How do you know how well it's built or will hold up without handling it?
Best cordless LED drop light?
- Thread starter aleccolin
- Start date
How do you know how well it's built or will hold up without handling it?
Yeh, no need for the HF come with charger as it standard USB charge spec.
Idea being you don't need extra chargers as it a compatible standard and makes life easy.
I'm liking my HF so far, run time and charge time being things prove how good it be for daily shop use, if good enough will be buying 3 more as like the design and light output for my auto shop use .
Idea being you don't need extra chargers as it a compatible standard and makes life easy.
I'm liking my HF so far, run time and charge time being things prove how good it be for daily shop use, if good enough will be buying 3 more as like the design and light output for my auto shop use .
That's my point, no one does. And it's electronics from HF - so I'll wait for the side-by-side after a year of use. Not on paper.
rlitman
Well-known member
Thanks for the coupon. I just stopped by HF, but they were all out of these lights. I'll have to check back later.
Another vote for this one. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve dropped it, and it still works.
Picked up two of these today, gonna go back and get two more! It uses a standard 18650 cell so upgrading from 2200 mah to 3500 mah is $10 and two clicks on Amazon. The only thing it’s missing is a hook but I’ll figure out something for that. Super legit light for $20.
Can you tell me more about the Coast HP3R? I am thinking of getting one for a pocket flashlight.
I was quite pleased see the 18650 and easy access as makes them quite serviceable. Getting more myself as at this coupon price and design will be perfect daily runners for my shop needs and trail one doing nicely so far .
Not sure if needs a hook or not but easy added .
anndel
Well-known member
Have 3 of these and they are awesome.
KMdef9
Well-known member
I got a couple Bayco's.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BDNKQ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Not overly bright, which is great in tight areas. But still plenty of light for a small work area. Pretty stout, drop them a bunch. Battery life is ok, will last all day with light to medium use. Recharge time kinda *****, several hours.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BDNKQ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Not overly bright, which is great in tight areas. But still plenty of light for a small work area. Pretty stout, drop them a bunch. Battery life is ok, will last all day with light to medium use. Recharge time kinda *****, several hours.
Monster led work light is the best I've found.
Its takes a heck of a beating and continues to work. Everybody was using mine in the shop for some time, and still are to a lesser degree. They have gotten left under cars and fallen out on the test drive and still work fine. Had one bent in about a 30 degree angle and it still works. The one I had at home in my garage when it flooded was floating in about 6 inches of water. No longer works, but was on when I fished it out, but now won't take a charge.
My oldest one is well over 5 years old - that's constant daily use, quite a lot by people who didn't own it if you know what I mean.
It runs for about half a day on a charge, so with 2 you can have light all day constantly. Never timed one for a charge, but I'd guess an hour or less.
Handily they recently started making a bracket that holds 2 of their 122 smd lights and works as an underhood light.
I haven't actually used one of those yet, but one of our mechanics had the older single purpose underhood light from them and it was the nicest I've seen.
Only issue with them is finding one you can buy.
The only place they sell them is mobile tool trucks apparently.
Luckily I got mine at the last place I worked off a USA tool truck. I have had the owner there pick me up a couple more for other people in our shop in the last couple years.
Not sure what other trucks have them, our Snap on guy doesn't carry them I know.
Edit: They get used in a transmission shop and get dropped a lot, at least once or twice a week I'd guess. The plastic hooks on them aren't the best, but work ok if you halfway take care of the light.
Bright green handles/mouldings look dirty fast.
Its takes a heck of a beating and continues to work. Everybody was using mine in the shop for some time, and still are to a lesser degree. They have gotten left under cars and fallen out on the test drive and still work fine. Had one bent in about a 30 degree angle and it still works. The one I had at home in my garage when it flooded was floating in about 6 inches of water. No longer works, but was on when I fished it out, but now won't take a charge.
My oldest one is well over 5 years old - that's constant daily use, quite a lot by people who didn't own it if you know what I mean.
It runs for about half a day on a charge, so with 2 you can have light all day constantly. Never timed one for a charge, but I'd guess an hour or less.
Handily they recently started making a bracket that holds 2 of their 122 smd lights and works as an underhood light.
I haven't actually used one of those yet, but one of our mechanics had the older single purpose underhood light from them and it was the nicest I've seen.
Only issue with them is finding one you can buy.
The only place they sell them is mobile tool trucks apparently.
Luckily I got mine at the last place I worked off a USA tool truck. I have had the owner there pick me up a couple more for other people in our shop in the last couple years.
Not sure what other trucks have them, our Snap on guy doesn't carry them I know.
Edit: They get used in a transmission shop and get dropped a lot, at least once or twice a week I'd guess. The plastic hooks on them aren't the best, but work ok if you halfway take care of the light.
Bright green handles/mouldings look dirty fast.
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rlitman
Well-known member
This comment about the 18650 tipped the scales for me, because if the light manages to outlive the battery, I don't have to through it out. That's my biggest issue with most cheap (disposable) rechargeable flashlights. Plus. I have a charger that will charge 18650 cells, so I could always swap cells without having to wait for them to recharge (not that I think that will be an issue for me).
On that note, I picked up one last night. This thing is really nice! Not "nice for HF", not "nice for $20", just plain really nice.
mmason7764
Well-known member
My approach is very similar. I have gone to rechargeable AA NiMH low self discharge batteries (Sanyo Eneloop) and a smart charger. Just swap batteries. Got started down this road with camera flashes which eat AAs in a short time.
For the Surefire I use rechargeable (LiFePO) CR123 cells with a small dedicated charger.
Have not expanded to a dedicated underhood light yet, so no specific recommendations there.
rlitman
Well-known member
I've got a 16 port AA/AAA NiMH smart charger, and with all of the stuff around the house that would otherwise eat batteries, I put it to good use.
I also have a Nightcore D2 charger that will charge my rechargable CR123 batteries, my 16650 cells (that I use in things that would otherwise require two CR123s), and my 14500 cells (that fit the small/cheap aluminum LED flashlights that are dimmer when you use them with a AA). It should fit an 18650 too, so I might use it for this light, if I find myself really using it a lot. Time will tell.