Showing posts with label delco battery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label delco battery. Show all posts

Monday, August 11, 2014

Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port

Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB PortOverall this is a great little charger. My favorite feature would definitely have to be the DC plug since my car only has 1, and I don't have to buy another splitter to power other devices.

For powering a laptop, the AC plug works great.

The main reason I bought it was to power a HP Touchpad, which apparently the 2.1amp USB plug still has trouble doing.

The only other complaint I would have about it is that the fan makes a quiet ticking noise. It's just loud enough to hear; if it were more like a fan noise I wouldn't have an issue with it.

I initially was looking for an inverter with an extra 12V power outlet because I have a Soundfly Car FM Transmitter for SD card/USB/MP3 in my older car (which lacks an Aux input on the stereo), and the Soundfly occupies the 12V outlet all the time. Finding such an inverter which ALSO has a USB power port, and a 2.1A high-powered one at that, was a huge bonus. And the cup-holder form factor is very convenient. This product is brilliant; absolutely, totally perfect, or it WOULD be... And that brings us to some of the minor drawbacks.

For one thing, there is no On/Off switch on the inverter. My car never turns off its 12V socket, key in the ignition or no key. The Duracell inverter theoretically will disengage if the car battery gets low, but I'd rather not find out. That means remembering to unplug the thing every time so as not to leave the inverter circuits constantly live on the battery, which greatly lessens its convenience.

For another thing, the USB port is supposed to be a high-current 2.1A variety. However, my iPad2 doesn't seem to charge at full speed on it. The iPad SAYS it's charging, and the charge percentage doesn't go down, but then, it doesn't really go up, either.

Another minor complaint, the inverter fan generates a faint ticking buzz. It's enough to be irritating if you're sitting in the parking lot listening to something quiet, but luckily, once you're underway, the fan is easily masked by engine and road noise. I rarely notice it, and honestly, the Duracell is much quieter than the last inverter I owned.

(Also, there is only one of each kind of port. One 12V, one AC, one USB. For me this is perfect, but if you need, say, multiple USB charge ports, you might need to go a different way.)

I have addressed these concerns by: Ignoring the fan noise. Using my iPad on the USB port, and not worrying about whether it's charging at full speed or not. (If my iPad is REALLY low and I need it to definitely charge FAST, I can always plug its own little white charger into the AC outlet on the inverter. Shouldn't have to do that, but it works.) And finally, I installed a heavy duty lamp cord switch on the inverter's 12V power feed wire, so I can leave the unit plugged in in my car but turn it on and off. Thus voiding the product warranty, but for me, the increase in usefulness was worth it.

Overall, this is a highly useful gadget, I use it every day and am glad it's there every day.

Buy Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port Now

This is a great little inverter for the money. It doesn't get 5 stars because of one very big problem--if you leave it plugged in, it will run your battery down if your vehicle continues to send power to the cigarette lighter even when the key is turned off. Luckily for me, this happened to me in a nice, heated garage, and I had another vehicle with jumper cables handy. Since then, I have been very careful about unplugging it every time I get out of the car. The cupholder shape fits perfectly into my car's cupholder. I love the fact that it has 3 outlets--(1) 12v outlet, (1) 120v outlet, and (1) usb charger port. I can charge my phone, listen to my mp3 player (powered by 12v), and run my GPS off the wall charger all at the same time. When I was researching to buy this unit, I spent a lot of time looking for one similar to this. There are cheaper and less expensive units out there. Very few had the size, power, and function of this unit. It's been great so far. It's never overheated (yet), and it is so quiet, I can't even hear it running, even with the car turned off. When I bought this, it was about $40.

Read Best Reviews of Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port Here

Road trips these days are a perpetual electronic negotiation. Do we pack the "travel kit" for the phones, or will the batteries last until we get there? Is the USB cable for the player enough? How about the spare battery for the laptop?

This inverter takes out the guesswork. It will accept all three kinds of connection USB, wall outlet (grounded, even), and "cigarette lighter" and let you use and charge electronic devices in your car.

