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Subject Topic: Petromax 500 Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTeewf
04/9/2015 at 4:52pm
 Location: Kent
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Having purchased all the camping gear I am ever likely to need, I am now working on ways to make it a little more special, as a traditionalist I have been quite taken by the Petromax 500 Lamp. However in reading various posts, some seem to suggest that it is not adjustable, and it is basically at 400 watts or nothing! I want to be able to use this both outside, and also inside the tent in a more controlled manner, so can anyone who has one please advise me.


Personspiritburner
04/9/2015 at 5:26pm
 Location: NE England
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Provides a nice amount of heat too.

They are adjustable but not very noticably. You could get the frosted glass to soften the light & there is also a coolies hat shade which can help in the tent (looking forward to the comments on indoor use!)

They are a relatively complicated lamp. You may be better with a Tilley or Bialaddin/Vapalux model. Also run on paraffin & only 300cp instead of 500 so not so eye scorching but still plenty bright enough. They are simpler to fettle & use. Older ones are better with the Tilley (early 60's & older) & can be picked up cheaply.

More info on lamps:
Classic Pressure Lamps


PersonTeewf
04/9/2015 at 5:44pm
 Location: Kent
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Thanks Spirit Burner. I will admit being a scout, using Tilleys in canvas tents was the norm 30 years ago. Not sure how they are any more dangerous than a gas lamp and you could argue are safer. People who use a gas lamp will assume it is working 100%. People who have an interest in "older tech" are going to probably be more alert if something is not working as it should and burning rich (and therefore giving off more Monoxide than normal). Electric lighting is ok, but cold and as you mentioned a lamp, be that Gas/petrol or paraffin gives off decent heat. So why bother bringing RCD's, extension leads, heaters and lights in the boot of a car when a Paraffin light does it all and saves you on the EHU daily charge also?

I have seen Tilleys for sale on Ebay, so may take a look, or there is the Petromax 150, do you have any experience of that?


PersonFlandersfields
04/9/2015 at 5:46pm
 Location: Preston. Lancashire.
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I use two Portugese Hipolito 500Cp lamps, exactly the same as the Petromax.

The brightness can be easily adjusted from full power down to a gentle light.

Can easily and quickly warm a tent up, I use an ex Army 9x9, just a couple of minutes.

Keep away from the Chinese version, "Anchor", easily identified by red control knobs.

Norman.

-------------
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If it is in English, thank a soldier.

Supporting "Combat Stress", the veterans mental health charity.

"They fight our wars,.....we fight theirs"


Personspiritburner
04/9/2015 at 8:16pm
 Location: NE England
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Mine's also a Hipo. I actually rate them a little better than the Petromax.

The ouput heatwise is same as a 1kw heater.

I've never seen any instructions stating that the brightness can be controlled on these. Be happy to see some. I've turned mine down a tad from max but my understanding was that it wasn't good for the lamp to turn them down low, either by throttling with the cleaning needle (can damage the needle?) or dropping the pressure (can start to soot up the generator).

There are a lot of clones about - the Anchor was one of the better ones.

Teewf - not had a 150cp - the 'baby' but had slightly bigger Optimus 200cp lamps. Still plenty of light for camping but the same mechanicals as the 500's so not as simple as the British presure lamps.

If you get a lamp & need a washer kit give me a shout - I make them.


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Personalpiner
05/9/2015 at 8:56am
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The lamp comes with a WARNING do not use inside TENTS or BUILDINGS.
If you really want to use one of these inside your tent buy the electric version.

-------------
alpiner


Personspiritburner
05/9/2015 at 9:20pm
 Location: NE England
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Someone needs to tell the Armies of the world. These have been used in Field Hospitals, tents etc for years.

Also many of the makers, Petromax included, also made indoor specific 'table-lamp' versions. Sure - not everyone has a full quota of common sense & warning like that tend to account for that.
Many Scandinavians, for example, still use these in their off-grid summer cabins.

