View Full Version : Hurricane lamp vs. pressure lamp
Both are used in outdoor situations.
During my years in the tropics, I have seen very little pressure lamps (Coleman etc.) used. They were mostly popular with 'adventure tourists'. Locals only used hurrican lamps.
The latter are cheaper, but give less light.
Pressure lamps are expensive and rather heavy on maintenance. Or not?
What are your pro's and cons?
I've been given 2 old Tilley lamps, one minus the glass globe so I've not been able to use that one yet. They don't give off loads of lamp (although the glass on the working one does need a clean) but I love it. You get some warmth and enough light to cook with (unless you're using a fire ;-) ) Can be interesting to get lit though as you have to heat up the vapouriser before you use the lamp (didn't realise this first and was wondering why the flames were shooting out of the top).
Spikey DaPikey
14-02-2006, 11:46
I used the parrafin hurracane lamps in my caravan for a while, nice light, but had to have the top vent in van open at all times, as the smell wasent the best !
Was also cheap to run :)
One difference has to be the noise you get from a pressure type lamp. That might not be worth the trade off in extra light in some situations. http://www.hurricanelamps.co.uk/elitehurricanelamps.htm found a very strange one on here with a stove attachment fitted on the top
Dave.
ahh the pressure parafin lamp, my cdad taught me how to light his when i was about 12. pros and cons.
hurracane lamp - light, hard wearing, low light output not toom much heat
pressure - heavyer, fine jet holes, fragile mantle, lots of light and heat
i like presure lamps, would use a candle lamp for low level lighting
best
steve
When I was in India every stallholder had a pressure lantern - they were referred to as a 'Petromax' but were actually Indian made copies. Very bright, but a bit temperamental.
think the basic difference is that if you can light a candle you can light a hurricane lamp!
To light a 'tilly' you need a tad more training / skill!
gregorach
14-02-2006, 16:53
I think maintenance is a bit more of an issue with pressure lamps. I had a couple of old Tilleys on the farm back in Oz, but they didn't seem to hold their pressure properly, and were never entirely satisfactory. I suspect that the problem was probably with the pump gaskets...
Hurricane lamps, on the other hand, just work. Nothing to go wrong with 'em really.
Stoker37
14-02-2006, 17:40
Unless you really know what you are doing with Tilly, Vapalux, Bialadin type pressure lanterns you wont get the best out of them. They are very temperamental beasts, but super fun.
Ok I admit it I’m biased I’ve got about 35 of them but that aside I don’t think they can be beaten for a standing camp. Not only do they provide a goodly amount of light they also throw out shed loads of heat. From my perspective hurricane lamps are not worth the space they take up and would use candles in a jam jar first.
But to each there own some people take generators camping shudder
running bare
14-02-2006, 22:52
personally if i had to chose as to one of the 2 lamps to take into the woods it would have to be a hurricane lamp for the fact that it is low level light and little to go wrong. i find pressure types noisy ,and so bright, its like las vegas in the woods. imho.
pierre girard
15-02-2006, 01:48
Both are used in outdoor situations.
During my years in the tropics, I have seen very little pressure lamps (Coleman etc.) used. They were mostly popular with 'adventure tourists'. Locals only used hurrican lamps.
The latter are cheaper, but give less light.
Pressure lamps are expensive and rather heavy on maintenance. Or not?
What are your pro's and cons?
We have a number of each. Our power at home goes out some times. If by pressure lamp you mean the Coleman type white gas lantern, the Coleman lamps are brighter, but heavy for camping. We have one that is very old. Haven't had much trouble with them. The kerosene lamps stink.
For camping, we most often use candles and tiny candle lanterns. Lighter to carry.
PG
Unless you really know what you are doing with Tilly, Vapalux, Bialadin type pressure lanterns you wont get the best out of them. They are very temperamental beasts, but super fun.
Ok I admit it I’m biased I’ve got about 35 of them but that aside I don’t think they can be beaten for a standing camp. Not only do they provide a goodly amount of light they also throw out shed loads of heat. From my perspective hurricane lamps are not worth the space they take up and would use candles in a jam jar first.
But to each there own some people take generators camping shudder
37 wow, and I though I was doing well with 2 old Tilleys :p I've refurbished the two I've got, replacing all the gaskets and seals (even replaced the vapouriser on one until I realised that it wasn't working because it wasn't hot enough... :o). I do have one problem which you might be able to help with, where can you get replacement glass globes from???
If anyone can help with this it'll be much appreciated.
All the best
Matt
Spikey DaPikey
15-02-2006, 14:20
37 wow, and I though I was doing well with 2 old Tilleys :p I've refurbished the two I've got, replacing all the gaskets and seals (even replaced the vapouriser on one until I realised that it wasn't working because it wasn't hot enough... :o). I do have one problem which you might be able to help with, where can you get replacement glass globes from???
