The Tech-Life Tech-Light magnetic worklight is USB-rechargeable and waterproof, with an IPX4 rating and offers a rotating beam for over 220 degrees of directional light. Its compact shape is designed to fit into tight spaces and provide a focused beam of light directly on the work area. The Tech-Light offers four brightness settings, with a maximum output of 300 lm, which can last a full work day. It can also last up to 500 hours at the lowest “lantern” setting of 50 lm. The Tech-Light features a replaceable lens.The review
When working in the shop, adequate lighting is a key part of a technician’s productivity. According to technicians Ken Elzinga and Lou Fort, the Tech-Life Tech-Light offers bright light in a small size.
Elzinga, owner of Hilltop Auto Service in Byron Center, Mich., appreciated the Tech-Light’s magnetic base, which allows it to be positioned out of the way, yet focused on the area of work.
“I liked the rotating head that allows you to focus the beam where you are working. It has four brightness levels, which can help reduce glare in some instances,” he notes.
Fort, lead technician at K.A.R.S. Inc. in Huntingburg, Ind., was impressed by the long battery life. “On ‘high,’ I have been getting close to six hours of continuous use. On ‘medium,’ which is not much dimmer than ‘high,’ I can get over 10 hours of nonstop light," he says. "Finally, a cordless light that lasts me a whole day on a single charge,”
There is no setup required other than charging the light before use. The light, Fort says, is easy to use, noting that changing the direction of the lamp using the rotating tab is handy and simple.
Elzinga says he uses several cordless lights, but found that the Tech-Light worked well for tight spaces, such as under dash work. “I could position this light on something metal under the dash to see what I was working on. Its small size makes it a good light where space is limited,” he says.
“I have been using my Tech-Light for 99 percent of all my lighting needs since receiving it,” adds Fort. “I have even been using it when doing interior work [where] there wasn’t a convenient spot for its magnetic base to attach.”
As an improvement, Fort suggests adding a way for the lamp to be hung when there is no metal for the magnet to secure to.
Fort did express some concern about how the replaceable protective lens attaches to the lamp. He experienced some issues with the lens not staying in place, but when he reached out to the company, they sent him another that he has had no issues with.
Overall, both Fort and Elzinga were impressed by the Tech-Light’s bright light for its small size.
