I am not an expert, but let me say that this is a VERY, VERY good flashligt and I am very satisfied for having just spent 80$ at banggood.
I previously owned a NITECORE MH40 (1000 lumens). It was very well made and ultra-powerful, long range thrower, but double-click time for mode changing was EIGHT seconds (which is a really, really too long time for a double click). The flashlight worked by screwing or unscrewing the head to go from on ‘tubo mode’ to ‘custome mode’.
But now, I don’t like any more screwing/unscrewing mode changing, because I noticed how much it damages the contacts and so, after some years, it can destroy your flashlight.
The WL-S4 has none of these defects, ceiling bounce is amazing (surely doubling Nitecore’s 1000 lumens), throwing range surprisingly long for such a flooder (around 300-400 meters) and the dual switch design is perfect.
You turn the light on, press the MODE button to your preferred mode, and then the flashlight keeps memory even after changing batteries multiple times. No double clicks, no unintentional mode changing even during caotic times (like airsoft/paintball firefights).
Also, the illuminated MODE button warns you when the battery goes to 50% or 20%, by flickering in two different ways.
The flashlight also has overheating and overdischarging protecion, by going on a lower power mode when necessary (you see the flashlight go from turbo mode to high mode by itself, when overheated or when batteries are very weak).
The only con I found so far is that battery consumption is very high, and that low quality cinese 18650 will last no longer than 15 minutes in turbo mode… But I guess it’s normal.
We are talking about 2000-2400 REAL lumens.
The only defect (but it’s not a real defect) is that I recently bought some protected SAMSUNG batteries that are too long.
I mean, I have other flashlights that can’t stand so long batteries, but since the WLS4 needs very good batteries like those ones are, I would like to buy another switch and modifiy it (to avoid modifying the original one).
Does anybody knows where can I found a replacement swith for my WLS4?
Sorry I can’t help you on a switch, but thanks for posting about this light I’m seriously considering getting one very soon and came across your post while trying to decide on what batteries to get for it.
Are the protected Samsung batteries you have that are too long 26FM protected? Can you link to the batteries that don’t fit?
It appears the light has springs on both the + and - contacts so it will work with flat top batteries and should have plenty of room with those.
I usually use all protection batteries but I’m going to begin using unprotected for some of my high drain lights and possible some others where the longer batteries are an issue, I’m pretty anal about checking and charging my batteries but worry about accidentally leaving a light on.
I suppose with the dual low voltage warnings it will be safe to use unprotected. Do you know does the light eventually shut down completely from low voltage?
Also I’m wondering would this light benefit from Hi Discharge batteries like Samsung INR 25r or 30q?
But from what I understand the INR are a lot safer, so as long as the capacity is near to what the ICR’s are maybe those would be the better choice for safety using unprotected? (The 25r are 2500mAh and the 30q are 3000mAh) INR18650 - 25R INR18650 - 30Q
+these are the batteries that doesn’t fit the wl-64 (samsung2600mah protected)
+ regarding the the samsung 2600 flat top (unprotected) like those you linked… I use them too, and they are very good.
They fit very well and last a long time.
ANYWAY, I SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF BATTERIES LENGHT PLACING A PICE of A ‘6P’ BULB SPRING (just one ‘circle’ of the spring) INSIDE THE SWITCH.
With the piece of spring inside the switch (it makes contact between the switch and the body) the inner body of the flashlight is 1 millimeter longer, and the long batteries can now fit.
+ I would not mind about using un-protected batteries with this light. The back-illuminated MODE button warns you very well while using the flashlight. You only have to check it sometimes.
If you tail-stand the flaslight to leave it on for more than an houre, leave it in place so that the MODE button is pointed toward your, and you will see the blue-light flickering for sure, when power will be low.
You only have to remember to check the button.
Anyway, the manual says it has over-heating and over-discharging protection, but I haven’t checked the discharging yet.
+ regarding the temperature auto-safety, the flashlight just goes to a lower-power mode, but I can’t tell you if it has a real temperature-reading, or just a timer. When the flashlight is hot and goes from turbo to high, if you click it off and on, it goes to turbo mode again (you have just fooled the so called ‘temperature protection system’.
I bought the unprotected Samsun on the ebay.
They come from Taiwan (code ‘SDI’ on the label) and the protected, longer batteries come from China (code ‘SDIEM’ on the label).
Anyway, on this flashlight the only real difference is between GOOD batteries (I have SAMSUNG 2600 and NITECORE 2300) and CHINA made un-marked or FIRE-something ones. China cheap batteries can’t stand the flashlight 3,5A power consumption.
They go on ‘crisis’.
You see the flashlight flickering that batteries have reached 50% but when you change to a less powerful mode, the flashlight gets back to more than 50%. This is something only my cheap batteries do.
It means that bad quality batteries doesn’t only last just 15 minutes, bad also have a ‘voltage drop’.
They simply can’t stand turbo mode, like a car engine using too much RPMs.
ps: this flashlight is a real flooder. When you first buy it and compare it to a thrower, the latter seems much more powerful, because on short range throwers mave a very blinding, ultra-powerful spot (and this is why you can find some WLS4 negative reviews on amazon, saying this flashlight is not 2400 lumens… They are wrong for sure)
On the contrary, when you try to compare ceiling bounce, the jetbeam surprises you easly doubling any other real 800-1000 lumens flashlight.
Thanks again for the reply and more useful info, I appreciate it. It sounds like this Jetbeam may benefit and gain some brightness from the Hi-Drain batteries like Samsung INR 30q.
I’m excited to get this flashlight. I like flood. I want to be able to illuminate my back yard, a flat clearing of several acres. So the more flood with some throw will be good.
I already have a Blackshadow Terminator but I like this form factor better than the “soup can” style, although the handle is nice on the Terminator. It’s not huge but just a little too bulky to carry out to the woods, I think with this jet beam I can find a holster for it to carry. Also I’ve been wanting to try MG-T2 because I prefer Neutral tint.
I have an HD2010 for a thrower now, but may look at upgrading to a newer thrower someday.
Also, it’s interesting to have a discussion with someone halfway around the globe about the same flashlight we both like!
Being of Italian heritage myself I have distant relatives in Italy and hope someday to visit there. (Village of Ottati in Salerno) My cousins family have visited and it looks like they really enjoyed their time there, and although they had never met them, the relatives welcomed them in their home and showed them a great time there.
there are many holsters on ebay… I will send you the link of the one I use.
My former girlfriend was from Salerno too. She had all of his relatives there.
I have never been but I know it’s quite a paradise, as all of the italian coast is.