Showing posts with label la crosse battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label la crosse battery charger. Show all posts

Friday, September 26, 2014

Skque Rapid Car / Auto Charger for Garmin nuvi nuvi 765T, nuvi 760, nuvi 755T, nuvi 750, nuvi 550,

Skque Rapid Car / Auto Charger for Garmin nuvi nuvi 765T, nuvi 760, nuvi 755T, nuvi 750, nuvi 550, nuvi 500, nuvi 275T
  • Brand new non-OEM
  • Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver.
  • Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
  • Short circuit protection. LED charging indication.
  • Can Charge Ni-Mh, Ni-cd and Li-Ion Battery.

It would not charge my garmin nuvi. Got a replacement and that would not work either. Probably a defective product. Just got a refund. However the customer service was prompt and good.

Buy Skque Rapid Car / Auto Charger for Garmin nuvi nuvi 765T, nuvi 760, nuvi 755T, nuvi 750, nuvi 550, Now

Are you tired of those circles left on your windshield from your Garmin GPS holder or your plug-in adaptor doesn't work any more? This handy charger is easy to use so just get one and plug it in and GO!!! I got one for all of my vehicles.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Yaesu FT-250R VHF Amateur 2M Transceiver With Desktop Quick Charger

Yaesu FT-250R VHF Amateur 2M Transceiver With Desktop Quick ChargerThis is an excellent starter radio for anyone wanting to get in to HAM. The display is somewhat small and glasses are needed if your in your 40's like me. If purchased I recommend the programming software and cable. Type in a spreadsheet and upload to unit in a snap. Yaesu has a good reputation and really nice high end stuff.

After programming, went right to work! Range is great, battery lasts a whole day, quality is wonderful. As long as you speak softly, this radio is a great addition to any construction environment or location communication is a problem.

Buy Yaesu FT-250R VHF Amateur 2M Transceiver With Desktop Quick Charger Now

My 22 year old Kenwood hand held died and i wanted to replace it with just a 2m hand held. Where I live there isn't much 440MHz activity, the all I need is a 2m. Also, I did not want one of those tiny Chinese radios. They have not been on the market long enough to know how reliable they will be.

Likes:

*Very Loud for a small radio

*Has a long battery life

*Fairly easy to program

*Key pad is a nice size

*Mil Spec so it's durable

Like not so much:

*The screen is a bit small and now that I'm a little older, it can be sort of hard to see.

*Hmmm I can't think of anything else I don't care for!

Bottom line: I'm glad I purchased it. It's a great value for the money and I recommend it highly.

Read Best Reviews of Yaesu FT-250R VHF Amateur 2M Transceiver With Desktop Quick Charger Here

for the price, this is a great little radio. not the strongest transmitting power but good and its super clear on the receiving end. no issues.

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High quality 2 meter ham radio. Top of the line company. Icom makes great radios. Can't go wrong with Icom

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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

RichardSolo 9000 mAh Mobile Charger

RichardSolo 9000 mAh Mobile Charger
  • 9,000 mAh portable lithium-ion backup battery
  • Provides nearly 100% charge for iPad - 10 hours extra viewing time on average
  • Charges iPhone 2G/3G/3GS/4 and iPod (except shuffle) using Apple USB cable
  • Charges smartphones, GPS units, Amazon Kindle, and more (device-specific USB cable required)
  • Uses Apple or standard 5V compatible wall charger

Didn't have a chance to use it many times as it is intended for long trips without access to power and I didn't have those yet but I ran my test on it and managed to get 3.5 charges to my iPhone 4S, which is good enough for me. I've used another battery pack before (5000mAh) which would give me same number of charges to my iPod touch which had significantly lower battery capacity so I take it as even (higher battery capacity device requires higher capacity battery pack to get the same results). So far so good. I'll update if I get any new experiences.

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With full use of a couple of iphones/ipods and an ipad I have yet to run this charger down during a day. It's just like having your own electrical plug wherever you are. It's saved me on a four hour bus trip and on an overnight plane trip. The first one I received did not hold a charge, but RichardSolo stood by the product and sent me another. This second one has been a steady reliable resource, and unlike some other chargers you do not need to plug it in every night in order to guarantee a good charge for the next day it holds its charge well.

Read Best Reviews of RichardSolo 9000 mAh Mobile Charger Here

1st time after it's full charge, it recharged my iPhone4s 4 times from almost dead

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the

Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Gomadic Home and Car Chargers at a Money Saving Price. Based on TipExchange Technology
  • Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by allowing you to change/upgrade either charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tips for Garmin StreetPilot C580 included with additional tips sold separately).
  • Gomadic Wall Charger is built to support worldwide voltage input levels ranging from 100-240vAC /50-60 Hz. High output 10W /2A transformer provides output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the Garmin StreetPilot C580.
  • This Gomadic Car charger has a wide input voltage range of 12-24vDC to support all vehicle charging ports. Works in cars, trucks, planes, boat, RVs and more (both domestic and international). Available output current is an impressive 10W/2A . (Twice most competing products!)
  • Kit includes two essential Garmin StreetPilot C580 accessories in one convenient package.
  • Gomadic Car and Wall chargers employ latest state of the art advancements in charging and surge suppression technologies to deliver products in an unbelievable micro-sized form factors.

I bought a new GPS and wasn't sure that I would need these chargers or not. As it turned out the GPS did come with everything that was needed to charge it, but it's nice to have back up I guess. For someone that is in need of a new charger because they've either lost or broken the original one, these are very good chargers.

Buy Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Now

Very Easy on & off usage...!!! Much quicker than Garmin AC Adapters & Plug in Vehicle Adapters. Merely Pull, Click, & it is stored out of sight for would-be thefts...Ingenious Idea...!!! Am sure there are Hundreds of Garmin StreetPilot C550 & C580 Users, who do not know about these inventive ADAPTERS...Like the Little Boy in the Advertisement says, { TRY IT YOU'll LIKE IT...!!!}

Read Best Reviews of Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Here

I purchased this same item a couple of years ago and was disappointed by the short cord on the car charger could barely reach from the charger to the dash. This new version has a much longer cord...YAY. Finally I can stop worrying that I'll go around a corner too fast and unplug the charger!!! And it's also great to have a wall charger to fully charge the devise. The car charger doesn't charge well if you're using the devise at the same time. Just used this in a rental car for a trip from SF to LA...got it just in the nick of time.

