Even though we are using a more complicated driver circuit and 8 LEDs, Samsung LH351Ds are much cheaper when bought in bulk than Cree LEDs, so that should balance out.
It also needs less thermal mass since it will absolutely never exceed 1000 lumens except if modded, so less metal is needed.
@stereodude, it is actually going to be using a linear FET instead of 7135s.
This allows for no PWM, perfect constant current allowing for greater efficiency of the efficiency, and no parasitic inefficiencies coming from PWMing 7135s.
Fitting it under 40⏠or 39,99⏠with shipping, means no import taxes in many countries. That means the light is 39,99 to the door. A 41⏠light with tax is more than 55⏠to the door.
Thanks Lexel for designing the driver. It looks good. I hope your hand is doing well. Now about that question from The_Driver.
Lexel, you know better than me for sure, because I know zero. But I do know that the led4power drivers have a separate channel for moon mode that uses only a resistor and doesnât use the FET at all, to get a low enough output. Unless youâve done something led4power couldnât/didnât do to get lower output from the FET, it might not be low enough for some people. For me, there probably isnât any need for an actual moon or firefly level mode. This is a lantern, with light shining in all directions, not a flashlight with the beam concentrated in one direction.
The lighted switch on a Q8 (and probably this lantern) is bright enough for some purposes. Brighter than firefly, lower than moonlight.
What moonlight in a flashlight means to me is enough to find your way around a room or search for something with night adapted eyes, without the spill disturbing sleepers.
In a lantern this is not a practical aim, as if bright enough to light the room for searching, it is maybe too bright to wave around without disturbing sleepers. In a lantern I think the lowest setting (in warm tints) should enable a sleeper to wake up and immediately grab keys/glasses/flashlight/phone etc left lying around the lantern, but not much brighter than that. I have no idea what this translates to in lumens for a 360 degree beam, but would be interested to find out.
Harder to test I would imagine as well, since the lantern wonât fit many DIY lumens test rigs, and would need a sphere, right?