Dewalt, which recently added two new LED worklights to their 20V Max cordless tool lineup, has just come out with a new LED spotlight, model DCL043.
This isn’t a close-up worklight, this is a spotlight, meaning it throws a very focused and very bright beam.
Advertisement
The Dewalt DCL043 LED spotlight has two illumination settings – high, which outputs 1,000 lumens of bright white light, and low, which switches to a red LED that outputs 90 lumens of light.
Dewalt says that the lower powered red LED will help to stretch battery life, and that the red light should help preserve night vision. I’m no stranger to red LED and bulb flashlights, but I can’t say I have ever seen or even heard of one that delivers 90 lumens of light.
In total there are 4 LEDs – 3 white and 1 red. It does not look like the spotlight offers variable illumination where you could select between powering 1, 2, or all 3 of the white LEDs.
As with Dewalt’s other 20V Max handheld LED flashlights and worklights, this one has a pivoting head with 90° of adjustability.
The DCL043 can be placed on the floor or other flat surfaces standing up for hands-free operation, and a hanging hook allows for even more placement flexibility.
Advertisement
As if all that wasn’t enough, it’s also water and dust resistant with an IP54 rating. There is also a bit of rubbery over-molding to help protect the spotlight casing. The lens is also recessed a little, which should help protect it from impacts, and there is what looks to be a very large enclosed heatsink that should help the spotlight remain cool in your hands.
While the 1000 lumens output is probably going to be way too bright for a lot of work indoors, unless the spotlight is placed well beyond arm’s reach as shown in the product photo, it should be great for use in large commercial spaces or for working outside in the dark.
Dewalt says that this would be a great fit for anyone working in dark areas such as for site inspections, and for searching for leaks in roofs and ceilings. I think that it would also be useful for emergency workers and outdoors service responders who often need a lot of illumination in a quick and portable package.
Price: $89 (without battery or charger)
Street Price: ~$79
Buy Now(via Amazon)
If you don’t need such high power, consider the DCL040 ($40), which is eligible for this month’s $25 off $100+ select Dewalt tools holiday promo.
Compare(DCL040 via Amazon)
As an aside, does anyone else think it’s curious that the recently-released DCL050 seems to be out of stock on Amazon, Home Depot, and other Dewalt dealers? Maybe this indicates that the new DCL043 is its replacement.
DonnieDarko
Any idea when this might be released? Love to add this to the collection!
Stuart
I asked Dewalt and hope to hear back shortly.
Kevin
they are being sold right now at toolnut.com for 89 dollars
Stuart
They put a listing up, but aren’t shipping the product yet. According to Tool Nut, “Availability: Shipping December 2015,” but that doesn’t sounds right.
From the wording of the press release, I got the impression that these will be available very soon. I don’t know where Tool Nut got their Dec 2015 ETA from, but it seems to be a typo.
Kevin
from an email I received from them tonight. Already placed my order for two 😀
“Boasting 1,000 friggin’ lumens, a red LED (for special ops night vision) and a 90 degree flexible head, this is an awesome new light from DeWalt. The flashlight wars are really heating up the last 6 months and this may be the new king. Brand spankin’ new and available next week.”
jay k.
I love my cree skylight 8500 lumens!!!
john
Yea I was just looking to see if I could buy it right now but no dice. An as for the dcl050 I have it an it is an amazing light. I saw it at home depot a few days ago with a 4 amp battery in the pack. I think it’s just very popular that they are selling out.
Dewalt Rep
This is correct, the DCL050 is not going away, just back ordered.
Boyd
Awesome light I’m sure but we need more tools for the 20v line or stronger more powerful versions of the current tools. Such as impact wrenches! I’m seriously thinking about jumping to Milwaukee for my heavy duty fastening needs.
jesse
Dewalt Rep won’t like to hear that. LOL
Dewalt Rep
2015 is going to be a good year
Boyd
I sure hope so. I’m deeply invested in the 20v stuff.
