FIXIT TOOLS
1,000,000CP SPOTLIGHT


Fixit Tools 1,000,000 Candlepower Spotlight, retail $49.99 (www.wallgreens.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown) for FixIt Tools (www.fixittools.com/)
Last updated 10-01-08




The Fixit Tools 1,000,000 Candlepower Spotlight is a large, fairly heavy handheld spotlight. It uses a built-in rechargeable lead-acid battery to power what I believe is a halogen incandescent light blub positioned near the bottom of a large, nearly mirror-smooth reflector.

It comes with home and car chargers, has a rectangular metal loop on top so it may be hung, and includes a metal threaded opening in the handle so it may be affixed to a tripod.


SIZE



The spotlight will need to be charged when you first take it out of the package, so do that first (see the "Feeding Time" section immediately below).

Hold the spotlight by its handle as you might hold a gun. Squeeze and hold in the red trigger switch for as long as you need light; let it go to plunge yourself back into darkness. This is momentary or signalling mode.

Press and hold the trigger switch in, and while the switch is still pressed in, press on the red rectangular tab on the left side of the handle above the switch. Now you can let go of the trigger and the spotlight will stay on unattended. This is hands free or continuous mode. Press the red tab on the right side of the handle to pop the trigger switch back to its resting position; this turns the spotlight off.

A rectangular metal loop is positioned on the top of the spotlight; held in place by a detent. There are two finger/thumb indentations under this loop so it can be lifted off without tools. When the spotlight is hung from this loop, it aims downward at approximately 40-45°. This loop snaps back into place when you're finished using it, so it does not get in the way.

A metal threaded female receptacle is also present on the underside of the handle; this allows you to affix the spotlight to a tripod if you desire.



The battery in this spotlight is rechargeable and not replaceable, so this portion of the web page will be more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a flashlight that uses disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries that must be removed prior to charging.

To charge the spotlight, plug the small plug on the end of the wall-wart's cord into the receptacle for it on the back of the lantern's handle. Plug the wall-wart itself into any 2- or 3-prong 110-130 volts AC household receptacle. A red LED above the plug on the spotlight's handle should now come on; this indicates power.

The spotlight also comes with a 12 volts DC automobile cigerette lighter charger; usage instructions are the same as above except you plug the large end into the cigerette lighter receptacle in your vehicle.

Charge times are advertised as 15 hours for the AC charger, and 12-20 hours for the cigerette lighter charger.

The spotlight cannot be used while charging; an interlock of some type prevents that from being able to happen. The interlock appears to be mechanical in nature; engaging whenever the charge plug is plugged into the receptacle on the spotlight's handle.

Runtime per charge is advertised at 30 minutes.




Photograph of the spotlight's business-end, showing the bulb and smooth reflector.

The spotlight appears to be reasonably sturdy. Since it is a large spotlight though, and not a flashlight, I'll forego "The Smack Test" and "The Toilet Test" this time around.
So this portion of the web page will be more bare than this section of the web page on a page about a flashlight.

A band of comfortable padding is on the handle; this is easily removeable if desired simply by sliding it down and off the handle.

The output is in the form of a narrow spot with a much dimmer corona. The corona by itself is plenty bright enough to see where you're walking or see the parts of the motor under the hood of a car or truck.



Beam photograph at ~12".
Measures 1,013cd on a Meterman LM631 light meter.

Measurement is low because the sensor on my light meter is very small, and I am not equipped to measure at greater distances (for example, lux measurements are taken at 1 meter).




Beam photograph at ~15 feet.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the halogen bulb in this flashlight.


ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.





TEST NOTES:
Test unit was purchased at Wallgreens for $9.99 on 05-06-05.

Spotlight was made in China. A product's country of origin really does matter to some people, which is why I published it on this web page.

The AC adapter has an open-circuit voltage of +15.39 volts, and has a rated current output of 500mA.
Center of plug is positive, barrel is negative.


UPDATE: 07-04-06
A fan of this website emailed: "The battery can be replaced if taken apart."
These are his own words; this was not paraphrased in any manner.


UPDATE: 11-29-06
I received an email from a rather dissatisfied user of this product this morning; below is a segment of that message:

You really should consider putting Fixit in the "Toylet Bowl".

FYI - For one, this ghost company seems to keep under cover very well. Lowes replaced our first 2 and now, we are, again, stuck with 2 more worthless lights. One year of 4 crappy lights, probably charged 12 times with 2 of them "on/off" buttons breaking before they permanently die after the 2 others, after little use.


UPDATE: 02-26-07
I received another email from another rather dissatisfied user of this product this morning:

Craig,
I paid $10 @ Walgreens for this toilet stopper. Charged it for 15 hours, I got a bright light for about 30 seconds, then dimmed, and went out.

Because I have received a lot of negative comments about this product, I have decided to derate it by two (2) stars.


UPDATE: 03-06-07
I received a snail mail from another rather dissatisfied user of this product this afternoon, stating that the bulb had blown out after just ~1.5 hours total use.

I attemped to open mine to find out what type of lamp it needs; the glass window and reflector could not be seperated. And now I can't get the "catbeat segment of poo-poo momma farking" (toilet words replaced with innocous ones - the correct acronym is PWPOSMF) thing put back together.

Because the incandescent lamp appears unchangeable, I'll change its rating yet again to "Zero Stars - Whip Out Your Ding-Dong or Sit on the Commode and Uranate On It" (yes, cover it with oxides of uranium, not pee!) and place it in "The Toylet Bowl" section of this website.


UPDATE: 09-10-07
I ordered another on 08-30-07 and received it on 09-07-07.
I ordered it because somebody needed the AC adapter ratings for his (labelled as 9 volts 300mA).


UPDATE: 10-01-08
I received another email from yet ANOTHER dissatisfied user of this product, as follows (his name & email address omitted to protect his privacy):

You can add my name to the list of unhappy owners of subject item. After
a handful of uses, battery failed to keep charge (better results than
some others). Info to pass on:

1. The battery is a sealed lead-acid 6 volt, 4.5 amp rechargeable.
(Replacement: $6.50 plus ~$9.50 shipping from an eBay store.) Doubtful
if replacement is worth it.

2. You cannot operate the lamp with the charger attached. What they
don't tell you is that the battery will not accept a charge with the
switch in the "ON" position. Unfortunately, an operator with a dead
battery can't be certain if the push-button toggle is "ON" or "OFF",
adding to the futility of it all.





PROS:
Feels reasonably good in the hand
Rechargeable battery, so you never have to buy disposables for it


CONS:
Can have a short battery life
Bulb has (so far anyway) proven to be unchangeable - when it blows you'll probably be SOL.
Switch can become broken for no reason
Apparently, there is a high defect rate


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Large rechargeable spotlight
    LAMP TYPE: Halogen incandescent bulb, wattage unknown
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Narrow spot with significantly dimmer corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Momentary trigger switch on handle
    BEZEL: Plastic; lamp & reflector protected by a glass window
    BATTERY: Built-in rechargeable lead-acid; voltage and capacity unknown
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes, splatter-resistant at minimum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Wall-wart charger, cigerette lighter charger, lead-acid battery
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Fixit Tools 1,000,000CP Spotlight * www.wallgreens.com...






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