Dewalt has come out with a new cordless underhood LED worklight, model DCL045.
The new Dewalt DCL045 worklight is designed for automotive lighting tasks, and can be clamped to the underside of a hood to brighten up a car or truck’s engine bay.
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Dewalt says that you can also use this for undercarriage work, and there could be additional uses due to the light’s slender form factor.
Dewalt engineered the DCL045 worklight to be compatible with their full range of Li-ion batteries – 12V Max, 20V Max, and also FlexVolt (excluding the DCB615 15Ah battery).
The worklight features anti-marring hooks that extend between 51″ and 74″ to fit different vehicles.
The hooks can also rotate 360°, allowing for precise aiming.
There are two brightness settings – 1700 lumens (high) and 800 lumens (low). Runtime is 5 or 10 hours, respectively, when powered with a 20V Max DCB204 4.0Ah battery.
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Users can also select single-arm illumination modes to preserve battery life or extend runtime if needed.
The Dewalt underhood worklight folds down for carrying and storage, measuring 26-1/2″ closed. It weighs 6-3/4 pounds.
Price: $179 for the bare tool (DCL045B)
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Buy Now via Tool Nut
Compare: Craftsman via Amazon
Compared to the Craftsman Underhood Worklight
Craftsman has a similar version, CMCL090B, and it looks to have very similar construction.
Compared to the Craftsman, the Dewalt is brighter and also works with a wide range of batteries, whereas the Craftsman works with their V20/20V Max batteries. The Dewalt also has an added single-arm lighting option.
The main reason to bring up the Craftsman model is to show you how it holds up for storage.
I have been testing the Craftsman model, and it’s bright and convenient. I cannot tell if there are any other noteworthy differences between the two models, aside from the brightness, brand-specific battery connection, and single-arm mode on the Dewalt.
A Craftsman kit was very briefly on the market before being sold exclusively as a bare tool.
Discussion
The Dewalt cordless underhood worklight looks to be a safe bet.
It’s compatible with nearly all Dewalt Li-ion slide-pack-style batteries, and it folds up for storage. You get 2 brightness modes plus single-arm illumination mode. Plus, the extending non-marring clamping hooks offer 360° rotation.
What more could you ask for?
Jared
Looks awesome to me!
A bit on the pricey side. I was contemplating whether to bring that up or not since I’m usually the first to say “don’t panic based on launch pricing for a new product” – but I’ve been contemplating an under-hood light and just note this seems to be a bit expensive.
Wurth has one for ~$100 Canadian – but it maxes out at 1000 lumens.
Princess Auto had one on sale for $70 recently that did 2400 lumens.
Both of those are built-in battery lights. This Dewalt looks better – but since I don’t wrench professionally I don’t know if I could justify this much on a light.
I do wrench often enough that I’ve pined for better illumination though. I have decent garage lights but still often bring out my Bosch on a tripod (1500 lumens I think?). I think hanging a light under hood would be better for shadows though.
I do like the multi-battery compatibility though!
fred
As much as I generally dislike tools with built-in rechargeable batteries – that manufacturing strategy does seem to reduce costs:
https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-40447A-Rechargeable-Underhood-Brightness/dp/B01MTXC016/
Jared
Ha – I’ve certainly read enough comments about it on this site to know it isn’t popular!
It doesn’t bug me as much as it does others. I’m sure I could replace the batteries if they fail – even if they aren’t designed to be. With the two I mentioned I think they also have a 12v plug-in option. The Pro Point does at least.
They are CONSIDERABLY cheaper too. For context, converting to USD, that Wurth is only $78, the pro point only $55. The Dewalt at $175 is a whole different category (even if we see street prices of $150 or so).
For the two brands I mentioned, they don’t have cordless tools, so the built-in batteries make more sense.
Eugenio
Milwaukee has a M12 version that is $20 more expensive and a couple of hundred lumens dimmer, and it’s also missing some features VS this one.
I’ve been meaning to get the M12 one for a while but will definitely be getting this one instead.
Tom D
The M12 has been out awhile, I’m suspecting an upgrade will come.
Lance
The M12 light is fantastic. It isn’t cheap and doesn’t fold, but it works great.
I got it on a HD “special buy” for CAD$150 if I remember right, which isn’t too bad.
Lighting is extremely expensive, and compared to most equally expensive cordless tools, extremely low value. These are high margin items that really can’t be justified by most DIYers. If you want it you buy it, it takes a bite out of your wallet and you move on.
I don’t use the M12 under hood light too often, but when I do it’s great.
Philip Proctor
I’ll be getting this. The battery on it in the first pic looks different than the ones I have.
JoeM
It’s a DeWALT 20V Oil Resistant battery. 5Ah by the looks of it. All new lineup at every size range, designed for use around oily situations like OPE and Automotive.
JoeM
I knew they were going to expand the lighting options in this family at some point, but I expected it ages ago.
Honestly, the second they showed it in an Automotive setting, I knew the price would be high. But, that’s not a deal breaker for me. I don’t have automotive needs, but a clamp-it-anywhere-for-emergency-lighting type of thing makes this really useful.
I remember the 18V line having this… Lantern style light, with the handle being a flexible neck so you could place the light anywhere and point it. I’m wondering where the All-System version of that light will come in the release cycle. You can never have too many lighting solutions for tools… even if the tools themselves have their own lighting these days, sometimes it’s just better to light up the whole area.
Michael Hazelwood
I had one of those, The Snake Light!
It was dang handy and I’ve often wondered why there’s not a 20v led version.
Matt C.
