Showing posts with label good car batteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good car batteries. Show all posts

Monday, September 15, 2014

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2000 Mazda 626 With Do-It-Yourself Programming

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 2000 Mazda 626 With Do-It-Yourself ProgrammingIt worked! it was easy to program no problem but my car broke down shortly after getting this and my new car can't use this fob. Seller is awesome will buy from them again!

I had the misfortune of losing my keys, including the keyless entry remote that I used for my car. After checking the Internet, the pricing for this replacement is very good. There were some errors in how to program it with my car, even the Mazda dealer couldn't do it! However, I checked the Internet, found a couple of sites with the information, kept trying and finally got it programmed. Since then I haven't had any problems and it works like a dream!

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

78 LED Rechargeable Work Light

78 LED Rechargeable Work LightI really love my LED trouble light. It works great and is very light. The only issue i have is that the hooks are a little flimsy but other than that it is awsome and i am looking to buy one for my camping stuff. this one will run on only half of the lights to exten your useage time where the 100 LED light works on all of them or flashing only.

great light .... but cheap plastic hooks. lucky it has a magnet to hold it on the vehicle as the hooks don't last any time at all.

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Have this light for 2 months, now ,,its just getting --better!!

Worked super for installing a new dishwasher -under the kitchen counter.

Lots of light ... easy to use,, not much in weight, manuverable.

Used it working on the cars nice , again lots of light and

the plastic is stronger now cleans easily!

Also at night for the back yard not a spotlight, but for 150 feet -good!

Recharges nicely red light on charger turns to green when fully charged.

Buy this light ,, as its just simply -good! You will love it!

Read Best Reviews of 78 LED Rechargeable Work Light Here

I ordered two. Both worked well out of the box. Came pre-charged. Gives an adequate but not brilliant light. Good for working under a car.

Of the two, one lost most of the pixels the day after I lit it the first time. I keep my fingers crossed that the other one stays good.

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Light has excellent output and has a fairly conventional and familair shape, but the battery cannot be left plugged into tge charger, doing do will cause it to die immediately! This is a huge design flaw.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Car Remote Start with 2 LCD Remotes Long Range Security

Car Remote Start with 2 LCD Remotes Long Range Security
  • 2-way FM technology over 5000FT Range
  • Two high quality multi-color remote controls
  • Includes remote start operation with timer and engine temperature. Two high quality multi-color remote controls
  • For Both Manual and Auto Transmission
  • Warranty void if not install by Professional Installation. This item required a professional installation

The item arrived promptly and was in an excellent condition (sent by Speed Shop). The unit has been working fine for about a month now. I installed it myself and the installation was not so complicated (if you HAVE experience and read the instructions carefully). The range of this remote starter has surpassed my expectations, although the distance might not be as the manufacturer claims. You can be two or three blocks away and still use the remote successfully. In open space it works from a much longer distance of course. The features of the unit are abundant; I only needed the remote start and keyless entry. It has the option to switch between automatic and manual transmission cars. Recently I had to relocate the antenna away from the metal body of the car because the range of operation dropped substantially. I is much better now and I hope it stays like so. The remotes that come with the system are very nice. However, they look very vulnerable. They should be protected by a case or something because if they die or get broken I don't think there would be a replacement. I have tried another system recently but it worked only when I was standing next to the car (there is no point/useless): Returned. This one is so much better; yet, only time will tell if it is really durable and reliable. I would absolutely recommend the item as well as the seller.

Update 8/9/2012

The remote starter operates inconsistently in hot weather. Especially when the engine is warm, the unit keeps starting and shutting the engine off repeatedly and keeps it on after two to three starts! However, this problem may be related to the set up of the unit (but it may not).

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i bought this alarm 3 month ago, installed it all as manual said and nothing, they said its the main brain, so they send me one i replaced and nothing... i replaced an functional car alarm for this ...... that is not working. by the way, im from peru so it cost me a lot to get it here!!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

OPTIMA BAT. D51R

OPTIMA BAT. D51RI must say that this is the very first time I've ever bought a battery on-line! Well, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Number one, they shipped it right away, and when I received it, it was fully charged and ready to go. I dropped it into my car and it worked PERFECTLY. I read about five or six battery reviews before I settled on the Optima Battery. It's superior Cold Cranking Amps, and completely sealed battery case were the selling points for me, I never have to check it. I would definitely buy this battery again!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Belkin USB Car Charger

Belkin USB Car Charger
  • Micro Auto Charger with USB port connection
  • Low profile design
  • Quick-charge USB port for fastest possible charge

This item was a complete piece of junk. It BLEW FUSES on BOTH my vehicles.

Had to pay a mechanic to diagnose the problem.

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS!

By the way, the issue was with the product NOT the seller!

The seller generously refunded my money.

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This thing blew two separate fuses within minutes. The idea is great but there is something wrong in the wiring. Definitely wouldn't get this again.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin USB Car Charger Here

I own a genuine version of this charger and bought 2 of these which was only about 3 dollars. This IS a cheap knock off, I know so because I own a real one, and the ones I got both broke instantly as soon as I plugged then into my car.

Don't waste your money on this piece of crap. Get a REAL one.

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I really like it because of style and compact......so far,no problem at all with charging very quick, noticeably .....recommend this one..

