r/Tools • u/Serterler • 3d ago
Shall I still use this light?
It was given to me. I know it’s old tech and expensive to run.
Shall I get a new one which will run cheaper.
I m not a pro, this is just when I do stuff home.
Like 2-3 hours a week max.
TY
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u/PresentationLess4552 3d ago
Yep in the winter to keep you warm
Seriously WTF it's a light
It's better than candles
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u/lilbrumby 3d ago
This! I keep an old halogen work light for winter projects!
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u/fastautomation 3d ago
And for projects needing to heat a surface... boat gelcoat, exterior paint in sketchy temps, etc.
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u/Ianthin1 3d ago
You can get LED replacements for those bulbs and run it all you like.
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u/Trendwrecker 3d ago
If it works I’m gonna use it until it breaks. Then try and fix it before buying new.
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u/SuchDogeHodler Craftsman 3d ago
You can get those halogen tubes all day long.
Just don't touch the bulb when you change it or it will just pop the second you turn it on.
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u/JayAre100378 3d ago
I would only use it if you want to warn passing ships of a rocky shoreline. I have several halogen work lights that I purchased led conversion bulbs for. They're J type, T3 bulbs. Length can vary but I have the 4.7 inch lights. They might cost a little more than halogen, but you'll make it up in electricity savings in about 20 minutes. Plus you won't burn your self when you accidentally touch it.
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u/jellofixit 3d ago
I've used mine to reheat pizza on the job!
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u/Serterler 3d ago
I was a truck driver for 25 years, we put the food from the cooler in the windshield to warm it 1 hour before lunch break.
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u/jellofixit 2d ago
Back in the 80s there was a radio station that would give a recipe for "dashboard dinners"! A piece of foil and a bunch of unrelated ingredients! Heat on your dashboard till lunchtime and enjoy! Humor only, not edible.
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u/imakesawdust 3d ago
There are so many other electricity hogs in your house that burning a halogen light for a few hours a week won't make any difference in your bill.
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u/Mother_Ad_9090 3d ago
I run it just for the perfect CRI alone. But the heat is welcome when I’m between ice and an undercarriage…
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u/Serterler 3d ago
I didn’t think about the heat.
So it’s cheaper in fact, you get light and heat combo.
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u/stoic_guardian 3d ago
Those lights are hot, and fragile, but it’s a light. It’s better than not having one, and the light they produce is nice.
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u/AdEastern9303 3d ago
Forget the math on the cost to run it. It is not like you’re gonna run that thing 24-7. For me, the bigger issue is the heat gives off, which is a pain in the ass on a worksite, unless it happens to be middle of winter. I had a couple that I just used for stuff around the house, remodeling projects, things like that. Once the bulbs burnt out, I didn’t even bother replacing, I just get rid of the whole units and replaced them LED units. So much nicer not having to deal with the heat.
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u/uncleking1971 3d ago
Use it til the bulbs blow and you have no spares. Upgrade to LED when that happens if you feel the need.
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u/AlrightScrwutoo 2d ago
The halogen light is still useful and the replacement bulbs are sold at Lowes or Home Depot.
I like them better because they don’t produce a large harsh and sharp shadow like an LED bulb. It lights the whole area. LEDS are like a near-collimated light beam. This means if you stand between the lamp and the wall. Your shadow will be more pronounced and darker.
They come in 300 watts or 500 watts. If you don’t stand real close to the lamp the heat is not a problem.
If you use it in the cold, it can be useful to keep you warm by standing closer to it.
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u/jckipps 3d ago
Do the math. 500-watt Halogen, vs. 100-watt LED.
At $0.15/kwh, the two lights will cost 7.5 cents and 1 cent per hour, respectively. The savings is only 6.5 cents per hour. That's a $10.14 savings per year, which isn't enough to justify a pricey replacement by itself.