Showing posts with label best deal on car batteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best deal on car batteries. Show all posts

Monday, October 13, 2014

Griffin iTrip Wireless Mobile FM Transmitter to Car Radio for iPod nano 1G

Griffin iTrip Wireless Mobile FM Transmitter to Car Radio for iPod nano 1G
  • Compatibility: iPod nano 1G
  • FM transmitter with on-screen tuning for iPod nano 1G
  • Stores Last 3 used station presets
  • Supports US, International and Japanese tuning modes
  • Requires no batteries, draws its power directly from the iPod

I've tried a few FM transmitters for my various iPods, from Griffin and other manufacturers, and this one sounds as good as any I've used, which is to say not all that terrific it's OK for non-critical listening in the car, but if you want consistent, crystal-clear, high quality sound without crackling and hiss you'll have to go for some sort of direct-wired approach.

Setting aside the limits of the technology itself, I'd give Griffin's approach four stars this is a nice little gadget, and very easy to use. It's beautifully designed; the sled arrangement allows it to "bond" with the Nano very nicely it looks like one integrated unit (though I wish Griffin had offered it in white as well as black). The iTrip hijacks the Nano's screen, which makes for easy tuning and adjustment of preferences (stereo/mono, etc). I haven't noticed a problem yet with the "micro-suction" pad that holds the Nano to the transmitter, but keeping the pad clean is probably a necessity.

Speaking of which, the iTrip comes with a nice little grey cloth pouch that holds the Nano and transmitter snugly the inside of the pouch is soft, but it also sheds a lot of very fine dust onto the unit for a few days, which probably doesn't help the pad's sticking power.

One caveat you can't use this transmitter with a Nano case (which may explain why Griffin included a pouch). I've got the clear plastic "Invisibleshield" on my Nano, so it's not a problem for me.

It strikes me as a little overpriced, but it's certainly the best available solution for people who want to listen to their Nano in the car but can't hardwire a connection.

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I just wanted to say that I really like this product. I read the other reviews and some of the whining. First and foremost, this is an FM transmitter. Expect static every once in awhile. If you want clear reception all the time go and spend the extra money for and iPod adapter. Otherwise, be glad that you can finally leave your CD wallet at home and be able to listen to all your music. On my last trip my fully charged nano lasted almost 3 hours. I would recommend a phone charger (Razr). All in all it was a good purchase. Do not expect crystal clear reception 100% of the time. The little pouch does leave little "fuzzies" on the iTrip but if you are not a lazy slob you can clean it in less than 5 seconds. For those considering this purchase: it is a good buy. 1)Remember that it is an FM transmitter-it won't be clear all the time. 2) it is cheaper than purchasing an iPod adapter. 3) When you get out of your car you can take your iTrip and nano with you. 4) I recommend a Motorala Razr car charger (for when the nano is low). ****5) This is inexpensive and convenient.

Read Best Reviews of Griffin iTrip Wireless Mobile FM Transmitter to Car Radio for iPod nano 1G Here

You have to remember: it's a little device, stealing power from iPod battery, and trying to transmit a radio signal in a quite crowded frequency band. When you keep this in mind, you would not be too much surprised that...

* In some areas you can hardly find a frequency with no interference (try NY).

* iPod Nano volume has to be at least 50%, more like 70%, and your radio volume has to be close to max (so when you accidentally change the frequency to the nearest music station you go deaf for a couple of seconds)

* You can't use it for 5 hours straight iPod Nano is small, so is its battery.

I never used other transmitters, so I don't really know how good this one is in comparison. Bottom line do NOT expect the music coming out of your radio to be as good as out of a decent headphones, or even wired speakers.

The transmitter has a mini-USB jack, so I have found a way to charge the iPod while listening... but the moment I connect the wire I typically hear irritating hissing. But not always. But often. I can also connect iPod to the computer through this miniUSB and transfer files/music.

The good thing is how the transmitter is designed. It's small and cute, and it sits behind Nano (and a little bit at the bottom). I put a piece of velcro on its back, so the whole thing is not bouncing all over the car when I make a corner but sits in a convenient location on the dashboard.

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I have had my transmitter for about a month.I really like it. It works well but if you are going to use it for extended periods you have to have the charger plugged in while you use it because the battery life was not that great. Other than that I love it.

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The itrip nano is a great idea, and works excellently if you put forth the time into figuring out the best settings and clearest frequency to operate with. The part that I like best is that I can use it in other countries with the international settings option. After about 10 to 15 minutes of playing around with the settings, I haven't had a problem since.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

NOCO IGD200HP Grey 200 Amp High-Performance Battery Isolator

NOCO IGD200HP Grey 200 Amp High-Performance Battery IsolatorI purchased this product based on experience with NOCO Technical Assistance. They replied with in a hour of a e-mail question. I had also called Sure Power but they would/could not answer my questions. This product is replacing a isolator that according to it's amp rating would not carry the current of a new alternator I installed on my motorhome. This is a large item. It is about 11" long and the instructions say to mount it in a vertical way so it has air flow over the fins. (heat rises). The studs on the old 120A Sure Power isolator had 5/16" studs and the cables were sized to fit it. The new 200A isolator has 3/8" studs so the cable ends had to be enlarged to fit the larger studs. No big deal, just drilled them out.

