Showing posts with label car battery and. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car battery and. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2014

TECMATE OPTIMATE 3+ BATTERY CHARGER / DESULFATING MAINTAINER 12VOLT - NEW

TECMATE OPTIMATE 3+ BATTERY CHARGER / DESULFATING MAINTAINER 12VOLT - NEWI originally purchased the Optimate 3+ for my motorcycle after losing a battery over the harsh Alaskan winter. I ended up using the Optimate 3+ on a truck battery that had sat for 5 years, and drained itself down to 0V. After putting a battery charger on it for about 10 minutes to get an initial charge (the Optimate 3+ will only work if the voltage is above 2-3 volts), I put the Optimate 3+ to work on the battery.

Over the course of a week, it desulfated and reconditioned my truck battery and now the battery works great!

I highly recommend this charger!

I like this product. Works well and is easy to use. It saved my motorcycle from the winter battery issue.

Buy TECMATE OPTIMATE 3+ BATTERY CHARGER / DESULFATING MAINTAINER 12VOLT - NEW Now

Purchased these(4 units) for my 2 scooters, 1 Honda Shadow 750 and 1 Burgman 400. The weather here is southeast Colorado is such that when the roads are clear you can bike it so I do not pack them away for the winter. I keep the batteries on charge when the temp gets into the sub 40's and these units work beyond my expectations.

Since they also will completely discharge the batteries and recharge them I do not worry about them going bad. Really happy with purchase.

Took about an hour to wire the batteries up and put the charging ends in easy access locations. They are kept in my carport and I run an extension cord to a multi-plug adapter and can plug all 4 bikes in at the same time.

Read Best Reviews of TECMATE OPTIMATE 3+ BATTERY CHARGER / DESULFATING MAINTAINER 12VOLT - NEW Here

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Rando HD Mini Car DVR Video Camera Recorder 2-inch LCD w/ HDMI Cable built-in Microphone

Rando HD Mini Car DVR Video Camera Recorder 2-inch LCD w/ HDMI Cable built-in MicrophoneJust recieved the camera today. There are 3 resolutions, 1080p, 720p and native(i think thats what its called) i took videos on all 3 but i cant really tell the difference.

Took it for a stroll during the day. I think the reflection of my radar detector & car made most of everything out of focus, i will need to retest this again and hopefully, it would be clearer.

The so called "Night Mode" is BS. They just added 2 super bright LEDs and it doesnt really do much of anything. On well lite roads, it records pretty well, but on dark roads, u can only see what ur headlights are shining, its not bad though. Wide Angle? It doesnt look to wide to me.

As for most ppl ask, i actually saw license plates better at night than day. Need to be at least 1-2 car lengths to read the plates clearly though. Not sure if theres a way to make it clearer.

watching it on screen also shows this pixalated video, but im watching it no a 27" monitor was i cant blame the camera.

Overall, i like it, though i think my iPhone4 with the same megapixel can probably record a lot better...

I received a package with the camera very quickly in less than a week.

For comparison, a colleague of mine got the same camera from another seller about a month.

For its price the camera is very good clear images during day, and night is quite acceptable.

At the highest resolution of the video is approximately 95mb/min.

Mounting the camera on the windshield is very reliable.

The only negative the complexity of placing the camera behind the rearview mirror on a jeep.

PS. Jelly watch to trash!

Buy Rando HD Mini Car DVR Video Camera Recorder 2-inch LCD w/ HDMI Cable built-in Microphone Now

I bought this camera to keep me covered legal wise while I was on the job driving. It works fine but it doesnt want to stay on. Out of no where, it will turn itself off for no reason. It also freezes up and stops recording for no reason. That results in me having to constantly take my eyes off the road and make sure it is still recording. This is a cheap product. I suggest spending a little more money and buying something more reliable.

Read Best Reviews of Rando HD Mini Car DVR Video Camera Recorder 2-inch LCD w/ HDMI Cable built-in Microphone Here

The camera worked for about two days then the micro video card stopped working so I got another video card and the same thing happened. For some reason the cards will not work at all now. I had to return the camera. Camera was returned and money was refunded.

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This car cam works great, even after it slipped from my hand and dove straight into my large cup of orange juice I had in the car. After a good drying off in front of a space heater, I'm completely amazed it still works, 2 months later. Initially it took about a month before it arrived in the mail (coming from Hong Kong) and required a signature, which were not ideal, but I'm thrilled with the product. The camera records in 2-minute segments and saves them as separate files. An 8GB mini SD card (separate purchase) holds about 7 hours' worth of driving, then the camera starts overwriting what's there until it says it's full. You don't want to get stuck with a long commute and a full card, so just buy 2 of them. Also, the cards get lost easily because they're so tiny. I've already captured several near-miss roadway incidents, which are exciting to watch later on.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

Wix 24477 Cabin Air Filter for select Ford/Mercury models, Pack of 1

Wix 24477 Cabin Air Filter for select  Ford/Mercury models, Pack of 1While this air filter is used in some cars as a cabin air filter, in the 2007 Ford Escape hybrid it is used as the air filter for the hybrid battery (in the back of the car). While you could drop by your Ford dealer and pick up the same part (5M6H-19N619-AD) for twice the price, this Wix filter is of top quality and a perfect fit. Just as good as the excellent Ford part. [The complex hybrid battery has it's own heat/cool system.]

