You see, I started out considering getting a shoebox style LED parking lot light, since a lot of the time in the summer I go to places in town where certain buildings are brightly lit with cooler tinted lights. I want to be able to take that bright kind of light with me to remote areas to attract different kinds of insects.
But then I realized that parking lot lights don’t produce the right color of light for attracting insects. Then I thought, why not find someone who can swap out the LEDs in one of those lights for LEDs of the correct wavelengths / colors? So I contacted a couple of companies, and that led nowhere since of course their products are all mass produced in China.
Then I found that there are super-smart folks like you all here who are reeeeally into flashlights, and since what I need is a portable light, here I am.
So, maybe I need to rephrase my request…am I making any sense?
I don’t think 18650’s would be viable for a light like this. A lipo brick(s) of some sort.
If you look at the link she provided the light source of that thing is from 10 cob leds. Also I highly doubt he is getting 90,000 lumens from that thing.
As far as getting the massive output of lumens, Dale (DB Custom) could do it. He often builds insanely bright lights. There are others as well, such as Texas_Ace, who was already named. Also, right now there are already “stock” flashlights that reach well over 20,000 lumens. So reaching the desired output is not a problem at all really from a technical standpoint.
Run time would be a matter of having enough battery power. I don’t think “normal” cylindrical Li-Ion cells are going to be practical. A couple of Deep cycle lead-acid batteries might do it. Or the Tesla Power Wall. Or even a gasoline-powered generator, if you don’t mind the noise. You need around 150 watts per hour (or more, depending on the actual emitters used).
As for producing the desired spectrum of light wavelengths, it wouldn’t take a genius to figure that out either, but an engineer would be able to figure it out more quickly than most of us. There are some really smart guys around BLF and even some Engineers.
Someone like BLF member maukka could test the finished light to confirm that it covers the desired spectrum evenly. He could also test that it produces the lumens output desired. He has some very nice testing equipment.
I hope you get it done. I’d like to see the result!
No, LEDS don’t compare to these powerful bulbs. If any do, I’d know about it. And we try to catch, study and release, rather than just lure them into a killing jar.
Then I could talk to you about bat detectors, DIY best. Fascinating, even if we never touch them (not allowed without a licence), just lovely to know that they are out there, and they do seem to know where they are still safe. Often just turn it on at bedtime and go to sleep listening.
Probably not any that are on the market in stock form. But I really don’t know. Acebeam has the X70-GT that is fan cooled and has a top output of 90,000 lumens (for a little while). It could possibly do fairly well with 20,000 lumens. It would run out of power long before three hours, though. Modern LED streetlights produce tens of thousands of lumens for all night long, so the heat issue has to be solvable, even without active cooling.
Edit: Just now read the thread about the Acebeam X70-GT saying it is fake. Sorry. :person_facepalming:
Sorry, the Acebeam X70-GT turns out to be a fake. But, it is still definitely possible to do something like 20,000 lumens for three hours if heat is managed properly and power supply is large enough.
How about a series of grow lights with different wavelength emitters to get the proposed spectrum? They could be modified to run off an external battery. Size might become an issue though if like 6 of them were needed.
Thinking about it now, Tom Tom could be right. Another type of bulb could be better since there would be less need for thermal considerations. I really don’t know much about the light spectrum though.
How remote is the location where you will use this light? Reason I ask is if it is remote, 20,000 lumens seems excessive.
I pulled in at a remote fuel stop in Outback Australia. That place was crawling with flying insects and it wasn’t that brightly lit but as it was the only light source, insects were attracted there
Or you could just stand me in the middle of a parking lot. For some reason bugs just love me. I’m like sugar to them… :confounded:
There’s a Nitecore Big Honkin’ Light Panel that could probably do the trick, but it’s pricey. Probably need cool-white or the usual colors that are bug-magnets.
What color were you looking for, specifically? Any idea? Or just Whatever Color Attracts Bugs?
Is portability still going to be troublesome, in terms of wheelbarrows full of batteries?
pouf!