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Hemmings Motor News has been around since 1954. We're proud of our heritage, but we're also more than the Hemmings full of classifieds that your father subscribed to. Aside from new editorial content every month in Hemmings, we have three monthly magazines: Hemmings Muscle Machines, Hemmings Classic Car and Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car.

While our editors traverse the country to find the best content for those magazines, we find other oddities related to the old-car hobby that we really had no place for - until now. With this blog, we're giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what we see and what we do during the course of putting out some of the finest automotive magazines you'll ever read.

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Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

Posted November 18, 2020 12:00 AM by dstrohl
Pathfinder Tags: Rechargeable work light

Satisfactory lighting is essential when doing repairs or maintenance in an engine compartment and mounting that source of illumination out of the way is preferable. This 41 5/8-inch long and 2¾-inch diameter Braun work light (Model BR127, SKU #63990), sold through Harbor Freight, advertises 845 lumens and has a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

It's lightweight, at less than 3 pounds, and its molded endcaps feature magnets and recessed foldaway plastic swiveling hooks to offer different attachment options. The endcaps also unscrew from the handles and are retained by stretch cords for a longer reach, so the unit can be hung under the hood, under the car, or in myriad other places. The handles have six flat surfaces that provide different aiming choices if you place it on the ground. The hexagonal shape of the handle means it won't roll down the driveway.

In my experience over the last several months of owning the light, it has been bright enough for my needs when working under the hood, in the interior, and under the car. I have noticed that the LEDs appear to be a little brighter on one side than on the other, however. Aiming the light when it's hanging from the cords can be a bit fussy, but hasn't been an issue.

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#1

Re: Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

11/18/2020 4:40 PM

I personally prefer a headlamp. It shines where I'm looking and leaves both hands free.

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#2

Re: Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

11/18/2020 5:18 PM

Every Braun product I ever had was crap and ended up in the garbage...not sayin' that's the case here, but....

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In reply to #2

Re: Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

11/23/2020 11:18 AM

Solar Eagle

i respect your knowledge and experience

why / what fails or disappoints you?

I bought two Braun LED Magnetic Slim Bar Folding Rechargeable lights over a year ago

i have found them great for auto repair work, around the house and as a grill light- off course I used the discount coupon and while on sale so maybe have 25 each in them

thinking of getting two more

have three friends that have them as well - one bought extra battery off eBay rather than a second light

why Such a bad review?

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Re: Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

11/24/2020 11:51 PM

I wasn't talking about the lights....

I have a set of these for general purpose, as well as the headlights

..an assortment of lanterns, flashlights, and other lights...so I'm good

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#3

Re: Product Test: Braun Underhood Rechargeable Work Light

11/23/2020 12:42 AM

The harbor freight website list price is $ 35.00 and the warranty is 90 days.

Harbor freight says to compare it to the Bayco SLR 2120

Amazon cost for SLR is $ 96.00 and has 1 year warranty.

So you need to spend $ 140.00 for 4 Braun's to get the same warranty as 1 purchase of what $ 96.00 will get you.

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