We have a problem with one of these lights which is only just entered its 4th season, most of the time it won't switch on but if it does it comes on it'll be at a random brightness (these lamps are dimmable), then it may flash a few times and then switch off. I've done all the obvious things like new batteries and cleanliness of battery terminals, I'm quite handy with wiring and fixing things (I wire and install studios for a job) so I took it apart and checked inside the lamp but nothing obvious. At the best part of £70 3 years ago I'm quite hacked off it's failed already (my 25 year old Campingaz Symphonys still work perfectly), has anybody managed to get a reply from Outwells customer support, I did email them last week but have not had a reply.
Wow that was steep £70 we got two of the Outwell 400LX lanterns back in 2009, GO prices matched so we got them for £25 each.
I guess the R on yours means reachargble, so I am thinking the built in battery pack could be the issue. I don’t think the battery would be Lithium ion, probably Nimh at best.
We have 24 of the Aldi Nimh “D” Cells (LR20) not cheap at £1.50 each, which kinda added £18 to the cost of each lantern, but the lanterns still work like new, and the Cells come in handy for other stuff sometimes.
Wow, sounds like you did well, at the time of purchase the average price anywhere was £63 (and we did a lot of research), the R stands for remote (as it's remote controlled).
Sadly all this is any use for at the moment is an expensive door stop!
Yep, same lantern as mine then, problem is that model is quite long in the tooth now, it’s latest incarnation is the Carnelian at 600 Lumens, so 50% brighter, and there are a couple of similar non Outwell offerings at 1000 and 1,100 Lumens.
I am waiting for something in similar size to the 400LX to come along, say 1,500 Lumens (dimmerble) that takes 6 or more Lithium ion 2170 or 18650 cells.
Best of both worlds then.