HF Braun Slim LED Worklight

[cavalry]

I have a bunch of these and in general like them. I picked up a charger and liberated batteries from a discarded laptop so I can run continuously.
My biggest issue is that a few of the lights are really sensitive to shock. Just moving and clicking it to a magnetic surface turns it off. Has anyone dug into them to repair?

 

[toddmorr]

I've found that happens when the end cap is slightly loose, screw it down tight and I guess the battery connections are made, the problem goes away

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[rmsg0040]

IMO the battery run time is a little weak, so I ordered (4) 18650 batteries from ebay.

 

[ron350]

If you find a way to take one of these apart please let us know.

On post #373 it looks like he separated the battery section from the light bar section. If you look close it appears there was damage separating the two sections. It looks like Braun uses some strong glue to prevent disassembly of the light.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=379119&page=19

If yoy are having battery contact issues try stretching the spring in the end cap.

 

[AA/FC]

The brand new version of the slim bar from Harbor Freight looks pretty good. Hopefully they come out with a good coupon to make it a little more appealing. The slim bar and shaft light will be useful but I already have a bunch of regular flashlights.

New 3 in 1 Braun LED light:
https://youtu.be/lE2TZEXzjD8

.

 

[kctyphoon]

The brand new version of the slim bar from Harbor Freight looks pretty good. Hopefully they come out with a good coupon to make it a little more appealing. The slim bar and shaft light will be useful but I already have a bunch of regular flashlights.

New 3 in 1 Braun LED light:
https://youtu.be/lE2TZEXzjD8

.

Last 2 times i stopped at HF - the peg hooks for them were empty.. i swear guys must go in there and buy everything for flea markets.. youd think they would have come up with a new name for flea markets by now..

 

[AA/FC]

Last 2 times i stopped at HF - the peg hooks for them were empty.. i swear guys must go in there and buy everything for flea markets.. youd think they would have come up with a new name for flea markets by now..

My store had only two of the new lights on the peg hooks when I was there last week. Well, one by the time I walked out. Lol.

I saw these new lights listed on ebay for $73.99. What are people thinking? Who would list an item on ebay for more than retail when they can be just as easily ordered from the original seller for less money? The ebay seller is going to make a few pennies at best after paying for shipping, ebay seller fees, and paypal transaction fees.

 

[D45]

My original two are still working great

 

[lardy1]

I would like one of those. But I never go to Harbor Freight so I'll probably have to live without it.

 

[VtecGSR95]

Ive had 2 of these for a year or so......magnet fell out of 1, the other seems to have a bad connection internally and the light is bright, then dim, tap on it and bright again. Not as durable as I'd hoped. Maybe Ill try the newer style.

 

[unslow1]

I would like one of those. But I never go to Harbor Freight so I'll probably have to live without it.

Menard's also carries them.

 

[javyLSU]

Ive had 2 of these for a year or so......magnet fell out of 1, the other seems to have a bad connection internally and the light is bright, then dim, tap on it and bright again. Not as durable as I'd hoped. Maybe Ill try the newer style.

Mine has been great until recently - now whenever I grab it, it turns off. Initially I thought I was just pushing the button (which is already terribly sensitive) but I've made a concerted effort to NOT touch the button when grabbing it, and it seems the vibration from grabbing/moving opens the circuit somewhere and the light turns off. Gonna bit the bullet and buy a similar (but far superior) MAC light to replace this one.

 

[WhataTool]

Girlfriend's brother works at HF, says for every 2 of theses they sell they get someone trying to exchange/return/warranty out of the window. Says he's tired of hearing about them

 

[jgromada]

I have one of these, very nice

But i can't believe this thread has been going on for 3 years

 

[emeraldcoupe]

both of mine are still going strong

 

[toddmorr]

Mine has been great until recently - now whenever I grab it, it turns off. Initially I thought I was just pushing the button (which is already terribly sensitive) but I've made a concerted effort to NOT touch the button when grabbing it, and it seems the vibration from grabbing/moving opens the circuit somewhere and the light turns off. Gonna bit the bullet and buy a similar (but far superior) MAC light to replace this one.

make sure the screw cap at the bottom holding the battery in is very tight. I had the same problem, tightened the screw cap and it seems to have helped a bit.

It also seems to flick off "early" after the light's been on a while, meaning the battery is worn or bad, perhaps.

 

[javyLSU]

make sure the screw cap at the bottom holding the battery in is very tight. I had the same problem, tightened the screw cap and it seems to have helped a bit.



It also seems to flick off "early" after the light's been on a while, meaning the battery is worn or bad, perhaps.