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It worked 1 or 2 times then died. The LED light comes on, but it does not deliver power to my device. It feels as thought the USB connection is loose.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Black & Decker PI500BB 500 Watt Power Inverter

Black & Decker PI500BB 500 Watt Power Inverteri use this to keep the kids gadgets going on trips over an hour or two... it has 2 wall outlet plugs that will power most anything short of a toast... and if you use the battery jumpers that come with it you can get alot more power (i havent tried those myself)

I hooked it up to my car battery under the hood using the clips. That was ok, but the battery clips seemed a little flimsy and probably won't hold up to constant use. I used it to power my sons baseball pitching machine. It didn't pop a fuse/breaker and worked great.

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Haven't had a chance to fully use this power inverter yet! Arrived in good time and it was just what I was looking for. Will know more when I put it to full use.

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Just what i needed for my trips to keep my electronics charged up when there isn't ant where else to do it

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Was delivered fast and secured. I really like this one for its design and hook up terminals at the rear which could be used both for car power outlet or battery jumper cables included. So far, its working great for me.

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

Scosche motorMOUTH Plug and Play Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit

Scosche motorMOUTH Plug and Play Bluetooth Handsfree Car KitWARNING -The item shown in the picture is NOT the one that ships. The picture represents the Scosche motorMOUTH II, item number BTAXS. The item shipped is the original Scosche motorMOUTH, item number BTAXM. If that's not the one you want, don't order. I'm going to try to return it on Monday. I'll post back with the results.

I got this to replace my auxiliary cable, so I could listen to podcasts and music from my Nexus One without having to plug my phone in every time. Unfortunately, it *only* accepts in-call sound from the Nexus One, making it useless to me (I drive a convertible; I don't care how good the product is, I just send calls to voicemail when I'm driving). Do not buy for Nexus One if you're hoping to use it for more than calls.

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If you want to listen to your music via bluetooth streaming, make sure you buy the Scosche motorMouth STEREO with the silver cap. If you do, you will be a very happy camper.

Read Best Reviews of Scosche motorMOUTH Plug and Play Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit Here

Great product. Sound is excellent no echoing. Only glitch with my radio, is that it won't automatically switch to Aux and receive incoming calls. I have to change radio to aux and then answer a call. Overall very pleased with this device for the cost. Allows me to not wear the stupid looking bluetooth device in my ear.

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I bought this on clearance for $12 at wally world a few days ago. I will tell you right now. It is worth it. The only issue i have is that you A. wind up with a ridiculous mess of cables and B. Must switch from radio to AUX Manually. A little cable management solves problem A and I don't listen to much radio these days anyway. I did have to modify this to get it to work to my liking. The casing around the mic is kind of fragile. I noticed the casing nearly splitting away from the mike with every button press to answer calls. I used a tube of super glue to reinforce the plastic tabs holding the housing together. The glue for the mounting base is also too weak. I wound up having to use the screws provided to permanently afix the mic to an optimal audio zone. The audio switching splitter is the key to this device. Without it this thing does not work. Make sure you attach the correct plug to the correct slot in the splitter. RTFM!!! I honestly couldn't be happier with this setup. It saved me from having to buy a new stereo in a junky old car. The price amazon is selling this for currently is kind of off. You could buy a bluetooth enabled stereo for $80 these days. If you do find a good deal like I did though you won't be disappointed. The device works as advertised!

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Friday, April 4, 2014

PowerDrive RPPD1000 1000-Watt DC to AC Power Inverter with USB Port and 2 AC Outlet

PowerDrive RPPD1000 1000-Watt DC to AC Power Inverter with USB Port and 2 AC OutletInstalled on 2012 Duramax LTZ. I have a built in platform that goes across the backseat floor area. This is where I installed unit. Would recommend that you use nothing smaller than a #3 wire with an inline fuse in the 80 to 100 amp range. You can get those type at the WalMart car stereo area. I use it to power large box fans, charge 36 volt batteries, dremel, jig saws. Won't power circular saw though. Couldn't have a truck without it!

I bought this because I show dogs and needed some source of power for blow drying my dogs and sometimes for these outside shows you need to have a generator or motorhome... I really didnt want to haul a noisy generator around and we dont have a motorhome or RV. I saw this on amazon and thought it was worth a try and thought it was neat that it just runs off your car battery. It worked great the first time I used it I could use my heavy duty Kool Dryer to dry my dogs and other things such as hair dryer. I learned this was worth the money and glad i got it and tried it out. Highly recommend. A lot of people at the shows thought it was pretty cool and such a neat idea! :) Great service from the seller too. Came in great condition and as described!

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I didn't expect it to run as well as it does. i reccomend it for like a small tv, blender, accesorries, etc.

Read Best Reviews of PowerDrive RPPD1000 1000-Watt DC to AC Power Inverter with USB Port and 2 AC Outlet Here

Monday, March 24, 2014

Car Charger For Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet

Car Charger For Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet
  • Compatible with 12 VDC ~ 24 VDC

Although this product seemed nice and new, it did not preform well with my Nook. When plugged into my Nook it lit up, but the screen on my nook said it was not charging. In the listing, it stated it would work with my nook but it did not. I would not and could not reccommend this for anyone trying this product until you have read the return policy from the shipper.

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It doesn't charge or run my Nook at all so it is a waste of money. My son's car charger (different company) works fine so it isn't my Nook

Read Best Reviews of Car Charger For Barnes & Noble NOOK Tablet Here

I was very disappointed with the charger because I specifically purchased it for my Nook Tablet to charge in the car when we are on a trip. It does not charge the Nook but it does charge my daughter's cellphone. I will keep it for her cellphone but again I am disappointed.

