Dewalt 20v Max Led Work Light
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The King of the handheld spotlights, this bad guy is too powerful to handle.
This is the Ultimate Bugoutbill Review of the Dewalt 20v max led work light.
This handheld work light is so bright that it’ll be up to you if it’s a hit or a miss.
The Dewalt 20V Max LED work light is definitely more than its well-known and widely trusted name. It’s a rugged rock of a spotlight that any heavy worker could depend on for hours and even days.
As a matter of fact… This bad guy has been chosen as the Editor’s Choice among 10 of the best handheld spotlights on the market today.
But what is the best handheld spotlight? Let’s cut to the chase.
We tested the top 10 handheld spotlights on the market, and the best handheld spotlight is none other than Editor’s Choice, Dewalt 20V work light.
Wondering how? Well, in this in-depth review, we’re going to cover:
- Dewalt 20V DCL043’s newly improved features;
- All its pros and cons;
- How it compared to other handheld spotlights on the market;
- Lots more…
So if you’re looking for a powerful tool to aid you in your most challenging tasks, this review is for you.
Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.
Turn on the lights now!
Table Of Contents
Table of Contents
Recent posts
Categories
Editor’s Choice Award
Dewalt 20v Max Led Work Light
- Manufacturer: Dewalt
- Dimension: 11.13 x 4.75 x 14 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Lumens: 1000 lumens brightness rating
- Battery Type: Lithium-Ion
- Light Distance: Lighting Distance up to 508 yards or 1,525 feet
Bottom Line: The Dewalt DCL043 is a great choice for the best all-around spotlight for its durability, extra added features, and from a renowned maker. The product of choice for the customer who wants it all and with the money to spare.
Pros
- Pivoting head
- Great quality build
- Has three LED lights and one red light for night vision
- Has an integral metal hook that allows for convenient hands-free operation and transport
- It can be tripod mounted
- Its battery lasts anywhere between 4 to 13 hours
Cons
- Long charging time
- It’s one of the most expensive spotlights in the market
- It’s bulky and quite heavy
- Battery and charger sold separately
Our Verdict Dewalt 20v Max Led Work Light:
The Dewalt 20V DCL043 has been around for quite some time. As a matter of fact, it’s already a much-improved second version of the original one.
And much-improved it indeed is.
That’s why it’s our indisputable Editor’s Choice among the ten best spotlights we’ve tested.
This version is called type 2 and comes in a simple cardboard box, wherein type 1 comes in a plastic clamshell container. I’m guessing that this is the company’s attempt to be more eco-friendly.
Now, it sure looks heavy at first glance…
But right out of the box, it’s very light. That’s because it doesn’t come with batteries, and it’s actually the batteries that are giving this spotlight its weight.
Physically, it’s very industrial, nothing fancy. It looks just like any other black and yellow gadget you usually see in construction sites or the like.
The shell or outer body is made of very hard plastic, so it doesn’t only look tough but also feels real tough and solid to the touch.
And let me tell you this…
Dewalt is actually known for the very durable make of their products.
And as I was just initially testing it out, I deliberately wasn’t being very careful with it, just to see how it’ll last.
Within the three months that I had this, I dropped it more times than I’d like to count (OK, maybe around twenty? Don’t judge me), but in the end, I’ve seen nothing but a couple of scratches as a result.
So if you know you’re a clutz, this could be your best friend.
Continuing with its very interesting exterior… Right out of the box, it would look like a gun, with the spotlight’s head and a handle.
The handle has a rubber mold-over which is very convenient, especially if you have small hands, as the spotlight could be quite heavy when loaded with batteries.
And it’s just a great feature generally because it’s well-contoured with ridges for texture, as well.
But you know what’s cooler?
It has a 90-degree pivoting head so you can actually tilt it to your liking whenever you need light for a home project or a car job where you’ll need the perfect light angle.
And you can also stretch it straight out to look like a regular flashlight if you want to.
But that’s not the only convenient feature I like about this.
This baddie also has a metal hook or ring at the head so you can hang it on your belt, a rope or string, or on the wall whenever you need to use your hands.
And it doesn’t end there.
It can also stand on its own, so working with your two free hands will never be a problem.
Although, I’ve seen some users’ complaints about its instability when standing in a 45-degree. To avoid this, I’ve learned to use larger batteries which are much heavier.
Because the batteries are located at the very foot of the unit, a heavier one could effectively hold it into place and keep it from tipping over.
Now let’s talk about the light.
