Hi all, I know of a couple Coleman Northstar lanterns for sale (sans globes, they seem to be broken/missing) at a 'nice' price. Now what stops me is, I heard these don't have a very good reputation. So I'd like to hear from your experiances or any advice you can give me. Thanks a lot! Best regards, Wim
Hello Wim, I did have a Northstar lantern, but I was not impressed by it. It's a modern lantern, so the build quality leaves much to be desired and it required lots of pumping to keep it bright, Jeff.
Hello Wim, I've no personal experience with the Northstar; it's a bit too modern for my taste. I found this review that was written up over at CCF and these guys always have a lot to say. Northstar It looks like they make a propane version too... ewww
Thanks Jeff & John, I would not buy this lantern new (I must say I don't really trust the electrics....) but then again, at 10€ there was no big risk of loosing money (and the lady also had 1.5liter Sigg fuel bottles at 5€ apiece ). So that means there's one more lantern in the shed . It had a mantle on it, so (without globe) I tested it and it works fine. The lady told me it was used running on lead-free petrol, so I'll first dump what's left in the fount and refill with panelwipe before taking any flameshots 8) . Thanks again, all the best, Wim
Wim If you pay the shipping I will give you a couple of globes.I have them growing like weeds in my basement. DanL.
Yes, I got a Northstar for £12 (say about 14(?) Euros but it had the globe with it) at a car boot sale a few years back. I had to light it manually because the electronic lighter module wasn't working. I recall sticking a lit match through the baseplate was a lot of a faff-on and I wasn't that much impressed with the lantern when it was running. I must have put it away somewhere and I haven't seen it for years. Anyhow, the electronic lighter module isn't piezo - it's, er, electronic and requires IIRC, an AA battery as an energy source. No bother, thought I, the battery's obviously dead, so I'll just replace it and we're away. No joy, it still didn't spark up which is, presumably, why the lantern was up for sale at a car-boot for 12 quid. I see new modules on eBay UK quite often for around £16.95 but I'm not about to buy one - no sirree... And yes, there is a profane version - what's not to like? (except the cost of the replacement cartridges which are, at least, now available in the UK...)
I've had a Northstar for well over 10 years. It has served me very well indeed. I don't have any problems with the build quality. The electronic ignition works perfectly and I have not had to replace the module. I have heard that the are often damaged by fuel (they are made of plastic) but unless the lamp is leaking or someone has been throwing fuel at the lantern rather than filling it I can't see how this happens. It doesn't need a lot of pumping, starts easily and effortlessly and is extremely bright. I should imagine that many second hand examples have clogged generators from the use of ordinary unleaded petrol. Aspen 4T is much more suitable. There is one issue, which is common to all steel tank equipment and that is that the tank is prone to rusting both inside and out. Poor performance of a lamp may be caused by rust in the tank -it certainly was with mine. I swapped the tank out for a good one and it runs beautifully again. If you want something that works without the fuss of priming with meths and lights instantly without matches and is very bright I think it is an excellent choice. I would take it anywhere in preference to a paraffin lantern. Pics show my Northstar after a full overhaul and swap out to a better tank and a comparison with a Coleman Powerhouse twin mantle. PS If I've got time tonight I might do a comparison with a Vapalux M320 and an Anchor 150 cp. Gives me an excuse to light them all.