Heater for indoor use also around:


Personalpiner
06/9/2015 at 7:47am
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I agree with you, but they still come with a warning not to use indoors???????????
Safety instructions

Post last edited on 06/09/2015 07:58:49

Post last edited on 06/09/2015 07:59:27

-------------
alpiner


Personspiritburner
06/9/2015 at 9:25am
 Location: NE England
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So why recommend the electric? As I implied they have to aim at the lowest level of competency. How many tents have instructions not to cook inside them - how many stoves, not to cook indoors or in a tent?

The indoor ones were no different in technology - just designed to look better indoors. Before electricity was widespread, pressure & wick lighting indoors was common - not to mention mains gas. How many boats do you see folk cooking on deck? The stoves are indoors in the galley. Taylors make pressure paraffin stoves for boats still & they are highly prized.

Most of my camping is backpacking, outside of the summer months & I'd estimate 90% of my stove use is in a tiny one man nylon tent, under cover. Been that way for more than 30 years & I don't know a backpacker who'll freeze their nuts off in winter by cooking outside because that's what it says on the instructions.

Tiny tent


Kitchen - inc 1 candlepower 'candle, arctic for use of'



Someone's caravan awning on a Swedish site - featuring a pressure paraffin lamp like the Petromax & a carbide lamp . In my experience common sense is a strong trait of the Swedes. They also made more of these things than anyone else.


Personbilly
06/9/2015 at 11:51am
 Location: North Essex
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Its just the default advice, don't use things that burn inside a tent or whatever. Circular argument really. If anybody has to ask on a forum if it is safe to use a liquid fuel or gas lamp in an enclosed space then the default answer might be probably not for you unless you can do some research yourself into the possible dangers of using such a device indoors.

So, in the litigious world we live in, on any device that burns there will always be the disclaimer, do not use in an enclosed space, even though, with correct knowledge it can be.


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Personalpiner
06/9/2015 at 7:36pm
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Yep, spot on, the down side is you do get tragedies every year from people who do not follow the guidelines and misuse of some products.
Enjoy your camping trips im sure you will use your lamp in a safe manner and have many more pleasant and enjoyable trips

-------------
alpiner


Personchappers2341
07/9/2015 at 1:35pm
 Location: Oxford
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I would agree with spiritburner on everything he has said
I have been cooking in tents since I was a boy without mishap. When I was younger everyone had gas lamps, decent battery powered lamps were hard to come by and ate through expensive batteries like no ones business.
I have had both petromaxs and hipplolitos for beach fishing and as spiritburner says they can be temperamental and they are very bright, there are plenty of light and go liquid fuel pressure lamps out there nowadays. But that being said there is something comforting about the roar and the heat of a decent pressure lamp and the petromax and hippos are a design classic.
Just out of interest we still use a gas lamp and yes we do use it in the tent and to be honest if the tent went up I would fancy my chances of getting out alive over getting out of my house if the gas cooker or fire set fire to the place.


PersonTeewf
07/9/2015 at 7:45pm
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I agree also. I have for 40 years used Gas lamps and cookers inside a tent. Many tents have a space for the cooker to go. I do also understand your angle Alpiner, but i guess my thoughts are we can educate people as much as possible, but we cannot hold their hands forever.

When I was in scouts at the age of 11 I was taught how to light Tilley lamps and taught about the dangers of Monoxide. All we can do is teach and advise, but all the manufacturers can do is cover their backsides in case someone does something silly.

The horror for me these days is the amount of young children dieing horrible deaths because they have swallowed these small lithium batteries so often found in lighting and toys these days. The very fact they had no warning for many years is staggering. New technology does not mean things are safer sadly. Common sense and eduction will always play a role.

We have to educate and learn to avoid dangers from any technology and any angle.


Personandy monty
07/9/2015 at 10:50pm
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I use my petrol coleman or camping gaz gas light in the tent if its just me and the mrs if the kids are there then we go electric......


another flip from years ago when tents were cotton and bedding and textiles were wool is they didnt easily burn and melt unlike modern synthetics....




Personspiritburner
07/9/2015 at 11:08pm
 Location: NE England
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Quote: Originally posted by andy monty on 07/9/2015
petrol coleman


I'm not that brave!



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