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

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Garmin Nüvi 300 / 310 / 360 / 370 Car Charger

Garmin Nüvi 300 / 310 / 360 / 370 Car Charger
  • Brand new non-OEM
  • Vehicle Lighter Adaptor. (12~24v DC)
  • Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver
  • Plug never heats or overcharges the battery

when connected to it the Garmin nuvi 360 shows a screen that indicates it is connected to your computer. Can't get past that.

Buy Garmin Nüvi 300 / 310 / 360 / 370 Car Charger Now

It worked fined for couple of months, Garmin charged up. Then the connector plug just fell apart when taking the Garmin off the windshield.

Read Best Reviews of Garmin Nüvi 300 / 310 / 360 / 370 Car Charger Here

Bought this as a replacement for the car charger that came with my Nuvi. This charger puts my Nuvi 360 into mass storage mode which makes it totally unusable while in the car. Tested this cord with another Nuvi 360 and a working Garmen car charger with my Nuvi 360, isolated the problem to this charger. Wasted my money.

Want Garmin Nüvi 300 / 310 / 360 / 370 Car Charger Discount?

At first I loved this cord because unlike the confounded Garmin one, this one had the coiled cord and was therefore much tamer. However, the usb cable shield stripped right off one day thru normal use so had to trash it. Would rather by thrice that amount and get something that works than waste my money and time.

this is a great deal! was shipped fast! very very very cheap! and it is working. can you ask for more?

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Black & Decker JUS500B 500 Amp Jump Starter

Black & Decker JUS500B 500 Amp Jump StarterI purchased this Jump starter for a vehicle that I rarely drive, and it works as advertised. My only complaint is that it does not come with a power cord. You will need to supply your own quality power cord to charge this unit, not a big deal really. I charged it out of the box and have it used it twice to jump cold dead cars and it does the job. Quality parts and construction are obvious, the clamp cables are a tad short but it was just long enough to reach terminals. It is my understanding that these type of products need to be used, depleted of power, and then charged again several times a year or they will experience problems. I plan to use this jump starter often and now even carry it in my car for that unexpected need.

Every now and then the car I tow behind my motorhome needs a jump to get started and this product eliminates calling a service truck. It's easy to carry and stow but I am totally perplexed about the lack of a power cord to charge the unit. I had to hunt around for the right extension cord with a fitting compatible with the jump starter. You'd think Black & Decker would deal with the extra $1 of product cost to include a cord to charge the unit!!

Buy Black & Decker JUS500B 500 Amp Jump Starter Now

The JUS500B is all it is advertised to be. The only drawbacks are that it is heavy for a portable emergency starter battery, it sits on the ground flat and will not store or stand upright at all (round bottom end) and it does not come with an electrical cord for charging. If not for these (non-operational) drawbacks, I would give it a five star review.

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker JUS500B 500 Amp Jump Starter Here

I bought this to replace an older Black & Decker jump starter that was stolen out of my SUV. Seeing the comments concerning the lack of power cord included, I was curious what type of cord it would take to charge it. When I got it out of the box I saw that a simple 2-prong, $3.00 appliance extension cord works fine.

I live in the desert and the summer heat kills batteries; you never know when your car battery is going to give up the ghost and not even respond to an overnight charge. A jump starter has kept me from being stranded a few times, and it's also nice to have if someone else needs a jump.

Want Black & Decker JUS500B 500 Amp Jump Starter Discount?

It is not too heavy, easy to use. I used it for the first time about 2 weeks ago when my Honda City ran out of battery because I left my lights on. Luckily I have it charged. It was a simple stuff to do. I just pick it up, put it next to my car battery plug it and then start the engine. I few minutes later I was on my way!

Save 45% Off

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Duracell DRINVP175 175-Watt Pocket Inverter with 2.1-Amp USB Port

Duracell DRINVP175 175-Watt Pocket Inverter with 2.1-Amp USB PortThis 12 volt inverter is smaller than I possibly could have imagined. At 4x2.5x1, it's about the size of a deck of cards. It weighs only 4oz so it's almost as if it's a hollowed out piece of plastic. Impressive! Previous inverters that I've used were about the size of a brick (and weighed almost that much). I was completely surprised when I saw how small and light this was.

While it advertises 175W support, that is white lie told by the marketers. The product clearly states it can *peak* at 175W but in normal operation, it is rated for 130W. This is a small but important difference. I wish they'd just tell the truth and call it a "130W inverter" but exaggerating and advertising peak values seems to be an industry norm. An example where this little lie might get you: the charger that came with my laptop is 150W and would not work with this inverter. That said, I never bring along my huge 150W laptop power supply when traveling.

This inverter seems to have a small fan which is inaudible unless you hold the inverter up to your ear. During 20 minutes of formal testing, the inverter reached an external temperature of about 100 degrees. If I shined my thermometer inside the air vents, I was able to get readings of 108 degrees. I'm guessing that this inverter gets quite warm to the touch after extended operation. I doubt that it is any different than other products like laptop power bricks. If I notice higher temperatures in extended usage, I'll update my review.

