Weltool W4Pro LEP Torch Review
Weltool W4Pro LEP Torch⌗
- Specifications
- Introduction
- Torch in use
- Build quality
- LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam
- Size and comparison
- User interface
- Batteries and charging
- Performance
- Beamshots
- Conclusion
- Price
- Product page
Specifications⌗
| Brand/model | Weltool W4Pro |
|---|---|
| LEP | Mirror-style LEP module |
| Maximum lumens | 568 lm |
| Maximum beam intensity | 2,882,000 cd |
| Maximum throw | 3,395 m |
| Battery | 1*21700 Li-ion |
| Onboard charging | Yes (USB-C battery) |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Modes | 2 |
| Blinkies | Strobe |
| Waterproof | IP67 |
| Review date | April 2023 |
Introduction⌗
I was talking with Adam from liteshop.com.au in mid-2022 and we got onto the topic of LEP (Laser Excited Phosphor) torches.
Liteshop has heaps of LEP torches from brands like:
- Acebeam
- Fenix
- Lumintop
- Nitecore
- Weltool
I mentioned the Weltool W4Pro, because the beam can reach over 3km, and Adam kindly offered to send it to me. No strings attached. No review required. Just, wow… (jaw drop) 😲
I had intended to publish a review of the Weltool W4Pro back in July 2022 but life happened.
Measuring the beam distance of such a powerful LEP has been a learning experience. I have been to a nearby oval multiple times with a tripod, laser meter and a light meter to try to accurately measure the beam distance. Each time I have learnt from my mistakes.
liteshop.com.au sent the Weltool W4Pro for free. It was not sent for review. I have not been paid for this review nor have I held back my opinions. Thank you liteshop.com.au!
Packaging⌗
The following was included in the box:
- Weltool W4Pro LEP.
- Weltool UB21-50 21700 5000mAh cell.
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
- Spare o-ring.
- Pocket clip.
- User manual.
Torch in use⌗
My first impression was that that the W4Pro feels like a monster.
It is top heavy. The head will dip down a bit when holding the middle of the torch.
What practical uses will I have for this LEP torch? None. It is just a lot of fun to play with!
That said. It is not a toy. The beam can reach over 3km. I need to be mindful of nearby aircraft when using this LEP torch.
Build quality⌗
The Weltool W4Pro is constructed of aluminium and has a black anodised finish.
Aggressive knurling on the tube and the design of the head and tailcap provide plenty of grip. There are no sharp edges.
There is a short and stiff pocket clip.
The tailcap and button look serious with “AVOID DIRECT EYE EXPOSURE”.
The button gives a satisfying click.
Square-threads at the tail end of the tube are anodised and came well lubricated. There are two o-rings at the tail end. It takes several turns to unscrew the tailcap.
Threads near the head side of the tube have not been anodised or lubricated. There is more friction.
Double springs have been used at the tail end. This helps prevent the cell from rattling around in the tube.
A single spring has been used at the head. The driver is held down with a retaining ring.
LED, bezel, lens, reflector and beam⌗
At the head of the Weltool W4Pro there is a mirror-style LEP module, an acrylic convex lens, a lens with an anti-reflective coating and a stainless steel bezel.
CCT, CRI, and duv⌗
It is a bit silly to measure the CRI and duv of a LEP torch but here we go. For science!
I have taken Correlated Colour Temperature (CCT) and Colour Rendering Index (CRI, RA of R1-R8) measurements with the torch positioned ten metres away from an Opple Light Master Pro III (G3).
The CCT is slightly under 5000K. The CRI is around 69 on Low. I could not get a CRI measurement for High.
The Delta u, v is positive (green).
The beam has an intense white hot spot with almost no spill. There is a hint of yellow and green. And there is a small outer ring when pointed a white wall.
| Mode | CCT (K) | CRI (Ra) | x | y | Duv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 4670 | 69.1 | 0.3648 | 0.4317 | 0.0286 |
| High | 4952 | 0.3523 | 0.4194 | 0.0279 |
Calculate Duv from CIE 1931 xy coordinates
Dimensions and size comparison⌗
Dimensions⌗
I took the following measurements using a vernier caliper and ruler.
| Measurement | Unit (mm) |
|---|---|
| Length | 198.0 |
| Head diameter | 60.5 |
| Tube diameter | 27.0 |
| Tailcap diameter | 31.6 |
Weight⌗
I took the following measurements using a digital scale.
| Weight | Unit (g) |
|---|---|
| Torch | 339.09 |
| Battery | 72.64 |
| Torch with battery | 411.73 |
Size comparison with its competition⌗
I do not have any other LEP torches of a similar size to compare with the Weltool W4Pro. Here it is next to a Convoy L21B (LED torch).
From left to right: Weltool W4Pro, Convoy L21B
From left to right: Weltool W4Pro, Convoy L21B
User interface⌗
A forward-clicky tail switch can be half pressed to momentarily turn the torch on and cycle between Low and High modes. You can enter the mode by fully-clicking. There is mode memory where it keeps switching modes.
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Half press | Cycle (Low, High) |
| Off | Click | Cycle (Low, High) |
| Off | Half press and click | Select Low or High |
| Off | Three half presses and click | Strobe |
| On | Click | Off |
Strobe⌗
Strobe is a bit weird. It alternates between Low and High modes without turning off. It looks like beam that is pulsing rather than a traditional strobe effect where the light turns on and off frequently.