The device is very well designed. The "wall outlet" has enough space around it to accommodate oddly-shaped plugs. The cord is long enough to put a laptop in the back seat, and plug into the dash. And, joy of joys, the thing is designed to fit into the cupholder (with enough clearance around it to let the fan in the bottom of the device have airflow).

As a road test, I charged an iPhone (via the cigarette lighter outlet), a regular cell phone (via the wall-type outlet), and a Sansa MP3 player (via the USB) simultaneously. They all charged about as quickly as I would expect from a normal connection, with no problems. After 40 minutes in a warm car the inverter was very slightly warm to the touch, but not enough for the cooling fan built into the bottom of the device to go on (I expect it will when one is charging a laptop. And I wouldn't attach a washing machine to this, if you should somehow want to run one on the highway).

Our Suburu Forester has another lighter-outlet inside the center armrest, with a small compartment next to it for on-the-road electronics (I also recommend the Forester). This device will be living there.

Want Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port Discount?

I've been driving around with this Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port in my car for a few days now. So far, so good. I've charged a cell phone using the AC outlet, iPod using the USB port, and GPS using the CD outlet. I had no problems fitting any of the various cords into their respective outlets or with the cords staying in place, including the connection with my vehicle's power outlet.

The cylindrical shape fits into the cupholder as designed, which is a nice convenience and which makes access to the plugs easy. So far, this power inverter is quiet and cool, but none of the other inverters I have tried became warm or made any sound either (though both quit working after about a year).

The plastic seems thin and prone to shattering if dropped on a driveway or garage floor. The thin plastic around the various outlets seems another place that could be prone to splitting or splintering after prolonged use. So far, though, neither has proven a problem, the unit continues working well, and it performs as describes, so I upgraded my original rating to 4 stars (9/27/11).

The packaging is supposedly "green," which I think means we are not supposed to feel guilty for buying something that uses more cardboard than needed and prints instructions on the front of a legal-sized sheet of paper instead of on the front and back of a sheet half this size. (Furthermore, the instructions and warranty information could easily be edited by a third or more just by using the active voice.)

There is a three-year "limited" warranty, but as with most products, having to hold onto a dated sales receipt during that time can prove a challenge.

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Saturday, June 14, 2014

HQRP 15W Monocrystalline Flexible Solar Panel 15 Watt Power 12V DC Battery Charger w/ 4 Stainless G

HQRP 15W Monocrystalline Flexible Solar Panel 15 Watt Power 12V DC Battery Charger w/ 4 Stainless Grommets plus HQRP UV Chain / UV Radiation Health TesterGOT MYNE UP AND RUNNING HAVE IT ON OUR RV ROOF AND WILL SAY IT IS DOING A GREAT JOB. VERY LIGHT AND EASY TO HANDLE AND FOR THE PRICE YOU CANT GO WRONG VERY HAPPY!! THINKING ABOUT BUYING ANOTHER AND LINK THEM TOGEATHER AS WE DO ALOT OF OFF THE GRID CAMPING.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod touch (Black)

Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod touch
  • Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 1G, 2G, 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; iPhone 1G, 3G, 3GS, 4
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for iPhone featuring all-in-one design
  • Built-in dock connector to charge your iPhone and flip-out USB tip to recharge without the mess of extra cables
  • Extends play time up to 23 hours music, up to 7 hours of video and up to 5 hours of talk time
  • LED battery gauge displays remaining battery pack power level

We bought this product for our iPhone 3G and it worked fine. However, we noticed that the battery would drain very quickly when we plugged it into the iPhone 4 that we recently purchased. I confirmed with Kensington that this item is not compatible with iPhone 4, so I thought I'd share this in case you are looking for a battery charger for your iPhone 4. Otherwise, it works great with the other generations of iPhone. Kensington did mention that a charger may be available for iPhone soon, but they wouldn't/couldn't advise as to when such an item will be available.

Buy Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod touch (Black) Now

I bought the battery right before a trans-Atlantic flight. The battery is small enough to fit in your pocket, but powerful enough to last all day. During the flight I watched 5 hours of video (2 feature movies), then listened to music while playing games for another 2 hours. All of this and the battery was only down 1 (of 5) LED's!!! This is on top of "topping off" my phone's internal battery from 80% to 100%. The music + games had previously drained my phone's battery on a 4 hour flight.