My kill-a-watt noted that the Duracell inverter provides 115.5 volts. This is a little less than I get in my house (118 volts). The power hertz was way down from what I get in my house. At home I get 59.9hz but the inverter provided between 24 and 37hz. The faceplate says it will 120volts @ 60hz but I'm not sure if this is an issue with the kill-a-watt or the inverter. I'm not a physicist so I don't really know what applications are impacted by the difference in frequency.

My first test of the Duracell inverter was to make use of its USB port to charge my phone. There wasn't much to this testI plugged the cell phone into the USB port and it started charging. I count this as a success.

My next test was to plug in my laptop using the aforementioned 150W power supply. The laptop did not show that it was charging and the inverter's green power light started flashing. It appeared to be protecting itself from drawing too much power. Another success.

Next I plugged my laptop's 60 watt power supply into the inverter and confirmed that my laptop was now charging. The kill-a-watt showed I was drawing about 40 watts and the laptop indicated that it was plugged in. More success.

My final test was my CPAP machine. I've always wanted to be able to sleep in the car when on long trips but I have sleep apnea and require a CPAP machine. I wasn't crazy enough to plug my heated humidifier into this but I did test the CPAP and it worked fine. The machine draws 25 watts when operational so it's a fairly light load. Still, I was quite happy to see this work as this could definitely be something I use when on long drives.

Overall, I think this inverter is a steal. The small size will truly fit in your pocket and it seems to have enough capacity for almost anything reasonable that you will try to do in your car (charge a laptop). It also includes a set of clamp cables that could attach directly to a car or marine battery. This would be a great, inexpensive power solution for someone that lives in a place that sometimes loses power. Of course, you'd be very constrained on the wattage you could use so I think this would only work in the case of emergencies. But if you were an avid camper and could some how drag along a battery, this might be a handy way to plug in something like a CPAP machine when in the middle of nowhere.

This small and lightweight inverter is ideal for charging a laptop and a USB-powered iPod, cellphone or similiar device. It runs on the quiet side and fits nicely inside a laptop carrier or inside a car's glove compartment. It's one of the smallest devices I have owned for my electronic gadgets while traveling and performs excellently. I use it both for a small 10" notebook and to recharge my Kindle.

Although it comes with 12-volt cable clips, using them while driving would be impractical but are an added bonus at a campsite where a more powerful electronic device would need to be charged, but then make sure the car battery doesn't get depleted. The manual states a two-hour run time off a car battery while idle, but why tempt it?

I appreciate the added safety features on this small inverter. It has an electronic overload protection with automatic shutdown (the ideal range is 130-170W of combined devices), a non-user replacable 25 A fuse, low battery voltage shutdown and high-input voltage protection with automatic shutdown. Although I haven't had this happen to me yet, it also comes with an overheat protection with automatic shutdown. All these features help prevent blow-outs and destruction of electronic cigarette lighters and other outputs.

Its one weakness is the cigarette lighter plug itself. It stands about three inches long, so if your car's cigarette lighter is positioned in a tight spot, this device may be awkward or impossible to use. If your car's lighter is in the front dashboard with no obstructions, though, and you have only a laptop and iPod/iPhone to charge, this little gadget is ideal. It comes with a three-year limited warranty.

Buy Duracell DRINVP175 175-Watt Pocket Inverter with 2.1-Amp USB Port Now

The product works fine, but it fails to mention on amazon that this is 175 watts PEAK. On the device it reads 130 watts continuous, 175 watts peak. I bought this to charge my dell lattitude work laptop in my car and even with the laptop powered off it is unable to charge it. My laptop requires 150 watts so I thought I'd be covered with 175 but 130 isn't enought to get it done. I've been able to find other uses for it, and it works fine for charging camera batteries and handheld devices, but the ad is a little misleading.

Update: After re-reading the description, it does say "up to 100 watts compatability", but I still feel that should have been mentioned in the first line right next to "175". Still misleading, but I didn't read carefully enough.

Read Best Reviews of Duracell DRINVP175 175-Watt Pocket Inverter with 2.1-Amp USB Port Here

This is my third inverter, and (just based on one test) this one is way, way, way quieter than my cheesy inverter from Walgreens and the cheesy (CyberPower) one from Walmart. As I understand almost all the noise is from tiny whiny fans, and the others sounded like high-pitched Dust Busters. By comparison this one was (for five minutes, at 40W) practically silent.

On the other hand, the box says it's 175 watts, but only if you hook it up directly to the car battery using the enclosed tiny jumper cables. Probably not what most people had in mind. The box says 175 watts peak power, 130 watts continuous (apparently with the jumpers), 120 watts (peak? continuous?) from the lighter socket. That's fine with me, but that's what it is.

Update: Year later, occasional use, still silent. As a 120-watt (peak?) inverter my experience is five-star. Just a truth-in-labeling issue.

Want Duracell DRINVP175 175-Watt Pocket Inverter with 2.1-Amp USB Port Discount?

This is a car inverter. It plugs into the cigarette lighter port and gives you an electric outlet. It works fine, with two exceptions. First, sometimes it makes a very high pitched hissing noise. Originally, I thought that mine was defective, and so I exchanged it. The replacement does the same thing.

Second, it has some kind of power saving feature that makes it so that it own't turn on until something draws from it. The problem is that many power supplies today have a similar feature they won't start drawing until power is available. One such device is the power supply for the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook. As a result, if you plug the power supply for the chromebook into this device, it will never start charging the Chromebook.