If anyone can help with this it'll be much appreciated.
All the best
Matt
Is this link (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr1178.html) any good for ya ??
Is this link (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr1178.html) any good for ya ??
That'll do nicely, cheers for that, the local hardware store where I bought the refurb kit and mantles didn't do the globes.
Many thanks
Matt
tagnut69
15-02-2006, 14:28
Try a proper camping shop, not Blacks/millets. But I got my last one from the tackle shop at the end of my road (Breakaway tackle) they will proberbly be your best bet as many sea anglers used tilleys on the beach
I'm well known at moots and meets for grumbling about "searchlights and lighthouses" in the woods.
How much light do you need for goodness sake?
Most of the time I use a lightstick to find stuff without knackering my night vision or more importantly every other poor sod out there.
If I need a bit more light a small torch does the job and I only use a head torch if there is nobody else around to blind.
A hurricane lamp is OK for lighting an area, but tillies and gas lamps are the spawn of the devil...... :soapbox:
running bare
15-02-2006, 19:28
I'm well known at moots and meets for grumbling about "searchlights and lighthouses" in the woods.
How much light do you need for goodness sake?
Most of the time I use a lightstick to find stuff without knackering my night vision or more importantly every other poor sod out there.
If I need a bit more light a small torch does the job and I only use a head torch if there is nobody else around to blind.
A hurricane lamp is OK for lighting an area, but tillies and gas lamps are the spawn of the devil...... :soapbox:
totally agree with you mate.
Thanks for all your contributions, I resume:
Hurricane lamps are:
(negative)
- bulky for the light they give
- smelly
(positive)
- cheap
- easy
Pressure lamps are:
(negative)
- expensive
- heavy
- noisy (hissing)
- complex to use
- detrimental to nature (light pollution)
(positive)
- bright
Now is it still true you need two (2) fluids for lighting a pressure lamp (paraffin AND methylated spirits for priming)? Or are modern pressure lamps easier to use?
I'm no expert on this, but I seem to remember you could use some sort of little "hexy block" type block for priming, or a flammable gel in a tube.
I agree! - you need something like meths / hexy block / eth paste to vapourise the parafin otherwise you get a flame thrower!!!
...... however with the new coleman style petrol ones i beleive you just pump and light it!
Ogri the trog
17-02-2006, 09:28
...... however with the new coleman style petrol ones i beleive you just pump and light it!
Argh you beat me to it.
To mirror what everyone else has said, I also have a few hurricane lamps at home for emergencies and for use during winter evening barbecues. I used parafin pressure lamps in my Scouting days (almost anything can start them up, meths, hexy, slug pellets[ similar to hexy] petrol etc). and I used a Coleman dualfuel lantern regularly during the winter months.
I fully agree with Waylands comment about light pollution amongst like-minded folk, but there are times when unsusspecting sheeple get less upset if they can see a light approaching from afar rather than an unexpectedly close voice from the darkness uttering an "Evenin'!" greeting which scares most of them out of their wits :cool:
ATB
Ogri the trog
mojofilter
18-02-2006, 19:34
I like pressure lamps and stoves, not too keen on hurricane lamps though.
pierre girard
19-02-2006, 05:22
My apologies. After rereading all the posts I begin to understand what is meant by "pressure lamp." I believe they are referred to in the US as Aladdin Lamps. Most of them, that I'm familiar with, are lamps, rather than lanterns.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Aladdin-Lamp-23_W0QQitemZ6253508401QQcatego ryZ1406QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
We had quite a few of them when I was young. Unfortunately, when we first got electric power, we took the lot of them (along with some beautiful old LP gas chandeliers) out in the woods and used them for target practise. That single light bulb, hanging down from a cord, looked so much better to us - at the time.
PG
mojofilter
19-02-2006, 07:58
My apologies. After rereading all the posts I begin to understand what is meant by "pressure lamp." I believe they are referred to in the US as Aladdin Lamps. Most of them, that I'm familiar with, are lamps, rather than lanterns.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Aladdin-Lamp-23_W0QQitemZ6253508401QQcatego ryZ1406QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
We had quite a few of them when I was young. Unfortunately, when we first got electric power, we took the lot of them (along with some beautiful old LP gas chandeliers) out in the woods and used them for target practise. That single light bulb, hanging down from a cord, looked so much better to us - at the time.
PG
Pierre, the Aladdin lamps are not pressure lamps, the paraffin burns on a wick inside the mantle in them, I have one and it is a great lamp! :)
The pressure lamps are the likes of the Tilley, Petromax, Bialaddin and Coleman where the vapourised fuel burns inside the mantle. These lamps all have pumps on them to pressurise them, hence the name.
http://www.tilleylamp.co.uk/images/lamp_group.jpg
pierre girard
19-02-2006, 23:39
Pierre, the Aladdin lamps are not pressure lamps, the paraffin burns on a wick inside the mantle in them, I have one and it is a great lamp! :)
The pressure lamps are the likes of the Tilley, Petromax, Bialaddin and Coleman where the vapourised fuel burns inside the mantle. These lamps all have pumps on them to pressurise them, hence the name.
http://www.tilleylamp.co.uk/images/lamp_group.jpg
I stand corrected! I do know the Aladdin lamps worked much better than the normal kerosene lamps.