In addition to the long life of the battery, it's also endowed with 2 other great features. First, it is designed to let you watch video landscape mode, a big plus. Second, the built-in USB charging capability is great... it avoids the need to carry extra cables (assuming you have a USB device with you on the trip).

For the record, I use the battery on a iPhone 3G 16GB edition.

Read Best Reviews of Kensington Travel Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod touch (Black) Here

I met the Kensington rep at an event where he was showing the Travel Battery Pack and Charger to a group of us. I've used a number of other plug in batteries, but this one has a lot more juice for a compact package. The bonus is that I can watch movies on the plane while I'm charging my phone. Works great and USB connector means I don't have to carry an extra cable.

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I'll cut to the chase: Lifesaver. Fits in a pocket, provides a full charge on the spot and on the go, plug-and-play simple (no cords; plugs right into the dock connector on the iPhone). For an iPhone junkie like me, this is mandatory equipment. Plus, it charges any iPod with a dock connector, so I use it for my kids' iPod Touch units, as well. Indeed, it's tempting to buy one for each pocket in every jacket, shirt, pants, and shorts I own. I know, obsessive. But if you're reading reviews of back-up iPhone chargers, you, too, have already crossed that line. The only downside is that you have to remember to charge it once you use it, because needing an emergency charger for your emergency charger is not a happy moment. But, really, this is the best use of $40 an iPhone user can make. So stop reading. Buy.

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Ok, I bought one about 3 weeks ago, it barely charged the iphone once before saying that there was no charge left so I assumed it was faulty and bought another one (as the old model worked great). Unfortunately same thing. It charges the iphone 4 for about 15 minutes until there is about 3/4 of the iphone charged, and then the blue bars go from 4 or 5 to nothing and it has to be completely recharged. This item is absolutely worthless for the iphone 4. I havent tried it with another iPhone but again, their previous model seemed to work much much better and would recharge my iphone at least 3 full charges.

Friday, February 14, 2014

DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod (Black)

DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod
  • Play, charge and cradle your iPod with one simple, secure device
  • Transmits iPod's music to your existing radio already in your car (using FM channels 88.1 to 107.9)
  • 4 assignable presets let you jump to commonly used frequencies
  • Plugs into any available auto power outlet
  • Compatibility: iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod mini; iPod 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch

I wasn't expecting a great solution when I purchased this item. I have tried similar products by other manufacturers and was disappointed. However, the Transpod gave me the sound I was looking for in an easy to install and use package.

Interestingly, I bought a direct connect via tape player type unit as well which is theoretically suppossed to deliver better sound quality. However, I found this was not the case at all. The Transpod does a much better job.

My unit also came with an extension bar so it could be mounted higher. This gets it up away from the ashtray. However, the criticisms about getting it to a place where it is safe to operate while driving is a real issue. It's not a big deal for me because I could make changes at lights or before I set out to drive somewhere. For others this may be a more serious problem, but really it isn't a bigger deal than fumbling with a cell phone while driving.

In order for this product to work properly, you need a very clean FM station that is not broadcasting. This is usually not a problem at the extreme ends of the FM broadcasting band in most locations. If this is a problem in your area, you may get static even on a fairly clean channel. I live in the Bay Area and I was able to find several useable channels.

I also think the design is well thought out in terms of travelling and needing to change channels. The device also you to set a number of alternate broadcasting frequencies as presets. This gives you the ability to change your channels easily while commuting. It is also very easy to change channels directly and the display is large and attractive.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy this product. I'm a musician and pretty fussy about sound. I'm completely satisfied with this product and would recommend it to anyone.

Buy DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod (Black) Now

I forked over the not insubstantial sum of money for the Transpod with intense skepticism. Having purchased, and been extremely disappointed by, two other iPod FM transmitters (Griffin iTrip & XtremeMac AirPlay), I was not expecting much from DLO. However, based on the recommendation of cNet and other generally good reviews on the web, I decided to take a chance.

