Suggestions on a rechargeable underhood work light?

[MRunabout]

All I've found is HF and Bluepoint threads. I was wondering if anyone has the ATD 80352: http://atdtools.com/80352

Ideally, I'd use a corded incandescent setup but having friends and family getting stranded one too many times necessitates a cordless setup that throws an ample amount of light.

Aside from this light, I also have a small Sunlight Eagle Turbo http://powerledlighting.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=115_11&products_id=9 and Astro Pneumatics 6360 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00396F4TO/?tag=atomicindus08-20 in case I need more concentrated lighting.

 

[2ManyProjects]

All I've found is HF and Bluepoint threads. I was wondering if anyone has the ATD 80352: http://atdtools.com/80352

Ideally, I'd use a corded incandescent setup but having friends and family getting stranded one too many times necessitates a cordless setup that throws an ample amount of light.

Why not something which runs off the car's own 12VDC supply, such as:

http://www.baycoproducts.com/index.php/productsbayco/incandescent-lights/SL-412-detail
http://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...potlights/work_lights_drop_lights/?quantity=1

http://www.baycoproducts.com/index.php/productsbayco/fluorescent-lights/SL-512-detail
http://www.walmart.com/ip/14003465

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/autocraft-12-volt-portable-drop-light-ac887/99994159-P

???

This way, no worries about whether or not the device was been recently-enough charged when it's needed.

 

[matt151617]

I got one of the Kobalt flex lights from Lowes for Christmas and they work pretty good. They can wrap around something and they're also magnetic. Battery powered or rechargeable.

 

[MRunabout]

I already have a smaller hand held size light and didn't want to buy another similar sized unit if I could help it. Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys!

 

[wiartonwillie]

We have 3 Wurth lights at my shop. We have forgotten them under hoods and also left one hanging from the bottom of a truck for 3 weeks in the winter. The vehicles came back later and we got them back. All we had to do was charge them and they still work. They seem expensive but they work good.

 

[F-Bobby]

http://www.tooltopia.com/general-1113-2502.aspx

Try to find one of these if you can stand a cord

http://www.tooltopia.com/atd-tools-80330.aspx

that if you want a small one with no cord.

and the one you already posted for a FULL underhood light.

 

[MRunabout]

WiartonWillie, are these the lights you're talking about? http://www.wurth.co.uk/working-equipment/working-lighting-batteries-and-chargers/workplace-lights

F-Bobby, I don't want to buy a smaller lamp since I already have an Astro Pneumatic http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00396F4TO/?tag=atomicindus08-20 that's similar in size so I wanted a large one to cover the main sizes I need.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I just picked up the Craftsman rechargeable LED stick light. It's bright and seems to run a while, too. The only thing is the manual says the red charging LED indicator should turn green in about 2 hours when it's fully charged, but it doesn't. I returned/exchanged 3 of them & they all stay red no matter how long you charge them. I'll report any other issues as I use it more...

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-30-led-rechargeable-stick-light/p-03473919000P

Tommy

 

[Speed4Life]

I use a Surefire Saint headlamp with rechargeable 123A batteries for on the go stuff like the OP mentioned. Keeps my hands free to work and 100 lumens lights up an engine bay nicely. Especially at night.

 

[gatchel]

I have this and it is THE best under hood rechargeable light I have ever used:

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=269

No, I don't work for Streamlight. I have other stinger series lights. It's nice because if I run out of battery, I can just swap one with another flashlight.

220 Lumens of a pleasant colored LED light output (guessing 5000K to 6500K temp). Not that cheap chinese blue/white light that irritates the eyes.

 

[dankicksass]

When I hear "underhood work light," I think of a lamp that actually attaches to the hood of the car and provides light to the general working area. All I see is people recommending hand held lamps.

I have the Bayco LED cordless underhood lamp. It is excellent. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007CNRZI8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also have one from Wel-Bilt. It's not as good but it's very inexpensive. It also didn't come with anything that holds it but a hook, so I added a couple bungees to it. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200591688_200591688

 

[gatchel]

The OP asked for cordless suggestions from what I read.

 

[MRunabout]

Dankicksass is right. I'm looking for a long 40+ inch light because I already have a pocket light and handheld light.

Gatchel, dankicksass, do you guys have any output pictures? Preferably in the dark, under a car hood?

 

[99blaze]

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/M24LED/24-LED-WORK-LIGHT/
This is what I have works great. 2 swivel hooks. 2 magnets on back. And one really strong adjustable base magnet super bright too

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[dankicksass]

Dankicksass is right. I'm looking for a long 40+ inch light because I already have a pocket light and handheld light.

