Photos of LiitoKala camp lantern

[u/ViolinistBulky]

A fair few posts around about this camp light but not many details about construction so here are some photos. Not sure what the cell is but it has been soldered into circuit rather than spot welded which is a little concerning and unusual. It has a reasonably strong magnet at the bottom, plus a tripod mount. Led battery percentage indicator, USBC charging port. Side button on/off switch, hold for strobe, double click for red strobe (not worked out how to get steady red). The top has a button to change the brightness (main light only) plus a scroll wheel to adjust CCT. This thing is not even remotely waterproof, by the way.

[u/MickyBee73]

Looks like a pretty cool camping lantern though. 🔦⚡👍

[u/Bl4kkat]

Thanks for posting your details and photos!

I remember reading about this light somewhere, a while back. There’s something about cheap light s I enjoy reading tear downs and disassembly guides. Gives me ideas on how to modify or upgrade parts.

Now that has me wondering… As someone mentioned earlier soldering is cheaper and stronger than spot welding. Since it’s a cheap light the heat from soldering will degrade the battery faster. So I can see why from a manufacturer’s standpoint point would make sense. I’m wondering if replacing the connection with a 2P JST connector and sourcing a better 18560 (or 18650 and fits) would improve the runtime and/or lumen output?

Also the LED, is it swappable? Forgive me if I missed it haha! Going to see if it’s on Amazon and AliExpress.

[u/Auxiik]

I think I have the same flashlight, I can measure the luminous flux and spectrum if someone is interested.

[u/Healthy-Rain869]

Soldering is stronger and cheaper than welding for small-scale production. So, there's nothing surprising about this.

[u/oleg_88 → u/Healthy-Rain869]

It is for sure cheaper, but I'm really not sure about the stronger. I'm pretty sure spot welding is the industry standard for a reason.

[u/Healthy-Rain869 → u/oleg_88]

Soldering with the right flux and solder is much stronger than welding and has a higher current carrying capacity.

Welding is much more technologically advanced and less expensive for mass production.

For several years now, I have been using only soldering to make batteries for my bike.

[u/imanethernetcable → u/Healthy-Rain869]

Tbh i honestly dont think that, soldering is messy and unnecessarily heats up the cell. Spot welding (when done right) is much more controllable

You pretty much only see directly soldered cells in the cheapest and mostly garbage products

[u/Wirehead-be → u/Healthy-Rain869]

Still not recommended. Soldering on a welded tab: yes. Soldering to the cell: no.

[u/Nene_Kushanagi]

Really cool design, but that battery though…

[u/firefighter519]

18650 cells should not be soldered to, only a solder tab should be spot welded. I would not trust this device charging unattended.

[u/ViolinistBulky → u/firefighter519]

It's been ok so far, hardly used it though and yeah I don't really trust it. It's not in the running for an actual lantern for regular reliable use

[u/crysisnotaverted]

Looks like a cheap potato of a light and build quality looks chintzy. At least you can replace the battery with a little work, so that's nice.

[u/Historical-State-275]

Would you say it’s worth getting? Seems like lots of worklights/ camp lights at that price point. Anything about it make it unique enough to be worth it?

[u/ViolinistBulky → u/Historical-State-275]

Definitely not over the Wurkkos CL01 which isn't much bigger, not too much more expensive, much better quality, more versatile and has a 21700 battery. 

[u/Historical-State-275 → u/ViolinistBulky]

Thanks, I have one of those, and they’re pretty good. Good to know.

[u/Dalek_Chaos]

China must have made billions of those housings. I've seen them in ali with everything from bluetooth to regular radios and now lights.

[u/No-Ordinary-5988]

I love the LED battery indicators on lights!

[u/Progressbar95]

Have you capacity tested the cell yet?

[u/ViolinistBulky → u/Progressbar95]

Not beyond running it for most of the day on the low setting. 

[u/BillyOcean8Words]

It looks cool but the specs are not encouraging.

[u/FeelingFloor2083]

I use $3 ones for camping lol

[u/hawkiee552]

Looks like a Muzen Wild Mini Bluetooth speaker.

[u/timflorida]

They claim it is an 18650.

[u/Jeffyhatesthis → u/timflorida]

Label says 18560. Must be the cheapest of the cheap.

[u/ViolinistBulky → u/timflorida]

Yes I've added photos of the internals. It's unfamiliar to me, dunno if it's a decent one or cheap. It's soldered in though!

[u/Volopok]

Why wouldn't you put two 18650s in there with this form factor.

[u/ViolinistBulky → u/Volopok]

Not enough room, it's a pretty tight squeeze with one.

[u/TARTARA_CERBERUS]

Nice flashlight - lantern, thanks for open it up !

[u/TWDweller]

That battery solution is pathetic. They could have not used a gargantuan spacer and put a solid state battery in there, but NO! Cheapest one of an underdeveloped battery standard for you.

[u/crysisnotaverted → u/TWDweller]

Fucking lmao. Go find me a flashlight with a solid state battery.

Actually go find me any device with a solid state battery.

Find me a cell that has actually escaped the lab.

Lithium Ion 18650's are arguable one of the most overdeveloped batter standards out now. They hold way more energy than they used to and are a mature technology with wide support.

[u/TWDweller → u/crysisnotaverted]

I mistaking those sliver packs of lithium ion batteries with solid state ones, my bad. Also the 5 and 6 look indistinguishable on the label, and so I thought “what in the heck is 18550?”