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Charger does as it says. Nice to have available power on the road when you need it. Plan to use it a lot.

I love this charger for my nook. It makes it so much easier for me when travelling. I would recommend this.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Garmin 12V Adapter Cable

Garmin 12V Adapter Cable
  • 12V Adapter Cable
  • Specifically compatible with Garmin Rino 110, 120, and 130
  • Plugs into cigarette lighter for quick, easy power
  • Conserves batteries

I don't know why amazon has this listed for the Rino 5xx series radios they require more power and use a lithium ion recharable pack to get it. This adapter is for the 1xx series radios designed around disposable batteries. YOU NEED A DIFFERENT ADAPTER FOR THE 5XX SERIES THIS IS A WASTE OF MONEY FOR THOSE RADIOS. Amazon should know better.

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Item is advertised as working with all rino series but it does not work with the rino 530

Read Best Reviews of Garmin 12V Adapter Cable Here

The item is fine. It was the wrong DC adaptor for the Garmin unit purchased. It was listed along the Garmin unit as the correct one for the unit. It was for another Garmin line of products. I'm sure it worked well on the correct product.

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It has the straight cord just like the picture, not a coiled cord as description states. Works great.

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have had this charger for Rino 130 about 2 mos. Mud, snow, ice and it performs well. No power losses & no shorts. Must have item considering short batt life on GPS's....

Thursday, February 20, 2014

BW Hard Shield Shell Cover Snap On Case for Verizon Samsung Brightside U380 + Car + Home Charger-Red

BW Hard Shield Shell Cover Snap On Case for Verizon Samsung Brightside U380 + Car + Home Charger-RedThis was a very good deal for the price. I love the new snap on case. It helps keep me from hitting the side buttons accidentally, which I was doing all the time with this being a new phone. I really like the color it is more of a burgandy than red though.

There is nothing to dislike, it is just what I wanted and expected. I would recommend it without reservation. Buy it, for the price it is well worth it.

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Arrived in short time. Color and quality are terrific. Included car charger that didn't come with phone originally and can't beat the price.

Read Best Reviews of BW Hard Shield Shell Cover Snap On Case for Verizon Samsung Brightside U380 + Car + Home Charger-Red Here

gave the case away to another friend who needed their own case. the chargers work fine. only fault i could find was that the wall charger had some sort of plastic inside of it that you could hear when you shake it. overall, it's good. :) good price too.

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I was pleased with the two chargers that came with this hard shield cover. The back cover worked well, the front cover didn't snap on all four corners but the seller was more than happy to provide a new one. The color is more maroon than red and matte finish, not shiny.

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Monday, February 10, 2014

Motorola Atrix 4G At&t Car Windshield Dash Mount Cradle Holder Kit + Micro USB Rapic Car Charger MB

Motorola Atrix 4G At&t Car Windshield Dash Mount Cradle Holder Kit + Micro USB Rapic Car Charger MB860 AndroidI'm very disappointed with this product. The holder actually grips the phone quite well, and opens reasonably easily to release the phone. The issue is the holder mounts onto the windshield mount by simply sliding down 1/16 of an inch on 4 small slots. If the unit turns at all, the holder and phone fall completely off. I won't even try to use this in my car, it falls off the arm while I'm holding it.

Update as of 10-24. Have heard back from the seller, item should lock into place. They are shipping out a replacement (testing it locally first). I will update the review once I have the replacement mount.

Final update 11-6 product does lock in you really need to force it to get it to lock. Emily Littella time 'Never Mind'

Motorola Atrix 4G At&t Car Windshield Dash Mount Cradle Holder Kit +...

It is easy to use and... break...in winter ....

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The mount is great and has great suction power to it. I used in a ~9 hour trip without problems. This thing is universal. It will work on any smartphone or small pad (I think anything less than 7").

The charger on the other hand was horrid. It worked for ~2 hours then failed. it just stopped charging. No pulling whatsoever.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola Atrix 4G At&t Car Windshield Dash Mount Cradle Holder Kit + Micro USB Rapic Car Charger MB Here

It is handy to have stuck to window. Flexible portion came loose but glue fixed it. I use charger a lot and if there is pressure on inserted part, sometimes loses contact.

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Saturday, February 1, 2014

Exide MC-31 MEGACYCLE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance Free (AGM) Marine Battery

Exide MC-31 MEGACYCLE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance Free Marine BatteryReceived this Deep Cycle battery 2 weeks ago from Amazon. The manufacture's production date was 11/2011 and the manufacture's ship date (to Amazon?) was 12/2011 so the battery was received factory fresh. It arrive with a full charge per my multi-meter at 12.8 volts. It has 840 cranking amps at 32 degrees and 700 cranking amps at 0 degrees. It is a 100 amp hour battery with a 200 minute reserve capacity.

This battery was installed in a diesel pusher motor home as the "house" battery, which is used to power the lights, heat, water pump etc. when you are not connected to utility power or running the generator.

It is heavy (at about 72 pounds) but since it is a sealed AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery we won't have to remove it every 6 months and check the water level in it as you do regular lead acid batteries.

We also use a NOCO Genius G7200 charger (also sold through Amazon) to keep it charged since it is a "smart" charger and will not over charge the battery. We no longer use the coach's built in 12 volt converter/charger to keep the batteries charged since it will over charge the batteries and shorten their life.

