I don’t, not even sure what it looks like.
Thanks for the link Tom Tom. BlueSwordM described an identical circuit to me recently and for some reason I just did not get it. Seeing it in a different presentation made it click I guess. :student: I will be adding this to the driver for sure.
well said TomTom, that’s the reasons why i tested the 1 amp TP4056 to be perfectly suited for the lantern, as even with four 3600mah high capacity cells, the 1A TP4056 would charge them in less than a day (of which time the lantern is not used) and the lantern will run for a few nights on a charge at 5 to 6 hours per night on high. There is no need for “Fast charging” at 2+ amps what so ever for this application, which causes problems i tested when trying to charge from lower powered Solar panels, wall adapters, RV USB ports, etc. it will be likely limited to 1 amp charging for the production model for those reasons. Unlike phones & tablets where fast0charging ratea are a great idea, for the lantern purpose it really does not need it at all.
USB-C is the planned charging port interface for the production lantern (if it do not add to much more to the retail price of the lantern) if USB-C is to cost-prohibitive, then we will have to go with USB-Micro. we will know once Barry can determine the cost difference for us.
EDIT: - I been searching for USB-C type charger/USB power bank modules and have had no luck with finding anything at all that seems to use the USB-C port for both charging cells and use as a power bank output all in one port (as some people said it was capable of, but i have not found that option existing at this time)
it seems to have both the charging capability & USB power bank option there will be have to be two ports, and a separate female-USB-A socket for connecting devices like smart phones to charge them. (USB-C for the charging-in port, (or revert to USB-Micro if the manufacturer determines that USB-C is too cost prohibitive for the production lantern)
The next ‘new’ Usb device you get should have it……
it is symmetrical(there is no right/wrong way to plug it in)
Hahaha I was afraid to say that I don’t have any either. But it seems that I’m not the only one without one.
Baseus 2 in 1 Type C Micro USB Data Sync Charging 1.2M Cable for Samsung S8 Xiaomi 6 Letv
https://banggood.app.link/XtLGqYYiMO
To all those who doesn’t have USB type C yet, I suggest you get some of these. Great quality at an affordable price. I have one in my car, a couple in my house as well as in my camping box.
If not too late, PLEASE put me on the list!
Definitely do not want to miss this!
Thanks!
The USB C connectors are supposed to be more significantly more durable than the predecessors. As rated by number of insertion/extractions before wear (the plug is designed to wear preferentially to the socket, as is the USB micro).
However my real world experience with my two devices is that the connectors soon become loose and wobbly, to the extent that I now often have to wiggle the connector a bit before a good connection is made. This particularly affects the data connection.
My Samsung Tab is utterly reliant on this connection, I have an external dongle that is used as a docking station to connect three standard USB devices (printer, external HDD, SD card reader, TV tuner, etc.) as well as a gigabit ethernet port to my home network. When the connection is playing up it is extremely frustrating, and data loss is a very real risk, particularly with the HDD and SD card.
I regret buying the Samsung Tab, I trusted that USB C was to be as reliable as advertised, but my experience has been quite the opposite. Even finding a dongle to use as a dock, that also passed back the power connection so the Tab could charge whilst in use, was an expensive and frustrating challenge.
My ’phone is less problematic, as it is primarily used just to charge it, but again, when I use it for a data connection it can be temperamental too.
DBSAR, I’ve had a quick look for powerbank ICs that are simple to use and not reliant on configuration by an MCU, the Active-Semi ACT28xx range looks promising.
In particular it appears to modulate the input current when charging “Accommodation for 10mA-3000mA input current” to suit the source capability. If so, that would be ideal for solar panel use, as well as adapting to low powered USB sockets etc, whilst making good use of high current chargers.
https://activeweb-rn0ur8xaybw.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/ACT2813_Application_Notes.pdf
Available, inexpensive, and the bill of materials seems as small as you could hope for.
Edit: datasheet: https://www.mouser.co.uk/datasheet/2/631/ACT2813_Datasheet-1291437.pdf
About charger you can contact Rayden , he study theme of charger and solar panel durind long time.
It seems he not visiting BLF , but still active on Fonarevka.ru
I have a 10 AH battery bank with integral solar panel for charging. It uses an ACT IC and works very well. Keeps my smartphone charged on backpacking trips (left in flight mode except for two 1 hour windows per day for friends and family to call me, or to collect texts and e-mail). Main use of the phone is for GPS navigation and mapping, which is still a significant power draw even in flight mode.
As well as having a puny LED torch built in, which is sufficient for campsite chores, once eyes are dark-adapted. The ’phone torch is much better, and of course I carry a proper one too (Olight S15 powered by AA alkaline if on a long walk)
It can also recharge my DSLR battery, though that flattens it and it then takes a couple of days to re-charge on solar.
My Type-C phone has got quite a bit of abuse with me fumbling and pulling the wire often at odd angles. After a year it’s still perfect. Micro-USB port would have serious issues after surviving that.
I’ve never had port issues, and I’m rough on things. However, the cables are another thing. My bedside cables use to last 3-9 months tops (normally closer to 3) with good quality cables (OEM, Anker, etc.). I’ve had my first USB C for 2 years now. I drop my phone while half asleep and that causes them not to make contact, or bend. The Type C just seem to be much stonger.
Considering how cheap adapters are for C/Micro and that I have cables of both types, I couldn’t care less about the integrated charging. I prefer to use an external charger anyway. The bigger issue for me would be cost.
Being realistic, this is going to have to cost at least as much as a Q8. More complicated mechanical construction, new parts to be engineered, injection moulding tools for the globe, and a new, more complicated driver/charger/powerbank circuit
Edit: to be designed, prototyped, tested, debugged, laid out, re-tested, signed off, then left to the manufacturer to re-implement with their choice of components, according to their buyers whim.
with extra connectors, extra machining of the head to fit them, potentially complex assembly and test. Then firmware integration. And it will be heavy.
There is the risk that this will be overtaken by smaller, lighter, cheaper models that are equally per-formant. At least one is already on the market.
I don’t recall this being so complicated from the beginning.
When I joined the list, I just wanted a reliable, good runtime, and no glare lantern. Along the way, it became a charger, campfire mode, dimming mode, program this, program that… what happened to KISS??
I’m not too keen on the charging/powerbank stuff either. As far as the UI goes, Anduril can be setup to be very simple.
Likewise. When you can buy a LiitoKala Lii - 402 charger/powerbank for £6.66, why would you bother trying to integrate it into the lantern ?
https://www.gearbest.com/chargers/pp_662178.html?wid=1433363
I also don’t need a powerbank or charger built in for my purposes but there are several legitimate reasons to want those features. After all, this is meant for camping… away from civilization. 