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

[DBSAR]

@alternety

A few pages back I was going to suggest a poll of people that have gotten a spot on the around 1000 devices spoken for. If that can be done so that each person signed up for the lamp would be notified, it would provide insight on those so far “committed”. ID and units “ordered” would distribute the results for multi orders. The poll should provide a place to show how many the participant is intending to buy. The results would be scaled by buy quantity. A good list of possibilities in the poll would allow a sense of what the majority wants.I believe there are a lot of people waiting for these lanterns, but not interested in the technical details. They should be heard.

Personally I am on the side of highest efficiency (e.g., battery run time). No color light changing. No other functions like USB charging ports for cell phones or charging the lamp and poking extra holes in the shell. With stick in rubber covers that will eventually fall off and/or leak. I never really agreed with the non-use of the most efficient power system in the Q8 (I have 3). Nor was I particularly crazy about very complex operational requirements. Yes - you can sort of avoid them, but mis-stepping is also real easy. I think I actually suggested back then that the Q8 be used as the base rather than starting from scratch that the initial device was doing. But the old brain sometimes makes things up. But, for whatever reason, it went in the good direction we see now.

When this project started (I am one of the earlier people signing up for several of the lanterns), my expectation was:

A waterproof lantern

Robust construction

Simple operation

Maximum light duration with the most efficient power system possible (I do care if it goes dark 10% or 20% or more sooner than is necessary)

I think emergency light not beer party (although I see no reason why beer should not be involved)

Preferably with the ability to dim the lamp

No rubber plugged holes for external devices - no external devices or sources

A low intensity visible light in the power button

That was pretty much it. That defines a lantern in my mind. It is actually what I would still generally like.

So there are essentially my poll answers.

A quick other thought - has anyone looked at the effects of low ambient temperatures. I would think that things will get warm quickly, but will all of the pieces work to turn things on in low temperatures (e.g., 0 F). And by that I mean, it is 0 F outside, and the lamp has been sitting unused in the car/garage/front porch for two days.

Indeed the original V1 started out to be a simple lantern with 4 modes & long run-times, and good light tint, but over time it got developed into a more versatile design. Once we get the current V2 into production, we may work on a simpler, lower cost basic version of the same lantern for those who need just a simple, reliable off-grid light that will run for days with no bells & whistles for those seeking a “base model” so to speak.

[JoeRodge]

It’s weird because there were more people? Maybe people backed out? I was 928, lol. So it looks like it’s an improvement? Add me back please

@sbslider

@JoeRodge

Add me to the list please. For one.

JoeRodge added at number 928 on the interest list.

@smokuxx1987

Add me to the list for 3.

smokuxx1987 added at numbers 929 - 931 on the interest list.

Looks like maybe people took things too serious. I’m not expecting the PERFECT lantern, lol. Just an improvement of what is out there. From what I’ve read I’m pretty excited. Beside, the “ultimate” lantern won’t be that way for long. Every light eventually gets dethroned. The lumen race, size race, etc. Nobody holds it long…

[mdeni]

@DBSAR

@The_Driver

@Phlogiston

I do have a question about the FET driver tint shift, though. Would the tint ramping capability let people manually correct for the tint shift at a given brightness? Or would the shift be in a different direction to the ramp within the colour space?

Tint ist not CCT (color temperature). Tint is a deviation form perfect white light (which can be warm, cool or in between, always on the line of the black body radiator). Tint is when the light has a green tinge or is red-tinted for example.

The lantern will be able to change its CCT, not the tint.

Thats why were hoping the manufacturer can source the LED tint bins from Samsung listed earlier to keep the tint either close, on or below the BBL.

That is critical. Tint above the BBL can be very unpleasant for staying longer periods of time, and it makes foods and people uglier. If we are building the “ultimate” light we should strive towards getting the best output available. And that includes below BBL tint, and R9 values above 90. This chosen led has tint in the green, and R9 values that are between 60-70 as far as I can see Samsung LH351D color testing - #4 by maukka which is not ideal for a BLF lantern, since we are choosing the parts.

Since we are set on these leds, at least we can try to find some some samples from Samsung that are lower in the BBL which will boost the R9 values a bit, and make the light more pleasant for longer usage.

[Madtoffel]

It’s simply impossible to build the perfect lantern for everyone. Some want the longest possible runtime, others the best tint & cri and we need to find a good compromise. But I like the idea to build an enthusiast variant with all the great features (like tint ramping, powerbank,…) And a simpler base Version for the one who don’t need this.

Concerning the driver I want the highest efficiency that is possible without significantly influencing the light quality.

[djozz]

The thing with the boost driver, which would work the most efficient and I would love to see it happen, is that someone must design it (Sofirn won’t I’m sure), with all requirements like: for Sofirn affordable parts and able to run TK’s UI. If someone can do that now I think it is a good idea. If a boost driver development remains on the level of a theoretical discussion for too long it just delays the design of the lantern and in the end the boost driver may not even happen after all.

That is what makes the Lexel design so attractive: we suggest it, he just makes it, it is there and can be used. Same for Toykeepers firmware: we discuss what we would like for it and she already wrote the firmware, with smart features added that we even did not think of. And both have skills that Sofirn lacks so both BLF and Sofirn profit from the cooperation.

In my opinion, without the most efficient driver possible, this lantern may still be called the ‘ultimate’ lantern .

[smokuxx1987]

@sbslider

@JoeRodge

Add me to the list please. For one.

JoeRodge added at number 928 on the interest list.

