Harbor Freight work light
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decableguy2000
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I have 2 of them with no issues. I did replace the battery with a larger capacity ones. If it dies or gets lost I would get another. Standard 18650 battery.
Theronswanson
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Spend the extra money and get the Icon version.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Is it USB c or micro?
It's better. Bit brighter, better hinge (folds flat), usb c port instead of micro usb.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
Actually better in many ways. I have both.
Theronswanson
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I didn't know it was still on sale.
Rockable
Well-known member
Great light. Love the magnetic base. It works great for a drill press light if you don't already have one!
Limit of two per coupon! You still have 9 days to load up.
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Rockable
Well-known member
Exactly! You can also mount it to tthe top of your press shining down.Kinda like this
Great light. I love man even though it’s the ”old one”
motorcycle79
Well-known member
Had two. I liked them but both have broken After a couple years. I bought a Astro pneumatic and haven’t had a problem much better features and durability.
That light is almost $40.00 on Amazon!
Braun 500 Lumen LED Rechargeable Magnetic Handheld Foldable Slim Bar Work Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNGT9NPJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Braun 500 Lumen LED Rechargeable Magnetic Handheld Foldable Slim Bar Work Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNGT9NPJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Why would you buy harbor freight stuff on Amazon? It's just a 3rd party reseller tacking on cost beyond the price at HF. You could post them for sale too, at any price
I have eight (8) of the more recent ICON version of that light, with the USB "C" charge port.
That is how much I like that light.
When used in a group, I can create firetruck style "scene" lighting surrounding my truck bed, tailgate, and work area, canceling shadows, without having to wear a headlight.
I did not buy them all at once.
I started off trying to buy the Braun version at the coupon price a few months ago. Out of stock, but the then new ICON version, with a price tag of $39.99, was on "sale" for $24.99, which was only $5.00 more than the Braun I had intended to buy. So I went for it.
I charged it right away, used it that night, and the next day I was back at HF to buy a couple of more. A couple of weeks later, a couple of more. They are addictive. Now I have 8. I think 8 is Enough. Good thing that 70's TV show title still reverberates in my head, else I'd have a Dirty Dozen.
These lights are really, really good. The magnetic strength to lamp weight ratio enables these lights to adhere to the scant surface area radii of a 1.5" diameter coil return spring, fully extended flat, perpendicularly. That type of utility is very impressive.
What really sold me is that while the battery is lithium ion and rechargeable.... it is also replaceable. Hence, this is not a throw away once the battery has exhausted its recharge cycle type of light. This is a metal bodied lifetime tool, in a much more compact than the Braun version form factor... almost as small as a mini maglight in a belt pouch.
Yet due to the folding feature, one doesn't even need a pouch. I have put the battery body in my shirt pocket, with the lamp portion folded over to the outside of the shirt pocket... instant chest light. Pacemaker wearers might not want to do this... cause that magnet is powerful!
It gets so dark so early during winter, I have found myself using these new to me lights every night now. So convenient.
I've never had the Braun version... just the new ICON.
That is how much I like that light.
When used in a group, I can create firetruck style "scene" lighting surrounding my truck bed, tailgate, and work area, canceling shadows, without having to wear a headlight.
I did not buy them all at once.
I started off trying to buy the Braun version at the coupon price a few months ago. Out of stock, but the then new ICON version, with a price tag of $39.99, was on "sale" for $24.99, which was only $5.00 more than the Braun I had intended to buy. So I went for it.
I charged it right away, used it that night, and the next day I was back at HF to buy a couple of more. A couple of weeks later, a couple of more. They are addictive. Now I have 8. I think 8 is Enough. Good thing that 70's TV show title still reverberates in my head, else I'd have a Dirty Dozen.
These lights are really, really good. The magnetic strength to lamp weight ratio enables these lights to adhere to the scant surface area radii of a 1.5" diameter coil return spring, fully extended flat, perpendicularly. That type of utility is very impressive.
What really sold me is that while the battery is lithium ion and rechargeable.... it is also replaceable. Hence, this is not a throw away once the battery has exhausted its recharge cycle type of light. This is a metal bodied lifetime tool, in a much more compact than the Braun version form factor... almost as small as a mini maglight in a belt pouch.
Yet due to the folding feature, one doesn't even need a pouch. I have put the battery body in my shirt pocket, with the lamp portion folded over to the outside of the shirt pocket... instant chest light. Pacemaker wearers might not want to do this... cause that magnet is powerful!
It gets so dark so early during winter, I have found myself using these new to me lights every night now. So convenient.