Even though we have only had the battery 2 weeks, I would recommend it for 3 reasons:

1. PRICE! When shopping around for a group 31 AGM battery, our local battery store (Batteries Plus) wanted $325.00 for theirs. (To be fair, their AGM battery was a hybird with 1000+ cranking amps it is across between a deep cycle battery and a starting battery.) Other places online wanted $250.00 or more and around $50.00 shipping!

2. Exide has been making batteries for over 120 years so I think they will be around to honor their 2 year replacement warranty.

3. As an AGM battery there little maintenance (Just wipe it off every now and then). I have had an AGM battery in our full size truck for 7 years with no problems to report. Our other vehicles have had to have their batteries replaces every 2 to 3 years. The heat in Texas is hard on a battery... (From now on when we replace the batteries in our vehicles, they too will be AGM batteries.)

We plan on purchasing 2 more of these batteries when our existing engine starting batteries need to be replaced in the coach.

Hope this helps someone!

I bought this battery for my travel trailer and it passed the test on a recent 10-day trip to Yellowstone park. I had plenty of power for the whole trip without having to recharge. There was not a hint of fading power on the whole trip. My previous battery, which is only a year old, did not last this long on week-long trips. I'm happy.

Added 1/13/13 I bought a motor home and no longer use this on a trailer. I am now using it as a battery for my Minn-Kota 50 lb thrust troling motor on my 2 boats. I can also hook up my fish finder to it and have plenty of power for both. It works as a back-up for the motor home though I haven't had to use it yet.

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I purchased two of the Exide MC-31 batteries from Amazon which were delivered in May, 2011. They were very well packaged and in excellent condition. After unpacking and inspecting the batteries, I was surprised to see that the manufacture date was May of 2010. The batteries had been in storage without charging for a full 12 months. The open circuit voltage indicated only about 75% charge, indicating that some plate sulphation must certainly have taken place by this time reducing the battery life and capacity. When I contacted Amazon their representative directed me to deal with the manufacturer. (Catch 22) The manufacturer did not supply the batteries to me directly and they were not actually defective (just old). I put the batteries into service and just hope their service life has not been shortened dramatically. When they were shipped to Amazon is not known, but selling lead acid batteries that are already a year old sounds like a huge oversite on Amazon's part. If you are considering the purchase of one of these batteries, I would suggest you contact Amazon first and inquire as to the date of manufacture.

Read Best Reviews of Exide MC-31 MEGACYCLE AGM-200 Sealed Maintenance Free (AGM) Marine Battery Here

I was a bit worried about ordering a battery from Amazon especially after the poor review and date problem listed below but, our travel trailer battery was dead and after checking local prices (whew!) decided to give this a try.

After reading all the reviews, opted for this one and then noticed, WarehouseDeals had one available for a few bucks less. Since batteries can't be returned in general, I figured the less spent, the less risk and opted to give it a go.

When the battery arrived, my initial reaction was "uh-oh" because it was dusty and dirty. No grease or anything but lots of dust...I think there was even a shoe-print on it! I dreaded the worst thinking this thing must have been sitting around the warehouse for ages. No so! I cleaned it off a bit and saw the date being the SAME month as shipped! Wow I can't even get batteries that new locally. In fact, I can't come anywhere near this price on this battery (or similar ones) locally...the next best price was about $100 more than what I paid.

Hooked it up to see the charge...was at 92%. Charged the remainder. Works like a charm! Couldn't be more pleased by this purchase. Great battery, great price, great delivery, very fresh! Oh it was dirty as all get-out but I saved about $100 so still very pleased!

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Not sure why the production date of the battery I got was 12 months ago .. but it was fully charged and came packaged well enough. Since it shipped for free with Prime .. I'd hate to know what it would have cost with regular shipping cost considering its weight.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Battery Tender 081-0148-25 25' Quick Disconnect Extension Cable

Battery Tender 081-0148-25 25' Quick Disconnect Extension CableThe reason for purchasing this item is obvious. The built in protective caps for the ends are a nice touch. It would be great if they would include an attached chord keeper or cable tie, as I don't need the entire 25' length most of the time. I can see no difference in effectiveness of the charger whether this extension is inserted between the charger and the leads to the battery, or not.

I use this extension to allow me to mount the Battery Maintainer on a shelf in my garage that is near a power outlet. The extension allows me to drape it in the rafters of the garage and then the connections from the battery can come down from above. Before buying this extension I had to set the battery maintainer on the radiator of my truck with its hood up and run an extension cord over for the battery maintainer to plug into. With this extension cord I can unplug the battery maintainer, disconnect the battary maintainer connections from my truck battery and drape them over to the side, shut the hood and drive away. Before it was a hastle to disconnect the battery maintainer and move it over to the side of the garage before being able to drive off. The extension is worth the money to me for that convienence.

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now i dont have to try and cover the charger outside it can stay in the garage

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This cord is just what I needed to be able to put the charger unit in a convenient place and still reach the car. It's well made and at 20 feet allows a lot of flexibility.

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I'm using this with a Black & Decker battery maintainer.

I store my collector cars during the winter and I got sick of having to charge or jump them every year. Not to mention replacing the batteries more frequently. I initially bought a style of maintainer that sat up against the battery, had short direct connections which also meant cords between the car and the wall.

Then I bought the Black & Decker maintainers. But, wouldn't you know it the leads were decent in length, but still bridging the gap between car and wall.