Want Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin StreetPilot C580. Kit includes the Discount?

The chargers work great and the tipexchange worked great. My only complaint is that this cord is not as long as my original and when you put the Garmin on your windshield, the cord is stretched very tight between the windshield and cigarette lighter and it occasionally pulls the Garmin off the windshield due to so much pressure.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Kudo Solar Case with HDMI for iPad2 / iPad3 - Black

Kudo Solar Case with HDMI for iPad2 / iPad3 - BlackI was real excited about this product, and while I hate to say negative things, it is actually better for the environment if I post a negative review and less people buy, then return, the item. So, here are my thoughts:

The good:

-Obviously the solar panel is cool (see my notes below in the bad section though)

-Like that the case is made from recycled materials

-It comes with a free bag (which you have to order online from the manufacturer after you receive the case)

-HDMI out is awesome

-USB charging port is a plus

-Love that it has a smart cover feature to turn the ipad on/off

-Seems protective of the ipad, with perfect openings to access volume, power, camera.

The bad:

-It is HEAVY. Someone today told me their laptop is lighter. They were probably exaggerating, but not by much. This thing has some weight and lugging it around, or simply holding it in your hand, can get tiring.

-The retractable stainless steel leg stands, which you need to extend in order to have your case on a comfortable angle while viewing the ipad, are VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTEND WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A SHARP OBJECT. This was a deal breaker for me and the reason I am returning the case. I called the manufacturer, and they basically admitted the design flaw, with the customer service rep telling me he has to use a pen to retract the legs. Wow, major screw up there. I don't have a pen with me most of the times I want to use the ipad, and you absolutely need something like that to get the legs out. Bummer.

-The whistle locator is a great idea, but it doesn't work well. The case beeps at the sounds of things other than the whistle (e.g. my dog barking) and it only seems to beep when I whistle about 1/4 of the time, and only then if I am close to the ipad. Not really functional.

-The solar panel is so small that it really doesn't do much other than make you feel green. The instructions say you still have to plug the case in to charge it. Seems to defeat the purpose to me.

All in all, this is a "good" case, but for the steep price tag, it needs to be better than good. Lighter, more functional, with better viewing angles would get it there.

UPDATE: I've now had the case for one week. Using the iPad about 3-4 hours a day, the charge on the case's internal battery kept me going for about 2.5 days before the iPad started to drain power. This is nowhere near the manufacturer's claim (and I did fully cycle the battery the first time per the instructions). I am convinced the solar panel basically does nothing. The iPad sat in its case in direct sun today for about 45 minutes and the iPad charge did not go up at all, not even 1%!!! And now, the worst of all, my iPad (it is an iPad 2) will not lock into the case anymore, so even though I have recharged my case (by plugging it in), the iPad isn't benefiting from that at all when docked in the case. Really disappointed and it goes back on Monday.

The Kudo case is worth the money. It may not last 2 full weeks, but it does extend the use to at least a week without needing a recharge. It is perfect for those of us on the go and in meetings all day. The USB ability to charge your iphone off the case sold me immediately. I could care about the whistle as i dont intend on being that far away from my ipad. The legs are a tad tough to pull out but they do get easier to pull out over time. For the price of a standard case, a battery backup and hdmi out cables, this thing puts it all in one package. Totally cool and useful product.

Buy Kudo Solar Case with HDMI for iPad2 / iPad3 - Black Now

When I first discovered this case I was excited. So I waited a week to get to my house and carefully read the single page instructions. A note the card is very limited and unfortunately they did not include the correct first time charging instructions in their single page instructions which can be found on their web site which ready:

1) First charge. Remove the iPad from the KudoCase and Charge each independently.

2) When charging with no iPad you will notice a blinking GREEN light on your Kudo® Case.

3) Once the light turns into a solid green the KudoCase is fully charged and you can insert your iPad and use as normal. *PLEASE NOTE THIS MAY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS (UPWARDS OF 8-10 DEPENDING ON BATTERY LEVEL) TO FULLY CHARGE. EVEN IF AFTER THAT AMOUNT OF TIME THE GREEN LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATED PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE NEXT STEP.

4) Via NORMAL iPAD use, operate until you see the RED light beginning to blink, then REPEAT the steps above. *IT IS CRITICAL TO FULLY DEPLETE THE KUDO BATTERY AND THEN CHARGE BOTH AGAIN SEPARATELY TO COMPLETE THE CYCLING PROCESS - Congratulations, you have now "spanked" or cycled your battery!

5) From now on you can charge the KudoCase® and iPad(tm) as instructed on the enclosed Instruction Card.

***PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE AN iPAD 2, THE BATTERY IN YOUR KudoCase COULD ALSO BE IN NEED OF A GOOD OL' "SPANKING" AS WELL , SO DON'T BE SHY

Honesty it does not work as well as I hoped. I am putting it through the paces as I type. It seems to want to keep the ipad 3 charged at 100% all the time, even when the ipad is in sleep mode from the magnetic lock. The internal lithium battery still "trickle" charges the ipad even in sleep mode. Which kind of negates the idea of having a battery back up to extend battery life. It trickle charges all the time. So the iPad case lasts about 1-2 days and the it is dead, but your ipad is 100% charged, whatever that does for you. I use my ipad very heavily that I end up charging my ipad from +/-10% at the end of a day or two. The case is extremely heavy for a case at 1.7 pounds. So that now makes your ipad about the weight of a full fledged laptop. Also knowing that the case constantly charges whether in sleep mode or not hich makes the use of the external USB port not usable if the case's internal battery dies so quickly or always in use. This is even with my screen set to between 30%-50% brightness.

So traveling I let it sit in direct sunlight for about 3 hrs and the battery level never changed. It stayed at 3 blue pips, 4 blue pips indicates that the battery if fully charged. Discovering that the Kudos case constantly wants to keep your ipad charged at 100%. I assumed that if I turned off the ipad it would it would give the battery a chance to charge. It still stayed at 3 blue pips, after sitting in the sun for 3 hrs. All in all, I have to say that my ipad lasts roughly a day longer with the case then without it. Though, the HDMI feature is nice, but not really worth the added weight and the external USB port is kind of pointless of the battery won't keep it's charge or charge by the solar panel. Also, to keep in mind with since the ipad 3 is slightly thicker then ipad 2 it take a little effort to get the ipad 3 into the case but it will fit.