I have the Milwaukee under hood light and I’m happy with it. But it doesn’t store well. The folding option on this is really nice to have. As a general rule I use Milwaukee power tools for automotive and Dewalt power tools for general DIY. To me Milwaukee seems more committed to bringing out automotive tools. But Dewalt seems to be catching up. If this had come out a few years ago, I might have considered over the Milwaukee. But I’m also a big fan of Milwaukee’s “tru view” color rendition. I don’t know if it’s more hype than reality but it’s seems to make a slight difference… and this is critical when looking at different color wires.
JoeM
You’re not imagining things with your analysis there. Milwaukee provides, almost exclusively, trades-specific solutions with their tools. They have x number of the same tool because they’re sized and shaped for that many variant uses, instead of forcing it all into one tool. They’re tools Milwaukee has designed to be left in a truck, or garage, or other storage solution, then only the absolute necessary tools needed for the task about to be performed are taken with the Trades Specialist.
DeWALT, flipping the script, design their lineup, supposedly, for team-based builds. Construction and Reno teams, Wood or Metal Workers, DiYers of many scales, Machinists, you get the hint. Where the person is either in the same space, day in, day out, and the tools have to be on-hand for whatever they’re doing; Or they’re working with a bunch of others to play grown-up LEGOs with wood, metal, screws, drywall, concrete, stonework, and protective gear, with everyone needing the big tools to be shared, and the little tools for their specific section.
The Caveat there is that SBD, owner of DeWALT, seems to have a Marketing Department run by “Chemically Dependent” Chimps, who naturally fling filthy things at boards around a room, to see what sticks, then their handlers just clean the room when they’re done so they can do it all over again. Whatever is popular, DeWALT does. That’s what “Sticks” most often, so they do it. The Engineers and Factories, luckily, get the insane smearings from the Marketing department and make them make sense, but them chimps do not make much sense when releasing these products in the press arena. Good Tools… Bad Executive Decisions.
Nathan
I think there is a MAC tool version of this too.
but I like it over all. shame it doesn’t have a cord plug into as an option.
Overall nice idea. While I won’t buy one tomorrow, but I’ll get one eventually
Chris
I have the Mac version. It is slightly different. 1) no single arm mode
2) I don’t think it works with 12v batteries, I’m not sure though, have never tried, but will tomorrow
3) it has a motion sensor build in to conserve battery when you got for lunch or drink refresher
4) has a palm sized flashlight with integrated battery that slides on and charges from the 20v pack.
That light was 150+ used but is far and away my favorite tool. Not the most used, but it just does what it needs to do and it does it well. I never want it to do more.
Doresoom
Looks like they increased the brightness slightly over the MAC version: https://www.mactools.com/products/mcl045
philip s john
Seems like a more stuff is coming for mechanics. Looking for new hi torque 1/2 and stronger 3/4 that doesn’t share the same motor like first gen. My first gen is still going strong.
MikeIt
I’ve always wanted an underhood light but since I’m not a professional mechanic its hard to justify that money for a uni-tasker light. I have various tool battery powered worklights and some Astro style lights that work great most of the time. I recently got a used Husky clamp on LED light you wrote up a while back. I’ll have a chance to try it out as an hood light this weekend. Back to the Dewalt light. I like that it takes both 12 and 20v batteries but as one person already mentioned, it would be nice if it took AC power as well. Ryobi makes an AC/DC powered work light, maybe they will come out with an hood light version too.
Chris
It can go for 10hrs on a 4ah battery…….why do you need or want AC?
Albert
Is there going to be dark spot in the middle because of the hinge?
Chris
Nope, due to the wide angle of the light from each side the pattern on anything more than 12″ away appears seamless.
The only think I have noticed is that due to each side arm being spring loaded to apply tension on the hood, it tends to center itself. If you want to put more light on one side or the other of a wide engine bay it can take a little effort to get it to stay. This is common of all underhood clamp/bar lights.
Danny
No I have the Milwaukee and the light can slide from one side to the other once clamped on the hood or inside the car when I’m detailing it. As to storage I hang it vertically off th side of my garage shelving. The color rendition is important to me as I tend to customize my vehicles electronically. Wire colors both under the hood and inside are far easier to distinguish.
Danny
Forgot to mention it will also rotate around the long axis so I can have it over my head and direct the light into the dash cluster or into a particular area of the engine bay without having to relocate the light on hood. So the lower lumen level doesn’t matter as much since I can point it where I want.
Plain grainy
Comparable price wise to the 3000 lumen Dewalt tripod light. Probably many other uses for light besides under the hood. Adding an extra large d-ring to both ends would expand mounting options.
DRC
Got one for my mom to use in her gardening shed. The hooks are perfect to hang from the trusses in the ceiling. Plus I can use it when working on my car in their garage.
MM
Looks like a nice light, but as with most other cordless lights from the big-name tool platforms I feel the price is sky-high for what actually goes into making these tools. There’s no motor, no gearbox, no other expensive or complex parts. Just a housing and some LEDs. Compared to a drill, saw, or an impact driver this thing costs peanuts to build.
Dave the tool
I have quite a few Dewalt 20v and Milwaukee M12 cordless tools that I use for automotive work however the pricing of this unit I cannot justify. Garages have plenty of AC outlets that I can use to plug in a decent under hood light without using batteries and they sell for much much cheaper!
Plain grainy
I wonder what the gas/spark/fire risk comparison is between the two. 20v battery arcing, or an AC fire risk. Probably both can be dangerous under the right conditions. The 20v battery eliminates the shock hazard though.
Jeff
come on Ryobi!!! make three variations of this so I can buy all three
Lindsay
Current price at Acme Tools is 139.00
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/dewalt-12v-20v-max-hood-light-bare-tool-dcl045b-1