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

sbslider · 2019-11-28T01:24:53.000Z

leftdisconnected:

If I’ve given bad advice or said something incorrect or misleading here, please correct me and I will edit the post accordingly.

sounds like good advice, thanks for taking the time to post this. Of course, Sofirn is the final authority here.

cm02WS6 · 2019-11-28T01:41:36.000Z

I’m interested if anyone drops out if the GB list. The LT1 looks great!

alternety · 2019-11-28T01:42:36.000Z

A lets not debate the tops of cells perspective.

From the beginning, I believe buyers were told that flat top batteries will not work reliably. Or at all for many cells.

The horror that has spread “requiring” users to throw away the “faulty” (no nipple) cells. I would think there are a lot of users that have the specified cells for the Q8 and LT1 designs (i.e., not flat on top). They are following instructions.

One should harken back to the Q8. You know, that big round black thing (pending possibilities of colored shells) that holds up the lantern. And the electrical paths. And the cells. Which all seem to work pretty well. The power interfaces are essentially identical.

I believe (not going back and re-reading everything) that from the beginning early design of the Q8 project and through the LT1 project, we have repeatedly told potential buyers about not using flat top Li cells. A lot. The reason is quite clear; and outside the design. These cells are neither hugely expensive (they are regular old common cells) and not difficult to find from vendors that add the button and maybe the safety fuse in the cell. Laptop cells are also popular, but likely weak. There are probably more flat tops on the market than any other form; but they are only a step away from solder bumps or vendor posts.

Could we all quit bitching about the tops of cells, start following the design specifications, and move on. I see no reason for supporting some way to make flat top cells work (except in a few cells claiming to mostly be OK). The only responsibility of the team and other members, it to tell the non-button people that the specified battery requirement was included in two very significant builds. It is their problem to work around using the wrong cells; and not a design problem.

The designs are good; and safe.

One short addition: the cell wrappers for sale. I would not generally contest someone helping and maybe picking up a few bucks in the process. But I have a real concern about people (not just muggles) being confused by the wrappers and alternating the direction of the cells. I would not put them on my eventually available cells. Alternating battery orientation is a common thing with batteries. I would not trust my possible users with cells with those markings.

dekozn · 2019-11-28T02:20:17.000Z

So wjat happen with ordering from eBay?

MtnDon · 2019-11-28T02:33:31.000Z

dekozn:

So wjat happen with ordering from eBay?

The eBay option method was originally to make an offer on the lantern using the GB price and placing your BLF user ID in a note. Maybe include the code you received as well. Then Sofirn should adjust the price, you pay and then they ship. But I can’t find the LT1 on eBay at present. Send Sofirn a PM and ask what to do.

sbslider · 2019-11-28T04:45:14.000Z

A note to users of the LT1 that want maximum run time - use the lantern either on full WW or NW. Tint mixes increase the current draw by about 15-20% over either end of the tint range. I’ve not tried to characterize this, I just noted some observations in this post.

fluke · 2019-11-28T04:55:42.000Z

korkfoto:

Received code for amazon.de On the interested list, I opted for variant without batteries. But on Amazon.de there is only one vendor (77outdoor) that sells the LT1 and the only option is WITH batteries. And the code doesn’t work. Maybe this is a sign that I should wait the USB-C fix?

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07YS6W4CJ

LT1 Mit Akku = LT1 With Cells

LT1 Ohne Akku - LT1 Without Cells

Both options are still there 05.00 GMT

Sofirn · 2019-11-28T05:54:27.000Z

dekozn:

So wjat happen with ordering from eBay?

Hi, would you mind ordering one piece this time? You can buy the other lantern when it’s available to purchase multiple units one time.

Sofirn · 2019-11-28T06:06:45.000Z

DBSAR:

pooptoast:

I too would like to know if the colored varients will be included in the group buy. Would Sofirn be able to comment on this? I’m signed up for two of them and would prefer to wait for a colored version (fingers crossed - orange!) to purchase my second.

We are hoping that will be. :+1:

Colored version need to wait. available time is not confirmed yet. sofirn is waiting for the anodizing factory’s reply.

DBSAR · 2019-11-28T06:16:17.000Z

Sofirn:

Colored version need to wait. available time is not confirmed yet. sofirn is waiting for the anodizing factory’s reply.

Thanks for the update!

puglife2 · 2019-11-28T08:00:52.000Z

can i use my code for a green lantern when it will be available ?

Julez · 2019-11-28T12:49:00.000Z

Hi, could someone tell me what the trimmer on the back of the board actually does? Thanks!

Edit: Apparently nothing, as some people removed it without effects.
Nevermind.

maxacarp · 2019-11-28T15:15:00.000Z

Sofirn:

DBSAR:

pooptoast:

I too would like to know if the colored varients will be included in the group buy. Would Sofirn be able to comment on this? I’m signed up for two of them and would prefer to wait for a colored version (fingers crossed - orange!) to purchase my second.

We are hoping that will be. :+1:

Colored version need to wait. available time is not confirmed yet. sofirn is waiting for the anodizing factory’s reply.

And will Batch 3 (with the USB C function) be included in the group buy? Thanks!

Hell2Pay · 2019-11-28T21:19:52.000Z

Code received in PM from Sofirn on Nov 26th … Code entered on Amazon US site for LT1 lantern without batteries, quantity one, … on the Amazon checkout page … ‘the code that you entered is not valid’.

I have used cut and paste directly from the PM and also tried manually typing the code. I matched case (upper) or not (lower), and included the dashes or not. Nothing works.

Pattern of the supplied code is AAAA-AA9AAA-AAAAAA … Alpha’s, dashes, and Numerics only.

