** BLF LT1M-Mini Project - The little Lantern! ( PM's sent today June 21, 2022)**

Interested in one.

I am interested too!

Please add me to the interested list.

Interested.

You do realize that you already put in for 5 in post 242?

In his defence this has been dragging out almost 2 years….

Yes, it has been a long time since the mini project was started due to Covid and other issues. But I’m confident that we’re close to wrapping things up. Sorfin has shipped out some prototypes which have arrived at the destination countries. Hopefully they’ll clear customs so that actual testing/feedback can be done.

Looks great! Please add me to the interest list.

It is not easy, DBSAR doing an amazing job keeping this project on track!

Has it been 2 years? Man time flies. Hopefully at some point I put in my interest. If not………I’m interested.

Honestly didn’t realise. I tought i held of the boat lol. So Scratch that last one

Interested in 3 please

Mine arrived just today! Wasn't expecting it. Guess I'm on the team?

Woohoo!

Quick impression of the mini-LT prototype

After the Manu game

Interested in 2.

Additions to the interest list since post number 1387

Post# / Added / User Name
1390 / 03/08/2022 / VikingTraveler
1391 / 03/08/2022 / allan d
1392 / 03/08/2022 / Mandrake50
1393 / 03/08/2022 / jimahi
1398 / 03/09/2022 / tronx
1400 / 03/10/2022 / HONDARIDER
1402 / 03/12/2022 / shooter52a
1402 / 03/12/2022 / shooter52a
1402 / 03/12/2022 / shooter52a
1407 / 03/12/2022 / xenohedron
1407 / 03/12/2022 / xenohedron

Had me confused at first. It shipped in "Simple" mode which I never use.

So far, the UI seems to match up well with the Sofirn LT1 Lantern A2 UI diagram from here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/65927, but could be slight changes I didn't come across yet.

First impressions

It sure looks awkward for a lantern - too high. Nice they widened the base to help stabilize it but it's still too tippy for a lantern, specially sitting on an unstable surface, which you can expect when camping. Don't know what they could have done better, but saving every possible mm where possible would help. Maybe a flat brass button on the driver instead of a spring - don't need double springs for a lantern - shouldn't be on a bike or gun for example. I get it though - using a high capacity 21700 is important, but I would have been in favor of widening the body and base even further, keeping in mind keeping it light-weight is important too.

I'm probably far from the best to evaluate these attributes though. Unlike the BLF/Sofirn LT1, the LED's are where you would expect them - just above the driver, below the diffuser. A nice touch is they used an OP reflective surface under the top cap - I would think that would lessen the loss of lumens.

I never opened up the top of the BLF LT1, so just tried a few mins ago. Didn't notice the top hex head nut, so used a strap wrench on the top, and that loosened it, so I then tried unthreading the top - boy, what a mistake. Pulled the 3 wires and their pads right off the MCPCB - :FACEPALM: . It's fixable though - just gotta make new pads, re-solder. I see now how totally different that design is from the Mini. The old LT1's MCPCB is on the top - never expected that. Should have researched/read-up on it first.

I'm unfamiliar with the specs on the Mini, but it seems pretty bright at max. Even our new kitten in a lit room had to wince when looking at it on max.

I'll try to take pics, maybe a quick tear down.

Ohh - the diffuser is unscrewable on both the bottom and top, with an o-ring on each end. I'm thinking it's not something that should be done often - don't think that plastic will hold up well. The MCPCB appears to be aluminum, interesting - haven't seen an alum one used in years, but maybe because it's amp limited, though I hope it's DTP aluminum.

I measured 1A on high so I think that aluminum will be fine.