There is a work-around. If you use a power splitter, you can plug in the Chromebook power supply AND some other device that pulls a draw. Once it starts, the Chromebook will start drawing as well, and then you can unplug the other device. Its a pain, but it works.

Save 37% Off

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

BlueAnt USEN-BAW-SENSE Bluetooth Handsfree Car Speakerphone - Retail Packaging - Black

BlueAnt USEN-BAW-SENSE Bluetooth Handsfree Car Speakerphone - Retail Packaging - BlackI have been selling wireless since 1996 and have used multiple headsets, hands free solutions, etc. This has the best voice quality of any in-car set up I have used. I was using a Jawbone, which I still have, and is excellent. I am just tired of having something hanging on my ear X hours a day. I am a gadget freak for sure but I am tired of the tool on my ear.

I made some calls at 80mph in my wife's minivan on the turnpike to friends to get their feedback before using it for business and they did no know I was on a speakerphone...that's good enough for me. The voicedialing, as with any voicedialing feature, sucks. They all suck. The voice answer did not work either say 'ok' to answer...yeah my kids were laughing at me saying 'ok' 6 times and then the call went to voicemail because it never answered. But I expected that...so just reach up and tap the answer button...no worries. My concern was voice quality, and it passed the test.

The auto phonebook transfer to a blackberry will not work from the device but will work if you do it from your BBerry's blutooth menu and push it to the device. It took about 10 minutes for my 1500+ contacts to transfer. I only did that so I could hear the name of the inbound caller, which is cool. The reality is we all have our phones right next to us when the call comes in and we can look at the phone's screen if need be.

01/09 UPDATE: I got a new car and well...I have to turn this off for business calls. It's just not good enough. What changed? Well, just my car. There is nothing worn with the device. So maybe the cars insulation is coming into play? I am driving a C6 Corvette and I am certain it is not as insulated as my previous car (Audi TT) or my wife's minivan. That being said, if your car is well insulated from road noise you should love this device. Cheers, Josh.

Being a fan of the supertooth 2, I got the supertooth 3 for the text to speech feature which is supposed to announce the caller's name based on your address book. Problem is that I could never get it to say the caller's name, instead it will only say the number. I'm using it with a blackberry 8830 and have also tried it with a Mot Krzr with the same results. Contacted the company over the phone who's support is great but they couldn't get it to say the caller's name either and suggested the I send it back. Not good for a new product.

I'm sending it back and we'll see what happens with the next one.

----------------------------------------------

Update 6-13-08:

We still can't get the ST3 to announce the callers name either. We are on our third one after returning two of them. In our company we have BB8830's and Pearls. Tried on both with no luck, only phone numbers are announced. Also tried on two Mot KRZR's also with no luck either. Called vendor three times now and they had me do the batt thing also. They finally said that our vendor may have had a "bad batch". This one is really hard to believe. I called our vendor who is not happy that this "may be the case". I'm now waiting for blueant to send me an envelope to send the unit back and to then send me one directly from the factory.

I'm not holding my breath on this. Guess it's like software... never by version 1.0 of anything. For a few weeks, there was nothing out there (internet search) that pointed to this problem but now it's everywhere.

Aside from that, the unit performs as good as the Supertooth Light verison.

------------------

7-3-08: Still haven't received the product return package from the manufacturer. We are still getting the Supertooth 3 device for clients though because the other "advertised" features do work and work well and so far is the most "hands free".

Buy BlueAnt USEN-BAW-SENSE Bluetooth Handsfree Car Speakerphone - Retail Packaging - Black Now

After much research here on Amazon, I decided to order the BlueAnt Supertooth3 to solve the dilemma of California's new cellphone law. I did not want any such product, but some of the available solutions are definitely less wanted than others. The Plantronics 510 Voyager would be good for a person who doesn't mind wearing gear and doesn't use sunglasses or other glasses, but I'm not a headset/earpiece kinda gal. The BlueAnt Light, with the protruding mic, sounded like a major irritation just because of the temperamental mic that would get stuck. For me, the lack of Caller ID made it unacceptable. I don't answer unnecessary calls while driving. The Jabra speakerphone does not come with a home charger. That is ridiculous, and I would never buy a product that required another purchase, when it should come with it in the first place. I saw so few reviews for the Supertooth3, which was disappointing, but decided to write one myself.

I received it yesterday. It took just under an hour to charge, and it comes with a home charger, car charger and two magnet clips. It wouldn't sync the phonebook from my LG8300, not even one at a time contacts. This means that Caller ID announces the incoming number, not the name, but that is okay with me. I had never used voice dial on my phone, but the Supertooth booklet instructed that one voice tag was necessary on the phone in order to use voice dial. So I made one voice dial call from my phone, and then tried it on the Supertooth. It worked fine. I can say, "Call Sonia Home", and it dials Sonia's home phone as opposed to her cellphone. In order to enable handsfree voice answer, one must depress the volume button until it gives the voice message that it has been done. Another reviewer of the BlueAnt Light said that the flashing blue light was driving her insane, but that light lets you know the device is working as it should. For some reason, it was not flashing right after I got it and not working, but I assume that is because I did not know how to use it.