Overall idea is awesome that is it made from post recycled products and they give you a free case when you visit their website as long as you are willing to pay for shipping and handling with is about $6 bucks and they will plant a tree for you, but for what the product is claiming to do, it does not seem to make it. Maybe they will release a second generation that might vastly improve.

Read Best Reviews of Kudo Solar Case with HDMI for iPad2 / iPad3 - Black Here

Shocked I have to charge it all the time to make it work, whistle is effectively useless, LED indicator doesn't work at all, plug to charge it only works if it is half way in and even then shuts off all the time, very much heavier than expected, solar doesn't seem to do anything, but appears cool.

In summary, the QC on this needs to be worked out, as well as other issues. Will return tomorrow.

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The cover is skin tight to get your iPad in, so once it in you'll want to keep it in which can be a pain if you use you iPad to create videos.

I'm also concerned that sooner before latter the top cover is going to come off from simple wear and tear of flipping it back when you us it.

I haven't seen any charging benefits from it yet and because the case covers the power you have to use the Kudo plug which is slow to charge your iPad

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Garmin Nuvi Hardwire Cable (Mini-USB connector) for Garmin Nuvi

Garmin Nuvi Hardwire Cable for Garmin Nuvi
  • This unique hardwire power cable allows you to hardwire your Nuvi GPS receivers
  • Input range: 12 - 24V
  • Output range: 5V at 1A
  • Cable Length: 6 feet
  • Red wire is for positive

I installed this unit inside the headlight housing of my Yamaha V Star 950. After carefully studying the motorcycle wiring diagram, I learned there is a pre-wired connector for an optional light bar accessory. Since I wasn't using the accessory light circuit I determined it to the perfect location to tap into the motorcycle's electrical system. And the light circuit has power only when the engine is running so tapping in there will prevent the GPS from drawing power from the motorcycle battery when not in use.

There was just enough room inside my headlight housing to insert the 12V power transformer with the USB connector threaded out the back of the headlight housing. Next I plugged the USB connector into my GPS device mounted on the handlebar and cranked the engine. Viola!

I have no clue what would cause some GPS devices to switch into data mode. But my Nuvi 255 correctly switches from battery to direct current mode when the engine is running and switches back to battery power when the motorcycle engine is turned off.

Buy Garmin Nuvi Hardwire Cable (Mini-USB connector) for Garmin Nuvi Now

Used this to power my Garmin Nuvi 760 & 765. Anyone with decent techincal skills will be able to intall this perfect. Connect the red wire to 12v switched power. And Black wire to ground. Make certain 12v source is switched power to prevent a battery draw. Which will kill the battery if the Nuvi is attached while the car is parked.

I ran the wire to the glove box to keep the garmin chagred and ready to go when i need to use it.

Read Best Reviews of Garmin Nuvi Hardwire Cable (Mini-USB connector) for Garmin Nuvi Here

My GPS intermittently switched from charge to battery mode in use on the motorcycle--in other words, the power supply was intermittent. Then after proper installation and very little riding for three months it DIED. Checked the mini-USB connector: the metal shell was not connected to ground and two of the connector pins were shorted together. Also discovered the power cable is not shielded and has very light-gauge wires in it compared with the wiring out of the cigarette lighter charger that Garmin supplies. Cannot recommend this unit. Buy something better. Installation on a motorcycle ain't so easy. You don't want to have to do it twice.

UPDATE: Disassembled the Garmin cigarette lighter power supply, put it in a plastic box and wired it into the motorcycle. Now have steady power.

Want Garmin Nuvi Hardwire Cable (Mini-USB connector) for Garmin Nuvi Discount?

I have had this installed for about 6 weeks. It worked fine initially.

The installation had two issues that several others complained about. The thickness of the power and ground wires made it almost impossible to wire it into my 96 Accord using splices. The size of the box made it difficult to zip tie it to prevent it rattling or moving around.

3 days ago, my Nuvi 1350 started going into data mode before rebooting into map mode. This behavior was followed random reboots while on the road.

If you are going to purchase this item, make sure it is easy to access when it fails.

Bought this last winter and just got around to installing it. I was leery after reading the reviews, so I opened it up. One small phillips screw and the case pops open.

Inside I found a small circuit board, inexpensively made with through-hole components. I could see several capacitors and inductors that looked vulnerable to vibration. So I warmed up my hot-melt glue gun and potted all the components on the circuit board into place. Took about 5 minutes including re-assembly. Epoxy would have worked as well.

Installed it on my 74 Suzuki GT550 and so far, it works like a charm. Wouldn't fit inside the headlight shell but I was able to tuck it in behind the headlight bucket mounting ears and secure it using a couple of wire ties.

I found a plastic cap to protect the USB connector from the elements, and I strap the connector to the Nuvi mount when not in use.

Time and miles will tell how it holds up. The bike is an old two-stroke, without the benefit of modern suspension, so vibration will be a factor.

Friday, August 15, 2014

For Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro / Galaxy Express Premium Car Charger

For Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro / Galaxy Express Premium Car ChargerI was in need of a car charger specific for my samsung rugby pro. Found this item, and for the price.. I gave it a try. I recieved it 3 days after the purchse and it works perfect! Good quality too!

The device has done what it needs to do and that is to charge my phone, it does not have the ruggetness which I desire but it will do.

Buy For Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro / Galaxy Express Premium Car Charger Now

Monday, August 11, 2014

Retractable Cell Phone Car Charger for LG Accolade VX5600

Retractable Cell Phone Car Charger for LG Accolade VX5600this is the second one i've purchased and it works great. both still work and so convenient for the car.

