The Rayovac camping lantern is a reliable and bright light source, but its high battery consumption significantly limits its practicality. Running on eight D-cell batteries, it offers a limited runtime of only four to six hours, incurring substantial replacement costs, especially during extended camping trips. This inherent drawback often overshadows the lantern's positive attributes, making it a less appealing option for those seeking long-lasting illumination. This article details a cost-effective upgrade that transforms the lantern's functionality, eliminating the reliance on expensive and cumbersome batteries.This simple modification bypasses the lantern's original circuit board and allows for direct power from a 12-volt source. This hack opens up various power options, including car cigarette lighter adapters, jump starters, and even rechargeable batteries. By eliminating the high cost and inconvenience of constantly replacing D-cell batteries, this upgrade significantly enhances the lantern's usability and makes it a far more economical and versatile tool for any outdoor adventure.
Pros And Cons
- Rubberized and sealed construction
- Thick, heavy plastic
- Bright light (when using sufficient power)
- Can be modified to use a variety of power sources (batteries, AC adapter, power bank)
- Uses eight D-size batteries, which are expensive and have short battery life (4-6 hours of continuous use)
- Original design is a significant battery hog
Read more: Best Rechargeable Camping Lanterns 2024: Top 10 Reviews & Comparison
The Problem: Expensive D Batteries
The Rayovac camping lantern, while bright and durable, suffers from a significant drawback: its high battery consumption. It requires eight D-cell batteries, which are not only bulky but also expensive. Replacing them frequently can quickly negate any savings from owning a free lantern.
The continuous usage time is limited to just four to six hours, depending on brightness settings. Given the cost of D-cell batteries, the operational cost becomes a major concern for extended camping trips or outdoor use.
This high power consumption makes the lantern impractical for prolonged use unless one is prepared to invest considerable funds in batteries.
The Solution: Converting to AC Power
To address the battery issue, a conversion to AC power was undertaken. The lantern uses two 9-watt bulbs, requiring a substantial power supply. Initial attempts with lower-voltage chargers failed.
After testing with various power sources, including a car cigarette lighter adapter (12V), a successful power solution was found. This proved the feasibility of directly powering the lantern's bulbs via a higher voltage source.
A suitable adapter was found, and the modification process began. Bypassing the lantern's original circuit board was necessary to avoid voltage limitations.
Implementation and Results
An old TomTom GPS power cable was repurposed to create a custom power cable for the lantern. This involved carefully connecting the positive and negative wires directly to the lantern's internal circuitry, bypassing the original circuit board.
This modification provides a 12-volt power solution, eliminating the reliance on expensive D-cell batteries. Alternative power sources such as a jump starter or inexpensive rechargeable batteries can now be used.
The versatility of the hack is emphasized. The user can choose between AC power, a jump starter, rechargeable batteries, or the original D-cell batteries, depending on the situation.
Conclusion: A Worthwhile Hack?
The Rayovac camping lantern hack significantly improves its practicality and cost-effectiveness. The modification eliminates the high cost and inconvenience associated with D-cell batteries.
By offering multiple power options (AC power, jump starter, rechargeable batteries), the lantern becomes suitable for a wider range of camping scenarios, from campsites with electricity to those without.
The overall improvement in cost-effectiveness, combined with the added versatility, makes this a worthwhile modification for anyone owning a Rayovac camping lantern or a similar model.
