Showing posts with label 12v battery charger reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12v battery charger reviews. Show all posts

Thursday, October 2, 2014

2-in-1 Combo, Travel Charger + Car Charger. For Nokia E61 / E62 / 770 / N70 / N71 / N72 / N73 / N80

2-in-1 Combo, Travel Charger + Car Charger. For Nokia E61 / E62 / 770 / N70 / N71 / N72 / N73 / N80 / N90 / N91 / N92 / N93 / N95 / VI 3155/ 3155i / 3250 / 5200 / 5300 / 5700 XpressMusic / 6070 / 6085 / 6086 / 6101 / 6102 / 6102i / 6103 / 6111 / 6125My first charger lasted 3 month and stopped working. I went on line to order another one and noticed that

the car charger had a life time coverage. I ordered another one which I recieved without question and fast.

Sorry to say that the second one only lasted one and a half month. (I am not a heavy car charger user). So after

only half a dozen times, it failed me again. I have given up on ordering another one from the same place and wasting

my time one mor time.

It was cheap but not good.

the wire of car charger was too short,so I need to put my cell phone so close to charger. the second charger was very good,it charge my phone in one hour Which I think is good for me.

Buy 2-in-1 Combo, Travel Charger + Car Charger. For Nokia E61 / E62 / 770 / N70 / N71 / N72 / N73 / N80 Now

If what you need is a phone charger, I highly recommend this one. Easy to use and pretty cheap.

Read Best Reviews of 2-in-1 Combo, Travel Charger + Car Charger. For Nokia E61 / E62 / 770 / N70 / N71 / N72 / N73 / N80 Here

the car charger claimed to be compatible with my Nokia 6086 but when plugged in my phone says "charger not supported"

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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Koolatron P65 Kargo 12v Portable Cooler

Koolatron P65 Kargo 12v Portable CoolerMy Kargo Kooler arrived damaged in a dented box without any interior packing materials. The lid doors were warped and a little loose, a screw was missing from a hinge, the cheap plastic lid latch did not work properly, and I could not use this cooler vertically as a "refrigerator" because the heavy bottom door sagged badly. Perhaps attaching the heavy cooling unit to a lid door is a design flaw of this model.

The Kargo Kooler arrived a day before a 1600-mile road trip: I tested it en route to the Deep South in April as a chest cooler for exotic cheeses and a frozen pork roast, plugged into a socket in the cargo area of my Subaru Forester. I also splurged for the the optional AC adapter so I could plug it in at hotels. It cooled things superbly, despite lid problems. Yes, it may be a bit noisy in quiet office/home environments, but I did not notice its hum above road noise or the loud blasts of heating/cooling in highway hotel rooms.

My unit was obviously damaged from shipping, so I'm returning it to Amazon for a refund. Just check the lid covers and hinges very closely for damage and/or defects if you order this item.

I liked this enough to give Koolatron a second chance: I just ordered Koolatron's slightly smaller rolling mini-fridge model which may better suit my needs, has an adjustable thermostat, and should tuck away nicely and discreetly under the cargo area blind of my Subaru.

I got this as a sort of "extra" frig for drinks in the summer. However, it freezes up easily and can't be adjusted for temperature. It is lightweight and portable, working well for a drink chest for parties.

Also, the plug in that comes with it was missing. It only plugs into a car outlet--I had to buy the adapter to use it in the house.

Given the choice, I'd probably go with a small refrig that adjusts temperature. However, again, I like the portability of this product.

Buy Koolatron P65 Kargo 12v Portable Cooler Now

WE GOT INTO THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS AND NEEDED A SMALL FRIDGE TO KEEP DOWN THE COST OF FOOD.. WE HAVE USED THIS KOOLATRON ALMOST STEADY FOR A MONTH NOW. IT KEEPS ON GOING. THE ONLY THING BETTER WOULD BE IF IT WAS VERSITLE TO PLUG INTO CAR AND HOME. WE BOUGHT AN ADAPTER TO TAKE IT INTO MOTELS AND SUCH TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE.. WE JUST LOVE IT THOUGH. WE RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY.