The most annoying thing by far is in the way I have to use it, due to the fact that if I get out of my car and am within 30 feet, the BlueAnt will answer the call and I can't take it on my phone. I make many short trips and in and out of buildings at a short distance. So I have to turn off the Supertooth3 before I get out of the car, and turn it back on when I get back in. What I don't know is whether it is necessary to re-enable the voice answer by depressing the volume button every time I turn it on, but that is what I have been doing. I also wonder if these devices are made to withstand the extreme heat in the car in summer. I certainly hope so, because we have weeks at a time of 100+ degrees. I also hope it is made sturdily enough to handle being turned off and on frequently.

The voice quality of calls both ways is better than the Garmin Nuvi 360 by far. The magnets are strong. The clip was kind of hard to get on my thick visor, and I won't be able to use the business card slots on the back of the visor, but the device is small and it looks cute. It's easy to take it with you and reattach it. The battery life is said to be 800 hours if you never turn it off, and much more if you do. I will be turning it off every night.

I'd say this is the best product for this purpose, which for me is simply to comply with a law that I wish had not been passed. I find all devices to be a distraction, and a cellphone alone is less distraction than in combination with other things. Guess what? Californians can still text message while they drive! Doesn't that make you want to visit? ;)

Read Best Reviews of BlueAnt USEN-BAW-SENSE Bluetooth Handsfree Car Speakerphone - Retail Packaging - Black Here

Just as the first reviewer. I'm having the same problem with my supertooth 3. I have an Iphone and it will only announce the number not the name and Blueant requested I send it back. I will update this as soon as I recieve the new one. And yes customer service at Blueant is excellent......However, I do pay shipping back to them....that's not so good

AND NOW FOR THE UPDATE : 7/5/08 My third Blue Ant st3 is all that !.....this one works perfectly with my iphone , the first two worked fine but did not say the name of the caller.....the early models of st3 do not work with all phones.....it was software issue that has been resolved....the key here is if indeed your having problems....getting an st3 with a higher serial #....Blue Ant customer service is outstanding....Talk to Dave. he'll make it right. .... oh and i would now give this product AND OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE a five star rating !!!

Want BlueAnt USEN-BAW-SENSE Bluetooth Handsfree Car Speakerphone - Retail Packaging - Black Discount?

I really wanted to give this 5 stars but it just wasn't perfect. How about 4.5 stars. The product pretty much worked as advertised. Uploading the address book was a snap. In minutes I had the product up and running. Controls were easy to use and voice features appeared to work just fine. I spent some time using the product in a variety of conditions and everything appears to work perfectly. Incoming sound appeared to be very good and I had no trouble hearing callers even in somewhat noisy conditions. Callers reported to me that my voice sounded a bit hollow or had a slight echo but they had no trouble hearing me. Pairing and unpairing has worked perfectly so I have been very happy using this. It has been a much better solution to me then a earpiece. Unlike other users, I actually had more trouble with the number caller ID then the name caller ID. It called out the names perfectly but seemed to have occasional trouble completing saying the number. At times it would cut part of the number off. On to the pros and cons:

ProsEasy to set up and use. Generally does everything it advertises athough not quite perfectly. Good battery life and excellent sound caracteristics, easy pairing and unpairing make this a joy to use. The case is attractive and very functional with the magnetic clips that let you unhook the unit quickly. Voice controls work perfectly.

ConsInstruction set could be better. You have to sync the address book when you add a new contact. An automated sync would have been a very nice feature. Caller ID software need just a bit more work.

Overall a very nice package. I recommend this product.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit GBHFK231 (Black)

IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit GBHFK231I was looking for a bluetooth speaker unit to replace an old Motorola headset. I was tired of always charging the headset and I rarely used it outside of the car, so when I found this car kit I thought it would be perfect. It uses a standard micro USB port to charge (the same as my phone) which is handy, and the solar panel idea made a lot of sense. I charged the unit initially using USB, and then stuck it on my windshield below the tinted area at the top, sort of behind my rear view mirror. It's small enough that it is discreet; the controls are simple and easy to use.

Pairing my phone was very easy and it has had no problems connecting each time since then. Incoming sound quality is good and the speaker is plenty loud. People I talk to also report that I sound clear on their end, so I think the noise cancellation works well.

As far as the effectiveness of the solar charging, it seems to be working although it's hard to say I've only had it for two weeks. After the initial USB charge, I haven't had to charge the unit again via USB in that time. We've only had a few sunny days lately, but it does seem like the unit must be getting some power from the solar panel; I always use Bluetooth for my daily commute and I have yet to receive a low battery warning. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the amount of actual talking you do while in the car.

Overall, I've found this car kit to fit my needs extremely well.

I purchased this to replace a Jabra bluetooth handsfree speaker that was being redeployed to another vehicle. This IOGear unit is smaller than the Jabra but the interface is very similar. One difference is that the Jabra will announce the phone # of the incoming call. This unit does not have that feature. Also the sound quality on the Jabra is a little clearer and louder. At the highest setting, the volume on this unit is adequate but you may need to turn the volume setting on your phone to it's highest setting. I have an iPhone 3G and the highest setting was required to get a reasonable volume. I don't think this would work well in a moving convertible with the top down.