BTW, in the hybrid this filter should be changed every 25,000 miles or so. I waited 50,000 miles but by then the original was filthy and that tends to trip the Ford hybrid service-soon idiot light (a wrench). You can change the filter without tools. It is under a plastic cover on the left side of the trunk. The Wix filter includes air-flow markings, making it easy to install.

Hybrid owner, Sacramento, CA

If you have an Escape Hybrid this is the battery Air Filter. Most people never change this filter however it is extremely important as it's what keeps the hybrid battery cool in this filter can get clogged weight easily. It's an inexpensive replacement that will extend the life of your hybrid vehicle. It can be changed in about 30 seconds. I change this about every 10,000 miles a lot cheaper than replacing expensive hybrid batteries that overheat.

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Why 4 stars instead of 5? The box. It is HUGE for the size of the air filter.

Other than that, it fits great into the rear battery A/C filter housing on my 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid. It does have a screen-printed set of arrows, telling you which way to position for correct filter flow which is a nice touch. The motorcraft filter I had didn't even label that.

Read Best Reviews of Wix 24477 Cabin Air Filter for select Ford/Mercury models, Pack of 1 Here

Used this for a 2008 Escape Hybrid and it fit perfectly. This goes in the rear cargo area to filter air used to cool the hybrid components; very important job! It is at least as high quality as the OEM filter, maybe better. At half the price of what the dealer charges you cannot lose. Buy at least enough to get free shipping and save even more.

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As good as OEM, but much less in cost! Bought 2 and recieved free shipping.

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Sunday, August 24, 2014

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2002 Dodge Neon With Do-It-Yourself Programming (Requires 1 wo

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2002 Dodge Neon With Do-It-Yourself ProgrammingThis item worked great, just make sure you try it BEOFRE you open it as once it is opened it cannot be returned, even if it does not work for your vehicle. The instructions were easy to follow and on the car we used it for it worked the the first try. Sure beats paying out the nose for one at the dealer.

I am more than satisfied with this product. I received my order in a timely manner, and the instructions were very easy to follow! I would recommend this to anyone with only one working remote.

Buy Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2002 Dodge Neon With Do-It-Yourself Programming (Requires 1 wo Now

Rather than going to a dealer and paying some outrageous price I decided to look online for another keyless entry as I had only one. I'm glad I did. I received it quickly and after reading through the instructions two or three times I went to my car and programed it. It was quite easy to do. I would be glad to buy from the same company again!

Read Best Reviews of Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2002 Dodge Neon With Do-It-Yourself Programming (Requires 1 wo Here

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Pyle PLVHR75 7-Inch TFT Widescreen Headrest Monitor

Pyle PLVHR75 7-Inch TFT Widescreen Headrest MonitorAs another reviewer mentioned, it makes a handy 2nd monitor for the IC7000, and after fashioning a custom cable for primary screen output, for the IC-R9000. Apart from a couple of misspellings ("NO SINGAL" and "SOUCER") there's nothing odd about the unit. It also has four orientation settings for backup cameras Normal, Mirror, Upside down, and Upside down+Mirror. The keys on the display and on the tiny remote let you switch inputs, 4:3 vs 16:9 mode, orientation, brightness, contrast, saturation, tint, and to reset the unit to factory defaults. Controls for mode and input have quick access buttons.

The LCD display is 1440x234, and handles both NTSC and PAL composite video.

The connecting cable as supplied with my unit has two female RCA video inputs, a green accessory power wire (with no connector on it) which can be left unconnected on a home-use unit, a red positive power wire with both male and female bullet-crimp connectors on it, and a black ground wire with a 1/4" spade lug connector. The power wires go through a small box with a glass fuse and EMI/power filter inside. All of those connections then go to a single, 6-foot cable with a kind of subminature DIN connector which then attaches to the unit. The unit I have does not have audio inputs on it, and the cable did not exactly match the one seen in the PLVHR75 manual found online.

The unit comes with a short stand with adjustments for viewing angle. While this was designed for a headrest, it can also stand on a desktop.

As mentioned, brief manuals for the unit can be found at the PYLE website. The English translations are a kind of poetry.

This is a great little monitor for a great price.

The picture quality is good for a screen this size and it's bright as can be. The colors are great also.

A few notes...

The power is given as a negative and positive wire, so you'll have to wire a plug yourself. I wired up a 12v, 800ma power supply and it worked fine.

