I'm looking at investing in a Coleman Northstar Dual Fuel Lantern does anybody have one ? if so how bright and can you smell any fumes if your running it off unleaded ?
Coleman Duel Fuel lanterns are excellent except for one point - well at least one point that I've have problems with - the mantles seem to be very fragile as compared to say a Tilley lamp.
Perhaps I was unlucky and my local camping store had a bad batch but I went through six mantles in quick succession - two even failing when I first 'burnt' them in. Yet the original mantle lasted a full season of night fishing without any problems.
Anyway, I managed to get an old Tilley (46 years plus) from a Sunday market which, after full restoration, appears to be far more robust mantle-wise.
As regards smell there will be very little, if any at all, once the lamp is running properly.
As with all cookers, heaters or lamps that are non-electric you must ensure proper ventilation when used in enclosed spaces. When using the Coleman cooker or Tilley I always leave the top of door unzipped a little.
Last year while camping in Wales somebody left a Coleman 285 dual mantle lantern by the bins (attached note said that the generator? was faulty). Took it home and cleaned it up, replaced the mantles, and the globe that was cracked. Followed the attached instructions and it lit first time. Output is supposed to be the equiv of approx 150W, and I believe that the Northstar is even brighter.
Running it off unleaded does produce some smell but not much. For protection I would recommend getting one of the hard cases.
Our main use for this is when gathered at rallies for a few drinks cos' its nice to see who you're talking to!!
The Northstar is the Rolls Royce of Coleman lamps.As a Scout Leader I am more familiar with the twin mantle duel fuel lamps and my only advise would be never store fuel in the lamp in the off season. This can cause minor corrosion to the fuel tank which in turn can cause a blockage in the generator valve. Other than that I think they are great. They give off a huge amount of light. Around our camp fire I might have up to 25 Scouts and three lamps are quite enough to see everyone round the campfire circle.
Hi, I looked at all the Coleman dual fuel lanterns including Northstar. Considered.. mantle issue, how bright does it really need to be and value for money. Opted for the single mantle lamp. I'm very happy, It's too bright and often turn down, never smells and keeps on going for ages.
have a Coleman Duelfuel 295 and I do use it inside our Coleman Savannah 6 tent, without any problems. It is a large tent so I can stand the lantern in the middle of a table where it won't get knocked.
As long as the tent is large and very well ventilated it should be okay. The heat the lantern generates is more of a problem than the fumes, because obviously this is a fire risk. But this is no different to a gas lamp. There is a very slight smell, but in my opinion it's not really an issue.
I have had my Coleman lantern for about four years and am very pleased with it. I am just about to replace the generator tube, but apart from mantles that is all I have had to replace since I got the lantern.
With a light output of 200 Watts, it is the brightest light on any campsite, and personally I would recommend it. It is a very powerful light and far more robust than most gas lamps. It runs on unleaded petrol so there is no need to ever be without a supply of fuel.
I read the comment above regarding the mantle and the fact that they are fragile. Indeed they are, but as long as you don't touch them and leave the glass globe in place, they last a very long time. I had a CampingGaz gas lantern previously and the mantles were worse.
I have no experience with the Coleman Northstar lantern, but given my experience with Coleman equipment I expect it is even better and brighter than my 295.
I changed the generator on my 295, and it is now working perfectly once more. The new part cost me £9.99 including postage, not bad! I ordered it from http://www.campingdirect.co.uk/ and it came the next day.
From my experience there are tell tale signs of a problem. If the light level fluctuates, or the lantern won't light at all, you need to change the generator tube. But they are easy to obtain and all you need for the 295 is a 13mm spanner. The job takes just ten minutes if you follow the instructions on the generator packaging.
Great lantern, hard to fault!
I saw the comment above about Tilley lamps, but I think the company has gone out of business. Am I right?
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Topic: Coleman Dual Fuel Lantern any good ?
