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

I hope Kronos can find someone other than Manker and Banggood to handle this. I’ve had about all I can take from those two companies.

+1

Manker and Banggood to handle this??? Please avoid it. I do not want a bomb.
I withdraw if they are chosen.

^ This. What are everyone’s thoughts on Thorfire? I have a few of their lights and the build quality seems good.

thank you all for the great work.

for me as previously noted the number one issue is glare. i think this design has covered so many things i would never thought of.

but…

when i think of glare it is the direct line of sight. (we like car headlights becuase we sit in the shadow). imagine how fatiguing it would be to “see” the filliment (point source) of our headlights while driving.

if the design will not allow a larger brim (for lack of a better name) can an allowance be made for an aftermarket brim.

i want to be able to read by it and not have to “see” the actual point source of light. i hope my point both makes sense and gets traction.

again brilliant prototype but i dont see a brim to block the point source of light (for example when walking wih it or setting down on the picnic table).

thank you so much for taking this on.

and as far as mfg i dont think it matters as much as strict adherence to new product release processes. point being that we (the product managers) decide when the spec is frozen and production is started. as i see it ALL! the quality issues on any blf light could have been avoided if the mfg made exactly the light we approved. blf has to date caught every screwup the mfg made. as long as thoes are pre preproduction samples no blood no foul.

until they show they can produce with out screwups we need to be in control of the spec.

they will learn how to build it right the first time.

i would love to see simon and convoy be the mfg/distributor. but if we control when it is approved and when it is ok to produce then BG/manker will also do fine, provided they follow this sensable cavait.

Reducing glare was one of my goals on this. as its impossible to remove the glare completely, i did design it to reduce it quite substantially.
most all current factory lanterns have the LED facing up, or out the sides (where our eyes have it in plain view) i have placed the single LED facing down wards, inside a mildly frosted diffuser, with the LED out of eyes-view when on a table. Also have a close look at the close-up photo of the lantern in the OP, you can see roughly a 1/4 inch solid white “band” around the top of the shade, where that band blocks the point-of-view of the LED form reaching the eye even more when looking at the lantern form the side (as if its resting on a table at eye level.
while the glare is not completely eliminated, (which is impossible to do with any 360 degree area lantern or light, even with an incan bulb) it does have less glare than any of the other LED lanterns we had on the camp trip. When walking with it there was no glare as the LED is facing down. (unless you carried it upside down.

I would love to see Simon build this light under the Convoy brand name. All his products seem very solid and he seems to care about high quality craftsmanship.

he would be a good one to do it, but no matter who can take on to put it to production will have to start from scratch for tooling, (except for the SRK body base/battery tube which is really the only part that can be found stock on a current manufactured light. Will need to hear Kronos’s input soon on that. (sent him a message on it last night).

I would be interested in this light depending on the price.

in for 1

Just beautifull gentlemen!!! Need to start saving now, popswill really like this one!!!

Have not heard back from Kronological yet, ( i’m assuming he’s busy with other projects or work atm) will wait for his input once he chimes in.

Shall I ask Thorfire I we can share the CAD drawing of a SRK they gave us?
Or if you PM me your emailaddress I will email it to Barry and you pointing to this thread.

That could work. I can do up a drawing & full specifications of this if needed.

This will make my dreams become truth!
One bottle/can style two complete different lights. Synergie at its best.
Thats the way it should be

Yeah!
You got to pm me your emailaddress DBSAR :wink:

I saw this and thought of your lantern project.

In the picture it looks like a old gas mantle. With it mounted in a led lantern, it may even fool some people.

Looks like it disperses light well too. I’m not sure about lumen loss though.

This looks like it’s going to go places!!! :smiley:

Four things:
1: How does it compare in glare to the likes of the fenix CL lanterns and black diamond stuff?
2: I noticed in the picture the wires running to the LED were clear shrouded but still very visible. What are your plans to minimize their impact on the light’s output profile?
3: Like the others have said, would it be possible to have a further reflective downward shroud add-on so none of the light is visible above a 30-45 degree angle, specifically table time stuff. Obviously I don’t have experience with the glare and this might be a moot point anyway. Maybe even making the outer enclosure glass frosted as well could make a beneficial difference for glare and 360 light profile?
4: How is the durability of the enclosure? Is it still being made of acrylic? I would highly suggest Polycarbonate or UHMW for extreme drop and puncture resistance. Acrylic is much too brittle and weak and I can attest to material testing with it - it is not quality at all…

Excellent work so far on this project. I really want to see a camping lantern that I will actually want to use/buy!

The production design would have two thin metal post instead of the wires, ( with the diffuser they would not be a problem and cast no shadows) as for glare, its less than all the lanterns i tested. Right now all we have is this prototype, and we are still trying to find & work a deal with a manufacturer who would take on this design, as Kronos has been to busy with other projects and work.

I would be interested in several. Depending on price. Once things are solidified, I can ask around some of the neighbors to see if any of them are interested. We lose power around here with annoying regularity. I have flashlights. But for wiling away the hours with a book; not useful. Head lights; generally too bright and not really comfortable.

Bottom line: great idea.

Interested