*BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020)

The way the batteries are connected in parallel, there is no way to do any balancing, so definitely no.
Any configuration with an electronic switch will consume battery when off. An indicator or auxiliary LED will add to this. You can turn the LED off in the Anduril configuration if you want and it will reduce the parasitic drain, but not remove it completely. The only way to have absolutely no drain is to unscrew the battery tube a few revolutions. Not just until the button LED goes off, but more, to completely sever the connection of the batteries to the light.

The cells are in parallel so they will naturally self balance. No special considerations are required for balancing while charging.

The switch LED uses very little current (don’t remember exact numbers; it’s been mentioned before). It would take years to drain fully charged cells. If it’s a concern, it can be turned off.

I recall a calculation that the switch led would take 16yrs to drain the battery when set to low.

Now if you haven’t used the lantern in 16yrs…. well then the parasitic drain from the switch led is hardly the main concern.

When I first got my LT1 I unboxed it, tested it playing around for a night then put it away & didn’t use it for a few months. Now I use it every night. Run it without cells off a 30,000nAh Romoss power bank and attach lantern to a light weight collapsible stand.

Looking forward to the mini when its done.

What this CL1 lantern ive seen on facebook?

?link?

Excuse me….with all cells in parallel, there is no way for them to not be balanced. 4 cells put into a carrier where all 4 positives touch the same conductor, and also terminate to the same ground will immediately start balancing. The higher potential cells will start charging those of lower potential until all 4 have equal potential.

Is it supposed to look like this on the board? I hate to come off as rude but it just looks sloppy. Maybe it is normal?

Also, what is the adjustable component with a Philips head for?

The thing on the board is flux residue, it’s from the reflow soldering process and helps the solder flow well by enabling a better heat transfer and it also removes some corrosion from the copper and such. It’s no problem it’s still there but it does indeed look a bit dirty.

I’m pretty sure the adjustable component (potentiometer), in combination with the solder bridge on the left of it, can be used to increase/decrease the glow of the button.

I didn’t mean the flux. The outer ring is missing some material. Also why put solder on half of the “B” stuff like that.

Hmm, I’m pretty sure the solder on the B is excess that came from under the ring… They must have applied a little bit too much solder paste or something. About the ring I don’t really get what you mean unfortunately…

On the bottom right if the picture the layer what looks like gold. It looks like it a piece was scraped off. It was like that when I got it.

The solder thing makes sense, thanks. I feel like that could of been a safety hazard. Glad it didn’t short anything.

Sofirn has a small batch of LT1 with Anduril 2 and powerbank function

https://sofirnlight.com/products/new-version-blf-lt1-lantern-with-anduril-20-power-bank-function

No Green option? :beer: :beer:

Does anyone know if the extra spare parts (additional o-rings, button cap, USB connector cap) are included in the normal (“without-battery”) option? Or only with the “with-battery” option?

My first one was ordered w/o cells and came with the spares you asked about. That was from the first batch but I don’t see any reason that would change as other lights I have purchased w/o cells have included the spares as well.

Does anyone know when sofirn might restock the colours?

Anyone tried the new board with power out?

I will, sooner or later :slight_smile: Ordered one last Friday.
BTW, I also asked Sofirn some technical questions prior to making the purchase. Which they answered quite promptly:

  1. Is it possible to use the power-bank function while the lantern is lit? >> yes
  2. Is it possible to charge the lantern, while it is lit? >> yes
  3. Is it possible to operate the lantern directly from an external (Type-C) power source, while no batteries are installed? >> yes
  4. Is maximum brightness (maximum LED-driving current) achievable in any of the above scenarios? >> yes

If those replies are accurate, it is pretty damn impressive. (Although I admit, I am not sure how I should interpret the answer of “yes” to the 4th question: “yes, in all of them” vs. “yes, in some of them” :smiley: ) I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Amazon has some Prime Day deals on the LT1 in green, brown, and orange.

Price is about $66 with batteries, before tax.

These appear to be the ‘older’ models that don’t have the power bank function.

Do I remember correctly that flat top NCR18650GAs are also suitable for this lantern (i.e. it is not necessary to go for its less common and more expensive button-top counterpart?)
(Because the flat NCR18650GAs also have a slight “bump” at their positive contact.)
Do you know of any reliable sellers with reasonable prices in the EU? Unfortunately NKON.nl don’t seem to have either variant in stock now :frowning: