Suggestion for the BLT1 mini. After using the BLT1 for a while now, I found that the USB C connection is too narrow (the aluminum space is very narrow) therefore most usb cables cannot fit in, which results, IMO, in a very limited ability to actually use the BLT1 as a powder bank. I don’t know what is going to be the design for the BLT 1 mini but I suggest making the USB slot wide enough to accommodate any cable size.
That’s unlikely to change unless Sofirn adds a third, new port cover design to their parts bin. The LT1, LT1S and SP33S employ the larger, flatter cover, and the rest of the models the smaller one with more rounded contour.
They determine the dimensions of the port aperture in the designs, so if it is to be made larger, so would the cover. An alternative might be to change the orientation of the port within the existing dimensions of the cavity, but that would also entail changes to the internal driver components.
I see the issue. Maybe a simple solution is to provide with the lantern a USB C to USB female cable that fits the port. That way you can connect any regular USB cable to use with the device. Just a thought (I believe most people will be willing to pay extra couple of bucks for such a cable to effectively use the lantern as a power bank when need be).
It’s a shame that the designers didn’t consult, or seemingly, take into account the USB-C spec when they drafted the dimensions of the ports, at least for the larger one.
It specifies a maximum 12.35mm width / 6.5mm height for cable overmold dimensions.
I measure ~12mm width on my LT1, so a minor increase could have accommodated any spec-compliant cable, at least in theory.
But, there are no doubt plenty of cables that aren’t compliant, and the flashlight makers themselves have done a notably poor job of properly implementing USB-C ports on their products, by ignoring the need for termination pull-up resistors to identify their C-connections as downstream ports. Or, a battery charger maker employing a non-compliant proprietary power protocol on their products with USB-C power inputs, and not the standard protocol synonymous with the spec.
However, Sofirn does deserve credit for doing a better than average job with the covers, which aren’t as fussy, or flimsy as some out there, just a bit too small.
I wouldn’t go that far to say a shame. As you said, it’s a good product, I enjoy it very much and will buy it again for sure. Just trying to see if there is a way to improve it. I truly think providing a cable (something like the one that comes with the ThruNite TS2) will solve the problem.
Please add me to the list for one, thanks!
Welcome to BLF. I added you and your name will show up on the updated lists sometime this Sunday.
Interested in one
Additions to the interest list since post number 1317
Post# / Added / User Name
1319 / 01/17/2022 / Cliwilnew
1319 / 01/17/2022 / Cliwilnew
1321 / 01/17/2022 / Ramsidi
1321 / 01/17/2022 / Ramsidi
1321 / 01/17/2022 / Ramsidi
1322 / 01/17/2022 / bulbed
1322 / 01/17/2022 / bulbed
1324 / 01/18/2022 / strayz
1324 / 01/18/2022 / strayz
1330 / 01/20/2022 / NightBrightguy
1332 / 01/20/2022 / cbell
Interested, please add me to the list
Looks like a few weeks wait for Chinese New Year I guess, then hopefully some prototypres?
I’m interested in one.
Thanks SIGShooter !
Hi, Please sign me up for one as well!
TIA,
Ged
Additions to the interest list since post number 1332
Post# / Added / User Name
1334 / 02/04/2022 / Lord_Polymath
1336 / 02/04/2022 / Auxilshunter
1337 / 02/04/2022 / Ged
Two years yesterday from concept to almost ready?
We’re waiting on Barry to get prototypes out for testing. They were supposed to be ready around the end of 2021 so hopefully they’ll be sent out soon.
I will take one, a quick search shows I never signed up which is shocking since I have been following this one for a while.
Please add me to the list for one.
Additions to the interest list since post number 1337
Post# / Added / User Name
1342 / 02/06/2022 / liquidretro
1343 / 02/11/2022 / turkishsteve