Do not be confused by the NOCO-USA web site. The item I received was marked "Made in China". I have no problems with this, almost everything in my Toshiba laptop is marked "Made in China" so what does it matter.

It works as expected, and because of the sheer size of the item, I expect no problems with it. It was priced right and with free freight, hard to beat.

Using this as a stepped charge controller for additional batteries in a solar and wind powered system. 3 wind turbines, 2400 watts solar and this baby will let you add new batteries to old batteries without killing the new batteries.

Figured this idea out when adding one to my RV and man does it work well!

We have 4 year old solar batteries and when we upsized our system the proper VERY EXPENSIVE thing to do was to replace ALL the batteries with more and NEW ones at a cost of $2800. Being a NON idiot, I ordered this and just added 8 new batteries and isolated the new circuits to them and the charge split with this! 3 months now and all is really sweet!

The isolator NOCO company may wise up and make this idea a selling point!

HOW TO ADD NEW BATTERIES TO A OLD BATTERY BANK WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE... NOCO IGD200HP, that's how!

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Bought this to protect against accidental discharge of a two battery bank system. Works as describes, and keeps my starting battery fully charged.

Read Best Reviews of NOCO IGD200HP Grey 200 Amp High-Performance Battery Isolator Here

Product looks nice. I have a Delco remy alternator which causes you to purchase an additional install kit. Even with both sets of directions, I still couldn't figure it out. It's my trucks electrical system so I need to be 100% sure I'm hooking up the right stuff. So I called customer service after having to "fine tooth comb" the NOCO website as they obviously don't want customers to call; indecently, they forwarded me "supplemental" install instructions. Now, all three sets of directions still don't give the best guidance so I ended up searching the internet again and finally got my answer on some audio websites. Product works fine but with the hassle I had to go through, I won't buy NOCO again.

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make sure you measure the space you intend to put it in first as it is quite big. very well made

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Sunday, October 5, 2014

DELUX DLX-05 Universal Smartphone car mount and USB Charger

DELUX DLX-05 Universal Smartphone car mount and USB ChargerIt is just an OK product. If your outlet is mounted on the console, then it's great, but mine is on the front panel. The weight from the phone makes it sag, and then it doesn't stay secure in the outlet. I have maneuvered it to lay flatter on the console, but now I can't see it as well. However, for the purpose of charging and having handy while I'm in the car, it's good.

I bought this car charger for my Galaxy S3. I wasn't sure it it will fit, but it does. My previous car charger had FM transmitter but i can never get it to stay in one place because it would keep sliding out. This one works much better because it's like a finger grip rather than side strap. It doesn't have an FM transmitter but I don't use it any way. The gooseneck is longer than What I needed but it's not a big deal. Well worth the price.

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This universal smartphone car charger is very convenient. It comes with a phone holder, so you don't need to buy one separately, nor do you need one of those sticky pads on which to place the phone holder. Just stick the entire thing into your cigarette lighter (is that the still common term for those?). This cord also charges my phone very quickly the same or better than if I were to plug it into a wall socket with the cord it came with. Pretty good for a "universal charging cord".

My only gripe with this product is that you really have to play around with it for it to stay in that cigarette lighter for the electricity to actually get to the phone. On more than one occasion, I plugged it in and it was charging wonderfully, and then when I look back at it a few minutes later, it's no longer charging and I have to adjust the stem. It takes a bit of practice to find out how the size and weight of your phone affects the stem's ability to maintain a consistent electrical connection.

Read Best Reviews of DELUX DLX-05 Universal Smartphone car mount and USB Charger Here

The neck is perfect length for my car (2009 BMW 335i). It's not bulky at all like some of these mounts are, and I've tried several. Very good quality and great price. Highly recommend.

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Like all the other say, it's hard for the power to stay connected even though firmly inserted into the socket. It looks like the manufacturer tried to fix it with some rubber gasket-like additions, but it didn't work very well. Also the pivot screw doesn't tighten down so that its position remains firm. Don't get me wrong, it's secure, but when tapping away on my phone the overall position changes and I have to 'fix' it when I'm done messing with it.

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Monday, September 8, 2014

BESTEK 1000w 12v to 110v inverter power supply 12v battery backup power charger inverter power solo

BESTEK 1000w 12v to 110v inverter power supply 12v battery backup power charger inverter power solor charger battery boat power motor marine inverter power ac supply emergency power pack outdoor unit power source emergency charger power home appliances converters power 12v inverter generator MRI10011-1There are days when I don't feel very smart.

When I got this unit I wanted to test it so I put the cigarette lighter plug on and plugged it into the car, plugged in my electric drill and then blew the fuse on the cigarette lighter socket.

Dummy, the lighter fuse is only 15 amps.

12 volt system at 15 amps, 12 x 15 = 180watts.

Even if you get a 50 amp fuse, 12 x 50 = 600 watts.

You can't fully use this.

This has to be connected directly to the battery for full use.

Connected directly to the battery works fine.

