It is a balancing act for Sofirn: keeping BLF happy who they owe a lot for the initiative and design, and at the same time running their business: reducing their risks, getting their large investment back and making profit. I think that their actions reflect both sides.
Sofirn is a small company, a failing flashlight model can be a direct threat to their existence.
3000 lanterns represent something like $100k of working capital. Very few flashlight companies can plonk that much cash down in one go, so that’s one reason the lanterns are being made in smaller batches. That way, the money from selling one batch comes back in to finance the production of the next batch.
Another reason for the batch system is that the LT1 is competing with Sofirn’s other flashlight models for space on the production line. Those other models still have to be fulfilled as well.
People who are willing to pay full price can theoretically buy lanterns before all of the GB lanterns have been fulfilled, but that’s unlikely to be more than a few lanterns, because not many people know about the LT1 yet outside the flashlight forums.
Apart from that, the GB units will be fulfilled first. Among other things, Sofirn are relying on happy GB purchasers to spread the word so they can sell more lanterns at higher margins later. It’s in their interests to get the LT1 into our hands as soon as they can for those word of mouth sales to get going, so they’re not going to be dragging their feet.
Sofirn won’t be making a loss on the GB, but they won’t be making a big profit either. Future sales at the regular price will be the part that justifies the business case for this project to Sofirn’s management.
This is to adjust the intensity of the locator LED, which is not populated. I won’t try in detail to describe why its there, other than an opportunity for using the driver in other places, and/or modders to experiment with. I’ve already heard of a clear battery tube (think 3D printing) which could make for an interesting night light.
note the photo below is a prototype board version with the trim pot not installed
Ah, so the pot has nothing to do with the switch-led?
And the locator led should be soldered over the double pad next to the pot? And it is not controlled by the MCU and firmware?
I have questions… You’re saying that you run a store, and bought a “bulk order” at this group-buy price, from Sofirn regardless if you were on the list or not and regardless of the 1pc limit for the first lot of 500? Saying you are running a store, hints that you plan to re-sell the lanterns at a higher price markup for a profit? at the expense of members waiting on the list to get even just one of the lanterns at the GB price?
based on my testing, the pot has nothing to do with the switch-led.
The driver in my LT1 is rev 4.3. The empty pads to the left of the pot are for the LED I guess. the pad shape is different than V4.1 driver, perhaps this is more normal for LED pads? I don’t have experience here. The triangle shaped pad on top is V+, the adjacent pad goes to the pot, then there is a solder bridge that needs to be made from the pot to another pad. That pad is not V-, so I’m thinking it goes to the MCU and is programmable via the firmware.
Edit: I just ohmed out that area, and while the triangle pad of the locator LED does go to V+, the adjacent pad, and all the pads on the trim pot are shorted together, as well as the one next to the pot that I thought needed a solder bridge. Now I’m not really sure what’s going on, I must have seriously misinterpreted what Lexel said in his message to me. :person_facepalming:
V4.3 driver below:
Thanks for clarifying that, DBSAR. Wow, I guess I really missed the memo. So all the effort in sequencing codes to match the order of the interest list, all the angst here in this thread about people jumping the line, all the machinations that got our friend Alex banned—all that has nothing to do with priority, but just about saving twenty bucks?? Well, I still plan to wait my turn, but it’s not to save $20, it’s because I don’t think it’s fair that I should get my lanterns before folks who were on the interest list a year before I was. Seems like a typical crowd-sourcing arrangement like Jason just used for the new Quark Mk III on Kick Starter was happier for both seller and buyers. But what do I know.
I am not criticizing you, DBSAR, or any of the others who helped managed this project to completion. You have all done yeoman’s work, which will benefit many people for years to come. I will have my lanterns in due time, and will enjoy them for much longer than I have waited for them. All is (or will be) good.
Instead of POT_loc, it’s “POT-LUCK”! 
I see your bridges for 3-4 & 5 left open?
Thank you.
And only for the WW’s.
I think he used my picture of my LT1 driver. Indeed the bridges were messed up but I just closed them all and all is well.
Yes, that’s correct.
They responded that the reason for my particular order delay was a battery shortage. I just wonder how my order, made 3 days before someone else on the same platform for the same package, is now expected to arrive 2 weeks after that person received theirs.
Sounds like the typical stall.
On ebay they had sold 55 as of 24 hours ago.
All I’m going to say is that I never was aware that only 500pcs were going to be produced at the start. I completely missed that and that’s my bad.
I thought at the time that anyone could place an order for the amount they were on the list for. Before finalizing the order I discussed purchasing a larger amount and they simply said to wait a little. They didn’t say 1pc only and they could of since it was their rule.
The 5pcs I have weren’t going to be sold in my store. They were originally to give away.
I am a store and so my point was that I get a special price regardless if I’m on the list or not
I had my name put on the list multiple times for friends and family which I mentioned on last request
He’s been as member since 2014, he probably joined the list for 5 lights a long time ago
Nah, first submission was around 1800.i would have gladly waited if I had known, that’s all it comes down to. Certainly not the type to skip others who where before me
I am going to pass on this even tho i signed on initially. Not my kind of lantern i guess
That’s cool. It’s interesting to hear from someone who has changed their mind. Do you mind telling us why the lantern has not turned out to be what you expected or wanted?