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

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Wireless Fm Transmitter + Car Charger for Mp3/ipod

Wireless Fm Transmitter + Car Charger for Mp3/ipod
  • Car mp3 transmiter X 1
  • Car Charger X 1
  • This unit can also operate with AA battery alone.
  • This FM Transmitter is the perfect way to get sound from your iPod, PDA, MP3 into your car.
  • Frequency Channel : 106.7MHz, 107.1MHz, 107.5MHz & 107.9MHz

There are several comments about static. You can remove the static by turning the volume on high on the mp3, and adjusting the radio volume. This immediately removes the static.

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It worked first time for me. Looks like some people have had trouble. It worked on the channel like it came set -the lowest one (107.6?). If I wiggle the plug into the headphone jack, I get static -so I stopped wiggling. I have a 1-ton, 4WD truck with a stiff suspension and I've yet to hit a bump that causes the static.

Sound is clear and good quality. The thing is only about 2.5" long so it fits anywhere. 12V adapter is great & no replacing batteries (2) AAA's. If you don't want the power cord, it unplugs from the transmitter.

It seems that a dozen sellers market this thing under different names. It's so much cheaper than the others that it's worth a try, even if you decide you'd rather pay more for high-end unit. The expensive ones probably use the same electronics in a bigger box. ;")

Read Best Reviews of Wireless Fm Transmitter + Car Charger for Mp3/ipod Here

I received the transmitter yesterday. Here is what I learned:

1. You need to have batteries in the device to let it transmit. If you just use the supplied car adapter, you get nothing.

2. Be very careful turning the power on. Apparently, I pressed too hard and now the button is stuck in the on position. I'll be getting a screwdriver out to open up the unit and see why it is permanently on.

3. Be careful how hard you pressed the power when turning it on. The transmitted sound comes with a lot of static if you pressed to hard.

4. Sound quality is poor. I expected some reduced quality from the unit to my speakers, but the filtering just seemed like too much.

I am glad this only cost me $5.53 including shipping. I figured that if I had a bad experience, I could warn others and then drop $40 on a decent unit. If it worked, I would have saved about $25. I took the risk and lost. I've ordered the MBL-FM XMTR300 (Monster RadioPlay 300 Universal Full Spectrum FM Transmitter for $38.13).

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I've owned a similar item, the only difference was that it operated on 88.1 to 88.9 which worked great almost everywhere, but ended up short circuiting and I would struggle to receive a signal, so I decided to purchase this item. I plugged it in and it works great in Eastern Idaho, but I drove to SLC and attempted to use this item and all I received was static or feedback from other stations. I recommend this item if you live in a rural area that doesn't use 106.? as a radio frequency.

Very impressed by the quality of this device, considering the low price. Some times you have to position it a certain way to get the best quality sound without static, but not a big deal. I purchased an additional one for my son, and he loves it.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Rally 7633 Marine Grade 20 Amp Quick Battery Charger and Maintainer with Microprocessor

Rally 7633 Marine Grade 20 Amp Quick Battery Charger and Maintainer with MicroprocessorSo easy to set up! Its light & the cables store in the back so no dragging wires to catch on whatever! It recognizes the type of Battery & away goes the charging & its very quick! I would recommend this charger to everyone!

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

2003-2007 Nissan Murano Keyless Entry Remote Key Fob w/ Free DIY Programming Instructions

2003-2007 Nissan Murano Keyless Entry Remote Key Fob w/ Free DIY Programming InstructionsI order this key fob as I was down to one and needed an extra fob. The instructions that came with it were easy to understand and it works perfectly.

I purchased this product when my keyless entry broke and the dealership quoted me over $175 to replace and program. I ordered it on a Sunday night and recieved it by Thursday when I got off work. It was super easy to program, my boyfriend had it done in less than 5 minutes. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a keyles entry. I have actually already ordered a back up and waiting on it to come in!!! Thanks!!!

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I received my control in 3 days ...GREAT....Easy to program with the included instructions...took approx.. 15 seconds...Great quality and fast service...keep it that way....definitely 5 stars....

Read Best Reviews of 2003-2007 Nissan Murano Keyless Entry Remote Key Fob w/ Free DIY Programming Instructions Here

The setup was a little tricky. Other than that it is everything it was advertised to be. Works great for hundreds of dollars than what the dealership quoted for 2 fobs.

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I followed the instructions to program my remote and it did not work, called the 1800 number and I did not get thru.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Schumacher SE-8050 Manual Charger With Tester

Schumacher SE-8050 Manual Charger With Testergreat product. mine got banged up bad. i blame shipping. gonna suck it up. dont want to return a 50 lb product.

If I could do it all over again I would have not bought this battery charger. I mainly bought it for the high amperage boost application to start vehicles with weak or dead batteries. What I found is that the machine cranks up the voltage on the 300 amperage settings to alarming levels. I noticed this when my Mid 70's Pontiac Volt gauge got pinned during a boosted start. Turns out 30amp and 60 amp is enough for most starts anyway and the voltage is not crazy at these levels. I also wish I would have bought a automatic charger instead of having to baby sit this thing. It asks for using a hydrometer for calculating charge times(good luck with a sealed battery). I ended up buying a cheapo automatic Menards charger to compliment this charger. The battery load test/charge test seems to work ok. Only two stars from me. Please rate this review if it was helpful.

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I bought this battery charger mainly to take with me on camping and RV trips. I have A 6.0 Ltr. diesel that I use as a towing vehicle. and I thought with this 300 amp boost I could jump start my pickup if ever I needed to. And yes while out on a trip, my pickup wouldn't stat one very cold morning. ( Low Batteries )I hooked up the charger to my batteries,pluged into the campground current, put it on boost and she started right up. I keep it in my RV now.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SE-8050 Manual Charger With Tester Here

It' came out of the box damaged because it so heavy the bottom has a bulge in it. The end caps for the wheels were missing and had to go to home depot for the parts. Once assembled, it looks fine. I've not had the chance to use it yet so I just hope it works. I just hope the company will stand behind the product if it fails to charge or operate as intended. They need to find a better packaging system to protect their product for transport.

Regards,

Tim Terlecky

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This is just a replacement, probably never have to use it on a car but its good to have in any case.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone

Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone
  • Hands-free Calling - Bluetooth connects your phone and car kit so you can make and answer calls safely while driving. Hands-free calling uses the car kit speakers and microphone. And it works even if your phone's not docked.
  • Extendable microphone - Clip the extendable microphone to the sun visor in your car to bring it closer. With less background noise, your conversations will be even clearer.
  • Sound Boost - A built-in 2 watt speaker brings quality audio to your car. Hear hands-free calls and navigation instructions loud and clear with Sound Boost.
  • Easy-reach answer and reject buttons - The easy-reach answer and reject buttons work even when your phone is not docked. On short journeys where you don't need navigation, you can answer or reject calls with your phone in your pocket.
  • Voice menu and spoken instructions - Connect your phone easily using the voice menu that gives you spoken instructions on how to pair a phone. The spoken instructions take you through step-by-step and give feedback such as 'phone connected'.

