Best Bench Light For Circuit Repair

[Perkinsman]

I'm looking to you guys for recommendation for a quality bench light, preferably high lumen LED's, gooseneck with good arm length and takes up minimal desk space. Maybe a clamp or a pivot mount type. I currently use 2 fold out types that eventually stretches flat & never springs back or stays in one place. If I knew how to fix that wouldn't mind keeping them since one has the big magnifier lens and the other is a can light. I'm behind the times when it comes to lighting.

[tedmich]

I have two $17 fixed high lumen Samsung strip lights (8000Lm each, one 3K warm one 5k cold) from Digikey
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...477-ND/7930794
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...475-ND/7930806
mounted on aluminum U channels (Mcmaster Carr)
https://www.mcmaster.com/9001k78
to cut side glare (ITS bright!)
and fed with a 48V Meanwell 185W CC power supply (HLG185H, similar available form Mouser).
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...QAEwqJd9RHM%3D
smaller can work and some have dimming built in, mine dont so I added
a cheap $15 PWM controller with digital readout (15kHz) for dimming, like this
https://www.mpja.com/20A-12-80V-DC-M...tinfo/35759+MD

it works great BUT for close work I use a very bright Cree XML LED headlamp driven by 2 x 18650 Li Ion batteries that i got for dirt cheap from Alibaba a couple years ago
its by far my most useful light and I use it constantly

Good Luck!

[nosaj]

I have two $17 fixed high lumen Samsung strip lights (8000Lm each, one 3K warm one 5k cold) from Digikey
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...477-ND/7930794
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...475-ND/7930806
mounted on aluminum U channels (Mcmaster Carr)
https://www.mcmaster.com/9001k78
to cut side glare (ITS bright!)
and fed with a 48V Meanwell 185W CC power supply (HLG185H, similar available form Mouser).
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...QAEwqJd9RHM%3D
smaller can work and some have dimming built in, mine dont so I added
a cheap $15 PWM controller with digital readout (15kHz) for dimming, like this
https://www.mpja.com/20A-12-80V-DC-M...tinfo/35759+MD

it works great BUT for close work I use a very bright Cree XML LED headlamp driven by 2 x 18650 Li Ion batteries that i got for dirt cheap from Alibaba a couple years ago
its by far my most useful light and I use it constantly

Good Luck!

I WANT PICS please please

nosaj

[tedmich]

I posted a couple pictures before
https://music-electronics-forum.com/...l=1#post503623

notice the iPhone picture isn't barring, I'll take a short video tonight to see if the 21KHz PWM makes for good digital behavior.

Dimming LEDs for digital photog can be an issue without syncing or current limiting or something fancy.

[Perkinsman]

Thanks for your ideas but I’m going to go with a lightweight headset, like that Cree that Tedmich mentioned in his 1st post.

[Helmholtz]

for close work I use a very bright Cree XML LED headlamp driven by 2 x 18650 Li Ion batteries that i got for dirt cheap from Alibaba a couple years ago

How many lumens do you recommend?

[nickb]

I have two $17 fixed high lumen Samsung strip lights (8000Lm each, one 3K warm one 5k cold) from Digikey
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...477-ND/7930794
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...475-ND/7930806
mounted on aluminum U channels (Mcmaster Carr)
https://www.mcmaster.com/9001k78
to cut side glare (ITS bright!)
and fed with a 48V Meanwell 185W CC power supply (HLG185H, similar available form Mouser).
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...QAEwqJd9RHM%3D
smaller can work and some have dimming built in, mine dont so I added
a cheap $15 PWM controller with digital readout (15kHz) for dimming, like this
https://www.mpja.com/20A-12-80V-DC-M...tinfo/35759+MD

it works great BUT for close work I use a very bright Cree XML LED headlamp driven by 2 x 18650 Li Ion batteries that i got for dirt cheap from Alibaba a couple years ago
its by far my most useful light and I use it constantly

Good Luck!

Just to add to this. I got (a lot) of white LED strips off flea bay. Worked great for about three months then started to fade and go yellow. Moral: don't even think about using cheap substitutes!

[tedmich]

Thanks for your ideas but I’m going to go with a lightweight headset, like that Cree that Tedmich mentioned in his 1st post.

the Boruit 2157 (if you want small zoomable) is a decent headlamp, while the Boruit B10 is much larger and brighter zoomable. Available on Amazon or Ali-express for much cheaper (possibly counterfeit, slow shipped smelly, etc

Sorry for all the strobe features but at least the remember your last setting (usually not strobe or SOS LOL)

The batteries with these are crap, buy a ton of the red Ultrafire 18650 from china or some real protected* LG/Panasonic or Samsung (example Panasonic NCR18650GA protected units) and expect to pay about $10 each off ebay for US units with 100% feedback. Similar units from orbtronic are bulletproof but run $15 each.

its safest to buy from reputable US online retailer like batteryjunction etc. but prices are up to $20 each.

Amazon or overseas ebayers are counterfeit city IME. The cheapies don't explode (usually) they just last 1/2 a long per charge and lifespan IME.

I use a Nitecore Intellicharger I4 charger (version 2) and its lasted years!

Good luck!