Also, I've read reviews about these kinds of monitors complaining that they do not work with a computer. The device has 2 RCA inputs, the kind of round yellow plugs you find coming from a DVD player or game system. This won't work with a computer unless it has an RCA output.

The screen can be removed from the headrest shroud (which is not a little cloth thing, as I expected, but a plastic frame) and works great with the stand.

If you're looking for a little monitor for the car or some small time watching in the home, this is a great option with awesome features for the price.

Buy Pyle PLVHR75 7-Inch TFT Widescreen Headrest Monitor Now

I bought two of these monitors for my kids along with a universal headreast mound because they were too big to mount in the actual headrest. They worked fine for a month or two, then one of them turns off by itself and cannot be turned back one without remove power multiple times. I have tried to contact Pyle by email about a month ago and they haven't replied yet. I will try to call them tomorrow, hopefully we can get this resolved.

Read Best Reviews of Pyle PLVHR75 7-Inch TFT Widescreen Headrest Monitor Here

This display is designed for installation in a car. It has composite video inputs (2 total one for a DVD, one for a backup camera). The power is designed to be wired into the 12vdc car power. So, do not buy this for your home or computer.

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For any Ham Ham Radio operators looking for a great LCD monitor to use with the

Icom IC-7000, this is it.

Better than the Haier and the scams on eBay! Better price too.

Great picture, resolution, easy setup, and 12 vdc.

N0ISV

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Car Kit Vehicle Charger + Home Wall Travel Battery Charger for ATT Samsung SGH-A117 - A127 - A137 -

Car Kit Vehicle Charger + Home Wall Travel Battery Charger for ATT Samsung SGH-A117 - A127 - A137 - A167 - A177 - A237 - A517 - A637 - A657 - 737 - A777 - Nice Cell Phone - Premium Combo Pack - BestCellBuy BrandIt arrived sooner than expected; it met all of my expectations, and it was the best price I could find!

good supplies. it is handful for my needs. everyone really need it. someone packed very good. i have them. glad i have it.

Buy Car Kit Vehicle Charger + Home Wall Travel Battery Charger for ATT Samsung SGH-A117 - A127 - A137 - Now

This was for my sons cell phone. The plug in charger broke after a few weeks. I contacted the company and they replace right away. Great company to do business with. No issues with new charger.

Read Best Reviews of Car Kit Vehicle Charger + Home Wall Travel Battery Charger for ATT Samsung SGH-A117 - A127 - A137 - Here

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Eastwood Emergency Battery Booster Jump Start Pack

Eastwood Emergency Battery Booster Jump Start PackVery nice, lightweight, compact and functional unit. Leads aren't so long they get tangled, but long enough to do the job well. I really like this booster and will probably buy another in the future.

It's basic and nothing fancy but it jumps my dads car anytime his battery dies. The box has a 12 volt outlet that my dad plugs his phone car charger or GPS into when he needs the extra outlet.

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Monday, April 14, 2014

SOLAR BA5 100-1200 Cold Cranking Amps Electronic Battery Tester

SOLAR BA5 100-1200 Cold Cranking Amps Electronic Battery TesterI am a professional auto technician for a german auto dealer. I was looking for a battery tester to keep within reach to quickly test customer batteries during scheduled services. I was close to purchasing a $400 Snap On battery tester, but when held in hand felt very cheaply built in comparison to the price tag. I found this battery tester for a fraction of the price and decided to give it a try. The tester came as pictured, with an included orange silicone bumper cover around the device (edges). The quality of this product is great, the feel of the buttons and build is very nice. The unit is very small which is an added bonus, fits easily in any drawer of your tool box. Testing of batteries literally takes 1 second. And it tests DIN rating!! It is very accurate. Another great feature, the tester remembers the last options you chose (ex: type of battery tested, test rating CCA, DIN, etc). For the price this product is amazing. The LED read out display does have an orange plastic cover over it which can make it a little harder to read in sunlight. But, a razor blade can easily take care of this issue. ;) Two words: Do It!

It does seem to do the test I want, reserve capacity, which is harder to test than a basic load test or state of charge. A car battery can be fully charged, pass the load test, and still be old and sulfated enough to have very little reserve capacity.

One major verification I got was when I tested some smaller lead acid batteries I use in my uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The new battery passed with a reading of over 100 cranking amps. The bad ones showed a reading of about 5 amps, even though a voltmeter showed nearly 13v (full charge) on one of them. The 13v bad one passed the test that the UPS does when you turn it on (!), but it failed to keep a computer going at all when I cut the power to it. So this Solar tester beats the UPS's own test.

I'm also planning to use this to see if my desulfating battery charger can revive some old or junked car batteries.

**See Comments below for an update the Solar BA5 got "fooled" by a failed car battery with low capacity.

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I am a power supply technician for a local cable company and test up to 75 batteries a day. This unit makes my job much easier without having to lug a cumbersome load tester to all my units every day. The digital readout is easy to read and tests are quick. I recommend this to anyone who has any type batteries to test.

