The 6th Annual BLF / Old Lumens - Handmade Entry - i42dk (FAIL)

i42dk · 2018-09-25T10:43:58.000Z

So i’ve decided to enter this, for SAG. I can already see from the other contestants, that I’m way out of league.
This is gonna have a ghetto hack feel to it

I’m building a huge lantern out of a matte plastic storage container (will include pic later)

Features so far:

Powered by 9 x 18650
Dual LED, 2700K + ~~6000K~~ 5200K
Active unnecessary cooling
3A charge circuit
Battery charge status LED
Q8 driver with Andruil

Todo:

USB port, so it can function as a power bank
Mechanism to change between each LED or have them both on (FOR MAXIMUM CRI )
All the rest; switches, on/off etc.

After two hours, here’s the progress so far:

Boost driver to power the fan @5V

Specs:

LED1: XP-G3 R4 8A3 2700K
LED2: XM-L2 T6-3B 5200K
Driver: BLF Q8 with Andruil
Cells: 9 x 18650 (LG S3 2200mAh)

2018-09-26 Edit: Added specs
2018-12-01 Edit: Failed to complete build

Update: So I failed to complete the build, due to life. 40+ hour work weeks and prioritising my family left little to no time to this.
I will finish this eventually. Perhaps in a little different setup. I think an other driver is needed. Non FET ragulated e-switch driver thats built for just 1 emitter. Given my 9 x 18650 cell setup It’s 9 old used low discharge cells, but combined they will still be able to deliver 18A. A but much for 1-2 emitters in direct drive.

So I’m out of the voting. Till next time

Merry Christmas

MascaratumB · 2018-09-25T11:38:04.000Z

Nice
Subscribed to learn

Don’t forget to inform the about your entry

*the*:

Contestants: Please remember to PM me with a link to your Build Thread.

Good luck with the build :+1:

i42dk · 2018-09-25T12:04:43.000Z

MascaratumB:

Nice
Subscribed to learn

Don’t forget to inform the about your entry

*the*:

Contestants: Please remember to PM me with a link to your Build Thread.

Good luck with the build :+1:

Thanks, I have sent a PM

CRX · 2018-09-25T21:56:51.000Z

Looks like fun :+1:

BlueSwordM · 2018-09-26T01:10:12.000Z

Looks really good.

I’m worried about one thing though.

Are you sure you should 9 cells in parallel in a direct drive config to only power 2 LEDs? Wouldn’t they release the magic smoke or something?

i42dk · 2018-09-26T13:54:46.000Z

BlueSwordM:

Looks really good.

I’m worried about one thing though.

Are you sure you should 9 cells in parallel in a direct drive config to only power 2 LEDs? Wouldn’t they release the magic smoke or something?

Thought about that yeah.
The cells that are going to power it, are salvaged 18650’s. They are used, and had 2200mAh when they were new. Now they can hold around 2000mAh.
I have no idea what chemistry they are, other than they are very low discharge. Also, all the wiring will add some resistance before the juice hits the LED.
But time will tell

Flashy_Mike · 2018-09-26T14:05:41.000Z

Impressive!
Is this going to be your next EDC?

i42dk · 2018-09-26T14:21:46.000Z

I’m gonna need some bigger pants then

Test fitting

~~Banana~~ C8 for scale

Phlogiston · 2018-09-26T14:29:32.000Z

You’re putting a mule light inside a translucent container to get a portable light panel with a very soft, diffuse light?

i42dk · 2018-09-26T15:04:13.000Z

Phlogiston:

You’re putting a mule light inside a translucent container to get a portable light panel with a very soft, diffuse light?

That’s the idea yea. It’s not a “lantern” as in to light up an area. But a box that gives off a soft ambient light. That’s also the reasoning behind the dual LED’s.
So I can choose warm yellow or more white light :sunglasses:

Phlogiston · 2018-09-26T15:24:41.000Z

Cool! I can definitely see uses for that.

Lightbringer · 2018-09-26T18:37:16.000Z

i42dk:

It’s not a “lantern” as in to light up an area. But a box that gives off a soft ambient light. That’s also the reasoning behind the dual LED’s.

Just don’t put the power switch on the bottom so that you’d have to lift up the whole thing just to turn it off. :laughing:

DavidEF · 2018-09-26T21:25:37.000Z

Phlogiston:

Cool! I can definitely see uses for that.

Yeah, me too! It makes me think of those balloon lights I’ve seen used for night-time road work in recent years. Those are VERY bright so they light up a huge working area, but produce almost no glare!

ToyKeeper · 2018-09-26T23:22:51.000Z

i42dk:

Todo:

Mechanism to change between each LED or have them both on

FWIW, the ‘lantern’ branch of Anduril supports tint mixing. You’d have to modify the driver though, or use a different one, to drive the LEDs independently and get equal amounts of power on both channels.

DBSAR · 2018-09-27T01:43:58.000Z

cool big lantern project will follow this one too.

gchart · 2018-09-27T03:34:04.000Z

Cool, good luck with the build!

2018: the year of the lantern… DBSAR must be in BLF heaven! :partying_face:

DBSAR · 2018-09-27T03:43:12.000Z

gchart:

Cool, good luck with the build!

2018: the year of the lantern… DBSAR must be in BLF heaven! :partying_face:

lol so much lantern projects this year

FmC · 2018-10-01T20:58:40.000Z

Good luck with the build!

Jerommel · 2018-11-04T20:34:40.000Z

FmC:

Good luck with the build!

What he said. ^

MRsDNF · 2018-11-04T21:03:43.000Z

Jerommel:

FmC:

Good luck with the build!

What he said. ^

And me to.