@pilotdog, look at post #1626 and search for cost in the OP.
Also, the Samsung LH351D LEDs in bulk are much cheaper than Cree XPLs and Nichia 219C LEDs. We also don’t need as much heatsinking, and a lower power LED driver with a max of probably 1,4A, and the inter compatibility with the Q8 means costs will come down.
It is probably going to cost 30$US compared to 40$US of the original BLF Q8. Just the LEDs themselves will cost half as much in bulk, and it is going to help tremendously.
LED cost won’t be a significant factor if it uses twice as many LEDs…
I think it could get a smooth enough beam with 3 LEDs per color though, instead of 4. So that could potentially help a little. In terms of lumens, it doesn’t really need more than one per color… but the extras help spread the light more evenly.
Please stop guessing what the costs will be of particular components, you are probably wrong and it will influence the design process in a wrong way, namely not the best lantern is designed but a lantern that according to some BLF members’ wild guesses is cheap.
In the Q8 design process we tried to avoid thinking for the manufacturer as much as possible, and the end result had features that early in the process we thought we would never achieve, and we still got it for the original price goal.
As for using the Q8 board design, having a dedicated board designed for the lantern makes a lot of sense and will probably have no influence whatsoever on the costs, making DTP led boards costs very little money nowadays.
UPDATES Cross section of the BLF V2 lantern added. Further field testing going great! photos coming soon. also will have more detailed specifications for the lantern to provide to Barry & Thorfire soon. All we may need is to find someone to draft up a CAD of the lantern in the cross-section drawing below if Barry needs a more detailed version for Thorfire to work on.
What if the “shade” was a cylinder rather than a cup?
The top surface of the “aluminum threaded shelf/base” could be left un-anodized to help reflect light.
This would save a bit of polycarbonate and eliminate the paint, but I’m not sure how it would affect the lantern’s strength or otherwise change its construction. Just a thought.
I like the idea of amber switch LEDs rather than green ones like the Q8.
Looking forward to the new photos. Hope you had a great trip!