Hi Svenedin, this lantern now became my wife's favourite! It is the first lantern she has lit herself (she did like my lanterns & stoves, only never used (lit) them herself). It is very bright, and I hope the generator will last as it was used to run on lead free car fuel . I still think the weakest point is the igniter, not only wear & tear or fuel spilled on it, the main enemy imho is a leaking battery! I would advice Northstar owners to not store their lantern with battery in situ, amongst the Northstars I bought for other members of CPL at least one had a leaking one, guaranteed to ruin your fun... All the best, Wim
Hello Wim, My Northstar actually ran on unleaded for years before I realised that it probably wasn't doing it much good. Aspen 4 T is so much more pleasant (it actually smells quite nice, certainly inoffensive). Even if your generator has seen better days it is not difficult to fit a new one. I don't know how people damage the ignition module but it is robust enough for my needs. I love that lantern so much I rebuilt the old one and bought another one. Naughty..... I would not recommend keeping it fuelled if it is going to be unused for long periods of time. Water from the atmosphere gets into the fuel when you pump the lantern. Gradually, over time water builds up and sits on the bottom of the tank (water is heavier than petrol and doesn't mix with it) and corrodes the tank. Periodically throwing out the last dregs of fuel and letting the tank dry out should avoid this and the lantern should last you many many years. Enjoy it!
No problem Stephan, I learnt the hard way. As promised, a comparative picture of some of my lamps. Form left to right: 1) Clas Ohlson (?Anchor, no markings) 150cp Petromax clone. Paraffin. Coleman 999 Yellow Top mantle 2) Vapalux M320. Paraffin, Tilley 164X mantle (thorium) 3) Coleman Powerhouse Twin Mantle. Petrol (Aspen 4T). Coleman 999 Yellow Top mantles. 4) Coleman Northstar. Petrol (Aspen 4T). Northstar mantle I set these up to be in ascending brightness from left to right. In fact, to the eye at least, the Vapalux was brighter than the twin mantle Coleman. However, the Vapalux was the only one with a thoriated mantle so the light colour was quite different. The angle of the picture obscures most of the Vapalux mantle so it doesn't look as bright as it is. The thorium mantle gave a cold, slightly green light to my eyes. The other mantles looked "warm" and slightly reddish in comparison.
Just a few ideas on the electronic igniter on this lamp. People mentioned that others have had problems with them. I have recently had a Northstar completely stripped down so I thought I would share some tips. The lamp uses a principle found on many electronic igniters. A high voltage is produced from the battery in the black slot-in module which is discharged as a spark at the tip of the igniter probe near the bottom of the mantle. Problems are not necessarily confined to the module itself. So it is sensible to check systematically. WARNING: The module produces a high voltage which can lead to a shock. Do not take the module apart and do not work on the igniter with the module installed. 1) Check the battery. If in any doubt install a fresh battery. 2) When installing the battery respect the correct polarity. Check the battery makes a good contact at both ends. If a battery has leaked clean away the debris and ensure the battery contacts are clean and bright. Battery fluids are corrosive so do not leave them. Do not get the equipment wet and do not use solvents that could attack the plastic. A slightly damp cloth will suffice. Contacts can be brightened using emery paper. If the battery is loose in its compartment one or both contacts can be gently extended to make a snug fit. 3) As you slide the module back in check the spring clip at the top makes a firm engagement. If it does not you can gently bend the spring clip up to make a better fit. 4) On the right hand side of the module at the top there is a metal tab that makes contact with the bottom of the igniter probe. This must make a good contact or the system will not work even if there is nothing wrong with the module. Gently bend the tab up if it is not making a good contact and ensure the metal contact surface is clean and bright.You can also clean the bottom contact of the igniter probe which can be seen inside the slot in the lamp (at the top of the slot on the right hand side) 5) If you are still having problems you will need to check the igniter probe. Don't do this unless you have a spare mantle as you will almost certainly break the mantle. Take the handle, hood, glass and glass frame off the lamp as if you were changing a mantle. You will see the igniter probe near the bottom of the mantle. Examine the probe for damage. If the ceramic insulation is cracked then electricity will leak to earth near the crack and the probe must be replaced. Clean any dirt or debris away from the probe. Check the gap between the metal tip of the igniter and the bottom mantle support post. This is rather like adjusting the gap on a spark plug from a motor car. If the gap is too large, the voltage required to spark across the gap is too much and the sparks (if any) will be slow. If the gap is too small then the sparks produced will be too tiny or if the metal parts are touching, no spark will be produced at all. Adjust the gap by gently bending the metal part of the igniter tip (this is an inverted U shape) towards or away from the bottom mantle carrier. In other words, you are slightly opening or closing that inverted U, NOT bending the whole probe. DO NOT stress the ceramic part of the igniter or it will crack. You MUST support the igniter whilst you bend the tip. 6) If none of the above works, replace the igniter module. Hope this helps. Best Wishes, Stephen
Thanks Stephan. I just wanted to save a few people wasting money on a new module when, in fact, the problem may be simple to correct.
