laser level for downlights

[ExArmy]

just had a job fitting 24 downlights in 3 rooms, For it I purchased a Bosch GLL2 laser level and tripod from ebay for £140 and I had 3 rooms marked out in under 15 minutes. previously i have spent upto and hour(2 hoursif the rooms out of square alot..) with string lines, levels, and eying them in etc, so 15 miutes was flying!
it's very simple, just measure the distances and mark them on the walls at the top, then sit the laser on the tripod and tilt it up to put a line across the ceiling, then simply measure along the line and mark the lights. you can then just hold the laser and put a line across the marks to check the are lined up.
and also i'm sure it will come in useful for 1st fix for setting socket and switch heights. will defo pay for itself quickly, would reccomend to anybody!

 

[telectrix]

very useful tool till you get the spreads slopping their crap all over it.

 

[Rauer]

I got the pls180 is A great bit of kit!

 

[sparc]

Wish I'd found this thread earlier! I've had 35 DLs in 4 rooms and landings to do, and had to deal with a fair amount of 'weirdness' in joist positions. I bet about 25-30% of total installation time was figuring out a layout plan that worked with room shapes and joists. Ended up using string, after failing to get me standard laser level to work well 'on its back'.

If this Bosch GLL2 does as good a job on ceilings as you say it would have paid for itself with just this one job.

 

[ExArmy]

£45 for the tripod, not too bad i thought considering it's built for the job. it looks pretty sturdy, height is easily adjustable via a wind up handle and you can tilt the level up towards the ceiling (the all important feature!)
i used it again today to line up 4 wall lights, why bother using a tape measure anymore?! it's defo my favorite tool of the moment, closely followed by the fein multimaster

 

[Rauer]

I did look at the bosch when I got mine but my boss had the pls one as the suspended cieling guys use this one at the time the bosch was the same price , I see it's come down a fair bit now! Couldnt work without the
laser now tho!

 

[madseb]

ill take a laser over a chalk line anyday, purchased the dewlat one. and cant fault it. absolutely love it. and at well under £100 hardly breaking the bank for something so usefull. as said above, has paid for itself many times over.

 

[sparc]

Can you guys tell me over what sort of room size these lasers can project the lines on the ceiling? Having only so far used string and a tape measure I'm interested to know how the laser works. Do you get two lines at right angles to each other on the ceiling - and would it cope with a room of - say - 4 x 5 metres? I'm guessing, for example, if the job is 2 rows of 3 DLs, you can set up centre line of first row with one laser line, then move the cross three times to pick up each pair.

 

[MNR]

My boss used to buy the cheap £25 unbranded ones ok for a couple of kitchens then they would fall apart had mine the same as op for alot longer still spot on

 

[Rauer]

Can you guys tell me over what sort of room size these lasers can project the lines on the ceiling? Having only so far used string and a tape measure I'm interested to know how the laser works. Do you get two lines at right angles to each other on the ceiling - and would it cope with a room of - say - 4 x 5 metres? I'm guessing, for example, if the job is 2 rows of 3 DLs, you can set up centre line of first row with one laser line, then move the cross three times to pick up each pair.

I think I've done a row of 12 before each measured roughly just over a meter apart before and it coped fine! Think i read in the spec of mine it will do about 30m to a visible point but will do well over that if used with a reciever

 

[Rauer]

Robbed off their website! But it goes pretty far in daylight ( assuming the battery's are ok!)

PLS180 SPECIFICATIONS:

Accuracy: +/- 1/8 inch @ 30 Feet (+/- 3mm @ 10 meters)
Working Range: +/- 200 Feet (61 meters) w/ SLD Detector
Weight: 1.7lbs (.77kg.)
Power Supply: 3 "AA" Batteries
Dimensions: 2" x 2 7/8" x 3 3/8"
Fan Angle 180 Degrees
Self Leveling Range: 6 Degrees
Operating Time: +35 Hrs
Multiple Functions
Class II Laser Product

On hobuk dot com it says it will travel for 30m inside!

 

[i=p/u]

i just bought the dewalt crossline one £180... but untill you miss the joists of first line no sense using it, but for sockets where its going to be tiled etc its the job...

 

[MNR]

i just bought the dewalt crossline one £180... but untill you miss the joists of first line no sense using it, but for sockets where its going to be tiled etc its the job...

Always use it when doing kitchens, stand out the way you can see the laser is on the bottom of every box. No more well I think it's about right lol.

 

[Richard]

Strait-Line 64001 Laser Level: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Best 4.99 i'v ever spent in a service station.

 

[Dcf]

I've just bought a leica lino l2+ for 197 quid inc vat to replace my 7 year old hilti pml which gave up the ghost last week.wouldnt be without one now.quite impressed with the Leica it's line is bright and clear.have used a few different manufacturers of these babies and find you do get what you pay for IMO .i find a pole better than a tripod for electrical work anyway.crossline lasers are better for our line of work rather than dots or rotary I find.