I need a work light, one that is portable (as opposed to transportable). Sears carries work lights that have rows of LEDs. The LEDs vary in type and number. Unfortunately, there are no displays to show what the light is like. I was fooled by CFLs. The package said “replaces a 60-watt bulb”–rubbish! There was no way anybody could read by the light they threw off. They were also expensive, didn’t last long, and I had to drive to another city to dispose of them safely. That was the first and last time I bought CFLs. LED worklights are new to me, so I am not relying on the package promise of “bright light.” What is the thing, the specification or value, that tells you how much light it gives off, whether it is focused or diffuse, and how quickly its strength drops with increasing distance? Janet
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Not exactly what you're
Not exactly what you're talking about, but one of the handiest things I ever bought was a was an led headband light like you might use when camping. Hands free is terrific in that attic or a crawlspace. The light is always where you need it.
It was about 15 bucks at Lowes.
Janet,
Are you using this thing to work on your car or illuminate a room or what? I've used the LED rows worklights and they're quite bright. Sears has outlets - grab one and take it to the checkout desk or something, have them plug it in, recharge for a few minutes and see for yourself. - r
It's for illuminating
It's for illuminating relatively small areas, such as the wall I'm painting or the space under the kitchen sink. The light would be only a few feet away from the work surface.
I'm not sure if the worklights can be tested in the store. So many products come in those plastic cases that are welded shut. But I am going back today to check.
Janet
>>>I was fooled by CFLs. The package said "replaces a 60-watt bulb"--rubbish! There was no way anybody could read by the light they threw off. They were also expensive, didn't last long,
Really? My experience with CFLs is different.
I use them in a typical "trouble light" fixture (is that what you mean by "work light"?) I find they are WAY more durable than the old incandescant bulbs that lose their filament when you drop them. And I remember getting burned by incandescant bulbs more than a few times. Not so with CFLs.
For work light use I use the "daylight" bulbs that give a bright, somewhat bluish hue.
I bought a large package of them from Costco; can't remember the brand. The package said they would last for years, but they all conked out early. Of course, I didn't have the receipt anymore so they couldn't be returned.
The fixtures were recessed floodlights, which I've read is hard on bulbs, but the package didn't say they shouldn't be used there.
Janet
>>>The fixtures were recessed floodlights, which I've read is hard on bulbs, but the package didn't say they shouldn't be used there.
Yeah, I've had that happen. The best ones in my experience are the Phillips Marathon bulbs. They actually state on the package that they can be used in recessed fixtures.
Not sure if this is what your looking for .....
I have two of these, buying the second after seeing how good the first was. They've been used in a under-car work environment, being dropped, hit and everything else. Good brightness and last about 6-7 hours on a charge.
Usually you can get a 10 to 20% discount from a Snap-On truck if they know you or someone you know.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=&item_ID=89479&group_ID=2441&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
>> I have two of these, buying the second after seeing how good the first was.
Good enough for me. Thanks!
Janet
You bought it from Costco = they have the receipt. It's traced to your member number. They know everything you've ever bought.
You don't need a receipt for HD or Lowes either, you just need the credit card you bought the items with... even then, they will usually give you store credit if you are returning a whole bunch of stuff and can't find the receipt or card for a couple of items. That comes in handy when I find materials from a project a year before that are still good but outside the normal return date.
You are looking for lux, lumens, or candellas, which will tell you how bright the light is, and a color temperature. Ideally the color temperature should be in the 5000 to 6500-Kelvin range to render colors, similar to what natural daylight does.
The lux, lumens, and candela are all related measurements. The candella is the amount of light, the lumen is the number of candelas, emitted in a given arc, and the lux, is a measure of the amount of light on a given area.
Went back to Sears and, as expected, most of the work lights were in sealed packages so I couldn't test them. None of the Craftsman packages mentioned lux, lumens, or candelas; just the number of LEDs and descriptions like "super bright" and "ultra bright."
One light was labeled "400 lumens," but nothing about lux or candelas. That was the only light that said anything of the like.
Janet
What is the return policy of sears? Take it home and try it out. If you don't like it, return it.
This is where I'm totally on
This is where I'm totally on your side. I say buy it try it and return it if you don't like it. Not providing information about the product on the box is ridiculous. We have manuf. pushing new technologies, but not providing good information. Instead they insult our intelligence by giving us only marketing hype on the package. Can't make informed decisions without good information. I wouldn't lose any sleep over trying it out and returning it.
LED is relatively new technology, but color temp (K) should be a minimum spec. They may also have lumens, but I'm not sure about that.
This is an example of where we need to have a little patience and keep sharing information.
>>>We have manuf. pushing new technologies, but not providing good information. Instead they insult our intelligence by giving us only marketing hype on the package.
Couldn't agree more. Well put.
This is a disease among current light manufacturing.
Yeah? But what does it all really mean?? I've understood all of this at various times in the past ... and a lot of it tends to still be Greek to me. Must totally confuse most lay people out there. A shop light MAY not need to render colors per daylight depending on what type of work you are doing. E.g. I'm guessing engine mechanical work often MAY not require that color temp while e.g. electronics may require it.
It's not very common for a lamp package to display lux or candellas. Lux is dependent on the specific application (i.e. how far away the surface is from the light source and the specifics of the light source or light fixture to get the lux on that surface). Lumens is dependent on the lamp itself.
Maybe buy it and try it. If it doesn't work for your use, return it. Put the onus on the store/manuf. to provide you with enough information to make an informed decision.
As for your attitude re: CFLs. I understand what you are saying, but your attitude is lacking. There are thousands of choices in CFL lighting and it takes a little understanding to choose the right lamp for the application. There are a lot of cheap products out there. There is also a lot of confusion about what is what ... understandably. But it's like any technology ... you don't just go out and grab a drill and buy it. You study the specs, feel it, look at it. Granted the CFL specs are likely confusing to the lay person, but they are the gateway to proper choice. Just like the miriad of choices of incandescent ... you don't just go out and grab a flood lamp and stick it in your table lamp and go ... stupid technology ... last time I buy that.
While I appreciate the point of view of CFLs and think there is much to be done about awareness of the technology, your attitude leaves a lot to be desired. This technology is changing very rapidly. It is good, solid technology. Lack of understanding will tend to affect your attitude, but I'd encourage you to soften your thought and open your mind a bit to wrap it around the technology a bit.
As others have mentioned, look into the head lamps. Mine uses three bulbs and runs strong for hours. I used rechargables, which does reduce run time, but makes having charged batteries around easier.
I have worked in areas where there was no other lighting runing a miter saw and actully saw better than when I relied on a room light. As noted, they're great in attics, crawl spaces and so forth. Wherever you look there is light.
The one thing I have learned, when in dark spaces, is always have a second light, because batteries will always go out when you least expect it.
I have a LED trouble lamp I love and hate. It doesn't put out as much light as an incadesent, but it ALWAYS lights. Between it and a head lamp, there isn't much I can't do in the dark.