Read Best Reviews of Koolatron P65 Kargo 12v Portable Cooler Here

Used this on my road trip, it did great keeping all my food and drinks cold. Even when driving through the hot desert of 90 degree weather, it did cool down below 40 degrees from outside temperature, so it was 50 degrees inside cooler for our food. Warmer does great, can use up to 4 hrs maximum. Either cooler or warmer, plug into 12v lighter when car is running or will drain your car battery. It stays cool when at picnic and cannot plug cooler in.

Only concern is when fans running, its loud inside the car. When driving the road noise blends it out. After awhile you don't even think about it. Not too bulky in the backseat. Easily used seat belts to help hold it down when driving, such as around corners. Greatly recommend this cooler/warmer. My friend had a different brand and didn't work well. This one is a great portable fridge. Plus bought adapter from Amazon.com to use at hotel rooms, plug right in to wall outlet.

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The hinge on the door was broken on arrival even though the packaging was not damaged. It seems like the double door concept with the heavy cooler mechanism on the door put a lot of stress on the plastic hinge. Good concept, but poor execution. I had to return it before we could even turn it on....

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

GTMax Red USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod touch 5th 4th GEN 5G 4G, iPod N

GTMax Red USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod touch 5th 4th GEN 5G 4G, iPod Nano 6th Gen 6G; iPhone 5 5th, 4S, 4,3 3GS; ipad 1 2 3 , ipad miniBought this for my son and it's a permanent fixture in his car. Nice to have so he can always charge his phone.

its a good deal and works with all my devices but only thing i didnt like it has a light and its blue:/ and usb charger is red but still good

Buy GTMax Red USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod touch 5th 4th GEN 5G 4G, iPod N Now

Works great, wish I had ordered it in white to match my iPhone but its a must have. Compact and sleek

Read Best Reviews of GTMax Red USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod touch 5th 4th GEN 5G 4G, iPod N Here

I ordered five of these for family members. Each got one in their favorite color.

A few I ordered straight from China and the price for all of them was a couple of dollars each, at most.

They seem to work OK, although I got a report that the red one "got warm" while plugged in, so....I would suggest NOT leaving them plugged in unattended!

They look high-end, though and I think everyone is happy with their charger.

Want GTMax Red USB Mini Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter for Apple iPod touch 5th 4th GEN 5G 4G, iPod N Discount?

Works great and it was a good price. Love it in red! Useful for both older and newer Apple products

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Monday, September 15, 2014

Allstar Performance ALL76139 Battery Charger Post, (Pack of 2)

Allstar Performance ALL76139 Battery Charger Post,I CHOSE THIS BRAND OF BATTERY CHARGING POSTS BACAUSE OF THE CLAIMED ROBUST DESIGN. WELL I WASENT DISAPPOINTED. THEY ARE EXTREMELY WELL DESIGNED AND BUILT. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM NEEDING REPLACED DUE TO WEARING OUT OR BREAKAGE BECAUSE THEY ARE OF LATHE TURNED, SOLID BRASS CONSTRUCTION. THE COLOR CODED CAPS FOR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ARE A NICE FEATURE AND HAVE A STRIP ATTACHED TO PREVENT LOSS. I HAVE MOUNTED THESE TO MY '33 FORD COUPE TO FACILITATE REMOTE CHARGING. THEY ARE VERY CLEAN LOOKING AND FUNCTION AS EXPECTED. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM.

I took a car battery, put it in a plastic box and put it up on a high shelf. Then I ran some 4 gauge cables to these posts which are mounted below. I have trickle charger leads attached to the back for charging the back. With this battery I can jump start either of our cars easily. I like that the rubber caps snap on securely, giving me peace of mind about placing them in a convenient location.

Buy Allstar Performance ALL76139 Battery Charger Post, (Pack of 2) Now

If I could give these a '0' rating, I would. First off, the description of these doesn't give the dimensions of the product, only the dimensions of the packaging. I was expecting something a LOT smaller, like a 1/4-20 stud AND 1-1/2" overall height. These have a 3/8-16 stud and nut, with a 3/4" diameter stud on top and an overall height of 3". They're HUGE. You could charge 15 batteries at once and still have amp rating left over.