Andy
Would love to see this with various power/lumens levels, and a lens that could adjust cast, but it is still a good addition to the 20v lineup. Also, find it funny how the newest tool (in the picture) is showcased with the non-compatible 18v drill.
Stuart
Maybe it was clever photoshopping. I’ve got that tool bag that I purchased from Lowes maybe 10 years ago, and I haven’t seen them in stores since.
James C
I can’t imagine a 1000 lumen spotlight looking like anything like the light output / profile that is shown in that photo(shop).
A single output mode gives me concern that it’s direct-driven as opposed to regulated. I hope that’s not the case.
Jim
In my opinion, it is unfortunate that Dewalt chose this particular design as their first offering of a high output LED worklight.
The Makita 18V ML805 would have been a nice design to emulate. It is a traditional floodlight design; has two-setting, 1150 and 750 lumens, can be powered with an electrical cord, and has an available accessory clamp and a floor standing tripod mount.
http://www.makita.co.jp/product/li_ion/ml805/ml805.html
For the electrical work as illistrated in the picture, a smaller and as effective Makita 18V LED solution would be their tethered LED headlamp, ML800, or small pocket clip LED. ML803, offerings.
http://image.rakuten.co.jp/kys/cabinet/makita01/ml800.jpg
http://image.rakuten.co.jp/ecjungle/cabinet/makita4/mkt-ml803.jpg
I have owned all three since September and find them very useful.
At about $30 each, I plan to buy additional tethered units simply to use the tethers to convert other non-Makita cordless tools to the Makita 18V LXT platform. The ML800 has the power switch at the battery pack, the ML803 has the switch at the LED unit.
Jim Felt
I’ve got two Bosch FL12 multi LED baby floods and they are truly compact and nicely over-engineered. $50 each I recall and they take any of my 12v Bosch batteries.
Check them out. I’m darned impressed.
Jordan
I’m a Dewalt fan saw this got a little excited http://www.dewalt.com/tool-categories/outdoorpe.aspx Do you think they ll make 40v tools like Sawzall or circular saws
Jordan
http://www.tool-rank.com/tool-blog/dewalt-announces-40v-battery-powered-outdoor-equipment-for-2015-201410271712/ this site list the prices of the 40v line up
Joe M
It’s crazy, but I want this new DeWalt light. Why? I don’t know. I do know it would make a good worklight/flashlight. I like the design as-is, keeping with the ergonomics of the 20 volt max line.
Joe M
Would be nice to know when it’s available in Canada though. All these press releases from DeWalt and no absolute release dates. If it’s one thing that irritates me about DeWalt it’s this runaround they give, thinking this mystery will keep people interested and loyal to DeWalt. The quality of the tools, and the reputation of the company keep us coming back. All this Mystery, and PR/Marketing runaround hurts more than it helps.
joe
I own all dewalt LED lights and I have taken apart all. There is nothing cheap about them. Their circuit boars are coated with humidity protection. The heat sink is all aluminum from the base to the cone (copper would be better but would get a higher price tag) .
I also like how they added ventilating ports because the heat sinks get hot when they output a lot of lumen.
The only complain with my dewalt flashlights is the clear plastic – It gets scratches very easy that I used glass from a picture frame to replace it (same thickness as the plastic give or take). I posted some step by step proceidure in a forum how to do that and it is not very hard.
As a side note, 1000 lumens may seem much but it is not enough as how the sun outputs on a sunny day in your work area. So just don’t stare at the LEDs and the more lumens the better lol
I’m curious how the red LED would look though.
I like how they are showing their nicad in their promo ad since they are well supported and parts can be bought all over the place.
joe
I would also prefer it with this type of handle….lol
http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2014/07/the-dewalt-12v-max-glock-45-pistol/
Bill Clay
Commenting on an old post, but DeWalt now has a “Type 2” version of this light that has replaced this one. The new version no longer has the (not so useful) red led with two white light brightness modes 1500 lm and 500 lm.