Then I found these extensions. Now I got the maintainers mounted on the wall, the lead and extension going up and over a truss and down to the car hood. Cool.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

NOCO HF170S Auto Shut-Off Battery Filler - 2.25 Quart

NOCO HF170S Auto Shut-Off Battery Filler - 2.25 QuartThis battery filler was just the thing I needed to make the chore of checking the water levels and adjusting them easily. No need for two hands and a funnel anymore.

A must when you have an electric golf cart that is being charged after every use. Just boil some water and keep it filled and it will aromaticity fill the batteries to the right level.

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As another reviewer noted, the spring loaded auto stop fell out and it will not go back together permanently. The product fell apart on me after the first use. The distributer replaced it; but, the replacement was broken right out of the box. The problem is that the product uses two rubber rings to retain spring loaded components of the pour spout/auto stop mechanism. In the original, the ring slipped off because of the spring pressure and the ring is too small to find, In the replacement, one of the rubber rings was broken. I had enough parts to get a working product; but, I am not optimistic about the product life. Knowing about the problem will cause me to be careful when using and I may get reasonable use for my $15. I gave the product a two star rating because the distributor responded quickly to replace the product.

Read Best Reviews of NOCO HF170S Auto Shut-Off Battery Filler - 2.25 Quart Here

The water does in fact indeed shut off upon reaching the necessary level. Makes not having to funnel water back into the remaining cells of the battery easy and a no-brainer as well for accidental overfill.

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Had this battery filler for 8 months and the spring loaded auto stop has fallen out and it will not go back together permanently. I have to reassemble it often as the tip stays in the battery holes or falls off into the golf cart chassis. Going to purchase a different brand.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

GTMax 3.5mm FM Transmitter Car Kit for Sprint HTC EVO 3D

GTMax 3.5mm FM Transmitter Car Kit for Sprint HTC EVO 3DSimply not working, and if it does the sound is very noisy and wavy, a lot of noise interferances .

great item and seller would like to get another later. Very very convient, easy to use. i would recomend to another buyer anytime.

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Can be cumbersome for use in vehicle. Overall works as intended however experienced regular feedback noise whenever smart phone switches between music tracks or movement of the attached device.

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Do not buy this item it is horrible. There is so much static and with limited station choices there isn't much you can do about finding a station that is clearly not being used. I guess the saying is true you get what you pay for.

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Works ok for the price. Can be staticie, and have to play with the wire and channel to get it to work

Sunday, July 14, 2013

SIRIUS Sportster 4 Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Kit

SIRIUS Sportster 4 Satellite Radio Receiver with Car Kit
  • Sports-specific, plug-and-play Sirius satellite radio receiver with bundled car kit
  • Decodes digital-quality signals for more than 120 music, news, and sports channels
  • Game Alert feature prompts you when favorite sports team is playing on Sirius
  • Instant replay function lets you pause, rewind, and replay 44 minutes of live radio
  • Measures 4.5 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Long story short Nice radio and programming with horrible FM modulation. Don't buy this unless you're going to wire it directly to your car's antenna or radio.

I bought this device last October to listen to college football games during long road trips. It is my first introduction to satellite radio. I've got mixed feelings about the product.

First of all, the unit was fairly easy to get working. I plugged the power and satellite antenna, turned it on, and selected an open FM station in the unit's setup menu. It's pre-tuned to a test station (national weather). I got a clear signal from the satellite just leaving the antenna resting on the dashboard. I activated it online after a couple of tries (didn't have the unit powered up the first attempt).

However, the FM transmission from the unit to my car stereo was awful, borderline un-useable. Even after choosing a completely clear FM station, turning off the car, waving the unit around until I found a sweet-spot, and crossing my fingers, there was always noticeable and very disruptive static interference. Based on what I've read, apparently the FM transmission strength for this unit way below previous models. I'm told the SP-TK2 model has a much stronger signal. I've not been able to determine whether or not that had anything to do with FCC regulations.

For my vehicle, I've overcame the FM transmitter shortcomings by connecting the unit directly to the Ai-net/Changer input on my Alpine radio and using the AUX function. This step eliminated all of the outside static interference and bypassed FM modulation completely. However, part of my attraction to this unit was the plug and play function. My friends and I have taken several road trips this year and I brought the Sirius unit with me. The cars we used did not have A/V inputs, so we had to make due with the lousy FM transmitter. We were able to fight through the static for the sports and talk radio stations, but music was un-listenable.

The unit itself is ok. It's easy to use and the screen has a lot of info. It keeps track of all the scores in sporting events, show and host for talk stations, and song/artist for music stations. It's awkward to mount though, because all of the wires plug into the back of the dock, not the bottom. You need clearance between the back of the unit and the mounting surface for these wires. My two options were to use an air conditioning vent clip or the windshield suction cup. I chose the vent because I didn't want the unit in the sunlight. At night, the unit is very bright. You can turn down the brightness of the screen, but the buttons are backlit with a piercing blue light that can't be adjusted. The rotary knob is especially bright. It looks like I have a big blue glow stick in my car at night.

The programming is pretty good. Sirius carries every NFL game, and nearly all the college football games, which is exactly what I was looking for. They also play a lot of the NBA and NHL games, but I've not paid much attention to them. They have three comedy stations, and several talk/news (including the BBC) radio and sports radio stations. On the other hand, all of their music stations do not meet my sound quality expectations. I have a decent aftermarket stereo, and the music stations sound worse than local FM. They're not terrible, but the difference between listening to a song on Sirius and on a CD is jarring. That said, they have a fair amount of genres represented. You'll hear songs on Sirius that you'll never hear on your local radio.

