Ridgid came out with a new 18V cordless “mat light,” model R8694520B. It seems to be a very unique take on area worklighting.
The Ridgid mat light – can I call it a light mat instead? – has 3 brightness settings and outputs up to 1500 lumens. There are 5 individual light bars attached to the mat.
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The Ridgid cordless light mat has a power source that connects via a barrel connector. That means that you can remove it and roll the mat up tight, for easier storage or transport. I should also note that the power source connects to the light mat; it doesn’t dangle from the power cord when mounted or hung via the D-ring.
There’s a ring at the top, for hanging the mat for upright illumination.
There are also magnets at each corner. I’d guess that it allows the mat to be mounted from steel surfaces, but it also allows for the mat to be wrapped into a secure 360° illumination ring.
Runtime is up to 25 hours using a 9.0Ah battery. As a bonus, the 18V power source has a USB port for charging other devices.
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Ridgid says that the mat is made of durable materials and will hold up to tough jobsite environments.
Price: $99 for the bare tool
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Battery and charger are NOT included.
First Thoughts
I just gotta say this – I’m really loving TTI’s product design creativity. Kudos to the lighting product design and engineering team!
I can’t think of a single lighting task that I’d use this for, but I know I’d find tons of uses for it if I had one. Potentially, I wonder if it can be used with an AC adapter for battery-free operation…
If the CRI (color accuracy) is good enough, this might even be suited for photo or video use in tricky situations.
Kenneth Stephens
Looks cool. I was regretting getting into the Ridgid 18v lime last year, but some of their new products keep me satisfied. However, most of what I do is automotive and the M12 line sees 90% of my power tool use.
Lynyrd
This reminds of camping/survival needs if only it also included solar charging.
Josh
Great for laying underneath a car and working on it. Hopefully ryobi comes out with something similar
RKA
I was thinking the same, lay it under the car to get better illumination, although I’m guessing my head would frequently be in the way and I might still be better off with a stick light? But the flexibility (pardon the pun) is great! Hang it on a wall behind the furnace, roll it up and stand it upright in the attic, lay it flat under the car, etc. Great idea and the magnets give you extra options. I like it. If I had this battery platform I think I would get it.
Benjamin Thomas
I used it working under the house and actually used it as a head rest while working in some wire routing.
Anthony
I’m curious if any other power source with a barrel adapter would work. I have an m12 heated sweater and it connects the same way, through a barrel adapter. I’m not sure what the lumen output would be on only 12v, and it would surely take a hit in runtime, but I think the light would become more versatile without an 18v boat anchor hanging it from it. Plus, if it did work, that should mean that you could use any manufacturer’s power source: milwaukee, bosch, ridgid of course, provided they all have that Harrell style output.
krashtd
In my testing so far, neither the Milwaukee M12 nor the M18 power sources work with this light mat. Very disappointing.
Redford
This would probably be pretty easy to adapt to use on other battery platforms since it’s just a barrel connector. I doubt there’s any kind of handshake between the light and the battery.
Mike47
How can something so flexible be Ridgid?
Stuart
Ha!
Joe framer
Very short.cord to the power source. Definitely not ideal. Interesting concept, but needs more time in the oven.
Stuart
The power source attaches to the light mat. With the mat wrapped into a cylinder, the power source can be placed next to it, or maybe even inside at the bottom.
What would you need a longer power cord for?
If a longer cord were really necessary, I’m sure you can buy an extension, or build one if the barrel connector is a standard but less ubiquitous size. In that case, a shorter built-in cord is still preferable. You can extend a cord like that easily, but cable management or modification of a longer cord is going to be a much bigger hassle.
Joe framer
Watch “workshop addict” and see the ridiculous power source in the way. When layed flat under a car it’s in the way…when layed on a fender or anything else it hangs to short. Ya an extension can be added of course but it places the power source hanging in the air…..I’m fairly certain one would not Only use it rolled up, hence the word “matt”……the cord off the matt should be 10′ and out of the way
Mattyice
I certainly don’t want a longer cord on something like this, and certainly not 10’, that’s ludicrous! It’s cordless for a reason! I’m sorry, but the battery and cord laying flat on the ground is not “in the way”, workshop addict should have spent a few more minutes figuring out how to use it,
DRT
I hear ya. When I saw this, I immediately thought of setting it on the ground, while the car is up on the lift. It’s kind of dark when you’re working on a car under a lift, and some diffused light would be great to help you see what you are doing. For this usage, I definitely do NOT want a long cord – I don’t want a cord at all, because it could wrap around my foot and cause me to trip. If it can handle being stepped on, it might be pretty successful. Stuart should send me one, and I’ll check it out immediately.
Mattyice
Workshop addict even calls it a “must have” and raves about it! It’s got a clip on it to attach the pack to the unit, it’s not in the way at all.
Joe framer
For a diy anything will do, no pro mechanics will be buying it. Again interesting but rushed out the door.
,.. Ridgid makes decent tools especially octane. Matter of fact , workshop addict just did a review of the Ridgid octane hammer drill VS Milwaukee gen 3 hammer drill. Ridgid is better for drilling in cement , Milwaukee is better drilling in wood. Ridgid didn’t get excessive heat build up, Milwaukee Did… again…. interesting
Dave
Joe framer, Ridgid isn’t going after the auto mechanic market; that’s what the Husky brand is for. Yes there is some crossover (especially in the drill/drivers) but it’s not their primary customer.
Nathan
Yeah short of the no pro will buy a ridgid whatever. If other tool batteries would work – and it seems likely. then I have to say I like the idea.
yes the battery block might be a short issue it also might be something you can velcro to the mat. meh I’d have to put hands on one.
but yes I was thinking about hanging it down a hood for example. use the magnets put it down the length of an open hood and you’d have quite a bit of light – especially if you were on the side of the road. Or roll this joint out on your rafters in the attic – it might be handier than my dewalt 1500 lumen device. And I love that thing. For a gen one device I say it’s a pretty good go.