OAUSA Net - July 7, 2016 - Camp Lighting and Flashlights

[DaveK]

Second Session for Lighting Net - July 14, 2016-

We just didn't have enough time last week to complete our discussion on Camp Lighting and Flashlights. So, we will do our beset to finish up this week.
NOTE: New posts start at number 13.
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Original Post
With the summer camping season in full swing, the time is right to explore the many options that are now available for lighting up your campsite at night. No discussion of camp lighting would be complete without including flashlights. So, those will be the topics for the net this week.

This area is one which runs pretty deep, and between what we can cover here on the website and on the net, it is, at best, just a good start. There are a huge variety of options for lighting, and doing your research, seeing what works best for others, and using this forum for exchanging ideas, will get you where you want to be. If you are like most of us, flashlights and camp lighting devices tend to accumulate over time and you eventually arrive at what works best for you. So, for those who have come down the road a bit and who have settled on your favorite, we need to hear from you.

Like so many topics, lighting is a field where technology has had a significant impact. The ones which seem to be the most prominent are the use of LEDs, computer chips (in flashlights), improvements in battery performance, flashlight reflector lens, miniaturization of lighting devices, and many more. We will cover as many as Net time permits.

As a starting point, in our humble opinion, the best advice we can offer is, don't buy cheap. This is one place where "you get just what you pay for", and buying cheap rarely results in long term quality. When it comes to reliability, dependability, longevity, and performance, we have found that cheap stuff rarely makes the cut, especially when you are relying on your equipment for emergency situations.

[DaveK]

COLEMAN LANTERNS

In the area of camp lighting, there is one standout that has withstood the test of time - the Coleman lantern! It remains today, for many, as an indispensable piece of camping gear, whether for a weekend or a long terms trip. Coleman lanterns have seen some changes over the years, but their performance, reliability, dependability, and quality have remained constant. Among their many qualities are:

• 1. replacement parts, even for older models, are still available (See "Old Coleman Parts" https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/resources/opl.php)
  2. fuel and mantles are commonly available at almost every sporting goods store
  3. many of the newer models are able to run on white gas or regular unleaded gasoline
  4. light output, even for single mantle lanterns, is significant

Coleman lanterns have been around since the early 1900s and have been sold by the millions. For the thrifty camper, your local yard sale can prove to be a treasure trove for these lanterns. A little bargaining and you can be the proud owner of some fine lighting. Restoring them is simple and there are a great number of restoration and historical information sites on the internet, such as:

• 1. Jerry's Coleman Collection, http://www.millioncandlepower.info/lantpre50.html
  
  
  2. Tips for buying a Coleman lantern, http://survivalcommonsense.com/tips-for ... ft-stores/
  3. Rebuild/Repair Coleman Lanterns http://www.oldtowncoleman.com/tech/re2lanta.htm
  4. Coleman History, http://www.internationalunity.org/coleman-lanterns/

Coleman still is making a pleasing variety of lanterns, see: http://www.coleman.com/coleman-lighting-fueledlanterns/

North Star http://www.coleman.com/northstarreg-dua ... ml#start=1

On all of my camping trips, whether for a few days or several weeks, the Coleman lantern is always with us. For me, I have settled on two different types, the North Star and a dual mantle, dual fuel Powerhouse Coleman. Both are capable of significant light out put and have been on countless trips, without a single hic-up!

The North Star lantern come with some impressive features:

• 1. on high, it produces 1140 lumens of 360 degree light
  2. operates on white gas or gasoline
  3. on high, it runs for 7 hours and considerably longer at lower levels
  4. has an instant-start button for ignition, no matches needed
  5. has a metal cage/guard to protect the glass lens
  6. easy and quick installation mantles
  7. made in the USA
  8. 3 year warranty

From the Coleman website:

North Star Lantern.jpg (185.86 KiB) Viewed 1262 times

Coleman Premium Powerhouse® Dual Fuel™ Lantern

The Powerhouse lantern come with some impressive features:

• 1. on high, it produces 1100 lumens of 360 degree light
  2. operates on white gas or gasoline
  3. on high, it runs for 7 hours and considerably longer at lower levels
  4. made in the USA
  5. 3 year warranty

From the Coleman website:

Coleman Powerhouse Lantern.jpg (240.1 KiB) Viewed 1260 times

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Both of these lanterns run on white gas, but Coleman makes equivalent propane models. The white gas lanterns have an advantage over the propane models inasmuch as they use less fuel and will operate well at very low temps.

