camping lantern LED conversion project

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2fpower

2fpower

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So, my neighbor gave me several of these coleman florescent light lanterns. They have 6 D batteries, so that is 12v. They suck down power. So, I am thinking about converting them over to led.

My current thought is to add light panels in the space given. Right now thinking a pentagon formation or hexagon depending on space and wiring them up to the existing switch.

Thoughts?

FloatingLantern.webp
 
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The shell is a 5 inch diameter 5.5" inches tall.

image-2188823590.webp


image-2125305091.webp
 
Well, you would need to gut the existing electronics (for the fluoro). It would be really nice if the high/low could be made to work - but with standard cheapo made in china led arrays they are just a bunch of leds with a series resistor. I guess you could wire an additional series resistor from the switch - but you are burning power in the resistor if you don't have some fancier electronics like a pwm dimmer etc. IMHO it is hardly worth having LEDs if you can't dim them to conserve power and get only as much light as you need.

Other than being a 'project', it's a bunch of work for something that is big/heavy. Without a diffuser the light will be irritating if you ever looked in its direction.

Anyhow, have fun if you proceed. I have a few rayovac LED units that have efficient dimming and are reasonably compact and put our diffuse light. Seems an easier way to go... I also have some custom lights that I can point where I need light - e.g. when cooking etc - i.e. light where I need it rather than light everywhere in my face.

cheers,
george.
 
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2fpower said:
learning soooo much.

cool.....

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...leman-Retro-8D-Lantern-(1200-Lumens-Cree-X-ML)

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?90-Lanterns

coming up with buckblocks..... no idea what they do, but sound cool.

http://www.ledsupply.com/led-drivers.php
Click to expand...

LEDs are current driven devices. You need a current regulated driver to properly drive them. A buck driver steps voltage down. A boost driver steps voltage up. A buck/boost can do both.

I design/make LED drivers for a living. Unless you really want to get into the whole DIY scene, just buy a LED lantern - lots on the market.

cheers,
george.
 
I've thought about doing the same with a really nice stainless steel lantern I have that has a nicad rechargeable battery built in. But as George indicated you really ahve to want to do it. If you proceed I'm watching:popcorn:
 
Got scared off. I found the perfect led panals, but did research and found that when they say 12v, they are serious. If you think that a standard battery is 1.63V charged, times 8 batteries, you get 13.04 V. Well, many of these boards will burn up if you shoot 13v to them.

There is some fancy thing that will stop this, but costs more than the project was worth to me..... Looking at some cree chips in a smaller light now.
 
2fpower said:
So, my neighbor gave me several of these coleman florescent light lanterns. They have 6 D batteries, so that is 12v. They suck down power. So, I am thinking about converting them over to led.

My current thought is to add light panels in the space given. Right now thinking a pentagon formation or hexagon depending on space and wiring them up to the existing switch.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Coleman makes that lantern with LEDs now and it would probably be cheaper to just buy theirs. I think it would be cool to get an old metal coleman and convert it to LEDs
 
My budget was limited by the price of that coleman you speak of....

so, I agree.
 
Did I say 6, it was 8 cells.
 
I would keep them the way they are. They may suck down batteries but they put out more light. Or better light. I don't know how to describe it. There's times were you need more light like when you're setting up in the dark and times where an LED lantern is all you need. The LED lanterns are fine for reading or a tent lantern but they don't light up a campsite real well. You can use multiples of them like I do or you can use just one of something that sucks down batteries or fuel.
 
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