Two weeks in and I haven't been disappointed. The Transpod seems to have a much stronger signal than my prior transmitters and I rarely hear any static or have trouble finding a strong frequency. Since finding the best frequency for my area (88.9 in Washington, DC), I have never had to change the setting. And the cradle is quite convenient for operating the iPod and is quite stable. (Some of this will depend on the location of your power jack, however).

Obviously, as with all FM transmitters, the sound quality is less than what you would expect from a casette adapter or, even better, direct wiring to an AUX jack. For me, the reduction in sound quality is most apparent in the bass and for tracks ripped from my CDs (songs bought on iTunes tend to sound great). Even with the reduction in sound quality, the sound of the Transpod is miles ahead of what I experienced with my other transmitters.

All in all, I'm pleased with my purchase.

Read Best Reviews of DLO TransPod All-in-One Car Solution for iPod (Black) Here

Do not believe what anybody tells you about FM Transmitters (except me of course). This product works like a charm. You might hear people say that FM Transmitters don't work or that the sound quality is horrible, don't listen. It works great on the first channel (at least in central Jersey). The sound quality is fine and it is incredibly easy to use. It really fits in any car too. In my car I have a unique situation. The ciggaret lighter is jammed in a small corner right next to the gearshift. I thought there was no chance on earth that it would fit. I couln't have been more wrong. The extendable arm really dose the trick. It fits fine and doesn't even go near the gearshift. So don't worry about this product not fitting in your car, which is another thing people might tell you. This really is the perfect solution for listening to your iPod in the car. Put all of your worries aside and get it.

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I have 3 of the older, white Transpod units. I purchased this one to better match my black video iPod. I was very pleased with the quality of my older Transpod units and have even given several as gifts. Honestly this one sucks. For my taste it is unusable. Maybe it would be passable for rap music, but for instrumentals or music other than gangster type, the music is not clear. It is not static or interferance, and I tried all frequency ranges. The quality of the output signal is terrible. I tried my old one again, and while it is not as pretty, it works great. Unfortunately I cannot return it because I threw away the packaging not expecting it to be junk. If you purchase one of these you will be very disappointed with the quality of the sound. If you can find one of the older Transpod units for earlier iPods you will be much better off.

This was my second DLO transpod. I had an older white one that I bought used. I figured I would "upgrade" to this one since my iPod and my car's interior are black. overall the thing performed similarly to my previous one, but with a few little changes.

For one the output of this unit is much lower than its older counterparts. That normally doesn't matter if you choose a good empty frequency, but as you start traveling you notice interference much more than you would expect.

Next, I can't turn it up any where near the volume I used to be able to on the older one without getting hissing and static. It seems that the decreased level on the output also increased the amount of electronic noise when using it.

Last, the most annoying part of this whole product, is that it turns off the radio transmitter after a period of no use. I have paused my iPod to take a phone call only to have very loud (since the level is so low on it you have to make up for it with stereo volume) static and sometimes radio stations coming through. Very embarrassing. Or when you stop your car and then come back, as soon as the radio turns on you are met with the same very loud noise.

Since my car doesn't leave me many options for stereo replacement, this is the best product for my specific situation, though I may try and get that old one back from my friend...maybe an "upgrade" to a newer one will settle the deal.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Exide RF-31D ROADFORCE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance-Free (AGM) Heavy-Duty/Commercial Battery

Exide RF-31D ROADFORCE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance-Free Heavy-Duty/Commercial BatteryI had ordered and identical battery through Home Depot for $200 and then found this one for $179 on Amazon. The one from Home Depot worked out great and this one has as well so far. I may order more as I am using them for my solar project which requires deep cycle batteries and AGM type batteries are the latest thing.

