With this Module i can use a gas or propane lantern on gas while camping, then switch to LED if i run out of fuel, or vice-versa if the batteries get low i can switch to Gas operation by removing the module & adding a real mantle & fuel.
Wow! What a fantastic creation. I always loved the Coleman lanterns I grew up with in the 60's. Nostalgic for sure. Great work and you've given me an idea for a project come some rainy day.
The four 18650’s all run in parallel, So its safe with a great run time on high and runs for a week or more continuous on low. Also it can run on only one, two, or three 18650s if needed.
it uses a Nanjq Q-Lite Rev. driver meaning it can have 3-modes with moonlight if the star-bridging is changed.
I noticed Fasttech sells AA battery holders, i think i saw a 16 battery in series holder once (this only needs four in series of course), but i figured this would be good for my folks since they are now thinking of buying a few candles or $50 LED lantern that runs on many D batteries (took me a while to talk them out of it) hence I am actually looking for a good 4AA lantern.
This module should get reasonable run times using four Ladda or Eneloops and double that if using eight AA NiMH cells. ( in a 4S2P config.) I used only two 7135 chips on the Q-Lite in this module to keep the LED in that “efficient zone” (on high at about 0.74 amps i measured and it barely warmed up on the hefty copper block module.) and still puts out lots of light with a full weekend worth of run time on a single charged set of old 18650 laptop-pulls.
As for other 4-AA lanterns, i lost count of the ones i built, modded, and have scattered all over the house and RV.
This module would work on the larger Primus or Optimus lanterns as long there was enough room under the top vent to hide the battery packs. ( though i dont have any of those makes or models, the closest one i have is a Petromax style.
So far i don’t have a host yet, but i’ve been enjoying the starry light and it has good modes, so i am reasonably confident i can program a 105C (won a programmer in a giveaway, have not tried it yet), i figured 4AA in series, on a swappable plug like those cheap bike lights, at 200mA it would last 10 hours (about 100 lumens), then swap for the next battery pack (4AA).
Your host seems excellent because most cheap hosts are plastic and provide no heatsinking at all, if i make a light like this i can hopefully come across an old lantern for a few bucks somewhere
These lanterns are meant to withstand a lot of heat and with all the frame made from steel, (many older models like the 236 - 237 used solid cast brass burners and gas frames, which make great heatsinks.
The diffuser is one i salvaged from an old garden LED light, with a piece of white hair-net over it to simulate a lantern mantle.
I know, thats why i am sure they would handle LED heat without difficulty unlike dollar store lanterns.
If there is a cheap diffuser available that would be great for this mod.
So far of all the diffusers i tried (even factory ones) the one that came with my Sunwayman F40A is the best i tried with the least loss of LED output.
How hot does the lamp get when running on fuel? Wouldn’t you be in the dark for a while waiting for it to cool down, if you ran fuel first and had to switch?