The technology will evolve over time of course. Have to remember here that good “lanterns” were gas (and used outside) until recently. They are still more dangerous compared to the lithium solution we now have with the LT1 (and we DO respect battery safety here at BLF). But Colman lanterns of the past were used 99% of the time where there wasn’t a safety problem outdoors or out in the garage… where no electricity existed.
Also, the rest of the muggle world is used to batteries used in everything. They put cell phones in their back pockets, store batteries in their spare change basket, and really don’t think about safety because they didn’t have to with AA, C, D, and 9V batteries. And BMS designs have thankfully kept lithium blow-ups down in consumer electronics lately. But my INR18650Bs ALL have the standard warning printed on them to NOT use them without a BMS.
So we have lanterns now being used indoors AND by users assuming a level of safety that maybe doesn’t exist (isn’t UL list’able). Not sure if protected batteries MAY change that some day (and in this lantern, high current isn’t needed… so protected cells work fine performance wise). BUT the LT1 as a gift to a muggle?.. uh that probably should come with protected, high capacity/low drain 18650s from one of the majors.
It’s been said many times that the LT1 is a game changer… and it is true to me as a user outdoors, away from the grid where safety isn’t needed at the same level as in the home, car, or airplane. But I admit, I use my LT1 next to my bed where I run it nightly for hours sometimes. This started as a “battery test” at low light, but it has turned into a permanent fixture which does a great job of not waking the wife with too much light in the room while she’s sleeping.
If my LT1 causes a fire, my insurance may not cover it due to the technical mis-use of the 18650s though, so each one of us has to assess that risk. I am comfortable with the battery technology from the major manufacturers from reliable sources. But I don’t have children around, and like guns… it’s the owners’ responsibility to maintain a standard of safe use. This means if there is an accident, it’s user error. Pilots understand this concept as they are trained to understand the MUST HAVE routine of maintenance, pre-flight checks, and certifications for any new plane they wish to fly.
Bottom line, most here at BLF understand the risk of using the “raw” 18650; the general public does not. And there are ways of mitigating risk with muggle use (i.e. protected cells), but when we play with fire, someone is going to get burned eventually. So any way we can educate (continually) in forum discussions will benefit us all by keeping accidents down (and thus, public concern also down).
At least we are still free to do as we please with regard to lithium battery use today. But we have a responsibility to ourselves to remind our members (and others we share this stuff with) to use these lights responsibly. Hopefully, these batteries will one day be listed for use in more electronics where the technology lock held by major manufacturers is finally broke and alkalines just go away.