This thing rocks, power went out I hooked my TV, laptop, and a couple lamps. Not quite as good a a generator, but in a pinch it will work.

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I give it three stars because it is typical quality of a product made in China--mediocre fit and finish, but it does work. The 2 AC outlets are closer together than a standard home socket, so that could cause problems if you try to plug in more than one wall wart. The outlets are not electrically grounded in any way, but this may true of all inverters since you're just taking DC +/and turning it into AC. There is a fuse soldered in place inside the case, so if for some reason that blows, you are out of luck unless you disassemble the case, desolder the blown fuse, and then resolver a new fuse in its place. To permanently install a fuse is just simply a poor design.

Overall then, it is okay, but not high quality. I thought about giving it 4 stars, the build quality and the oddly soldered fuse don't rate that in my book. See the video to understand about the replaceable fuse being permanently soldered in place.

Read Best Reviews of BESTEK 1000w 12v to 110v inverter power supply 12v battery backup power charger inverter power solo Here

I use this inverter with marine batteries to power our booth at the art shows. So far, it works great. With that color, there is no way to lose it at the shows by accident. It comes with the cables which is good. The price is the best I could find in the USA, unless you order some no-name brand direct from China.

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I've used this on a couple of camping trips. I use it to charge my Makita batteries for my radio and tools. It works good and hasn't had a problem yet. I'm able to charge 2 batteries at the same time. I use the battery clamps to attach it directly. When you do so, connect the positive cable first to cut down on sparking.

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

T225 Bluetooth Car Kit

T225 Bluetooth Car KitIn February, I purchased two Motorola T325 Wireless Bluetooth Car Speaker Portable Vehicle Visor Mount with Auto Pairing For All Cell Phones and SmartphonesBLACKNon-Retail Packaging. for my wife's and my vehicles and gave those units a 5-star review.

I requested a review unit of this T225 because the limitation of our T325 per-vehicle solution has been that if my wife and I swap cars, we don't have hands-free calling unless the first person out remembers to also swap the speakerphone units.

This T225 speakerphone pairs with multiple cell phones so that more than one person can use it hands-free. The extra people might be in the vehicle (which would be a little weird, as the microphone would typically be on the driver's sun visor). But, in a multi-driver household, any driver would have hands-free operation.

What's not to like? Well, all of the features of the T325 that this speakerphone does not have which make the T325 more "hands-free" than the T225.

This is a very basic, 'dumb' unit. When a phone rings, it announces that the call is for Phone 1, Phone 2, etc. If two paired phones are in the car, you have to have some idea which phone is 1 or 2 (etc) to know if it is your phone that is ringing or someone else's. Doesn't sound like a huge deal, but...

What about when only one of multiple paired phones is in the car? This phone simply rings and says that there is an incoming call. You have no idea who it is from. The T325 announces the caller by name. If you don't want to answer the call on this T225, you have to somehow press both the volume UP and DOWN buttons at the same time. With the T325, you just press a single button.

How about dialing? Both support voice dialing using your phones own voice-dialing feature. So, the intelligence depends on your phone itself. But, what about calling your 'favorites' or frequently called numbers? The T225 offers nothing. The T325 memorizes a list of favorite contacts and easily lets you scroll through the list with one button, listening to the name being announced and then pressing the dial button when the name comes up.

Entering the car, the T325 announces "Connected to John Smith's iPhone. Battery level is high" (e.g.) while the T225 announces "Connected to Phone 1. Battery level is high." Receiving a call, the T325 announces "Call from David Jackson". The T225 announces "Call for Phone 1".

The T225 is so limited its only real feature is the ability to pair with multiple phones that I just cannot recommend it, when I consider how powerful and useful the T325 is.

I've posted a photo showing both the T225 and T325 clipped to the sun visor to compare their sizes/shapes.

Open it up, turn it on. Pair your phone with it.

That is it. The device is simple, it does one thing, and it does it well. Sound quality is clear, people say they can't tell I'm on a speakerphone (but I use Sprint and their voice quality is not so good.

There are other models that do more, I read the three star review, but I put it to you this way: You want a device that does one thing and does it well, and you want the battery to last as long as it can so that you can use your phone as long as you can. The more features you load on to the device, the more the battery wears down, and the harder it is to use, or the more likely you are to get it into an odd state.

It really is a top quality device, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Voice instructions for hookup, you really do not need the instructions.

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In a different product review, I proclaimed the Supertooth HD as a near-perfect Bluetooth device for hands-free use. I came up with a list of 14 criteria items. I will post that list here and that will show why I rate the Motorola T225 as 2-stars.

What makes the perfect car bluetooth speakerphone?

==============

1. It should have caller-id that speaks the name of the caller

The Motorola T225 does not have caller-id.

2. It should automatically turn on/off as you are away from the car

The T225 is pretty bad in this department. While it seems to have an auto-off, it will never turn itself back on unless you purposely move the micro-power-switch off and back on again. I tested this multiple times and it simply has no way to turn itself back on automatically. It is waaay too inconvenient to have to remember to turn this device off and back on each and every single time you enter your car.