We've had these chargers for a short period of time. We purchased them for a great price and they are working great. I love the fact that nothing is hanging with the retractable wire

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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Amp Solar Charger

Voltaic Systems 1018 Amp Solar Charger and 3,000 mAh Battery - 4 Watts Solar Power for Handheld Electronics - SilverThis 1018 Solar Charger is awesome. I took it out into the field for 2 weeks straight. I used some D rings to clip it onto my backpack and it went everywhere with me. In direct sunlight it took about 6 hours to get a full charge. It will let you know when you look at the LED's it will stop flashing when its completely full. I used this in conjunction with my iphone and every night it charged my iPhone to 100%. This thing worked great. I only used it with an iPod and my iPhone, but anything else should charge as long as it plugs in USB. If you turn your device off, it will charge much faster. A few of my buddies purchased cheaper versions like this and had issues with them. Mine was the only one that worked the whole time in the field.

I bought this charger to keep my iPhone topped off during camping trips. It does exactly what you want it to do, and performs quite nicely! I tested it out in the woods, out of direct sunlight, and was able to get a full charge of my iPhone 4 each day (I literally ran the phone dead each day using the GPS). I'm certain I could get more juice out of it if I kept it in direct sunlight all day long.

The only thing I would (and likely will) change is that while charging the interior of the case is exposed. Laying it out on a rock to bask in the sun caused a few scuffs on the internal battery. I'm considering adding a layer of cloth inside, so the battery and connectors are always protected.

The battery is removable, and slips easily into a shirt pocket. This is an awesome feature, as it can be used as a battery booster for your phone. I won't have to use my phone sparingly at the zoo/theme parks anymore, as I'll have another charge and a half waiting in my pocket.

Perfect for keeping a phone charged up each day; for a notebook/tablet, I'd go bigger.

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The Voltiac solar charger is expensive, but worth it. I've gotten less expensive chargers that ended up powering very few things. The huge advantage to the Voltaic is that it includes a battery. If the battery has been charged through the solar panels (about 4 hours in full sun), that can be used to fully charge a cell phone or other small item. If you have access to full sun, the solar panels will directly charge your item. My family took this on a camping trip in an area that has iffy phone reception, so batteries burn out quickly as the phone keeps searching for a signal. The Voltaic kept the phones charged. Next camping trip I will have to get at least one more, so we can each have regular access to one.

I also make sure to keep the battery charged at home. We have frequent power outages, and our FIOS landline stops working after about 12 hours without power. The Voltiac will keep our cell phones charged.

Read Best Reviews of Amp Solar Charger Here

I have been looking for quite some time for a solar charger for my iPhone and i Touch. I spend lots of time in remote areas without electricity where it is still nice to have my Itouch for listening to books and such. Also, I bike ride a lot and this charger is perfect for recharging my phone on the road no matter where I am. It is not a tiny charger, but well worth the space. Note that it has 4 watts of power. this is double what many solar charger have. That means the charging time is very quick.

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I have this for over a year and purchased a second one. I have the charcoal one and now I got a silver one. I would recommend a silver one over charcoal. Looks geeky. It is great for charging those ever draining smartphones/iphones. Just let it charge the battery in Voltaic during long drives and later if you are parked you can charge the phones. Also while traveling it is very useful especially airports/international travels where there is power cuts/irregular electricity supply. I am very pleased with this for the cool factor and real productive use.

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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Yuasa YUA1201501 Smart Shot Battery Charger

Yuasa YUA1201501 Smart Shot Battery ChargerI bought this battery charger to replace a Deltran Battery Tender that cooked the motorcycle battery it was hooked up to. The Yuasa unit works as advertised. The "float" function appears to work as it should, i.e., the battery's voltage is maintained without over-charging. And my bike starts up more readily than ever.

Works as advertised. I use it on my motorcycle and riding lawn tractor. I will be buying a second unit for the winter to use on my lawn tractor since this one will be dedicated to my motorcycle.

Buy Yuasa YUA1201501 Smart Shot Battery Charger Now

Warning: Although these battery chargers have only a 1.5 ampere output and will not begin charging unless they are connected correctly, you are connecting them to a battery which can provide up to 900 amps of current! Shorting the terminals of an automotive battery can cause a conductor as heavy as a screwdriver to explode! Furthermore, overcharging a battery with a fault not detected by a charger can cause the battery to explode! Sulphuric acid will burn your skin instantly and will blind you if you get it in your eyes! If you don't intend to read the several pages of safety instructions at the beginning of the manuals which come with all of these chargers then also buy the cigar lighter attachment listed on Amazon. All three chargers now use the same quick disconnect; I'm not sure about cigar lighter wiring.

Choosing a battery charger is a matter of personal preference and intended use. A 45 AH battery that has been run dead will take over 30 hours with a 1.5 amp charger at best and more likely twice that to fully charge that battery... if it can be charged at all; for that you will need a big charger. Note: Charging lead acid batteries at high charge rates (over 1.5 amp) is not recommended. This review only addresses small chargers designed to keep a battery from becoming discharged while it is in long term (10 days or more) storage. At least one manual says that a large capacity battery may have its life reduced by charging with the low current these chargers supply; that pertains to all small chargers [Storage Battery Maintenance & Principles, US DOT 1998 pp 3 & 10].

Schumacher 1.5 amp battery `maintainers' will restore a discharged battery (not a completely dead battery) at a relatively high rate (almost as fast as a 5 amp unregulated charger because the charge rate of all high current chargers fall off quickly as the battery voltage rises), hence the name "SpeedCharger". After charging the battery to approximately 14.8 volts the Schumacher turns off and monitors the voltage. (A fully charged battery will measure 12.6 volts after an hour of `rest'; a fully discharged battery (not a completely dead battery) will read 11.4 volts.) Once the Schumacher detects that the battery voltage has fallen below 12.6 volts it reverts to maintenance mode until the battery is fully charged. Note: 12.2 volts is about 50% discharged and 11.4 volts is just about dead (there isn't much difference in the voltage reading between a fully charged and fully discharged battery). Since all lead acid batteries `self-discharge' over time, periodic low current maintenance charging has been an accepted way to maintain storage batteries in optimum condition for 100 years [Witte pp 66 & 287, Filiquarian 2012]. The Schumacher automatically detects whether it is connected to a 6 or 12 volt battery. Our Schumacher restored a battery that only measured 12.2 volts after two days charging with a 10 amp charger to 12.7 volts.

