-
Wobblelight 175 Watt Metal Halide, Yellow - 30 to 42 ft. Range
Your Price: $246.00
This 36" tall, 175 Watt Metal Halide Wobblelight is a self-righting highly durable work light that is bright and virtually indestructible. Designed to withstand beatings from... More Info
-
Bull Dog® Portable Work Light - 3 Ft. Floodlight
Your Price: $85.95
This 3 foot floodlight is has an all-weather anodized tempered aluminum pole with a heavy PVC-coated 1/2" solid steel base. Weatherproof, UL-listed 500W fixtures come with a chrome-plated... More Info
Choosing the Right Portable Work Lights for the Task at Hand
Portable work lights are necessary for every technician. Drop cord lights are the traditional work lights—this style is practical and inexpensive, and it requires an incandescent bulb. Traditional work lights are useful when working under the hood, dash or vehicle. Plastic and metal varieties come with 12 to 25 foot cords and have a price range close to 15 dollars. Models that are more expensive are available with sockets in the handles with a 110-volt capacity that you can plug other tools into. You can also find them with hooks, magnetic clips, longer cords and reels.
Traditional work lights are not perfect. Their main flaw is the use of incandescent light bulbs. They are hot, easily broken, and drain energy. Filament bulbs burn out faster than other types of bulbs, and must be replaced periodically. Additionally, traditional work lights create shadows and glare from their reflectors. The hook can also twist the light and prevent it from shining on the work in progress.
Compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs are available to use in work lights. This does require a minor upgrade for a standard work light, but the energy saved will compensate for the cost of the upgrade. A CFL bulb only uses 23 to 26 watts to give off the same illumination as a 100-watt fluorescent bulb, and it lasts for years. CFL light bulbs are also cooler than filament bulbs, which means you are less likely to burn yourself.
Fluorescent trouble lights are another work light option. You can find them with and without cords. They offer many of the same advantages as CFL lights. Fluorescent bulbs are more durable than filament bulbs, but a strong blow will break them. These bulbs use mercury vapor and a chemical phosphor coating to create light rather than a filament. A transformer (ballast resistor) is necessary to turn off the bulb.
Fluorescent trouble work lights are around 30 dollars, but they have a drawback. The bulbs are expensive and difficult to find. Additionally, cold temperatures can have a negative effect on how well the light bulb operates. If you opt for a cordless version, remember to charge the batter with every use. Cordless models typically produce less light and only work for a few hours.
Another work light option is a halogen shop light. These are not used as a primary lighting source. Halogen bulbs burn very bright, but the halogen gas inside prevents them from burning out as quickly as a filament light bulb. These lights are typically cylinders that use anywhere from 250 to 500 watts of electricity.
The heat output of these light bulbs is a drawback. They can easily cause burns or fires, so they require protective screens. Fluorescent trouble lights can be mounted on a fixture or placed on the floor, depending on the job that needs to be done. The light bubs are not expensive and have the same life as a filament bulb. However, touching the bulb with your fingers will leave oils that will crack the bulb once it is turned on.
White light emitting diode (LED) trouble lights are newer, but useful for work lights or trouble lights. LED lights are strong and have long lives because they are solid-state electronic devices. They are cool and require less energy than some of the other light options. This means cordless options are available, and the charge can last up to 10 hours.
LED lights are not especially bright, so a work light typically requires 25 to 100 LEDs. There are models that allow you to choose the LED output and extend the life of the battery. The soft light of an LED means fewer glares and shadows. Some cordless options have swivel heads or magnetized bases. LED lights can be mounted almost anywhere.
LED lights are more expensive than other lights, selling from 75 to 100 dollars. You also need electronic upgrades to operate LED lights. The light output of LEDs is limited, so it is difficult to compare their output with other light bulbs. Their light is brightest when first turn on, and it decreases after the bulb temperature stabilizes. The brightness of a light decreases over time. Once an LED light does fail, it is not possible to simply change the light bulb. The bulbs are wired into the lamps. Still, they last for thousands of hours and are safe to use in any work situation.