Empire Level em105.9 Torpedo Level Goes Full Digital for Electricians
Empire Level is going full digital with its latest level. The Empire Level EM105.9 is a 9″ magnetic digital torpedo level and the big deal is its lack of vials.
A Tour Around the Empire Level em105.9 Digital Torpedo Level
Power Source
The Empire Level em105.9 uses a pair of AAA batteries to power its electronics. Expect them to last north of 60 continuous hours. Even as a digital level with sensitive electronics, it still has an IP54 rating to stand up to most jobsite environments.
Accuracy
One of the really nice features Empire Level brings to this digital level is an auto-calibration. It’s ready to go as soon as you power it up. Once you do, it’s accurate to 0.1º. That’s not quite as high an accuracy as Empire’s vials, though. Those come in at 0.029º (0.0005″/1″). For the jobs that electricians use torpedo levels for, 0.1º is plenty.
Visibility
The LCD screen on this torpedo level offers relatively large digits with a backlight button for low light conditions.
Additional Features
Thanks to its digital readout, Empire is able to give you feedback in six different measuring modes. There’s also an inspect mode separate from these.
- in/ft (decimal)
- in/ft (fractional)
- degrees (rough-in mode)
- degrees (tenths)
- percentage
- mm/M
As a level targeting electricians, the Empire Level em105.9 torpedo has a couple of must-have features to make conduit bending and installation easier. Its combination of a V-groove edge and rare earth magnets let it stick while you bend or verify your angles quickly after install.
Final Thoughts
The concept of a digital torpedo level makes a lot of sense and I really like the big display on this model. The challenge for Empire is going to be convincing electricians they really can work without relying on vials. It’s the same challenge Milwaukee faces with their all-digital Redstick Level.
Once they accomplish that, the rest of the pieces begin to fall into place for a more comprehensive line of all-digital levels. The question is how long it will take for Pros to get on board. Chances are, it’s an easier sell for younger tradesmen.
The MSRP for the Empire Level 9″ Magnetic Digital Torpedo Level is $69.99 and is coming in November 2019. It comes with a 1-year warranty on the electronics and lifetime warranty on the frame.
Empire Level 9″ Magnetic Digital Torpedo Level Specifications
- Model: Empire Level em105.9
- Power Source: 2 x AAA battery
- Runtime: 60+ hours
- Length: 9″
- Style: Torpedo, magnetic
- Vials: None
- Accuracy: 0.1º
- Calibration: Automatic
- Warranty: Lifetime frame, 1-year electronics
- Price: $69.99
Keep your eyes open on Acme Tools for availability!
