LED table lamps have been around for a couple of years now , but
none has attracted our attention enough to purchase until we saw this new product at this weekends Melb 4X4 show.
It provides effective light from a small package and has a number of good design features.
The idea of a table lamp for us is a robust small package that is portable and can be picked up quickly and placed on a table away from the car when
camping and requires no power led.
It must have enough light output to be able to make dinner with.
There are many designs out there, often with twin fluro tubes
and with large high reflectors to push the light down onto a table
surface. Some of these like the Coleman units put out more light than one we purchased and are a better light depending on the way you
camp and do things.
So, as in most things you need to understand your requirements first.
This lamp has the following features which have made it better than the many we have seen before.
First the light output is 300 lumens from 3* 1 watt LEDs (previous units about 45-70).
This is roughly the equivalent of a 4watt fluroscent tube, which is still significantly down on your standard general purpose 11watt U-tube work light.
The LEDs are Nichia brand, while the advertising hype on led products tells you that leds last forever, they don't, and heat and poor quality bonding compounds see most of the cheap ones lose light output and can die whereas ones like these can last for 100,000 hours. I have specified this type of LED for large scale government projects on the basis of long and stable life.
This lantern runs for 25 hours on 3 X D cells, double this on its low power setting.
It also has a flashing mode and a small "always active" low power green led which flashes weakly each 5 seconds- presumeably so that you can locate it in the tent in the dark.
Its not designed for external power use, and in fact its entire makeup is one of small compact and robust design. The entire unit is only 190mm tall by 80mm wide.
The batteries are in the base with a light diffuser above which makes it very stable.
This is enhanced with rubberized non-slip moulded casing on its base, sides and top, so that it can be knocked on dropped with low breakage risk.
The good design continues to its carry handle which folds in close and neat and is also rubber covered to stop those annoying rattles that can come from the usual chrome plated metal ones.
The light output spread is good and sufficent to shine down onto a small table surface however maximum light output is upwards at about a 15 degree angle.
This is where those units with a big high reflector outperform this product.
However this lamp incorparates two cute tricks, first is a plastic hook moulded into the base so it can be hung upside down , and the second is that the reflector assembly easily twists off. This provides a powerful wide angle light which can be used torch like, or to provide a quite effective concentrated
light spot more than a meter across, when hung from an awning.
We found this lantern particulary effective on the floor in a tent or when placed to check under the car.
Replacing the batteries, is slightly tricky as the cover is keyed and better indication for alignment could have been made.
The packaging it comes in is not useful as a permanent holder to prevent scraps in the car. We cut the top off a square plastic 2 liter fruit juice and put ours inside this with a rubber band over the whole thing for storage.
Manufacturer Primus
Model Primus NOVA Max led lantern part no. 591123
Supplier Ray's
Cost at show $60