New Led Candle Lanterns

[Phaserburn]

at Sharper Image; "luminaria". These look very cool, very sophisticated from a home decoration perspective. The first is a 2D one led unit that turns on at dusk and shuts off automatically after 6 hours. The led flickers inside the "candle" for realism. Battery life should be many, many evenings, and is rated at 800 hours (133 evenings @ 6hrs each). It is $29.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=NI505

This one is the same as above, with these changes: solar/nicad powered instead of 2D. 2 leds instead of one, with the first being the candle flicker flame, the second being mounted beneath the unit, shining down. This is to facilitate hanging the unit on the provided 3 ft stake and also illuminating a path, etc. It's $39.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=NI500

Both models are weatherproof and are 9" tall and 6" in diameter. Both also have an on/off switch as well as the photosensor. Anyone have these? They look very classy, and I'm wondering about how realistic they look in person. Clearly, they are primarily decorative in nature. But, as truly attractive home ornamentations using leds that aren't "sci-fi" in design are rare, these look interesting. Thoughts?

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Phaserburn,

I also have been looking at those.

I have solar lights now and am leaning towards the 2 D ones. My wife likes candles and these look like they would work well on the patio.

Tom

 

[Doug Owen]

I just got one....well a few days back. Very nice, highly recommended.

Doug Owen

 

[Phaserburn]

Mine is in transit. Hopefully, it will arrive today. What is the finish like, Doug? I was hoping to use this as a centerpiece for our dining room table.

 

[Doug Owen]

[ QUOTE ]
Phaserburn said:
Mine is in transit. Hopefully, it will arrive today. What is the finish like, Doug? I was hoping to use this as a centerpiece for our dining room table.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's nicely done. Quite heavy, real glass, black with nice brown textured paint highlights.

Funny you should mention it, it's still on the kitchen table, hasn't made it to the garden yet. Neat action, you can turn it on with a flashlight (enough reason to get it alone.....), you can also shine a flashlight into the photocell when it's on and shut it down as long as the light's on. Room light won't do it, it needs to see the increase from the flashlight to trigger it.

Neat. You'll like it.

Doug Owen

 

[Phaserburn]

Got it, and I do like it. I got the battery version, not the solar. It was always intended for the dining room or foyer.

I agree, Doug. They did a quality job in the build, and the flicker effect really makes you think you're looking at a candle. This is not a flashaholic's lantern per se; it's a very nicely done decorative piece that flashaholics will appreciate. Purely for the looks, not the amount of light given off. I like that it's an activate and forget setup; the lantern turns itself on at dusk (nicely done at the point where it just gets dim enought to highlight the lantern), and stays on for 4-6 hours. The batteries (2D) should last for months and months.

I would recommend this as a gift for sure. Good job, Sharper Image. CPF, your wife will love it. It comes with matching metal bracket for wall mount, too.

 

[Brock]

I am torn, get the solar one or D cell. I like the idea of the D cells, but I like the idea of a LED lighting down also. So what does it look like from the underside? Could I use the solar one inside and just swap the NiMH's once a week? One more thing to buy.

 

[Phaserburn]

"lighting down"? To me, the best thing about this lantern is it's good looks and that 2 sets of batts will keep this thing going for a year or more with no other physical contact due to the photocell. It's so hands off, it's great. What is the allure of the solar/nimh combo?

 

[Brock]

Oh the solar one has 2 LED's and one shines down. I thought if I hung it somewhere it might be enough light to not walk in to somehting. I currently use hanging PAL's in the "off" mode, but my wife thinks they look funny. Maybe the 2 D would be enough light.

Off to order...

 

[Phaserburn]

Solutions is selling a pewter finish version of this lantern with a table stand for $9.90 on clearance. Picked up two, along with a Inova 24/7 and Candaloo also for under 10 each.

 

[PhotonRanger]

Phaserburn, could you provide a bit more information on Solutions please?

 

[unclearty]

I believe he's refering to this: http://www.solutionscatalog.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE
I couldn't find those items he mentioned.

 

[Phaserburn]

www.solutionscatalog.com

Don't know if they have any left in stock; Milkyspit got hosed trying to get some of these. He had an order in progress when someone else who had also ordered them checked out before he did and snagged 'em.

 

[Brock]

Ok here is my simple mod for these lights.

I have the 2 D model and I was tired of seeing the LED if the light was at all above eye level. So I opened it up and cut off a sharpie cap to make a short fat straw, slid it over the led and presto, no side spill on the LED. No glue, no messing with part, easily reversible. It didn't change the candle look at all. I have a feeling it does affect the light sensor (if there is one) cuz now the only way it comes on is turning the light off and back on. Either way it is much nicer and the LED doesn't give away the "trick".

 

[Phaserburn]

Hmm. The led isn't visible if over eye level; I'll have to check this out.