NEW: Festool SYSLITE LED accu lamp

[Kev]

Oh well - so I bought one anyway. I blame JMB. I'll stand by saying that the Syslite isn't the best at everything - but after having a serious hunt about, I can say that, even at the price down under, it is the best combination of everything.

A nice surprise was the car charger ... so you need a Syslite if you drive a European car  [big grin] ... yeh, OK - it may work with American cars too  [wink]

 

[Holzhacker]

The car charger works fine in US cars. That's how I charge mine. The manual shows a US style plug being available but I haven't gotten around to trying to order it, no real need.

 

[Kev]

The car charger works fine in US cars. That's how I charge mine. The manual shows a US style plug being available but I haven't gotten around to trying to order it, no real need.

I was only kidding about American cars ...  [cool] [wink]

 

[ART at WORK]

I also hate it when you guys give very sound and reasonable reasons why you should own a syslite, when members try hard not to just rush out and get one. Research the alternatives.
Then a few days later post that they succumbed to the draw of the green and good design.

I will now have to go away and forget about the idea that I NEED A syslite.

 

[Kev]

I also hate it when you guys give very sound and reasonable reasons why you should own a syslite, when members try hard not to just rush out and get one. Research the alternatives.
Then a few days later post that they succumbed to the draw of the green and good design.

I will now have to go away and forget about the idea that I NEED A syslite.

With hand on heart honesty, I did have a good look about.

For less money I could get:

- lights that were more powerful
- longer battery life than the onboard battery

What I couldn't get was:

Festool battery integration
3 year warranty
An excellent, broad spread of light
The comfort that if anything at all went wrong I could waltz down the road and get it repaired or replaced

Other attributes are a bit more subjective ... integrated design, durability, dual light mode, etc - but the fundamentals snookered me.

I'm never going to be in a situation where I don't have mains power, so I'm not certain I'd need to go to the expensive of getting two more Syslites to mount on tripods ... there are much cheaper and more powerful mains options.

Kev

 

[jmbfestool]

Oh well - so I bought one anyway. I blame JMB. I'll stand by saying that the Syslite isn't the best at everything - but after having a serious hunt about, I can say that, even at the price down under, it is the best combination of everything.

A nice surprise was the car charger ... so you need a Syslite if you drive a European car  [big grin] ... yeh, OK - it may work with American cars too  [wink]

Your welcome  [tongue]

 

[Holzhacker]

Sorry I didn't get the humor Kev. I guess that's to be expected though. Differences in humor and all. Sort of like how you guys drive on the wrong side of the road  [big grin]

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I have moved to Surfire for all of my flashlights. They are expensive but produce some of the best flashlight in the industry.

Agreed, surfire, are great. Compact and very very bright.

Tim

And you can crack skulls with some of them!

 

[Kodi Crescent]

When I was at Lowe's today, I noticed that DeWalt has something somewhat similar:

DC020 Cordless/Corded Work Light

Apparently it does not have an internal battery, but it can run off either mains or a battery for cordless tools. I also doubt that it's as durable as the Syslite since it's florescent, but there it is.

Absolutely not similar. I have used one of these.

- Nowhere even close to the same brightness, you'd be better off using your lighter  [tongue]
- Not rugged and durable, feels like a toy, flimsy
- Absolutely huge in comparison, not good for small spaces or to be hand held, it's about 12x12x6" roughly
- The light was still very focused
- $20 a pop every time you have to replace the bulb, LEDs last forever
- No internal battery, requires an external battery or AC power
- I seem to recall there's no way to hang it but there is a kickstand that pops out of the back to prop it at an angle
- The clear plastic lenses is very thin and prone to damage
- Did I mention it's not nearly as bright?

For the money, you'll want the SysLite instead. Hold off.  [wink]

So I take it this isn't in the US yet, but will be soon?  Does it come in a systainer?

 

[Kev]

When I was at Lowe's today, I noticed that DeWalt has something somewhat similar:

DC020 Cordless/Corded Work Light

Apparently it does not have an internal battery, but it can run off either mains or a battery for cordless tools. I also doubt that it's as durable as the Syslite since it's florescent, but there it is.

Absolutely not similar. I have used one of these.

- Nowhere even close to the same brightness, you'd be better off using your lighter  [tongue]
- Not rugged and durable, feels like a toy, flimsy
- Absolutely huge in comparison, not good for small spaces or to be hand held, it's about 12x12x6" roughly
- The light was still very focused
- $20 a pop every time you have to replace the bulb, LEDs last forever
- No internal battery, requires an external battery or AC power
- I seem to recall there's no way to hang it but there is a kickstand that pops out of the back to prop it at an angle
- The clear plastic lenses is very thin and prone to damage
- Did I mention it's not nearly as bright?

For the money, you'll want the SysLite instead. Hold off.  [wink]

So I take it this isn't in the US yet, but will be soon?  Does it come in a systainer?

