BLF/Sofirn LT1 A2 Review (Update on the popular BLF Lantern)

[@DBSARlight]

As the designer of the BLF LT1 series, great review! - DBSAR

[@LiquidRetro]

Appreciate it, that means a lot coming from you

[@DBSARlight]

@@LiquidRetro You're welcome! happy to see the LT1 is a success & enjoyed by so many.

[@dogmeat2418]

So I've seen you talking about a new sofirn lantern (lanterns?) that's apparently in the works, any news? I have the original BLF LT1 and have been thinking of getting the lt1s pro, but if a new one is coming in at least a year, I think I can wait. Thanks for any response and these amazing lanterns!

[@Jimmy_The_Goat]

Thank you very much, your lanterns are a life saver for us in Ukraine. Often times BLF LT1 has been the only source of light for me for day on end.

[@3rdeyespy967]

My favorite lantern ever, it's so good, I love how warm the color gets, looks so good at night camping

[@pogartua]

Hello from Ukraine! 🇺🇦 Thank you for the perfect review. I've found answers for all my questions on the difference. I have been a big fan of LT1 since 2019. I now have 4 LT1 and 2 LT1S. LT1 is really the beast for a house or apartment, especially when having outages like we have now in Kyiv.

[@LiquidRetro]

Wow that's a lot of lanterns. I'm glad they are able to keep things lit for you in hard times.

[@pogartua]

@@LiquidRetro I have even more of other good Chinese lamps and dozen of flashlights. 😂

[@LiquidRetro]

I bet they have come in handy the past year for sure.

[@TolySamson]

@@pogartua Hello from Kyiv!🇺🇦 How do you like LT1S so far? Is LT1 better? Have you compared it to Fenix CL26R?

[@pogartua]

@@TolySamson LT1S is the best option for me now.

[@TopDog8762]

I have an original LT1 lantern and love the darn thing. These are welcome changes and I will be getting a A2. Well heck I just ordered one from Sofirn.

[@LiquidRetro]

Glad I could help feed the addiction!

[@TopDog8762]

@@LiquidRetro Thank you Sir. I get power outages too frequently and the LT1 has come in very handy. I have never used the Sofirn cells in it, rather a matched set of Samsung 30Q. Its been a life saver.

[@chickendave9499]

@@TopDog8762 DID you use the flat top unprotected 30q ?

[@TopDog8762]

@@chickendave9499 No Sir, Button top. Samsung INR 18650 30Q, SDI 136, 15A continuous 20A max.

[@gswguy4554]

Where do you get the accessories?

[@Komplexitet]

Thank you! This might be a newbie question, but can you have it lit while charging?

[@LiquidRetro]

Yes but charging will take much longer

[@Komplexitet]

@@LiquidRetro Thank you for replying! :D

[@carl3810]

Where did you get your battery meter? that was awesome

[@LiquidRetro]

I don't remember which one I used here. Amazon has the avhyc ct2 and ct3

[@carl3810]

@@LiquidRetro ty

[@avgrim7729]

I got 2 of these off Ali Express $52 with batteries. Well the 2nd one was a few bucks more because it was black I guess. The green one was $52.

[@LiquidRetro]

Sounds like a good deal

[@mackenziestone3338]

Great review mate, in regards to relative output and runtimes between the two; if both lights were running at the same lumen output (if the new A2 was to be smooth ramped to a similar level as the old model) would they have the same runtimes? Or does having all 7 drivers activated increase current draw even at the same lumen output? Cheers :)

[@LiquidRetro]

If I understand your question correctly I believe that it would draw slightly more power. Just an educated guess though

[@mackenziestone3338]

Thought so, thanks for the reply!

[@SolarPunk80]

I finally pulled the trigger and love it! Thanks for your channel and this review, my only mild bummer, I hope I am wrong, since I actually got the LT1s first, is that I can’t figure out, or actually, it seems like it might not have a way of doing the directional thing to not be blinded… ?