It has 4 LEDs in total. The 3 are the white lights, and the one that’s left at the very bottom is a red light.
It only has three brightness settings: spotlight, red light, and switch off.
The first click will give you the spotlight mode. It uses 3 LEDs and is very bright.
Like, overkill bright.
In case you’re wondering, this powerful light can go as far as 1,500 feet or 500 yards or more; that’s just how far I’ve tested it across my yard.
It was pitch black when I tested it, and across 500 yards, I could still clearly see the tree at the other end, also brightly illuminated.
That makes this heavy worker the perfect companion for hunting or dog-walking as well.
And that’s not all.
Actually, I’ve already seen a couple of spotlights with this brightness. But what sets this Dewalt light apart is its field of view which is much larger than most I’ve tried.
As a matter of fact, I barely had to move the light in my backyard as its light was enough to illuminate the whole place.
On the other hand… It can also be a disadvantage as much as it’s an advantage.
I mean, I also wish there’s an extra brightness setting to set the light on medium for a softer illumination because you won’t always need an overpowering light, would you?
Aside from that, in times of emergency and you want to preserve your spotlight’s batteries, you can always switch to a dimmer light to prolong its life.
But then, I guess there’s a price to pay for such great power after all.
Moving on…
The second light mode is the red light.
To Make up for not having a lower brightness setting, perhaps, this spotlight has the red light mode, which only Dewalt type 2 has.
You can use it when you need a light that’s unintrusive, such as in a moving car while hunting at night or just finding something at home.
This red light mode is made to preserve night vision, which is a cool addition as I’ve seen only very few spotlights with this mode.
And the cool thing about it is even the red light is also bright but still muted! I don’t even know how that can be, but Dewalt made it possible with this work light.
In case you might be wondering… It’s powered by a Lithium-ion battery that’s sold separately. You can use any size of batteries you fancy, but here’s what I’ve found in my little experiment:
I used all 1.3 Amp, 5 Amp, and 9 Amp batteries just to satisfy my curiosity as to how they differ in power output or if there’s any difference in brightness at all.
Quite expectedly, the 9 Amps battery gave the brightest light while the 5 Amps and 1.3 Amps didn’t have much difference at first glance.
Although…
I’ve always preferred using the biggest battery as it’ll take some time before it runs out of power.
Not to mention what I’ve said earlier that it’s much heavier, so it can hold your standing spotlight into place, keeping it from tipping off.
And for your information:
A small 1.3 Amp 20V battery lasted me around 4 to 5 hours when used non-stop, while the 9 Amps can last you around three days if used 10 hours per day.
Isn’t that quite epic?
This impressive longevity was what sealed the deal for me and made me keep this guy in the trunk of my car and even get another one for home use.
It’s a great light not only for projects and tasks but for disaster preparation as well.
One minor disadvantage to this heavy-duty spotlight is its size, which is relatively bigger than others. As a result, it took up more space at home, but that also means that it’s difficult to get lost.
It’s also quite pricey, but if you’re in it for undeniable quality, then this is worth checking out.
Our Analysis. Comparisons & Test Results
Here at Bugoutbill, we don’t just review. We get the products ourselves and test them all out for months to determine which one is the best of them all.
We’ve decided on four important metrics, which are also the most crucial qualities you’d want to look out for when buying your new handheld spotlight, and observed all 10 in respect to these metrics.
And here’s how Dewalt 20V work light performed alongside the others.
1 - Value of Money
As consumers ourselves, we understand that price is also a big factor to consider when making a purchase, however we try to get the best quality out there.
That’s why the first metric we’ve agreed on is Value for Money. It refers to how much the product could deliver relative to its price. And we’re glad to say that all 10 gave much more than what we’ve expected from their prices!
Value for Money Rating
Avid Power Handheld Spotlight
Dewalt Work Spot Light
Energizer Spotlight
Bigsun Spotlight
Streamlight Spotlight
Stanley Spotlight
Csndice Handheld Spotlight
STANLEY SL5HS Rechargeable LED Spotlight
AlpsWolf Rechargeable LED Spotlight
Zohi Rechargeable Spotlight
2 - Brightness
This could just be the most important quality when buying a handheld spotlight. Brightness refers to the power output a spotlight can give out.
Very bright light isn’t always good, so it’s much better if a spotlight has more light settings for you to choose from and use in different situations.
