Those fast closing in evenings making it difficult to see what you’re doing on your Dub? Well, Chris Hope has a selection of illuminating solutions to help you out...

Old school, battery hungry torches have become a thing of the past in the modern garage. A technological leap forward has meant a range of light bars, powered by advanced LEDs, has become the tool of choice for home and professional mechanics alike.

They’re small and lightweight, they run cool (so there’s no chance of accidently burning yourself) and they last far longer than standard bulbs. Perhaps most important of all though, they also provide significantly better light output.

Speaking of which, when seeking out a lead lamp the number of LEDs it’s fitted with usually gives you some indication of a given lamp’s potential light output (of course, there are exceptions, see Ring Automotive’s example for instance).
However, a large number of LEDs aren’t always preferable – more LEDs means a greater draw on power and for the cordless examples, a shorter battery life.

In our opinion though there are more practical considerations when buying a lead lamp. For starters, are you looking for a cordless example, which you can keep in the boot or glovebox for emergencies? Or, would you prefer a lamp with a plug on the end, one which won’t suffer from downtime to recharge?

Given that the non-cordless examples are effectively restricted to the garage or workshop many are also fitted with a 12V DC plug so they can be powered through a classic’s cigarette lighter (if you’ve got one). These particular units are definitely worth seeking out.

Something else to bear in mind is that the majority of cordless examples are handheld. These mobile units can sometimes end up being fairly restrictive – especially in situations where it’s difficult to work with just one hand. In those circumstances the lamp needs a way of mounting or standing itself somehow so you can work with both hands. Whether that’s through a series of magnets, hooks or a directional stand is up to you.

SEALEY CORDLESS 21 + 5 LED RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM-ION INSPECTION LAMP    9/10

Sealey’s new series of Lithium-ion cordless rechargeable inspection lamps are brilliant – we’re taking a look at the range’s 26 LED example with 21 super-bright LEDs for the inspection lamp, plus a further 5 on the end to work as a low-energy directional torch. It’s supplied with mains and in-car chargers and is powered by a Lithium-ion battery which, according to the manufacturer, offers up to four hours of continuous use.

As well as the lightweight benefits of incorporating this type of battery the lamp also features three rubber-covered magnets which allow you to position this lamp on all manner of ferrous surfaces as well as two 360 degree swivel hooks. It also feels good to use. In fact, we wouldn’t leave home without one.

CLARKE UNDER BONNET INSPECTION LAMP    7/10

Here’s a useful tool if, after are a bit of forward thinking, you’ve realised that what you really need is a light which can fully illuminate your engine bay. Instead of LEDs Clarke’s CUH100 uses 30W 900mm fluorescent tube lamps to bathe your entire power plant in light.

Clarke’s Under Bonnet Inspection Lamp features a pair of adjustable brackets allowing this lamp to clamp around most classic bonnets sized 1150mm-1800mm. It also has rubber covered hooks to protect paintwork while grasping the bonnet.

An obvious advantage of this approach is that both your hands are freed up for working on your Dub. This product also features a detachable lamp which can be used separately or hung vertically via a 360 degree swivel hook. You will though need to have a plug point in the immediate vicinity.

PRICE: £53.99 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.machinemart.co.uk, tel. 0844 880 1250

BLACK & DECKER 26 LED RECHARGEABLE LIGHT BAR   8/10

Black & Decker has recently added a new 26-LED lightbar to its automotive range. As you’d expect, using one of these lead lamps is not rocket science – it has  two power settings; full power, which runs all LEDs for a maximum of around two and half to three hours, or half power, which doubles this running time without, we were happy to find, severely impacting performance.

It’s powered by standard NiHM batteries, rechargeable through a mains charger. Despite this though, we didn’t find it to be overly heavy. In fact, the only thing we could fault is that there’s no directional stand and aside from its hook no means of focusing light on specific areas and still being able to work with both hands.

That said, its chunky, durable design and break resistant LED housing are big pluses in our eyes, especially if – like us – you find that you’re a little clumsier around the garage than you perhaps care to admit.

PRICE: £30.19 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.tooltray.com, tel. 0871 781 2480

DRAPER EXPERT 24 LED SLIMLINE INSPECTION LAMP   7/10

This inspection lamp, exclusive to Draper, is said to be the thinnest example currently available at a consumer level. Amazingly, it measures just 6mm thick!

The idea behind this product is its slim design allows this lead lamp to go places others simply can’t – under dashboards, into tight spots within the engine bay etc. It’s also features an oil and chemical resistant sleeve which protects it from various car fluids.

The only real drawback here is that because this light bar is so thin there’s no way to incorporate a battery (or at least one with a decent battery life) so it’s powered through a plug point.

Not that this is necessarily a problem, with 5m of cable you should easily be able to work your way around your car, but it’d be rather useless while on the move – unless your car has a cigarette lighter, then you can use the 12V DC connector.

PRICE: £52.91 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.draperproducts.co.uk, tel. 01621 785088

BRENNENSTUHL 230V JET-LIGHT   7/10

Our wild card item this issue is this robust Brennenstuhl work lamp. Naturally, it’s not handheld and also features bulbs rather LEDs but we reckon despite being a little ‘low-tech’ – when you consider the rest of this line-up – it is still worth a look.

According to the manufacturer this flood lamp has a powerful light output, equivalent to an incandescent lamp of around 200 Watts. In other words it’s perfect for illuminating large areas of your VAG machinery while you work on entire brakes systems, suspension, exhausts etc.

It features a stable, adjustable stand which can be used in three separate positions – standing (see image), suspended or flat. What’s more, it’s compact enough to be portable and features a carrying handle.

It’s also capable of taking a knock or two thanks to its shockproof housing and protective polycarbonate. In summary, a competitively priced alternative that’s ideal for bathing your car in light.

PRICE: £35.98 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.machinemart.co.uk, tel. 0844 880 1250

RING AUTOMOTIVE RIL2550 INSPECTION LAMP   8/10

Looking for a compact LED inspection lamp? Then this one from Ring Automotive is definitely worth a look.

With 15-LEDs this example from Ring has the fewest diodes out of our selection of handheld lamps but this turns out to be an advantage here: the lamp incorporates a series of precision reflectors to amplify light output in order to make up for a lack of LEDs.

What’s more, fewer LEDs means a longer battery life – according to Ring Automotive this lamp can last up to five hours between charges.

A bonus as far as we’re concerned is its pocket-sized design means you can just as easily slip it into your coveralls as pop it into the glovebox. In short, this one ticks all the boxes and what’s more is very reasonably priced.

PRICE: £35.99 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.dcp-shop.co.uk, tel. 0845 652 1442

DRAPER LED PEN LIGHT    6/10

It’s a pen that’s also a light. It’s a pen light! This clever gadget from Draper is a welcome tool for when you find yourself in a breakdown without natural light or when you’d like to discreetly examine the underside of a potential purchase.

Pointing out the blindingly obvious the light output is a bit on the meagre side when you compare this with the other examples, but what do you expect from a single LED?

Its redeeming features include water and shock resistance, plus the anodized aluminium finish which protects it from corrosion. Best of all though, it costs less than a tenner and includes the required 3 AAAA batteries to power it.

This Draper LED pen light might well struggle to outshine its rivals here, but at the very least it’s a must have addition for the glovebox, even if you do find it’s lacking the punch for use in the workshop.

PRICE: £8.22 (inc VAT)
FROM: www.tooled-up.com, tel. 0844 335 3902