I live in my RV full time, so a deep cycle battery is extremely important to me. A few years back I bought expensive West Marine Deep Cycle Batteries. The first one worked great, but when it came time to replace it, the new one cost fifty dollars more. Since I have never minded paying for real quality, I bit the bullet and ponied up the extra cash. Unfortunately, the newer more expensive version was made significantly cheaper than the original--even the battery post terminals were thinner. It never worked well, and died after about a year. I was so disappointed with it that I decided to special order an Optima deep cycle battery-until I checked the reviews on Amazon, which said that the new Optimas (now made by Interstate Battery) had suddenly declined significantly in quality, also. Since this Exide Roadforce battery had great reviews, I decided to give it a try, instead. I was a little concerned about not being able to return it to Amazon because of the hazardous materials issue, so I checked with my local Exide rep to see about returns. (I actually told her that I had a defective one that I had purchased on Amazon to return, just to see how they would handle it. Only when she was trying to work out the details of getting me a replacement, did I "come clean" and admit that I was "just testing." She was incredibly helpful and even gracious when she found out the truth of the situation. I am completely convinced that Exide will honor its battery warranty from products purchased on Amazon, but fortunately, this battery has worked so well that I haven't had to find out. I have been using it steadily now for about three or four months, and from my extensive experience with RV batteries, I am quite sure it will out-perform and out-last any other battery that I have ever used.

The cost on Amazon was about a hundred dollars less than any local dealers, and at least a hundred and fifty dollars less than the West Marine piece of s***I bought last time. This is why I purchase so much more on Amazon than at local stores anymore. I want to support my local economy, but have lost so much money from the lack of quality control, that if not for the Amazon reviews, I would probably be bankrupt by now.

Buy Exide RF-31D ROADFORCE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance-Free (AGM) Heavy-Duty/Commercial Battery Now

The product was expedited in a timely manner, which is one of Amazons customer service qualities. But each shipment lacked the terminal nuts to complete the installation. I made two trips to the auto parts store after determining I need 17mm coarse thread instead of fine thread. Otherwise the performance is satisfactory.

Read Best Reviews of Exide RF-31D ROADFORCE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance-Free (AGM) Heavy-Duty/Commercial Battery Here

When I bought my solar generator for backup, I was a bit disturbed at the local prices for this recommended battery. I ordered two of these on Amazon and was surprised it had free shipping. have been using them for over a year and they have worked fine.

Want Exide RF-31D ROADFORCE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance-Free (AGM) Heavy-Duty/Commercial Battery Discount?

Got two of these to use with our solar array. They work great and the price with rebate was quite good.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Ford F-25

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Ford F-250 /F-350 Modelsthese mats are pretty stiff and don't conform when laid down. They don't lay fully against the floor and I expected it to conform to the floor eventually, not so far. Maybe when it warms up?

they fit good, easy to install, came when they were suppose to, this was a gift they liked them. nice

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Quality product , works great ! They are a little expensive , but for quality , fit and protection I believe there worth it. !

Read Best Reviews of Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Ford F-25 Here

Fits well (2012 F350) front and back fit real nice. The rear mats seem a bit generic. Not quite long wide enough to go to the outside edge of the door like the fronts. Keeps the mud off the carpet that's the idea.

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Wilson Amplified Power Microphone - Black

Wilson Amplified Power Microphone - Black
  • Premium amplified mic for unsurpassed sound quality
  • Ergonomic design for comfort
  • Heavy-duty 7-1/2' cord
  • 4 Pin connection
  • Uses standard 9 volt battery

POLECAM , świetny mikrofon, duże wzmocnienie, nie ściąga tła , bardzo dobrze i solidnie wykonany, idealnie lerzy w dłoni, jedyne co kabel mógłby być lepszej jakości.

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This mic sounded good,but I found out that most of their power mics have problems like wont key up or static sound. I sent my back to the Wilson Manufacture and I never received it back. Wow got me coming and going. Never will I purchase another Wilson product.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Ford/Mazda Models (Grey)

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Ford/Mazda ModelsI bought the Husky Liners only because the Weathertech liners were not available for my truck, and I thought these would be close. These liners do not closely follow the contour of the floor, there's a weird bump on the driver's side, and they even leave a gap on the passenger side near the kick panel. The grey color didn't match the carpet to well, and if I had to do it again, I would order black.

On the plus side, they are made in the USA, have a lifetime warranty, and I do believe they will serve their purpose.