Gatchel, dankicksass, do you guys have any output pictures? Preferably in the dark, under a car hood?

All I've got for photos is an iPhone and I'm not proficient enough with the camera app to take a decent night shot. If your budget constrains you to not buying the ATD or Bayco LEDs, get the cheap one I put up. It would probably be better if modded with a diffuser, the light is kind of focused toward the center. The Bayco is a good flood and brighter, and I'm sure the ATD is good as well because I've heard good things.

 

[MRunabout]

All I've got for photos is an iPhone and I'm not proficient enough with the camera app to take a decent night shot. If your budget constrains you to not buying the ATD or Bayco LEDs, get the cheap one I put up. It would probably be better if modded with a diffuser, the light is kind of focused toward the center. The Bayco is a good flood and brighter, and I'm sure the ATD is good as well because I've heard good things.

I have a Harbor Freight 40-something incher and like many LED lights, the light is concentrated toward the center. I tried opening it up to see if i could possibly put a diffuser in but couldnt get it. Budget isn't really a problem but I'd prefer not to spend $200 if i could get similar performance for half of that. The Blue Point is about 700 lumens and the ATD is 500-600 lumens. The Bayco is 330 lumens but I'm interested in seeing if it's enough for my needs.

 

[beaconterraone]

Every single rechargeable shop light I have tried has been junk.

What I have not tried is expensive rechargeable products like Streamlight's E-Flood LiteBox:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039D1MQG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a Streamlight Polystinger rechargeable flashlight - absolutely wonderful product, and hasn't failed after three uses like cheaper products. I would have confidence the above would perform equally. But sit down before checking the price.

 

[beaconterraone]

I have this and it is THE best under hood rechargeable light I have ever used:

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=269

No, I don't work for Streamlight. I have other stinger series lights. It's nice because if I run out of battery, I can just swap one with another flashlight.

220 Lumens of a pleasant colored LED light output (guessing 5000K to 6500K temp). Not that cheap chinese blue/white light that irritates the eyes.

Looks like something I can endorse, based on my Polystinger experience (see previous post).

 

[beaconterraone]

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/M24LED/24-LED-WORK-LIGHT/
This is what I have works great. 2 swivel hooks. 2 magnets on back. And one really strong adjustable base magnet super bright too

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

I'm surprised Matco would even put their name on it. Looks like one of the ones I've tried. TCJ - typical Chinese junk. Does it have a hassle-free warranty? I only see a return policy.

 

[99blaze]

I'm surprised Matco would even put their name on it. Looks like one of the ones I've tried. TCJ - typical Chinese junk. Does it have a hassle-free warranty? I only see a return policy.

Its actually works great I was skeptical. But my tool guy convinced me. He sells a lot and said no one has had any problems. As for warranty its probably a year or so I'll have to check

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[MRunabout]

The Stinger Light Pipe does look interesting but it would require me to buy a Polystinger and the Light Pipe retrofit kit or the Light Pipe kit itself. I'm not sure if I want to throw down the money on it being that it's only 20" long. How does it do as an underhood light?

 

[12ozd]

Got another thread running w/ some more answers

 

[gatchel]

The Stinger Light Pipe does look interesting but it would require me to buy a Polystinger and the Light Pipe retrofit kit or the Light Pipe kit itself. I'm not sure if I want to throw down the money on it being that it's only 20" long. How does it do as an underhood light?

I think is is very good as an under hood light. It is bright enough to see plenty of what's going on but not too bright that it messes with your eyes. Like any drop light, if you shine it in to your eyes you will see less of your work area.

I actually left it hooked up, under the hood of the wife's car. 3 days later, I needed it for something and couldn't find it in the chargers. It was still under the hood of the car (fortunately). I swapped the battery with on of my other Poly's and it still worked. No BS. I was very lucky it wasn't lost. It held up well.


I'll try to take a night time shot in comparison to a standard poly this evening.

 

[MRunabout]

Sweet! Thanks, gatchel.

Thanks for all the replies so far, guys!

 

[AndrewH]

When I hear "underhood work light," I think of a lamp that actually attaches to the hood of the car and provides light to the general working area. All I see is people recommending hand held lamps.