3. It should have ample volume while driving at highway speeds

Volume on the T225 is pretty pathetic. The Supertooth HD is probably 4x louder.

4. You should only have to press a single and easily accessible button to answer or place a call

This is a really bad design on the T225. It has a mute button and an answer call button, both are the same size and you have to remember which button to press or...take your eyes off the road and look up to see which button you are pressing. Sure you will memorize it eventually, but the device is so small, if you're off by 2 inches, you'll press the wrong button.

5. It should make use of your phone's built-in voice recognition system (if your phone has this)

Confirmed, this works.

6. It should be easy to pair and auto-download your phone's contacts

Yes, easy to pair multiple phones, but there's no caller-id name announce, therefore, it does not store contacts. This is a huge deal-breaker why have the fancy technology of bluetooth, if it won't announce who is calling you ?

7. It should reconnect easily when you are in the car

Does not do this at all once it has auto-turned itself off. You must physically move the power switch off and back on.

8. Callers should be able to hear you clearly at highway speeds

Callers seem to hear me fine, but I couldn't hear them because of the low speaker volume, with volume turned all the way up

9. The charging port should not be obstructed when the device is installed on a sunvisor

Not obstructed

10. It should have a long battery life

Seems to be as advertised, but probably because it turns itself completely off, you must manually turn it on each time after it auto-powers off.

11. It should be reliable whether it is -40 degrees in Fargo or the internal car temperature reaches 140 degrees in Texas

Unknown at this time

12. It should have good documentation or manufacturer's website and support

Motorola has always been good about this.

13. It should be usable whether the sun visor is flipped down or up

If you flip your visor, you must remove and reposition the device and visor mount.

14. It should be reasonably priced

Compared to the *feature packed* T325, this T225 is over-priced it simply has no real features. If you're going to spend the same amount of money, get the T325 on Amazon. If you want a bluetooth device that matches the 14 criteria items above closer than any other device out there, for a reasonable price, get the Supertooth HD.

Read Best Reviews of T225 Bluetooth Car Kit Here

I've had this unit for a few months now, and I'm still running off the initial charge! Battery life is amazing, clarity is good, and the bluetooth range is greater than I had anticipated.

Pairing was simple, and re-establishing the connection is as easy as turning it off and on again. Big talk button, easy to hit even with gloves on. No complaints, I wish I'd gotten it sooner!

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This is truly a universal product. I have a 5 years, old fashioned cell phone from Samsung provided to me by Verizon, which was never happy with any other Bluetooth device. It worked with this one like a charm. Very easy to pair and connect, almost like plug-and-play. The product itself has a very beautiful design and speakerphone is very powerful. Even if you drive with your windows open, you can clearly hear the voice from your call. Battery lasts a lot. This is an excellent deal for the price.

I am extremely happy with this product and I recommend it to all users who experienced problems with other Bluetooth devices in the past.

Amazon.com was kind enough to provide this product for me through their Vine Program for reviewing and I was not request to provide a positive review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Pico 5575pt Master Batt Isolator Switch

Pico 5575pt Master Batt Isolator SwitchI had one of these switches a couple years ago to turn power off to the batteries on my RV. It was mounted on the battery housing and failed after two months because it filled with water. There was no seal or caps so it would fill with water when it rained. I saws this same switch on Amazon showing it with a rubber seal on top and a rubber cap to put on when the key was removed so I ordered one. Guess what? It came with no rubber seal around the key hole or rubber cap to put on when the key is removed. Just the switch and key. It will surely fill with water just like the old one.

This is a follow-up on this review. I contacted the seller concerning a return of this item. The seller was very proffessional and offered a full refund if I returned the item. I asked if they possible had one of the switches that did have the rubber seal and cap. He searched his inventory and found he did have the proper switch. I told him I would keep the one I had for other uses and purchased the correct switch over the phone. The seller even offered to give me some credit for the incorrect switch that I dedided to keep for other uses. I was very happy with the seller and their response to the problem.

I've installed this on my camper battery box as a camper disconnect. I used to have to pull the fuse to shut off DC power to the camper when not in use. This is much more convenient.

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This switch is used right in the cockpit of the car. It is great for working on the car and being able to quickly, conveniently and safely disconnect the batteries. It is also good for removing for security and as you see includes a rubber weatherproof cover which is great for a roadster such as we used it in.

Read Best Reviews of Pico 5575pt Master Batt Isolator Switch Here

this switch is simple and solid. It came with instructions for 2 different setups. you will need additional cables depending on your setup. Thanks.

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This switch is easy to install.

Does just what it was stated to do.

Great price ,added security to my quad

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Sunday, May 11, 2014

Smatree Batteries Charger Kit for Gopro Hero Hd Hero2 Digital Camera AHDBT-002 AHDBT-001

Smatree Batteries Charger Kit for Gopro Hero Hd Hero2 Digital Camera AHDBT-002 AHDBT-001Perfect example of getting what you pay for.....charger does not work and batteries dont last for more than about 30 mins.

This is a really Awesome deal for what you get...the batteries last as long if not longer than the batteries that come with the camera and the wall charger is charges the batteries pretty quick. All in all GREAT product for an AWESOME price.

