COLEMAN SLIM LANTERN
LED KEY FOB

Coleman Slim Lantern LED Key Fob, retail $3 (www.coleman.com...)
Manufactured by Coleman (www.coleman.com)
Last updated 05-28-04




The Coleman Slim Lantern Key Fob, hereinafter just called the Lantern, is a small lighting device designed to be affixed to your keyring. This is made to be a novelty light, not a flashlight, so please don't expect eye-killing brightness out of it. It still produces enough light to find a keyhole a foot or so away, so it does serve some utility.

The Lantern comes with a white LED powered by two lithium coin cells, and is outfitted with a small split ring and a swivel attachment, so it can easily be affixed to your keyring, and turned around so the pushbutton switch faces the right direction.


SIZE



The Lantern is ready to use right out of the package. To remove it from the package, insert a knife blade between the plastic and cardboard under the Lantern's "gas tank", and open the package by sliding the blade up one side.

To use the Lantern, push in and hold the button just above the Lantern's "gas tank" for as long as you want or need light. Release the button to turn it back off. Things just don't get much easier than this. Well, not lights anyway.

The Lantern is equipped with a split ring and swivel attachment; you can affix it to your keyring using this split ring. Or you can remove the split ring from the Lantern and affix a larger one to it.



To change the batteries in the Lantern, use a #0 or #00 phillips screwdriver to remove the four screws on the back of the Lantern's body. Remove the back half of the Lantern. Inside, you'll find two CR2016 cells, and a black plastic disc with a resistor on it that fits between them. Remove the two used cells, and dispose of or recycle them as you see fit. Don't throw that black plastic disc away; you'll need that in a sec.


This picture shows the Lantern dissembled; with the lantern half, both CR2016 cells, and the resistor spacer.

Insert one new CR2016 cell in the battery tray, flat (+) positive side down. Lay the black plastic disc on top of that; orient it so the resistor fits the cutout in the side of the battery tray for it. Put the other cell on top of the disc, flat (+) side down. Be sure the LED lead goes OVER this cell, not under it.

Put the back of the Lantern back in place, and screw in the four screws you took out earlier. Put away or hide that screwdriver so you'll have it the next time you need it. ;-)

This battery changing procedure is a bit on the finicky side; not something you would want to do in the wilderness. It's a bit difficult, but not impossible by any means.



The Lantern seems to be reasonably durable, but I don't think it's too water resistant. So you'll want to steer clear of creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, puddles of bear pee, sinks, tubs, toilets, fishtanks, and other places where water or water-like liquids might be found. If you know or suspect your Lantern got douched, take it apart, and set the parts in a warm dry place for a day or so and it ought to be right as rain. If it fell into seawater or if something peed on it, rinse the parts off in fresh water before setting them out to dry.

I don't think it's that indestructible; stepping on or running over one might cause it to become broken. It seems reasonably sturdy though, so having one on your keys shouldn't break it during normal use.
It only costs $3 though, so if you do break one, it's not like breaking a $200 flashlight.

I have affixed it to my keychain for a bit of durability testing, so we'll see how it does over the coming days/weeks/months.

When compared to the Coleman Keychain Lantern that I reviewed in late 2001 here, I think Coleman has a real winner on their hands with this one.



Photo showing the lantern's window lit.






TEST NOTES:
Test units of this keychain lantern and two flashlights were sent by A.W. of Coleman, and were received on 04-09-04.

She also had the following to say:

Coleman offers a full line of flashlights in various types and styles. Some are more suitable for camping, while others - such as the rechargeable styles - are more suitable for household use.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:
Brighter than their previous model by a longshot
Reasonably durable - doesn't just fall apart on your keychain
Nice looking product


CONS:
Battery changing procedure unnecessarily difficult
Product is not very water-resistant


    MANUFACTURER: Coleman
    PRODUCT TYPE: Lighted key fob
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm white LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: N/A
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton momentary on/off
    BEZEL: LED inside a clear protective plastic casing
    BATTERY: 2x CR2016 lithium coin cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Light splash-resistance only
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: 2x CR2016 cells, split ring, swivel
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





Coleman Slim Lantern LED Key Fob * www.coleman.com...






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