I've had limited customer service interaction, but it's been all bad. I chose the three month program to start off with. Sirius doesn't give you a very detailed invoice on the billing screen. It simply shows Subscription charge, Activation Fee, and Taxes. The Subscription charge on the invoice did not match what plan stated it should be, it was about $1 more. The Activation Fee was what I expected. However, Taxes came out to the 15% of the sum of Subscription plus Activation. There's not a state in the US that has a 15% sales tax rate. I called them to find out why it was so high. The lady on the phone had no idea what I was talking about. First she tried to explain why there was a charge for activation. It took quite a few minutes to get it across that my question was about the taxes, not the activation fee. Next, she tried to tell me that the tax rate was based on the Houston rate where she was located. The sales tax in Houston is 8.25%, not 15%. And besides, you are supposed to be taxed based on your local rates, not the location of the service center. After trying to get this point across (another 5 minutes) she went to speak to a manager. She came back and offered me a $15 dollar credit for the activation fee, without ever answering my question. I was tired of the conversation, so I took the credit and hung up. I'll try again to get an answer out of them when my three months are up.

All in all, the unit has sort of worked out for me. It works fine in my car, but travels poorly. I can listen to all the sports I want, but the music sound quality leaves much to be desired. It was easy to hook up, but looks silly just clipped onto my air-vent. If all of the short-comings I've described were addressed I'd be very happy with it.

**Update 12/19/2006**

Warning: The unit is dying on me less than three months after I purchased it. Sometime after around 10 minutes of use, the receiver will become locked into "acquiring signal" mode regardless of actual signal strength. Turning the unit off and then on again fixes it, sometimes. I've researched this issue online and apparently it's becoming a common problem. The recommended fix from Sirius is to either re-activate the receiver on-line or return it for a new unit. If I could, I'd knock another star off this review.

**Second Update** I eventually got SIRIUS to send me a replacement head-unit, free of charge. The second radio works just fine. However, I had to ship the original radio back to the manufacturer. A word of warning: if you ship something to Sirius, keep your tracking number. They tried to tell me that they never received my original radio and charged me for the second. I got on the phone and used the UPS website to tell them who in their warehouse signed for the package. The charge was later reversed.

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SPORTSTER 4 (SP4TK1) VS. SPORTSTER REPLAY (SPTK2)

The main difference between the Sportster 4 (sp4tk1) and the Sportster Replay (sptk2) is the sp4tk1 is slimmer and sleeker and the vehicle dock/cradle has an auxiliary input for an MP3 player or other device to transmit over the FM transmitter to your car radio. A major change is the sp4tk1 is now FCC compliant and will not emit FM transmissions as powerfully as the sptk2. While you will no longer broadcast to nearby drivers tuned to the same FM frequency as you, you are almost guaranteed to have major interference on your radio. Thus, it is critical that you install an FM modulator relay switch with the sp4tk1, unless your radio has an auxiliary input and you do not plan on listening to AM or FM radio. The sp4tk1 car dock now wires directly to its back. Thus, it will not lay flat against a surface without some modification to your dashboard for a clean look. The sp4tk1 now operates on 5 volts versus 12 V for the sptk2. Thus, it does not heat up like older Sirius receivers have been notorious for. The sp4tk1 is not compatible with the old sptk2 cradles or boom box. The sp4tk1 has fewer buttons also. There are no loss of functions as some buttons are now dual use or multifunctional. This is my first experience with satellite radio so I cannot be certain about my comparisons between receivers. Apparently, the old Starmates (st2) could only tune their FM transmitters to about 30 FM frequencies. The sptk2 could broadcast to 100 frequencies. I believe the sp4tk1 is the same as the sptk2 in this respect. It has been claimed the new sp4tk1 cannot tune below 88.1 FM but I believe 87.9 and 87.7 are the only stations available below 88.1. Also, the sp4tk1 can save up to 30 song titles, artist names, or sports teams. This memory is saved even after powering off the units. I'm not sure if this is an upgrade over the sptk2. I believe it is the same as the sptk2 in this regard.

FACT OR FICTION?

It has been rumored that all the new Sportsters, Streamers, and Starmates (st2) will be compatible and interchangeable with each other's vehicle and home docks. Some web sites are claiming the Sportster 4 (sp4tk1) has a built in FM modulator relay switch. This is not true. There are also rumors that there will be a Sportster 3 that will not have the replay function. Thus, it will be cheaper than the sp4tk1, which does have the replay option. The sp4tk1 stays true to the old replay receivers by deleting the 44 minutes of stored audio when you change the channel, turn it off, or turn off your car. There may also be a Sportster 2 which will have an amber display screen which will also be less expensive but this is doubtful. The sp4tk1 is only available in the blue black display screen. It is also suspected that the sp4tk1 has some new unique interior software that enables some new function or compatibility with some as yet unknown device or technology. This would persuade long time Sirius subscribers to purchase new receivers or perhaps for those of us with the sp4tk1 to buy some new secondary device with our hard earned cash. Perhaps as Sirius releases sp4tk1 accessories and other new receivers this will become apparent. Some people say the new "chip set" may allow the new receivers to pick up more stations like some new Canadian stations currently. This may be due to differences in broadband bandwidth signals or bit rates. Another possible software update may be the designation of Howard 100 and 101 in their own category. As of this posting, the sp4tk1 is only in limited release with no accessories available. Sirius has not begun an aggressive ad campaign touting the sp4tk1's bells and whistles.