Secondly, the Black cap wouldn't come off and I had to pry it off with a screwdriver, and the Red cap WON'T STAY ON. That means the positive terminal could inadvertently be exposed. Plus, the through panel threads are 1-1/4", try drilling that hole with a hand drill.

These posts are absolutely worthless. I wasted my money just to throw them away!

Read Best Reviews of Allstar Performance ALL76139 Battery Charger Post, (Pack of 2) Here

I bought these for a remote under the hood terminal post set, but it's not really good for that. Great for getting a jump if you need it I guess. Gave it a good review b/c the construction is solid and would work for it's intended purpose!

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Thursday, August 21, 2014

New OEM Verizon Casio G'zOne Ravine C751 Car Charger

New OEM Verizon Casio G'zOne Ravine C751 Car ChargerThe charger works great and I can move it from car to car. I am glad that it is a Verizon OEM Product.

What else is there to say?????????? Would buy again if I had to. Of course it is by Verizon so you know the connection is going to fit. I have stopped buying OEM because unless I read a review confirming that it works, there is a better than 50% chance that it won't

Buy New OEM Verizon Casio G'zOne Ravine C751 Car Charger Now

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Griffin Itrip Auto Universal Plus Refresh FM transmitter and PowerJolt Auto Charging for Portable A

Griffin Itrip Auto Universal Plus Refresh FM transmitter and PowerJolt Auto Charging for Portable Audio Playersthe clearest frequency to transmit on is 87.9. However this station is only available while the device is in international mode. Customer support will not tell you how to change the device into international BUT I WILL. Hold down the + and button for about 20 seconds. 'US" will flash in the upper left corner. Now press the + button until you see 'intl'. Now the device will unlock ALL frequencies 87.7 107.9. Use 87.9 or 87.7 for best reception. Also try changing from LX to DX (stereo to mono) because DX (mono) seems to give off a stronger signal without compromising sound. your welcome.

After reading other reviews, I was worried this wouldn't work well for us. But it does just fine.

Used it with Zune, iPod and iPhone without a hitch. Around town, a selected preset works the best and avoids re-tuning. On the road, click the button once when you encounter static or interference, and you are in the clear.

A hard wired connx would be better; this is a good second option.

Buy Griffin Itrip Auto Universal Plus Refresh FM transmitter and PowerJolt Auto Charging for Portable A Now

Got this item to charge and play music on my Droid. However, it appears to have some issues with charging the Droid. It will start charging the unit for a few seconds or even minutes and then stop (even if the Droid isn't anywhere close to fully charged). The FM radio component seems to work well though, so I'm using it, but it's annoying of course to plug in both a separate car charger and the iTrip. Griffin's tech support has been helpful and quickly got me a replacement unit to try, but it has the same issue. I would only recommend this with the Droid if you are aware that the charging aspect of the iTrip may not work with it.

Read Best Reviews of Griffin Itrip Auto Universal Plus Refresh FM transmitter and PowerJolt Auto Charging for Portable A Here

Finally a FM transmitter that is worth something....the sounds that came out were really clear, the range was good (my antenna is on the front of the car), and the smartscan worked great so that i could keep my eyes on the road for the most part....and the USB charger? great idea. i don't think you could do better for the price.

Want Griffin Itrip Auto Universal Plus Refresh FM transmitter and PowerJolt Auto Charging for Portable A Discount?

I've had a number of these fm transmitters. I had the first one Griffin released for the early iPods. I had a Transpod for the iPod Video. All worked very well. Easy plug and play. Never a problem.

I bought an iPod Touch and tried one of the docking units from Transpod. It didn't allow you to play video whilst plugged in. It also died after 24 hours so I returned it.

I bought one of these (much less expensive) Griffins as a replacement and it works great. I can set it up so my son can watch video whilst I'm driving. The sound quality is very good.

I've driven through cities with it and country and no problem. It's signal is powerful enough to drown out most local stations if I stray into an area where there's conflict. I've heard some newer models had to tone down the transmitter strength. This one doesn't seem toned down. I can use all of the stations without problem.

