4,05V charging for good cycle life and 4x SST-20s 3500k using the same MCPCB as the Q8, but made of aluminium instead of copper.
A lantern like this, especially a cheaper plastic one, would be invaluable for people like Peace Corp volunteers in places like Africa. My middle daughter was in Uganda for 3 years and based upon a 2 week visit there and talking to her about her experiences, a BLF lantern and solar panel would be in high demand. Many places have spotty or no electricity and she told me about hospitals losing power in the middle of surgery with a corresponding loss of life. I think that if Sofirn was smart they would try to market the lantern to people going to or living in 3rd world countries. Maybe produce a version with a non-replaceable battery since 18650’s are going to be rare if not impossible to find in many poor countries.
I’ve been checking in on this thread for a couple years now and have been interested since the beginning. I’m really excited that this is going to be in the hands of the people soon. I’m in for 1!
For that target there is also the waka waka project. They have been running for a couple of years already and have finetuned some products especially aimed at people with no electricity and little money. To prevent re-inventing the wheel, if such a plastic lantern is developed, look what they have achieved sofar. WakaWaka® - Share the Sun
@Den…Would the lampshade/downshade would be fold able to flat size.As with, side directional shade reflector,I am hope its something that can simply clip on the existing outer globe.
