Hey everyone, in this post we’re going do do something a little different. I don’t usually do a product review just for the sake of doing a product review, but I couldn’t pass this one up.
I use my lighted magnifier all the time. It was given to me a few years ago, and it works really well for checking for bad solder joints, bridges, or other delicate work. Unfortunately, it’s also rather clunky, takes up a lot of desk space, has short arms, and has so much magnification that it’s hard to use sometimes, since the image distorts anywhere but in the middle of the glass.
When my friends over at Banggood.com offered to sponsor a post by sending me a new USB Powered LED Illuminated Magnifier Lamp, I was delighted! I’ve been doing business with Banggood.com for a while now, and I’ve had positive experiences. You can find several links to them in the QRP Parts Catalog, too.
Assembling the Illuminated Magnifier Lamp
The packaging was pretty beat up when it arrived, but the lamp arrived in fine shape and that’s all I really cared about. The product page (Here) shows how to assemble the unit, but it’s pretty self explanatory. It took about 3 or 4 minutes to put together. Here are pictures to show how it looked when it arrived and when it was assembled next to my old lamp:
Immediately I noticed that the new lamp takes up far less space, since it clamps to the edge of my desk. The arm is also much longer, and the light more natural. The magnification is more reasonable, and overall the magnifier seems like it’ll be easier to use due to the larger lens.
It also has the ability to change the color temperature a bit to match the lighting around you, as shown here:
Overall, I think this this is a great deal. It’s under $30 and if you’re working on anything small such as electronics or beading, jewelry, reading, really anything where a magnifier will help, this one should treat you well. Here are some photos to help show its magnification, although I have to admit it’s better in person than the photos reveal:
Before… After More magnification on the old glass, but too much for every day use. Undistorted view is very nice, as is the wide viewing area.
The only downside is that it does not come with a USB power supply, but you can find one of those for just a couple of dollars. Make sure to select the right plug for your country, and enjoy your new lamp!
Also Available on Amazon
For those who’d rather buy on Amazon, they’re selling what looks to be the same thing for a few bucks more [Click Here]. It’ll problem arrive much sooner if you’re in a hurry.
2 comments
Thanks for the review, Ryan. Can I assume that since it’s USB powered that there is no LED switcher noise (unless you were to use a lousy USB supply)?
Author
Hey Gerry, Yep the power supply is on you- I can’t vouch for the one I linked. I used one I already had from an old Samsung device. Powered or unpowered, there were no extra noises on 40m.