@smokuxx1987

Add me to the list for 3.

smokuxx1987 added at numbers 929 - 931 on the interest list.

Hi does anyone updated interest list last time?

[Phlogiston]

@djozz

The thing with the boost driver, which would work the most efficient and I would love to see it happen, is that someone must design it (Sofirn won’t I’m sure), with all requirements like: for Sofirn affordable parts and able to run TK’s UI. If someone can do that now I think it is a good idea. If a boost driver development remains on the level of a theoretical discussion for too long it just delays the design of the lantern and in the end the boost driver may not even happen after all.

That is what makes the Lexel design so attractive: we suggest it, he just makes it, it is there and can be used. Same for Toykeepers firmware: we discuss what we would like for it and she already wrote the firmware, with smart features added that we even did not think of. And both have skills that Sofirn lacks so both BLF and Sofirn profit from the cooperation.

In my opinion, without the most efficient driver possible, this lantern may still be called the ‘ultimate’ lantern .

Well said.

I wanted to say something like this last night, but couldn’t find a good way to put it, so I set it aside and went to bed. I’m glad you’ve said it for me

[joechina]

@ToyKeeper

The light operates the same as any other Anduril light, but with one key difference: While the light is on, in almost any mode, the user can “click, click, hold” to make it change tint. This happens smoothly without significantly affecting total lumen output. If the color changes in the wrong direction, let go of the button and do it again.

Has the lantern Andúril one setting for both ramps or can we have different tints for the smooth ramp and the stepped ramp?

[ToyKeeper]

@joechina

Has the lantern Andúril one setting for both ramps or can we have different tints for the smooth ramp and the stepped ramp?

So far, it has a single tint value which applies to all modes and can be changed at any time.

I haven’t even thought about making the tint change based on which ramp it’s using. The main fancy bit I thought about doing, perhaps, is dedicating one of the 256 tint values to “automatic” — warmer at low levels and cooler at high levels. In particular, it might be a nice thing to do in candle mode. But I haven’t tried that so I don’t know if it would be worthwhile.

[sbslider]

@Benidin

I should be on the list for 2, and would like to goto 3 total please.

I really appreciate teh work you guys are putting into making a great lantern!

Benidin added to interest list for a third lantern at number 971. Your other two are at 453 and 454. These numbers are not really important, and will likely go away soon. huey18 is generating a bot to automate this list keeping. Until it is done I am doing it manually.

[sbslider]

@JoeRodge

It’s weird because there were more people? Maybe people backed out? I was 928, lol. So it looks like it’s an improvement? Add me back please

@sbslider

@JoeRodge

Add me to the list please. For one.

JoeRodge added at number 928 on the interest list.

@smokuxx1987

Add me to the list for 3.

smokuxx1987 added at numbers 929 - 931 on the interest list.

Looks like maybe people took things too serious. I’m not expecting the PERFECT lantern, lol. Just an improvement of what is out there. From what I’ve read I’m pretty excited. Beside, the “ultimate” lantern won’t be that way for long. Every light eventually gets dethroned. The lumen race, size race, etc. Nobody holds it long…

I still have not sent an updated interest list. You can see the interest list anytime you like. Will likely send an updated list to DBSAR in the next couple days.

interest list sorted by entry number

interest list sorted by user names

I sent an updated interest list to DBSAR today, so if you don’t like looking at the links above, I imagine in a day or two he will update the interest list in the first thread post.

[lohtse]

so when will these be available??? surely SOON would be better given that autumn and winter are JUST round the corner!!!

[lexvegas]

I’m really hoping these are available during this seasons fall/early winter camping season! Summer camping is a no-go here. Too humid. Good luck sleeping in 85+ weather with 98% RH.

[Lexel]

so finally added thermal viases, 1A and 1W is pretty much fine as it was, but if people want to go higher they need more cooling on the MOSFETs
also rearranged the common ground for the OPAs and MCU

[DavidEF]

That’s a nice looking driver board. Thanks for your work, Lexel. I hope your hand is healing nicely.

[DBSAR]

@Lexel

so finally added thermal viases, 1A and 1W is pretty much fine as it was, but if people want to go higher they need more cooling on the MOSFETs
also rearranged the common ground for the OPAs and MCU

Looking good! Any thoughts or ideas on what the maximum “factory” amp draw on high is set? assuming it will depend on the sense-resistor ohm value? Also the button LED still has ability to change or be programmed from TK’s UI?

[Phaze13]

Oh look, another Wagon.
Please put me down for 2.

Thanks!

[AEDe]

If “simple” version would be I am in. Simple , efficient, durable. That is I really need, no powerbank, no color change and so on.

[DBSAR]

@AEDe

If “simple” version would be I am in. Simple , efficient, durable. That is I really need, no powerbank, no color change and so on.

The original concept for this project was just that. single color, 4 modes, basic built in 1 am charging, (as i built the V1 of the first lantern.

[mdeni]

@AEDe

If “simple” version would be I am in. Simple , efficient, durable. That is I really need, no powerbank, no color change and so on.

I have to agree on this. Especially if it falls under the 39$ category.

4000k, over 90CRI, no color change, no need of powerbank. Just plain eyecandy lighting with longish runtime. One moonlight, one superlow, one low, one medium, one high. Nothing more, nothing less.

Preferably in silver color so scratches won’t show up and Nichia Optisolis leds with R9 over 90, and CRI over 95. which is a led that we apparently forgot about. LED test / review - Nichia Optisolis 3000 / 5000 K - ultra high light quality, even with high performance in mid-power class