Using iPhone 4 with slider case. 30 pin connector built into case.

Pros.

-Blu tooth works great. Once you pair your phone it remembers pairing. Starting car without phone in dock you immediately get a voice prompt telling your phone is connected.

-It remembers volume setting. Doesn't revert back to middle volume but stays at set level.

-you don't have to remove case to use dock. 30 pin connector tilts forward place phone on connector tilt it back and it locks in place. To remove phone just push top holding arm back and tilt phone forward to remove.

-fast charges your phone while you are using it.

-built in 2watt speaker should be plenty in a car. (I have a pick up truck that doesn't filter out noise very well so have to turn speaker on full)

NO MORE removing phone from case!!!!!

Cons

-no GPS chip built in, my old tomtom does. Only useful if you have apps that could use the chip.

-bigger than old dock, but this is to accommodate telescoping top arm (locks phone in place)

-old dock suction cup smaller and closed flatter for transportation.

-default position for microphone on right hand side, as driver it would make more sense to have it on left side closer to driver when mounted towards middle of windshield or dash. (Mic can be clipped to visor but then you have another wire in the way.

-old tomtom dock had audio out port on side built in to run wire to cars aux port in. You could just leave it plugged in 24/7 no need to remove it.

This unit does not you must plug audio cable into headphone jack on phone. You must insert and remove it each time.

Overall a nice dock. Mount turns to hold phone vertical or horizontal. Since it locks top and bottom in place should work with any apple 30 pin device like I touch. With blue tooth you don't need phone in holder to use speaker.

This review for 30 pin connector they have a version for the new iPhone / I touch.

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Great product. Works with both of our iphones (3 and 4). Charges phones super fast and was easy to use and figure out. Fast shipping.

Read Best Reviews of Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone Here

man, i have the white ones already and love them. so i wanted to get this shoe and the red pair also. get them if you have wide feet or achie feet. they work will with all types!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer

Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge MaintainerAfter having the battery on my "summer only" convertible go

flat last winter I decided to invest in a battery maintainer.

The Schumacher SEM-1652A was the best compromise of price (around

$40 with shipping), features (a normal charging rate, and a

lower maintaining rate, with overcharge protection and indicator

lights), and small size (fits easily under the hood by the

master cylinder, battery wiring adaptor with quick connect makes installation and removal a snap.

I'd add a few extra crimp-on terminals of various ring sizes to the kit,

so different power connections with the wiring adaptor could be made

(my car has the battery mounted in the front fender well, I had to get

larger ring terminals to go on the remote jump starting terminals

under the hood.

Update: I bought a wattmeter to measure the power use of a fridge ( seemed to be running more than

normal, we replaced it with an energy star rated model ) so I hooked up the Schumacher maintainer

to the meter to see what it drew when it was trickle charging / maintaining. Charging was .25 amps or about

30 watts per hour, and maintaining was .11 amps or about 13 watts per hour. Pretty low energy use in my book.

This is a great charger but the same company (schumacher's battery maintainer), makes an identical product for sears, branded as diehard.

It costs the same as on amazon but comes with a 3 year warranty, not the standard 1 yr. warranty found here. Plus you don't have to deal with shipping hassles when you can just go to your local sears and pick one up or exchange if you have problems.

Buy Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer Now

Bought this charger to charge/maintain my deep cycle battery used for emergency power outages. The manual included with this charger even describes it charging deep cycle batteries and gives a charging estimate of ~36hrs. Fine for what I'm looking for. The charger repeatedly aborted the charge on my brand-new battery. Their customer service tech said it wasn't meant to charge deep cycle batteries due to the higher internal resistance. This should have been made more clear in the packaging, labelling and product description. I've lost time and money. Now I have to go buy a 'real' charger...

Update The charger was actually DOA. I returned it and replaced the charger with a new one on an auto-shop recommendation. It is working fine. Schumacher didn't want to own up to a bum charger when I called them earlier.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer Here

Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer

Well worth the price...does exactly what it is suppose to do.

(Update) After using this charger less than 5 mos. to maintain my R.V., which is seldom driven, I have found that, because of the charger failing to cycle back to the charge mode properly, the battery that it was hooked to was stone dead. Now, I'll do some research to find out the annoying process of returning the charger for warranty.

(Update) I have contacted the manufacturer, Schumacher, concerning the failure of this charger but after 3 weeks, have received no response and it doesn't look like I am going to. So, I guess I'll just take the loss of making a bad choice and trash it. BTW, I am using two Chicago Electric on Board chargers, one on my Jeep and the other on my Mercury Sable. Both are giving very good service and are less expensive than the Schumacher or the Battery Tender.

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Very good item for charging and maintaining batteries. Have used on my motorcycle and car batteries, as well as my lawn mower battery. Works well and actually tells you when the battery is fully charged, which is one of the best features of this charger

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Monday, June 30, 2014

Pocketalker Ultra with Neckloop

Pocketalker Ultra with Neckloop
  • PockeTalker Ultra w/ microphone 12 ft TV listening cord PockeTalker Ultra Neckloop (LHS-NKL001) Users Guide 5 year manufacturer warranty
  • 20-40 dB acoustic gain. Compatible with neckloops for telecoil equipped BTEs External volume & tone controls Removable microphone with extension cord Removable integrated belt clip 2 ft. TV listening cord Up to 100-hours of battery life Operates on two AAA batteries 5 year manufacturer warranty

My friend uses it to watch TV without cc turned on and the volume turned up so no one else can stay in the room; iIn the car to hear what the driver is saying; at the restaurant to hear what the people next to her are saying.

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I was disappointed in that the packaged did not include the dual ear mini buds. I had to buy them separately and they appear to be cheaply made.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

DLO AutoPod Car Charger for iPod (Black)

DLO AutoPod Car Charger for iPod
  • Color-coded, intelligent car charger designed for dock-connecting iPods
  • Glows red when power's on, amber while charging, and green when finished
  • Velcro tabs for convenient dashboard placement; replaceable safety fuse
  • Plugs into vehicle's cigarette lighter or other 12-volt power outlet
  • 24-inch coiled cable with 5 foot total length; 1-year warranty

The charger works great. It charges quickly and when it's done it changes to green. The only problem with it is that if you play the unit while charging you get a buzz in the background. With the twenty hour battery life of the Nano It's not that big a deal. I just plug the Ipod in while I am away from the car, and unplug it for playback

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I purchased this charger with the TuneStick so I could play my ipod in the car and keep it charged up for long trips. When I drive it is often at least 2-3 hours away. This charger has worked perfectly for 2 years using it at least every other week for 2-3 hours at a time. Finally died last weekend so now I'm back for another. I feel I got my money's worth.

