*BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020)

Looks great! Wouldn’t you know, a lantern sits firmly next on my list of “new lights I can rationalize,” but as you clearly stated, decent stock options are essentially non-existent. My best thought until now was to start with something like this (modded to run off 18650’s, of course), but a down-firing SRK variant sounds simpler, more durable, and more compact.

I’m very interested in a potential group buy (depending on price, of course), but also interested in following your prototype build… The challenge of a home-made version also sounds attractive, so I might need to buy one + make one, because, you know, it’d probably be smart to have something in a different tint as a backup…

Thanks again for getting this started! Excited to see how it progresses regardless of outcome. :cool:

Yeah this is intriguing. I’ve got one lantern, a Fenix CL25R, but this seems like a very different project. So consider me interested.

I’m Interested!

-Chuck

for indoor use in rooms with white ceilings, the design of this lantern with a down-firing LED, simply set it on a higher shelf or table upside-down, and it will bounce quite a bit of light from the ceiling around it if preferred. (those tests & photos will be coming too. :slight_smile: I thought about the idea of building it with two switchable LEDs ( one on the top facing up and the inside one facing down) but that would just add complexity & cost to a manufactured version.

Agreed - I really like the idea of a simple, dedicated, non-crappy lantern. If we want something to aim at the ceiling, well, we all have at least a dozen options for that, don’t we? :wink:
I have one that’s switchable between upward (flashlight-ish) and downward (lantern-ish) firing, and it doesn’t do a good job at either.

Very true, we all already have tons of flashlights for ceiling bouncing/tail standing indoors. But when it comes to acual lanterns that can be used outdoors for area lighing there are way to many crappy, plastic, bad-tinted, low-runtime lanterns with unreliable “gimmics” added to them already available from sellers & stores,
But for outdoors, or in places/rooms where white smooth ceilings are not an option, a simple, durable, long running, 360-degree lantern is needed.

I’m interested
As long as the cost doesn’t get too crazy

Depending on the price, I may or may not get one, but I am interested.

I am in!! Possibly multiples if price is agreeable.

Very interested.

Interesting project. I’m in.

I’m in!

Can’t wait for this one. The way I look at it, this lantern will have no competition. Nothing else like it on the market, everything now is plastic, alkaline powered, and no name emitters. Can see this being a huge seller to campers, hikers, fishermen, hunters, and such. Looking good DBSAR.

The plan is to build a lantern than can fit in a coat pocket, produce the light of a 60 watt light bulb, have good high CRI tint, and run for several nights of use on high, (Or for weeks on lower modes) without the need of recharging the batteries, be durable, solid, compact, useful when needed, and do what a lantern is supposed to do. (and be open to further modding like all of here like to do if we wish to. :slight_smile:

This sounds like a great project.

Just one question; Where are you getting the SRK clone with threadded LED plate?

I am in :slight_smile: nice project!

I could certainly use a good lantern, I’m in.

Put me down for one please, dependant on price and absolutely no detectable PWM.

I am almost with you, I’d love to see a really good led lantern come to life. But there’s one thing that all that plastic garbage has to its advantage, and that is the use of safe chemistry batteries. So I’m not really sure I would like to see this with 18650 batteries, but perhaps rather with AA-type batteries. It will be a bit less compact but much easier to sell or give away.

I’m definitely interested