Ridgid has come out with a Wobble-style upright LED area light, R8694820B. It can deliver up to 1,000 lumens in all directions, and can be powered by an 18V Li-ion battery pack or a standard extension cord.
What makes the base Wobble-style? It’s weighted with a strong bias at the very bottom of the base, the sides are curved. Give it a push, and the light will always try to right itself to a perfectly vertical position. Unlike a tripod worklight, this one can’t be accidentally knocked to the ground.
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The power compartment is actually pretty neat. It’s covered by a hatch, to keep dirt and debris out, and a second hatch inside that exposes the AC extension cord plug.
I have a large 14-gauge extension cord, and was worried that the guides on the side of the power compartment hatch were too small, but everything snapped into place nicely.
Read More About My Flexzilla Extension Cords
I’m new to this style of area light, but was surprised that the light feels light enough to carry with one hand, but is heavy and stable enough to successfully withstand any kind of hit or knock that would send other lights to the floor.
The base is flat, and so it returns to a stable position rather quickly.
Here’s what it looks like in the middle of an unlit garage.
It doesn’t quite light up the entire room very brightly, but spreads illumination pretty evenly in all directions as promised.
Ridgid says that a 5Ah battery will power the hybrid upright area light for up to 75 hours at the lowest brightness setting. This is a good place to mention it – the worklight has a pushbutton knob that turns to control brightness.
While it won’t illuminate an entire garage by itself, the upright area light can do a great job in closer spaces. It also projects upwards very, very well.
This image, of a bare wall being illuminated by the Ridgid upright area light positioned in the center of the room, appears brighter photogrpahically than it appeared in person. What I wanted to show was how widespread and even the illumination is.
As mentioned, it’s bright enough to light up the ceiling.
You can wrap your power cord around the base of the unit. I haven’t checked to see how long of a cord I can fit around it, but it seems that my 25-foot cord shouldn’t be an issue.
Price: $99 for the bare tool
Compare(Wobble Lights via Amazon)
The new Ridgid light works best close to where you’re working. I imagine that you could use it in a larger workspace too, you’d just have to move it around a little or put several units to use.
I’ve only begun testing and using the Ridgid upright area light, so feel free to ask plenty of questions and offer test scenario suggestions. I’ve never used a Wobble Light or anything similar, and so it’s new to me.
My favorite aspect so far would have to be how well it can illuminate a higher-up work zone.
I suppose the brightness controls might come in handy, but I’d rather have seen an adjustable diffuser that can focus more light in one direction, turning the light spread from 360° to 180°.
The $99 price surprises me. For the quality of light, sturdy construction, and dual power options, I’d have expected it to cost more.
While this is still on my test bench, what else would you like to know about it?
Thank you to Ridgid for providing the test sample unconditionally.
fred says
These would sure beat the old Toledo kerosene torch-smudge pots that I used to light up the roadside on my rural property – when we were having a party. An advantage they have over this Ridgid – is that they looked (and probably were) so dangerous that no one would contemplate stealing them. I still have a few – but my wife has enjoined me from ever filling them again or lighting them up.
If this were from Makita – where I already have quite a few batteries – I might buy a few for outdoor party lights.
Travis says
I see this design and just can’t help but think it should be in the water floating as a beacon.
I hope it is rugged as it doesn’t look like it would be easy to store. Very innovative design though.
Is there any kind of moisture rating?
Stuart says
It feels very rugged. I can see it being tossed into the back of a truck and shrugging it off.
There’s no moisture rating that I can tell. I believe it’s intended as an indoors light. It looks pretty tight, and the power compartment has a closure, but I wouldn’t consider it weather or waterproof, at least not without confirmation from Ridgid. If it were weatherproof in any substantial way, it would be a bullet point in the press release or mentioned on the box.
Toolfreak says
Yeah, it looks a lot like a marker buoy for boating use. Maybe it floats?
Does it not have a pop-out hook or hanger on the bottom so it can be inverted and hung from above?
Seems like that would be a good thing to have since using area lights on the floor causes shadows when your body is between the light and the work. Putting the light up higher doesn’t always eliminate shadows completely due to the lower output compared to a permanent fixture, but still gives a better spread of light.
Stuart says
There’s no hook or hanger, and you wouldn’t want one, either.
The base is weighted (I’ll add mention about this in the post), and so it always wants to “right” itself to a perfectly vertical orientation.
Hanging it upside down would be extremely risky. One bump, and it might want to fall.
I suppose you could hoist it into the air and hang it off some beams with rope, but it would be far easier to do this with any other kind of portable area worklight.
Nathan says
does it have cord pass though – IE plug cord in – another socket and you can plug into it.
Like how the dewalt 1500 lumen light works.
that way you could daisy chain 2 or 3 – or run the light and then power a tool off it.
Stuart says
No, it does not.
Tim says
Curious how it compares to these:
http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/trucks-equipment/jobsite-equipment/wobble-light-work-lights_o
would love to see a side by side comparison. the price on the ridgid is super appealing.
Jim D says
I have a few of the wobble lights the previous poster mentioned. They are by far my favorite work light ever.
Wish dewalt made this and I would be all over it.
Stuart says
Dewalt does have an area light on the way:
It’s the FlexVolt Area Light w/ Bluetooth controls. $399 at Amazon
jay k. says
Does it have a LED Bulb that you can change or is it one of those 100,000 hour LED type gizmos?
Stuart says
No, it does not have an LED bulb you can change.
But that is a good point. Some LED bulbs can reach near 1000 lumen brightness levels.
Jon says
Stuart, it looks like Gizmodo picked up your story. Two of my favorite websites!
Chelsea says
I think this would be a perfect Christmas present for my dad. Do you know the dimensions (height specifically)? Thanks!
Stuart says
I measured it to be around 23″ tall.
firefly says
I first saw this on TIA. It look really neat. Seem like an awesome light for general lighting such as a party… Would be nice if they were daisy chain capable with other lights.
The one light I am really interested in is the tripod mounted one that I saw in the same video.