Comes in a box containing a padded zip bag - bag contains mains charger, mains plug adaptor, car charger, paperwork ... and the Syslite.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I don't know whether you're talking from experience or just assuming but this light is quite durable and the brightness is quite good. I wouldn't compare it directly to the Festool because it was around way before then. I have the first version from Dewalt that charges 2 Batteries and also has GFI receptacles built into it. I grab this light quite frequently and have done so over the past 4 yrs or so and haven't replaced the lamp yet so that is some testiomony to the longevity of it.

My comments about durability were anecdotal based on the perceived build quality. The brightness comments were based on a side-by-side comparison in a completely dark room. I have used both, so my comments were not manufactured.

Edit: to be completely fair, I have not spent extended amounts of time with the DC020, only a couple of hours.

 

[peter halle]

A question for the Festool guys:

The Syslite is great as a portable light and also as a stationary auxiliary light in my opinion based on usage.  Let's fast forward 8 years and suppose that the internal battery pack has lived out it's life.  If I have the Syslite charging and power cable plugged into a receptacle and the battery will no longer hold a charge, will the Syslite still operate as a corded version?

Thanks for any assistance!

Peter

 

[Scott B.]

Peter

How many $175 tools do we really get 8 years out of? If the thing doesnt work, the case could be fairly strong to buy another at that point. But Im guessing the answer will be that it would operate in corded mode.

 

[tbellemare]

It depends on how the battery fails but most likely, Sal's correct.

Tom

 

[peter halle]

Peter

How many $175 tools do we really get 8 years out of? If the thing doesnt work, the case could be fairly strong to buy another at that point. But Im guessing the answer will be that it would operate in corded mode.

In this case I could definitely see the possibility / probability of it happening.  I am sure that the design is such that the battery is the weakest link in the chain.  I can see many Sys-lites being installed on tripods and plugged in for occasional use.

I have a laptop that I use for business that has dead batteries.  It continues to run on AC power.  I never use it as a portable and use my Mac 99.9% of the time for everything else, so using that laptop just on a cord is a viable option.  I could see that same scenario for an old Syslite.

Peter

 

[Scott B.]

Peter

How many $175 tools do we really get 8 years out of? If the thing doesnt work, the case could be fairly strong to buy another at that point. But Im guessing the answer will be that it would operate in corded mode.

In this case I could definitely see the possibility / probability of it happening.  I am sure that the design is such that the battery is the weakest link in the chain.  I can see many Sys-lites being installed on tripods and plugged in for occasional use.

I have a laptop that I use for business that has dead batteries.  It continues to run on AC power.  I never use it as a portable and use my Mac 99.9% of the time for everything else, so using that laptop just on a cord is a viable option.  I could see that same scenario for an old Syslite.

Peter

The difference is that this is a tool that, if you have it, you will use it continuously for more hours than most comparable tools in the price or product range, and then I am not sure what it is about this thing that makes you need to know where it is during your off hours as well. Used more hours per day than any other tool, including your drill.

This is why I haven't been able to bring myself to write a formal and intensive review of the Syslite yet. Just so many practical competencies reveal themselves with a good convenience tool.

 

[Holzhacker]

Bought my Streamlight stinger July of 2000 for roughly $125. It was a lot of money to justify but I was fed up with crappy Maglights and needed something reliable. I still use that Stinger everyday. The flashlight put in a full 8 hours today on 2 inspections. Switch has been replaced 2 or 3 times over the years under full warranty. I've bought 2 or 3 new rechargeable batteries over the years at $10 or $15 bucks a piece. Lens and cap were replaced once free under warranty because the dealer thought they looked a bit worn.
So how often does one get 8 years out of a good quality tool? I'm nearing 12 years on one.
My Syslite also puts in a lot of hours and still works great. Not anywhere near 12 years yet but we'll see.

 

[peter halle]

Markus,

Thanks for that.  Festool has entered into a tool category that is not dependent on motors and as such there are different longevity parameters.  The usage aspects will also come into play.  You have proven that electronics are long lived.

in posting my question what I only really wanted to know from Festool was if the operation of the lighting elements was independent of the battery to hold a charge.

Peter

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

The Syslite is great as a portable light and also as a stationary auxiliary light in my opinion based on usage.  Let's fast forward 8 years and suppose that the internal battery pack has lived out it's life.  If I have the Syslite charging and power cable plugged into a receptacle and the battery will no longer hold a charge, will the Syslite still operate as a corded version?

Sorry it took a while to get an answer, but I got one.  [wink]

The SysLite is designed to continue to work using an external power source if the internal battery stops holding a charge. The internal battery can be replaced also.

 

[peter halle]

The Syslite is great as a portable light and also as a stationary auxiliary light in my opinion based on usage.  Let's fast forward 8 years and suppose that the internal battery pack has lived out it's life.  If I have the Syslite charging and power cable plugged into a receptacle and the battery will no longer hold a charge, will the Syslite still operate as a corded version?

Sorry it took a while to get an answer, but I got one.  [wink]

The SysLite is designed to continue to work using an external power source if the internal battery stops holding a charge. The internal battery can be replaced also.

Thanks Shane!  That makes me feel even better about the Syslite and it's value to Me.  

Peter