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HF Braun Slim LED Worklight

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M_George

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 25, 2016
Messages
966
Location
Eastern Pa.
There super bright, I took mine out in the back yard the other night. It lit up the hole yard and got every dog in the neighborhood barking.
 

bwringer

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Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,253
Location
Indianapolis
My mistake, I thought mine did for some reason, but come to think of it, they supplied the cord, not the brick.

Yep, cord but no brick.

I've noticed more and more devices cheap out like this and omit the charger. I guess the theory is that the average modern household already has about 37 USB chargers lying around.

They're absolutely right, of course, but it still really cheeses me off to unpack a widget and find only a cheap cord.

The light is damn nice -- I've abused the hell out of mine. I was very pleased and actually a little surprised to find that the end unscrewed so I could drop in another 18650 battery. A swappable standard battery is a very nice feature more rechargeable widgets should have.

I've got some of these batteries and a charger lying around from a failed replacement project. The battery lasts for at least a couple of hours, but when it croaks I can just drop in the next and put the battery on the charger.

FWIW, these are usually in stock at the Indy HF stores. I haven't seen them on CrackList, although you do sometimes see idiots trying to sell other HF tools at a markup. Never figured out how that little business model is supposed to work.
 

Mr_B

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Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,374
Location
Reading
^
It better for environment and buying price if use usb standard and even having usb cable not really needed.
When modern sockets come with usb socket, tool boxes come with usb socket, computers come with usb socket and just about everyone got multiple wall transformers for usb it pointless enclosing it.
I would hate the braun more if did use it;s own charge spec device and non standard socket .
Being usb standard is a huge plus . being a 18650 cell with a screw off cap even bigger plus :)
 

kythri

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
6,330
Location
Lebanon, OR
Neither the light or the packaging say anything about charge/input specifications, but that's going to depend on the battery more than anything.

The wall adapter that came with my 40SL is a 1A output, which is a common thing. I think all of my iPhones have came with a 1A charger, while my iPad is 2.1A. They're both interchangable. 1A charges the iPad slower, 2.1A chargers the iPhone faster.

In general, higher amperage USB isn't going to hurt anything, it's just going to charge a device faster.

2.4A has emerged as kind of a defacto "high power" standard for a lot of peripheral chargers.

As long as it's putting out 5V, you should be safe and sound. The myth that fast charging your device will reduce long term battery life is just that, a myth.

Now, looking up the charge specifications for a Samsung ICR18650-22F (2200 mAh green 18650 battery), it specifies:

max charge voltage of 4.2V
nominal of 3.6V

rapid charge current of 2200 mAh
standard charge current of 1100 mAh

As such, USB (5V output) techincally shouldn't be being used, but these devices all have a USB input, so, whatta ya gonna do?

A Samsung 18650 30A (blue) has a 3000 mAh max charge rate, while a 30Q (pink) has a 4000 mAh max charge rate. Both are 3000 mAh capacity batteries, with similar to the 22F charge voltages.

A 35E 3500 mAh capacity specs a max charge rate of 2000 mAh, it appears.

Maybe I should look at getting some 30A or 30Q units and replace what appears to be the 22F units in my Braun lights. Higher capacity, and no worries about hitting the max charge current threshold.

I don't think I'm going to hurt the 22F, though.
 

Mr_B

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Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,374
Location
Reading
^
Higher amperage charger not a concern as the braun light (and usb attachments in general) will only pull the amperage it needs not maximum of the charger attached .
 

nix377

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
62
I really like this light, but I seem to have bad luck with the switch. From reading the reviews it doesn't seem like a common problem, just my bad luck.

The prior two both had the switch fail. I don't use it everyday but I do side work on ATV's so it gets a fair amount of use.

Harbor freight was great about exchanging them. The first one failed within a couple of weeks, the second one was one day before the 90 day warranty was up. Keeping my fingers crossed for the third one.
 

Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,374
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^
3rd time lucky.
I've used my 2 daily in auto shop for over 3 months and no switch issues yet !
Do wonder if due to high demand the oem parts sourcing changed thus quality can alter .
Do expect switch or control boards not going see over a yr in heavy use.
Time will tell but at cost acceptable for me if get a year pro use as most other lights 3x cost only done around that before an accident or started flickering etc .
 
Last edited:

JMQ4

Active member
Joined
Apr 4, 2018
Messages
37
Tried to order one yesterday online since two trips to the store yielded no joy. Today checked status and it said complete with a zero charge to Amex - backordered. No email, nothing, just sort of canceled it I guess. The Braun is nice relative to the others I’ve seen on eBay since the battery isn’t hardwired. Must be popular.
 

gregpack

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Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
245
Side note- it makes a great grill light if you have a magnetic stainless grill like my weber.
 

aka Larry

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Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
8,016
Location
Eastern, NC
I went to my local store yesterday for a few other items and checked just to see if they had any in of these lights on hand. If so, I figured I might grab a couple and resell them (at cost) to members here who've been wanting one. Just like before, they had every light they sell except this one. Too bad, since it seems they could sell just about everyone they make.
 
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Snakebyt

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Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
1,075
Location
Lubbock Tx
broke mine today, went back to get another one and of course they are out of stock on them.
 

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SilverBulletZ06

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Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
165
I got to use mine doing some electrical work in a footwell. From a guy that may grab a flashlight to having 320 lumen light bar is night and day. Made the work a lot easier.
 