This was easy to pair with two phones simultaneously which is nice if you have 2 drivers for the vehicle as I do for my SUV. This eliminates the need to pair the device with each driver's phone when they use the car. You pair it once and just turn it on when in the car and either or both phones are paired automatically. You must read the instructions closely to make sure the multi-pairing setting is selected first.

The Visor clip does not work with a thick visor (Visors with lighted Mirrors built in are usually thicker). The suction mount is OK but not legal in all states. Check your state laws for compliance. Tech support said they do not offer a solution for clipping the unit to the thicker Visors. The suction cups is holding up so far but I am worried about the unit falling off as outside weather conditions and temperature change. IOGear does provide an extra set of suction cups and the unit seems robust enough to survive a fall but it might be better to remount it periodically.

So far the Solar charging seems to be working well. Also because of the compact size, the unit is easy to travel with.

The Volume and Visor clip issues prevent me from giving this 5 stars. Also, it would be nice if it announced the # of the incoming call as the Jabra does. If you don't want to hassle with charging monthly (my Jabra lasted over a month on a charge in typical usage) then this is a nice solution. If you want the best voice quality and added features, I would recommend the Jabra for about $10 more as an alternative.

Buy IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit GBHFK231 (Black) Now

PROs

+ Loud speakerphone: I have no problem hearing the callers, even on the highway. It is a lot better than the iPhone's built-in speakerphone. Also, people I talk with say I sound crystal clear on this device.

+ Solar charging: My car is parked out in the sun while I'm at work, so why not put all that sunshine to good use? This device keeps itself charged without having to keep yet another cord in the glovebox.

+ Auto-Off: If your phone moves outside of the bluetooth range (20-40 ft), it will turn itself off after 10 minutes or so.

CONs

Power button: You have to hold the button for 4 seconds to turn this device on. I wish you could just tap it quick when you hop in the car to power it up.

The range is too good: With my car parked in my attached garage, the bluetooth never disconnects when my phone is in the house. Therefore, the speakerphone never turns off. I have to remember to manually power it down with the 4 second button press (or disable the bluetooth on my phone) when I get home.

Some reviewers commented that their device doesn't charge when it is in the sun. Basically, this device knows when it needs charged. The battery has to be low enough before the red charging light will come on when charging via solar power. It's kind of like your cellphone; your phone won't charge when you plug it in if it's at 100% already.

UPDATE: 1 year later and this bluetooth speakerphone is still going strong. I've never had to plug it in other than the initial charge when I first got it. The solar charging works great.

Read Best Reviews of IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit GBHFK231 (Black) Here

Had this about a month the solar feature attracted me since I never knew when there was any power left in my last unit. Actually, it's the same with this how much charge does it have left?

Charging: I did the first charge via USB, and once in between, during this four week period and every couple days put it into the sun. Have used it more than a dozen times or more on calls, and it keeps working. A previous review said the red led is supposed to light when solar charging, but I've never seen it, and not sure it's supposed to do that... only lights when plugged into USB charging. Given that a full solar charge takes more than 10 hours the limited time I place it in the sun just might be enough to keep it going. Bottom line: not sure if the solar charging really works, but I only did the USB charge after a couple weeks because I got nervous. And you do have to turn the unit over to charge, and then back again to use it so the speaker and mic are toward you. Seems to take a little more fussing to use it fully.

I like the size... and the capability to handle two phones. People seem to hear me fine. The speaker volume is not the best I have a Storm 2 and need to have it at full volume, with the Iogear at full volume, to really hear it. For me, this is the weakest point. I don't have a noisy car, but I have to kill the radio, roll up the windows and really pay attention. Or, I'm just gettin' old!

Want IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit GBHFK231 (Black) Discount?

This was very easy to use right out of the package! When I tried it out at first I was disappointed as I couldnt hear while the car air conditioner was running. And I remembered that someone else had said it was very low in sound. While quite by accident I found that the volume on my lotus was down to 2 and after adjusting the volume on the IOgear and on my phone it works wonderfully loud if I so choose! I did find that i have to check my phone volume when I get in the car because either from bumping around in my purse or in just normal use it tends to lower the volume by itself. If you check that out on yours too I think you will be as happy as I am with this product...Oh, I have to mention the voice recognition works better than most items I've tried. I will say call 123456 and as long as I don't rush it, it always understands and makes the call!

Save 40% Off

Monday, January 20, 2014

KnuKonceptz 4 Gauge Crimp Style Ring Terminal (2 Pair)

KnuKonceptz 4 Gauge Crimp Style Ring Terminal
  • Gold Plating resists oxidation and corrosion
  • 5/16" Ring Opening
  • 2 red / 2 black Terminals included
  • Use on any 12 or 24V Appication (Marine, Auto, Audio)

I bought this along with a few other products for installing my 5channel amp, and 1F cap. I must say the quality of KnuKonceptz parts are fantastic. Even though these are just o-rings, they're nice and sturdy, crimp well and don't bend easily where you wouldn't want them to bend. ALWAYS satisfied.

