HF Braun Slim LED Worklight
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paulsomlo
Well-known member
The only time I've had a "malfunction", was when I inadvertently loosened the base while positioning it, losing battery contact.
When mine do that, it means that they need recharging. I just checked my three fully charged ones and I whacked them pretty good and they stayed on.
Bills Tools
Well-known member
My Work Light Braun Slim Bar Magnetic Folding Rechargeable LED
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
I bought a charger and some of the rechargeable 18650 batteries for them and they work on all of these mini lights that take 3 AAA batteries in the little cage as well as the Slim LED one. That includes all the freebies at HF. The combo set is about 19 bucks and its far better than having to recharge the light by plugging it in. It allows me to swap and get back to work. Also allows me to keep the various mini LED's in between the rest of the house, motorcycle, and truck all charged up. I just swap the batteries around in each device to use one down and recharge it. The charger set I got was around 20 bucks at amazon and came with 2 batteries and I just recently bought 4 more batteries because I have a couple of the HF freebie lights in between all the transportation modes.
charger and battery set - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XC32H80/?tag=atomicindus08-20
batteries - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BK4VC52/?tag=atomicindus08-20
charger and battery set - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XC32H80/?tag=atomicindus08-20
batteries - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BK4VC52/?tag=atomicindus08-20
ron350
Well-known member
Rpcraft can you show pictures of how you are using 18650 in the cheap HF lights?
The 18650 battery is 18mm OD x 65mm long.
The battery pack in a 3 AAA Harbor Freight light is 22mm OD x 52mm long.
The 18650 battery is 18mm OD x 65mm long.
The battery pack in a 3 AAA Harbor Freight light is 22mm OD x 52mm long.
I take it back, my flashlights were the Anker brand from Amazon. Needless to say I had a HF freebie that got mixed into the bunch and was close to the same size and must have still had a live battery that I thought was one of these cells (did not open it to look closer when I last checked and I thought it's really close to the same shape). I guess the difference is the Anker lights have an extension on their battery cage that makes it longer like the rechargeable batteries so it was just a lucky purchase on my account. FWIW the link to that flashlight is here.. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G8E3T4K/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I got a 2 for one deal when I purchased those and found out later the cells fit in just by accident. I liked the idea of getting the light with the flashing strobe and carrying on the bikes because if broken down on the roadside you can drop it behind the bike and turn the strobe on to help stave off anyone "not seeing you".
Sorry for the mis-information.
Sorry for the mis-information.
Menards now carries these under the Smart Electrician brand, currently $28.98 but you know they'll be on sale eventually:
https://www.menards.com/main/lighti...897-c-7546.htm?tid=4948535200312174780&ipos=1
I looked at them in the store and they appear identical to the Braun light.
https://www.menards.com/main/lighti...897-c-7546.htm?tid=4948535200312174780&ipos=1
I looked at them in the store and they appear identical to the Braun light.
I don't know how I found this thread... was searching for recommendations on Ring Pliers and now I'm buying a $20 flashlight.......
Any case... 20$ coupon, good until Feb. 2019.
Braun $20 Coupon from HF Coupon Database
Any case... 20$ coupon, good until Feb. 2019.
Braun $20 Coupon from HF Coupon Database
Michael_in_DE
Well-known member
Nice. Thanks Jason. I'll be picking up a third one. After I replaced the cells mine run for well over 4-5 hours at a time.
I've had 2 in daily autoshop use for a year now and still working.
I use 4 samsung cells with a multicell charger and have 2 lights on go and last over 4hrs easily .
Have a spare one as expected loose or break one but seem have lucky charms at not rode over one or left on undercarriage yet lol .
don't like spending 50bucks a light as hurts when you goof it up
like the bending neck on these too as get light angled better ...
I use 4 samsung cells with a multicell charger and have 2 lights on go and last over 4hrs easily .
Have a spare one as expected loose or break one but seem have lucky charms at not rode over one or left on undercarriage yet lol .
don't like spending 50bucks a light as hurts when you goof it up
like the bending neck on these too as get light angled better ...