Low voltage warning⌗
The light will flash when the voltage is low.
Low voltage protection⌗
I tested low voltage protection by connecting the driver of the torch to a bench power supply and then by lowering the voltage from 4.2V to 0V for a 21700 Li-ion cell.
There is low voltage protection. The light flashed at 2.96V, turned off at 2.72V and the current stopped.
PWM⌗
I did not notice any visible PWM (flickering).
What I like about the UI⌗
- The forward-clicky tail switch operation.
What could be improved⌗
- Remove mode memory.
If the UI table looks a bit confusing, that is because it is. Each time the torch is turned on it changes between Low and High.
You need to half press to momentarily see whether it is Low or High, half press again to select the desired mode, and then fully-click to lock it in.
Please note: Weltool have released an updated version called the W4Pro TAC where the user interface has been changed so that the torch starts in High by default.
Batteries and charging⌗
Battery⌗
A Weltool UB21-50 21700 5000mAh cell was included. I measured a voltage of 3.57V upon arrival.
Weltool recommends removing the battery when the torch is not used for a long time, and charging the battery every 4 months, because the battery may self-discharge.
I tried the following cells in the W4Pro:
| Cell | Top | Compatible? |
|---|---|---|
| Weltool UB21-50 21700 5000mAh | Button | Yes |
| Lishen LR2170HP 3000mAh | Button | Yes |
| Samsung 40T 21700 | Flat | Yes |
Charging⌗
The included cell has USB-C charging.
Power supply compatibility⌗
I tried the following power supplies with the built-in USB-C charger in the battery:
| Power supply | USB Type | Protocol | Does it charge? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple 61W Power Adapter | USB-C | PD | Yes |
| Google Pixel Power Adapter | USB-C | PD | Yes |
| PinePower Desktop | USB-C | PD | Yes |
| PinePower Desktop | USB-A | QC | Yes |
| PinePower Desktop | USB-A | Yes |
USB-C to USB-C charging works.
Performance⌗
Specifications:
| High | Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Output (lumens) | 568 | 210 |
| Runtime | 1h | 4h 30min |
| Beam Distance (metres) | 3,395 | 2,105 |
| Beam Intensity (cd) | 2,882,000 | 1,108,000 |
Lumen measurements⌗
| Mode | Specs | Amps at start | Lumens @turn on | Lumens @30 sec | Lumens @10 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 210 | 1.05 A | 192 | 186 | 177 |
| High | 568 | 3.84 A | 578 | 549 | 382 |
Standby drain⌗
There is no standby drain. This torch has a mechanical tailswitch.
Runtime graphs⌗
I used my own DIY lumen tube with a TSL2591 sensor and forked bmengineer’s project RuTiTe to record runtimes.
Note: Lumen measurements may be off by 10% with my DIY lumen tube.
The room temperature was approximately 21 C.
Runtime⌗
Here is a summary of the runtime results:
| Mode | Specs | Runtime result | Final voltage |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 1h | 2h 7min 50s | 2.85 |
| Low | 4h 30min | 4h 15min 34s |
The runtime result is the time until my lumen tube no longer detects more than 1 lumen.
High dropped off by about 200 lumens within the first minute and maintained that output for about 1h 40min.
Low maintained a relatively stable output for slightly over 4 hours.
Throw⌗
I took lux measurements with a UNI-T UT383BT at 30 seconds. Low and High were measured at fifty metres.
| Mode | Specs (cd) | Specs (m) | Candela measured (cd) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 1,108,000 | 2,105 | 792,530 | 1,780 |
| High | 2,882,000 | 3,395 | 2,355,018 | 3,069 |
The beam distance that I measured is slightly lower than expected. However, I am not sure how accurate my UNI-T UT383BT light meter is. I need to calibrate my light meter and figure out what the correction factor is.
Here is a video demonstrating how I measured the beam distance:
Measuring the Weltool W4Pro beam distance!
Beamshots⌗
I went to a local park and aimed the Weltool W4Pro at a tree 100 metres away while using High.
Beamshots were taken using a Sony RX100M2 using 1.3", f3.2, ISO 800, 5000K WB.
Weltool W4Pro⌗
Amutorch BT35⌗
Conclusion⌗
The Weltool W4Pro is an awesome thrower! The build quality looks and feels really nice.
The beam is sharp and has a hint of yellow and green to it. Mirror-style LEP modules seem to produce beams like this.
Being a tint snob, I prefer the white beam produced by a Weltool W5 where it has a shine-through LEP module.
There are so many LEP torches to choose from.
Pros:⌗
- Excellent build quality.
- 3km thrower!
- Supports a button top or a flat top 21700 cell.
Cons:⌗
- Mode memory keeps switching modes (fixed in W4Pro TAC).
Price⌗
The Weltool W4Pro at liteshop.com.au is AU$649.95 at the time of writing.
It is pretty expensive. But you are getting what you pay for.
There many other LEP options available. For example:
-
The Weltool W5 at liteshop.com.au is AU$649.95. It can throw up to 2.8km.
-
The Acebeam W30 at liteshop.com.au is AU$419.95. It can throw up to 2.4km.
-
The Acebeam W50 at liteshop.com.au is AU$2999.95. It can throw up to 4km and the beam can be adjusted to focus in and out.
Product page⌗
Promo code: SG9IP8YKT5PI
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