Basic, Better, Best – Inspection Lamps

The nights have drawn in and the days have gotten a hell of a lot shorter. For us tinkerers that means we’ll invariably be spending more time working on our classics without the aid of sunlight. This is obviously nothing to worry about if you have a nice, well-lit garage to cut about in but for a lot of people the only option for fettling is in the driveway or by the curb side. Don’t let the fact that old Mr Sun has well and truly put his hat away for the winter though as our list of inspections lamps will ensure you can still crack on.

From basic, plug-in bulb type affairs to more trick LED, USB-chargeable gizmos there is literal light at the end of the tunnel for everyone. They can be clipped on, hung, stuck to metalwork via the use of magnets and all for not a lot of cash. As far as we’re concerned a decent inspection lamp is a vital piece of kit for the home mechanic because it means we can continue to work on our cars and bikes regardless of the time of day. Not everyone works the same hours or has the same schedule and a late night spanner session is sometimes the only option. A decent battery powered light can also be a life saver if you break down or blow a tyre in the wee hours and you need to make some emergency repairs on a darkened B-road in the pitch dark.

So, let’s take a look at three different inspection lamps spanning budget and spec which will allow you to persevere with your classic in spite of a lack of natural light.

Basic

If you grew up before the proliferation of LED lights then you’ll recognise this old girl. A stalwart of garages and workshops up and down the country for years basic, plug in inspection lamps were perennially popular. And rightly so. Their simple, rugged design just works. There’s not a lot to go wrong here and because they’re mains powered you don’t have to worry about charging or battery life. This Blackspur mains inspection lamp is a prime example. If you require more reach than the 5 metres available all you need is an extension cable and the only maintenance required is to occasionally change the bulb. Cheap, uncomplicated and effective.

Better

Obviously more portable than the plug-in type of lamp above, the Sealey LED3601 inspection lamp is a great option if you’re limited by lack of a power source. Its main selling point is its ability to rotate a full 360 degrees and combined with a magnetised base and swivel hook make it a versatile little thing. It has decent battery life too thanks to a quality, rechargeable 3.7V 1.5Ah Li-Polymer battery although it does take a while to fully charge. It’s a hardy unit which can easily stand up to the rigours of a workshop environment and with 220 lumens on tap it should be more than sufficient for your lighting needs.

Best

The Ring Automotive RIL4200 strikes a great balance between portability, power and battery life and we love it. We should know because we have one. With both a 500 lumen lamp option and a 100 lumen torch it’s a versatile unit and provides more than enough light. It can be hooked on or stuck via its 180 degree ratcheting, magnetised base allowing for multiple fixing options. It’s tough too, boasting a virtually unbreakable lens and takes just an hour to fully charge via the USB cable, giving you three whole hours of undiminished operating time. We use it a lot.

You may want to just pick one or use a combination of different types of inspection lamps for your lighting requirements. There are other options available from spot lights to flood lights and so you needn’t be in the dark when it comes to classic car and bike maintenance. As mentioned earlier, it’s definitely worthwhile keeping a battery powered light in your vehicle too for emergencies, so go forth and illuminate!