WISHFUL THINKING

The Sportster 4 (sp4tk1) is still a true plug and play (PNP) device versus the old starmates (st2) which were not true PNP because they wired to the docks. However, the receiver remains a tight fit to the dock. It would be wonderful if it docked and undocked as smoothly as an anti-theft car stereo detachable face plate. The geniuses that designed this unit couldn't have made it anymore awkward if they had tried. It is a tight fit to the dock and there is no place to grip the receiver to easily undock it. It requires two hands. One to grip the receiver and the other to grip the dock. The home dock (suph1) is currently unreleased as of this posting. The old st2 home dock had a line out for direct connection to your home stereo or PC to avoid having to use the FM transmitter mode, which is susceptible to interference by local FM radio stations. The sptk2 home dock only allowed FM transmission. It is hoped the suph1 will have the line out option. The sp4tk1 uses the dot ultra low profile antennae which is notorious for weather corrosion, or just defective units, after 5 months with the Sportster Replay (sptk2). It is hoped Sirius has corrected this problem but it seems unlikely as they probably have tons of these things in inventory. All of Sirius' old receivers are notorious for push button burn outs and just plain defective radios. If this is attributed to the high operating temperature of the old units, perhaps the lower 5 V vs. 12 V operating voltage will reduce these problems. The sp4tk1 should come with a hard case for transport to protect its liquid crystal display (LCD). Ever pressed too hard on your watch or calculator's screen? A PNP device should be expected to be carried in backpacks and purses between cars and houses and it is almost an "absolute metaphysical certitude" that it will be dropped, crushed, or cracked.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Sirius is notorious for poor customer service. Sirius subscribers should be aware of the tinny sound of talk radio due to signal wavelength compression broadcast by the orbiting satellites and received and converted to FM by your receiver. If it is digital "CD quality" sound, it is digital "CD quality" sound of people with really tinny voices. Sirius does cut out under bridges, tunnels, and the rare tree when you are out of the line of sight of the satellites in outer space. If you are near a ground based repeater signal relay/amplifier station, you may have slightly better luck, but this is rare. Your receiver is activated when you subscribe by phone or go online and provide your receiver's unique serial identification (SID) number. Sirius then briefly emits a signal for about an hour over it's satellites that will "unlock" your specific receiver. You must pay an "activation fee" to accomplish this. Sirius will continue to charge your credit card even after your subscription ends along with "subscription fees," unless you specifically "unsubscribe." If your receiver is stolen and you notify Sirius, they will de-activate your receiver for two months. After 2 months, the thief can subscribe using your receiver and unique SID. Thus, Sirius condones a black market of stolen receivers due to their policies of corporate greed and unethical business practices. If you end your subscription or stop paying, it is highly speculative how Sirius deactivates your receiver. It is thought that they broadcast a continuous deactivation signal that is specific to your receiver's SID for 2 months, probably the same if your unit is stolen. It is also speculated that every month a continuous universal signal is broadcast that upgrades the encryption codes (or signal converter code or signal decryption key) to all receivers everywhere. If you miss two upgrades in a row over two months, your receiver is no longer able to convert the signal. If you were simply out of town, when you call Sirius to complain they will check your account status and confirm your payment history is current and briefly broadcast a new activation code specific to your receivers SID for one hour. If you are a thief, they will ask you to subscribe. Thus, if you are a thief or are late with a payment, they will broadcast a specific deactivation code to your receiver's SID for two months. If you try to tune in illegally inside these two months your receiver will be deactivated. If you avoid this deactivation signal for two months, you have missed the last two universal signal conversion updates and your receiver can no longer decode the signal. This is all highly speculative. It is thought that Sirius keeps this aspect secret to avoid individuals from tuning in illegally with pirate receivers much like is done in the cable television industry. It is only a matter of time before industrial Americans with the right know how begin producing pirate units, if they haven't already. Another word of advice concerns the "lifetime" subscription. It is only valid for 4 progressive receivers. The first at purchase price plus a $15 activation fee, the next 3 at purchase price plus $75 "subscription transfer" fees. If you are lucky enough to get four defective receivers in a row, your "lifetime" subscription is terminated. You may upgrade from your original receiver three times, but for the fifth receiver you would have to begin a "new" subscription plan. It would also be wise to purchase an extended warranty plan beyond Sirius' 1 year warranty which does not cover the antennae.

MY INSTALLATION

I own a '91 Chevy S10 pickup with no moon roof or rear window cargo access. I used a professional installation service for $80. The magnetic antennae is very susceptible to vandalism. My antennae is centered on the roof of my truck's cab next to the windshield. The adhesive wire cover included with the receiver was unusable as it is straight and my truck cab slopes down to the windshield. Even the magnetic antennae does not sit flush on this curve. The rubber molding around my windshield is rock hard from 15 years of sun rot and it was a risky venture getting the antennae wire inside it. There is a Sirius mounting bracket available from Pro Fit International made for the '87 to '93 S10. However, I had some blanks in my dash above the lighting controls and had my sp4tk1 mounted there. Of course, I also purchased the FM modulator relay switch. Also, the sp4tk1 docks in a straight down motion and undocks straight up. Thus, you need a half inch clearance directly above the dock. There is also a lock/unlock sliding knob and notch behind the right side of the dock that locks the sp4tk1 in the cradle. Thus, you need a space for your finger behind the dock and to the right for your finger if you desire to use this feature. I also had it hard wired to my truck to avoid using the cigarette lighter power adaptor.

