Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
This morning I reluctantly accompanied my wife on a shopping expedition, with a call to Aldi on the agenda. My morose foot shuffling soon turned to a happy dance when I spotted this Maggy Lamp for $70! The build quality is very good for the price, the illumination excellent and the lens appears to be distortion free. The diameter of the lens is 120mm - a bit smaller than professional quality Maggy Lamps I have used in the past but the magnification is the same. It comes with a heavy base that sits on the desk and with a clamp - both are sufficiently sturdy. In all, I think it's a bargain.
73 David VK3KR
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Thanks David, remarkably I was thinking about one of these recentry. I find I am constantly taking off and putting on my specs when doing fine work. I will check it out. Is the illumination LEDs?
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Yes, illumination is by LEDs. The manufacturer claims there are 90 LEDs at .06W each, for a power rating of 5.4W.
I was using a desk light with a 40W bulb for fine work and find the new Maggy Lamp is an improvement - more light and less heat.
I was using a desk light with a 40W bulb for fine work and find the new Maggy Lamp is an improvement - more light and less heat.
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Not enough magnification, around 1.5x as I recall from my last Aldi visit.. IPC recommended mag for smt work and general inspection of today's smallparts is 4x.VK3KR wrote:Hi All,
This morning I reluctantly accompanied my wife on a shopping expedition, with a call to Aldi on the agenda. My morose foot shuffling soon turned to a happy dance when I spotted this Maggy Lamp for $70! The build quality is very good for the price, the illumination excellent and the lens appears to be distortion free. The diameter of the lens is 120mm - a bit smaller than professional quality Maggy Lamps I have used in the past but the magnification is the same. It comes with a heavy base that sits on the desk and with a clamp - both are sufficiently sturdy. In all, I think it's a bargain.
73 David VK3KR
Mike
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Ive got a Jaycar one Dave and Id be lost without it.
1.5X works for me except the depth of field can be a pain at times as its quite shallow. Going to 4x would make the much worst if its the same lens dia.
What I found was that my one kicked up quite a din on 6m and 2m but a small clip on ferrite stopped that. I put one on the mains feed up by the lamp and inside the cover on the leads that go to the LED PCB as well.
A couple of times, mainly when working on 50v high current stuff , the lid that comes over the lens has flopped down with a resulting loud crack sound. Scared the crap out of me
Roger ZL3RC.
1.5X works for me except the depth of field can be a pain at times as its quite shallow. Going to 4x would make the much worst if its the same lens dia.
What I found was that my one kicked up quite a din on 6m and 2m but a small clip on ferrite stopped that. I put one on the mains feed up by the lamp and inside the cover on the leads that go to the LED PCB as well.
A couple of times, mainly when working on 50v high current stuff , the lid that comes over the lens has flopped down with a resulting loud crack sound. Scared the crap out of me
Roger ZL3RC.
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
G'day All,
I do board repair and I use a loupe with X2.5 for thru hole and gives a focal length of 4 to 6 inches with my eyesight.The stronger the magnification the closer the focal length and that soldering iron can end up very close.
For SMD boards I have to use a dissecting microscope with a X10 optic. This microscope gives a focal length of 8 inches. Plenty of room for soldering irons and suckers and the SMD components look big.!! Chris
I do board repair and I use a loupe with X2.5 for thru hole and gives a focal length of 4 to 6 inches with my eyesight.The stronger the magnification the closer the focal length and that soldering iron can end up very close.
For SMD boards I have to use a dissecting microscope with a X10 optic. This microscope gives a focal length of 8 inches. Plenty of room for soldering irons and suckers and the SMD components look big.!! Chris
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Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
Aldi has them again and the xyl VK2XPH picked up one for me. Very good thing !
And only $60.
The illumination is bright and the lens is good. I do pcb work and have always used a fluoro tube type of maggy lamp, but this I would recommend.
It draws only 5 watts too
73 Dave
And only $60.
The illumination is bright and the lens is good. I do pcb work and have always used a fluoro tube type of maggy lamp, but this I would recommend.
It draws only 5 watts too
73 Dave
Last edited by VK2JDS on Sun May 01, 2016 1:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Low cost Maggy Lamp from Aldi
For those who cannot get to Adli.
The same thing is in Bunnings today for $70. It has a goose neck making slightly more useful.
It had a smaller high mag area on the lens. For increased magnification.
Brian
The same thing is in Bunnings today for $70. It has a goose neck making slightly more useful.
It had a smaller high mag area on the lens. For increased magnification.
Brian