Coleman 3AA High Tech LED Mini Lantern

[compnaut]

That's a very interesting lantern. I've been trying to decide between a Cree warm flavolight and a Coleman XPS. This lantern might be more interesting for the longer run time. How does the light output compare to a flavolight? Has anyone compared these directly?

Also, like another poster I bought the diffuser for the LD20. It does work great, although since most of my intended application would be inside the house I am thinking that simply bouncing the flashlight output off the ceiling might meet my needs and allow me to take advantage of the better efficiency that the Fenix LD20 offers...still, this is a tempting lantern.

[FroggyTaco]

Just a quick follow-up:

Wal-mart has free shipping on all their camping stuff so....

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-LED-Lantern/13848592

[LowBat]

Just a quick follow-up:

Wal-mart has free shipping on all their camping stuff so....

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-LED-Lantern/13848592

Thanks Travis for the free shipping link. I see the price is now a little lower too.

[CyberCT]

I used the light for a whole week and it held up pretty good. Not bad at all.

[swrdply400mrelay]

How easy is it to take apart?


Any chance of being able to mod it with an XPG?

[AMelville]

I've got the 3AA MicroPacker. It's pretty good but the shape of the globe creates "hot spots" so the lighting is not too even. Maybe that's just my experience?

[j3bnl]

Thanks for the great review LowBat. I will probably end up buying one of these when I find one. I love the variable brightness and how you change the levels. Now if Coleman can make it 'pack away' like the Packaway, then it would be even better. I just love that feature! Or put the variable brightness in a frosted Packaway.

Great review so thanks.
Have to agree with you there UpChUcK, make these new features in a Packaway MkII, come on Coleman.
Not that keen on the look of the new lantern compared to the Packaway I have with the frosting mod ala Upchuck but would buy a new one if it had the frosting already applied and the new settings.

[copperfox]

I have two questions about this lantern:

1. Can you get to the LED without breaking anything? If so I think I would replace it with an XPG.

2. Does it have visible PWM on any level?

[FroggyTaco]

No clue about the led access but no obvious pwm that I can see.

[copperfox]

Thanks Froggy

[CyberCT]

If anyone mods this lantern, let us know how it goes. It would be great to get an XPG or even XML in there at lower current draws.

[copperfox]

Can anyone with one of these see if there are screws anywhere, such as inside the battery compartment? If the whole thing is glued together then that's not a good sign.

[copperfox]

bump, still curious

[LanternLover]

There are four Phillips head screws, one in each corner of the battery compartment. I cannot tell for sure whether the globe is glued on or not. There are some grooves on the side that suggest that the globe may have been screwed on or snapped into place. It did not unscrew when I tried but I didn't try hard. I can provide pictures if there is a way to share/post them here or anonymously. I generally like the lantern but increased brightness would be welcome, so let us know if you mod it.

[CyberCT]

it would be awesome to get a better LED in there and a good driver. It's a shame the better flashlight manufacturers like fenix don't make lanterns too.

[LanternLover]

it would be awesome to get a better LED in there and a good driver. It's a shame the better flashlight manufacturers like fenix don't make lanterns too.

My thoughts exactly.

[copperfox]

I just ordered one from the Walmart site. I'll try my best to open it up when it arrives.

[CyberCT]

Great, keep us posted!

[Deal4]

Great, keep us posted!

+1!
I'm new to quality LED lanterns. Is this the newest and greatest at this time?
Any ideas how this would compare to a "normal" Coleman lantern in terms of brightness?

[LanternLover]

Depends on what you mean by newest and greatest. It is one of the few good AA based ones from Coleman and is also a relatively new model, probably the latest in the AA based lineup. Obviously Coleman has several others that are even brighter but use D size or rechargeable batteries. Its main competitors are the Favour Light 3xAA and 4xAA based models which are rated for higher output. There are threads for those lanterns in this forum. Search for them if you are interested.

[CyberCT]

+1!
I'm new to quality LED lanterns. Is this the newest and greatest at this time?
Any ideas how this would compare to a "normal" Coleman lantern in terms of brightness?

The greatest is still probably the Rayovac Sportsman Extreme 300 (OTF not ANSI) lumen lantern. The top comes off and it can be hung either way. It is very practical when camping or hanging it upside down next to a grill trying to cook at night. It takes 3D cells and the only way to use AAs with it really is to get the 2AA to D adapters they have on ebay, which I have. The batteries don't last that long. People have modded it with a better LED and a good driver so it's alwys in regulation.

[TyJo]

I just ordered one from the Walmart site. I'll try my best to open it up when it arrives.

Any updates on this? I am considering this lantern and potentially putting a warm/high cri emitter in it.

[mbirds]

I love this little lantern, but I also would like to give it a warmer LED. I have been out of the LED modding business for a few years-- any guidance WRT appropriate warm replacements would be appreciated.

[CyberCT]

If someone with the modding knowledge would dare to put a neutral XPG-r4 in there, and post a newbie guide, that would be sweet!

[mbirds]

I opened up my lantern and got to the LED-- it was easy. Those 4 screws inside the battery compartment are very long and hold everything together. I took pictures of the LED... and the stupid memory card was corrupted when I tried to transfer them! After I had put it back together!

Overall construction is very clean, looked high quality considering the price. Good contacts and thick wires. The dial turns two paddle contacts, and you can clearly see the contacts for the different levels. There are 6 different resistors on the bottom of varying sizes that provide the different brightnesses-- hence the lack of PWM (which I hate). A simple but elegant design. If these ever have a problem where they start to become intermittent, it may be because the spring paddles need to be bent down to make good contact, or that the contacts need cleaning. Hope this makes sense.

The LED is mounted on a board and metal heatsink.

I can't deal with disassembling it again right now but I want to know if it can be given a warm mod. I'll do it again when I'm in a better mood... unless someone else beats me to the punch.

[Chrisdm]

May have to try this..

[CyberCT]

I really want to see this done. My LED is too cool in color temp IMO. A neutral XPG would be a sweet swap.

[CyberCT]

So has anyone with some modding knowledge attempted or planning to attempt a mod of this lantern yet?

[Chrisdm]

So has anyone with some modding knowledge attempted or planning to attempt a mod of this lantern yet?

I don't have any real modding experience, but i just recieved this lantern and have a new LED on its way to me... Will let you know how it goes.

[CyberCT]

Sweet! I really like this lantern, and would love to hear how your modding goes. I could be next ...