Deltran 1.5 amp (not the .75 amp Jr which we just bought) battery `tenders' will restore discharged batteries in the same length of time as the Schumacher and faster than all trickle chargers (we have all types of chargers in use, some for over 40 years). Deltran (including the Jr) uses Yuasa's philosophy for maintaining the battery after it is fully charged, lowering the charging rate to 10 milliamps (almost nothing). At that low rate the battery will not lose electrolyte [Witte pp 151, Filiquarian 2012]. Deltran lists 3 modes: bulk (charging), absorbtion (probably refers to desulphation) and float (green LED solid). The red LED flashes briefly while it is testing the battery. The Deltran Jr is nice for maintaining batteries in vehicles which are used once a week it is a large power `cube' with a very long DC cord. I used cable ties for both sides of the quick disconnect in case I forget to unplug it... it just pops off as I back out of the garage. I really like the red flashing light when the Deltran Jr. is plugged in but not connected to the car.

The Yuasa 1.5 amp SmartShot has a metal case. A switch selects 6 or 12 volt and, like the other chargers, it will not work if connected backwards or set to the wrong voltage. Note: None of these chargers will work with rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries; I'm not sure about any other rechargeable batteries. Yuasa (mine says Interstate Batteries) has 5 stage charging technology: testing flashing yellow LED (I like that), charging solid yellow, desulphation stage (I'm guessing), completed/float mode green LED. I guess the 5th stage is if the battery fails the testing stage flashing red. That's where Yuasa gets the name SmartShot. I've used two of these for 8 10 years.

Sulphation is an issue that might come up when buying a small charger. The Deltran, Schumacher and Yuasa 1.5 amp chargers will keep sulphation to a minimum. `Soft' sulphation always occurs normally in automotive batteries. A low current charge rate is known to control normal sulphation [Witte pp 49 & 53, Filiquarian 2012]. Hard sulphation cannot be corrected without extreme measures; trade in the battery.

Wattage of the The Schumacher, Deltran and Yuasa 1.5 amp chargers is less than 20 watts when charging and 3 5 watts connected but not charging. (Don't be confused by the 10 milliamp output of the Deltran device; that is on the DC side not the input.) Connecting a timer with a 6 watt clock motor to turn the charger off and on doesn't make sense; it uses more electricity than an idling chargers.

Trickle Chargers like our 1 amp Goodyear draw 12.5 watts continuously while connected to an old battery; so we usually use that one on a night-light timer. It had been charging a used backhoe battery (to keep it from dying in case the new one fails) for two months and though it wasn't apparently boiling off the electrolyte when the top of the battery was damp I disconnected it. FYI only water evaporates from batteries; sulphuric acid in a fully charged battery is almost all bound to the plates; plus the boiling point is above 600 F. The specific gravity (the only way to know for sure) of that 8 year old battery measures 12.5; so even though the voltage measures 12.6 volts it isn't taking a full charge. (A fully charged lead acid has a specific gravity 12.65 when fully charged.) Don't use trickle chargers on good batteries without daily monitoring.

Read Best Reviews of Yuasa YUA1201501 Smart Shot Battery Charger Here

Works as advertised. I use it on my son's ATV and works very well. It has even taken a few big drops and still works perfectly. The 1.5 Amp output is better than other lower end chargers for charging new batteries. This unit also has better technology to handle new gel batteries. Will by a second one for my motorcycle.

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As usual, prompt delivery, exactly as ordered.

Easy to assemble, just plug in the proper connectors. It comes with ring lug connectors as well as the big clamps, which aren't all that big.

I bought it to maintain the battery in small two seat convertable that I don't drive as often as I should. Alas, to get to the battery, I have to open the trunk which turns on the trunk light, using up much of the charger's output. Haven't figured out an easy way to keep the light off. So it doesn't charge much, should have bought a bigger unit. My bad. I could charge through the 12 volt accessory outlet (cigarette lighter) except that turns off when the key is removed.

I did contact Yuasa with a question by email, they got right back to me with an answer. If the battery to be charged is very low (mine was) the charger won't do anything. Needed to use a big brute force charger to get the battery up near 12 volts before this unit would activate. Manual doesn't mention that. And the unit gave no indication other than the charge LED being off.

So, not perfect but still useful.

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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Icom IC-A24 Handheld Nav/Comm

Icom IC-A24 Handheld Nav/CommThe Icom IC-24 is an excellent handheld unit to communicate either G/G or A/G. The additional VOR functions are also great and provide a pilot or ground operator azimuth and ID of the dialed in VOR. My use (installation of VOR systems) had one drawback in that I was located too close (in the building) to the VOR for good communications to occur due to de-sense of the receiver front end. This was corrected by use of a high pass filter in the antenna line. For most users this would not be a problem.

Update 2/1/2013: I still love this unit, but I should state that the ICOM battery management is not the best possibly due to the software power up circuitry which draws power even with the unit off. If you are not going to use the unit on a daily basis (off for long periods of time) as mine is, then you should remove the battery to prevent overcharging and damaging the battery. Mine may sit for months between uses and I find that this practice has kept me from overcharging and getting out in the field with a useless battery.

It made my CFI jealous. Great for checking the weather and monitoring ground frequencies. I will be carrying it as a backup radio once I get my license.

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Haven't had to use this yet but will be good for monitoring solo students and as a backup radio. It did come with the headset cable in the box which I saw no mention of but sells for $30 $50 so I'm glad I held off on buying the headset adapter until I got the A24. It can pick up the VOR on the ground at my house about 8 miles north.

Read Best Reviews of Icom IC-A24 Handheld Nav/Comm Here

Like it but instructions on how to store frequencies are not very good. Still have not figured it out yet.

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This radio has all the features necessary for my flight training. It is very user friendly and meets all expectations. I would definitely recommend this radio. It is everything in the description while I was shopping for one.

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Sunday, July 13, 2014

Kodak Batteries K700c2 Ni-Mh Aa/Aaa Rapid Car Chargr

Kodak Batteries K700c2 Ni-Mh Aa/Aaa Rapid Car ChargrI bought this last year for our vacation in Europe. It did everything I wanted. We took something like 1800 pictures in 10 days and never faced a dead battery. While we used one set of batteries, this sat in the rental car charging the other set. Perfect. Good value too.

It fits nicely in my camera case so when I'm on the go I can always have charged batteries.

