Camping Enthusiests! Canopy Lighting Woes

[Curly]

Hi All....

I can't be the only avid camper wondering what to do about achieving good canopy lighting that's simple to set up and simple to maintain.:wave: When I step back and analyze the situation, there's no real quality camping lights that use newer Cree LEDs (P4 -> up). Okay for that matter, there's pretty much no QUALITY camp lights available anywhere. I have search extensively and wasted a lot of cash buying so called high tech lighting.

We camp where it's dark... no light pollution either. Sylvania 4AA Lanterns work pretty good and don't hurt your eyes or attract bugs. However, they are a PIA because of all the batteries (16 in my case).

What I want is a light that clips to the center pole of my commercial EasyUp canopy and uses rechargeable lithiums (ideal) or connects directly to my toy hauler 12v outlet (not perfect). It should be something self contained that holds 4 (18650 in parallel for capacity).

You see, I have a Raidfire Spear too that we sometimes tail stand off the table pointing into the ceiling of the canopy. It is SO BRIGHT that it's too much. The 4 Sylvania lanters are totally invisible when the Spear is fired up too.

I have access to engineers, and a full high tech machining facility. If I can't find something that fits the bill here before summer, I might just go and have a couple made. What really gets me is that one single flashlight using 1 led does 1000 better job than 4 "lanterns". Why is it so hard to locate quality lighting for camping? Doesn't make sense.

Yeah I know, the smple answer is why not just use flashlights...? Simple, looks and run time. It needs to look professional, hang from a hook, and last 8 hours. Flashlights don't seem to have a floody enough beam either. A solid bright circle on the ceiling would be better than perfect.

What have you tried, bought, or other? I'm all ears.... )

 

[leukos]

I don't know of somthing with multiple crees for your needs, but zebralight makes some great headlamps that are all flood. http://www.zebralight.com/ The new H60 runs on an 18650 and should light up your tent with no problem. Makes an excellent headlamp too...

 

[monkeyboy]

Have you tried a head torch?

The Petzl Myo XP (seoul version) is easy to hang up inside a tent. It has a built in diffuser and long run times. I get 12 hours on high with 2700mAh rechargeables and much longer runtimes on the lower settings. Make sure you get the Seoul version though. A head torch is also great for pitching a tent in the dark.

 

[sclemin1]

Anyone try a Fenix P3D or PD30 with the white diffuser tip?
If that would work, the light could server as a fair backup to your preferred flashlight as well.

 

[Curly]

Remember though, I'm not lighting a tent. It's a white 10x10 shelter by EasyUp. We put the tables and cook stove under it.

You know what comes to mind here...? One of those emergency lights you see in commercial buildings that have a battery and floodlight attached. Okay, they are too big of course, but it's sort of the general idea.

Headlamps are okay if I were to cannibalize them. I have never owned one so I'm glad to know they have a floody beam.

For those times when we pull into camp late at night, my trailer has good exterior lighting. No need for much else, but that doesn't work well for illuminating the canopy for cooking and such.

I'm thinking about a unit that houses 2 cree leds pointing upward and out away from center. This would create indirect lighting. Thing is, one bright flashlight is plenty of light. However the flashlight is limited by the battery capacity.

Another idea is a pair of white trailer LED reverse lights. They are 15" long and quite amazingly bright. I could machine an aluminum support that attaches directly to the supporting cross members of the EasyUp.

There's also low power consuming LED RV lighting to consider. I could do some cool stuff with that too.

Again, why is readily available is camping gear so cheesy...?

This dialog is great, thanks. :twothumbs

 

[leukos]

Headlamps are okay if I were to cannibalize them. I have never owned one so I'm glad to know they have a floody beam.

I consider a good headlamp one of my most indispensible pieces of camping equipment! Wouldn't go into the woods without one :candle:

 

[f22shift]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3297
you could use this. not the bestest of quality but i can imagine it gets the job done.
or get a zebralight, that'll do the same cree flood with a nice quality.

i take one of these for camping
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1783
it'll illuminate with motion or constant on. usually i set it up for only dark use/ motion sense on. then just leave it in the tent without fiddling with it.

i use this
http://www.zbattery.com/Bicycle-Mini-Mag-Flashlight-Holster-by-Nite-Ize?sc=7&category=66614
around a camping chair and can point it anywhere. combine that with your favorite flood cree or cree with diffusor.


a headlamp is the best form of flashlight when camping. a simple low lumen long lasting one is all that is needed.