I have the Bayco LED cordless underhood lamp. It is excellent. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007CNRZI8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also have one from Wel-Bilt. It's not as good but it's very inexpensive. It also didn't come with anything that holds it but a hook, so I added a couple bungees to it. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200591688_200591688

I also have that Bayco led light and it's great. Very well made and sturdy, I think it's going to last quite awhile! The best part to me is that it can be used while it's charging / plugged in and while I was doing research most of the ones I found didn't work while being plugged in.

Andrew

 

[MRunabout]

I thought I'd share some pictures since I got around to adding a diffuser to my cheap HF light.

The first picture is actually on the low setting but it better represents what the high setting looks like in real life.

And the second is without the diffuser but still on high.

The diffuser is Glad Press n Seal. =D. I'm looking for some 3M Envision diffuser film but they're pretty pricey.

 

[dankicksass]

So you'd say that's gone well then? Upgrade?

 

[MRunabout]

It's pretty good for $30 but I find it a bit too blue/bright (I'd estimate around 6000K) for my tastes which is why I started looking for a new underhood work light. The Blue Point has a diffuser and looks to be in between a fluorescent and this HF LED which is what I'm looking for. I've seen pictures of the Bayco 120 LED and it seems a bit too high on the Kelvin scale as well. The only other light I was interested in is the ATD 80352 but no one seems to have it. My curiosity almost has me clicking the order button even though I'm usually the type that goes with the tried and true products. I've sent ATD an E-mail some days ago but they've yet to reply.

 

[Wangstang]

I thought I'd share some pictures since I got around to adding a diffuser to my cheap HF light.

The first picture is actually on the low setting but it better represents what the high setting looks like in real life.

And the second is without the diffuser but still on high.

The diffuser is Glad Press n Seal. =D. I'm looking for some 3M Envision diffuser film but they're pretty pricey.

Can you share a bit more on your diffuser mod? Did you simply apply to the outside or did you open the assembly up?

Wes

 

[MRunabout]

I couldn't open it up so I applied it to the outside.

 

[gatchel]

So these are a bit later than I thought but better late than never, right!


These were taken with my Blackberry 9930 from about 36" from the floor. The flash was turned off.

There are 3 pictures:
No Flash
LitePipe
PolyStinger LED

 

[jchetty]

This one seems to good to be true. The price seems low- dunno about how long it will last. Anybody ever use one?

It's from Eastwood- anybody know about how good their products are? I need an underhood light asap

 

[MRunabout]

The light output on that is way too blue.

 

[MRunabout]

Gatchel, would you say your light produces a concentrated beam pattern or is it more of a small flood light?

 

[gatchel]

I'm not sure of the exact color temp but it looks more accurate in this video:

It's more of an even flood.

 

[jchetty]

The light output on that is way too blue.

You are correct. I ended up picking up a Bayco from Amazon. Needed one and couldn't wait anymore. I will post up night pics and let you know what the color looks like. It is 2 rows of leds (2 x 60) and has a button where you can do one row- 2 row- off.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CNRZI8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Later tonight, I will post pics. I will say this, at least functionally it is impressive. It has the sliding hooks. Then when it is mounted under the hood, you can still slide the light to center it.

Also, you can detach it from the underhood mount and use 1) swivel mounts- cheapy plastic 2) magnets that are located on the end but the ends swivel. Looks promising- we will see about the light output

 

[jchetty]

updated pics of the bacyo rechargeable light in action. Not bad. No light vs both led rows on- no flash in either pic

 

[MRunabout]

Not bad! How's the color? I originally ruled it out as I saw the pictures here and thought it was too blue. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201095

And what vehicle do you have? What does it put out with the supercharger?

 

[jchetty]

Not bad! How's the color? I originally ruled it out as I saw the pictures here and thought it was too blue. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201095

And what vehicle do you have? What does it put out with the supercharger?

The light is pretty white. The light does feel a little cheap. Not cheap as light but cheap as somewhat thin....so. For a pro mechanic- doesn't feel like it will stand up to pro use. I have never held a truck bought light so no basis for comparison- just what I feel.

I will try and get a pic of this and a fluorescent in the same pic for comparison.

That is Ford Lightning. It is a 2000 so it is 360hp/440 ft lbs tq stock (2001-04 made 390hp/440tq due to a bigger maf and a leaner tune). A Lightning is a factory supercharged verision of the F150 made from 99-2004. The original Lightning a made from 93-95 were not supercharged.

 

[MRunabout]

I think I'll get the ATD light just due to curiosity. Then we'll at least have pictures of the main lights out there.

No wonder it looks so factory! Haha. I had a landlord that had a Lightning with an intake, exhaust and smaller pulley. So damn quick for a truck!