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Received this model car charger as a gift along with a wall charger, case & Kodak camera. Unfortunately I had assumed it would work like the other items which did work, but when I finally needed this item on a trip it did not work at all. It has a 1 year warranty & I was able to get the sales receipt & have all the original packaging...but what Kodak does not tell you is they honor the warranty only if you mail it all back in at your own expense. For an item which costs under $10 it hardly seems fair with gas & postage prices the consumer should have to pay all the costs to ship a brand new defective item back to a company. Purchased from a mortar store I have been unable to find this item in my area stores so I would be able to return it with out having to shell almost what it is worth to ship back & though I have repeatedly requested Kodak to send me a return shipping label it's been to no avail. Nope...though not stated in the warranty I am told "I must shoulder the shipping & handling costs!" Guess the "valued" customer is just out of luck! The store it was purchased from no longer carries it (might it be because there were too many problems with the quality??) & told me to directly contact Kodak for service. I am afraid I am old enough to remember real customer service provided by companies... including return shipping labels for defective products ...so for me Kodak's "customer service" has a lot to be desired and I certainly have recommended to family & friends that their products no longer be purchased. I myself am tired of companies who make promises & are more than willing to take your $$, but then after the sale are not willing to stand whole heartedly behind their products! Certainly a customer should not have to dig in his pocketbook to have a brand new item fixed or replaced when defective! E-mailing brought cookie cutter responses & when this was pointed out to a CS rep by phone, they could of cared less. I know I will be wary in the future to purchase any product associated with Kodak....funny how Kodak is willing to lose trust in their reputation & future sales over a low $ item...so much for service! You would think in the current economic climate, with consumers making fewer luxury item purchases, big companies such as Kodak would be much more concerned about how their customer is treated & views the company. It's not that I can't afford it...for me it's totally the principle of having to pay to ship a brand new unused defective item back which sells for only a bit more than what it would cost to ship!

Read Best Reviews of Kodak Batteries K700c2 Ni-Mh Aa/Aaa Rapid Car Chargr Here

Friday, July 11, 2014

GolfBuddy Voice GPS Rangefinder

GolfBuddy Voice GPS RangefinderI've been in the market for a golf GPS or rangefinder and have been undecided for a long time. The laser rangefinders are definitely appealing, but the form factor and having to dig a large item out of your bag when you need to get the pin distance was a major drawback. I also looked at a bunch of the new GPS systems, but many of them almost had too many functions and features enough that I knew I would be distracted during my golf round. Really, all I want is a good, reliable, accurate distance to the pin. This product is it.

I bought this a week ago on Amazon and have tested it at several golf courses -a few I was unfamiliar with and my home course where I am already dialed into the distances from playing the course several hundred times. This item is very accurate. After I bought it, I was obsessively checking the distance and comparing it with markings on the course. It always matched the plaques or sprinkler head covers of all three courses I ran this on. On one round, I was with someone using a laser and on another round I was with someone using a SkyCaddie. This item matched both each time.

But the biggest plus to this product is the form factor. You can easily clip this onto the side of your hat or your belt and forget it is there. Need the distance to the pin simple: press the button and it tells you. Need the distance to the front or back of the green press the button again for three seconds and it tells you. It is very easy to hear, yet is quiet enough that it will not disturb your playing partners in fact when the volume is turned down halfway, I doubt a playing partner five feet from you could hear it at all. If you don't want the voice, you can just peek down at your belt and see the distance in big numbers on the display, which update in real-time as you walk.

This item has two other features. One is where it will show you the actual shape of the green, and rotates that shape depending on your approach angle. I never really used this, because the graphical interface is simplistic, and I really only needed the distance to the pin. The second feature is very nice -it will record the distance between any two points. So say you want to know how far you hit your six-iron. You press a small button on the side, then the main button. Then you hit the ball and walk to it. When you get there, you press the main button again and it will tell you how far you hit the ball. I suppose you could just as easily look down before and after you hit and then do a little math, but I still found this feature to be a big bonus. I am already pretty dialed into my club distances, but if you are not exactly sure how far you are hitting each club, this was a nice feature to have.

The first round I played with it was a five-hour round, and I obsessively hit the button as I played to test it out. I still had half the battery life left, so I believe this could easily last two full rounds, especially since under normal conditions I wouldn't be activating it every single time I saw a yardage marker for comparison.

This product is small, the clip is strong so you won't lose it, and it just plain works with an unobtrusive form factor that makes it a huge bonus. The voice is a computer-sounding female voice not unlike Siri on an iPhone.

I was not sure this would be the solution I was looking for -but now I am certain that every GPS/rangefinder company will be copying this product in the next 6-9 months. It is really great. I love it.

PS when you get it, it comes with a micro-USB cord. You should go to the GolfBuddy website and make sure you have downloaded the latest firmware version. Mine needed an update, but installing it took only a few minutes and clicks on my Mac.

On a whim I bought this because the other range finders I used were either too bulky, too complicated, too high mainenance, or too hard to read. All I want is my distance so I can select my club. I don't want to have to remember to load the course, or pack batteries. I can't comfortably wear most of them on my belt and the watch ones are huge! (I have enough trouble with golf glove tan without adding watch tan.) This product solves all those issues. I wear it on my shirt and can choose to hit the button and have her tell me the distance or I can look at the display. Accuracy has been excellent. It automatically finds the course and announces the hole I am on. A charge will get you through 36 holes. It will give you distance to front, middle, or back and will also measure a shot distance. It is super easy to use! LOVE IT.

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I love my Golf Buddy Voice. With my other range finder I had to download the course, put it in a cup holder on the golf cart, carry it with me if I walked away from the cart, etc. My golf buddy, I turn it on, clip it onto my visor and I'm set for 18. No downloading courses, no yearly fees, no remembering to carry it around. I love this GPS.

Read Best Reviews of GolfBuddy Voice GPS Rangefinder Here

I have resisted buying a gps or laser rangefinder for many years. I had no use for a clumsy device that I would surely lose. Not to mention the time and effort to use it. Then I read about a gps device called "I am Caddie." It sounded great. It was small, light and clipped to the visor of my golf hat. All I had to do was push a button and it would tell me the distance to the center of the green. On the way to buy "I am Caddie" I ran across the Golf Buddy and bought it instead. I am glad that I did.