TEKWRX
Well-known member
Just picked one of these up today with the $20 coupon. So far it's an AEWSOME little light. I was gonna try and get the Milwaukee M12 Rover light since you can get it from Home Depot right now for around $55 by doing the "free battery" trick, but funds are tight at the moment and I saw a few YouTube reviews on this Braun light that said it was pretty decent. I'm glad I tried this first. While I'm sure the M12 Rover is a better light in every way, this thing does what I need it to for $20 so it will be fine for the time being. I already have a ton of 18650 batteries so that's a plus.
I was worried that it might be limited for my main use which is as on under hood light while working on the car because I have a Subaru WRX with an aluminum hood so the magnet feature wouldn't work. But it turns out my hood scoop shroud is some kind of stamped steel so it's perfect to stick this guy on
I was worried that it might be limited for my main use which is as on under hood light while working on the car because I have a Subaru WRX with an aluminum hood so the magnet feature wouldn't work. But it turns out my hood scoop shroud is some kind of stamped steel so it's perfect to stick this guy on
What batteries are you using and is that 4-5hr run time on high or low?
I have someone else's Braun light here that has a dead battery in it. Not sure exactly why it died, but it wasn't that old. There's some corrosion inside the light from what I assume was the bad battery venting(?).
Michael_in_DE
Well-known member
I followed a link that someone else posted to some high end Samsung cells off eBay. And I only use the lights on high.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
Same here. I kept bumping the light to make it work and sometimes a bump would shut it off. Found the base was loose and all is well.
Still have two of these and the underhood light and all are going strong and blasting light. Great lights for the money.
I went back to HF and bought two more lights and that's when I discovered a bonus feature.
With two lights, stick the magnetic ends together and pretend you have a Darth Maul Light Saber and chase the dogs through the house.
With two lights, stick the magnetic ends together and pretend you have a Darth Maul Light Saber and chase the dogs through the house.
Bagherra
Well-known member
TEKWRX
Well-known member
Do any of you guys have issues with the on board USB charging? I noticed that while the light was on and plugged in yesterday for a few hours, it almost completely drained the battery (to about 2.68v checked on my external charger). I thought it was because I was running it off a powered USB hub, not plugged direct into a wall adapter. So last night I plugged the light into the wall and left it over night. This morning the red charging light was still on, and I checked the battery and it was only 3.3v after being charged for ~8 hours. That doesn't seem right. While it's easy enough to swap out the battery for a fresh charged one, I think being able to properly use the on board USB charging would be convenient. Do you think mine is defective and I should just swap it out for a new one? I've only had it for a few weeks, so I should be within the return window.
What ampere rating does your hub have? Mine has three spots specifically for charging and they are rated at 2 amps, which I think was what I read was required for the light. The other spots are not recommended for charging.
TEKWRX
Well-known member
The hub has some ports that are 1a and 2a.tried both. Also tried plugging into the wall with my Samsung QC3.0 plug. Still didn't charge after 8 hours. I took it back to HF today, and got another one. Haven't opened it yet though. Thinking about just returning it and getting the Milwaukee M12 rover while it's on sale at HD or the smaller Rover USB. Or both 
Haven't looked at mine to see how big it is, but Ace Hardware has a pretty good supply of different size O-rings. No help on the batteries.
TEKWRX
Well-known member
I recently got four batteries from this seller on eBay. I know they're legit Samsung cells because I used to deal with this vendor a lot back when I had my vape business. 18650's are very common in the vaping world and it was always a challenge finding a distributor that had the real deal. They ship quick too
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-25...var=601751998456&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
ron350
Well-known member
So2315
The o-ring looks like something cheap made for this light. The o-ring measures 1.25mm cross-section x 18 mm inside diameter.
The closest metric o-rings I can find are 1.25mm x 16mm and 1.3mm x 17mm.
The o-ring looks like something cheap made for this light. The o-ring measures 1.25mm cross-section x 18 mm inside diameter.
