Fenix CL28R: Rechargeable Lantern for Power Cuts

The Fenix CL28R is a rechargeable lantern with a built in 10,000 mAh battery, a maximum output of 2000 lumens and a colour temperature you can dial between 2700K and 6000K¹. For a household preparing for power cuts, the useful part is the range: the same lantern will run for 12 days on its lowest white setting at 10 lumens, or light a room brightly at 2000 lumens for 9 hours including step downs¹. It also works as a power bank, with output listed at 5V/3A, 9V/2A and 12V/1.5A maximum, so it can top up a phone when the mains is off¹.

It is a lantern rather than a torch: a 160 degree wide area beam angle, a magnetic rotating handle and stand, and a body of aluminium and plastics, rated IP66 for weather and dust¹. That makes it a candidate for the kitchen table during an outage rather than for walking a dog. It weighs 376 grams including the battery and measures 100mm by 97mm by 41mm¹.

Before you rely on it, charge it fully, learn the two rotary switches and the red light button, and decide where it will live so you can find it in the dark. The sections below set out the specifications, how to charge, use and store it, the safety instructions the maker gives, and what support and warranty come with it.

Specifications

The CL28R sits in the battery and rechargeable lanterns part of a household lighting kit. Its headline figure is 2000 lumens, but the setting you will use most in a power cut is far lower, and that is where the run times become generous. The distributor lists the light output as variable from 10 to 2000 lumens, with white and red LEDs and a stated LED life of 50,000 hours¹.

Run time is where the settings matter most. The distributor lists 9 hours on High at 2000 lumens including step downs, 10 hours on Mid at 1000 lumens including step downs, 12 days continuous on Low at 10 lumens, 7 days continuous on red constant at 9 lumens, and 14 days continuous on red flash at 9 lumens¹. The maker's manual states that these figures come from Fenix laboratory testing using the 2 x 5000mAh batteries at 21±3°C and humidity of 50% to 80%². A cold garage or a hot loft will not match those conditions, so treat them as a best case.

Charging, use and storage

Charging is straightforward. The distributor's instruction is to plug the USB-A end of the supplied cable into the charger, then the USB-C end into the CL28R¹. It supports the PD3.0/PD2.0 and QC3.0/QC2.0 fast charging protocols, and the normal charging time is approximately 4 hours from depletion to full¹. You supply the charger itself; the box contains the lantern, a USB-C cable and a key ring¹, and the manual lists the same items plus a user manual and warranty card².

The battery indicator has five states: four lights on means 100% to 80%, three lights 80% to 60%, two lights 60% to 40%, one light 40% to 20%, and one flashing light 20% to 1%¹. When the voltage drops below the pre-set level the indicator constantly blinks to remind you to recharge¹. The lantern stops discharging when the internal battery voltage reaches 2.9v to protect the batteries¹.

Using it is a matter of two rotary switches and a button. One rotary switch sets light output, the other sets colour temperature, and a push button switch controls the red light¹. The lantern memorises the last selected colour temperature, but each time it is switched on it starts on Low mode of white light¹. That is a sensible default in a power cut: you get light immediately without blinding anyone, then turn it up.

The mounting options are worth knowing before an outage. The distributor lists a magnetic rotating handle and stand¹, and the manual describes a 360 degree rotary handle with a magnetic base for hands-free use on magnetic metal surfaces, plus a bottom tripod socket for directional illumination². A fridge door or a metal shelf can hold it; a tripod can raise it to ceiling height.

For storage, the maker's instruction is to rotate the lantern handle over the orange button to prevent accidental activation during storage or transportation². Store it charged, with the port cover closed, somewhere you can reach in the dark. The charging and storing rechargeable torches safely page covers the wider routine.

Safety

The maker's manual sets out the safety instructions for this lantern, and they are worth reading once and remembering. It says to place the lantern out of the reach of children, not to shine it directly into eyes, not to shine it at flammable objects at close range, not to use it inappropriately such as biting it in the mouth, and to note that the shell gets hot and can scald². It also says to turn the lantern off and lock it or remove the battery when it is placed in closed flammable environments such as pockets and backpacks².

Heat is managed automatically to a point. The distributor states that when the lantern reaches a temperature of 54°C or above, it will automatically decrease a few lumens every second¹. That is a protection for the electronics, not a licence to run it wrapped in a coat or under bedding. Give it air.

The body is built for knocks and weather. The distributor lists high quality aluminium and plastics, a 1.5m drop test and IP66 weatherproofing¹, and the manual describes A6061-T6 aluminium with a hard-anodized finish and impact resistance of 1.5 meters². IP66 covers rain and dust, not immersion. Once charging is completed, close the anti-dust cover to maintain the dustproof and waterproof ability¹.

Two limits are worth knowing. The LED is not replaceable, and the whole lantern should be replaced when the LED reaches the end of its life². And disassembling the sealed head can cause damage to the lantern and will void the warranty¹. If it flickers or fails to light, the manual says this is usually caused by a poor battery level, and the solution is to recharge the battery, otherwise contact your authorised distributor².

Support and warranty

The CL28R comes with a 2 year UK warranty from the distributor¹. Keep the warranty card from the box and your proof of purchase together, because a claim will need them. The warranty does not cover damage from opening the sealed head, which the distributor says will void it¹.

If something goes wrong, work through the simple checks first. The manual's troubleshooting advice is that flickering or failure to illuminate is usually caused by a poor battery level, and the solution is to recharge the battery, otherwise contact your authorised distributor². A lantern that will not charge at all, or a port that feels loose, is a matter for the distributor rather than something to fix at home.

The distributor lists the CL28R as in stock¹. The box contains the retail packaged lantern, a USB-C charging cable and a key ring¹; the manual adds a user manual and warranty card². There is no charger in the box, so keep a suitable USB charger with your emergency lighting so you are not hunting for one during an outage.

For the wider picture, the emergency lighting at home section explains how a lantern fits with torches, head torches and emergency bulbs, and the power cuts guide covers what to do when the supply fails. If you are choosing between a lantern and a torch for a particular room, the lantern or torch comparison sets out the trade-offs. Fenix also makes the CL26R Pro, a multi-beam rechargeable lantern listed separately³.