Read Best Reviews of SOLAR BA5 100-1200 Cold Cranking Amps Electronic Battery Tester Here

We had a 3 year old battery die in the middle of the summer on one of our cars. The dealer warned me that the battery was weak when it was in for service. I assume they tested it with some kind of meter like this, so I started looking for a way to test the batteries in the other cars before winter. One of our foreign cars has a battery that is 5 years old that costs $320 installed, so I really wanted to avoid replacing it unless necessary.

I used the tester to check the Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) on all of the cars. The new battery tested above the rated CCA and the most of the others were also close to the rated CCA. But the 5 year old foreign car battery tested at 50% of the rated CCA, so according to the meter, I SHOULD have replaced it. But I didn't, because the car needed new rotors and pads on all 4 wheels for around $1400, so the battery got put on hold.

So every cold morning, I go out and start it and hold my breath. The car with battery with 50% of the rated CCA has started with minimal cranking at temperatures down to 0 deg F, which is as cold as it gets around here. So I am a little suspect about the validity of this meter. I probably should replace a 5 year old battery, but I suspect this battery meter would have caused me to replace it earlier than I needed to. The problem is I don't know of any other place to have the battery tested that I really trust. Seems like they all want to sell you a battery. So the jury is still out on whether or not you can use this meter to decide if you should replace your battery.

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This digital battery analyzer is well made, easy to use and is impressive. I like it and the current price is very reasonable.

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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Schumacher SE-3000 Manual Fleet Battery Charger

Schumacher SE-3000 Manual Fleet Battery ChargerI needed a charger for a large set of deep cycle batteries, something that would put out lots of amps continuously. And of course I didn't want to spend a lot of money. This charger has worked great, met all my expectations.

But understand what it is, a big heavy manual charger. Left on it's highest setting it will fry all but the biggest batteries. But if you have big batteries, 600 amp hours or bigger, it's great. That's amp hours, not CCA or cold cranking amps.

Why only 4 out of 5 stars? Two flaws. Two of the sheet metal screws on the outside are stripped, easy to fix. The other flaw is worse. The cables are only 6 gauge. If you use the charger at full potential, outputting 60-80 amps, for more than 30 minutes the cables get hot. Once the cables started smoking, melting the insulation, luckily I noticed and turned off the charger. This thing should have a least 4 gauge cables.

But I think most people will use it on car batteries, so the hot cable issue shouldn't be a problem.

The battery charger works wonderfully and it contains the desired features, but the sheet metal box isn't very sturdy. Like other chargers I've seen at various stores, the manufacturer saved a few pennies by using a light gauge sheet metal. The first item delivered was dented even though the shipping box didn't appear to have any damage. The return and exchange was quite easy. I still had the first one when the replacement item arrived several days later. The second item was also damaged. Luckly, I could assemble one good item out of the two I received.

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Ordered two of these for local fire dept. they have trucks with 6 volt all the way up to 24 volt starting systems and one charger is easier to keep track of than four different voltage ones. A couple things i recommend after using this charger are: keeping an eye on the clamps they get hot on high charging rate with high CCA battery, and on 6 volt low it is not a trickle charger, so don't leave timer on to long. All that said it is a good value for a small fleet or farm in a big charger.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SE-3000 Manual Fleet Battery Charger Here

Charger is functional in 6, 12, and 24 volts. Will do lite duty charging. The cables are very lite duty, so be careful if you are charging high amps in 12 volts or using 24 volts. The case is very lite duty also, even though it was packaged well, it was dented but did not affect use. I kept it as it was minor and I figured it would eventually get bumps and scrapes during use. In my opinion not a "fleet" quality charger. I will get by as I am using it as a backup second charger. Bottom line: You get what you pay for. It was about half price of a "fleet" quality charger.

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We use ti the charge our big riggs. It has a 24 volt charging system that most charger do not have.

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter.

Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter.Swiss+tech crank Flashlight Test Results

It's not heavy, but is big: 9.5" tall and 2" thick at the top part. Will take up some space to store.

Used stopwatch to time this.

1. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Flashlight: About 4 minutes, lost 70-80% intensity, in 5 minutes full discharge. Good enough (compared to other such flashlights which do far worse), so I find this reliable.

Is useful in many ways: for checking engine, tires, power failure at home etc

2. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Emergency red beacon (blink/siren) (without siren as volume was kept on zero)

At about 28 minutes, started loosing intensity. At 41 minutes, quite dim, 46 mnts really low, 49 mnts still blinking but really low not usable. So I'll stop here.

3. After full discharge 1 minute crank

Radio volume at mid level, good until 9 minutes, then volume goes down and in a few minutes stops.

This I think is a unique device, with siren, beacon, flashlight, radio, hammer, seat belt cutter.....

I find this reliable and will keep in my center console in my car where I can blindly reach it in case of emergency.

