What is the best door cavity light

No question about it. Pro Lock's Super Probe. It takes a makita 9.6V battery. I've owned about five different car opening lights over the years and this one is the best I've ever owned!

The first time I ever saw one was at an ALOA convention. (This was before ProLock purchased it. It was then called the "Jiffy Light") There was a car door set up with the light inside it and turned on. Even in a well lit convention hall you could see everything in the door (including the twenty and fifty dollar bills laying in the bottom of the door.

There was a large gentleman sitting at the booth sort of laid-back with his hands folded over his large gut. I asked him what the twenty and fifty were doing in the bottom of the door.

Without missing a beat, (in a strong southern draw), he replied, "Boy, that's what yer 'spozed ta see when ya look in a car dow-er!"

I bought one on the spot! And to this day, I've never seen a better one. It runs about $90 (not including the battery), but worth every penny!!!

Bobby

agreed... it IS a light... bar none... nice case to store it in... easy to transport... and comes apart pretty well, so its easy to hang on the belt...

--Shiva-- nuk pu nuk

They have a 12 volt now too for 87.00 minus the battery. That's about the same price as the 9.6 and the 12v replacement bulbs are less than 20 bucks.

I was wondering about the bulbs. Will they burn out easy when you're working in the rain? That much voltage should create a lot of heat.

I wonder if a LED small enough to go into a door cavity would create enough light or is that still on the drawing board in a lab somewhere? That would be a better way to go because LED lites run cool and the bulbs like you say last what amounts to be forever and the battery could be much smaller.

I have a 9.6 Makita drill, and use the same battery.. the bulb I think runs on it at 6.V AS OF YET... 3-4 years now, have NOT broken or had the bulb burn out... it has been rained on a bit, but the bulb is not totally bare, it has a plastic sleeve on part of it...clear, but its there for 'support'

--Shiva-- nuk pu nuk

they are small enough to go in to a door no problem, although i have not seen one put on a wand it would be an easy thing to do.

Coast makes a LED flashlight on a 6 inch flexible wand. It's bright enough to hurt your eyes when you look directly into it.

The brightest LEDs still produce only a fraction of the light available with halogen incandescent bulbs. They DO manage to produce a pretty bright beam that has no "hot spot" in the middle. This helps keep the contrast in a more normal range. The batteries also last a LOOOOOOONG time.

The brighter LED flashlights use multiple LEDS and/or run at a higher voltage (and thus ampherage) than they should. Overdriving the LED reduces the life of the LED and can cause color changes. It also eats up the battery quicker.

I have half-a-dozen LED flashlights, but I don't think I'd trade in my Maglights yet. I do keep a "Coast" brand 2 inch long LED light in my pocket for those times when I need a light on the spur of the moment. I also keep a small LED flashlight hanging on a nail in the bathroom. It's the darkest room in the house during a power failure.

Oh. Did I mention that I like gadgets? A new lightbulb design that uses a lattice structure for the tungsten filament is in the works. VERY efficient. It produces little heat and uses normal voltages. I can't wait.

Daniel

Now that sounds like a very promising idea indeed! let us (or at least me) know when you hear more. Phil

If you don't have a PALight yet, you might consider one for that. They're a good size to velcro into an appropriate spot, and the lowest always-on setting is just bright enough to let you hit the bowl without hurting dark-adjusted eyes :)

The 9V battery seems to last just short of forever (as in over a year on one Duracell) in that mode.

I've considered trying to make brackets to mount a few as path lights that could be grabbed and used as flashlights in an emergency.