Read Best Reviews of DLO AutoPod Car Charger for iPod (Black) Here

I needed a car charger for my iPods. The choice seemed to be between cheap and untrustworthy, and overpriced. This DLO model was the best compromise I could find. With just enough features to justify the $15 price.

I have been using it for about a month now, including one 900 mile car trip, and it does exactly what it is supposed to do. The LED feature is actually helpful, and I am glad I chose this charger.

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I seem to have the opposite experience as the previous reviewer. This "charger" does not seem to charge my iPod Mini much at all. No matter how low the battery is, the indicator light on the charger almost always glows green when it is connected. I rarely ever see the amber color that indicates charging. The iPod will often lose power soon after removing it from this charger. This does not happen when I use the wall adapter to charge it.

But as for playing the iPod while it is plugged in the car, I have had no problems at all. The main reason I own this is to play the iPod in the car, and it works just fine for that.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Exide 78DTXCD Orbital Sealed Maintenance-Free Deep-Cycle AGM Automotive Battery

Exide 78DTXCD Orbital Sealed Maintenance-Free Deep-Cycle AGM Automotive BatteryNoteworthy is the obvious abuse of the quality packaging of this battery during shipping by the Teamsters monkeys and apes "working" for UPS. Despite the appearance of the outer packaging as though being dragged behind a UPS truck and thrown around, again in appearance because I was not actually there, the inner packaging had mitigated the fall of the battery and the battery appears fine.

Soon this battery is going to replace the sad battery currently in my car after several more higher priority projects. Since January of 2013 it has been sitting on my NAPA 1.5 AMP onboard battery charger / maintainer 85-300A manufactured by Schumacher Electric 0899003933-1 and staying at 13.0 volts according to my multimeter. Because it has been constantly connected to my maintainer and very rarely triggers a charge cycle, I'm confident this battery will work better for me once I install my Marinco onboard charger inlet plug 150BBI. I plan to update this review after I install everything.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 1998 Ford Escort With Do-It-Yourself Programming

Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 1998 Ford Escort With Do-It-Yourself ProgrammingMy worn out key fob battery died, so while searching for a new battery, I found this. At just about three times the price of the battery, you can have a new key fob. It shipped fast and came with instructions on how to match it up to your car. This would have cost $50 at the dealer. So worth it. It's been working beautifully for just over a year.

This is a great product. Cheap and easy to program. Figured I'd have to go through a lot more to get ahold of a new one. The old one comes in handy in case you lock your keys in your car. Haha works great and I recommend it to others.

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I Purchased this item to replace my old defective remote. Programing of the remote was very easy and have no complaints.

Read Best Reviews of Keyless Entry Remote Fob Clicker for 1998 Ford Escort With Do-It-Yourself Programming Here

I had lost the fob that came with my 1998 Ford & went to the local dealer to replace it. Not only did they want $65.00 per fob, but they also refused to sell it to me unless I paid them an additional $90.00 to program it for me. I knew from past experience that I could program it myself in less than 2 minutes & could not find it cost effective to pay an hour's labor to complete a task that I could do myself. Plus I wanted to upgrade to 4 fobs which was going to be an expensive purchase. So, I turned to my "go to" Amazon & did a search. I was THRILLED with the price of these fobs as I could buy 4 & program them myself for 75% less than the local dealership was trying to hold me hostage for. I ordered, received, & had them programmed in less than a week. They arrived with specific, easy to comprehend instructions. I feel it is safe to say that even if I hadn't known how to program them, I could have still read the instructions, had them programmed, & ready to go in less than 5 minutes. I've told ALL my friends about this buy & I know of 2 that have ordered for their car & had the same experience I did with this product!!!

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Saved a ton of money by purchasing this unit. Within 2 minutes of opening the package I had it programmed and working perfectly on the first try. I was concerned that programming would be difficult or require a few attempts to get it right but that was not the case. This is an excellent, affordable, replacement unit I would recommend to anyone.

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Brunton New SOLARIS i6 Foldable iPod Solar Charger

Brunton New SOLARIS i6 Foldable iPod Solar Charger
  • 6-watt solar panel charger designed for iPods and other electronics
  • Foldable CIGS solar panel with direct-connect iPod power cable
  • Vehicle outlet cable plugs into car's 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter
  • Links with other panels for increased power output; handy storage sack
  • Measures 29 by 9 inches and weighs 7.1 ounces; one-year warranty

First off, I live in Sacramento, CA. So it's not the sunniest location, but still pretty dang sunny.

I purchased the Solaris i6 with the intention to be able to charge any of the following: Ipod Video, Ipod Shuffle, Treo Smartphone, Garmin GPS, Bluetooth headset, & AA or AAA batteries. Usage would be mainly around the house, but I am an outdoor enthusiast that would disappear into backcountry whenever possible taking my trusty Ipod as my only real tie to civilization. Therefore, portability, simplicity & durability would be paramount for my outings.

At first tests, the Solaris was TECHNICALLY capable of charging everything EXCEPT the Ipod Video. The shuffle, phone, GPS & Bluetooth were fabulous no problems there. The AA & AAA batteries were close to impossible. Majority of chargers out there are just not able to work with the current that's created from these panels. I did find a charger that could, however the limit was a single battery at a time! If 2 batteries were placed in the charger, the lights would flicker a little -but charge. The SECOND a cloud, haze, or anything (possibly even a ladybug!) passed over the sun, the threshold was broken & the battery charger would flash "error." Unfortunately, the charger would either sit there flashing error (& no longer charging) until I came back later thinking my batteries are charged, or I would have to reset the charger by either removing the batteries & re-inserting (or unplugging & re-plugging the charger to the solar panels). So... technically, there probably is a charger out there that can work off of the current that the i6 produces, but in my experience -I'm as close to finding that charger as I am to finding a cure for Mad Cow Disease. So, expect the stated "3-4 hrs to charge 4 AA batteries" to actually read, "3-4 hrs PER AA battery." As for the Ipod... IMPOSSIBLE as well using the provided Ipod cable. I figured I had a defective Ipod cable -as the terminal contacts were too small for me to test with my voltage meter. Concluding so, I exchanged the Solaris for another one hoping that the Ipod issue would be resolved. Well, the problem was not resolved.