I wanted a car-escape tool that also had a flashlight and a dynamo crank to recharge it. This was one of three I found and I went with this one because it looks flatter and easier to store. The radio is a nice addition so it can double as a disaster situation news source. I also really like that the rechargeable batteries are removable AA batteries so if you already have other methods to recharge the same type of batteries, you can recharge them with other rechargers and then put them in this tool. It can go the other way too, if you feel like cranking for two hours, you can fully recharge two AA rechargeable batteries for other electronics :). There's an optional AC adapter you can buy and connect to this tool to recharge the batteries that way or run the lights/radio off AC power. I couldn't find the adapter online for sale so probably have to call swiss+tech for it. Everything that I tested works. I didn't test the hammer on any windows but it looks solid. I didn't test the seat belt cutter on anything other than paper so not sure how sharp it is. I didn't test if backup batteries would work.

Minus 1 star for the dynamo causing lots of static/interference on AM radio, so you can't crank while you listen to AM radio. But FM radio, lights, sirens work while cranking. Also it is 10 inches long, which is bigger than I expected but it still fits in the center console of my '98 Accord. But that's more of a mark against the seller/Amazon for lack of information on its dimensions.

Buy Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter. Now

this works better than i would have believed, thet price is great and it does so much, good for emergencies. a must have for all who camp, have emergency kits or own a car.

Read Best Reviews of Swiss+Tech BGCS81 BodyGard Survivor Self-Powered Radio with Emergency Hammer, Seatbelt Cutter. Here

For the money this is a nice tool to keep by my driver's seat for emergencies. I bought one for each car because the price was good. Admittedly, it doesn't do any one function like a dedicated tool (radio, flashlight, etc), but it does everything well enough for me to be confident using it stranded on the side of the road. The fact that the hand-crank is easy enough for my three year old to operate and powers everything sufficiently, is fantastic. Now I occupy her attention in a stressful situation.

I only wish the flashlight was a bit brighter and that it received NOAA weather channels. But if any event occurs big enough to be on NOAA here in Hawaii, I'm sure the public FM/AM channels will be reporting as well.

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I purchased four of these units as presents for relatives. First, I was forewarned by other reviewers about the large size of these devices. I still didn't expect them to be quite as large as they were. The window breaker is something that needs to be kept immediately to hand, and frankly, I'm not sure where in an average car these devices could be stored and still be to hand in an emergency. But that isn't why I returned them.

On opening one of the packages and testing the device, I found that the radio did not work at all. This was not a battery problem. I had put in a set of fully charged Eneloop batteries. Finally, fiddling with the volume control intermittently caused the device to emit distorted audio. Obviously, the volume control potentiometer was faulty. Next I tested the flashlight, about which the most charitable thing I can say is that it is slightly brighter than a glowworm.

Overall, the build quality was very low. I have lived in Switzerland and can say that, based on personal experience, the Swiss are absolutely superb at anything to which they aspire to excel. I commend the sense of humor and irony that caused the manufacturers of this device to call themselves Swiss+Tech. Nevertheless I returned all four of these enormous, impractical and defective devices.

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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger and External Battery Pack with Integrated Ul

Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger and External Battery Pack with Integrated Ultra High-Flux LED Light for iPod, iPhone, iPad and Other USB Devices
  • Latest generation ultra efficient monocrystalline solar cell module.
  • Charge most of USB-compatible portable gadgets
  • Built-in high-flux LED lamp for indoor/outdoor activities and SOS use.
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium battery will hold a charge for up to 2 years, making it suitable for emergency use
  • Can be charged from sunlight, USB port or a wall plug

The concept of this Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger (SD4000LP) is good. Essentially, it is a battery-powered USB charger sized like a typical 7-inch tablet. Its internal Lithium-ion rechargeable battery can be recharged either using the solar panel, or through external USB power port. Once charged, you can then use this unit as a portable charger for other USB-powered devices. The unit also features a powerful 6-LED flood light.

Since I'm an engineer, I just HAVE to open the case to see what's inside. I'm quite impressed by the high-quality components found (see the photo I uploaded to 'Customer Images' section):

The internal Lithium-ion rechargeable battery is rated 3.7V 4100mAh (the product description says '4000mAh')

The LEDs are mounted on an aluminum-backed PCB. This is great for thermal dissipation (but you don't see this very often due to high cost)

The battery charging/discharging operation is controlled by an 8-bit microprocessor (again, you don't see this often due to high cost). This is very important because, without the correct charging algorithm, a Li-ion battery can be easily damaged by over-charging.

I then tested the unit electrically, and found it to work more or less as expected:

When you recharge the internal battery through a computer USB port, the charging current is at 500mA. This is limited by the current capacity of a standard USB port. So the charge time is around 8-9 hours.

When charging through an external 5V 1A USB power adapter, the battery charging current increases to 0.69A. That means the charge time is reduced to around 6-7 hours.

