A Brief Note on LuminAID
Before diving in, I want to talk about LuminAID and why we chose this particular brand. While we were looking for Solar rechargeable lights, we came across some offerings from LuminAID. After reading about them and watching their humanitarian work, we became fully invested. The catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was the triggering point in starting LuminAID. Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta started LuminAID as an answer to the question: What could we do to help in such situations? Electricity is one the important things that gets directly impacted during natural disasters. It will take days or even weeks to bring things back to normal. And during this time, people have to live in darkness. The female lead organization LuminAID designed a Solar Lantern as a cost-effective lighting system during emergencies. Apart from disasters, LuminAID also aimed these solar lanterns for households without stable electricity. LuminAID also started Give Light program; a humanitarian aid focused on distributing their solar lanterns to people without proper electricity. They are still using candles and kerosene lamps as the main source of lighting. With the help of several nonprofit organizations, NGOs and sponsorships, they were able to send these lights to more than 100 countries.
What Is LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern?
The LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern is a Solar powered device that can provide you with light during night time and also recharges your smartphone (and other devices). You don’t need to add any batteries as it already has built-in rechargeable batteries with 4,000mAh capacity. You can use this during emergency power outages or in the event of any natural disaster (earthquakes, storms, floods, etc.). If you like camping, then the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern is an excellent lighting option. There are many people who travel cross country in their RVs. During breaks or night time, they can use this light while cooking or eating. Apart from these, this Solar light is also very useful during other outdoor activities (fishing, backpacking and trekking).
Design
The first thing we notice is it comes flat in the box. To inflate the light, simple twist it by holding both the ends. This design makes it perfect to store the lantern in our bags while we are not using or we want to carry it. Made from 100% PVC free material, the lantern is fully recyclable. It is also waterproof and shatterproof. So, you don’t have to worry using it outdoors, near water or harsh terrain. On the top, we have the Solar Panel with an area of 16 sq in. There is an adjustable Velcro strap that acts as a handle to carry or hang the lantern. One edge consists of two USB ports: a micro-USB and a regular Type-A USB Port. You can recharge the built-in batteries using the Solar panel on top or using the micro-USB port (using an adapter). The Type-A port helps you recharging your phone. There is a lid covering the two USB ports. Close the lid when you are not using them as it acts as a waterproof seal. The other edge on the top has a power button, a mode switch and a battery level button. To turn on the light, press the power button. It starts with ‘turbo’ brightness mode with one click. As you continue clicking the power button, you will cycle through different brightness levels.
1 Click – Turbo Brightness Mode 2 Clicks – High 3 Clicks – Medium 4 Clicks – Low 5 Clicks – SOS 6 Clicks – OFF
Yes. You have to cycle through all the brightness level to turn off the light. Coming to the mode switch, it changes the color of the light between white and red. That’s right. The LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern has two light colors. White light is suitable for general illuminance and red light acts as a reading light. Use the mode switch to set the output light as white or red. In either case, you can use the power button to adjust the brightness or turn it off. Finally, when you press the battery level button, 4 tiny LEDs indicate the remaining battery level.
Performance
LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern has a 300-lumens white light. At turbo mode, this can light up 300 sq ft area with ease. The 4,000mAh rechargeable battery can provide light up to 100hours (when we use it in low brightness mode). To give a reference, the following list shows ballpark values of the output lumens and runtime for different brightness levels.
Turbo –– 300-lumens –– 3-5 Hours High –– 150-lumens –– 8-10 Hours Medium –– 75-lumens –– 14-16 Hours Low –– 10-lumens –– 72-100 Hours SOS –– 15-lumens –– 100+ Hours
Solar panel on the top struggles to recharge the battery as it takes 16 – 20 hours to fully recharge the battery. The good thing about LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern is that you can recharge it using a micro-USB cable. This option is very useful for people travelling in RVs as they can charge the lantern using car charger while driving and use the light during night time. It takes about 4 hours to fully charge the battery using a micro-USB cable. Another major selling point of this lantern its ability to charge mobiles and other 5V devices. The 4,000mAh battery acts as a power bank and you can recharge a medium-sized smartphone for one time.
Practicality
With a simple twist to inflate design, solar panel on the top and built-in 4,000mAh rechargeable battery, the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern is a very good emergency lighting unit. The adjustable handle on top allows you to carry the lantern with you or hang it from somewhere (a hook or using a string). Unpredictable climate and weather (remember the Texas storm in February, 2021) is a main problem for electricity and this light comes handy in such situations. If you like camping, then you can take this lantern with you and light-up your tent or sitting area. The number of people living/travelling in RVs is increasing and instead of using batteries from RV, they can use couple of these lanterns to provide enough lighting. Multiple charging options means you don’t have to wait for sunlight while you are driving. Simply use a micro-USB and charge the battery with a car charger. Worried about juice in your smartphone or camera? Use the lantern as a power bank to recharge devices.
Specifications
Here are some important specifications of the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern.
Dimensions (Flat) – 6” × 6” × 1” Dimensions (Inflated) – 6” × 6” × 6” Weight – 12.5oz (about 0.78lbs or 354gms) Built-in Rechargeable Battery – Yes Battery Capacity – 4,000mAh Recharge Options – Solar Panel and micro-USB Cable Solar Recharge Time – 16–20 Hours Micro-USB Recharge Time – Approx. 4 Hours Lighting Modes – Two (White and Red) Brightness Levels – 5 (Turbo, High, Medium, Low, SOS) Maximum Brightness – 300 lumens (in turbo mode) Maximum Run Time – 100 Hours (in low brightness mode) Can Recharge Devices – Yes (using Type-A USB Port)
Pros
Very compact design Made from 100% PVC free material (recyclable) Waterproof and Shatterproof Charge it using Solar Panel or micro-USB Cable 4,000mAh Rechargeable Battery 5 Brightness Levels Up to 100 Hours of runtime (in low brightness mode) White Light for regular usage and Red Light for reading Recharge phones and other 5V devices
Cons
Very long recharge time from Solar Panel Must cycle all brightness levels to turn it off
Final Verdict:
Overall, we liked the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern. It is a decent little emergency light with a unique patented design. When not in use, it folds into a tiny book and to use, simple twist it. The carry handle is very practical. Its built-in rechargeable battery and solar panel is one of the highlight features. You can use it during emergencies, blackouts, camping, backyard parties, with RVs, etc. If you are looking for a Solar Lantern, the we highly recommend the LuminAID Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern. We are also impressed with LuminAID’s intention of replacing candles and kerosene lamps with this Solar Power lights. Comment * Name * Email * Website
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