I've never had the Braun version... just the new ICON.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
roofdweller49
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- Jan 22, 2023
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- 180
Do they pwm flicker on lower modes? If they used a higher frequency PWM and a slightly warmer LED, I'd be so happy
They need to be a high vis color. Your using it because its dark and if you leave it and it shuts off, Somtimes you forget about it underneath a car. I have a few but noticed i was short one. I couldn't fiqure where I used it last. Two months later my son shuts the door of his truck and it rolled out from underneath. We had looked under before but never seen it.
I know the original light had the circuitry for the battery protection in the battery itself so you had to use a protected battery so if you get a replacement make sure it's protected.
In case anyone doesn't have these coupons.
EXTENDED BLACK FRIDAY SALE! Now Thru 12/3
Inside the Store & Online. Must use coupons to get prices shown. Valid Tuesday, November 28, 2023 through Sunday, December 3, 2023. Text STOP to 34648 to stop all future marketing text message…
go.harborfreight.com
They don't flicker, in any mode, to the discernable eye.
They are not infinitely dimmable per se, which is what I think of when I think of pulse width modulation.
Instead, these ICON lights have a low mode, and a high mode, in both the short, and the long, broad lamps.
The pencil point beam only has one mode.
I have found that I use the short broad lamp in the low mode the most, typically in the L configuration, where the lamp fixture is below eye level, so that I don't catch a glimpse of the LED itself, while what I want to view is magically illuminated.
I want to keep my pupils open/dilated at night, and not have them iris down when encountering a bright light source. That is why I appreciate the power of the magnet with these ICON lights, because the magnet enables the lights to be confidently stuck on undulating non-flat ferritic vertical surfaces... like the round arch of a U type wire fence post... in such a way that I never have to see the LED itself.
Only what I am working on is illuminated.
Of course, this is the principle advantage of head worn lights also (we used to call them miner's lights, as only coal miners were known to wear them on their hard hats). Not ever having to see the light source, while having what you are looking at being magically illuminated, is one way to work effectively in the dark, with less light.
However, where the ICON lights "shine" better than headlamps is when one has to move back and forth between point A and point B.
So let's say point A is my truck with tools within it, and on the tailgate, and point B is whatever I am working on in the field. With a couple ICON lights on top of my cab shining down into the truck bed, and a couple of more ICON lights on top of the side boxes along the length of the truck bed, and a couple of more on top of whatever it is that I am working on, I can be at Point A, and look over at Point B, and see both, where my headlamp illumination might not reach Point B until I walk over closer to it.
I find this helpful as I forget where I leave things that I take back and forth between Point A and Point B, so if I don't find it near me, I can glance up and see if it is over there, without walking over there. If that makes any sense.
A headlamp powerful enough to see over there is too bright to see over here, due to the reflections against what I am looking at. Reflections are another "source" of light that will iris down my pupils in order to manage it. Smaller pupils reduce peripheral vision acuity of the surroundings at night, making me more apt to trip over stuff.
Hence, having multiple sources of light improves situational awareness.
Running the smaller (shorter length) LED broad lamp on the lower (dimmer, but not variably so) setting mode not only conserves battery power, enabling the lamps to offer illumination for longer periods (several hours), the lower setting also reduces contrast between what is lit, what is reflected, and what is outside the swath of light, which keeps my pupils wide enough to see everything at night, like a cat.
It is the dexterity and flexibility in form factor that is so appealing about the ICON light, combined with the magnet mentioned. These features are not exclusive to the ICON brand, which was likely inspired not only by the popularity of the Braun version within Harbor Freight brands, but also likely knocks off a few features from industry name brands like Astro Pneumatic, Snap-On, Matco, Mac, etc.
The thing with Harbor Freight is... they have invested in the real estate, bricks, mortar, and trucking to bring tools that I otherwise would not be aware of to my consciousness. There is no Matco truck that makes monthly stops at my residential garage.
Since all light is a wave length of energy, scientifically speaking, perhaps all light can be captured "flickering" with the right instrumentation. But using my eyes only, the LED bulbs in the fluorescent fixture whose ballast I never upgraded in my kitchen flicker. These ICON lights don't.
decableguy2000
Well-known member
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- Nov 4, 2012
- Messages
- 650
Braun's battery is replaceable on the go. Was the main reason I got them. I keep the original batteries charged as spares in my bag, and the 3400mAh in the light. They also are USB-C rechargeable. I use mine for a couple hours at a time, have not had any issues. This is a good video of the 2.
Icon Vs. Braun lights
Icon Vs. Braun lights
I'm kind of a fan of these lights. IMHO the single biggest improvement is to make some steel disc platforms for when you don't have a magnetic surface. 3" X 1/4" steel is large/heavy enough so they won't tip over and you can line the bottom with adhesive felt. These steel discs are cheap on Ebay.
