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

Interested, as well.

I’m interested, maybe even for several units. 18650 batteries, aluminum body and parallel configuration is a must for me. Would you willing to consider a micro USB built in charger?

Built in charger is possible, ( as in a TP4056 type charger) but charging four 18650’s in parallel with a TP4056 would take most of a day to charge all four cells. A built-in charger would add cost, but it is possible as the cells are all in parallel, and i can add the TP4056 to the circuit behind the on/off switch before the driver. (meaning the TP charger circuit is separate from the lantern driver circuit.

I am glad that you are going to consider adding a built in charger. To me it doesn’t matter how long it is going to take to charge four 18650’s or even that is going to add cost (shouldn’t be too much). It is simply a great thing to have that option. Nowadays everybody carries some kind of micro USB charger, power bank or a solar charger and to have an option would be very useful. It doesn’t have to charge batteries completely during the day, but it is surely going to add a few extra Ampere hours and maybe that is all you need to get through the night.

A 1000ma TP4056 will give an average of 250ma per cell if charging all four in parallel, (or take four times as long charging the four cells as compared to one cell so to speak) I have tested a TP4056 charger using Solar panels, and i found that a minimum of a 7-watt solar panel at the 5 volt USB range was required to work a TP4056 to charge a single 18650, ( my original 5-watt panel could not put out enough power to run it, but the 7-watt did.) but never tested them charging four at the same time on the folding USB 7-watt solar panel.

Interested; I’ m in!! :wink:

My foldable solar panel is 14W, and I’m sure many people carry around bigger ones. A solar charge option makes a lot of sense for a lantern.

interested , price the deciding factor.

Im very interested.

I’m glad your heading up the design. I’ve always been a fan of your work and I’m sure whatever you come up with will be very well thought out.

So far I like things you mentioned in your first post.
1-4 x 18650’s in parallel srk body
Warm hi cri
Down firing

Suggestions that sound good and may be doable but I’m not sure will be needed and may add too much complexity
Separate red led
Usb power out port
Micro usb built in charging

UPDATES in the OP. Feb,21,2016 :slight_smile:

Funny but true story …Sad that people think high high and higher come without cost . for years I’ve run two convoy s2 xml5c 2100’s with diffuser film on medium over our off-grid poker table … only to see someone has decided to kick them up to high because two mediums are not as good as two highs . money for nothin’ and your chicks are free …"lumens "

Like the idea /hate the host

Looking great so far! I especially like the countersunk & chamfered switch.
Keep it up!

I should warn you… At least for me, this may be progressing from “interested depending on price” to “hurry up and take my money”. :wink:

Any chance this will be ready for this summer’s camping season? :cool:

That would depend on how fast Krono can negotiate a deal with a manufacturer ( if possible) to build them once i get the prototype done and tested.

Adding some thoughts-

Cost is the deciding factor for me no matter the appearance or extras built in. Given how little I’ll use it I simply can’t justify a high cost. That’s why I don’t own a M43 and probably never will :frowning:

Perhaps extras like a charging board or holders for primary cells could be offered separately or as a build option so that more folks will want one of these. I know that you don’t get what you don’t pay for but let’s keep the “Budget” part of BLF going strong!

Phil

Have you check this out ?
its a water activated Lantern , What you think?

Water Activated Led lantern

The tech behind it is solid, tested on a large scale in Norway if I remember correctly and also in the Netherlands (there is a 32KM long dyk with fresh water on one side and salt on the other. Waste product is semi salt water, well that occurs on all places a river flows in the sea.
Very nice to see this on a small scale, think I am going to back this.

It’s a great idea for sure. I can’t tell you how many times I have looked for a really good lantern that runs off of 18650’s. Of course I make my own, but I really can’t keep up with the demand for the ones I make right now. Using a SRK for the base is a brilliant idea. I can’t say for sure if I’ll be in or not right now. But it sounds very promising.

I have seen that lantern with water/sodium cell, its an interesting idea though it will not likely have a long run time or expect it to have a very bright light output. we will have to see one it does come avaliable. it still used “consumables” though, in the form of the metal anode (rod) and water + salt, instead of batteries. ( also it will require maintenance like cleaning & drying the cell periodically, along with draining & clean when storing the lantern.
great concept for long term off-grid or back country use, but will have to wait it see how it really performs when its available.

Definitely interested if in the $20 to 30 range. For sake of size and weight, suggest 3 cells or even 2. Maybe have an extender for extra cells if not too complicated with the batteries in parallel (I have no idea). Whatever you do, please keep the batteries in parallel (and also keep the low voltage detection).

Den, I’d also like to suggest another project for you and your learned colleagues here. I’m also interested in an ultra-cheap down firing diffuser adapter thingy to create a lantern from a standard flashlight. I’m sure you’ve made things like this for yourself but I haven’t seen anything like this for sale. I’m not suggesting this as a substitute for your original idea — I like the idea of a dedicated lantern that is optimised for such. It would however be great to have a bunch of these adapter thingys around the house for emergency use or whatever.

What about the Solarforce lantern adapter That interest you? BLF review here.

-Garry