Buy KnuKonceptz 4 Gauge Crimp Style Ring Terminal (2 Pair) Now

These are the one.

what to say

4 gu ring terminals

Easy to crimp

Look nice

took care of the job

Read Best Reviews of KnuKonceptz 4 Gauge Crimp Style Ring Terminal (2 Pair) Here

good quality ring terminals. I try to use the allen head ring terminals as much as possible, but in a tight spot these are easier, and take up less room.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

HQRP Remote Key Shell Case FOB w/ 4 Buttons compatible with Mitsubishi Lancer 2007 2008 2009 2010 0

HQRP Remote Key Shell Case FOB w/ 4 Buttons compatible with Mitsubishi Lancer 2007 2008 2009 2010 07 08 09 10 plus HQRP CoasterWhat more can I say than that this works as advertised. Took it to a hardware store and they cut the key for me, no problems. I thought that transferring the electronics from my old keychain to the new one might be tricky, but in fact when you open it up you discover that the electronics are enclosed in a sealed pod iside the key. Pull it out, drop it in the blank and you're good to go!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363

Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363For the money you have to give it 5 stars. I have read all of the other reviews and would say that it is always possible to get a defective part these days. Always buy from Amazon and you can easily return it for a refund or exchange. No, I do not work for Amazon, as I am a retired Engineering Professor. The installation is simple and if you have the right tools it should take less than 2 hours to completely install. If you are not familiar with working on cars, then hire a professional installer to do it. Make sure that your video unit is equipped with either the video backup trigger for backup camera installation or separate video input. If you don't want to install it under the trunk lip and want to install it on a surface mount then all you need to do is remove the screws from the mount and rotate it 180 degrees.

OK back to the camera and installation on my 2010 Mercedes S400. I had purchased a kit from MidCity Electronics to give me the video feed to my LCD OEM screen. That took only about 30 minutes to install. The camera took longer because I had to remove the interior trim from the trunk to remove the plastic piece under the trunk lid. I drilled a hole for the camera head to fit through the plastic and then mounted the camera using hot glue. This is hidden on the back side of the plastic piece and will allow for easy removal if I need to install another camera. The powder feed was gotten from the rear of the car using a fused 5 amp/12 volt position on the circuit breaker. Because the electronics from the Mercedes automatically senses that there is a rear camera installed, I did not need the backup light voltage to trigger the camera. This feature is handy because the Video In Motion from MidCity can be triggered while driving to see behind your car. Running the video wire to the front took about 20 minutes to remove door sill plate trim and get wire fed through to front connection behind the video unit. Once done and tested (Yes, please test before you put everything back together to help you save time if something does not work right), it will take you about an hour or less to put all the trim pieces back on and make a final adjustment to the angle of the camera. It is very handy to have the adjustment screws visible under the trunk lip for this reason. I adjusted the camera angle downward so that I could just see the edge of my bumper. The rear image is not distorted and I am very pleased with the results. Once satisfied, use the hot glue to put a very small dab of glue onto the screw head to keep it from getting loose or use some lock-tite on the treads.

I would have liked to have the option of removing the backup grid overlay because it does not match up properly with the Mercedes self-imposed lines. However, the camera option with the MC unit was >$200, so for the money, I can live with the lines until this camera needs replaced.

An additional tip is to use a 9 volt battery to test your video camera before you install it. The 9 volts is sufficient to power the camera and you can attach the leads with a small bit of tape. You can use the video out to your TV or any monitor that allows for the RCA video input. I used the small video monitor sold by Amazon for ~$20 to preview my installation before I started. It also allowed me to compare two different cameras with the same lighting to make my choice of the better one. Hope this helps.

Have a 'home grown' setup I created for my RV using a camera and touchscreen monitor... for both backup/reverse cam and computer. Recently my camera died and I needed to find a replacement. Gave this one a whirl and I am not disappointed I did. First surprise is the size... this thing is really small! Very compact and seems like outstanding quality. Was plug and play with both video (RCA) and power from my previous camera. When looking for placement, I discovered I could slide under the left rear light console (lights/brakes) and use the mounting screw for the lights to attach the camera. only extra work needed was reversing the clamp on the camera to get the wire out of the way (ie. undo the two philips screws and move the wire to inside vs outside the bracket). Once hooked up it worked like a champ. Amazing field of view (my old cam was about 90 deg), great color and brightness (despite 35' cable) and excellent image. The permanent guide lines work great for me. I have no clue why RVrs would pay for larger/more expensive systems when this is out there... very impressed & highly recommended.

Buy Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363 Now

I was a little skeptical of the low price of this camera as I have had many poor quality cmos cameras before (I actually ordered a 80 dollar one just in case). First off the build quality is excellent, strong materials and decent quality wire. I then took it to my TV and hooked it up to see the image quality. I was more than shocked to see a very clear picture with good color. Low light images are not that great but I think the reverse lights on the car will illuminate the surrounding areas sufficiently to get a decent picture. Instructions are poor (not that you need them if you are familiar with vehicle wiring), might as well just throw them out, that is how useless they are.

All in all I'm happy I took the chance on this cheap camera.