I can only conclude 1 of 2 conclusions, either: 1) I have terrible luck, & got 2 units with defective cables, or 2) the i6 is not capable of creating enough juice to charge the Ipod Video (at least in my 95 degrees, full-sun early September conditions here in Northern CA). I'm assuming scenario #2. That said, I think it's terrible to tout a product specifically for the Ipod -yet it can't deliver. As a manufacturer, I'd have tested the product against available generations of Ipods that use the connection that you are providing. There is no disclaimer (except that the lighting conditions may vary from our test type deal, etc.), so it really is disappointing. If you have a USB car adapter however, you can use this with the normal Ipod USB cable & the Brunton provided Female Cig adapter. This WILL charge the Ipod -but you now have to use 3 items vs. the 1 Brunton Ipod cable. For some this may be insignificant, but for me -this feels a little jacked-up when you consider the Ipod cable is about $10... which means some of my purchase price is completely wasted. Not to mention the fact that I now have to carry more bulk when outdoors.

So bottom-line, this product is capable of charging an Ipod -as well as a good majority of SMALL electronics. UN-intentional deception aside, I like the Solaris for what it is capable of delivering in such a portable package. I will however grade them hard, as I believe in delivering on a promise or claim.

On a side note, I am impressed with the Solaris line to the point that I am currently contemplating purchasing the 26 as well for larger electronics (digital SLR batteries & portable DVD players), for longer comfortable basecamps away from power.

One last point to consider... if you are purchasing these units SOLELY for emergency power (cell phones), you might want to consider the 12 or 26 watt Solaris instead. The 6 watts work beautifully under sunny conditions, & at about 25%-50% under light to moderate overcast conditions (but still enough to activate my phone charger). I would doubt though that enough current would be produced under heavier overcast (conditions typically associated with emergency situations) to initiate charging for most cell phones. For those of you thinking, "it's for situations like car trouble on a sunny day (not natural disasters)," let's face it, why would you need something as expensive as solar?... why not go with something like an extra battery... easier & cheaper to buy & carry. With a larger Solaris, there is a greater chance that the panels will collect enough energy to trigger your chargers, as a 10-15% output from the 26 would be most likely enough to activate charging. Just something to think about...

Buy Brunton New SOLARIS i6 Foldable iPod Solar Charger Now

I really thought that this was exactly what I have been looking for...but it is not. If you are looking for a solar energy source for charging your iPod or newer cellular phone, look somewhere else. I own several Brunton products, and I've never had a problem with them before. Even though the specifications listed claim to be able to charge an iPod, it actually takes TWO or even THREE of these very expensive panels linked together to charge an iPod touch or iPhone. It took two Brunton i6 panels linked together to charge an iPod 3G nano, 80GB video iPod, and my Samsung Instinct even in direct sunlight. Although this item even lists "iPod" specifically in its name, I would have to recommend the Brunton 12-watt or even 26-watt solar panels to do the job. The i6 *may* have enough power to charge some of the much older iPods, such as the 1G and 2G nano, but I do not have any old iPods to test.

Read Best Reviews of Brunton New SOLARIS i6 Foldable iPod Solar Charger Here

I use this to charge my iPhone. It works. It won't charge the battery while the phone is on but it seems maintain the level. I don't see this as an issue because I use this where there is no cell service, and no power I'm just using the phone as an iPod at this point. The sun is bright where I am in the west. Mine came without the storage sack and I emailed Brunton. They got back to me quickly and mailed me one. I give it four stars as the instruction book doesn't mention it working with an iPhone I just had to take a chance.

It does come with an array of cables: cigarette lighter socket, battery clamps, and various barrel connectors for charging other stuff. I haven't tried any of that at this point.

Also note that charging electronics in the hot sun is always tricky. One needs to shade or protect the device somehow so it doesn't get overheated while keeping the panel in the bright sunlight.

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I bought this solar charger in the hopes that it would charge other usb devices in addition to my iPod. It doesn't charge the most important one, a Garmin Edge 305 cycling computer. In fact, it drains the battery rather than charging it. Further, Brunton's customer support on this issue was poor. The charger works fine with my 4th-generation iPod, but I'd rather not carry a separate charging system for every device, so I'm now looking for a better option for solar charging.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Solar Portable Charger (Red)

Solar Portable Charger
  • Keep your cell phone, iPhone, PDA, Music Player, Digital Camera and GPS tracking unit charged.
  • Equipped with SUN POWERED ENERGY source keeping internal battery fully charged.
  • The unit battery can also be charged through DC Car Charger and any USB port.
  • Includes charging adaptors for most popular cellular phones such as iPhone, Motorola, Nokia LG, Blackberry and Samsung
  • Includes handheld Video Game consoles charging adaptors such as Nintendo DS lite, Dsi, and Sony PSP

I received this as a gift and I have to say this is prob the best gift I ever received. I bought a used car a year ago and after I bought it I realized that where they installed the cd player they had to take out the cigarette lighter/car charging station. You wouldn't think you'd need this for so much. I couldn't use my GPS for long trips, if my cell died I had to wait till I got home, and my MP3 player was a big no-njo since it used a lot of battery life. This little thing charges all of that plus my childrens 3ds and PSP. I even use it in my house to save on the electric bill. It might not be a big money saver but it does help and I figure if I'm ever lost or stuck on a deserted island my MP3 player will always be charged.

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Monday, January 6, 2014

Garmin Vehicle Power Cable

Garmin Vehicle Power Cable
  • Cigarette lighter adapter for automotive use
  • For Garmin eTrex Vista C
  • For Garmin eTrex Legend C
  • For Garmin eTrex Vista 24 MB GPS with Compass and Altimeter

No matter how much I want continuous power to my Garmin I just can't pay that much for a little power cable that costs probably $1 to make. It's the principle of it.

Instead I did some research and discovered a nifty little item called a USB car adapter for as low as two dollars! then I can just use the USB cord that came with the unit! Only the wires needed for supplying power are used and not those for the data (they are separate wires in the cord). For more info do a search on Wikipedia for USB, and Goggle and right here at Amazon for USB car chargers.

I found a great dual charging unit elsewhere for $15 including shipping. With the dual unit I can charge my eTrex Vista HCx and phone or PDA, both at the same time. Just make sure the power output is 4.75 to 5.25V, that's the USB power specification. All but one of the units I found where in the proper power range though one was 7.2V, which is too high.

BTW, the little connector at the eTrex is also a USB connecter, just a different type (shape) then you may be used to. They call it a `mini USB,' while the larger one on the other end (of the cord that came with the unit) is a `USB type A', the same you typically see for computers and flash cards. It doesn't matter though, they are just differently shaped connectors that do exactly the same thing.

Don't pay Garmin's outrageous prices. Get a USB car adapter and power your eTrex through the USB cord supplied with your unit. It's the same as when you plug your unit into your computer's USB port and the computer supplies the unit with 5V power. Enjoy

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I ordered this item from Electrogalaxy through Amazon.com and received a 110 volt power cable. I'm not sure what it would fit.