[DaveK]

ALTERNATIVE CAMP LIGHTING

Sometimes it's just feels right to take a couple of steps back and appreciate some of the "old ways" we used to do things. Case in point - kerosene lanterns. Today, camp sites are lit with a huge variety of Coleman type lanterns as well as LED lanterns. They are so popular simply because they work so well.

For some however, the softer and quieter lanterns of yester-year, have an appeal that they are just now "re-discovering". No, they won't get the top prize for the most lumens, and they do have an aroma that makes them distinct, but they still have a place in many camps and in many homes as an emergency light. Interestingly, there are several companies that still make the original kerosene lanterns, many of which are the same as were manufactured over 100 years ago. The most famous of these is the Dietz company, who has been manufacturing lanterns since about 1840. An excellent history of the Dietz lantern business can be found here: http://www.lanternnet.com/history.htm.

These lanterns do have some nice benefits, including very low prices (around $30.00), significant run time, easy and inexpensive repair costs, a wonderful and pleasant yellow light, quiet operation, and greatest of all - terrific nostalgic value.

Here is an example of a Dietz kerosene lantern - the Jupiter Cold Blast Lantern #2500. It sells for about $26.00, has a run time of 75 hours, and costs about 6 cents an hour to run (see: http://www.lanternnet.com/Merchant2/mer ... z-Lanterns.) More information can be obtained on this and many other lanterns at the W.T. Kirkman website (http://www.lanternnet.com/)

Jupiter 2500 Kerosene Lantern.jpg (363.7 KiB) Viewed 1259 times

[DaveK]

BATTERIES

For flashlights, batteries are the key to light. As with just about everything else, technology keeps producing better and better batteries. For our discussion, we will concentrate on three types of commonly available batteries:

• 1. Alkaline
  2. Lithium
  3. Rechargeable NiMH

As you may have noticed, we have omitted Li Ion rechargeables. Li Ion rechargeable batteries are becoming an excellent option for high energy devices, such as high output flashlights, but you must be very careful into which light they are used. Most flashlights that work on common AA or AAA batteries are designed for the standard voltage of 1.5 volts. Li Ion batteries typically run at over twice that level and will likely fry your device or seriously damage it. Whether manufacturers begin designing their products to accept the higher voltage of Li Ion batteries is yet to be seen, but there are a few, at this point. Fenix is one such company and some of their flashlights can use either standard voltage cells or the equivalent size Li Ion battery, see: https://www.fenixlighting.com/product-c ... type=14500.

So, getting back to our list batteries for our discussion, I can say authoritatively that I've tried them all, and they each have something different to offer. As an overall observation, even though I regularly use alkaline batteries, I find myself using them less and less, mostly due to leakage problems. Some of the major manufacturers have a guarantee against leakage, but that doesn't mean they wont leak. It just means that they may compensate you for the damaged equipment, if there is a leak. Be very careful as some manufactures offer no such guarantee and you are on your own if there is damage. When I take into account the ordeal of discovering that my device has been damaged by a leaking battery, as well as the time it takes to get it repaired or replaced, I become more and more motivated to find other options that do not carry the same risk of leakage as the alkaline batteries. In fact, just today, I discovered that the alkaline batteries (manufacturer's name withheld - but a major one) in my TV remote had leaked. The batteries, by the way, were well within the "use-by" date. UGH!