I have two of those Northstars bought with the help from Wim (thanks!) and both ignition modules are working but I had to repair the plastic with hot glue because they are in a pretty bad condition, the plastic has disintegrated and is full of cracks. The glue stands the temperature because they don't get very hot. I already ordered two new ones but I will use the old ones as long as possible.
Good man - when my Northstar resurfaces I'll run through those checks and see if I can get the ignition working properly. I did change the battery but that had no effect so I just gave up at that point. It was the first or second Coleman fuel / petrol lantern I'd ever attempted to light so I was [strike]shit-scared[/strike], er, somewhat apprehensive at the time and didn't want to faff-about with a 'gas-bomb'...
So yes, Petrol equipment. It scares me I have to admit. Such a dangerous fuel, so volatile and explosive. I have 3 petrol lanterns and 5 paraffin ones and I am so scared that one day I will make a deadly error that I never use the petrol and paraffin ones at the same time. The reason is that the usual way to turn out a paraffin lantern is to release the pressure but if you did that with a petrol lantern the result could be catastrophic. There are advantages with petrol lanterns. They don't normally need any priming although they will splutter and flame when they are first lit but of course the fuel is inherently much more dangerous than paraffin. Any leaks can be fairly spectacular and even lighting can be an event. When first lighting it is really important to get them lit quickly. If you let too much fuel out before it catches there is an explosive mixture and the result is "whoomph". I would suggest that if your match or lighter goes out or the electronic igniter doesn't work or whatever that you let the fuel dissipate before attempting to re-light. It will save your nerves if you do that.
...but not in a properly engineered lantern designed to burn such fuel safely. The problem, if it were such, lay with me and the British tendency not to want to have anything to do with burning petrol under pressure. Once I'd realised how Coleman lanterns were designed and engineered, it was clear I needn't have worried. After all, millions of Americans over the last hundred or so years can't have been wrong...
Quite so. It is a fuel that deserves a bit more care that's all. I always carry spanners with me for in-field tightening of nuts etc. It is usually nothing to be over worried about. You have to have your wits about you though. Only last week whilst cooking supper for a crowd in the garden I had what could have been a rather exciting leak from a Coleman petrol stove. Fortunately, I had not had so much beer that I didn't notice and I safely put the stove out before there was a conflagration and excess party entertainment. They were a military crowd and I'm sure they would have been overjoyed to see me (the doctor) set myself on fire.
Don't have a Northstar but do have a couple of modern colemans, namely a 295 and a 285. Have both of them running as I'm typing this. I think of them in the same way that I think of the jubilee line extension. Both do what they were built to do and do it very well but they lack the character, craftsmanship and appeal of their ancestors. As they say, they don't make em like they used to.
I agree entirely. I think once a company designs and builds things with an intended life expectancy that's the beginning of the end and I lose interest. Not just Coleman, of course - Tilley and others have gone the same way...
Sadly, we are victims of our own folly. To quote the late Pete McCarthy (McCathy's Bar, 2000): "We get the tasteless shite we deserve." OK, he was talking about supermarket food, but I think the sentiment translates to most aspects of life. If we didn't queue up to buy the substandard junk that's knocked out these days then there wouldn't be a market for it. Or maybe I'm just a sad old fart?
Yes - most people just want to get stuff as cheaply as possible. Now I've nothing against Lidl particularly and I shop there once or twice a week, but just try one of their pork pies at 99p against a Dickinson & Morris pork pie at £2.99. Quite often (but not always), get what you pay for...
