Customer Reviews

Handle-Mount Grill Light

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Installed this on my Weber Grill that has a non functioning Weber replacement handle with (2) built in lights. The Weber lights were never bright and the entire product failed within a year.

This Brookstone Grill Light is SUPER BRIGHT, has a robust design and will clamp onto virtually any handle shape. It illuminates the entire grill area.

It uses (4) D batteries so it's much larger and heavier than the newer products with 3 or more LED lights. However, the brightness and total grill coverage of this Brookstone light is superior to any LED products.

Grilling anytime after 4pm (in the dark winter months) is a pleasure with this light.


* * * * * UPDATE - after 2 yrs of use:

This light has been working great since my original review 11/20/06. Here's some observations regarding:

-- Weatherproof... the light has been on the grill handle continously and is sometimes covered with the Weber Grill cover. It's been rained on many times. There's a thin rubber gasket on the battery access cover that may have fallen off when loading the batteries.

-- Won't turn on... there's an automatic shutoff feature if the light is left on (to not drain the batteries). Sometimes, in order to reset the auto shutoff, the battery door has to be opened then closed. This resets the internal clock and switch, then the light will turn on again.

-- Heat deformation... the unit has a pivoting connection between the light and the mounting clamp allowing you to adjust the location of the lighted zone when the grill is open. When the grill door is closed, I've always pivoted the light away from the bottom of the grill (hot area). Not had any heat related problems.

I agree with Year Round Griller.This is the brightest battery operated grill light that I have found. I have tried the various LED lights from 12-26 lights and they are just not bright enough for complete illumination. I have a Charbroil 3 burner commercial series gas grill and I would need at leat 2 twenty six light LED lamps to light the whole grill surface. The Brookstone grill light uses Cold Cathode fluorecent bulbs that are much brighter and don't need replacing. It lights my entire grill surface better and brighter than 2 LED lamps. It pivots and has a versatile handle mount for easy mounting and light adjustment. The only slight draw back is that it is a bit bulky mounted on the grill handle, but it is well worth it for the amount of light you get.This is a quality light worth the investment, it will make night time grilling much easier. Try e-bay for occasional listings at a cheaper price. I have read some other reviewers comments regarding heat resistance and would like to comment. I do not leave the light attached to the grill handle unless I am grilling at night, it only takes a few seconds to attach. When your lid is closed, simply pivot the light head away from the grill to reduce heat transfer to the unit. If you are grilling with the lid open on high heat for extremely long periods the light could get very hot, remember heat rises. Most gas grilling is done with the lid down, but if you are grilling thin meats or something else that cooks quick you shouldn't need the grill lid open that long anyway.Remember this is just an aftermarket light. Mine is still going strong after a year with 1 battery change, I don't leave the light on unless I am looking at my food. Happy Grilling!!

I bought this light with great expectations - the reviews were good, etc. We got it and it was great - great light output, attached easily, however, it did not last. After just 6 months of use it died, and Brookstone would not replace or refund my money. I think $50 is a lot to spend on an item that will end up in a landfill 6 month after purchase - it's a shame.

The title says it all. I have an older Weber. Probably about 2003. The ones with the rectanglar, grey plastic handle. It wouldn't fit. Quite a shame because it felt like it was well built.

Sadly, I'm sending mine back.

I was very hopeful. The concept looked solid, and the placement (on the handle in the center) seemed optimal.

I'm not returning it because it failed, or because it didn't provide enough light, but because the first time I clamped it onto my Char-Broil grill handle, and opened the cover with it was attached, the lid would not stay up unless I held it open. For lawds sake, it has 4x D batteries in it, and has to weigh about 3-4 pounds!

Sorry Brookstone, I'm a fan of most of your products and innovations, but I think that since you are using LED lights, it would be better to run it off of AA batteries (solar charger maybe for the next generation?) that need to be changed more often, (maybe this is the Alaska version?) rather than designing it around D cells that make it heavier than the boom box I owned 20 years ago in High School.

Still looking for a good (non-gooseneck) BBQ light...

I use my outdoor grill year-round 3-4 times per week (Really) for fish, chicken, lamb etc so having a nice source of dependable bright light is kinda essential. My wife bought this for me as a gift and it was kinda cool at first, but after a few uses it started shutting off at random moments and like the other year-round griller I would reset it by removing the battery cap and replacing it. This worked a few times but then stopped solving the problem soon thereafter. The battery cover also ended up snapping from repeated removal and replacement. All problems seemed to be heat related though I never had it warp. I give it 2 stars because it does give good lighting for its size and being battery powered, however, this item proved worthless in my grilling world and was an expensive trash can item since Brookstone would not take it back. I have since ran extension cords to both umbrellas next to my grill and bought some $9.00 clip on lights from Walmart and installed some 15 watt CFL par-30 spots in them. Now I have more than enough light to see when its turning time.

Good product. it is certainly more expensive than the others. adding the shipping charge into the mix, i'm not sure it was worth the cost.

I received this as a gift in 2007 and it has worked well. The light output is more than satisfactory (I use a charcoal grill with two large cooking areas and it illuminates both). It has warped with use over time from high heat (I sometimes grill steaks with hardwood fires and that gets hotter than usual), but not as much as I expected. I've replaced the batteries once a season. I leave it on the grill year-round, uncovered, and so far haven't had problems with moisture (I'm not recommending that it be left on all the time, I just found it easy to do so and it hasn't really affected the performance). I expect this will wear out eventually so I'm buying another for when that occurs.

I used this once. Next time I tried to use it, I found it was waterlogged. Doesn't work anymore even after drying out for a few days. Brookstone did not state that it could not be left outside. Big rip-off, especially for this price.

Brookstone advertizes this product as being weatherproof, great for year 'round grilling, and states that 'it's okay to get it wet'. I didn't have mine for more than a few months when I noticed water had leaked into the lamp area (even though it was kept completely covered for all but a couple of rain showers). It stopped working shortly after, even though I brought it in doors to allow it to dry out. It was a gift from my wife, who inadvertently threw out the receipt; but still had the bank statement showing date and location of purchase. Brookstone refused to replace the product. This is an expensive item, and for a company not to recognize when it is defective and replace it in good faith (especially when branded with their own brand) is inexcuable. I will never purchase another Brookstone product again!