Sept,27,2020 > Hi Everyone! I have been absent lately due to many things, especially the last couple months with packing things, down-sizing, ans selling my house. I have a closing date for Oct 15th, and will be moving east to Newfoundland at that time. After i get moved, re-settled in a new place i will returning to here a lot more to continue the LT1 and LT1 Mini Projects. In the mean time, for the next couple months i will be living off-grid in my 23 foot RV trailer, and will create some new offgrid living experience videos. 
– Dennis
Update,02,06,2020) -The LT1M-Mini has a project thread now, it is located here: >> http://budgetlightforum.com/node/71516
Update,01,28,2020)
Sofirm sent a couple host lights to work on designing a BLF LT1 Mini project from, one was a SP33, and the other was the IF25. after picking both apart, studying ideas, on boht of the lights, i came to the conclusion the IF25 is a great start host, as it already has tint-ramping, USB-C charging, and single 21700 or 18650 format size. I am currently designing & testing many head diffusers & shades ideas, and working to keep this smaller LT1 as the upfiring factory design, but with a very unique head i designed & am testing. stay tuned for the upcoming video of the birth of the LT1M, the more pocketable, hiker & backpack friendly compact Mini LT1
- Teaser photo below of the V1 prototype of the LT1M. I hope we can keep the price point of this smaller variant low like the MSRP of the original IF25 it is based from, and will have tint ramping, USB-C charging, and use the same Andruil firmware if we can shoe-horn Toykeeper’s amazing firmware of the LT1 into the Mini.
Update: 01/03/2020) i am awaiting for a couple potential hosts bases from Barry & Sofirn shipped out to me a couple weeks back, once i receive them i can work on the design & testing for the micro/Mini LT1.
Ok, i had a brainstorm on a LT1 “Micro” for those wanting something small enough to back pack.
I am looking to find a cheap 21700 host( or 26650) (with driver maybe, was thinking of a FW3A with the andruil firmware if i had one to sacrifice. A been doing some testing on a regular flashlight, but using a frosted lens internal reflector, to reduce hard lighting and a very unique shade/globe design with a dual-purpose shade design i been testing in secret, so it can remain with the LED firing up as it will be a single LED in the center, but still have very low side glare as most up-firing lanterns have.
It is planned to be a tiny Micro LT1, with a single 21500 5000mah cell,(or 26650) reduced amps draw, a 2700K or 4000K tint High CRI LED, built in USB charging, and small enough to back pack. Th only issue is it would be nice to find a host that has built in USB charging. I know of some 26650 lights that have built in USB charging, but cost a bit more than i can buy atm to sacrifice if for another lantern project.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I’m in!
It sounds like it will be another awesome design!
Can you just make a lantern head that would screw onto an existing flashlight body?
When I'm spending ₼on€¥ foolishly, I like to do it ₩i$el¥...
I have all the flashlights I need, but not as many as I want...
You mean something like this? http://budgetlightforum.com/node/70175
Btw. I have work on it in progress with better build quality and magnetically attachable shade. Most of it done, but not published yet.
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That’s even simpler than what I was thinking…I was thinking of a head with LED’s in it…but your idea seems less involved and more universal.
When I'm spending ₼on€¥ foolishly, I like to do it ₩i$el¥...
I have all the flashlights I need, but not as many as I want...
Yes please! 21700 would be great, not too large but capable of 5000mah.
Sounds great to me!
Sounds like a very good idea.
You need to start a interest list to show how many light someone like Sofrin could sell
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In my 18650 lantern mod I used a Philips bulb optic to spread the light coming from the underside. A similar optic could be used for this micro-lantern.
http://budgetlightforum.com/comment/1576561#comment-1576561
link to djozz tests
I have always wanted to have a real flashlight similar to the fw3a that was also a very good lantern at the same time, without having to reconfigure it. Like putting leds and a diffuser in the smaller diameter part of the handle that would radiate light either in 180 or 360 degrees depending in what you need at the time. Like for working under the hood of a car, or as area camp lighting.
That way you dont have to carry both a flashlight and a lantern.
I know there are flashlights like this, but not ones that are well done like your lt1 is.
I’m interested in your concept!
I’m so in.
If this is the spot where we opt in for one then I`m in.
***Rofis MR70*TurnRaise*Catapult V6*BLF Q8*BLF Mini*BLF Micro*Haikelite MT09R* Convoy C8*BLF D80v2 SST40*MatemincoX6S*AstroluxFT03-xhp50.2*AstroluxFT03-sst40*BLF-LT1*AstroluxFT03S-SBT90.2***
Looks like it could work
That one is definitely a good candidate for a LT1 Micro base start point. Though with the tint ramping option that would increase cost like it did with the full-size LT1.
I was thinking of a single tint/single LED micro lantern with a good price point range of between 25 to 35 usd. (though a deluxe model could be designed to use that tint ramp option at a price range of 38 to 45 usd as that IF25 retails for now.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
Yes I do. It is more of a show of support to DBSAR
Pick an existing flashlight, make some lamp head that screws on in place of the bezel…viola’!
Or is that stupid?
Just thinking with my “easy” hat on…
Dual purpose…flashlight for looking around, lantern for sitting around…
Fancy is fun, but when I backpack/camp…I only need just ANY light for night chores/going to the bathroom.