Read Best Reviews of Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363 Here

I finally got around to installing and fixing my grounding issue with this camera. For some reason, the metal earth ground is just not enough for this little camera. I tested the metal ground with my ohm meter and voltage meter, and everything seemed fine, but the camera would not work that well if at all. Tried a spare power supply for a CCTV camera (9VDC) and it worked beautifully. Even tried using a self-tapping screw on some bare metal, and still not enough. Finally had to tie into the ground on the trailer wiring harness. Everything is nice and bright. At night, it works, but not too well. When you get close enough to an object, then your back up lights will in fact light it up enough for the camera to see.

The built in color lines will hopefully prove useful once I get used to their location and what they represent.

Update: At some point in time, about 6 months ago, my camera got a lot of condensation in it. This made the back up image extremely blurry and impossible to see. For several months this continued. I should have emailed the company. When I finally got around to emailing, I realized it had been more than a year since I purchased this device and figured it was a moot point. About 2 weeks ago after some warm weather, the camera cleared up completely. It is once again usable, and now I love it again. Hopefully before it rains again I will try and find a "leak" in my otherwise weatherproof camera. For this reason, I have dropped my review from 5 stars to 4 stars, as I don't believe the camera I received is truly waterproof.

Want Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363 Discount?

The camera is pretty well made. The entire housing is made from solid metal and it has a certain "weight" to it that makes it feel high quality.

The video image is very good in well lit situations but the color fads out when it is dark. With the back-up light of the car illuminating, though, it's not a big problem.

There are some "distance lines" in the camera that cannot be turned off. I don't find it particularly useful but it doesn't hurt to have.

As noted in other reviews, the camera comes ready to be mounted in a hanging position. to top-mount it (have it sit on a top surface), the bracket need to be taken off from the housing and rotated 180 degrees. Not a huge problem.

The problem is the depth of the camera (distance from the lens to the back) makes it hard to hide under the narrow overhang of the license plate area. Furthermore the cable comes directly out from the back, taking up additional space. This make it susceptible to rain water getting on the lens. Overall from the lens surface to the back (including the extra space taken by the bracket) is 1.75 inch.

Overall I would say between 3-4 stars. The Video is good, but getting it mounted property is difficult.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector

Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector
  • Radar Receiver/Detector Type: Super heterodyne, GaAs FET VCO; Scanning Frequency Discriminator; Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
  • Laser Detector: Quantum Limited Video Receiver; Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes
  • Display Type: High-Resolution Graphic; OLED Display
  • Power Requirement: 2 AA Batteries, or Escort SmartCord (Optional)
  • Programmable Features: SOLO S3 packs 9-user programmable features, allowing you to customize it for your specific driving style
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP); 4-bit Analog-Digital Converter
  • Radar Receiver/Detector Type: 4-bit Analog-Digital Converter
  • Radar Receiver/Detector Type: Super heterodyne, GaAs FET VCO; Scanning Frequency Discriminator;

Let me preface this by making clear that it is the only radar detector that I have owned so far, and that I have returned it after two weeks of ownership.

If you're looking at this product, it's probably for good reason. Escort makes excellent radar detectors with a range of features. Other contenders for your money should be similar offerings from Beltronics and Valentine One's V1. Read more and I'll get to why this radar detector might not be the best fit for you.

The Escort Solo S3 radar detector's main selling point is that it doesn't require a car charger to stay on. The Solo S3 comes packaged with two AA batteries, which Escort claims will keep it powered for months of regular driving. In order to conserver battery life, the Solo S3 has an OLED display that turns off during regular operation. You'll know that the Solo S3 is still on because an LED will blink periodically to remind you that it is in fact working.

The supplied windshield mount works, but it's been often cited as a reason for dissatisfaction amongst owners of Escort radar detectors. I never had issues keeping the radar detector securely affixed to my windshield with the two suction cup design, but the radar detector would bounce and occasionally rap against the windshield as I was driving. This wasn't too much of an issue, but it did prove to be a minor annoyance at times.

The Solo S3 also comes with an attractive carrying case that has room for additional batteries, the windshield mount, and user manuals.

The Solo S3 sounds a clear alert when it first detects radar signals. The factory-enabled Auto Mute feature reduces the volume of this alert after a few seconds so that it doesn't become a nuisance. Upon detecting radar, the Solo S3's display also lights up to give an indication of the signal type and strength. I did pick up radar signals in advance of my being able to visually confirm highway patrol units, and received a couple of LIDAR alerts during my time with the Solo S3. I felt that the Solo S3 did an adequate job of alerting me about the presence of police radar in these situations, as the alert distance was sufficient for me to check my speed and take any driver action necessary to avoid police response. However, I felt that an extra few seconds would have been very helpful, and worth paying for.

One feature that the Solo S3 lacks is GPS capability. Fully featured radar detectors sometimes include GPS, which is used to store the locations of false alerts. This can be helpful when driving around town, as there can be roadside sources of radar that are irrelevant to drivers. Because the Solo S3 lacks this feature, you may find yourself getting alerts with no sign of police radar.

While the Solo S3 does a decent job, the more capable Escort Passport 9500ix Radar/Laser Detector (Blue Display) and Escort Redline Radar Detector have been shown to outperform in all conditions. Both of these units come with a higher pricetag, and require the use of a power cord that must be plugged in to retain functionality. While the Solo S3 can also be powered through an optional power cord, the detection range has not been shown to change. It is also worth considering the Valentine One Radar Detector, which has been consistently rated as one of the top performers in detection range.

