mini-LT Prototype

Here are some comments/impressions of the mini-LT prototype that I just received. Unfortunately I have neither the ability or equipment to conduct a high level technical review so you get what you get.

Keep in mind that this is a prototype and what is sold may be different.

The mini came in a plain cardboard box with a 5000mAh flat-top battery, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and a lanyard. There were no instructions but this is to be expected from a prototype.

Physical dimensions:

- height: 6” (152mm)

- widest part of the head: 1.7” (45mm)

  • widest part of the tail: 1.23” (31mm)

Here is a picture of what came in the package and a size comparison of the mini against common lights.

Software is Anduril. I didn’t bother to try out all the functions given that it’s a common UI. However I did notice that on the battery check the mini only flashed once. This is different from the other lights I have running Anduril and I’m not sure if something has changed from those that I have.

The switch light is orange and can be configured in the normal manner.

Charging rate is .75A or 1.5A depending upon the power source current. During charging the switch flashes blue and and turns to a solid blue when done or disconnected from the power source. After 30 seconds the standard switch color returns.

Immediately after charging I measured the battery at 4.16v on my DMM.

The mini can also be used as a power source if you have a USB-C to USB-C cable. The switch flashes blue when used this way and returns to the standard color 30 seconds after disconnection.

Battery: the mini is designed for a 21700 battery and came with a flat-top cell. There are dual springs in the head and tail cap so a longer battery can be used. I added a small magnet to the base of the battery giving it a length of 75mm and I was able to screw the tail cap down without any undue effort and the light still operated normally.

An 18650 battery works fine in the light. The dual springs hold the battery well enough that no amount of shaking made the light turn off. There was a slight rattle but only when the light was shaken hard.

Other comments:

- I measure 1A and .02A at the tail cap on maximum and minimum brightest, respectively

- no tripod mount

- functions when charging

- functions when plugged into a power source with only the head attached

- battery tube is reversible and the mini works with the tube reversed. The tail end has a tiny battery symbol and lines up with the switch just in case that’s important to you

- square cut threads

- there is a shallow grove in the bezel of the mini. It’s not deep enough for an o-ring which is unfortunate since I’d like to glue one in there if possible.

- the hook on top of the bezel does not line up exactly with the switch being a fraction off

  • I don’t see any physical flaws on machining marks on the mini

I don’t have the ability to measure brightness so I did some visual comparisons against one of my BLT LT’s without the solder bridge.

Visually the LT is brighter than the mini but not by a significant amount on high. If I had to guess I would say that it’s about 25% brighter. This seems reasonable given that using an app on my phone I measured the lx to be 345 vs 225.

The low on the mini is noticeably higher than the low on the LT. Edit this because I forgot that the floor can be set through the UI.

Pictures: Note that I was using my cell phone so I don’t know if any corrections were done by it.




Final comment - I like the mini given its much smaller size and weight as compared to the LT. It’s bright enough but the low could be lower in my opinion. With the 21700 battery provided I would expect the mini to last a full weekend when camping given that it’s unlikely to be on all night or used at full brightness during that time.

ADDED 3/12/22 - I believe that the version number is ’2021 08 28’ but here is a LINK to the flashes when I tried to determine the version. I’ll correct this if I’m wrong.

Thanks for the quick review. I got 2 LT1 and love it. Will probably get an mini-LT1 when it goes into regular production.

Lux used to not be a concern for me but now that I am getting older, the brighter the better. I come from a background of bright and long lasting Coleman gas lanterns. Still have a bunch of Coleman lanterns and use them frequently.

Thanks for the critique with pictures and for yours and others continuing efforts on this project.

My guess is that the mini-LT is using Anduril-2 which defaults to "Simple UI" where the battery check only reports once unlike while in "Advanced UI" where it continuously repeats.

Could you please let us know what the "15 Clicks while OFF" Version Check reports?

The "Version Check" for the newest version of Anduril-2 that I have seen from Sofirn reports "2021 06 06 0612", indicating a "June 6, 2021" version and a "0612" model number.

The ramp floor brightness usually defaults to "20/150" in the Anduril-2 "Simple UI" unlike in the "Advanced UI" where it usually defaults to "1/150", but the defaults can be configured to any value you prefer for either UI mode.

Crud…I forgot about the ability to set the floor :person_facepalming: . I blame it on turning 70 a few months ago :rage:

Not having a more recent Anduril light, and no manual, I’ll forgive myself for not checking the version hahah. But if I’m reading it correctly I’m getting ‘2021 08 28’ but I freely admit that I could be wrong :slight_smile:

Here is a LINK to a mp4 of the flashes in case anyone can interpret it better than me.

I love these Sofirn lanterns. I have 3 of them. I was debating getting a couple of these minis or the LT1s. The lt1s seems more stable than this mini with 21700. I wish you had both to compare. But thanks for the quick update and review.

I’m digging it, I await the final release.
Maybe someone will 3d print a cool base for this one as will, and I can embed a magnet in it

Welcome to the ranks of the "Chronologically Gifted" elders.

Thanks for the Version Check mp4 video. I'm seeing and counting out "2021 08 29 0621" but I can't tell for sure if the "day field" is actually "29" or "28".

Model Number "0621" appears in ToyKeeper's "Model File" as being a "blf-lantern" using the "attiny85" microcontroller:

http://toykeeper.net/torches/fsm/anduril2/MODELS

I do not see Anduril version "2021 08 29" in ToyKeeper's Repository:

http://toykeeper.net/torches/fsm/anduril2/

I'm also wondering why the evaluation prototype is not using one of the more recent versions of Anduril-2. The closest version dates to "2021 08 29" in the Repository are:

anduril.2021-07-11.blf-lantern.hex
anduril.2021-08-31.blf-lantern.hex
anduril.2021-10-25.blf-lantern.hex
anduril.2021-11-03.blf-lantern.hex
anduril.2021-12-13.blf-lantern.hex

Not sure why a later version isn’t being used so I’ll ask Barry why that is and will post a reply if he can answer that.

Thanks for your impressions!

Anything at the top that reflects some of that light downward?

The top has a reflective surface.

Do I spot 6 programming pads on the driver PCB? Photo is a bit too small to see clearly.

Nice to see a size comparison. Makes it easier to imagine the actual size.

There are 8 pads, directly mapped to the 8 pins of the ATtiny85. Not compatible with common pogo pin adapters.

Arg I can’t even count to 8 :person_facepalming: Interesting approach though to expose all 8 pins, instead of just ones needed for programming.

Not having an Anduril 2 flashlight I didn’t realize how different it is from V1 so some of my comments were wrong because of that. Oh well…sometimes it’s actually good to have (and read) manuals :partying_face:

Great review Sig! :+1: :+1:
Your detailed review will help me with the test review i will do once i receive the test sample from Sofirn.

Hopefully you’ll get it soon!

I didn’t realize that v2 of the UI was so different from all the v1 lights that I have. I wouldn’t have made so many errors in my remarks if I had known. Not that I usually read manuals but in this case it would have been a good thing to have on-hand :person_facepalming:

I guess I need to up my flashlight buys so that I’m current with all the UI’s :smiley:

I got my test sample today! and will be giving it a beating of a testing over the next week. Your review covered so much already, so I’m focusing on comparing it to the LT1-mini prototype i originally built based off the Sofirn IF25 & refined to become the mini version of the LT1.

I’d be happy to design a base with/without magnets when I get my Mini. I’m also happy to print and ship them to anyone interested at cost.

Nice. I bought my LT1 base off one of those 3D print sites