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Sunday, March 23, 2014

3 PACK Battery Tender Junior Jr. 12V Battery Trickle Charger 12 Volt

3 PACK Battery Tender Junior Jr. 12V Battery Trickle Charger 12 Volti allready have other battery tenders and i bought these with a good price and fast shipping was great. i use them for lawnmowers, bikes and cars that are stored for the winter months here in ohio. i use them to keep batteries charged and they increase the life of my batteries greatly

I've used the more expensive and powerful Battery Tender Plus for 11+ years on my motorcycle battery. First battery lasted 8 years with not a single weak or dead moment when starting the bike. I now have another BT Plus that I keep on my 1959 Chevy Pickup year round. I drive it only once or twice a year, but the battery is always ready to go. The three BT Jrs I bought here are used on the tractor, lawn mower, and an ATV. NEVER give my batteries a second thought. No problems with any of the Battery Tender products.

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What can I say, my husband wanted it and he got them for Christmas. He was happy with them then.

Read Best Reviews of 3 PACK Battery Tender Junior Jr. 12V Battery Trickle Charger 12 Volt Here

When you have more than one battery to keep up this 3-pack is handy. This is my second set & I use them all!

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A must for winter storage of motorcycles. Just a few minutes to install and the lights indicate the status so you know that it's working properly

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Schumacher SE-1555A Automatic Elite Wheel Battery Charger with Engine Start

Schumacher SE-1555A Automatic Elite Wheel Battery Charger with Engine StartThis charger is incredible, most of these full chargers are dummy models that have at most a timer, if you're lucky. This has timer functions AND a fully automatic mode just like the small Schumacher smart chargers.

The 150 amp mode is well thought out not to destroy the charger and protect the user from themselves, here's how it works: You turn it to the 150A setting after hooking it to your vehicle as described. The charger will engage the 150A current once it detects the car turning over (voltage drop) and will continue to apply that current for 10 seconds (the display shows the count down). After the first application, the charger will do a 180 second count down to allow the unit to cool, and will then be ready for another application as needed.

All of this capability in a fairly lightweight, sub-100 dollar model? You can't ask for more than that in my opinion. This charger is awesome!

This charger works pretty well. The digital is great to have, the unit is lightweight, and the clamps seem durable.

The 150amp engine start mode will not start a car with a completely dead battery. It will only assist and start a car with a battery "just dead enough" to not work. It can be handy in a time of need however. The digital voltmeter is accurate, and nice to have when you don't want to get your multimeter out. It also is nice to see battery level represented as a percentage. I do wish it updated more frequently and sampled often however.

The unit also can have a tendency to overcharge small batteries if you hook them up on high charge rates. Example being a 26r group, a miata battery, lawnmower battery. Since it does not refresh frequently you will overcharge a small battery on 55a mode. This can be solved by pulling the clamps and re-seating.

It's impossible to short out and reverse clamp which is handy. The unit will not "spark" and charges a second or 2 after it detects the battery.

The sheet metal is very thin, and the edges are sharp. I recommend some auto store universal door molding on the edges to keep it from accidentally gouging your car.

If you remove the sheet metal and look inside the unit is 75% empty. It is very light and probably cased in a wheel around size just to prove it is made to compete with similarly sized analog units. There is a fan which can be quite loud when charging, and it seems like a small computer muffin fan type.

Assembly is fast, and packaging is well done.

Overall I am glad I went digital, I wish I opted for a 200a engine start unit, and I think the unit seems like it will serve me well for years to come. It isn't the best on the market, but it's the best I think I could have gotten for this price point. I like it and have charged MANY batteries so far in my garage.

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I thought there would be more to this charger when I ordered it as in more functionality than a compact charger. However, this charger offers nothing more than what most of the more powerful compact chargers offer. All of the components in the cabinet of the SE-1555A could actually fit in a shoe box the cabinet is mostly empty space.

The 150 Amp start assist is slightly more than what is offered in most compact chargers but I have not been able to get the charger to deliver the assist as of yet. I am a military pilot by trade and it is common practice to use ground service equipment to power an engine start. This is done to greatly extend battery and starter motor life (for electrically started power plants) . I have used a Black and Decker compact charger with a 100 Amp boost for the past few years (on mornings I'm not in a rush), and it was useful in extending the life of my Die Hard battery. The B&D charger still works but I figured the start assist was not designed for every day use and therefore I bought the SE-1555A to take over the starting duties under the assumption the SE-1555A was more of a heavy duty charger capable of handling the daily abuse. However, this SE-1555A will not deliver the 150A (up to 150 Amp) starting boost unless it senses the battery is low and therefore it provides no starting utility if the battery is fully charged.

The overall construction of this starter is rather cheap as well. The fit and finish is poor what you might expect if it was built from scratch in a high school shop class (no offense to high school shop classes). The casing is cheap sheet metal with large seams, gaps, and the power transformer on the bottom of the unit was heavy enough to bend and distort the case during shipment. It is another example of a cheap product made under the name plate of a once reputable company. This unit was made in Mexico.

