Automotive Tools – Princeton Tec Remix review

I found a great tool for working on cars, an LED headlamp. While it is not a complete replacement for a trouble light, it is very nice to have it.  The one I have is the Princeton Tec Remix, reviewed below.

Princeton Tec Remix Review
If you click the picture above, it will bring to you the Amazon page for more pictures of it as well as the dimensions etc. There are different options for LED colors, mine just has the white LEDs.

What I like about it is that it gives you light in the same direction that you are facing. I don’t know about you, but trying to get a trouble light to shine light were you need it and not into your face can be a challenge.

I will say that a trouble light does give off more light, but sometimes it is too much light, especially when it moves on you.

I used my Princeton Tec Remix when I fixed the exhaust manifolds on my 1997 Ford Expedition. It had the usually problem with them of the exhaust manifold studs rusting and breaking off. Since I was working on the engine by going through the fender, it was very helpful to have a compact light that was always pointing were I was facing.

The Princeton Tec Remix has two modes, flood and spot, with two brightness settings for each. I have not used it for the 200 hours that the manufacturer claims for run time, but I have used it a couple of days for pretty much the whole day and it seems just as bright as when I started.

I like the fact that it takes 3 AAA batteries so I don’t need to find special ones to keep on hand.

I am not sure about the water resistance, the manufacturer says it is splash resistant. I can see that, the cover snaps on pretty tight, but there is no rubber gasket. If I needed to use it when it was raining, I think wearing a baseball cap would probably keep it dry enough to keep it working.

The other plus is that it is small enough and inexpensive enough that you could get a spare to keep in the glove box of your car in case you need it. One tip would be to keep the batteries in something like a plastic bag and not in the light since I have had problems with batteries leaking in flash lights before, and I think that one that spent most of its time sitting in a glove box could have a bigger problem with that. Plus I think that since it is a pressure switch that turns it on, it probably uses some level of power just sitting there. Not a big deal unless it sits in your car for a year, and the batteries are dead when you really need it.

Overall, I would recommend the Princeton Tec Remix. If any one has a suggestion for one that is similar in size and price and also uses AA or AAA batteries, let me know.


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