Does anyone make a good underhood work light?

dannyd555222 · 2025-04-12T23:39:02.791Z

Good meaning:

Able to sustain 500+ lumens for more than 2 hours
4000k-5000k high CRI
Magnetic attachment

Good quality construction overall

zoulas · 2025-04-13T00:06:49.754Z

Does this have to run on battery?

dannyd555222 · 2025-04-13T01:09:15.190Z

Yes.

I’m seeing a lot of lights but they are all flimsy and the use that cob led bs

Kitkat · 2025-04-13T01:50:50.277Z

Amzn: mos lighting mos-ly03 $16.99
Smd, lg batt(9000mah, tho they caim 12kmah)

Dc38 · 2025-04-13T02:44:32.827Z

I’m sorry, i mean this in the most affectionate way possible. You’re adorable…

12kmAh is 12Ah lol…the k and m cancel out in this case. You’ve got me smiling, bruv, this made my night lol

Dc38 · 2025-04-13T02:47:46.187Z

Milwaukee uses “trueview technology”, which is what I assume means “decent CRI”. I kinda fell in love with their m18 rocket, folds up to look like an RPG, but deploys as a tripod flood light. They also have lights that are specifically for underhood work, just google it

Here I saved you some trouble…M12™ Underhood Light Kit | Milwaukee Tool

@dannyd555222

Snoman002 · 2025-04-13T22:38:19.960Z

The Glutton:

Milwaukee uses “trueview technology”, which is what I assume means “decent CRI”. I kinda fell in love with their m18 rocket, folds up to look like an RPG, but deploys as a tripod flood light. They also have lights that are specifically for underhood work, just google it

Here I saved you some trouble…M12™ Underhood Light Kit | Milwaukee Tool

@dannyd555222

I have the Harbor Freight version of that light. The major difference being it has removable ends with magnets instead of the pinch bar.

In general the CRI is sufficent for all vehicle uses i have had need to use it for. All objects and colors are rendered well enough i dont notice a lack of clarity.

The downside IMO is the form factor isnt as useful as you would think. The 1300lumens of the Milwaukee vs the 900 of the HF might make up for it, but i doubt it. The battery would be nice, the HF version is sufficient for most small projects but i have run it dead occasionally.

Im starting to prefer a good headband with the strip lights, combined with a decently directional small worklight

https://www.harborfreight.com/845-lumen-led-rechargeable-underhood-work-light-63990.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22297021671&campaignid=22297021671&utm_content=178912877947&adsetid=178912877947&product=63990&store=3000&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4eqNpsosB-zd-C619ayVFSWu&gclid=CjwKCAjwwe2_BhBEEiwAM1I7sbO0XtQAm6uFC8y12DTI5YjiWGdeWEkZnUaeK2lH4OISSzwgDyuQGBoCUGkQAvD_BwE

smurcod · 2025-04-14T01:44:58.336Z

Yes, the big power tool brands make them. Most likely the high CRI won’t be there? They also don’t use magnets- from what I’ve seen.

Here’s one from Dewalt https://www.dewalt.com/product/dcl045b/12v20v-max-cordless-hood-light and Makita https://dtis8tdmkp4fg.cloudfront.net/products/cordless/xgt-40v-80v-max/lighting-fans/lighting/dml818/DML818_infobook.pdf

strayz · 2025-04-14T08:55:21.243Z

Have you looked at the flat panel light that is on sale at costco? I have two and I am really impressed at the output and how long it runs. When I bought it I was planning on testing it and returning it as garbage. I plan on using for camping and I have used one for a power outage we had here. It meets all of your criteria that you are asking for, and for around 30ish bucks it also has a gimmicky solar panel to recharge it as well, and works as a small storage cell for recharging phones. take a look a t see what you think of it.

strayz · 2025-04-14T19:13:23.739Z

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Ledhead · 2025-04-14T19:46:52.041Z

Hope you don’t mind me adding a link? Infinity X1 3000 I was curious too.

dannyd555222 · 2025-04-14T20:41:49.241Z

I saw those at Costco

Have you tested the runtime esp in the 4500k mode?

strayz · 2025-04-17T08:00:08.445Z

On the run to shutdown I fell asleep and it was going strong at I want to say 6.5 ish hours (Power outage and I was tired.). I have only ran it for a few hours here and there after that. I guess I should get ready and do a run till dead test this weekend.

I like having the hook and the magnet as more options to hang/locate the light. The magnet will hold the light on my fridge so there was a small win.

I prefer the Medium color tone as the warm is way too warm and the cool is 6500 or so. If I was to hazard a guess I would say medium is closer to 4800 than 4500. Just remember my eyes are old and I wear glasses.

Other than that it is a good area light, kinda big but it does put out a lot of light.

If you need a smaller version with out the magnet or solar panel check out home despot and Lowes and dig around in there old back stock and see if you can Find one of the single led work lites kind of in the same form factor that uses 4xAA batteries. I have a few of them for in the garage for when under the car. ( And not worried about dropping a Ford 460 Starter on them, read cheep.) I will see if I can find a image of them and post it up after this.

strayz · 2025-04-17T08:06:12.704Z

Here is the defiant little panel light. Not made any more but were like 10 bucks each. The one they make now is 20 bucks and more light I think…

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