When charging with the solar panel, the highest charging current I can get is ~350mA. This is under optimal test condition of bright summer sun at noon time, with the panel perpendicular to the sunbeam. In real life, it will take at least two full days of direct sunlight to recharge the internal battery. Also note that if you place the solar panel inside your car, the charging current is cut by half because the car window filters out most of the UV light.

Next, I tried to use this Soladec unit to recharge different types of USB-powered devices. The outcome varies according to the power requirement:

When charging a low-drain USB device (such as the Philips GoGear Aria MP3 Player), the USB device is powered up correctly, but the Soladec's LED indicator light does not cycle to show 'charging in progress'

When charging a medium-drain USB device (such as the Nintendo DSi XL), the device is powered up correctly, and the Soladec's LED indicator cycles to show charging in progress.

When powering a high-drain USB device (such as the VIZIO 8-Inch Tablet VTAB1008), the Soladec's LED indicator still cycles normally, but its output current fluctuates wildly because the maximum current limit is exceeded. This may cause the receiving device to get confused as it constantly enters and then exits charging mode. Actual maximum output current I measured is around 0.81A, even though the product manual says only 0.5A. So at least the product is performing better than specified.

When ON, the LED light draws 200mA from the battery. This means a runtime of 20 hours. However, I'm skeptical about the advertised light output of '170 lumen', as it requires an amazing efficacy of over 200 lumens per watt.

On the other hand, I have noticed some major design flaws with this Solardec charger:

1. There is no on/off switch. The push button switch beside the LED light does not turn off the whole system, only the light. The system is constantly drawing a 3mA standby current from internal battery. Simple calculation shows that this standby current will drain a 4100mAh battery in less than 2 months. So although the product description says the built-in battery will "hold a charge for up to 2 years", in real life you have to recharge it every single month, if you intend to use it in case of emergency.

2. The case is not weather-sealed in any way. In particular, there are no rubber caps for the two USB ports on top. So if it rains, water can easily get in through those openings. That makes it dangerous to leave this solar charger outdoor exposed to direct sunlight. The only safe way is to place it underneath your car's windshield. But doing so also cuts down the solar power by ~50%. So now it takes 4 days to fully recharge the internal battery by solar panel.

CONCLUSION:

The Soladec SD4000LP is a good attempt with quality components inside. But unfortunately, the two major design flaws mentioned above make it less useful either as an emergency power source or as an outdoor solar charger. It does work well as a LED work light, but that can hardly justify its high price tag. That's why I can only give it a 3-star neutral rating, meaning "It's Okay".

[Side note on capacity]

Is the capacity of internal battery (4100mAh) sufficient for you? That depends on the USB device you intend to recharge. For example, my POLAROID 7" INTERNET TABLET has an internal 3000mAh Li-ion battery. So on first glance, the SD4000LP contains more than enough energy to charge up my tablet from empty to 100%. However, the battery charging process has to go though two conversion steps. First, the 3.7V from internal battery is boosted to 5V at the USB port. Next, the 5V is stepped down to around 4V to recharge the tablet battery. Even if each conversion step is 85% efficient, you still lose 30% of energy in the process. That's why you always need 1/3 higher capacity than the device you want to recharge.

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The biggest problem I found with solar chargers is they never get your phone past 50%, this is the only charger I have found that will take it to 100% in the same amount of time as a wall charger. The battery in the solar unit takes 7 hours to charge plugged in and 12 hours to charge using solar, and it never has any problems keeping up with any of my devises.

I'm a hiker and I'll use the GPS on my iPhone 4S to navigate through to wood in the Sierras, and for all of you iPhone 4S users out there you know how short the battery life can be, it actually drops off on average a percent a minute so I needed a heavy duty solar charger. Even with the high power consumption, as long as I stay plugged in my phone never drops below 100%, even at night when I'm using the GPS and the rediculiously bright light all nigh long. The light is also amazing, from a 12 hour charge it will run 18 hours and will stay bright the entire night. So to sum it all up, I actually couldn't pull more power than it could put out, it always felt like there was a wall outlet in my tent becouse no matter what I did I couldn't kill the thing! It was well worth every penny spent

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This new Soladec Hybrid solar powered charger, has Outdoor Chef Kurt ,ready to hit the outdoors,with confidence.

The new Micro-B USB type port allows the unit a wider variety of charging options. The distress signal from the LED light,could save your life, in all sorts of instances, if needed.

The new charge indicator, lets you know when to charge up, the unit . The electronics inside the charger ,that makes it work , have been super charged, for better efficiency overall.

Pros/// Dependable power when you need it most ,quality construction for durability.

Cons// price is a little higher ,but it is well worth it ,with quality and dependability ,and maybe your life at stake. When outdoors, in remote places.

it is important to have a dependable product , that will harness the suns power,that is why I give this new Soladec Solar Charger my highest reccomendation. 5 ***** {FISHGRILLER APPROVED}

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This is an excellent product. The flashlight is super bright and lasts all night long (if you don't use all the battery for charging your devices). I live on an off-grid sustainable organic farm in Hawaii and I use this every night for reading. It's the first solar USB charger I've ever owned so I have none to compare it with but I am very satisfied and this little gadget meets my particular needs. Hope this is helpful. Oh, and I use it to charge my HTC Resound cell phone.