Design could earn it another star as the cables are a little long and having the transmitter in the middle is not the most convenient. But that's nit-picking. I can't see a real reason not to buy this. I see there's a white version around for less $$$ so that might be a better buy for the frugal.

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Garmin Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T Car and Wall Charger

Garmin Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T Car and Wall Charger
  • Gives you the flexibility to charge your navigation unit at home or on vacation
  • Lightweight unit restores power to your navigation system
  • Safely charges the battery on your GPS while driving
  • IC Chip recognizes a full battery & automatically switches to saver modeing and overheating)

I bought this so I would have another car charger for my Garmin nuvi 1390. My Garmin gets its power from a standard USB Mini which both the car charger and wall AC charger provide.

When I plugged my Garmin into the car charger my Garmin nuvi 1390 thought it was connected to a computer at first. It then figured it out and came on. While that would be a little annoying it's not the real problem.

When I had my Garmin plugged into the car adapter it would run for a few minutes,then it would go off, then come back on for a few minutes, then go off, then come back on ... Anyway you get the picture.

I haven't decided if I'm going to try to return. The shipping cost more than the item did.

I wish I could give it no stars.

Buy Garmin Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T Car and Wall Charger Now

Got what I expected for a good price. When it arrived, I was surprised how light the package was and wondered about the quality. However it all has worked flawlessly. The AC charger is very handy to charge it up before a trip, or for a walking trip. The car charger is a back-up. You should be aware that when you use it, you loose the traffic feedback for the NUVI 1350 since the FM receiver is integrated into the original car charger and it is not included in the one that comes with this package. But the price is right!

Read Best Reviews of Garmin Nuvi 1300, 1350, 1350T Car and Wall Charger Here

On the plus side, product was received in a very timely manner, and was exaclty as pictured.

Unfortunately, these are NOT Garmin chargers. These are USB chargers. When used with the Garmin Nuvi, all they do is cause the Nuvi to cycle through the computer syncing mode over and over. The battery does not charge, and you cannot use the Nuvi to navigate.

I have contacted the seller but have not heard back from them. If you have a USB phone or other device that does charge using a USB port delivering USB voltage, then these items will have other uses around your home.

But if, like me, you wanted to be able to charge and program your Nuvi at home, and have a spare 12V cord for a second vehicle, DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM.

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I gave my dad the Garmin GPS as a gift and threw this in as almost an afterthought when it popped up on Amazon as one of the "Items most often purchased" list. I thought, for such a cheap price, what's to loose? I guess in this case there was little to gain, because these apparently worked for a while but the home plug in has long since stopped working. I guess that is the gamble you make in buying cheaper, off brand products. I have done it in the past with chargers for cell phones with a lot of success, so maybe this particular type is bad, or I just got the unlucky bad apple. Buy with few hopes!

This power supply did not work to charge our Garmin nuvi 1350T GPS at 120V.

The 12 V was not tried

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Active 10 TREK

Active 10 TREKI debated before purchasing the Satmap for myself and my Dad, did I really need yet another device? We're both keen hikers and wanted something to help us explore some less well known trails in the Bay Area. Just a few days in, we're both enamored with the ease of use and the quality of the product. The mapping from Nathional Geographic is detailed and the size of the screen is a bonus when navigating. My Dad isn't that techie and he loves it. Definitely worth the investment if you are outdoorsy.

This GPS Unit is £400 in Britain that's $628 in America,but even at this cheap price it's still way over priced,it's as if it's a prototype so could be good someday,but not now,for instance it's claimed to have an IP rating of 65,but using this thing in even slight rain isn't advised as water gets behind the back cover and behind the screen,also they quote up to 120 hours battery life,when you're lucky to get 12 hours out of it and it's very tedious to use without a computer,speaking of computers it only works properly on a PC and the online mapping service together with maps cost a fortune,personally I wish I bought a cheap GPS or a car type SATNAV than this.

Buy Active 10 TREK Now

I just purchased the Active 10 GPS and like it but the maps are not what I expected, I expected the maps being National Geographic maps to be much crisper, the maps are blurry when I zoom in. The unit it self I really like and the size of the display is a huge plus for me. I don't need my glasses to read the information on the display.