The main reason I chose Golf Buddy was the display. I didn't have to push a button. The distance was always on display. I had the choice to remove my hat and read the distance, or push the button and hear the distance. The same button would toggle between center, front and back of green. The distance is accurate and quickly displayed. You can walk toward the green and see the distance change. The battery lasts more than 36 holes per charge and it seems like every course is already in Golf Buddy. There is nothing to download.

There is one flaw. The Golf Buddy automatically recognizes the tee that you are on and automatically gives you the distance to that hole. If you hook or slice your shot onto or near another tee, the Golf Buddy will change holes. This can be an inconvience. But, as long as you do not stray onto another tee, you could play an entire round without ever touching the Golf Buddy. One final note, I can't tell that I am wearing the Golf Buddy on my hat.

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Had mine 3 weeks and it worked fine on the six different courses that I have played.This is exacly what I was looking for simple to use, preloaded with all the courses and fits on your belt or hat. The audio feature is very effective. Several of my friends bought one after seeing mine perform. Only minor issues are that it sometimes takes 12 minutes to locate the course so turn it on while you are warming up. Also it can get confused when there are fairways perpendicular and close to yours and then you have to manually reset it to your own fairway.

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

Xtenzi Nissan Infinity iPod iPhone iPad 24 Inch Long Cable 284H2-ZT50A Cube / Maxima / Murano / Pat

Xtenzi Nissan Infinity iPod iPhone iPad 24 Inch Long Cable 284H2-ZT50A Cube / Maxima / Murano / Pathfinder / Sentra / Titan / Versa / Xterra / G35 / G37 / M37 / M56 / EX35 / FX35 / FX50 / QX56 / Adapter Lead Cord Wire Line Out AuxIt's absolutely waste of money. Doesn't work with Murano 09. Keep in mind if you are expecting to get this item for Nissan Murano 09.

This worked perfectly in my Infiniti G37 and doesnt cut out on me like my last cord did. I sometimes connect my I pad 3 with the 30 pin connecter purchased above but majority of the time I connect up via the adapter 30 pin to iphone 5 connection converter which also works perfect.

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The cable is of a low quality and when connected works 10% of the time and on the off chance it works it produces random electronic noises through the car stereo.

Car is a 09 G37xS.

Read Best Reviews of Xtenzi Nissan Infinity iPod iPhone iPad 24 Inch Long Cable 284H2-ZT50A Cube / Maxima / Murano / Pat Here

Sunday, June 15, 2014

GTMax Mini-USB 2000mah LED Car Vehicle Charger for GPS Magellan RoadMate 2120T-LM, RoadMate 2120T,

GTMax Mini-USB 2000mah LED Car Vehicle Charger for GPS Magellan RoadMate 2120T-LM, RoadMate 2120T, RoadMate 2036T-LM, RoadMate 2055T-LM, RoadMate 5045T-EU, RoadMate 2145T-LMAfter ordering this item, I learned that some GPS's only tolerate OEM products which this one is not. It might work with your GPS, and I have bought others that worked with mine. This one was not compatible with my Garmin Nuvi 250 W. It recognized it as a computer cord, and I got the computer icon screen instead of the GPS screen when plugged in. It might work for your model...

The seller was greatI received the product quickly and the price was right.

This was rated five because I received exactly what I expected and it worked as described. As in most power cords I do wish it was a tad bit longer...gets me where I want to go:)

Buy GTMax Mini-USB 2000mah LED Car Vehicle Charger for GPS Magellan RoadMate 2120T-LM, RoadMate 2120T, Now

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

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

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

Used stopwatch to time this.

1. After full discharge 1 minute crank

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

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

2. After full discharge 1 minute crank

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

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

3. After full discharge 1 minute crank

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Friday, June 13, 2014

Garmin Alkaline Battery Pack for Rino 520 and Rino 530 (010-10571-00)

Garmin Alkaline Battery Pack for Rino 520 and Rino 530
  • Compatible with Rino 520 and Rino 530 GPS units
  • Replaces the lithium ion battery pack that comes with the unit
  • Powers up to 18 hours via two-watts TX power

The alkaline battery pack is a must have for the Rino if you're without power to recharge the main battery. The battery pack takes 4 AA batteries and lasts for several hours. With moderate use, it will last a 2-3 days. It does add a little bulk versus the main battery, and it reduces the radio range to 2W (which made me drop one star), but an excellent insurance policy if you're miles from nowhere. I used it in the arctic with no problems.

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This adapter uses normal AA batteries to run the garmin 530, which uses 2 Li-Ion cells at about 7.5-8.0 volts to transmit. With 4 rechargable AA cells, you get about 5-6 VDC. That loss in voltage translates to a loss in transmit power you are confined to the 2W setting while this is installed.

Skip down a few products and you will find the original battery that came with your garmin 5xx series radio 2 Li-Ion hi capacity cells with about a day's runtime. Best part is you get the full 5W transmit when you really need it.

A good formula for transmit distance is 2x watts = miles (and that's it)

2W = 4 miles

5W = 10 miles

(I know they say 12 miles, but that is under ideal conditions, believe me 10 miles is doing really good for a 5W radio with built in antenna)

Now, knowing this if you're way out there and calling for help do you want 2Watts or 5Watts when you press the PTT button? The small difference in price now could be substantial gain later.

Read Best Reviews of Garmin Alkaline Battery Pack for Rino 520 and Rino 530 (010-10571-00) Here

This is a must have for Rino 530 users that are away from power for extended periods. No need to worry about having your rechargeable pack die on you on a back-packing trip or long excursion. Just bring a pack of batteries.

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This is a great accessory and an alternative to the high priced original battery for general hiking and hunting use. My friends and I use the 500 series of Rinos for hunting, so we usually run the radio at 1/2 watt because we are generally within 1 mile of each other. In this mode the lithium batter will last for days, but the AA pack is there if you really need it. It also provides a nice way to carry backup batteries for other AA items like headlamps or cameras. If you are really worried about having access to 5W of power in an emergency, you could use the AA pack as your main battery and "save" the original for emergencies. If you're using this for mountaineering where you want to be in contact with a base camp several miles away, a spare original battery or two would be better choice.