Electrogalaxy did not respond to my emails as to getting the right product or determining if the description is wrong. Instead they refunded my purchase, minus the $8 it cost to ship it back to them. This is their stated policy so if you can't trust them to send the right product, don't buy from them.

In short, I'm $8 in the hole with nothing to show for it, other than the knowledge to not buy from this company.

I would recommend you email the company before purchasing this item to verify what you are getting.

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Works fine with my Vista HCx, just way overpriced!

But, it allows the use of the GPS in the car without using your batteries, and is great for turning up the brightness, as others have noted.

Garmin really does need to think some things through however. Both their AC and DC adapters are just that, adapters. The Vista HCx GPS I use accepts rechargeable batteries, but neither of their adapters are designed to charge batteries, but only to supply voltage to operate?! Kind of short-sighted on their part.

Good product, but I'm deducting points for price, and being unable to function as a charger.

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I have two of these things. When used with a car lighter outlet, they cause my Legend Cx to overheat. When used with a true 12v. power source, they work fine. Most cars actually run at about 13.6 to 14 volts instead of 12. Garmin is trying hard to help me resolve this, but in the meantime, be aware that certain units may experience problems with this system.

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It's fine as a charger but I wish Garmin had designed it as a standard 1 pin charger and placed the access point at he base of the unit not the top rear. Horrible placement. Also cord is way too long and is difficult to get the charger into the usb port. I am also concerned that the constant opening and closing of the rubber flat the waterproofs the usb port will damage it.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Intelligent Dual Purpose DC Vehicle and AC Home Wall Charger for the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 - Two

Intelligent Dual Purpose DC Vehicle and AC Home Wall Charger for the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 - Two critical functions, one unique charger - Uses Gomadic Brand TipExchange Technology
  • Broad input voltage range of 12-24VDC and 100-240VAC respectively. Permits charging via vehicle and home outlets worldwide!
  • State of the art, advanced circuitry prevents the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980 from being damaged by power surges, overcharging and/or short-circuiting.
  • Intelligent circuit tailors precise output voltage (including resistor configuration) specific to the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS980. This ensures battery is safely and efficiently charged.
  • Charger provides a full 1 AMP of available charging current. Flexible, straight cable measures an ample 42 inches in total length.
  • Non-coiled, straight cable design allows for easy routing around your vehicle trim for a more professionally installed look. Durable construction is built to last.

The wall charger that came with my headset never charged beyond 50%. This charger works great! I can go multiple days without needing a new charge. I also love the flexibility to either plug into my car power point or into a standard wall receptacle.

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

LuguLake 12000 mAh Multi-function 12V 400Amp Portable Jump Starter with LED Flashlight, Power Bank

LuguLake 12000 mAh Multi-function 12V 400Amp Portable Jump Starter with LED Flashlight, Power Bank / Pack exteral power Battery, 12V Car Battery Charger, Output 5V/12V/19V, WhiteI was provided this power bank for review with the understanding that I will not be reviewing the jump start feature. Taking the battery out of my car or waiting for it to die was impractical, but there were so many other features to test.

I have never owned a power bank with so many functions. It's a power bank for laptops and small devices, a jump starter, and a flashlight all stored neatly in a lovely zippered case with a hand strap. I was impressed with the presentation.

JUMP STARTER

The power bank comes with two jumper cables. The wires are small in diameter compared to any jumper cables I've ever owned, but I'll keep this in my car in case I ever need it.

FLASHLIGHT

Other power banks have one little LED bulb they call a flashlight. This power bank has a real flashlight. It's bright, with multiple modes: always on, strobe, or flashing. Pay attention to the flashing. It doesn't just flash, it flashes SOS.

CHARGING A LAPTOP

This is the only power bank of 12000 mAh or smaller I've ever owned that not only charges small devices like cell phones and tablets, but also laptops.

It comes with eight laptop connectors. We have to just test them out to see which ones fit. I asked for a list from the manufacturer for the compatibilities and was given the following:

1) 4.8*1.7mm Asus/HP/NEC/Delta/Compaq

2) 5.0*3.0mm (with 1.0mm pin) Samsung

3) 5.5*1.7mm Asus

4) 5.5*2.1mm IBM/HP/NEC/Toshiba

5) 5.5*2.5mm Asus/HP/NEC/Delta/Compaq/IBM/Dell/Toshiba

6) 6.0*4.4*1.4mm Fujitsu/Sony/Samsung

7) 7.4*5.0*0.6mm HP/Dell

8) 7.9*5.5*0.9mm IBM/Lenovo

The connectors are labeled with letters in my kit, not numbers. The one labeled "C" fits my husband's Toshiba Satellite. None of them fit my Asus Eee PC.

I was impressed. It charged my husband's power hungry 17 inch laptop from dead to 60%. I didn't expect a full charge from a 12000 mAh power bank. I was happy it could do as much as it did.

CHARGING SMALL DEVICES

The power bank comes with seven connectors for small devices. I was emailed a couple of lists to identify the connectors. Both were different and neither of them appeared to match what I have. Here's the best I could come up with after some internet searching of connector photos and comparison with connectors from my other power banks:

* micro USB

* mini USB

* Nokia DC 2.0

* PSP

* LG

* Sony Ericsson

* Samsung G600

I am very sure of the micro USB and mini USB connectors, but beyond that is just my research and I could be wrong, as I don't own the other devices to test them out on.

I was able to charge my Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablets from dead to 83%. I'm a little disapointed with that. My other 12000 mAh power bank could give my Fire HD tablet a full charge with juice left over.

Of course, this power bank can also charge my iPhone 4S, though the connector for that is not supplied.

PROS:

+ multi-function: jump starter, power bank, flashlight

+ charges laptops

+ flashlight has multiple modes including SOS

+ comes with a case

+ comes with 8 laptop connectors and 7 small device connectors, neatly organized

CONS:

charges with AC adapter instead of a USB cord

larger than other 12000 mAh power banks

charging cable fits both input and output ports (easy to make an error)

does not fully charge a Kindle Fire HD 8.9" tablet

small diameter for jumper cables

OVERALL IMPRESSION

My very first reaction when I opened the box was wow. This is a very good multi-function device. I've never had a power bank that could do so much. It's good to have in the car or on a camping trip or for emergencies.

If all you need just a power bank for charging cell phones on the go, I would go with something smaller, more portable. For a device that does everything, this is a great choice.

This product was provided for review by LuguLake Direct.