RECHARGEABLE NiMH BATTERIES

PROS

• rechargeable many times (e.g. eneloop by Panasonic claims over 2000 times)
  pays for the initial cost after about the 5th or 6th recharge - thereafter, the only cost is a few pennies for the recharge
  available at most stores where batteries are sold
  high energy rating (several AAs are rated at >2700mAh)
  decent shelf life (many claim a 5 year shelf life)
  don't leak
  great for most uses, including high drain devices
  no memory (a la Ni Cads)

CONS

• initial cost (but that is overcome after the 5th or 6th recharge)
  takes several hours to recharge, and for optimum performance, requires a charger made for NiMH batteries

LITHIUM

PROS

• excellent performance high drain devices
  long lasting - shelf life between 7-20 years
  high energy rating (AAs are rated at about 3000 mAh)
  don't leak

CONS

• high initial cost
  not rechargeable
  small risk of explosion

ALKALINE

PROS

• cheap
  available everywhere
  good for low drain devices
  decent shelf life (5-10 years)
  high energy rating (several AAs are rated at about 2400 mAh)

CONS

• leak
  don't perform well in cold temps
  not rechargeable
  not good for high drain devices

NOTES

1. Michael Bluejay has prepared an excellent battery guide which provides a much more in depth comparison, see: http://michaelbluejay.com/batteries/. See also:

• Energizer battery guide http://www.energizer.com/batteries/batt ... ison-chart
  rechargeable battery guide http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-r ... batteries/

2. Eneloop, by Panasonic, is just one example of rechargeable NiMH batteries. Here are the specs:

eneloop 8 pack AA 2000 mAh - Pre-Charged and Ready to use
pre-charged by solar energy
Rechargeable up to 2100 times
Maintain up to 70% of their charge after 5 years (even when not it use)
About $24.00 for an 8-pack

eneloop NiMH batteries.jpg (97.19 KiB) Viewed 1247 times

[DaveK]

FLASHLIGHTS

Here is where the list of available lighting devices gets way too large to mention. So, we will only offer some of the standout lights that we have discovered over the years.

Without question, LEDs have been the most significant improvement in lighting, both from a lumen production standpoint and from an energy conservation standpoint. Today's LED flashlights can produce more light, and do so for a lot longer, on a single set of batteries. than incandescent lights ever could. The performance of today's flashlights has been further improved by the use of computer chips, inside the flashlights, that control the LED output, so that it remains constant for the entire life of the battery. No more dimming lights as the battery slowly dies. The other improvement in flashlight performance comes in the form of improved reflectors which produce a much more usable beam of light.

Many older flashlights can be converted to LED with just the simple replacement of the bulb. Everyone's favorite, the Mag Light, is a good example. For those who enjoy the "persuasive" benefits of the larger Mag lights, they can now all be converted to LED.

Here are some examples of current LED flashlight offerings.

1. Surefire Titan

Surefire makes a complete line of LED flashlights, one of which is the Titan, and it is an excellent example of state-of-the art lighting. This particular model incorporates a microprocessor, that continuously manages the flow of power, and utilizes their MaxVision Beam reflector, which creates a much more usable beam of light. The Titan is a dynamite key chain flashlight, small enough to be a permanent part of an emergency kit, a first aid kit, a glove box or your key chain. Light output comes in at a respectable 15/125 lumens, and comes with a NiMH rechargeable battery (although it can also take a standard AAA battery.

Here are two sources for more information:

1. Surefire - http://www.surefire.com/titan-a.html

2. Equipped To survive - Doug Ritter has an excellent review. http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=646 .

From the Surefire website (http://www.surefire.com/titan-a.html)

Surefire Titan.png (34.62 KiB) Viewed 1223 times

2. Tikka XP Headlamp

When you're in the outback, nothing frees up your hands for camp chores like a headlamp. Like most other lights, headlamps have come a long way from the days when your headlamp looked like a helmet, complete with a gigantic battery pack. The Tikka XP is another fine example of a state of the art LED.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• adjustable power, 5-180 lumens
  runtime - 2-100 hours
  microprocessor controlled output
  3 LEDs
  takes 3 AAA batteries, including NiMH
  3 year guarantee

Available on Amazon for about $50.00, (https://smile.amazon.com/Petzl-TIKKA-He ... p+headlamp)

From Amazon:

Tikka XP Headlamp.jpg (88.08 KiB) Viewed 1214 times

3. BELT LIGHTS

There are plenty of times on our trips when a good belt light is the best way to light things up. Carried next to your multi-tool or folding knife, the belt light is something that should always be part of the gear you wear. Like with almost every light that I own, the criteria for a good belt light included the capability to use regular batteries, either in the AA or AAA size. Some years ago, I discovered a perfect light by Fenix, as it used AA batteries, was small enough to be unobtrusive when worn on the belt, and produced sufficient light.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• 15-180 lumens from LED
  Run time 2.5 hours-55 hours
  real glass lens
  came with belt holster, extra o-rings and switch cover
  microprocessor controlled light output

Fenix is just one company that makes similar flashlights and I include it here only to show the type of flashlights that are available. My decision to select this flashlight was the result of some personal testing between an LED Mag Light, a Streamlight Strion (not an LED) and the Fenix. Here are the contestants:

Fenix Flashlight Comparison.JPG (106.83 KiB) Viewed 1213 times

Here is the difference (the light at the top right is the Fenix - clearly brighter.)

Fenix Flashlight Comparison 2.JPG (66.58 KiB) Viewed 1213 times

4. VERY BRIGHT HANDHELD FLASHLIGHTS

Despite the flood of innovative new LED flashlights, I still carry several Mag Lite 3 D-cell lights in the vehicle, and have several at home. They are all LED at this point, and in addition to much brighter light, I have found that the run time is incredible. When it comes to general camp lighting, the Mag Lite still carries it weight (literally) for camp chores.

Recently, a new LED product arrived on the scene, and a friend, knowing of my fondness for flashlights, decided to add one to my collection. The light goes by the name of "TrustFire" and is, of course, an LED - 9 to be precise. It operates on 3 Li-Ion 18650 batteries, and produces up to 11,000 lumens. Not a typo - 11,000! It is about the size of a 3 D-cell Mag Lite and it can bring daylight to anywhere you point it.

IMG_0213 (Large).JPG (119.7 KiB) Viewed 1211 times

IMG_0209 (Large).JPG (63.45 KiB) Viewed 1211 times

[lrsrngr]

KK6CTT for on line check in, TY.

What to look out for.

160707, Flashlights 02.JPG (59.75 KiB) Viewed 1178 times

A better solution.

160707, Flashlights 03.JPG (55.83 KiB) Viewed 1178 times

Rechargeable batteries.

160707, Flashlights 05.JPG (85.71 KiB) Viewed 1178 times

Solar solutions.

160707, Flashlights 07.JPG (223.09 KiB) Viewed 1178 times

Small solar panels that seem to work fine.

160707, Flashlights 08.JPG (233.4 KiB) Viewed 1178 times

[DaveK]

ALTERNATIVE CAMP LIGHTING II

Here is another category that is so deep that we couldn't possibly cover them all. So, just a few suggestions

At Field Day this year we had three pop-ups, only one of which was illuminated by LED lights. In this case, the lights were Home Depot items and were able to be powered by either 120 VAC or 12 VDC. The cost was about $10.00 each. See if you can pick which one it was:

Camp Lighting.jpg (529.02 KiB) Viewed 1210 times

[NotAMog]

I never liked the noise and glare from Coleman fuel or propane mantle lanterns. In recent years I've been moving to electric lighting, either battery powered or running off of a vehicle mounted storage battery.

For many years I relied on candle lanterns to provide quiet, soft, subtle camp lighting -



A few single candle lanterns placed around camp provide enough light to navigate around and for doing simple tasks even on a moonless night. They also have the advantage of having less impact on your night vision.



Information on the UCO candle lanterns may be found here -

http://ucogear.com/candle-lanterns

I still carry candle lanterns with me as a backup or to use if I don't want to get out the electric lights. I've used the 3 candle lantern as a surrogate campfire in locations where campfires are prohibited. It can also generate enough heat to boil water if desired. Candle lanterns are also handy for home emergency lighting during power outages.

[KK6DYO]

Please check me in for tonight's net. Thank you.

[KAP]

Dave,
Please check me in.
Kevin
KK6DGL