To start off, I own all 3 variants of this lantern. They all use identical removable panels. They have 2 brightness settings, high and low, plus a flashlight. The 3 different bases all have similar features and function the same way, but the 4 panel version adds a 3rd brightness level that applies to any panels currently attached to it. Now for the things you need to know to make your experience with these lanterns much better. First, there is a significant chance that you will damage some of the charging/power contacts (3 per panel) on the base if you don’t pay attention when returning the panels to their docks. The contacts are easily bent/crushed. To avoid this, angle the panel at 45 degrees, insert the bottom edge UNDER the contacts and ABOVE the lip at the bottom of the panel dock (make sure that it’s lined up left/right with the 3 contact openings on the back of the panel at the bottom) and then rotate it back into its attached position. The magnet will grab it and pull it back the rest of the way once it’s close enough. If you do this, you will never damage the contacts putting the panels back on the base. Next, the bane of many owner’s of these lanterns (and any other product) that use rechargeable batteries. The NiMH batteries used in the removable panels require some maintenance or they will be dead before you know it. If they go completely dead, that’s it; they’re probably toast! This can happen before you receive the lantern, while it sits for years in inventory. If the panels are dead (when removed from the base) when you receive it, you will most likely need to replace the rechargeable batteries with new ones. Try to recharge them first and see how long they last (see procedure below.) If significantly less than 3 hours, they need to be replaced or reconditioned. Even if they are working, it’s a good idea to cycle them when you receive the lantern to determine their condition. There’s a good chance that they will be OK if they still have some charge, but it may take a few cycles for them to reach full capacity. The batteries are NiMH AAA 600 mAh cells. 3 are required for each panel. They are easy to replace and readily available here on Amazon. Don’t fall prey to getting cells with a higher capacity (mAh number). The lantern is designed for this specific capacity and has limited available power from the D cells that power it to charge them. Higher capacity cells will just drain the D’s faster and may not charge them fully. They may also strain the charging circuit in the lantern, potentially causing permanent damage or a fire risk. If dead NiMH batteries are enough for you to return the lantern for a refund or replacement, you probably shouldn’t buy one. If you choose a replacement, it will likely have the same problem. Warranty claim, same situation. If you’re adventurous, you can try to recondition the original rechargeable cells, but unless you already own a charger with this functionality (and have a significant amount of time to devote to the process), it’s just easier to buy new ones. Another thing to consider, reconditioning doesn’t always work. Once you have good NiMH cells in your panels they will require a bit of attention every month or two. The panels should be removed from the base and turned on “high” to fully discharge them (the panels will shut off before they go completely dead), then immediately replaced on the base to recharge them completely. Keep track of how long it takes to run them down to determine the batteries health. Be sure that there are fresh D cells in the base before replacing the panels for charging. This procedure will keep the panels/NiMH batteries in excellent working condition for many years to come. After they are fully charged, you can remove the D cells to keep them from discharging over time or leave them installed. Either way, this process should be performed on the same schedule. I contacted Coleman Customer Care recently regarding how long it takes to fully recharge a completely depleted panel on several variations of these lanterns. Their reply was 8 hours for the 2 panel version. I expect that it’s the same for the other iterations. They didn’t specify the condition of the D cells, but I assume fresh/new. Just to be sure, give it at least 12 hours, since condition directly affects charging time. I personally give them 24 hours (but I’m a bit OCD!) There are a couple of other things, like not aligning the battery cover correctly before closing (doesn’t apply to the 2 panel version) or dropping the lantern more than a few inches, that will result in a fairly bad outcome, but that’s not what this review is about!