Yep, that’s the first thing I checked. I even went as far as replacing the battery with another I had to make sure it wasn’t a bad battery, but the light continues to do the same thing with the other battery I installed.

 

[jonshonda]

Mine has been having issues with the dimming down to a very low output. It doesn't seem to be dependent on movement, loose bottom cap, or any outside influence.

 

[chappys4life]

They are great when they work. Mine the charging port is no longer working. Picked up a replacement but eyeballing the Milwaukee lights as a replacement when this one goes


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[Newell33]

I've had one of these for about a year. The charge cable connection became loose and it would no longer charge. I really liked the light, so I went ahead and bought another one treating it as a disposable HF item. What I found was the charge cable itself was the issue. The cable that came with the new light fits tight in both lights, and now both charge and work perfectly. I haven't found anything else that I like better, so even if the life expectancy isn't that great I'll probably continue to buy and use them.

 

[Tynee]

I like the one I've got so well that I planned to pick up another one last week while I was in there. Imagine my disappointment to find that they were priced at $40 now...

 

[lardy1]

I saw a coupon this morning. They're on sale.

 

[D45]

My two Braun lights are still going strong, no issues with them at all

Just installed a lift kit on a friends Jeep and used both of them

 

[CoogarXR]

I still use the hell out of mine. I also keep sticking it to door jambs when I am doing door speakers, window motors, mirrors, etc, and I keep forgetting it's there and closing the door on it, lol. It gets smashed and dropped on the concrete and continues to work.

The other day I thought I hurt it, it was flashing and wouldn't stay on, but it was just the end-cap (battery cap) had worked loose. Tightened her up and she still works great.

 

[MarkG]

I just got this one----it's awesome! I've posted elsewhere about it and been accused of being a spammer, but oh well......
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-80...0228/305124388

 

[D45]

Corded lights are so 2015

 

[Zmann]

look out for spammers above


;-)

 

[Theruse]

The HF light is the best. I have so many lights but this one is my continued go-to. I now have two. As well, I bought three more for each of my buddies who helped me on a major engine rebuild. Each time I go to their garages I see them always using the light. Works very well to see into tight spots and I attach it to my four post lift to get great light when working underneath. Very durable and takes a beating. Never failed me yet.

 

[unslow1]

I have loads of lights but really only use HF ones.

 

[DugT]

When this thread started, in 2017, the HF light was only $20. Now it is $40.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I lost mine back in May, found it last week. It was under a core support on a customer's car riding all summer up in Green Bay. Strong magnet kept it safe and it still works.

 

[Indexmill]

I lost mine back in May, found it last week. It was under a core support on a customer's car riding all summer up in Green Bay. Strong magnet kept it safe and it still works.

Now, that's funny.

 

[redpen]

$24.99 until 1/14. Great light, not just for the price.

 

[M6erfan]

One of the little felt bottom pads fell off one of mine. It's a couple years old. Other than that, still going strong.

 

[stickshift]

$24.99 until 1/14. Great light, not just for the price.

I think it was down to $20 around the holidays for one weekend.

I've got several batteries for mine, great light.

 

[WaterBoyz]

I think it was down to $20 around the holidays for one weekend.

I've got several batteries for mine, great light.

The button-top batteries are better than the non-button-top batteries.

Also, some batteries have an internal circuit that only lets the battery discharge only so far. That is also the better one to get.

I have a charger that holds 4 batteries and does not over-charge them. Always at the ready.

 

[goforbroke]

Damn, I didn’t realize this light was so popular. Mine has to be three years now and I’ve dropped it too many times. The top of the surrounding black plastic housing on the top light is missing lol. It still works though. The oem battery is trash though. I have a lot of spare 18650 batteries I keep around and use them.

 

[stickshift]

*Switch issue alert*

The switch on my Braun light has been acting up the last several weeks. Today it died and wouldn't turn on at all. Checked HF reviews and someone suggested spraying it with contact cleaner (hat tip to Dave in HF reviews). I blasted switch, charge port and battery contact (near switch) with contact cleaner. Switch is working albeit a bit finicky. But better than dead.

Then I tried @mfewtrail's suggestion to rotate the switch. Now the switch is reliably cycling through its settings. I'll put some tape on switch to prevent rotating away from this sweet spot.

Something to try for those with non-functional switches.

 

[Bagherra]

Which batteries are you guys replacing the HF ones with?

 

[cheechi]

Which batteries are you guys replacing the HF ones with?

any 18650 will do. I have 'name brand' nitecore charger but the batteries are all over the place. Wal Mart is the only big name store I know that sells them, for garden lights in the outdoor section. Vape shops are your best bet if you need variety locally. Whole bunch of no name brands on amazon & ebay you just have to trust the reviews.