This is my first LT1 order and I’m not attempting to buy multiple items with repeated orders either. I won’t complete the order until I can apply a code to lower the price.

Sofirn has been informed by PM and I have asked that they look into this situation further.

Anyone have an idea about what I’m missing? …. Is anyone else having a problem with the first supplied code?

Julez · 2019-11-28T21:26:56.000Z

My code worked flawlessly, but I know of another German who had to get in contact with sofirn to sort something out.
I guess that they are very busy right now, and they will sort everything out eventually, but maybe not within seconds.
So I guess everyone having problems should clear that out with sofirn via PM.
Maybe we should have another thread for order-related issues, and keep this one to discuss technology?

DBSAR · 2019-11-28T22:14:53.000Z

Julez:

My code worked flawlessly, but I know of another German who had to get in contact with sofirn to sort something out.
I guess that they are very busy right now, and they will sort everything out eventually, but maybe not within seconds.
So I guess everyone having problems should clear that out with sofirn via PM.
Maybe we should have another thread for order-related issues, and keep this one to discuss technology?

This other LT1 purchase topic could be a place for for those maybe: BLF Lantern Purchase/Followup Information - Group Buy list is Closed!!!!

Sofirn · 2019-11-29T03:59:39.000Z

puglife2:

can i use my code for a green lantern when it will be available ?

The code sent to you this time just works for black one. Collored version needs new code.

gravelmonkey · 2019-11-29T15:49:06.000Z

Had my LT1 for a few weeks now, it’s a great lantern. I was 303 on the list, mine had the bridged and badly wiped solder bridges, so I soldered all of them.

I’ve looked but can’t find the answers to the following questions:

1) Is the temp sensor on the main driver board or the LED mpcb? With all bridges soldered, the top gets fairly warm on the highest level.

I’m just wondering how reliable the thermal protection is, I know I’m running this hard on the highest possible mode so it’ll generate some heat.

2) I’ve had rare instances of strobing when tightening the battery tube after replacing cells or mechanical lockout, it looks quite cool white- similar to the confirmation flash but obviously repeated at (guessing) 8 hz. Button unresponsive while in mystery strobe mode.

I’ve recently cleaned the +’ve contact and not had any repeated strobing since, but as it was a rare problem, are there any other things I can try if the issue re-occurs?

3) This is my first true Andúril lightso I have nothing to compare to- is it normal for the Sunset mode to progressively step down or is it supposed to be a gradual ramp?

I find the sudden steps a bit distracting.

On a slightly (un-)related note to sunset mode, I picked up some cheap 2xAA fairy lights the other day with a “6hr on-18hr off, repeat” mode so that they come on and switch off automatically.

I’d probably use a similar mode on the LT1, especially with user configured brightness and a sunset ramp at the end of the “on” period.

I’d also love to see a tint ramping sunset (Bright, neutral white ramping down to dim and warm) followed by 8 hours of standby and a sunrise ramp.

Going to have to start to learn to code at this rate

MtnDon · 2019-11-29T16:02:04.000Z

No temperature sensing as I understand it. The sensor is on the mcu so temp sensing would involve having a separate sensor on the led mcpcb

sbslider · 2019-11-29T18:01:02.000Z

gravelmonkey:

Is the temp sensor on the main driver board or the LED mpcb? With all bridges soldered, the top gets fairly warm on the highest level.

I’m just wondering how reliable the thermal protection is, I know I’m running this hard on the highest possible mode so it’ll generate some heat.

Mtn. Don answered this one.

gravelmonkey:

I’ve had rare instances of strobing when tightening the battery tube after replacing cells or mechanical lockout, it looks quite cool white- similar to the confirmation flash but obviously repeated at (guessing) 8 hz. Button unresponsive while in mystery strobe mode.

I’ve recently cleaned the +’ve contact and not had any repeated strobing since, but as it was a rare problem, are there any other things I can try if the issue re-occurs?

ToyKeeper provided me a trial version of firmware to test that was attempting to fix a problem where short button presses were occasionally being missed. This version had strobing issues that could only be stopped by removing power. I never saw the strobing with the original build of the firmware sent out with the LT1, or any of my other Anduril lights. Wondering if the strobing just stops, or do you need to remove power to get the strobing to stop? For me power needed to be removed. Keep notes if you continue to see the problem and perhaps ToyKeeper will add looking into that to her “list”.

gravelmonkey:

This is my first true Andúril light so I have nothing to compare to- is it normal for the Sunset mode to progressively step down or is it supposed to be a gradual ramp?

I find the sudden steps a bit distracting.

Yes, this is how sunset works. I don’t know what step size the firmware uses, but in reality there are 150 steps from min to max. It seems like there could be smooth steps down for sunset, but I know the Attiny85 is very full, and perhaps implementing such a smoother step down function won’t fit, or has not made it to the top of the priority list yet.

gravelmonkey:

On a slightly (un-)related note to sunset mode, I picked up some cheap 2xAA fairy lights the other day with a “6hr on-18hr off, repeat” mode so that they come on and switch off automatically.

I’d probably use a similar mode on the LT1, especially with user configured brightness and a sunset ramp at the end of the “on” period.

I’d also love to see a tint ramping sunset (Bright, neutral white ramping down to dim and warm) followed by 8 hours of standby and a sunrise ramp.

Going to have to start to learn to code at this rate

I also would like such modes, but I know the time keeper in the Attiny85 is not terribly accurate, and counting something like 8 hours would likely be pretty variable from unit to unit, at least that’s the way I understand it based on my recollection of hearing ToyKeeper discuss the Attiny85.