CONCLUSION

The Sportster 4 (sp4tk1) is a slight improvement over the Sportster Replay (sptk2). The sp4tk1 is slimmer, sleeker, operates at a lower temperature, and has an auxiliary input in the dock. However, it's FM broadcaster is much weaker than the old receivers. It is practically a necessity to buy and install an FM modulator relay switch and Sirius really should include one in the vehicle installation kit, but they don't. I have been on the fence about Sirius for 7 months. I have been without Howard Stern and Ba ba booey from Jan '06 to July '06. With the resolution of the CBS lawsuit and Howard now being in possession of his past 20 years of shows, interviews, and sound clips now unedited I have finally been convinced to jump in the satellite game despite all it's shortcomings. If that doesn't validate the "Stern Effect," I don't know what does. Sportster 4?...nah. How 'bout the Sternster 4? But, he would never sell out like that. After 7 months without Stern, it was good to hear their voices again. FIRE!

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Eager to get it, I finally ordered the new Sportster 4 online. It didn't take long for me to be profoundly disappointed in the unit.

The problem is with the Sportster's FM converter: It's essentially worthless. I was unable to find a single frequency that wasn't subject to some sort of interference. Even the frequencies I use with the Starmate Replay were picking up static and/or bursts of music from elsewhere. In fact, at the lower end of the FM spectrum (the 88's and 89's) I got nothing. Zip. Nada. Even on the completely blank frequencies there was just nothing there. Finally around the 90.1 range you would be able to make out whichever channel you were trying to listen to. The upper frequencies were "listenable," provided you were willing to put up with the interference.

I finally decided to hook up the old Starmate again and put the units through a head-to-head competition. I set both receivers to the same FM frequency and the Starmate consistently overpowered the FM transmitter from the Sportster. I've actually tried the same experiment before, between the Starmate and an XM unit, and the result should be one signal or another getting through, but with a lot of interference. The bottom line is that the Sportster's FM converter is weak almost to the point of being non-existent.

I don't know what effect using a direct connect FM modulator would have on this shortcoming.

The second problem is that the power and antenna cables connect directly to the back of the cradle, NOT the sides. The end result is that the back of the radio is no longer a smooth surface, and you can no longer simply velcro the unit to the dashboard. It does come with that annoying standard-issue suction cup mount or a vent mount. I'm not a big fan of either mounting method, however.

On the plus side: If you are able to playback with either a cassette adapter or a direct connect cable, you will like the Sportster 4. It's a beautifully sleek looking unit and the various controls are laid out well. The blue backlight is just a bit weak during the day, but unobtrusive at night.

Buying additional cradles--whether for the house or other cars--makes moving the radio from one location to another a snap since you don't have to deal with connecting and disconnecting various cables.

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Does what it says... Howard Stern comes in nice and clear now! :-)

I agree that the FM transmitter is a bit weak. Of course, using the FM transmitter has other problems as well since you need to keep finding channels that don't get any interference as you drive around. Solution? Do yourself a favor... if your car does not have an AUX IN port (obviously it does not if you are using the FM transmitter feature)... USE AN FM MODULATOR. I purchased a wired FM modulator, a GLI (ground loop interrupt) and the required cables (including some special antenna adaptor cables for a Subaru) for about $75. I spent about 3 hours installing it... an now I have a mini-jack connection to my radio... no more interference from any radio station... crystal clear connection... and the bonus is that I can plug my iPod into it as well!

Google up "scoshe FM modulator" and you will get the idea.

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Whe they say in the description, "includes a built-in FM transmitter that sends Sirius radio programming to your vehicle's FM tuner, so you don't have to make a direct connection to enjoy the full array of channels." This is not true. You must attached the included wire (FM EXTENDER) to your windshield to help broadcast the FM signal to your antenna. Then you will get a signal so weak, that at times, it is un-listenable. They also say, "This function also works with other FM tuners, such as the one on your home stereo," Not True! there is no signal to speak of without the FM extender (antenna) wire that comes with the car kit.

If you want to use this with your radio you must BUY an additional adapter for $20+ to wire the unit to your cars anntenna system directly or hook the unit up directly to your Audio inputs.

This should not be advertised as wireless FM it takes wires hooked to the unit and run through your vehicle. Either the FM extender (A broadcast antenna) included, or adition products to purchase.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

KnuKonceptz Triple 1/0 Gauge Positive Battery Terminal

KnuKonceptz Triple 1/0 Gauge Positive Battery Terminal
  • Three 0 Gauge inputs per terminal - Optional 4 Gauge fitting included
  • Kompression Fittings provide superior connection
  • Black Chrome Plated Positive Terminal
  • Polarity indicator on the terminal and cover

These terminals work great for a big 3 upgrade and that's why I got them. They are easy to install and I haven't had a problem with them. Using them on a Kinetik HC1800 under my hood.

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This is an awesome product. The fitting attachment allow for a very snug and secure connection. The fittings allow it to look clean too. I like the clear, plastic cover for it to prevent an accidental short circuit when I work on my vehicle.

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what more can you say. it's perfect for the big 3 upgrade. great price cheaper then on ebay or KunKonceptz.com

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This came in handy while doing the big three install. One to the batterey second one to the starter, third to my fuse holder.