A friend bought the Weathertech liners for his truck, and I like them a LOT more than these. I would recommend the Weathertech liners.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner Set for Select Honda

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner Set for Select Honda Civic ModelsAmazon shows the WeatherBeater(TM) Floor Liner model number: 98441 fits 2012 Honda Civic Si.

They do not fit the 2012 Civic Si Coupe. They do fit a 2012 Civic Sedan 4 door.

The box shows 4 door models. Amazon should make this clear.

These are the original floor protectors, before Weather Guard. I checked both of these and you get good quality, durable form fitted mats for a price that is reasonable Weather Guard wanted $80 more for the same setup. They were no better, and had a short warranty.

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I am leasing a civic right now and these floor covers fit perfectly and definitely keep the interior clean. I always recommend these to my friends lessees or not

Read Best Reviews of Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner Set for Select Honda Here

Really the best if it fits my 2012 Civic Si coupe back seat floor mats. Only good for sedans. Really fit the front well.

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This is a high quality product which provides a custom fit for your vehicle. I purchased this for my 2012 Civic and it was a great buy.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

iKross 3in1 Car Vehicle Windshield / Dashboard / Air Vent Mount Holder + Metalic Sivler 2-Port USB

iKross 3in1 Car Vehicle Windshield / Dashboard / Air Vent Mount Holder + Metalic Sivler 2-Port USB Car Charger Adapter 2A output + Wireless Fm Transmitter w/ Car Charger for Apple iPhone 4, 4s, 5, iPod Touch 5th, iPod Nano 7th; Samsung Galaxy S IV / S4I bought two products thinking that I would see which one worked out the best. This one by far doesn't work very good. The channels don't come in at all. Was able to get it to tune in a little bit by putting it on a different channel, but then still tons of static. Very disappointed

I was unsure at first but this is a well built holder for the price. You can mount it it on the windshield,air vent,dashboard if you choose. I will buy another one just like this.

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Monday, September 30, 2013

Belkin 140w DC/AC Inverter

Belkin DC/AC 140-Watt Power InverterGood, stylish charger; can use cell phone or electronics while the item is being charged. There is a slight humming noise due to the fan, but while you are driving (especially on the highway) it is not that noticeable. Be sure to have the switch to the unit in the "OFF" position before plugging into the cigarette lighter. Plug in, then wait 15 seconds for the unit to warm up. Make sure that your car is actually running since idling the car will not be sufficient to power up the unit. Not doing so will result in the unit beeping and the red light flashing from time to time. Wait for the green light. Now you can use your normal household plug. Be sure to turn off the unit before turning off your car engine, since it might force your radio to stay on even though the key has been taken out of the ignition. I know it's a hassle, but what do you expect for emergency power. =) So far so good. I will keep you updated otherwise. (Be sure to read the instructions manual that came with the power supply. This is just a summary of what I've read)

Purchased locally (not Amazon). Occasional use for the last 9 months and it has been perfect. Things like (occasionally power goes out at home, in addition to mobile applications, hence the router was powered using a portable 12V source):

-13" MacBook Pro

-HP printer

-Router/modem

-Cell Phone chargers

Cannot vouch for the output AC wave characteristics/shape, but the AC voltage has been a rock solid 115VAC with a 140W load on it. Originally purchased another brand, but it did not work for more than a couple of minutes before shutting off (sorry, do not remember that brand).

If you are buying an inverter locally, you may want to consider taking whatever you are intending to power with you so you can test it in the parking lot after you big it in case it does not work for you (saves a trip back and forth to the store to return it).

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I have had two different models of the Belkin PcAnywhere inverters over the last 5 years. Both have failed and they are not reparable. One unit had an external fuse the was not blown. That unit always showed "overload" with nothing plugged in. The other unit (with no fuse (inline or otherwise)) simply gave up and would not even power on. I would recommend staying away from these units. I have a ProStat 250 that is still working great.

