FREEME ✌ ASTROLUX FT03S SFH55 9300lm & FT03 SFT40 2200lm 1300m NarsilM v1.3 USB-C - ALIVE

Thanks for the instruction manual. I changed the ramping to mode sets. But I don’t like that ui so I changed it back. It’s like having a forward clicky but with a side switch. Kinda funny to have to click each time to change modes. And you can’t change modes after the first initial couple seconds.

You actually can change modes after it gets locked in. You can press and hold the button which changes the brightness level as well as unlocks things. Say you have it set to 6 total brightness levels and your on level 3, but you want to bump it up to level 4. You press and hold which drops you to level 2 and then you click normally to 3 and 4. It’s a bit convoluted.

I definitely prefer ramping mode myself.

Mode set operation in Narsil are based on the "Werner UI", which many preferred at the time.

I have issues with my light - at first, I thought it was a thermal thing and I changed the settings.
Now it seems it rather step down due to low voltage.
If I insert a 26650 Shockli at ~4.05V it will step down in brightnes from max after 8s and then step down 3 more times each ~23 seconds.
With a 18650 VTC6 at ~4.15V, it also steps down after 8s and continue going down.
The flashlight is useless like this.

BG wants to give me like 1000 points - can’t use it on already discounted items so sort of useless to me.

Any advice?

Have you pulled the MCPCB and checked that it’s smooth on the bottom? Wonder if there’s poor thermal transfer and it’s just throwing a fit.

With all the mechanical sounds it made the first times I was sure it was purely a thermal thing. But I can’t even run a “medium” setting on 4V - it drops down.
With a 26650 fresh of the charger I get minutes at max at least.

It would not be due to poor thermal transfer as the driver has the heat sensor. If no heat gets to the driver, it thinks it’s running cool.

It sounds like electrical resistance. Let’s say you have dirty or oxidized threads between the battery tube and head/tail or between the driver and head which is causing a 1 volt drop. Under load the voltage goes even lower which should activate the low voltage protection. This would happen regardless of what battery is used.

What voltage does it blink out when you do a triple click?

I would clean all the threads and the bare aluminum contacts around the battery tube, battery springs, driver, etc…

Also, what changes did you make to the thermal setting? You can also temporarily disable the thermal stepdown just to eliminate that.

I believe thermal step down just drops the output, while LVP blinks 2 or 3 times, then steps down.

Banggood, like most companies, try to settle issues as cheaply as possible before having to actually replace an item. If cleaning all the contacts doesn’t fix it, then you just refuse Banggoods low offer and demand a replacement.

It should be no problem to charge an 18650 with the adapter right?

Have you triple clicked to see what the driver is reading the voltage to be?

ordered 5700k. the 5000k is sold out apparently. Thanks for this one. I actually don’t feel guilty this time. so good, yet so cheap. reminds me of my first girlfriend

Should be fine. I don’t remember the charge rate. It might be a little high for certain 18650’s, but should not cause any problems.

The FT03 charges at nearly 2A, so it will be safe enough. If you would normally charge your 18650 at 2A, then it will be fine charging in the flashlight. I tend to charge 18650’s at 1A unless I’m in rush, but I won’t be using 18650’s in my FT03 anyway.

Oddly enough, the FT03 is actually the fastest charger I own…

I checked a bunch of 18650 charge rates and they call look to be safe at 2A. Cells like the 30Q, HG2 and VTC5A have fast charge rates of 4A.
Some older cells like Panny B 3400 don’t list fast charge rates, but their standard rate is 1.7A, so fast charge should be fine at 2A.

If you tell me the cell you have, I can tell you the safe rate.

The 4amp fast charge is a bit of gimmick its only used in battery packs where the charging cycle stops at 4v flat. If you where to fast charge 4amps and do the full cycle proper CC/CV the cells will live a very short life. I was surprised to see some tool batteries only charge to 4v.

That’s how tool companies get the 1 hour cycles or what ever fast charge protocol they use.

Am I able to get a coupon.

Thank you JasonWW and leftdisconnected!

Hi Freeme. I would like to have the coupon code. Thanks

Hi Freeme. I would like to have the coupon code please.

Also want to know difference between 5000k and 5700k to understand if need to wait till 5000k back in stock.

5700K is a new tint option FT03. Not sure if anyone has one in hand to compare right now. Based on the temperature Kelvin value, it should be slightly cooler than than 5000K.

I’m thinking the 70.2 FT03 will be out before the 5000k SST40 variant. Which I would jump on multiples if the specs hold out.