Brightness Rating
Dewalt Work Spot Ligh
Energizer Spotlight
Bigsun Spotlight
Csndice Handheld Spotlight
STANLEY SL5HS Rechargeable LED Spotlight
Zohi Rechargeable Spotlight
Avid Power Handheld Spotlight
Streamlight Spotlight
Stanley Spotlight
AlpsWolf Rechargeable LED Spotlight
3 - Features
We love a good old dependable spotlight. But in these times when most of us have got our hands (and arms) full of chores and projects to last us a lifetime, we can’t help but look for a handheld spotlight with more extra features than only lighting up the room.
It’s what I’ll be holding the whole day in my farmhouse, so it would be better if it could assist me well and help make things easier and more convenient with its extra features.
That’s how important the extra features are.
Features Rating
Dewalt Work Spot Light
Avid Power Handheld Spotlight
Energizer Spotlight
Bigsun Spotlight
AlpsWolf Rechargeable LED Spotlight
Streamlight Spotlight
Stanley Spotlight
Csndice Handheld Spotlight
STANLEY SL5HS Rechargeable LED Spotlight
Zohi Rechargeable Spotlight
4 - Durability
Buying a spotlight is no joke. It’s definitely not as simple as getting a hand flashlight. Most handheld spotlights are quite pricey, too. So it’s important to get a durable one- durable enough to last for years and years.
Undoubtedly, Dewalt topped this metric as I was able to test its toughness and ruggedness when it’s dropped quite a number of times in different settings (rocky, sandy, cement, etc.) and emerged with just a couple of scratches.
Durability Rating
Dewalt Work Spot Light
Streamlight Spotlight
Zohi Rechargeable Spotlight
Avid Power Handheld Spotlight
Energizer Spotlight
Bigsun Spotlight
Stanley Spotlight
Csndice Handheld Spotlight
STANLEY SL5HS Rechargeable LED Spotlight
AlpsWolf Rechargeable LED Spotligh
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Does this light come with a battery?
A - No, the Dewalt 20V-Max spotlight doesn’t come with its own battery. You have to buy them separately.
Question 2: Can the bulb be replaced in the Dewalt dcl040 20-volt max led flashlight?
A - It shouldn’t be replaced because it’s an LED.
Question 3: What is the IP rating for this dcl043 Dewalt spotlight?
A - It’s IP54.
Question 4: What's the best battery and charger for this light?
A - Any Dewalt charger and 20V batteries.
5 - Our Final Verdict: Dewalt 20v Max Led Work Light
So we’ve done the buying and the testing so that you won’t have to. We’ve kept our eyes open for the metrics and here’s how each of the handheld spotlights’ performance compares with each other.
Dewalt emerges as the overall top-notcher with the highest total mark of 98/100, thanks to its incomparable durability and powerful light. Not to mention, it’s a long-lasting battery too.
Final Verdict CHART:
Best Overall Rating
Dewalt Work Spot Light
Avid Power Handheld Spotlight
Energizer Spotlight
Bigsun Spotlight
Zohi Rechargeable Spotlight
Streamlight Spotlight
Csndice Handheld Spotlight
STANLEY SL5HS Rechargeable LED Spotlight
AlpsWolf Rechargeable LED Spotlight
Stanley Spotlight
Conclusion: Dewalt 20v Max Led Work Light
Overwhelming brightness, dependable long-lasting battery life, and rugged durability are Dewalt spotlight’s best assets that made us all keep one for ourselves and hail it as the Editor’s Choice.
And interestingly enough, these strengths can also work as disadvantages, depending on your need.
That’s how powerful this bad guy is.
But overall, a very bright spotlight that lets you work hands-free, one that can be dropped a few feet without breaking and can last for days, is always a good investment- especially if you’re getting one for emergency preparation.
The only major drawback to this is that it can be expensive, especially if you’re on a budget. And it’s also bulky and big- not so space-efficient.
But if you’re willing to look past these couple of flaws, then get ready to experience the best and the easiest handheld spotlight you’ll ever have.
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About Author
Bug Out Bill is an adventurer and survivor through and through. From the time he was just a little boy (Bug Out Willie) running and jumping through the backwoods of the rocky mountains in Colorado, to the man he is today. Backpacking through South America, scaling two 26,000+ ft peaks, sailing across the Mediterranean, surviving a near death 50 foot fall with very little food while waiting 6 days to be rescued in the wilderness, and everything in between. No wonder he wants to Bug Out, hahaha. BO Bill is truly a passionate outdoorsman when it comes to living life to the fullest with no boundaries. The way we were meant to live and survive. He shares that passion here with you in his writing and sharing. We hope you enjoy your stay at the Bug Out Bill website. . Now Bug Out!
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