Hot off the presses... CMG is making a new version of the Bonfire Tent Light called the Blaze. It has three LEDs like its predecessor, but there's a difference: two of the LEDs are white Nichias, and one is a screaming bright red (probably an Agilent Sunpower part). It uses 2 AA cells, and has a step-up inverter to deal with the white LEDs.
The white is reasonably bright while still retaining a published runtime of 20 peak hours; the red has a published 72 peak hours; they'll probably run longer but at diminishing intensity past that point. This one will have to be put through the logging meter when that instrument is freed up again.
The lanyard attachment seems to have been modified somehow, and done so in such a way that the harder you tug on it, the stronger it holds. So it shouldn't fall off nearly as easily as the previous Bonfires have been known to do if you tug on them. The battery springs should by now also be improved so the unit shouldn't die if it falls face-first off the tent ceiling. But i want to run all the other tests first before throwing the Bonfire around my ersatz campground.
Both the white and the red are bright enough to easily read by; but the red is less destructive to night vision. Photographers could probably hang one of these in their darkroom to use as a safelight; so long as they don't activate the white by mistake.
More later. I've got a building inspection to prepare for, so I won't be getting very much work done regarding my website between now and Sunday.