Update: It does require full sunlight for best results. And now that I'm in a new location that doesn't receive full sunlight it requires much longer to charge a device.

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This is for all you iPhone 4S users out there...if you're like me, your phone keeps dying in the middle of the day or when your day isn't anywhere near over and it gets pretty frustrating pretty quick.

This my friends is the solution to all of our problems... be honest I wasn't expecting a whole lot from a solar powered backup battery charger for my iPhone 4S, but on a full charge this thing...it really does replace a wall socket.

I would highly recommend this backup battery for anyone who is tired of their iPhone battery dying on them.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Coleman Cable 08467 Jumper Cable Bag with 12-Feet 8-Gauge Cables

Coleman Cable 08467 Jumper Cable Bag with 12-Feet 8-Gauge CablesI needed a set of jumper cables for my home and for my automatic vehicle. To me build quality of the clamps and the cable itself is important. Also a decent enough gauge that allows for a variety of jump-start situations as well as a decent length to the cable itself. There have been situations where I simply cannot maneuver a car into a specific location due to the jumper cables being too short. With longer cables this problem is avoided. The included bag makes storing it inside your vehicle easy and organized. This is a great product at a great price.

I purchased this item and have used it more than once with no problems. I recommend you purchase one for each vehicle because for the money, the value cannot be beat. And I recommend you never purchase cables that do not come in a bag. Makes storage a breeze and keeps the cables from getting damaged.

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a nice set of jumper cables for medium duty. i have a car, so these are all i need. they're well labled and thick cables. i like the cables, and the carrying case just cements it for me.5 stars

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I purchased two sets of these for my twin grandchildren as a Christmas gift. When they opened them they were surprised as they both just recently purchased their own cars. They agreed the cables would come in handy some day and neither of them had a set in their cars. The case they come in is just perfect to keep the set "together" in the trunk.

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These cables have already come in handy and worked instantly. I am very happy with purchase of product and value of item.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Unique Gomadic Car and Wall AC/DC Charger for the Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 510 710 720 - Two C

Unique Gomadic Car and Wall AC/DC Charger for the Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 510 710 720 - Two Critical Functions, One Great Charger
  • Intelligent circuit tailors precise output voltage (including resistor configuration) specific to the Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 510 710 720 . This ensures battery is safely and efficiently charged.
  • State of the art, advanced circuitry prevents the Rand McNally Intelliroute TND 510 710 720 from being damaged by power surges, overcharging and/or short-circuiting.
  • Broad input voltage range of 12-24VDC and 100-240VAC respectively. Permits charging via vehicle and home outlets worldwide!
  • Non-coiled, straight cable design allows for easy routing around your vehicle trim for a more professionally installed look. Durable construction is built to last.
  • "Power Sleep" feature will cut power draw of charger by over 99% when not in use. Charger will draw less than 0.1W of power when in "ready state" (e.g. not connected).

Worked fine. Brought for my husband and I haven't heard any complaints from him. He needed it for his truck and we received this item quickly, no long wait,

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Arkon TT221-USB 12V Lighter Socket Mount with Integrated Mini USB Power for TomTom GPS

Arkon TT221-USB 12V Lighter Socket Mount with Integrated Mini USB Power for TomTom GPS
  • Includes custom fit adapter plates for ALL TomTom GPS Devices except TomTom GO2405 and 2505
  • Plugs into all vehicle 12V power socket and installs easily with no tools required
  • Provides Power to TomTom GPS Device without the need for power chordNOT compatible with Traffic enabled GPS
  • Swivel and Tilt adjustments for the perfect viewing angle
  • Compact portable design

works fine for my Tomtom. However, the actual part that plugs into the cigarette lighter could be more tight. It is a little wiggly and the GPS shifts in sharp turns. Also, would be nice if the arm that holds the GPS would be longer or extendable. Unfortunately it is so short, that it interferes with the shift stick. When putting the car from D to P I need to move the GPS a bit because its in the way. Other than that I prefer it to the suction cup holder on the window.

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Sunday, November 3, 2013

HTC G2 Combo (Micro-USB) Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for HTC

HTC G2 Combo Rapid Car Charger + Home Wall Charger + USB Data Charge Sync Cable for HTC G2I would NOT recommend these.

When using either the car adapter or outlet charger you cannot use the phone while charging. I used the micro USB cable to charge my phone via the HTC wall charger and it took over 12 hours to fully charge. I was at a conference when I discovered this and had to be very careful how much I used my phone. I returned home and when I used the micro USB cable the phone came with it was 2 hours.

Go with the OEM items as they will work better. These cheap items will only cause you more aggravation.