I've been playing with this kit for a while and really like it. The battery pack is a powerful one and at 12000 mAh is one of the best I've used. I tried a quick test on my iPad and it powered up in record time. If it can rapidly juice up a power hog, undoubtedly it will work with all your small devices. There are adapters for almost any kind of device. It doesn't have the 30-pin iPad/-iPhone adapter because you don't need it. You simply take off the plug and hitch your USB cable into the side of this unit.

One of the interesting things we accidentally discovered was a safety feature that would be perfect if you are on the road. You hold down the switch for three seconds to turn on the LED light, which is reasonably bright. If you lightly tap it again, you receive a strobe. Another light tap and you get the standard SOS signal. This was instantly recognized by another family member. If you never have to use this battery pack to jump start a car, it's worth carrying with you just in case of emergency. Everything comes in a nice faux leather case that closes with a dual nylon zipper system.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

~ Battery pack, 12000 mAh

~ Micro USB

~ Mini USB

~ Sony Ericsson K750

~ USB cable

~ Samsung D800 adapter

~ PSP adapter

~ CA-100 adapter

~ Battery charger cables

~ Laptop switch cable

~ 8-piece laptop connector set

~ Mobile phone switch cable

~ 8-piece mobile phone connector set

~ Car adaptor

~ Home adapter

Input: 100 240V AC 50/60Hz

Output: 12V DC 1000mA

If you look at the interface you'll see from left to right a 19V 3.5 output port for a laptop, the battery indicator (five blue LED lights), a power switch, a 5V 2A output port for Smartphones, tablets, Kindle Fire, etc. a 12 V 5A output port for batteries, and a 12V 1A input port for self-charging. On the left-hand face there is the bright LED light/emergency signal and the port for the charging cables. The labeling has been silk-screened on and because it's silver, there isn't much contrast. I had to turn it back and forth to be able to read it, otherwise it blends in. My cables had a short in them so I was unable to try them with a car. This would be perfect to keep on hand for small engine batteries and general use. I really like this battery pack, especially because with all the added adapters, it's very useful even if you don't have to charge a car.

Sample provided by the distributor.

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By par, this is the biggest battery power pack that I have. It also has the most attachments and accessories being a multi-function charger and car jump starter. It came with a zippered black leatherette case that otganizes everything with straps for each kind of attachments.

It came with 3 LEDs lit (out of 5 for full charge) so I plugged it to the wall with the AC adapter. The AC adapter is multivolt, it works 100V to 240V and 50 Hz to 60Hz, making it compatible with a lot of countries. It can also charge using the included cigarette lighter plug. Besides the 5V, 2Amp USB output that is normally used for tablets and phones, and the jump starter, it also provide a 19V, 3.5Amp output for notebooks and 12V, 2A output for a variety of car accessories.

For smaller charging jobs, it work excellent for my iPads, smartphones and mini speakers. With all the accessories included, what notably missing are the 30-pin Apple connector and the Lightning cable.

To jump start a car battery, it is important to make sure the power pack has enough juice. It should not have less than 3 LEDs in capacity which represents 60% of total full charge. Also you have to disconnect the charger within 30 seconds after starting your car. I have yet to test the full feature of the jump starter though. My battery on the Accord is three years old but not comletely gave up the ghost; so having this in my glove compartment will hopefully prove to be useful in times of emergency.

I have several power packs with LED flashlights, this has the brightest lamp I have seen so far. You turn it on by pressing the power button for two seconds. It will cycle from steady light and two modes of emergency flashing lights fast and slow.

The user manual is short but has done well explaining how to use the charger/jumper. Don't lose it or make a digital copy for future.

I was provided a sample of this product, so I could use it and write my unbiased review.

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(#1 REVIEWER)This power pack combines many charging capabilities: mobile devices, laptops, and a car. This unit performed exceptionally well with my mobile devices (details below), jumper cables measured with a volt meter showed 12.24v which is sufficient to start a car, however it did not perform well recharging my laptop as I will detail below.

GENERAL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This power pack is fairly small in size. The power pack itself is 3"x6"x1". It comes with a 7"x10"x1.5" faux leather case, which holds the unit and various cables and connectors that come in the package.

In addition to charging functions, the power pack has a led light. The light is very powerful and bright. It also has several modes: in addition to the steady light, it has a fast blink, and a slow blink. I plan to keep this charger in the car, and the blinking function could be quite useful in emergency situation.

I am attaching a photo collage that I will be referencing in this review, the photos can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo. Photo #1 is a photo of the leather case with all the items included in this package. The package include 7 connectors for mobile devices, 8 adapters for laptop power port, and also includes a wall outlet adaptor, 12V car charger, and jumper cables with battery clamps.

MOBILE DEVICES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The package contains 7 connectors for mobile devices, including mini USB and USB. The other connectors are not labelled and not explicitly listed in the documentation. I have tested this unit with four of our mobile devices (Nexus 7 Tab, Galaxy Nexus Phone, Galaxy 7.7 Tab, and iPad Mini). Mini USB fit my Nexus devices, but none of the included plugs fit iPad Mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7.

I always use the same test to measure the performance of various power banks so I can compare the relative performance of each unit. I charge various mobile devices for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charge in that 10 minute period.

Here are the results of my tests with LuguLake 12000:

✔ Nexus 7 Tab:_____________________3%___ AC source

✔ Samsung Galaxy Nexus Phone:______8%___ AC source

✔ iPad Mini:______________________ 4%___ AC source

✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tab:_________ 4%___ AC source (with charging cable, discharging with a data cable)

I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.

Photos #4,5,6 show the various devices as I was running the tests.

Prior to this battery pack the best test results I got was from Yubi Power YP840A 8400mAh (Nexus 7 was 7%(port1) and 4%(port2), Nexus phone was 7%(port1) and 8%(port2), Samsung Galaxy 7.7 3%(port1) and 0%(port2). As you see this one is on par or better with the best I have tested.

JUMPER CABLES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To test the jumper cables, I attached the volt meter to battery clamps. As you can see in photo #2, the reading is 12.24v which is sufficient to jump the car. I now keep this case in my car and will update this review when I will have a chance to use it to restart a dead battery.

To jump the car the power back should be more than half full of charge. There are 5 lights that indicate the charging state of the pack and it should at least 3 light out of 5 on with a steady blue light. The manual recommends recharging the power every three months when it is not in use.

LAPTOP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The package contains 8 adapters for laptop power plug, and one of them fit my IBM laptop.

✔ Laptop:_______charged from 20% to 35% in 30 minutes (external battery pack went from 100% full to empty)

By comparison, Intocircuit Power Castle Series PC26000 power pack, charge the same laptop from 5% to 69% in 1 hour (external battery pack went from 100% full to empty).

When LuguLake 12000 was done charging my laptop, I touched it to unplug from my laptop and had to drop it back on the table. It was extremely hot. If you use the power pack to charge your laptop please be careful how you handle immediately after it finished charging. The unit cooled off in about 10 minutes.