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Great backup for the stock rechargeable battery. I keep this loaded with fresh batteries in my pack as a backup. Just in case I run out of charge in the stock rechargeable.

Must have! It has saved my but a few times.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester

Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/TesterForgetting to remove the negative connector before storing my vehicle for the winter; the internal sytems and alarm drained the battery, and of course it was sulfated. This unit worked like a charm. The battery was down to 8 volts/15%. The SC-1200a properly began to charge, then desulfate, and slowly was able to get the battery back to 98% before I removed it to start the car. This took approximately 17 hours (700 CCA Battery), which isn't bad for a dead/sulfated battery using a charger costing less than $50. The plus is you can use it to maintain your battery on a vehicle you do not drive much. Keeping your battery charged above 98% can greatly extend the life. How long it will the charger last running 24/7? ...I do not know yet. I have only had it maintaining the battery for 3 weeks, but still no problems. It does have a cooling fan which probably should be cleaned/vacuumed occaisionally; and I've never felt the unit being hot to touch. Not sure what problem the first reveiwer had, or if the unit he had was defective or dropped before he purchased it. For a $50 charger which maintains and also desulfates a battery, you cannot beat it.

Stay far, far, far, away from this charger. I walked away from tested, good, low charge battery being charged on the 8amp setting connected to a 750CCA regular car battery and when I came back a couple hours later it was boiling and still trying to charge! I checked the charge voltage and it was at 16 volts (measured with a Fluke meter)! Bad, very bad, charger and not automatic or smart at all.

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I was hoping to find the Schumacher model 7000A 2/20 Amp charger to review, but this 1200A is just a variation on the same thing. Looks identical too. After reading bad reviews of Schumacher and Vector it's clear these companies can't do anything right. Seems any product that has a microprocessor is programmed by the incompetent. Let me tell you about Schumacher speed chargers.

They won't charge batteries that don't already have a significant charge. If your battery drops below 10 to 11 volts, forget it. You'd have to have a manual battery charger as backup for when this won't charge, which eliminates the need for this thing in the first place. The explanation from the company is that the charger has to feed off the voltage in the battery, blah, blah. The purpose of a battery charger is to charge batteries, period. Then I was lied to by the tech and told if I hold down a certain combination of buttons when plugging the unit in, it would go into manual 2A mode (where the processor doesn't decide it won't charge your battery), but I sat there on the phone with him doing just as he said, and turns out no such feature exists. The manual doesn't mention anything like that either.

The charger is totally unpredictable. It almost always goes into desulfate mode. It has never completed a charge after coming out of desulfate mode, but ends in an error. Needs to be unplugged and plugged back in to start charging again to "completion". However completion doesn't seem to get the battery to 100% power, more like 80%, if that. Sometimes it won't charge at 20A and drops down to 2A. Don't know why. And according to the manual, desulfate mode can take up to 10 hours. So much for speed charge. Need to get into your car and go somewhere? Well you may need to wait until the next day.

It has a retain mode where the charger can sit there and monitor your battery and charge when needed. Figured I'd just leave the thing on my car almost permanently. But those who programmed the thing don't understand setting upper and lower thresholds. What it should do is charge up to the upper threshold, then when the battery drops below the lower, it charges to the upper again. I therefore expected it to turn on once a day or whatever. Instead it's turning on and off every several seconds, with the fan and relay clicking on and off. That's a good way to ware out the unit in no time.

It has a 70A engine start feature just incase you don't have enough juice to quite start your car, but if the battery is low enough where the charger won't charge it, the engine start feature won't work either.

My last car battery was probably only 1.5 years old before it wouldn't even take a charge. I'm beginning to suspect the damn charger might be responsible. When going into desulfate mode for instance, I see the voltage climb up to well over 16 volts. I don't know if that's good for the battery.

The simple act of charging a battery can be turned into a stressful nightmare with this crappy charger. Stay far away from Schumacher. It's clear they can't build a realiable charger, nor does it appear they've actually tried out their own products before dumping them onto the public.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester Here

Have used this charger for A year to charge my boat batteries. Never completes A cycle without having to un-plug and restart. Charged battery overnite, and found battery was boiling. Had to replace. Bought new model(walmart) and returned old in same box, and still having same problems.My life depends on dependable power offshore. This charger is garbage, going to sell at fleamarket and get real operational charger.

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Stay away from this product. The fan on mine quit about a week after I purchased it and now the charger itself has stopped working. Seems it doesn't like cold weather. Bought it at Wally World and they won't take it back.

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Friday, April 25, 2014

GTMax White USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod Touch 4th Generation

GTMax White USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod Touch 4th Generation
  • GTMax the Exclusive Brand of Bargaincell. Only in the United States.

Very good and helpful charger.

This is very compact and fits wherever if I need to bring back and forth.

Excellent quality!

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A must have gadget if you take your iPod Touch with you away from your PC. Plug it into your car while you travel so your battery is always full.

P.S. Ordered a second one. Amazon was unclear that the seller was from the UK, so it will take a month to get here. So you will need to research (click) on the vendor and read if you want it sooner, i.e. from a US vendor.

Read Best Reviews of GTMax White USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod Touch 4th Generation Here

This did not work for my iPhone 4s running iOS 6.1.3. However, it did work for my very old iPod Classic. I wanted it for the phone, so it isn't very useful to me, but it was my fault for not reading the description more carefully--it only claims to work for the iPod touch. One issue that I noticed was the the description of this device is 700 mA, but the product I received was actually 1000 mA.

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Since these are priced astronomically at the apple store, this is a great bargain and works perfectly. It is only the adapter and does not come with a cord.

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It charges my iPod touch in 20 minutes!! It looks so cute and having the blue light show when it's working is really handy. Love it love it love it!!! I got more than I paid for!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Associated Equipment 6001A 6/12V 100/75 Amp Continuous Charge 375 Amp Cranking Assist Charger with

Associated Equipment 6001A 6/12V 100/75 Amp Continuous Charge 375 Amp Cranking Assist Charger with WheelsWe received the charger in a timely manner with little to no damage from shipping. However, the charger did not work. We had to trouble shoot the unit and found internal wiring not connected. I spent my anticipated savings correcting the assembly problem. Even after all this, I will continue to purchase on-line.

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