When I'm spending ₼on€¥ foolishly, I like to do it ₩i$el¥...
I have all the flashlights I need, but not as many as I want...
In for 2 of whatever it becomes.
The difference between Hoarding and Collecting is the illusion of Organization
.
.“I will get one of flashlight from patrol car”
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sometimes rhymes,” Mark Twain
…
After the Apocalypse there will be only 2 things left alive, Cockroaches and Keith Richards
I AM 100% IN for at least a few of these after following the LT1 project!
I have been thinking about ideas for a mini/micro as well as the LT2 version, but didn’t bring it up as I didn’t want to distract from the LT1 before it went live. So, I guess, this is the start of the micro!
I’ve been thinking on and toying with the same idea. I wanted something smaller than the LT1 and that could allow me to use a commonly available flashlight or something I already own to add versatility. Anything that would work with my favorite flashlight would be dual purpose and therefore increase the usability and value of mine or any current “favorite” flashlight. This would also save space and weight in a backpack if it would still function as a regular flashlight AND a well made lantern.
If the micro was planning to have an exclusive “lantern” UI and physical body hardware then the value of a standalone unit could outweigh the convenience of being able to use something already available and simply adding a well designed diffuser. It would have to offer a notable upgrade in UI and features not already currently available in an easily accessible flashlight. My thoughts were that a mini or micro unit may not need to be as feature rich as the LT1 or 2 therefore having more of a focus on the diffuser or reflector than the actual flashlight and UI itself.
A universal mount with a very pliable sealing/silicone ring or more firm adapters that could mount to different diameter heads to work with almost any flashlight might be widely appealing. With the focus on the diffuser and not so much the light body, it could have a more elaborate mounting and hanging option with variable reflecting/blocking shades and more.
A larger diameter cell flashlight (21700/26650) might be preferable to gain a larger base vs height center of gravity or a universal base platform might cover all diameters and add broader customer appeal. A base with a reducing diameter cone in the center could allow almost any diameter flashlight to be inserted at almost any angle to offer not only multiple diameter flashlight options, but also variable angles so light could be aimed almost any direction.
I wonder if something like a FW3A with the right diffuser and a reflective cone inside would do a good job. The purpose of the cone is to block light from going straight up, and direct the light out the sides. For backpacking, weight is king, and the FW3A is a fairly light host that contains Anduril for an 18650 cell.
That said I’ll be interested to follow this project.
PocketSammich wrote: I don’t need this, but I want it. Please sign me up.
I been working on designing & testing a shade/globe design that does seem to work really good with a single LED that fires up in a small diameter shade, to allow as much light to shine downwards and 360 degrees without the up-firing eye-glare & lack of down light syndrome found in most up-firing lanterns, also this design has nearly no artifacts like the LT1.
The idea behind the LT1-Micro is to build a a small, slim lantern based with some of the features of the LT1, but simpler and lower costing, and small enough to pocket or sleeve in a backpack for backpacking, mountaineering, and camping trips where space & weight is a concern, but still have a lantern that can recharge off-grid via solar charger or power bank when on trips, have great run-times, great modes, (same as the Andruil in the LT1 full size lantern, a nice warm single-tint high CRI light, but with a dual ability (table lantern & hanging area light bulb)
I have built and modded many small, pocket sized lanterns for quite awhile, (video of those coming soon) but to have a consumer marketable micro-LT1 (and later possibly a mine mid-sized LT1) for those wanting a tiny lantern version of the BLF LT1 for backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, and any purpose a small, pocket sized version would be a benefit. While the current LT1 beats any other full size (and bigger) consumer lanterns on the market, there is still a lack of a small pint-sized lantern on the mareket too, and this LT1-Micro version can fill that gap.
That Canadian flashlight guy & Lantern Guru -Den / DBSARlight
I have used a variant of this camp lantern for about 12 years now.
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/headlamps-and-lanterns/voyage...
It has high function, is utterly dependable, easy to use, and goes for about a week the way I use it, on a set of 4 AA batteries. What it lacks is rechargeability, and use of lithiums. I’ve not tried sinking it in a pan of water. Notwithstanding, I would buy a BLF version just cuz, though being metal (?), it would probably weigh twice as much.
Looking forward to the video.
Also thinking plastic should be considered due weight considerations, and also cost. Assuming reasonable durability, but the lighter it is the less force acting on it to cause damage.
PocketSammich wrote: I don’t need this, but I want it. Please sign me up.
Sounds interesting. Is there an interest list yet?
عُمَانْ
I’m 4054 on the group buy list…when will I get my code?
When I'm spending ₼on€¥ foolishly, I like to do it ₩i$el¥...
I have all the flashlights I need, but not as many as I want...
I’ll absolutely pick up 2-3 if it gets made.
Not stupid at all.
Review: Solarforce Lantern Converter
I never got around to grabbing a Solarforce LT-1 but I do have the similar one from the T4 kit.
I'm very interested...
A BLF LT1-Micro sounds great!
By the way, I would much prefer a 21700 host to a 26650 host.
How to Post Images on BLF // Many knives for sale (USA only)
How to move a thread // raccoon's light reviews
I’m interested. Also agree that 21700 is the way to go
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