The product description states this charger has a battery and alternator tester. This is misleading as there is no separate diagnostic function to actually "test" a battery or alternator. The "test" procedures utilize nothing more than the voltage readout to determine if the battery/alternator are within a "normal" voltage range... they offer a very basic chart in the operating manual to help you 'determine' if the battery/alternator is "good". This is essentially useless beyond the most basic and simple "no kidding" the battery/alternator is well outside of a normal voltage range. Additionally, the voltage readout only reads actual voltage when the charger is not charging the battery. When the charger is actively charging the voltage readout displays "12" volts, and not what is actually being put out by the charger (which can go up to and over 16 volts according to Schumacher tech service I've seen as high as 15.83V using my multimeter).

A true battery and alternator diagnostic requires a load test which goes well beyond a simple voltage test. A bad battery and/or alternator can output the correct voltage, but will not support a normal load. The only way to truly determine if either are bad is to have a diagnostic load test accomplished. I have a group 51 battery sitting on my work bench right now that puts out 12.8 volts after sitting for a week but it will not start my easy to start Honda Civic VX (it will not hold a load). The SE-1555A was connected and apparently determined the battery only required a short charge cycle. After it showed the battery at 100%, the battery showed a voltage of 13.4V (well within the "good" range listed in the SE-1555A manual) but the battery would barely turn over my Civic two or three times and then would quit. I then hooked up the SE-1555A again and let it charge until it showed 100% (again)... it yielded the same results. I took the battery down to Auto Zone and they load tested it, and their true diagnostic test showed it was actually a bad battery. Long story short the battery/alternator "test" procedure is basically bunk on this charger.

Another issue with respect to the product description: The Schumacher customer service representative I spoke with stated it is not designed to charge AGM or gel batteries. This contradicts the product description on Amazon to which I brought to the attention of the Schumacher customer representative. She then informed me that I was mistaken and that the Amazon product description did not state it would charge AGM and Gel batteries... she repeated this to me as I was reading the product description directly to her from the Amazon page.

Overall, I am disappointed in this product. The $100 would have been better spent on a quality compact charger. I will be contacting Amazon to return the charger.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SE-1555A Automatic Elite Wheel Battery Charger with Engine Start Here

The charger works great. Not hard to assemble.I've had this charger about a month with no problems. It charged my car battery from 60 % to 100% Then i used the jump start feature. Works great. Read the Manuel thoroughly.

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The charger is average. 150 amp Engine start is not enough amps for bigger batteries. Looks great but functionality is average.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Soundstream VHD9BG Headrest with DVD Headrest

Soundstream VHD9BG Headrest with DVD Headrest
  • Playback System (DVD, DVD-R, VCD, SVCD, CD-DA, CD, CD-R/RW, MP-3,Divx)Active Matrix TFT/LCD3.5 mini front panel Audio/Video input on both headrests
  • Selectable DVD or A/V input from other headrest1 Video/Audio OutputBuilt-in 900Mhz. 2-ch Transmitte
  • 2 RF 2-ch Wireless Headphones Included in PackageBuilt-in 8-channel FM TransmitterSD Card reader & USB Input
  • Touch Screen controls for all features (Monitor & DVD)OSD on Screen Display2 Remote Controls
  • Swivel Screen Adjustment for Better Viewing Angle4 Screen Modes (Full, Wide , Cinema, Zoom)NTSC/PAL auto-select
  • 8.8-inch TFT LCD display
  • Playback System (DVD, DVD-R, VCD, SVCD, CD-DA, CD, CD-R/RW, MP-3,Divx)Active Matrix TFT/LCD3.5 mini front panel Audio/Video input on both headrests. Selectable DVD or A/V input from other headrest1 Video/Audio Output
  • Soundstream Pair Pre-Loaded Headrest Monitors

We purchased this dvd player system about 2 months ago and we LOVE it! we didnt put it in ourselves, we took it to shop to get it put in, so we dont know how easy/hard it is to put it in! but all in all i can recommend this product!!!!

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**(1 yr. updated review) So far pretty pleased but there are some issues. One of the headphones died pretty much right away($20-$30 to replace),the RCA audio output does have an annoying whine, but the FM modulator works perfect still. The headphones are the worst thing on these cause when ever the kids want to use them, plan on having a pair of aaa batteries...**

to start Amazon was excellent great packaging and fast shipping!

PROS: These headrests are a perfect match to my 04 Buick Rendezvous tan leather interior I mean PERFECT. Headphones are easy to use (4yr old handles just fine), touchscreen menu, USB, SD Card, tilt headrests, tilt screen, FM transmitter transmits perfect, great picture. Connected the wii and it works perfect. Posts stretch to 8.5". SD/USB will read MPG & AVI files so far, which is better than others, but it doesn't read the larger HC cards.... so keep it under 1gig

CONS: Headphones need to have an "auto-off" feature.... if the kids accidently leave them on overnight, you'll need new batteries. Only 1 hardwired input, the second takes a "jack" next to the screen, which seems like an accident waiting to happen. You loose the headrest "clicks" for height placement and they seem a little loose, but I think I can fix that pretty easily. Touchscreen does not control the DVD, just monitor options.