For those about to buy, I strongly recommend that you consider what you find most important to you. Given my personal driving habits, I would do better to hardwire a more robust radar detector into my daily driver. If you frequently travel and every last bit counts, then you will be served well enough by the Solo S3's detection capabilities. The handy carrying case and lack of a power cord make setting up in rental cars clutter free. The Solo S3 is a decent radar detector that is worth your consideration. Just be aware that you will always make tradeoffs in portability versus performance.

At least for me, the loss of a power cord wasn't worth the tradeoff.

As a closing note: If you found this review helpful, give me a thumbs up and I'll keep on writing! In any case, your comments are welcome.

Buy Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector Now

Passport still reigns as the top brand of detectors. This was my third one over the years. I have had cobra as well as iradar . What was obvious at first glance , that when an alert sounds ,you might think that's it's false, however a few miles ahead there is the radar. In other words, the passport gives you more than enough time to adjust your speed. The flaw is that I have noticed a slight reduction in sensitivity with battery models over the wired units. Also, carrying extra batteries on trips is a pain. Once I was caught off guard because the units batteries were so weak, that it didn't notice the radar. in another instance, the batteries were dead and I wasn't warned to replace them... However, that said, it's still the best portable out there and even on the front seat picks up the radar..overall, I would give this 5stars simply because it's the best out there.

Read Best Reviews of Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector Here

I used this for a few weeks until I had a valentine 1 hard wired into my car. I thought I would test them both side by side just to see if there was a difference. The valentine 1 beat the escort by at least 5-10 seconds on both X and K bands, however the real problem was with the ka band, which is really the only band that cops use in the northeast (not including laser). The valentine 1 was at least 10 seconds ahead of the escort and the escort only picked up the ka signal when I had visual confirmation of the cruiser, which would have been useless at that point. I really wanted to like the escort because I remember when my dad got his first detector about 20 years ago which was an escort passport, but this unit was not worth the cost since the ka detection is so poor. I also tried an escort 8500 but it kept having laser faults which drove me crazy. I actually like the s3 better but it has nothing on the valentine 1. I would rather spend the money on the valentine than take a chance getting a ticket. I do not write many reviews but I wanted people to have this info before they spend a lot on a detector. I have no affiliation with valentine in case you were wondering.

Want Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector Discount?

I just completed a 1200 mile, 20 hour drive (Seattle to San Diego) in a rental car with the Solo 3 was thoroughly impressed. I use NiMH rechargeble batteries and they are still at 75% charge after the long drive and three extra days driving around. For some reason, the detector never went off in Oregon. But I always had about 5+ seconds advanced warning of radar in California. I did go into the settings and use the customizing option to see the distinct radar types that I highly recommend. I love the auto-black out and auto-muting function. This is a big factor is saving the battery, as well as handy to not have to reach up and press the mute button every time you drive by a grocery store door or radar run emplacement. I like the visibility of the display. I find it easy to read in the day and the night. On a negative side, I was a bit disappointed in the overall size. This is my first detector in many years and I was hoping the would have shrunk to the size smaller then a smart phone by now. The accessories that it comes with, as well as the case and the instruction manual were great. Overall, I do recommend the detector. But I can't attest to how well it operates technically as I never received a laser indication, and would need another detector to compare it to. Still, I find this an outstanding detector if you travel and/or need to remove your detector a lot from you car or windshield.

I dont feel this unit gives enough warning in most cases to

give confidence. I would not buy it again

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12-Volt 2-Bank Battery Management System

Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12-Volt 2-Bank Battery Management SystemThe only regret I have is that I didn't buy one of these sooner. It works perfectly! Keeps my boat batteries at 100% and worry free. It is a step up from the one bank model as it is fully electronic and lighter in weight with a high quality plastic case. The original steel case.

This little baby will keep your batteries charged up! My two are maintaining the charge on batteries in an ag tractor, a Caterpillar skid steer, ATV, and lawn mower. Now I need one for a two-battery diesel truck that is rarely driven any longer! Should have bought these long ago.

Buy Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12-Volt 2-Bank Battery Management System Now

We have 2 cars that don't get much use. Unfortunately too often we'd find one was dead when we wanted to use it. The 2 station charger solved this problem. LEDs make it easy to monitor the state of charge and hook up/unhook takes seconds.

Should have done it ages ago!!!!!!

Read Best Reviews of Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12-Volt 2-Bank Battery Management System Here

I now have a single and a double 1.25 amp Battery Tenders. They service my two Corvettes as well as a Buick that I don't use very much. Performance is as advertised, ie, they keep all the batterys 100% charged and ready to go. I am pleased.

Want Battery Tender 022-0165-DL-WH 12-Volt 2-Bank Battery Management System Discount?

Ordered to keep the battery's on my two Harleys up to charge between riding. Easy to mount to wall, came with two harnesses, one for each battery, and two sets of clips for temporary hook up. Once all is installed, easy enough, just plug in and let it do the work. Went to charge cycle for the first 6 hours or so, then maintain. Works well. Harley dealer wanted $75 for a single unit, same manufacturer, this is a better deal.

Save 37% Off