OTHER NOTES

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. The labels for outlets on the unit are written in faint grey font, they are hard to see on white background. Input and output ports look very similar, and the labels are very important.

2. The package itself and the manual are aimed at a Chinese market. Some of the writing in the box does not have English translations. The manual has one side in Chinese and the back in English. All but one page of the manual appear to have the same content, but Chinese language has one page that was not translated.

I received this unit for evaluation and testing from manufacture. Based on the tests it performed very well with my the mobile devices, but did not do well with the laptop. I also like the leather case that keeps everything neatly together.

Ali Julia review

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I was a bit skeptical (to say the least) when I was contacted by LuguLake to test and review this battery charger. I've charged my iPad and cell phone many times using batteries like this, but jump starting a car? Running my computer? After several e-mails concerning what it did (and how it did it), I agreed to accept a complimentary sample to consider for a review.

I don't think there is anything else out on the market today that does all of the things that this little battery (about the half size of a paperback book) does. Here are some of the features that really impressed me:

1) The sheer variety of the tips. You can charge anything, from cell phones to computers just attach one of the tips and hook it up. This will likely be the most used function from my perspective, it states it will run a computer up to 3 hours. Since computers vary in power consumption, I would carry it as a back up, but would test it before I considered how long it would charge my personal computer.

2) It has ALMOST every type of tip to charge mobile phones and devices. Well, except for the iPhone and iPad. If you are planning to use it to charge one of those, you will need to keep this specific cord in this kit.

3) It has connectors to jump start your car. You connect the red clamp to the positive and the black clamp to the negative (I know this is standard, but I wish they had put a small mark on the clamp, I have added a label in case I can't read the instructions if I ever need to use it). Then you plug it into the battery and turn it on, you can then start your car. Once it is started you simply remove the cables.

Will it work? That was the topic of several e-mails back and forth with LuguLake. They actually recommended that I disconnect my battery and use this to start the car to confirm it. In fact, they were very confident that it would work that way, since reviewers in other countries have done the test to prove it works. They actually ASKED me to try it so that I could confirm that it would work. They were confident enough of their product, that it impressed me. However, testing it this way was a bit out of my area of expertise, and I chose not to do so.

Along this same line, you might wonder about the batteries that use the power plug in your car as an alternative. These are actually small trickle chargers that take about 20 minutes to charge your battery enough for it to start on its own. LuguLake has decided to make theirs in a way that will actually jump start the car, so you can get on your way immediately. It is supposed to support three jump starts on your car, but hopefully you will need only one.

4) You can charge the battery either using the included charger for the car OR using your home power. Mine arrived fully charged. You need to "top it off" about once a month to make sure you have power when you need it, or make sure it is charged anytime you have used it. The car charger makes this easy if you are keeping it in your car.

5) It has an emergency light, with two kinds of flashers. In order to turn it on, you hold the power button down for approximately 5 seconds. You can then cycle through the different modes.

6) All of this comes in a nice black case about the size of a large hardcover book.

I have been able to test all of the features except for the jump start feature and actually hope I never need to test it under live conditions, and am happy to be able to recommend it to you based upon my experiences.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Orange Electronic LE6L2T Ford/Lincoln/Mercury/Mazda Replacement Tire Pressure Sensor

Orange Electronic LE6L2T Ford/Lincoln/Mercury/Mazda Replacement Tire Pressure SensorThis sensor is a replacement for Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Mazda and a few other manufacturers TPMS sensors.

I have used these a few times before to mount seasonal tires on their own rims. I have 12 installed on wheels for two Ford and Mercury products.

Great replacement for the banded OEM sensors that the tire techs always seem to screw up when they do tire service.

They function flawlessly. Great price. Immediately recognized by the onboard TPMS system and easily configured as long as you have the tool to "ping" the sensor so it will ident. Although the manufacturer claims that a magnet can invoke the ident function, I have not been able to make the magnet work after several dozen attempts under my belt.

Most of the tire and service shops in my area rely heavily on the customer using the same rims for seasonal tires, so they don't have the "ping" tool. HARD TO BELIEVE. So I'm stuck relying on the "Stealer" to do the reset at a cost of $40.00. I am currently looking for an inexpensive tool so I don't have to rely upon the the "stealer" to do the reset. Other than that, great inexpensive product. I will continue to purchase these.

Oh, these are NOT compatable with the TPMS display that Orange Electronics makes and markets as an aftermarket TPMS addition to vehicles that were not supplied with a TPMS system.

I wanted to be able to see the pressure and temperature on all 4 wheels, which their display does and my vehicles display does not. However these sensors are not compatable with the display unit.

I purchased these to replace my OEM sensors which had gone out. For 1/3rd the cost they worked perfectly.

2008 Ford Focus SES with TPMS

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The product LE6L2T work just as the add said for ford , it was easy to install and program for my truck

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

Equus 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor

Equus 3721 Battery and Charging System MonitorThe picture on Amazon site is not correct. This battery monitor shows the voltage value with .01 precision (or two digits after decimal point). That is far more then enought to tell the battery status. I put it in the car, it automatically switches between "battery status monitoring" and "charging status monitoring". When the engine is stopped, it is in "battery status monitoring mode", when engine is running, it will be in "charging status monitoring" mode. Amazon's price is even bettern then Walmart. Definitely a great value buy. Will recommend this item to my friends.

Seemingly just another auto gadget fortunately the Equus 3721 is more sophisticated than its ponderous description. A breeze to connect to any car's 12 Volt electrical system. Simply push into the lighter socket or an auxiliary power outlet now found in many newer vehicles.

With the engine running the instrument constantly displays battery condition with an LED light; amber when marginal, red if the battery is discharging. A green light indicates a correctly functioning electrical system. All is well with both battery and, most importantly, the alternator.

The Equus is also an accurate voltmeter. Digital read-outs give exact voltage in the electrical system. Potential alternator problems or a failing battery will be indicated by below normal voltages, plus an amber or red light. Extra information is a battery icon graphically showing total battery charge. Tending towards erratic read-outs, and therefore unreliability, it is not the unit's best feature.

Equus's instruction card is easy to understand. The unit is well made, sturdy, easy to connect and to transfer to any 12 volt system not having its own voltmeter. Also, as a supplemental monitor in an RV, or a bigger boat with a remote 12 Volt outlet in a sleeping area far from the main instrument panel, overall battery condition condition can be monitored while camping or at anchor.

Good value for money; very useful. From personal use, recommended.

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The Honda 2005 civic has a marginal charging system. This meter is ideal for determining when it is time to turn off the radio to reduce load on the alternator. Voltage reading is very accurate, much better than 1% as measured against a small Beckman pocket meter, which in turn has been checked against a Powerex Wizard aa cell charger. Warning lights function well.