The closest metric o-rings I can find are 1.25mm x 16mm and 1.3mm x 17mm.
techieman33
Well-known member
These are what I would suggest. They aren't pulling a big draw like a high powered flashlight or vape deal. So capacity gets the priority over something like TEKWRK posted with high amp output but lower capacity. Illumn.com, imrbatteries.com and mtnelectronics.com are all good sources for legit batteries. Amazon and ebay should be avoided unless you have no other option.
https://www.illumn.com/batteries-ch...650-panasonic-3600mah-ncr18650g-flat-top.html
https://www.illumn.com/batteries-ch...650-panasonic-3600mah-ncr18650g-flat-top.html
bigredcornhead
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2011
- Messages
- 433
Gotta admit i bought one and loved it i walk out of there with something every time i go...
davethorik
Well-known member
Work provided these lights for a few of us.
Like: bright light, strong magnet
Dislike: power button doesn't always work. Charger cap doesn't fit in the charging port, rendering it useless. Whole thing feels flimsy.
Not sure what the hype about these is *shrug*
Like: bright light, strong magnet
Dislike: power button doesn't always work. Charger cap doesn't fit in the charging port, rendering it useless. Whole thing feels flimsy.
Not sure what the hype about these is *shrug*
redwrench60
Well-known member
I’m about 7 months in of daily use after buying 2 of these lights and the charging ports are completely whipped out of both. USB plugs have no business in an industrial environment. The lights both work fine including the one I got wet and had to dry it out to get it working and the other I burned with torch slag. I bought a two bank automatic charger off Amazon to charge batteries and prefer this setup anyway as I can charge when I please and not have to monitor charging through the light. All in all these work great for my uses.
techieman33
Well-known member
USB charging may not be the most robust connector. But it’s much better than the alternative of every device having its own unique wall wart and charging cable.
Pontiac787
Well-known member
Can you send a link to the type of charger you bought?
rlitman
Well-known member
I use a Nightcore D2:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KW2ZDJO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KW2ZDJO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
nafterclifen
Well-known member
I do the same. This is the way to go, 10000%. The Nitecore D2 and D4 chargers are one of the best, most versatile chargers for MANY rechargeable batteries. I use the 18650 li-ion batteries in many of my flashlights and keep a few dozen on hand at all times, most ready to go and charged so I can just swap them out when needed. USB charging is for the birds.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Looks like the one I bought is no longer available but the Nightcore charger others are linking looks almost identical and costs the same as mine.
jim faston
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
- Messages
- 257
According to the flyer I received these lights will be 19.99 at the parking lot sale October 11,12 &13. ITC members can get them at that price a day early.
bwringer
Well-known member
I destroyed one of these with antifreeze...
I had a motorcycle on my lift and the light stuck to the table. Somehow, some way, the hose from the bike's antifreeze reservoir got loose and poured a perfect, thin stream of antifreeze into the light in the exact 1mm spot where it would get inside. I didn't notice until the reservoir was empty. Absolute one in a million fluke.
I tried flushing the light out with WD-40, but no bueno. It would turn on but wouldn't turn off. Didn't seem safe to me -- lithium batteries are nuttin' to fool with -- so regretfully I said goodbye and bought another.
I love these things.
I have two at the moment and the charging ports still work fine, although the covers have vanished. I don't really care, though; I normally just swap in 18650 batteries and use a nifty little automatic battery charger.
I had a motorcycle on my lift and the light stuck to the table. Somehow, some way, the hose from the bike's antifreeze reservoir got loose and poured a perfect, thin stream of antifreeze into the light in the exact 1mm spot where it would get inside. I didn't notice until the reservoir was empty. Absolute one in a million fluke.
I tried flushing the light out with WD-40, but no bueno. It would turn on but wouldn't turn off. Didn't seem safe to me -- lithium batteries are nuttin' to fool with -- so regretfully I said goodbye and bought another.
I love these things.
I have two at the moment and the charging ports still work fine, although the covers have vanished. I don't really care, though; I normally just swap in 18650 batteries and use a nifty little automatic battery charger.
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