I came across something interesting – a new Porter Cable corded LED worklight, PC1600203. It features a main lighting panel that’s flanked by two smaller side panels.
Porter Cable says that their new worklight can deliver 5000 lumens max output, or the equivalent of a 500W halogen light, while only drawing 50W of power.
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It has a folding design, with the side panels being able to rotate left and right up to 180°, or up and down up to 300°.
The color temperature is 4000K, which they describe as “daylight white.” 4000K is typically a neutral-white color, with a slight warm/yellowish tint.
Porter Cable says their new worklight is intended for camping, hiking, emergency car repairs, construction sites, outdoor exploration, garage, etc.
This is an AC-powered light, and it has a 120V AC (10A max) socket on the front, as well as a 2A USB charging port.
There are two brightness modes – 2500 and 5000 lumens.
Features and Specs
- 5000 lumens max
- 50W max power draw
- 4000K color temperature
- 84 CRI
- Suitable for damp locations
- Hanging holes on the bottom
- 5-foot power cord
Price: $50 after $10 “clippable coupon”
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Discussion
This new Porter Cable LED worklight seems to have popped up on Amazon earlier this year, with “Porter-Cable Light” as the seller and Amazon as the shipper.
Digging deeper, it looks like the worklight launched even earlier and was sold at Costco.
It’s obvious this is a licensed product, which isn’t unusual for Stanley Black & Decker brands. On that note, I just checked, and:
There’s a yellow Stanley light that looks to have the same features. It has the same price too, but with a bigger coupon that can be applied, resulting in a lower price at checkout.
Price: $45 after $15 “clippable coupon”
This one is shipped from Amazon and sold by Lutec.
Reviews are actually quite decent. If this model doesn’t suit your needs, they have a couple of other designs with varying power levels.
Okay, so as I understand it, the Porter Cable light was available at Costco, and now it’s available on Amazon, and there is also a nearly identical Stanley model that only looks to have different branding.
For a moment I thought that this could be a piece in the Porter Cable puzzle, but it’s not. Ah well, at least this looks to be a decent worklight.
MM
It seems odd to me that they advertise this for “camping” and “outdoor” activities yet it’s not rechargeable and it apparently can’t run on 12VDC either?
Matt the Hoople
We camp at a lot of campgrounds that have 110v power at the camp sites. It’s great for using a small heater in the tent on cold nights. The issue I have with this light for camping is that the brightness is ridiculously bright for campsite ambiance and not disturbing the neighbors. Camping, no. Maybe if you have to set up/tear down your site at night but other than that???
Now, as a work light…. I have one of the old style 500w halogen floor work lights with a burnt out bulb. It’s great for lighting a work area but puts out a ton of heat and is almost dangerously hot to handle. I’m actually afraid to use in areas where I store gas and other flammable. Been putting off getting a new bulb because I’ve been looking for an LED work lamp to replace it. At $45, I may need to give the Stanley light a try. I really like the idea of having the side lights that would allow coverage of a larger work area or the ability to bounce some light off of a ceiling to maybe reduce some shadows in the work zone. Reviews on the Stanley are decent. The 5’ cord seems kinda silly being so short. I suppose it will make the light easier to store and I have lots of extension cords.
Jared
Good point – their examples don’t make any sense.
How do you use this light HIKING?
I suppose if you also carry an inverter you might use it for emergency car repairs… Weird choice though. 5000 lumens is also going to blind you if you point it at your engine bay.
“Outdoor exploration”?! Like for exploring where your light can reach from your outlet? 😄
That’s so silly it makes me wonder who wrote the marketing material.
Nathan
don’t you camp within 50 ft of your rv?
interesting light. I’d be interested in it but I almost need to see it in hand and lit up.
Jared
5000 lumens with a 4000k color temperature? If it were a 20v max light it would actually be pretty interesting.
I suppose it isn’t terrible as-is for the price. I would like a 20v version though…
Maybe it is a clue – perhaps SBD intends to only use Porter Cable as a re-brand when they want to sell an existing product through a new channel. With Costco, for example, where they don’t have a long-term agreement or any exclusivity.
This might allow them, if they so wanted, to sell a Craftsman product at Home Depot by relabeling it as Porter Cable.
Koko The Talking Ape
DeWalt makes a light that can take 20V Max, 12V Max, or FlexVolt batteries.
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-led-worklight-dcl077b/
Not as bright, so I guess you’d have to get two of them. And one is maybe twice as expensive as this Stanley/PC.
DeWalt makes two more powerful lights, but they are MUCH more expensive.
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-dcl074-cordless-worklight-bluetooth/
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-flexvolt-dcl070-bluetooth-led-area-worklight/
Flotsam
just nice to see something new from Porter Cable
Scott
Bought it at Costco several years ago… great work light!
Adrian
Same, grabbed it from Costco probably 3 years ago. This ain’t new. I barely use it compared to the two Ryobi hybrid flood lights I’ve got.
Plain grainy
Corded work light for emergency auto repairs? I have the Dewalt 20v tri-pod lights. I’m real happy with them.
Chris S
This exact light (Model PC1600203) has been at Costco since at least July of last year (shown on my receipt).
With TN tax it was $27.
I ended up taking it back.
It was not 5,000 lumens. I have too many lights to compare it to and it was about on par with the M18 Rocket light at ~3,000 lumens.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-3000-Lumen-ROCKET-LED-Stand-Work-Light-Charger-Tool-Only-2135-20/207041807
Equally as annoying is the multi head design causing light dispersion with shadows and light level variance on a flat wall. It’s why I prefer my cheaper rocket lights with the single head…that and the weight.
Frank D
Recommended for camping and hiking and emergency car repairs … sure I have 110v in my tent, in my XL backpack and in my car!
At least some of the competition’s offerings are Dual Power 12v & 110v.
It would need a built-in battery for hiking or emergency car use.
Not too much of a dimming function, and can’t turn extra panels off.
Jobsites and around the house / garage / shed is all I can think of where this would be practical.
Plain grainy
If your running AC in damp areas, I hope your using an inline GFI. So you don’t get zapped,
Frank D
Of course!
I buy those by the three pack and install them wherever I go!
Plain grainy
You might want to talk to an electrician to make sure you have a safe setup.
X lu
Mediocre product likely built for Costco as noted above. Even with its flaws, it’s worth the Costco price for someone who doesn’t have a corded worklight or as a quartz replacement to save a trip to the ER or major burn unit.