For the $4 I think I spent, I would absolutely recommend as a cheap alternative, even if I need to end up getting another soon. I would buy this again, and may buy another to have backups for when I go on vacations.

Using this for my G2 (which I got about a year ago) about two weeks, so I can't say anything about longevity.

Notes about the cords/chargers:

-The micro USB fits snugly within the G2 socket; I can hang and shake the phone holding only the charger cord, and it stays on with each cord/charger. This is especially useful when driving and it falls off the console due to a sharp turn, where you can easily pull it back by the cord.

-I was able to use my phone with each charger (text, call, web, etc) without it going into car mode in both 2G and 4G environments.

-I've had no problems with charging times (all normal).

-The cords and connections all seem pretty much the same in terms of quality with respect to OEM products, though the connection part that you hold with your thumb is considerably larger. This is good because it's easier to hold and (dis)connect, but can get in the way while using the keyboard depending on how you hold the phone.

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The wall charger somehow puts my phone into "car-mode" when plugged in. Broke my original charger, this was a great deal to replace it, and get a car charger, usb connector at the same time. I've used them for months and they all charge my phone and kindle well. The wall charger disables some features on my android phone while it is plugged in, but since I charge overnight, it hasn't bothered me. . . Plus, they were such a good price!

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I got a new HTC phone and was figuring I'd have to pay a bundle for the car charger, the charger for work, etc. Two great discoveries: 1) The mini USB is becoming a standard for cell phone rechargers (and Kindle's too); 2) The stuff is really cheap. So I spend $6 for a car charger, a wall charger and the USB cable. Six bucks. No shipping charges. They all work fine. Great deal.

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Very poor quality. Lasted about a month and the wall charger broke. USB wire never worked. Car charger seems to be on its last leg too. What was I thinking.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Husky Liners 99501 WeatherBeater Black Front and 2nd Seat Floor Liner

Husky Liners 99501 WeatherBeater Black Front and 2nd Seat Floor LinerI got this for my 2012 Prius C and ilove it it look so cool and good Excellent Best Husky Weather Carpet you can buy if you have i Prius C YOU NEED TO GET THIS IS Excellent

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Saturday, October 5, 2013

Curt Manufacturing 52090 Lockable Battery Box With Steel Mount/Steel Lock Bar

Curt Manufacturing 52090 Lockable Battery Box With Steel Mount/Steel Lock BarI bought this box for a ups battery on a electric scooter lift. Mounting bracket is flimsy when you install it, bends too easy. Trip to loews for more hardware fix that. The measurements were off in the description.

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 90303

PowerLine 600mA Universal AC Adapter with Compatibility Tips 90303I purchased two of these adapters to provide continuous power to the two Petmate Le Bistro Portion-Control Automatic Pet Feeders that I recently purchased from Amazon. The 600 ma (milli-amps)of current is sufficient to run many small devices, and the 7 different tips will adapt to many products (just make sure to insert the tip to get the proper polarity, or you may blow out the device you're powering, or at least blow a fuse). The ability to change voltage settings makes this product very versatile, as you can choose from 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9,and 12 volts, DC (VDC). In my case, I needed 4.5 VDC at 600 ma to run the pet feeders, because the product vendor does not list the adapter on their website, yet their manual directs you to the website to buy one. A quick search of Amazon brought me to this product. Amazon's excellent customer service, and fast, free shipping served me well once again!

1-6-12 Update: Both adapters are still doing their job with the Petmate feeders after about 9-months of twice-daily use.

Went to Radio Shack to look for a universal adapter for my daughter's little BeBop CD player. They were charging like $30 just for the adapter and then you had to buy the tip separately. Wasn't sure how much that was but probably another $10. Searched here and bought based on reviews. This works great. Voltage selection is a great feature and the multiple tips are great. There is no noticeable heat coming from the unit. Finding the right polarity is important but not complicated at all if you know how to read. You match the symbols on your device with what is in the instructions and you are good to go.

Great price, arrived quickly, and is working perfectly. Another great Amazon purchase for me.

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Selectable voltage outputs of 12V 9V 7.5V 6.0V 4.5V 3.0V NO 5.0V

NOTE:

600 MILLIAMPS OF CURRENT IS PROBABLY NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL VOLTAGE SETTINGS. It's most likely available only at the lowest voltage setting and decreases to a maximum of about 150 mA at 12 volts.

NOTE:

There is no 5.0 volt selection available that's very common to all powered USB hubs and other PC related electronic devices.

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Just a heads up to those who might be looking for an additional ac adaptor for Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor with 3.5 Inch Color LCD Screen

The plug on the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor is very small. Therefore I was concerned this ac adapter might not have a tip that fit the Baby monitor.

The adapter arrived today and I am pleased to say that there is one plug small enough to use on the Motorola Baby Monitor listed above.

Hooked it up and all seems to be working fine atm.

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I needed a 6Volt plug and could not find one anywhere. this works great...so far, and is extremely versatile.