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This is a product everyone can use, with the days of the cell phone, and laptop and everything else we use, you can charge the item while driving down the road

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Love this power supply! It's compact, light and very easy to use. It has been a life saver (job-saver?) for road trips that have gone a little long. The compact size and relatively long cord make it easy to place nearly anywhere in the car without taking up valuable foot space or cargo room.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

American Terminal B222 Butt Terminal Assortment Kit

American Terminal B222 Butt Terminal Assortment Kit
  • Economical
  • Butt Connector Kit
  • Perfect Fit For A Mobile Tool Box

These are the same quality you can find in an auto-part store but much cheaper. I like having the most used assortment in the same pack.

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Supper to have for home auto repair on your cars and trucks. Just enough connectors to do any electrical job.

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Great product. I bought this kit so I can wire up an after market head unit in my car. The clear co stoner that it comes in is compact and fits in my tool box(small tote). I would recommend this for any automotive use.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen Models (Bla

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen ModelsI have bought a set of these for every vehicle I have owned in the last 12 years(4-5 trucks) and I will continue to say they are the best floormats in the world! They stay put and hold a ton of liquid/dirt/yuck. When they get dirty just dump them out and hose off with some simple green. I will continue to buy them for my cars as long as they make them.

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Thursday, July 4, 2013

Schumacher IP-125 Instant Power Jump Starter With 12 Amp Hour Battery

Schumacher IP-125 Instant Power Jump Starter With 12 Amp Hour BatteryI like the compact and lightweight features of this unit. It has enough power to start a car with very low charge. However, it only has enough juice for 1 or 2 attempts of starting the vehicle. Maybe I have to recharge the unit a few more times to get peak performance.

One gripe is that there is no cord to an outlet. You have to provide an extension cord to charge the unit. Make sure it's a heavy gauge cord too.

Extremely compact and well "branded."

The clamp handles touch one another, making their release awkward. (This can be overcome by clipping one higher than the other on the case.)

Two problems with the plug prongs. A larger cutout on the case end would permit the use of a wider range of extension cords. (The earlier comment about a computer power cord is excellent.) The prongs are slightly loose and move inward, so that the connection with the cord is marginal.

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I had to use it twice so far and both times it started my Jeep Grand Cherokee without any problems.

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I have used this for five months now. I love this little battery. It hold a lot of power and starts my car easily when the battery is run down. The price was great and it is easy to recharge. I took the advise of another reviewer and us a computer cord to recharge. That is the only thing I wish were different. I wish it had its own power cord.

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I purchased a previous version of this (back then the product name was the "Mighty-Mite") although the color (mine is more towards black) and the graphics have changed. I don't believe the product itself has changed much, with the buttons and lights in exactly the same place.

Despite the size, it has worked great over the years. I purchased two back in 2006 and they still work well.

I'm not docking off a star, but there are little things that have to be understood for this product to be more useful. Sometimes the automatic charging system doesn't stop, although the charging current is probably so small that there's little risk of damaging the internal battery. I've found that disconnecting then reconnecting showed a green "charged" indicator in those cases. Since the current draw is pretty small, you can safely use something like a simple household extension cord. Since the plug is recessed, the way I've dealt with it was to use a 2 to 3 prong adapter, which serves as an extension of the plug. The other alternative is to get something like an outdoor electrical cord with an end that will fit in the recessed area. I rather prefer this to the ones with wall-wart adapters, since I can easily obtain replacement extension cords and 2/3 prong adapters on the road and can keep different sets in the house and car. I don't particularly like storing wall-warts in the car, especially given how delicate the thin cable is.

It doesn't come with a male-male cord to recharge off of the 12 V accessory port. You can also use those to maintain the power in a car (like electric presets) when you're changing a car battery. Amazon has it, although Schumacher also sells it directly.

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Monday, July 1, 2013

HQRP KIT (85 Watt Solar Panel 85W Power 12V Monocrystalline 12 Volt, Solar 10A Charge Power Control

HQRP KIT + HQRP UV Chain / UV Radiation Health TesterThis is a great panel, it was easy to install on top of my motor home. Once we installed this solar panel on the roof, we had to make a trip down to Home Depot to buy 20 feet of wire to run from the panel down to the controller and then to the batteries. If you purchase this solar panel, you are going to need to also order some solar panel brackets because this one did NOT come with any. I have also ordered another controller so that way I can split the charge, one going to my main batter and one going to my Auxilary batteries.

