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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
I will, sooner or later Ordered one last Friday.
BTW, I also asked Sofirn some technical questions prior to making the purchase. Which they answered quite promptly:
Is it possible to use the power-bank function while the lantern is lit? >> yes
Is it possible to charge the lantern, while it is lit? >> yes
Is it possible to operate the lantern directly from an external (Type-C) power source, while no batteries are installed? >> yes
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” ) I guess I’ll have to wait and see.
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
Has anyone asked Sofirn if they are willing to provide the new driver board, with power bank function, for someone who already has the LT1, to replace the old one?