User:Daniel Christensen/trouble light

A trouble light is a special lamp used to illuminate obscure places and is able to handle moderate abuse. The light bulb is housed in a protective cage and a handle that are molded to form a single unit. It has a long power line for distant reaching; doubling as an extension cord, the power cord often has an electrical outlet at the end of it. The patent for the trouble light was filed on August 15, 1979 and published on June 23, 1981, by Harry M. Dorn. The patent is for A trouble light comprising a reflector, a cage and a handle all made of synthetic resin polymer, in which at least a part of the handle and either the reflector or the cage are molded as an integral unit. Trouble lights are ussually powered by AC wall current, but some are powered by a 12 volt source, such as a car battery. The bulb of the trouble light typically has a heavy fillament to withstand dropping. It is also refered to as a drop light.

A variation of a "trouble light" is another name for a warining light of any kind, such as a Service Engine Soon light.

Applications
Trouble lights are often used in automotive service stations by automotive mechanics and electricians where localized light is needed where ambient light prooves to be insufficient.