Buick CON: They are very easy to hook up (30mins for both), my nightmare was getting the OEM headrests off..... the Rendezvous for some reason does not have that little push lever to remove the headrests so you will either have to pay $25 each at the dealer to remove or make your own tools :( took hours to get them off with home-made tools.

heres some images that I'll try to keep up for awhile.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Odyssey PC625 Powersports Battery

Odyssey PC625 Powersports BatteryThis is my second Odyssey Battery and the first one is still working fine. I use these in a pair of Yamaha WaveRunners. One of the best features on this battery is its ability to hold a charge. Come winter, I just disconnect the battery and leave it in the WaveRunner and it is ready to go in the spring; the cold does not bother it at all.

these batteries do not generate gasses dangerous especially due to the equipment that must be nearby when you generate solar/wind electricity. this co. ships fast and refunds are not a problem. their prices are the best and their rating is almost always 5 star. 'nough fer me.

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The Odyssey PC625 Powersports Battery is a very good Battery. When I first received the battery, I was a little worried because it is very compact. I put it in my boat (it arrived fully charged) and went out to the lake. I tooled around for about 4 hours and still had a 1/4 charge. I liked it so much that I bought a second one and I now use two of these to power my 40 lbs thrust electric trolling motor. The small size allows me to easily fit both in my Minkota Battery enclosure. I have the motor on my square back canoe, and this set of batteries keep me trolling all day long. Smooth power delivery and long life as well as the compact sealed design make these batteries ideal for powering small boat motors. It takes and holds a charge very well. It is a little more expensive than a similar battery (that is larger, heavier, and may not work as well) but I believe it is completely worth the price. I would recommend these without hesitation.

Read Best Reviews of Odyssey PC625 Powersports Battery Here

heheh, I'm going to be the outlier here believe it or not I use this in my car! :) I think this really shows the power and versatility of this battery. I modified the back of my car to open up to allow for easier working on the engine, but this required me to tilt the trunk 90 degrees the original battery was a normal battery, so this would translate to spilling it's contents all over everything, which is generally what you don't want to do. So I searched around and looked for what my options were in terms of a sealed battery that could still put out enough amps to turn over my car more than a few times and not leave me stranded in some parking lot. A couple other Lotus owners also identified this battery (which they used for weight reasons), and I switch to it about two years ago without a single issues.

Now I don't recommend this for everyone (or really anyone), because there are quite a few caveats such as I had to put a battery quick-disconnect on it because the parasitic load from the alarm would drain it dead in about a week. But I think the fact that I can use the battery and have it perform so well in an environment it most likely was not intended to be in speaks volumes of its quality.

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A bigger battery might run longer but this battery doesn't weigh much and its easy to carry around.I thought I'd try this one out because of all the good reviews.You can see a video I made of this battery being used on my inflatable boat here with a trolling motor by clicking on ''By Rod Hays ''.The video is on ''Intex Seahawk II Boat Set''

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Monday, January 27, 2014

New Trent IMP007 USB AC/DC Power Adapter / charger for 4G 3G 3Gs iPhone, iTouch, iPod Touch, iPod a

New Trent IMP007 USB AC/DC Power Adapter / charger for 4G 3G 3Gs iPhone, iTouch, iPod Touch, iPod and MP3, MP4Ordered this wallwart from Amazon to recharge my New Trent External Battery Charger (IMP60D) since the computer USB port does a slow job of recharging. Package arrived in a week and a half pretty good all the way from China. The unit is rated for 1.0 amp at 5 volts great for anything containing a single Li-on battery. It contains a small green LED to indicate that its plugged in a live outlet. Works great does just what it says it does and is much cheaper than OEM wallwarts supplied with and after-market units.

it works for my ipod only. does not work for ipad nor does it work for charging my samsung smartphone whose own power adapter showed same ourput as this one: the current is very unstable.

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While at a trade show both of our phones ran out of battery and we plugged them into the Adapter, tossed it into my purse and while listening to a presentation, our phones charged completely. We probably could have done the same thing again, on the same initial charge. Very handy little tool.

Read Best Reviews of New Trent IMP007 USB AC/DC Power Adapter / charger for 4G 3G 3Gs iPhone, iTouch, iPod Touch, iPod a Here

Pretty standard AC to USB charger. It's price was right. To make it better? Add a second USB outlet and it would be perfect.

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I needed a wall charger for my ipod touch so i didn't have to plug into computer every single time that i needed to charge. This does the job & is fairly inexpensive. I still have it & use it on occasion. Good for travel, very portable.

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

Merkury Innovations AC-DC USB 2.1a 2 Tone Charger (Black/Blue)

Merkury Innovations AC-DC USB 2.1a 2 Tone ChargerI've only used it once thus far but it does the job. In a couple of hours I went from a less than 10% charge to more than 50%. Since I usually plug my iPad in at bedtime I have a full charge by the time I get up. So it works for me and cost is somewhere between 1/2 and 2/3 of an official iPad charger. This charger didn't come with a cord. From what I read in other reviews you need to be careful when buying cords because quality varies greatly and will have a major effect on charging, but as I said no problems thus far. I will update this review if I have any problems with quality or longevity of the charger.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit

Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging KitI am extremely pleased with the performance of this solar panel. We have one installed in a small cabin style 12-volt system intended only to charge personal electronics at a remote location. Just add a deep cycle battery and a DC to AC 120 power inverter, such as the Cobra CPI 480 400-Watt 12-Volt DC to 120-Volt AC Power Inverter with 5-Volt USB Output. It is great!