Mr_B

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Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,374
Location
Reading
broke mine today, went back to get another one and of course they are out of stock on them.

how easy or hard did it break like that ?
I had 2 in use in my daily shop almost 4 months no issues and had few hard knocks and 6ft drops .
The joint and the switch seems likely fault/failure areas though .
 

JABgj

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
538
Location
So. California
The store stock is very hit and miss. Finally got one and like it for what it is. The hi and lo feature is nice too. LEDs throw a lot of light, but sometimes it's a little too much. Didn't even know about the lamp at the end of the wand either.
 

Automag88

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Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
194
I was on a waiting list for one at my local store since the March parking lot sale. Finally got it about a week or so ago. Definitely worth the wait in my opinion
 

Snakebyt

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Sep 2, 2014
Messages
1,075
Location
Lubbock Tx
how easy or hard did it break like that ?
I had 2 in use in my daily shop almost 4 months no issues and had few hard knocks and 6ft drops .
The joint and the switch seems likely fault/failure areas though .

I wont lie, it has been dropped or knocked off a lift several times. Broke while i was adjusting it under a car, but could have been cracked and i just didnt notice
 

RS191

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Messages
6
My local HF is sold out, but they checked inventory and there's 4,000 of them sitting in a warehouse somewhere awaiting distribution.

I ordered several of the Braun folding lights at HF online in late March. A month later, their voice mail still said my order was "complete" while their customer service people said online orders would not be shipped until sometime in July. I cancelled the online order.

Do they really have 4,000 of the lights in a warehouse while not filling outstanding online orders? Another person has posted they were told their online order from JANUARY was waiting for the July shipment to arrive.

Managers and clerks in several local stores said the best way to get a scarce item was to call early in the morning the day after their weekly truck deliveries went on the shelves overnight. I had coupons for both the Braun folding light and the 30" five-drawer mechanics cart - both were very hard-to-find in stores.

When I called on the day after delivery, one store said they had received a few 30" carts. They set one aside for me. A different store (Amsterdam, NY) said they had received seven of the Braun lights. They said they would set three aside for me to pick up.
When I got to the Amsterdam store, all seven of the Braun lights were up on the shelf. It was early on a weekday, so they hadn't sold out immediately. I bought two for me and one for a friend.
 

M*A*S*H

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
43
I wont lie, it has been dropped or knocked off a lift several times. Broke while i was adjusting it under a car, but could have been cracked and i just didnt notice

I left mine stuck in the wheel well and saw it go bouncing down the street after I ran it over.... thankfully it lived through that one. :lol_hitti
 

rpcraft

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Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
1,057
Location
Waco
Guys, I love this light and have been using the heck out of it under the dash, even up to the point where it dies on me. My under dash work has been in a dimly lit garage with limited wall sockets (one from the garage door opener socket). It was an apartment garage so I got to thinking there had to be a better way to extend the life because once it dies on you waiting for a recharge is a test in patience, lol. Well the next best thing was i picked up some spare batteries off amazon and a charger. For 15 bucks it was a solid investment. Came with two batteries, and I realized after looking more closely I have a chinese Amazon flashlight that uses a AAA cartridge that combines three AAA batteries but they just die while at rest in the truck. It just so happens to be the similar dimensions of the 18650 battery in this lamp and it works on both of them, except in my flashlight it's even brighter than just with the batteries. I figure I am going to buy 2 more batteries and that way between this light, and the one I keep in the truck for emergencies it will always have a charged cell ready to go and I can extend the under dash and under hood sessions on my project truck when necessary.

Amazon Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XC32H80/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 

Toolfool

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Joined
Aug 22, 2011
Messages
4,981
Location
Tallahassee, FL
I originally purchased my Braun light through harborfreight.com. Took a few weeks to arrive, I liked it and ordered 2 more. A week or so later I received an email stating that my order was 'completed'. I assumed that meant it was being shipped. After a couple of weeks of no delivery and no further email notifications I called HF. The young lady I spoke to notified me there was no order on record, it must have been cancelled. I went back to the website and placed a new order for one flashlight. Eventually, I received the 'completed' notice and just gave up. Today I received 2 packages, one containing a single Braun light, the other containing a pair of them. Both orders filled !
 

JMQ4

Active member
Joined
Apr 4, 2018
Messages
37
That’s interesting and what happened to me, just an unceremonious completed with a $0.00 charge. Never did try to order again however. Maybe I’ll hit the lottery.
 

Motorman55

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Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
2,616
Location
South Jersey
I've been to both HF in Parsippany, NJ and the one in Brick/Toms River, NJ. Both have been out of stock for a few weeks now every time I've gone in.

Maybe I just keep missing them cause they seem go fast.
 

rpcraft

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Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
1,057
Location
Waco
I've been to both HF in Parsippany, NJ and the one in Brick/Toms River, NJ. Both have been out of stock for a few weeks now every time I've gone in.

Maybe I just keep missing them cause they seem go fast.

It's probably one of the highest selling items they have right now. I was going to pick up the larger one at one point but this one is so good it is probably the better option of the two, just because you can really do a better job of sticking it where you need it, and it broadcasts a very wide beam. I was moving a few weeks ago and had a steel enclosed trailer and it had no lights inside. I used this light and would just stick it to the roof thanks to the magnet and it was all the light I needed to tie things down, screw a few things to the wood floor, strap down some motorcycles, and then shove a few other things in the open holes.
 
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