* unprotected batts are for vapers, they allow HUGE current draws and frequently die if over discharged

[nevetslab]

the Boruit 2157 (if you want small zoomable) is a decent headlamp, while the Boruit B10 is much larger and brighter zoomable. Available on Amazon or Ali-express for much cheaper (possibly counterfeit, slow shipped smelly, etc

Sorry for all the strobe features but at least the remember your last setting (usually not strobe or SOS LOL)

The batteries with these are crap, buy a ton of the red Ultrafire 18650 from china or some real protected* LG/Panasonic or Samsung (example Panasonic NCR18650GA protected units) and expect to pay about $10 each off ebay for US units with 100% feedback. Similar units from orbtronic are bulletproof but run $15 each.

its safest to buy from reputable US online retailer like batteryjunction etc. but prices are up to $20 each.

Amazon or overseas ebayers are counterfeit city IME. The cheapies don't explode (usually) they just last 1/2 a long per charge and lifespan IME.

I use a Nitecore Intellicharger I4 charger (version 2) and its lasted years!

Good luck!

* unprotected batts are for vapers, they allow HUGE current draws and frequently die if over discharged

Having been using surgical headlights for years, with their 150W 21V Tungsten Halogen lamp inside the lamp supply, and always having the inconvenience of the fiber optic cable attaching me to the Luxtec or other lamp supplies I have, I like what I see on the Boruit 2157 or B10 (and have seen others of similar style and independence from the surgical theatre variety I've been using.

I also have an older Dazor Desk Lamp which has a circular Florescent tube with an incandescent 75W bulb in it for local lighting. Above that are 8ft Florescent tubes, though here in the shop, those are 12ft up. I gotta give one of these current technology headlights a try!

[Chuck H]

I have nothing to offer in the way of slick lighting fixtures or "useful technology" in this area because I just use two spot light parabolic reflectors like you might buy at the hardware store. On the bench I also have dime store goose neck lamp that I can put into service when I need A LOT of light right on something. BUT...

I mentioned I use two overheads. One aimed a at the work from a little behind and one from a little in front. This keeps me from making shadow puppets on the thing I'm trying to see. This is probably the reason I don't use my headlamp very much.

JM2C on the practicality of it.

[Leo_Gnardo]

This one just in from the Scotty Kilmer channel, a kool bright white LED lamp, runs on 120 VAC, $40 on Amaxon w/ free shipping. Dang, I could see one of these UFO lookin' things suspended over my bench with an old fashioned long mic gooseneck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e2dfe45da61f4a

[Perkinsman]

I'll have what he's having...

[tedmich]

This one just in from the Scotty Kilmer channel, a kool bright white LED lamp, runs on 120 VAC, $40 on Amaxon w/ free shipping. Dang, I could see one of these UFO lookin' things suspended over my bench with an old fashioned long mic gooseneck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e2dfe45da61f4a

I have 2 x 80W versions of this light ($21) coming from Amazon, I imagine the power supply will be the weak link but some decent caps might enhance its lifespan...

[nickb]

A coda. Instead of the unreliable yellowing LEDS I mentioned above I decided to give some 4ft tube type LED lights go. I have a couple of these in another workroom and they've been OK. What follows is my exchange with the seller. You should know that I bought four. One died after two hours and was returned. A short time later I found another one had a live chassis.

Note you need to start at the bottom and read up.

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New message from: meifengut-6 Top Rated Seller(25,543TurquoiseShooting Star)

Hello, dear, thank you for your message, we have refunded you already, you can check it later, if you have any problem, please feel free contact us. We will do our best to help you solve the problem, best regards.
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Your previous message

One blew up so it I returned it. You refunded me for four.

Since then I nearly killed myself on another. The metal chassis was live. The power supply wasn't properly glued in place and made contact with the metal chassis.

Best,
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meifengut-6:
Hello,have you returned them?

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Your previous message
HI,

I see you have refunded for all four, not just the one faulty one. Did you mean to do that?

Best,
Nick
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meifengut-6:
Hello,all the 4 do not work now?

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Your previous message
It's beyond repair. The circuit board is burnt and sooty with components blown up. It's on it's way back to you anyway.

Best,
Nick
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meifengut-6:
Hello,could you please repair it？

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Your previous message
The power supply blew up. You can take a look at it when it arrives back.

Best,
Nick
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meifengut-6:
Dear buyer,I am sorry for the situation, could you please tell us the item more detail problem and send a short video /picture to us,so we can help you solve the problem. We will do our best to deal with it. Waiting for your reply soon Your sincerely.Thank you.

Your previous message
Nothing much to say. It went "bang" and all the lights in the house went out. I'm sending it back to you. You can refund or replace.

Best,
Nick
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meifengut-6:
Dear buyer,I am sorry for the situation, could you please tell us the item more detail problem and send a short video /picture to us,so we can help you solve the problem. We will do our best to deal with it. Waiting for your reply soon Your sincerely.Thank you.
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Return started:
Slim LED Batten Linear Tube Light 120cm/90cm/60cm/30cm LED Surface Mount Lights

[g1]

Yikes. Glad you're still here.
Is there even anybody to report such things to?