Astrolux FT03S Copper

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Astrolux FT03S copper specifications

Brand/model	Astrolux FT03S copper
LED	Luminus SBT90.2
Lumens	4,500 lm
Beam intensity	510,000 cd
Battery config.	1*26650
Material	Copper
Modes	Multi (Anduril)
Blinkies	Multi (Anduril)
Reflector	Smooth
Waterproof	IPX7
Review date	January 2021

Giggle.
I couldn’t help myself… that was my reaction when I opened the package and first laid eyes upon the Astrolux Copper FT03.  I had thought the Astrolux Copper FT03 Mini was really something to behold. But this… I feel like I’m holding a gold bar or trophy or something. It’s so absolutely unnecessary and amazing both at the same time. And when equipped with the powerhouse Luminus SBT90.2 such as this one is, this isn’t an “all show and no go”… you get the show and the go!

This copper flashlight is a limited edition for Astrolux’s 5th anniversary.

Package quality.

The Copper FT03 arrived in fairly typical Astrolux packaging – a nice sturdy white box with an image of the flashlight embossed in silver. Inside is white foam padding, cut out to hold the light. Inside that white box was the following:

• Astrolux Copper FT03
• Spare o-rings
• Lanyard
• Manual
• 18650 adapter

I’m kinda sad to see that there’s not a pocket clip included. Kidding! This thing isn’t fitting in your pants pocket unless you’re wearing JNCOs.

With the Copper FT03 being polished and coated, it’s a bit slick.  The large knurling on the battery tube does help to provide a decent amount of grip. It’s large. And heavy. You’ll certainly want to keep a good grip on it. A lanyard might not be a bad idea, so as to prevent accidental drops and dinging up that beautiful finish. But I would not rely on the lanyard wrist strap that is included in the box. With the FT03 weighing almost 2 pounds, I would want a more sturdy lanyard – paracord, perhaps?

There is a single button – an e-switch that is located on the side of the head. It is covered with a rubber button that has indicator LEDs underneath it.

Copper.  Nice, shiny, copper.  So smooth that I can see my reflection in it. The copper appears to be coated, so it should retain it’s sheen unless you were to strip the coating. The FT03 arrived in very good condition – I don’t really see any scrapes or knicks.

The machining of the copper FT03 appears to be good. I don’t feel any rough edges.  The threads at both ends of the body tube are clean and square-cut. Both the driver and tailcap have dual springs.

Warranty… the manual makes no mention of it. And I don’t see anything on Banggood’s website regarding a warranty, unfortunately.

If there’s one thing that could challenge the “wow” factor of the copper body of this flashlight, it’s the sheer power of the Luminus SBT90.2 LED. With the SBT90.2, you can get any CCT you want… as long as you want 5700K (thanks, Henry!). This is a very “throwy”, domeless LED with lots of lumen output. It’s centered nicely in the center of a large, deep, smooth reflector. The bezel has shallow crenelations that are just deep enough to allow you to see if the flashlight is on. The reflector provides a very tight hotspot with a very wide spill.

• Length: 170 mm / 6.7 inches
• Head diameter:  69.5 mm / 2.7 inches
• Body diameter:  34.5 mm / 1.4 inches

Weight: 

• Without cells: 778 grams / 27.4 oz (In perspective: the aluminum version = 298 grams / 10.05 oz)
• With a Vapcell T50 21700: 849 grams / 30.0 oz

Flashlight comparison

Compared to flashlight throwers and other popular flashlights.

Copper brothers, from left to right: Astrolux FT03S Copper, Astrolux FT03 mini Copper

Common lights, from left to right: Astrolux FT03S Copper, Convoy L2, Convoy M21C-U, Astrolux FT03 Mini copper, Astrolux MF01 Mini, Astrolux EC01

The driver is using a Anduril UI. This is currently one of the most advanced firmwares for flashlights at the moment.

This is the image of the UI, but forget about the bottom part, because this particular light has no AUX LEDs.

From OFF:

• Single-click: ON
• Double click: High (Top of ramp, to get to Turbo, you need to do another double click)
• 3 clicks: Access the blinky/utility modes.

Enter Special/Fun modes from OFF:

• 2 clicks + hold: Strobe modes
• 4 clicks: Lock Out mode
• 5 clicks: Momentary on
• 6 clicks: Muggle mode

From ON:

• Single-click: Off
• Double click: Turbo
• 3 clicks: change ramping mode.. Instead of a smooth increase, it has 6 little steps between Lowest and Max.
• 4 clicks: change to ramping configuration mode
• Press and hold: brightness ramps up.. release and press and hold again to ramp down.

INTERESTING, SPECIAL AND FUN MODES:

Please read the manual carefully to know how to access or customize these modes. Also see the firmware picture, above.

• Blinky Utility mode:
• Battery check
• Sunset Mode
• Beacon mode
• Temperature check

Strobe / Mood modes:

When in the strobes mode, double-click to rotate between them – all modes except party strobe are brightness, changed the same way as a normal ramp. In party strobe mode, ramping up and down will increase and decrease the frequency of the strobe, for incredible effects.

