Dewalt 18V XR Spotlight DCL043-XJ

Bright, simple to use and good runtime – I got a couple of these lights via redemption on a couple of other DeWalt tools I bought. I’ve used them a few times now and I’ve found them to be very bright. The DeWalt Australia website specifies a maximum output of 1500 lumens, while Total Tools, Sydney Tools, Bunnings and Mitre 10 specify 1000 lumens. A reader has informed me that DCL043 Type… Read more

1 is 1000 lumens, while DCL043 Type 2 is 1500 lumens (and I have the latter).

I haven’t used them for long enough to drain a battery, though run-time is allegedly more than 10 hours, which seems good. In addition to projects around the home, I reckon they’ll be a useful light to take camping, although their cool temperature light lends themselves more to jobs/projects/work than relaxing at camp where a warmer light would be better.

The lights are simple to operate with just one button used to cycle through two light settings (low and high) and off. There is a decent spread of the beam, with stronger focussed light in the centre of the beam. I can see the hook at the back of the light being useful at times. One thing I would have liked is the ability to point the light downwards, so that it could be sitting on a surface (e.g. a table) and directly lighting up that surface. However it only has the ability to shine between horizontal and vertically upwards, with indexed positions in between.

At $189 a piece, I’m not sure I would have bought one of these if I didn’t get them via redemption, as I prefer to use a headtorch. Portable/hand-held torches seem a bit redundant to me with such good head torches available nowadays. But now that I have them, I’m sure I’ll find uses for them every now and again. They’re a very powerful light with good runtime, and seem to be well-built and durable.