One WARNING for those new to such systems like we were. The charge controller that comes with this kit is just fine, but it is only for *MAINTAINING* a 12 volt battery. If that is your purpose, buy *this* kit.

But, if you want to add an inverter so that you can have AC, USB (and we even added a 12 volt car socket which is the most efficient), then buy the same panel *without* the charge controller and wiring kit. What you need is a charge controller like the Kintrex SPC0601 7 Amp 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Power Charge Controller, and various connectors of course. The Sunforce controller only has connections for the solar panel and the battery. The Kintrex adds a load connector for power output which isolates the charge controller and gives you usable power output to your inverter. If you try to parallel the battery connection to your devices like I naively did, you risk overcharging your battery. (I vented a little hydrogen and oxygen, but did not do it long enough to ruin my battery.)

I will definitely be buying more of these panels for other projects. Once you understand the fairly simple wiring you can easily create a great low power system for a cabin. (Next, we will build a 60 or 90 watt system...)

HiI bought this set-up to keep my Motorhome charged when not using it. It is only 15 watts so can barely keep the battery up to charge if I am actually using any lights or other stuff but it will keep up with the draw of the refridgerator and minimal stuff. My only beef is the controller wires could have all been pre-terminated with connectors rather than having me do that. This was bought as a kit so it would have been nice if there was a connector on the input side of the controller that mated witht he connector on teh solar panel and a different style connector on the output that would be compatible with the cigarette-lighter adapter, etc. In other wordsall set up to just plug in and go.

Once I soldered and shrinkwrapped the new connectors on I'm pretty happy with it. Not everyone has the ability to properly terminate the wires.

Thanks

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I purchased this combo for off grid minimal lighting needs with high hopes. Package arrived dented, but contents appeared OK. Open circuit voltage on solar panel OK at 22v. However, max power output on sunny day was 1.6w (130mA@ 12.3v). This was on a day that my conventional 2.7kW system was producing 1.8kW. My plan is to return and try again, but purchasers should definitely check output.

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This product has worked out well for me.

As I haven't isolated my truck battery its charging both truck and camper.

The vehicle has been unpluged from my 115V house access all summer.

I will say that it is a slow charge.

Update;

I have a 2nd unit installed in a Vanagon camper.

Works great and keeps all my batteries charged up.

You can see this installed at;

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I was originally pleased with this purchase until, after about four months of use, the panel simply stopped working. There was no apparent damage and I carefully checked every connection for continuity. When I contacted customer service they replied by asking about the settings on my multimeter. I explained the situation to them but received no further response. I know how difficult it can be to troubleshoot a technical problem over the phone or by email but they didn't even try. It seemed like a good product at first but now it only functions as an overpriced door stop.

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Rally 7542 12V Vehicle Battery and Alternator Tester

Rally 7542 12V Vehicle Battery and Alternator TesterI bought this item almost two years ago and have since used it on several vehicles and have never had an issue. Perhaps the other reviewer purchased a defective unit, usually you get what you pay for, in this case I am satisfied.

I bought this unit at a local store as a Christmas stocking suffer but was curious about using it. I placed it in the 12V port of my Toyota Rav4. I came back later and started the vehicle. In less than ten seconds there was smoke coming out of the port. I pulled the unit out as fast as possible. The very end of the tester was gone. Vaporized. This is the primary port in my vehicle and I use it often with many electronics and have never had any problems with this port. I wonder what may have happened if I had left the vehicle for even a moment. I definitely cannot recommend this product.

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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Wagan 2257 12V Impact Wrench

Wagan 2257 12V Impact WrenchI held off buying this product hoping someone else would finally write a review on it. After getting a tire blow out the night before and having trouble removing some of the lug nuts, I felt I could no longer wait and ordered this item the next morning. As soon as you take it in your hands you have that feeling that this is nothing more than a toy and it will not do the job. Much to my surprise it did take off 3 of my 5 lug nuts on one wheel and then it just quit working. This is a cheap,poorly made tool that you cannot rely on. You would be much better off purchasing a good four way chrome tire lug wrench and adding on a three foot pipe extention to it for more leverage. Thanks to AMAZON'S wonderful return policy I was able to send it right back for a full refund.

They ought to be ashamed to call this an impact wrench! I sent mine back to the company thinking there was something wrong with it. They returned it in the same condition. It's true...You get what you pay for and I could have gotten more for a whole lot less!

I gave it 1 star cause I did not think I could post with 0 stars.

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It did not have the strength to remove a single lug nut. I had to loosen them by hand and then it would take them off. What a disappointment.

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This did what it said without a problem great for taking tires on and off or anything around the car

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works great i love it would buy another owhat can i say it does the jobne...what can i say it does the job

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