Getting my first pressure lamp, how to use indoors?

Hi everyone, I’m about to buy my first pressure lantern, a Coleman Scout 249. I already own a traditional oil lamp and an Aladdin mantle lamp, so I’m familiar with kerosene lighting, but pressure lanterns are new to me.

I’m mainly wanting to use it indoors at my desk for reading and ambience. Just wondering if anyone has tips for:

- indoor use/ventilation
- brightness adjustment
- mantle care
- noise/heat
- safest way to light and shut down
- fuel recommendations

Any beginner advice for the 249 would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Welcome to CPL @Desolate_Place

- indoor use/ventilation
They can produce monoxide so ventilation is a must. Unless you're house is drafty open a window. Some users install a monoxide meter/alarm.

- brightness adjustment
On the 249 there is none.

- mantle care
Fit the mantle and set fire to it. It will shrivel and shrink. When you light the lantern properly it will expand into shape. Let the lantern run for 30 minutes to set the mantle.
After that avoid touching or knocking the mantle as they are fragile.

- noise/heat
Yes there is noise and heat.

- safest way to light and shut down
With the shutoff valve closed pump pressure into the tank. Fill the preheat cup with Metho and light. As the metho flame starts to falter open the shutoff valve. The mantle should ignite. Add more pressure to the tank.

- fuel recommendations
The 249 is a kerosene lantern. Do not use what's sold in Australia as lamp oil.

 

I'm not familiar with the Coleman 249 Scout, but I just looked on oldtowncoleman.com for the user manual which states that it uses Kerosene. This is rather unusual for Coleman appliances. All the Coleman lamps, stoves and an iron that I have, all use either Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline (which we call Petrol in England) - i.e. fuel for cars and motorcycles. The more modern gasoline / petrol Coleman lamps and stoves specifically say they must not be used indoors, or inside a tent, camper etc. I guess this is due to possible toxic fumes from burning gasoline.

Kerosene appliances such as your Aladdin mantle lamp are OK to use indoors as long as you are careful. Indeed I have one myself as well as some Aladdin wick-type heaters, Tilley and Bialaddin pressure heaters and lamps, all of which have been used indoors, and I'm still alive!

Having said that, you need to be careful. Ventilation shouldn't be a major problem as long as you open a window slightly or open an outside door for a few minutes every hour to let some fresh air in and stale air out.

The main danger is the risk of fire or burns.

The top of the lamp will become very hot - enough to burn you. Always take care when handling it and after extinguishing it, when it will remain very hot for some time. Leaving the carrying handle standing up directly above the lamp when it's lit can make it too hot to carry.

The other hazard, particularly with pressure lamps, is fuel leaks. These often only become noticeable after pumping up the lamp. Obviously leaking fuel is a fire hazard. If you notice a leak, stop using the lamp until you've found the cause of the leak and fixed it (usually rubber washers that have broken down due to age - replacement parts are available).
Also place the appliance on a stable surface and avoid knocking it over. These items are not suitable if you have small children or pets that could try to play with them. If the lamp does fall, it will almost certainly break the mantle and often the glass.
If a mantle gets damaged, usually due to rough handling, stop using the lamp and wait for it to cool down before replacing the mantle. Otherwise the glass might melt or crack.

As for the noise, there's a gentle hiss while the lamp is burning. That's very much part of their charm.

Finally, have fun! Once you get one pressure lamp, you'll want another ...

 

Hi and welcome.

Indoor usage has many considerations.
1) Fumes/carbon monoxide. make sure your room has very good ventilation.
2) Flare-up while lighting. Can get a bit interesting indoors. I always light mine outside for this reason.
3) Meths escaping the pre-heat cup while pre-heating
3) Flare up when running low on fuel or pressure

I would never leave it unattended, nor fall asleep with it on.

Practice lighting it and shutting it down outside. Lighting needs pre-heating. Shutting it down - use the valve, but also release the air pressure from the tank/fount. This is only OK with kerosene lanterns

Use good quality kerosene (mainly for the smell) but be aware that some "lamp oils" do not burn so well.

Others will add to this no doubt

 

I would be checking my house insurance. I have run a very small Coleman 226 indoors for maybe 30 minutes.It was too smelly.

Candles up to an Aladdin 23 are as far as I will go indoors.

Pressure lamps are for outside.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Hey mate thanks for your response to my post, yeah I spent yesterday trying to source a kerosene pressure lamp by Coleman as opposed to the petrol ones, I did some research yesterday and it appears they only had a few models that could use kerosene, the petrol ones a probably cheaper pet litre of fuel however as you mentioned the petrol fumes in doors appear to be very dangerous compared to highly refined kerosene.

 

Only one further suggestion to those mentioned..

Operate the lamp on a tray (I have a small selection of deep-dish lightweight stainless trays), until you gain confidence with the lamp and you are sure it isn't going to be incontinent.
I use them the whole time, they are neat enough not to detract from the lamp but also adds that small safety margin.

Just a thought anyway,
Alec.