TerraLUX WorkStar60 LED Work Light

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

September 26, 2006

Here's a scenario...You are outside working on something important, and the traditional hanging shop light which is hooked to your workspace gets dislodged. It falls, and the hot light bulb inside the metal protective cage shatters into a million pieces - leaving you and your project in total darkness. Or perhaps that light doesn't get dislodged, but instead the bulb burns out at an inconvenient time. Or okay, here's another: what if you need the light while working on a project in the middle of nowhere, but there is no outlet anywhere nearby - perhaps not for miles.

If you can picture yourself in any of those situations, then you'll appreciate the product I'll be talking about today, the TerraLUX WorkStar60 LED Work Light.

It looks similar to the lights that the guys at the airport use to wave in their planes, doesn't it? The WorkStar60 is a 15" long x 2.5" wide light wand that may just render the traditional hanging shop light obsolete. Why? Because it is not only bright, it is nearly unbreakable, the LEDs will last nearly forever, and it is rechargeable.

Specifications:
60 SUPER-bright LEDs
Non-replaceable NiMH battery pack (no memory effect and more friendly to the environment)
The battery pack will last approximately 500 deep charge/discharge cycles
Approximately 240 Lumens
AC & DC Chargers included
2 hour Runtime until half as bright, and 4 hours until dead
Full Charge in 90 minutes from a totally discharged battery
Built-in Hook and anti-roll handle
90 Day Warranty
Magnetic Mounting Clips available October 2006
Available in 120 VAC and also 220-240 VAC for UK, Europe and Australia

Included in the package are the WorkStar as well as the AC and DC chargers. The light wand's plastic body only weighs 9.5 ounces, and it is incredibly solid with no flexing when torqued.

The main feature of this device are the sixty LEDs lined in rows built into the wand's shaft. The LED at the very bottom of the lineup glows red when the wand is turned on, and it will glow even when the battery pack is drained to the point that the white LEDs will no longer illuminate. According to the WorkStar FAQ page, the red LED is an indication that the "unit is still functional, but requires a cycle charge." If the red LED doesn't come on when the power switch is in the ON position, "or the white LEDs do not light when one of the adapters (AC or DC) is attached to it, the unit may be defective and should be replaced or discarded properly."

The back of the shaft shows the TerraLUX branding.

A 360º swivel hook at the top of the wand allows the light to hang from a fixed object while being turned to whatever direction is required to properly light the workspace.

There are no user-openable sections, and other than the charging port at the light's base, all other possible water entry points are sealed. According to the FAQ, the "worklight has passed IP44 standard testing; it is resistant to dust, debris ingress, and splashing water but is not waterproof." There is a flexible clear rubber cover over the ON/OFF switch which helps keep water out. I can't help but think that if a rubber cap had been added to the base the waterproof properties of the light would have been further improved.

The ON/OFF switch is a simple toggle, as shown in the following picture...

While the overall build of the wand lends itself to being shock and impact resistant, the FAQ states "the unit can sustain a short distance fall (~3) but is not specifically designed or rated to prevent damage if the fall is excessive, it is run over by a vehicle, or crushed between a hinged mechanism (hood of car, storage container, etc.)." I dropped it from a distance of five feet onto my concrete driveway and the light turned on and worked without a flaw.

The wand's anti-roll handle is approximately 2" wide, and it fits comfortably and more or less securely in hand when the light is not hanging. The addition of a slot for a removable wrist strap would greatly enhance the wand's security when in hand.

When turned on, the 60 bright white LEDs are amazing! Reminiscent of the light bars used my the military to communicate with the aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the only thing these LEDs won't do is flash or glow in patterns. Come to think of it, that would be a very attractive feature for future versions!

When tested in my 37 foot long hallway, I daresay that the light illuminated better than any flashlight I have ever tested. Now granted, it is bigger...but would you look at that projected beam?

The TerraLUX WorkStar60 LED Work Light is a worthy upgrade to something that most people keep in their garage. Whether it is used to illuminate a problem under an automobile's hood, guide its user along a dark path at night, or to communicate with aliens, the wand should be a welcome addition to anyone's toolbox.

Click here for a printable PDF

Click here for the Worklight FAQs