 

[Icebreak]

Dual Cree multi-mode, custom machined camp light on 1S4P 18650...I'll take one.

Curly, I don't own any of these but here are some lanterns that seem to have some of the criteria you are looking for. If not, it could be that some of the design elements could be used for a custom job.

ROV Sptsmn Xtrm


Coleman 8D XRE


Orion


Dorcy Flip Top

 

[VegasF6]

It's not really what you are asking for I know, but by any chance do you have any cordless tools that you can rob a battery from? I always like the idea of this:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=167580

Would be great if you happend to have any 18V lithium ion tools and charger, you could "mule" something with anywhere from 3-5 cree's or even just one P7. Just pop in a new battery pack and you are off.

Perhaps something like the D2flex for modes, or shark with remora. Neat.

 

[LED_Thrift]

Try taking the reflector out of the spear so it's just a pure flood light. If it's still to bright use a light that is not so bright and take the reflector out.

 

[JetskiMark]

Have you considered modding the Sylvanias and running them on Eneloops?

You say they are a PITA because of the 16 batteries. Is this because you have to replace them after a couple of nights use? I have 8 of the Sylvanias and while I do not have them on all that long, they last for week long camping trips without having to recharge. I really like them.

 

[hank]

We use a big M@g with luxeons (white or amber) bounced off the overhead; D cells last forever. Plus of course headlamps

Also I notice that the GE compact fluorescent "Post Light" has a plastic diffuser that will come off easily and fits nicely just inside the bezel of a M@g C or D (won't stay there unless you keep the light pointed straight up, of course, but a little sticky tacky stuff would keep it in place).

 

[sierracharlie]

Surefire L1 plus McGizmo mulehead is what I use.

I also have ordered a Snow Peak Gigapower Lantern, which I hope is pretty cool.

Milky has an MC3 order thread going on this forum. Get on the list.

Good luck.

 

[coyote]

curly, you explained the problem perfectly.

it's what a lot of us keep looking for but finally give up trying to find.

why is this such a hard concept for manufacturers to understand?

"make it and they will come" (to buy them).

 

[Hamster]

I camp for two weeks every year in the deep bush portaging my kevlar canoe many miles.
Finally, after many years, I have found a campsite lighting solution that is lightweight, small and efficient.
I found an 18650/cree light from Kai/DX (can't remember) that had a removeable head that fully exposed the emitter (flush, no shoulder). I pop the the lights into doubled over brocolli rubber bands and loop them on a high branch of a tree with some string. Each 18650 provides about 3 hours runtime.

IMO, the most important thing is to have an 18650/cree light with a removeable head that leaves the emitter fully exposed. I have three such lights.
Unfortunately, they do not tailstand and it appears they are no longer available. Lights such as these are essential for blackouts and area lighting.

Does anyone know of any 18650 lights that satisfy these requirements from Kai or DX?

 

[sierracharlie]

These look interesting.

Brunton Glorb LED lanterns.

http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gea..._glorb_led.htm
__________________

 

[VegasF6]

I camp for two weeks every year in the deep bush portaging my kevlar canoe many miles.
Finally, after many years, I have found a campsite lighting solution that is lightweight, small and efficient.
I found an 18650/cree light from Kai/DX (can't remember) that had a removeable head that fully exposed the emitter (flush, no shoulder). I pop the the lights into doubled over brocolli rubber bands and loop them on a high branch of a tree with some string. Each 18650 provides about 3 hours runtime.

IMO, the most important thing is to have an 18650/cree light with a removeable head that leaves the emitter fully exposed. I have three such lights.
Unfortunately, they do not tailstand and it appears they are no longer available. Lights such as these are essential for blackouts and area lighting.

Does anyone know of any 18650 lights that satisfy these requirements from Kai or DX?

Maybe the tr-801? It is only a linear driver though.