RYOBI RLF18-0 Cordless LED Flashlight, 18V, 280 lumens, 80 m beam, Bare Tool - 5133005387

RYOBI RLF18-0 Cordless LED Flashlight, 18 V, 280 Lumens, Bare Tool

RYOBI RLF18-0 (article number 5133005387, EAN 4892210198327) is a handheld cordless flashlight on the ONE+ 18 V platform. The manufacturer rates it at 280 lumens maximum with a focused beam reaching up to 80 metres. The tool weighs 0.3 kg without a battery and its head pivots, so you can aim the light where you are working without moving your hand.

The "-0" suffix means bare tool: the box contains the flashlight only. Battery and charger are NOT included and must be bought separately. This is the most common misunderstanding with RYOBI products, which is why it is stated here, before the specification table.

What it is for

The RLF18-0 is built for short to medium distances - for work where you need to see something a few metres ahead, and occasionally a few dozen metres away. Typical uses are:

• Under the bonnet - lighting up the engine bay when you are repairing or checking something in the evening or in a dark garage.
• Consumer units, ceilings, inspection shafts - places with no lighting, where one hand holds the light and the other does the work.
• Dark corners, cellars, lofts and roof spaces - inspecting wiring, pipework and structures.
• Outdoors - walking, the yard, walking the dog, checking a property at night. A reach of up to 80 m is enough to make out what is at the far end of a yard.
• In the car - at 0.3 kg it adds nothing noticeable to your kit, and it runs on the same battery as the rest of your ONE+ tools.

This is not a site floodlight. If you need to flood a whole floor or a facade with light, the area lights and floodlights in the range are the right choice. The RLF18-0 is a classic handheld torch - directed light in your hand.

Focused beam and 80 m reach

The optics are focusing - the reflector gathers the light into a beam instead of scattering it around. That is why 280 lumens carries noticeably further than you might expect from the figure alone: the manufacturer states a beam reach of up to 80 m. For comparison, the same 280 lumens in a diffuse lamp would light a room well but would not throw a beam across a yard.

The practical consequence: this flashlight is for searching and inspecting, not for lighting a large area evenly. Held close to a surface - under a car bonnet, for example - the focused beam gives a bright spot that shows the detail clearly.

Pivoting head

The head pivots relative to the body. That sounds like a small thing, but it is the difference between twisting your wrist into an awkward position and simply aiming the beam - your grip stays where it is while the light goes up, sideways or down, onto whatever you are working on. The manufacturer describes the tool as handheld with a pivoting head; a pivot angle in degrees is not published.

The ONE+ 18 V platform

ONE+ is the RYOBI system in which one and the same 18 V battery powers the whole range - drill drivers, drills, saws, angle grinders, vacuums, lights, trimmers, hedge trimmers and garden machinery. The RLF18-0 is compatible with 18 V ONE+ batteries.

That is precisely why the flashlight is sold without a battery: the assumption is that you already own at least one 18 V pack from another tool. If you do not, you need to budget for a battery and a charger alongside it - otherwise the flashlight will not light up.

How long it runs

Run time depends entirely on the battery you fit. The manufacturer publishes the following figures:

• 2.0 Ah - up to 10 hours
• 2.5 Ah - up to 12 hours
• 4.0 Ah - up to 21 hours
• 5.0 Ah - up to 25 hours

These are the manufacturer's figures under its own measurement conditions; real run time varies with the condition and age of the battery and with temperature. For home use, even a 2.0 Ah pack means the flashlight will last several evenings of work between charges.

Weight

The flashlight itself weighs 0.3 kg. With an RB1820C (2.0 Ah) battery the EPTA weight becomes 0.7 kg - meaning the battery is heavier than the flashlight. With a larger pack (4.0 or 5.0 Ah) the combination gets heavier still - that is the price of the longer run time.

Technical specifications

What is in the box

• 1 x RYOBI RLF18-0 cordless LED flashlight
• Packaging - carton made from over 75% recycled cardboard

There is no battery, no charger and no bag in the box. If you need a working set from scratch, add an 18 V ONE+ battery and a charger to the flashlight.

Tips for use

• Do not look directly into the beam and do not aim it at people's or animals' eyes. 280 lumens in a focused beam dazzles at close range.
• Aim with the head, not with your wrist. Turn the head towards the detail instead of twisting your arm - the manufacturer classes the tool as handheld, with a pivoting head.
• Fit a large pack for long sessions. The difference between 2.0 Ah and 5.0 Ah is 10 hours versus 25; if the flashlight is your main light source, 4.0 or 5.0 Ah pays off.
• Store it without the battery. When the flashlight will sit unused for a long time, take the pack off - it will not self-discharge and the contacts stay clean.
• Look after the front of the head. A scratched or dirty reflector scatters the beam and shortens its reach. Clean it with a soft cloth and no solvents.
• It is not a substitute for a work light. To light a room or a site evenly, use an area light or a floodlight from the ONE+ range.

Questions and answers