DIY backpacking LED light- for cooking

This post is about a DIY backpacking LED light that can provide lighting when using the power from a USB blower stove. It can also be used for efficient stand-alone lighting.

Introduction

This page describes a small ultralight backpacking LED light module (~9 g) for the ultralight blower stove so that it can be easily added or removed depending upon need. It is positioned high up on a snorkel with a reflector so that it sheds its little light right where it is needed for cooking in the dark without getting in the eyes of the cook. It packs up easily in the cooking pot.

From my experience with long trips, much of the cooking is done after dark and a small and efficient source of light makes the experience so much more enjoyable.

DIY backpacking LED snorkel light.

This module comprises a 3.5 mm ‘jack plug’ and power socket that mounts in a hole in the blower fan body. It has a flexible snorkel cable supporting a LED light. It only uses an 0.02-0.03 A of current. The module interconnects between the power supply and the fan. It can be added or removed as required and sliding the jack plug up a little can be used as a simple off switch for the light.

The LED is covered with a diffuser made from a piece of plastic tubing that was cut off with a ~45 degree slope. The slope allows a reflector to be formed on it by glueing a small piece of aluminium cooking on to it with RTV silicone rubber.

LED snorkel light (~9g) mounted above blower fan. The LED is covered with some translucent plastic tube to act as a diffuser. The sloping cut on the top of the tube was smeared with silicon rubber and aluminium cooking foil was glued on as a reflector and as protection for the cooks' eyes.
LED snorkel light (~9g) mounted above blower fan. The LED is covered with some translucent plastic tube to act as a diffuser. The sloping cut on the top of the tube was smeared with silicon rubber and aluminium cooking foil was glued on as a reflector and as protection for the cooks’ eyes.
LED light mounted above two pots cooking on C-ring blower stove." A little light goes a long way on a dark night."
LED light mounted above two pots cooking on C-ring blower stove.” A little light goes a long way on a dark night.”  
LED light illuminating Snow Stove boiling water with frozen snow gum sticks above deep snow.
LED light illuminating Snow Stove boiling water with frozen snow gum sticks above deep snow.

The last word/s 

The light can also be used as a tent light when it is time to retire to the tent and tidy things up before going to sleep.

Tim

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