• Candle
• Bike flasher
• Party strobe
• Tactical Strobe
• Lightning mode
• Lockout mode (can’t use the light)
  • Lockout mode is available by clicking four times from off – while in lockout mode, click-and-hold will light up at bottom of the ramp, and a double-click-and-hold will light up somewhat brighter. This is to give you a way to quickly use the light if necessary, but if it activates in your pocket, it will only be at very low modes, and only for as long as the button is pressed. No more holes in pants!
• Momentary mode (signaling/ morse coding)
• Muggle mode: (safer for children)
• Configuration mode
• Ramp config mode

PWM

• You will be able to detect some PWM at low modes via phone camera, but as soon as it kicked in higher, it disappears. None of it was able to be detected by eye, though.

Protection Features (Low Voltage Protection)

• LVP makes the light step down to a lower level when the battery is low, and if the light is already at the lowest level, it shuts itself off. This activates at 2.8V. This won’t happen often, since the light will run for many hours before it shuts off.
• Thermal regulation attempts to keep the light from overheating, and otherwise adjusts output to stay as close as possible to the user-configured temperature limit. By default, it’s 45 degrees.

The Astrolux FT03S Copper, like other FT03’s, is compatible with 18650, 21700, and 26650 cells. An 18650 adapter is included, but there is not an adapter for 21700. At first, I was put off by this, as my plan was to use a 21700 cell. While there is a lot of space around the battery in the tube, the double springs at both ends put enough pressure on the battery that it doesn’t rattle in my mind it seems wrong, but it works just fine. I may eventually acquire or 3D print some spacers, but for now, it works fine with 21700 as-is.

For my testing, I’m using a Vapcell T50. In testing, it has similar drain characteristics to the Molicel P42A but with 5000 mAh of capacity. I tried a long, protected 21700 with a charging circuit (an Acebeam) and it did not fit – way too long. The FT03S is not compatible with protected 21700 cells.  I tried a non-protected 26650 (a Wurkkos-branded cell) and it fit with room to spare. A protected 26650 would likely fit. 

There is built-in USB-C charging. I tried charging it with USB PD (USB-C to USB-C)… no dice. Using a USB-A to USB-C charging cable connected to a 2.4 amp charger, I observed a charge rate of 1.85 amp on a partially drained cell, so the 2.0 amp manufacturer spec sounds correct. When charging, the button indicator LED turns orange (or red? I dunno, I’m colorblind) and switches back to green (?) when it’s done. I would prefer some more distinct colors, please.

For current measurements, an ANENG AN8008 multimeter and UNI-T UT210E clamp meter were used. Lux was measured by a UNI-T UT383 BT at 5 meters. Lumens were measured in a homemade lumen tube using a TSL2591 sensor, calibrated with a Maukka calibration light. The temperature was monitored with a MLX90614 IR temperature sensor. Testing was performed using a Vapcell T50 21700 cell.

Amp & Lumen measurements

Modes	Current@ 0 sec	Lumens@ 0 sec	Lumens@ 30 sec	Specifications:Lumens
Standby: no aux	39 uA	n/a	n/a	—
Standby: low aux	74 uA	n/a	n/a	—
Standby: high aux	129 uA	n/a	n/a	—
Ramp floor	1.7 mA	0.2	0.2	—
Stepped 1	9 mA	3.3	3.3	—
Stepped 2	53 mA	22	22	—
Stepped 3	178 mA	78	77	—
Stepped 4	463 mA	202	200	—
Stepped 5	1.1 A	442	438	—
Stepped 6	2.3 A	952	939	—
Stepped 7	7.0 A	2432	2320	—
Turbo	22.3 A	5453	3259	4500

Runtime graph

After calibrating the temperature (always do this before using an Anduril light!), I performed several runtime tests, some in Turbo and some at the stock Ceiling. I ran tests using the default thermal limit of 45°C.  Additionally, I configured the thermal limit to 55°C and 70°C and ran more tests.  It seems as if the driver stays a bit warmer than the body.  For instance, when configured to 70°C, the body stayed around 56°C.  This is probably because of the large thermal mass of the enormous copper body.

I would love to be able to configure an Anduril build with thermal settings that are tailored to this flashlight, but unfortunately, Astrolux has not provided the source code (and the related driver configuration settings).

Throw numbers: 

Measurementat 10 meters	Candela	Specifications:Candela	Meters	Specifications:Meters	Yards
@ 0 sec	384,407	510,000	1240	1428	1356

Outdoor beam shots are taken at 25m (82ft) using a Pixel 3 set to ISO 200 with ½ second exposure time

• Astrolux FT03s Copper with SBT90.2
• Mateminco MT07 (Astrolux MF01 Mini)
• Astrolux EC01 with SST40
• Astrolux Copper FT03 Mini with XHP50.2
• Acebeam L35 with XHP70.2
• Convoy M21C-U
• Convoy L2 with dedomed SST40

Disclaimer: This flashlight was sent to me for review at no cost by Banggood. I have not been paid to review, nor have I been holding back on problems or defects.