For pressure lamps, the Coleman (white gas) has always been the standard out our way. We have one from the 1930s that my father did his school work by. Still works fine. I don't think I've ever come across a pressure lamp (or lantern) that burned kerosene (parrafin).
PG
I own and use occasionally one of three coleman lanterns, two of which I got new,and have used them through to their ":antique" status, the third is a propane model. I like them all, but carry the propane mod. while car camping. I seldom use it unless my activity requires a abundance of light, the rest of the time, It's the Kerosene lantern, with citronella oil.
As far as regular kerosene or parafin having an unpleant smell, check out any shop that sells kerosene heaters. They also sell a small bottle of scent to go into your fuel supply.
jamaicabraden
22-11-2010, 11:36
Never tried using hurricane lamp ever since. But got few friends do and they said pressure lamp are better although it's more expensive.
____________________
Hinkley Landscape Lighting (http://www.hinkleylightinggallery.com/Outdoor-Lights-Landscape-Lighting-s/1205.htm)
I stand corrected! I do know the Aladdin lamps worked much better than the normal kerosene lamps.
For pressure lamps, the Coleman (white gas) has always been the standard out our way. We have one from the 1930s that my father did his school work by. Still works fine. I don't think I've ever come across a pressure lamp (or lantern) that burned kerosene (parrafin).
PG
Coleman have made kerosene/paraffin lanterns for many years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XYbHnn2Be8
I have a 1962 twin mantle white gas which works really well and I belive one of out UK members here, Ian, has a kerosene Coleman IIRC.
bilmo-p5
22-11-2010, 15:07
...I believe one of out UK members here, Ian, has a kerosene Coleman IIRC.
Yes indeedy, Coleman #201 and a dazzling little performer it is too...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/Ian/Stoves/Triangle201.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/Ian/201a.jpg
Another Coleman kerosene lantern which is probably more common these days is the #214,
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_K31hZgZf2 VI-lg55GF6kW_-sFJ5GYodBOtLiIzpoxikOKc2l
a good lantern which turns up on ebay fairly regularly.
Covert System
06-05-2013, 03:18
I realize that this is an old thread but found this via a link from google because it referenced Tilley Lamps.
After reading the thread I have to say that you have to take in to account a number of things.
First, your application for the requirement of lighting, if you are camping, what type of camping activity are you partaking in and do you need a simple torch or do you need something that will provide a light source for longer hours.
Tilley Lamps may be used for camping and fishing but you should not forget that pressure lanterns were used in the home long before electricity came in to general use and in some homes were still in use up to the early 1960's and yes, Tilley lamps are still being made today just like many other pressure lantern manufacturers because you still have lots or rural areas in the world that are still today without electric.
The advantage of a pressure lantern is not just the fact that for a small unit it gives off anything from 300 to 500 candle power of light, its the area that it can illuminate that you need to consider but also these generate useful heat that can warm a tent or caravan in cold wet weather.
Yes pressure lanterns are smelly and they will be if you use ordinary paraffin (Kerosene) you have to source a supply of sulphur free kerosene to burn in these devices and you will not have any smell.
Hurricane lanterns produce very little light compared to a pressure lantern and if your lighting needs are not requiring a bright light then this would be ample but the glass gets sooty whereas a pressure lantern does not if used properly.
Torches are practical because they give instant light, no fiddling around trying to light your hurricane lantern or having to wait for the pre heater torch to do its stuff with the pressure lantern. So a torch is a must for anyone needing instant light.
Candles in a camp are not practical at all. I am not saying that you shouldn't have them but for use as in general lighting is a bad idea, best left for home use.
Your choice of lighting requirement should be based on what your needs are and like any kind of camping gear, lanterns and cookers and pressure lanterns and open flames all resent risk and careful consideration should be given to positioning and ensure any kind of lighting that produces heat is placed on a solid surface so that it can't move.
You have those who claim that pressure lanterns are difficult to use, light and maintain, well lighting a pressure lantern is no more difficult than lighting a hurricane lantern, maintaining one is just as easy as a hurricane lantern as its a question of following the instructions and the hissing noise aspect, thats just part of the charm of a pressure lantern.
Finally, my personal preference to camp lighting is a Tilley Lantern and I have a back up LED torch (of the CREE type or White light, not those "Bluish" type white lights) which gives a good amount of light for a 1 Watt LED.
Happy Camping.