This article originally appeared in the Winter 2022 issue.
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It would appear the different ways you can use the 12V/20V MAX* Cordless Hood Light would be straight forward, yet I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the versatility of the new product from DEWALT. Its compact size and folding design has me wondering what I ever did without it.
Its job is quite simple: light up my engine bay when I’m working under the hood, and this is where it truly (pardon the pun) shines. It delivers up to 1,700 lumens of natural white light with a runtime of up to 10.5 hours, which is a surprisingly long amount of time. I especially like the high, low, and single-arm modes that allow for precise control of the light while also preserving battery life.
I don’t work on a lot of non-diesel trucks, but it is nice that it can fit different hood sizes and lighting preferences with the extendable hooks on both ends that stretch between 51 to 74 inches while protecting the truck’s finish. Plus the hood light has a 360-degree rotating, anti-marring padded hooks, offering versatile directional lighting as I focus on specific sections of the engine.
The 12/20V MAX* Hood Light is compatible with all DEWALT 12V MAX*, 20V MAX*, and FLEXVOLT batteries (excluding the DCB615). Its foldable, lightweight design (26.5 inches when folded and 6.75 pounds) makes carrying and stowing very easy. It retails for $179, battery not included. With my own garage full of DEWALT products, finding a battery for it was not a problem. It’s a name I trust and have had a lot of success with over the years.
Tools 92
Portability 20/20
Function 47/50
Durability 10/10
Design 8/10
Price 7/10
www.dewalt.com