Harbor freight releases new led lighting options.

[Mr_B]

yeh the braun slim is pretty much same as the astro 315 besides it half the price and brighter .
I got 2 and samsung 30Q series cells, 2 of these cells do me all day and get charged in external cell charger .
I will grab a 3rd one before 31st coupon finishes and keep it as a spare and can see me getting more than 2yrs out of them in daily auto shop use so for the buck cheap lighting solution that very usable and stands up to drops etc .

 

[CobraRed]

"Brighter"
Looks to me they took the main light output (310) and added the top light (80 lumen) for 390 lumens.

Also, 2600mAh battery and wall charger vs 2200 and none.

 

[Mr_B]

it brighter than the 315 but obviously not as bright as 40 series .
no need for a charger as it standardised usb charging .
I use 3000mAh cells with mine and charge off-board, works perfect for my usage, 2 30Q cells get 8hrs runtime . For 20bucks it real good even without a better cell.

 

[unslow1]

I really like it so far except it won't completely turn off. It stays barely lit unless I pull the battery. When I put the battery back in it seems to come back on just barely. This one appears to have a defective on/off switch.

 

[xin]

Metal shavings preinstalled on the ones I looked at

At no cost!!!

too funny

... but but it has a lifetime warranty - sure it does you spend your TIME and GAS driving there replacing it 50 times....

 

[VinceG]

I got one of the Braun folding lights last night for 19.99 and used it for 2hrs on a electronic repair. I like it especially for the price. I will be using alot so I will wait to see what happens

 

[Kaervak]

I picked up one the Braun folding lights last week. It died about five minutes out of the package but the replacement has been fine. Dropped it a couple times and knocked it across the engine bay and no issues with it. I'm planning on buying two more. I have an Astro 40SL and was going to buy another, but I like the features of the Braun better. As simple as it is, the ability to fold it makes it hugely convenient and versatile.

 

[Basstracker34]

Got my slim light at HF today. Very impressed. They said they've been selling quite a few of them. Now I just have to decide on buying another one or buying some 18650 batteries for longer jobs.

 

[dede2897234]

I paid $19.99 several days ago (with a coupon that I found in this thread) for the Braun 390 lumens slim light. This is a bright, solidly built, and well designed unit. It uses replaceable 18650 Li-Ion, 2200mah batteries which you can purchase at specialty battery supply houses. In N.E. OH, I purchased an extra Samsung 18650 Li-Ion, 2500mah battery from Bulldog Battery in Willoughby, OH.

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Dave

 

[kctyphoon]

Waiting for my slim light to be delivered.. I ordered online, and wound up working near a HF the next day. Of course I went in, would have even bought another just to satisfy my curiosity. All sold out though, not surprising.. the led headlamp looks like a great buy for the money though..

I suspect these two items will be big sellers for them. It's nice to see so many improvements in the quality of items they've been selling.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Craziest thing about this is the initial feel. If this was branded as Snap On, it's a $100+ item easily.

The light output is extremely bright. Hopefully Harbor Freight understands why this thing is a winner and continues to introduce more and more quality into their stores like this.

 

[firworks]

I'm tempted to buy one of the Astro versions to see if they really are identical. They're 50$ though! This is one of those cases where I'd love to know what's going on behind the scenes. Is this a case where some Chinese OEM just came up with a great product and multiple companies are branding it? Did Astro design it and get a Chinese company to make it that is now also selling to HF? Did HF take the Astro light and reverse engineer it to make a copy?

It is a really great light. As stupid as it seems one of my favorite things about it is that it turns off after you use it for a while and doesn't force you to cycle through high-low-blink-off. In addition if it's been off for more than a few seconds it always turns on in high mode. SO much better.

 

[mfewtrail]

I'm tempted to buy one of the Astro versions to see if they really are identical. They're 50$ though! This is one of those cases where I'd love to know what's going on behind the scenes. Is this a case where some Chinese OEM just came up with a great product and multiple companies are branding it? Did Astro design it and get a Chinese company to make it that is now also selling to HF? Did HF take the Astro light and reverse engineer it to make a copy?

