help with coleman led pure annoying glare

[damn_hammer]

I have Coleman 4345-701 8D LED lantern that I find useless. If you look directly at the light it will scorch your retinas, but at the same time doesn't seem to put out much light the the surrounding area. Pure glare. Any suggestions on how to make this light useful? What is a easy, durable, clean looking way to diffuse this light?

specs:
• LED: Cree XLamp® XR-E
• Lumens: 175 lumens on high
• Run time: 66 hours on low, 32 hours on high
• Operates: 8D batteries, not included

 

[savumaki]

Ball pean hammer works well
Sorry, couldn't think of anything constructive.

 

[metlarules]

For a temporary fix I use waxpaper around the plastic globe.

 

[clg0159]

You could try sputtering the reflectors, but would still get glare from the point source. Maybe a cheap thin tissue paper wrapped around it.........I am still trying to figure out what to do with mine. Swapping the LED to a warm white helped some.

 

[Phaserburn]

This is why I still like fluoros; the light source is so much larger, therefore less glare.

 

[damn_hammer]

For a temporary fix I use waxpaper around the plastic globe.

white, or brown?

 

[luminiferous]

I have Coleman 4345-701 8D LED lantern that I find useless. If you look directly at the light it will scorch your retinas, but at the same time doesn't seem to put out much light the the surrounding area. Pure glare. Any suggestions on how to make this light useful? What is a easy, durable, clean looking way to diffuse this light?

specs:
• LED: Cree XLamp® XR-E
• Lumens: 175 lumens on high
• Run time: 66 hours on low, 32 hours on high
• Operates: 8D batteries, not included

Many people have used GLAD Press'n Seal, but one of the most interesting is to use small reflective glass beads. Check this link for info and beam shots

This Rust Oleum product looks like an interesting option. No experience with it, so you'd have to test it on scrap plastic to see if it would work well and not disolve the plastic. Here's one place to buy it.

 

[Sigman]

I like to use cut to fit opaque white plastic from milk jugs & fit them inside the globe. Diffuses the light well!

I don't have the specific lantern you do, so can't tell you how to dismantle it. Hopefully it's pretty easy.

 

[damn_hammer]

Thanks for all the great ideas. I picked up the press n seal this weekend, but haven't put in on yet. I also might try the milk jug diffuser so will eye up the dairy section next time I go to the grocery.

 

[cave dave]

Try diffuser sheet designed for bathroom windows. Some hardware stores may cary this in the bath section.

http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/dcfix/Transparent.htm

 

[luminiferous]

Went looking for the Rust Oleum Reflective Finish and I found it, but also found their "Frosted Glass" product. Works nicely. I wouldn't bother with the Reflective Finish spray. Both are fine on plastic, but "Reflective Finish" only works somewhat because of it's semi-transparent results. However, it's results are no where near as evenly diffused as the "Frosted Glass" spray. Nothing like mrmike's results with the reflective beads.

I'll post beam shots when I have a chance. I've tested on a strip of scrap clear plastic I had. I have no intention of applying this treatment to my light. I'm one of the odd fellows who doesn't mind the artifacts. I'd personally rather tolerate them, than reduce the light output even a little.

The reduction I measured was about 6 lux at the brightest spot. Some is probably the thickness of the plastic itself, since I did not spray the actual globe. However, you should expect a slight reduction in total light output. No doubt this is part of Coleman's reluctance to add diffusers to the lanterns with lower output.

 

[metlarules]

white, or brown?

white

 

[damn_hammer]

I took the lantern apart today. Sorry, no photos. Taking the lantern apart was cake. Sputtered the upper, and lower convex reflectors w/frosted glass rust-oleum. Also frosted the inside, and outside of the plastic cylindrical lens. Wow, what a difference, amazing. The light looks really nice now, zero glare. Thought about swapping the LED to something less white, more natural colored and brighter. I've got 8D cells powering this thing, any suggestions on warm LED upgrade? The LED is mounted on a ~16mm star sitting on an aluminum pedestal, and looks like a simple solder job.

 

[damn_hammer]

Any suggestions or links on where to get a XRE Q3-5A on a 17mm star? Found a site in Australia, but it was going to be more then $20 shipped.

 

[damn_hammer]

current led in lantern
<a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss245/damn_hammer/?action=view&current=DSC_0505.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss245/damn_hammer/DSC_0505.jpg" border="0" alt="coleman lantern led"></a>

 

[damn_hammer]

 

[damn_hammer]

frosted globe, after pic

 

[damn_hammer]

found a place to order a Cree XR-E 5A Q3
http://www.dereelight.com/emitters.htm

... must wait now.

 

[BBnet3000]

reflective glass beads. Check this link for info and beam shots

this gets my vote, i came into this thread to suggest this

 

[chmsam]

I'd just use a scrap of a white handkerchief held in place over the LED with a rubber band. Or else a white balloon.