Good Idea, Bad Design
Written: Nov 20 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: provides portable lighting
Cons: additional mounts ill-designed, cannot get cover open to change bulb
The Bottom Line: Though the 4-in-1 might seem a good idea, it's not done well. This cheaply-made light might as well be tossed when the bulb burns out.
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| scmrak's Full Review: Utilitech 250-Watt 1-Head Mini Portable Work Light... |
You can't fix what you can't see, and you're certifiable if you work around sharp tools and can't see the edges. Both mean that good lighting is essential for any shop area, both general and spot lighting. That's in the shop - but what do you do when you have to take the tools to the jobsite? That's easy: work lights.
Dad used to get by with a 100-watt "trouble light"; I use a tripod-mounted dual-head work light that puts out 1000 watts. It lights up a room like a Broadway stage, but it's way too clumsy (and hot) to fit into small spaces. The compromise? a smaller version of the work light: portable like Dad's incandescent light, but with brighter halogen bulbs. Mine is from Lowe's: a Utilitech Portable 250-Watt 4-in-1 Halogen Work Light (Lowe's item number 246900, model WL250CL4-L). Like its bigger brother, the WL250CL4-L is of steel and aluminum construction painted blaze orange so it's easier to find in cluttered spaces. It uses a 250-watt halogen bulb (included). To reduce burns, the bulb is mounted behind a steel grille. With its 10"x7" footprint and 7½" height (approximate measurements), it easily fits under vehicles and into cabinets. It has a cushioned U-shaped handle and a three-foot grounded cord, but no on-off switch. Initial assembly includes inserting the bulb and putting on the wire cage - I don't think I'll ever get it off again, it's so ill-fitting.
The light's a 4-in-1 because Utilitech includes four mounting options. The standard mount is an H-shaped skid, which works just fine. The light housing can be tilted on its stand to raise or lower the beam. Utilitech also includes a hook that can be fastened to the housing. I'd rather not use this hook, myself, because it doesn't mount securely and the clearance between hook and handle is too narrow to fit the hook over anything sturdy. A third mount is a spring clamp that fastens to the base. The clamp has rubber jaw covers to prevent marring, and opens wide enough to accept a 2x4 (you'd better have eaten your Wheaties, though). The fourth type is a "tent stake" to keep the light in place when used on the ground or other soft surfaces. The clamp and hook use the same knurled knob for mounting. Keeping track of those loose parts is, I guess, up to the buyer. The manufacturer also includes a trilingual owner's manual printed in about four-point type.
The Utilitech 4-in-1 Portable Halogen Worklight does what it's supposed to: provide light on the jobsite. It is, however, not well-designed. The three additional mounts are essentially useless and potentially unsafe, and that's if they don't get lost before you ever use them. I doubt I could get the protective grille off the lamp housing to change a bulb, so ultimately it's disposable - even if that's not on purpose. On those bases, it's not recommended.
Recommended:
No
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