I just picked up another Braun 500 and Icon 800 during the sale. I like the Braun better. The Icon has too many modes and uses a proprietary battery that appears to be a PIA to replace. I also prefer the swivel range of the Braun and it's cheaper.
I just picked up another Braun 500 and Icon 800 during the sale. I like the Braun better. The Icon has too many modes and uses a proprietary battery that appears to be a PIA to replace. I also prefer the swivel range of the Braun and it's cheaper.
Attachments
I was looking at the Icons (I already have 2 Brauns from a few years ago), but one post mentions they have replaceable batteries, and one post says it doesn't.
I like the Braun because of the user replaceable batteries (I have a bunch from salvaged laptop battery packs).
Can anyone clarify if the Icons does or does not have user replaceable batteries?
I like the Braun because of the user replaceable batteries (I have a bunch from salvaged laptop battery packs).
Can anyone clarify if the Icons does or does not have user replaceable batteries?
I have 3 of the original Brauns with the micro USB port- which I generally don't use. I like them because the batteries are easily replaceable (like a typical flashlight), and the price is right; especially when on sale. IMO, they're not going to last long if you're using them every day. Mine are still fine after 3+ years, but that's with occasional home use; the design definitely doesn't scream durability.
I can't even access the battery compartment on my Icon. I believe they made it nearly factory sealed. I thought I saw a youtube video where some guy used a pipe wrench or vise grips to get to it and what was inside was a 18650 battery with a proprietary wired connector. If battery replacement is desired, don't buy Icon. I'm not sure why they even market the Icon as a premium brand. The Bauer seems better and cheaper.
bwringer
Well-known member
The Icon light comes with instructions for disassembling the light and replacing the battery.
Not exactly a project for beginners, but it is possible.
Not exactly a project for beginners, but it is possible.
Only the battery cell itself would be replaced. The Molex connector and wiring leads can be reused.
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bwringer
Well-known member
The instructions are here, and if you zoom in to the last image, you can see that the battery is an 18650 and appears to be one with a protection circuit (AKA "button top") and the battery connector leads built in.
It looks like you need to be able to solder or spot weld the wires from the old connector to the new battery, or buy a battery with a connector (easily available). It appears to be a very standard battery connector, but I don't personally know for sure.
You can also buy protected 18650 batteries with wire leads (also easily available), and cut and solder the wires to re-use the old connector.
In any case, it's clear that changing the battery on the regular is not really practical, but if and when the battery stops taking a charge, you can replace it without much trouble rather than chucking the whole thing into the trash.
One thing I can say for sure is that the Icon light is FAR more durable than the Braun stick lights.
Thanks for the link. It looks like the 18650 has a custom pigtail and connector. The though of swapping the pigtail and soldering onto a new generic 18650 battery doesn't thrill me. Are the batteries with the connector generic or proprietary. In any event, quickly swapping batteries is not an option. I'll take the Braun any day. I have both and I don't see how it's any less durable then the Icon unless I'm missing something. I guess a hard wired battery is a slightly more reliable electrical connection than spring in a rough environment. The newer Braun is USB-C which is a welcome improvement.
Only the battery cell itself would be replaced. The Molex connector and wiring leads can be reused.
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bwringer
Well-known member
This is only an educated guess, but it's fairly certain that the connector is just a bog-standard molex, and if you Google around, you can find plenty of places selling 18650 batteries with pigtails and connectors.
In other words, no, there's nothing proprietary about the battery or how it's connected.
I'm also not sure whether a replacement battery can be ordered from Harbor Freight. But in any case, it won't be hard to find.
But yeah, if you need light all day, then you're gonna need two or three of these lights. Swapping quickly isn't an option, unfortunately; I think it would have been really easy to design them this way, and a significant benefit, so I can't understand why they didn't.
The hinge mechanism, the button and charger port, and the overall durability of the Icon are far, far better than the Braun. It's just a lot tougher in every way, and holds up far better to the normal drops and spills of a light in hard mechanicking usage. I've had four of the Brauns, and two died completely after all kinds of abuse, the charge port stopped working in another, the end of the "stick" on one cracked and fell apart aftter a minor drop on the other (so the tip light is held on with a glob of hot snot glue) and the light sticks are floppy in both the survivors and can't be tightened; the plastic hinge material breaks very easily. The Icon is scuffed but entirely functional after months of the same abuse.
All that said, the Braun only opens to 180 degrees, which is annoying but makes the light a lot tougher, and in my opinion the larger light is on the wrong side of the stick. On the plus side, it folds in half so it's a LOT easier to store and carry, and USB-C ports are a lot tougher than micro-USB. Not perfect, but overall it's far better designed and built. Both are ridiculously useful.