Product arrived as scheduled but box was damaged. Upon opening found everything to be ok other then a smashed outer corner,

My guess is it happened during manufacturing. Good news was it did not effect performance. I put this panel on a voltmeter and it

Registered all specs as promised. Overall this panel is built well. Now, about the coaster which is advertised in the title description. Folks this is just a blue drink coaster! Why or how a drink coaster would be packaged and advertised in the title is beyond me.

Also , the MC4 connectors are not easy to find and are pricey online but they are water proof, well insulated for long term so I would suggest investing in this concept. If not you could cut these and use comparable stranded copper wire to make your connections which are obviously shielded. As for the charge controller it also worked accordingly. It is nothing fancy but does the

Job. I got a 4.76 amp reading on a clear winter morning here in Florida and I'm sure with a more direct noon angle this thing could put out just under 5 amps! Thanks for reading.

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Notice any connecting cables? You don't see them because you don't get any! It's my one complaint. There is no way to directly connect the solar panel to the charge controller, because the plugs on the solar panel do not plug into the charge controller. You could chop off the special cable ends, or make your own power cord like I did (requires skill/training).

This panel puts out a lot of juice. I just wish that it had been plug-and-play.

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Excellent price and well built solar panel and charger. As good as my BP panel. Liked the Led display on charger. Did not like the connectors and cut them off and fed wires direct from panel to charger. Installed on my RV and works perfectly in February in Arizona only used generator a couple of times. Delivered ontime.

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I purchased a relatively large Jayco camping trailer (Pop-up) this year and wanted to be able to dry camp for a week at a time and not need to haul along a generator or be overly worried about conserving electricity. After doing the math I upgraded the stock group 24 battery to a group 29 and found this panel/charge controller combination for a bit of a discount over buying each separately. I did a few "dry-runs" at home by discharging my battery 20-40% and bringing it back up with this panel and controller and my battery was left with the same charge that my Schumacher SC-600A charger left it at so the controller's charging logic seemed sound. Using this in the field I'm happy to have plenty of power to the point that the charge controller is usually indicating a full battery by 9:30-10:00 each morning after a night with a few hours of running about 20 watts of dome/patio lights, the water pump as necessary, two small fans overnight and the furnace induction and blower fans as needed. The system has been reliable and performance has been great so far. While I haven't hooked up a meter to verify output, my back-of-the-envelope calculation based on draining up to 40% of the rated capacity of my battery and then charging it with this panel/charge controller combination it seems to be working as advertised.

I used some 10AWG outdoor rated wire and connectors leftover from my home PV installation I completed about 3 years ago which allows me to place the panel up to 20' from the battery to get it clear of trees or other shade that we like to place our trailer beneath. Worse case I can pull the battery off and move both battery and panel/charge controller to a more favorable charging location during the day and return it to the trailer once charging completes. I crimped some ring terminals on the wires going from the charge controller to the battery for easy installation/removal keeping these wires about 2' long to reduce losses from the charge controller to the battery and keep the charge controller sheltered by the bunk that slides out over the front of the trailer. Being 85 watts this panel isn't small so spend the time to look at the dimensions and make sure it will fit wherever you plan to store and use it. Mine stows beneath the dining table with about 6" to spare.

I did discover that the panel is reasonably tough as my wife mentioned to me one evening that she caught our friends' kid standing on it behind our trailer. Yes, actually STANDING on the glass portion of the panel while it was lying behind our trailer. This panel is build in the same manner as my 200 watt panels on my roof with an aluminum frame and PV cells glued to the back side of a panel of glass. Now I know this panel can support at least 40 pounds of kid without failing. I was prompted to put together a small "A-frame" stand made with leftover aluminum rail and brackets from my home install so now I can do a better job of optimizing the tilt of my panel and hopefully avoid subjecting the panel to a load-bearing stress test!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Wagan 2257 12V Impact Wrench

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

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

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

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

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

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

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