Lighting has absolutely exploded in the tool industry the past few years thanks to the falling cost of LED chips. These light emitting diodes produce illumination at levels beyond what a traditional bulb is capable of at a greatly reduced power consumption. Toss in the fact that they run cooler and you have a revolution in hand held lighting. Klein lighting solutions are taking advantage of LED technology in ways that make a lot of sense for electricians.
I have to admit – I like big numbers when it comes to lighting. Yes, I use lights professionally, but with the amount of time I spend in the great outdoors, they double for recreational use. Because of that, I tend to go for high lumen, rechargeable options whenever possible. That’s not what Klein produced though, so is there a reason to go for them over higher output options?
Absolutely.
First, consider the target end user. Electricians are up close and personal with their work. Most applications in the world of electricians are rarely more than an arm’s length away. If you bring a 1000 lumen flashlight to the party, you’re going to blind yourself no matter material you’re working on.
All of the Klein lights have some common traits. They’re all centered around an orange color theme that makes them easy to find. The LED light is a more natural white than other light sources. The yellow tint of an incandescent bulb steps aside and gives way to LED’s easier color identification when working with wiring.
Klein also went with consumable batteries over NiCd or Li-ion. It’s a trade-off for sure, but one that keeps the costs down. The price is low enough that you might even consider the lights themselves as disposable. That’s a pretty intelligent move by Klein product managers. Handheld lights get lost or damaged every day. I’d rather replace a $20 – $30 light than one that retails over $100.
Let’s dig a little deeper. We got our hands on three of the new lights (we don’t have the Klein Slide Focus Flashlight yet). Here’s what to expect along with what we think.
Klein Lighting Round-Up
Klein Headlamp Specifications
- Batteries Included: 3 x AAA
- Intensity: 50 lumens (flood), 150 lumens (spot)
- Run Time: 10 hours (flood), 6 hours (spot)
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Drop Protection: 6 ft.
- Strap Material: Adjustable Anti-Slip Silicone
- Special Features: 45° Tilt Capability
- Expected Retail Price: $25 – $30
The Klein Headlamp (Cat. No. 56220) features an anti-slip silicone strap that keeps the lamp securely fastened to your hard hat. The strap is large enough to fit just about any size head, hard hat included. It’s truly a one size fits all design that can go smaller than what my 9 year old son needs. I thought the silicon strap might pull your hair if you’re not wearing anything on your head, but it goes on and off pain free.
The headlamp has the capability to tilt 45 degrees and has two modes options. A center spotlight mode produces 150 lumens with up to 6 hours of run time. Two side oriented LED’s operate as a floodlight mode and generate 50 lumens with up to 10 hours of run time. Simply click the power switch to change between spot, flood, and off.
The power switch is located at the top of the light and should be easily operable while wearing gloves. The battery compartment is easily accessible through a top latch. Rubber overmolding offers additional protection on the front half of the housing.
Klein Penlight Specifications
- Batteries Included: 2 x AAA
- Intensity: 36 lumens
- Run Time: 5 hours
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Drop Protection: 10 ft.
- Housing Material: Aluminum with cushion grip
- Expected Retail Price: $20 – $25
The new Klein Penlight (Cat. No. 56222) has an aluminum orange body with cushion-grip handle. The power switch can be found on the rear of the light, which makes it very easy to locate without having to take your eyes off what is in front of you. A half click serves as a soft on function, turning the light off as soon as you remove the pressure.
The clip is removable, though I’d leave it on and keep it in easy reach on a shirt or sleeve pocket (I’ve begun to love sleeve pockets). The Klein Penlight only produces 36 lumens, so it’s designed to be a quick identification kind of solution rather than a light needed for extended work or area.
An O-ring helps seal the battery compartment from moisture. Aluminum construction offers a lightweight, attractive finish.
Klein Clip Light Specifications
- Batteries Included: 3 x AAA
- Intensity: 150 lumens (high), 50 lumens (low)
- Run Time: 6 hours (high), 10 hours (low)
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Drop Protection: 10 ft.
- Expected Retail Price: $20 – $25
The Klein Clip Light (Cat. No. 56221) features a magnetized clip for hands-free option. The clip is sturdy enough to attach to a shirt pocket or belt. 6 LED’s produce a flooding 150 lumens on high that make clipping the light to yourself a pretty nice option. It can also be attached to steel or other ferrous material using the integrated magnets. I had a little bit of trouble getting it to stay in place on thinner painted steel surfaces, so I’d like to see those magnets come up in size a bit.
The clip light is about the size of smart phone in a protective case, so it’s going to feel familiar in your hand. Rubber overmold around the sides offer some additional drop protection. Two intensity modes can be clicked through using the power switch on the side. You’ll find it roughly where the volume switch is on a smart phone so it’s really easy to find with your thumb.
Klein Slide Focus Flashlight Specifications
- Batteries Included: 3 x AAA
- Intensity: 215 lumens
- Run Time: 6 hours
- Drop Protection: 10 ft.
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Housing Material: Aluminum
- Type: Cushion Grip
- Expected Retail Price: $25 – $30
The Klein Slide Focus Flashlight (Cat. No. 56223) is an aluminum flashlight with adjustable focus. For spotlight focus, just adjust the slide head forward or pull the slide head back for a floodlight option. It offers a durable cushion grip handle and rubberized power button for more comfortable use. We weren’t able to get this one in time for the review. If the other lights are any indication, the Klein Slide Focus Flashlight is going to be another solid option.
Each of the new Klein lighting solutions addresses a specific need for electricians. While there may be a couple of minor improvements to be made in future models, I like the depth, versatility, and price point of the line.
Shop all Klein products from our friends over at Acme Tools!