[@LiquidRetro]

The straight LT1 doesn't have that feature. Only. The LT1S

[@SolarPunk80]

@@LiquidRetro thank you so much for responding, forgive me for taking advantage but I definitely had a mother question about the LT1 (A2….) How the heck does one turn it off besides slightly unscrewing it?! The closest I can come to fully turning it off is 4 clicks and the button is still lit or the lantern is moonlit but to actually turn it completely off I’m stumped! Lol

[@LiquidRetro]

@gutterlightmuseum9467 I can't tell you off the top of my head but search for the Andruil 2 diagram for the LT1 and there is a way to turn the button led off if that's what you are looking for. Unscrew also works and should be just a 1/8 turn.

[@SolarPunk80]

@@LiquidRetro thanks again brother 🙏😉

[@chickendave9499]

I had bought a bunch of these and just saw your title "sofirn lt1 A2" and thought darn it I just missed an updated version by a few months but after watching it appears to be the same ones I bought 5 months ago. Phew! I also got different coloured switch buttons, some are green & some are amber but all have the new drivers & anduril 2. Do you know if there's any other difference?

[@LiquidRetro]

Sounds like it's the same. Especially if they have the powerbank feature. You can tell by what the circuit board looks like when you see it

[@benwilkinson45]

Fantastic review. Thank you!

[@StevenYoungcaptual]

Mine IS an A2. But my switch light is Amber, not green? Do you know why?

[@LiquidRetro]

Not sure supply chain?

[@samuelc4970]

Good review. Though there is one thing I couldn't find and I've noticed a lot of flashlight/lantern reviews seem to miss. Lights like these usually sit in a drawer or cupboard until they are needed. How has your experience been with these sofirn lights holding a charge while in storage?

[@LiquidRetro]

Very good I mechanically lock it out so there is no discharge from the light itself

[@grahamcairns2249]

I'm 1 year late to the party here😂😂 I checked your link for the magnet, which totally interested me, but the links didn't work. Do you have any updated links?

[@automatic91]

Hello! Got a question. Can the red mode be dimmed?

[@LiquidRetro]

The LT1 doesn't have a red mode that I can remember. The LT1S does.

[@alexthenotgreat]

Does it charge the batteries whilst in use, and plugged in? I noticed it doesn’t work without batteries (although flashes ) shame it can’t be powered USB on lower levels even

[@LiquidRetro]

Mine will run without batteries but not all the brightness is available. It will charge while in use as I mentioned in the video but depending on the amount of light you have set it may not break even. I ran mine for over 24 hours plugged in with batteries and they were not yet completely full

[@alexthenotgreat]

@@LiquidRetro thanks. mine won’t turn on when it’s without batteries

[@Bill1844]

Great review! Where did you get the 1/4 20 magnet?

[@LiquidRetro]

Ebay I think. I'll try to find a link and post it later tonight I intended to but forgot

[@gswguy4554]

I just received it…. Already not liking it…I’m not an electrical engineer and the diagrams looks like a foreign language…. Got it for when power goes out… not for camping…accidentally pulled the rubber tab out now it’s impossible to get back in 👎🏻…..? Has a goofy cord??wondering how to charge it? I hope the stream light is less complicated??

[@LiquidRetro]

The diagram looks daunting at first but it's not too bad once you spend some time with it and you don't have to use 90% of it if you don't want to. The tab is user error, the charging port is under it. The streamlight will be cool white, low cri. The LT1S might be a better choice for you.

[@gswguy4554]

Thanks for the quick response…. First time using these lamps so I don’t know anything about…. Just ordered the adapters so I can charge it and possibly charge my phone…. Spent 2 days in the dark with no power in CA …. Don’t want to go through that again my neighbor had a Colman camping lantern… I made a priority to get a few of these…. Now I have to figure out how to use them? Not exactly a gadget nerd so it will be a new experience… Thanks.👍

[@pcer9973]

Question hope someone can help. The orange light on the power button stays on constantly. Anyway, to turn it off? The light is off and the glow stays on just curious.

[@MysteriousMarsupial]

Sounds complicated