It is a really great light. As stupid as it seems one of my favorite things about it is that it turns off after you use it for a while and doesn't force you to cycle through high-low-blink-off. In addition if it's been off for more than a few seconds it always turns on in high mode. SO much better.

The astro rep that posts here could probably answer those questions. I like the feature with the switch not requiring multiple presses as well. I've had other cheap lights that needed to be cycled and that does get old after a while.

I knocked my light off a 3ft high table onto a concrete floor the other day. It landed face-down, so I was a bit concerned it was going to be a paper weight after that. It survived the fall just fine.

 

[Basstracker34]

Can the slim light be used while charging? I haven't tried since I saw a post awhile ago of someone ruining a different light.

 

[jz43]

Can the slim light be used while charging? I haven't tried since I saw a post awhile ago of someone ruining a different light.

I just bought one yesterday and yes it works when it's charging. This this is really good and puts out a bunch of light.

 

[KnurledNut]

The new flyer shows that Jan 12-14, the slim bar light is on sale at $19.99.
I see no restriction on the 20% coupon.
That would make it $16.

 

[lafester]

Just got mine as they were open and had a few left... they weren't even that busy.
I have been looking for an led work light that didn't **** or cost too much for awhile now and finally have one. Already have quite a few 18650s laying around so that makes this light perfect. Might have to pick up a spare on jan 12 when the price goes down even more.

Only thing I don't like is that it always starts at full blast and doesn't remember your last setting.

 

[skruft]

What kind of extra battery do you think is best?

 

[lafester]

What kind of extra battery do you think is best?

ebay and amazon have pretty good prices. LG and Samsung are well regarded just make sure they are high drain rated and get the most mAh for your money.

Oh just to add the light runs with no battery if you want and the charging led is nice and bright with red/green indicator. Should also work great with any usb power bank if you need extended run time without swapping batteries.

 

[lightning02]

ebay and amazon have pretty good prices. LG and Samsung are well regarded just make sure they are high drain rated and get the most mAh for your money.

Oh just to add the light runs with no battery if you want and the charging led is nice and bright with red/green indicator. Should also work great with any usb power bank if you need extended run time without swapping batteries.

have to watch out for fake ones. i see a lot of reviews on amazon that the ones they bought where fake.

 

[blkSRT]

Not so sure this light would need high drain batteries. I would recommend using quality protected cells.

 

[kctyphoon]

have to watch out for fake ones. i see a lot of reviews on amazon that the ones they bought where fake.

Ditto - watch a video on YouTube about fake 18650 batteries..

I bought a couple for one of those stupid vape cannon thngs. Just do yourself a favor and order from a vape shop or go on Amazon a READ real reviews.. even Amazon is flooded with fake and paid reviews now.. look for "I received this product for free in return for my fair and honest review" - cause ya know those are all ********.. and look for reviews that all happen around the same date if their aren't many.. prices too good to be true usually are..

In all honesty - your not gonna get a single real battery for under $7 probably, and you probably won't find a new 2 pack for under $12.. unless you already have batteries, an entire second light with a battery is $20.... So just keep that in mind.. do not buy single 18650's off eBay for $3.. just don't do it..

 

[Basstracker34]

Just used my slim light for an oil change on our minivan. Sure came in handy and worked great!

 

[smitty54017]

I have Streamlight brand lights, but I thought I'd pick up the "tactical" light for $10. I'm impressed! Nice little light! Nice to throw in the glove box, etc.

 

[Mr_B]

couple samsung 25R series batteries about 12bucks, over 10% extra capacity and with offboard cell charger you never going run out of cordless light power.
I used 30Q 3,000mAh cells and 2 of these do me a day of autoshop use .
Standard cells in the slim braun probably lower than the rating by 10% or so, some branded samsung or sanyo cells of 2500mAh or better would of been icing on cake in these .