Some things to note when using this tester: Standard voltage of a 12 volt battery is 12.6 volts. Some deep cycle absorbed glass mat batteries will read 12.8. This is after loading the battery by turning on the headlights for 10 seconds, to remove surface charge. Note that while the lights are on, the voltage drops quickly at first, then the voltage stabilizes. Turning off the lights causes the voltage to rise again gradually. After a few minutes the voltage will stop rising. If the voltage settles at 12.6 (or 12.8 for AGM battery) battery is charged, assuming that the battery is near 68 degrees F. Lower temps raise the voltage, higher temps lower the voltage. For a standard battery figure about 12.66 volts at 32 F and 12.54 volts at 104 F battery temperature, not air temperature.

After a car has been running for awhile with no lights, radio, wipers, AC, heat or window defroster, the alternator may cycle letting the battery voltage drop for a while before kicking in. This is OK provided the charging is steady shortly after turning on the lights. An intermittant alternator will cause the red light to turn on and off when headlights are on.

The bar graph for battery condition is not very useful as the meter has only voltage information.

The instructions do not state that this tester is for negative ground cars only, a small quibble as positive ground is not common.

Had I bought this device six months ago I could have avoided killing a brand new battery in six months.

UPDATE: Still working fine as of May 21, 2013

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I purchasted this unit to use in a small aircraft that has no built in battery monitor.

The unit failed within one hour of use.

It was too cheap to bother to send back so I took it apart.

I found two loose screws holding the circuit board and display in place and a bad solder joint.

I repaired the solder joint and tightened the screws and the unit has been working fine ever since.

Unless you are an Electronic Engineer like me I would not recomend this unit.

Strangely enough, the internal components appeared to be high guality.

It was not assembled correctly.

It's OK if it works.

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just got the monitor from amazon based on the reviews here. the actual device is slightly different from it looks in the picture, with rounder edges. i guess the new product has been revised. also the protective plastic film is extremeply easy to peel off, a bit too easy i would say. or it might have something to do with the weather. here in singapore it's 30C all the time. the device has good build quality. the monitor can show two different tiny icons above voltage reading, under the battery and charging modes. the LCD is clear with bright blue backlight. basically it doesnt cost arm or leg but does all i expected. i will leave it plug in all the time in my car. i am sure i will be alerted by the unusual low voltage one day to realise the time to replace my battery. that will be the time i can recover the cost of this product by saving the expensive recovery service.

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Motorola DROID 3 - Uses Gomadic

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Motorola DROID 3 - Uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology
  • Full FM frequency spectrum is available and is user selectable in 0.1MHz increments from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. Advanced Digital PLL sound coding maintains stable and high quality sound.
  • Transmitters emit a powerful FM signal that is the maximum allowed by FCC regulation. Advanced signal isolation provides crystal clear sound quality.
  • Smart technology circuit architecture provides precision voltage and resistor regulation specific to the Motorola DROID 3. Protects the internal battery longevity by modulating the charge in a safe and efficient manner.
  • Generous LED screen clearly displays current frequency setting. Transmitter frequency continues to be locked in even when vehicle power is cut.
  • Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by providing the means to change/upgrade your charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tip for Motorola DROID 3 included with additional tips sold separately)

This item is a gem! But I have found one small problem, and that's when you have your phone plugged into the auxiliary jack, and have it charging at the same time. Sometimes (not all the time, I've found) there will be a sort of static sound when both are in at the same time. When it's just the aux, it's nice and clear. (Just for the record, in case it somehow matters, I drive an '03 Corolla)

DO follow the instructions when it says to turn the phone media volume all the way up for best sound quality. It's true! It helps with the slight static noise when you've got both plugged in simultaneously.

Otherwise, this product is nice and small, much better than the iPod Touch FM transmitter I used to have before I got my new DROID 3. Works like a charm and now I can listen to my music on the go!

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Camco 55572 18" 90 Degree 50 AMP Male/50 AMP Female Powergrip Locking Adapter

Camco 55572 18' 90 Degree 50 AMP Male/50 AMP Female Powergrip Locking AdapterFirst off, this adapter is very well made, heavy and well put together.

Can't agree to the other review. I ordered this for my RV and because of my power inlet having the door open from bottom to top, this adapter sticks up in the air when connected, not towards the ground. Called Camco and they concluded that this adapter is made correctly, my inlet on my RV is mounted wrong. The door on the inlet should open from right side to left side. After a survey from other Montana owners, everyone's inlet is mounted the same as mine, door opens bottom to top. So, my choice is to try to move the inlet so the door opens from right to left , or return the adapter.

EDIT: Upon further inspection, I found that my inlet plug was not mounted per the adapter's specifications. The adapter GROUND was on the left of the plug, and my campers inlet GROUND was at the top. I moved the inlet plug so the GROUND was on the left and the adapter works GREAT!!!!

This is a great plug, it puts almost no stress on the outside outlet on the side of the couch from the waight of the cord, the cord dont stick out past the sides of the couch and make a tripping hazard,easyer to install and remove not having to try to hold up and line up the heavy cord plug. IT IS A MUST HAVE FOR ME.

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We just traded up to a 50 amp 5th wheel trailer. When we plug in the power cord it bends at a 90 degree angle putting stress on the cord. We purchased this and now my husband (the electrician) is much happier with the way the system fits together. We did have to turn the outlet on our trailer 45 degrees so that the adapter would lock into position but that was just the way our trailer was set up and was not a big issue for him to do. Excellant purchase, works exactly like we hoped and will extend the life of our power cord by eliminating the stress on the cord.

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The RV end of the adapter was oriented completely wrong and made this thing useless.

With it plugged into the RV, instead of it hanging straight down and relieving the stress on the outlet, it ended up being up at around 10 o'clock. The orientation of the RV side is complete wrong. Even after removing the outlet from our RV and orienting so it was as close as possible to how the adapter was oriented, it hung at the 7 o'clock and was trying to unlock the plug. Totally defeats the intended purpose of the adapter.

If they corrected the orientation of the RV end so the ground lug was at the 12 o'clock, like every RV on the planet, it would be useful, but as is, don't waste your money.

We returned the item for a refund.

Want Camco 55572 18" 90 Degree 50 AMP Male/50 AMP Female Powergrip Locking Adapter Discount?

This is the permanent solution to a 50 amp power cord problem that places stress on the RV power inlet and the internal connections on the factory provided power cord. The item fits tight and properly into the socket on my Keystone Montana once I corrected the factory mis-install of the receptacle (this was a very easy 15 minute fix that involved 7 screws and rotating the receptacle head). Well worth the money. Package arrived ahead of schedule with no packaging or shipping issues.

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