Read Best Reviews of Active 10 TREK Here

This GPS looks like a great product. It has exactly the features and map detail I desire for day hiking. Unfortunately, SATMAP has only 12 National Geographic State Map cards currently available for the device (and none of them are where I live).

In addition, the National Geographic State Map cards cost $99.99 per state. If you are like me, and hike in five separate states (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina) then the cost of the map cards becomes excessive.

I own National Geographic's TOPO software for my home PC, and use it to produce my own detailed trail maps. National Geographic bundled multiple states in their TOPO software (Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are together); I am waiting to see if they will do the same with their SATMAP map cards.

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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Premium Car Charger for Verizon Wireless Razzle TXT8030

Premium Car Charger for Verizon Wireless Razzle TXT8030This charger does the job, if the car is motionless. Otherwise, the connection to the phone is loose & the phone repeatedly signals a lost connection. This was on a straight, even turnpike no pot holes, twists and turns, etc. If the phone and the attached cord can be completely immobilized, it might work.

It was exactly what i needed at a great price. I now have an extra one to take on trips.

Buy Premium Car Charger for Verizon Wireless Razzle TXT8030 Now

Sunday, July 6, 2014

TriStar TS-45 Charge Controller

TriStar TS-45 Charge ControllerThis is an outstanding charge controller. Installation was clearly laid out in the owners manual with factory default charge programs that cover most battery charge point voltages. The programs are easily set using small DIP switches. If you prefer to have a custom solar charging program (ie bulk chargeing voltage of 15.0 volts with a float of 13.4 volts) you can download Morningstar's PC software and manually input the charging points.

There are 3 different colored LED's on the front of the unit that let you know how your system is performing. The LEDS will tell you the status of your battery bank charge, the stage of charging process (bulk, PWM, Float and equalization), and whether or not the batteries are discharging. You will need to refer to the owners manual the first couple of times to decipher the lights, but easy once you know what you are looking for. Additionally, the LED lights will flash different colors to indicate different faults.

Lastly, if LEDs are too complicated or frustrating for the owner, Morningstar makes a LCD display that will tell you the same things the LED's will, just in a digital readout. I have not personally used it, but it is nice to know if I want a remote digital display hanging inside my cabin, I can do that instead of trudging through the rain to the garage to see how the system is performing.

This is the second charge controller I have used for my off grid cabin, and am extremely pleased. My previous charge controller (Xantrex C60) failed within a week and customer service was horrible. Xantrex was made in China, and the quality showed. The Morningstar is made in Taiwan and it is hands down built better and sturdier than the Xantrex.

I will update if the Morningstar has any problems in the future.

I've been using the TS-45 for three years now. It is one of those products that remind me of the "good old days" when things were built to last. This charge controller is bullet proof.

After retiring I've been doing a lot more camping in my truck camper. I prefer boondocking (free camping without hookups) but was continually running my batteries dead. I hate generator noise, so opted for a solar install. Three years ago I put together a 200 watt system using the TS-45 as my charge controller. I knew I made the right choice as soon as I removed it from its packaging. It's a solid little unit.

This controller does not have MPPT, but I don't need it for my system as I am recharged by about noon every day anyway. If you're looking for the MPPT version of this controller it's the TS-MPPT-45. There is also a 60-watt version, both in PWM and MPPT. Note, however, that if you want to comply with NEC guidelines your controller's amperage rating must be equal to or greater than 125% of your solar array's short circuit current output (Isc). That means to use the TS-45 your array's Isc must not be any more than 36 amps. This controller, however, will handle solar overloads of up to 130% of rated current, which will be tapered down instead of disconnecting the array. Over-temperature conditions are handled similarly.

This controller allows you to choose solar charging or diversion charge control, choose the system voltage (12, 24 or 48v), set your absorption stage charging voltage (set point), choose automatic or manual equalization and choose between PWM or on/off charging via a series of dip switches. It has terminals for voltage sensing wires (for more accurate reading of the batteries' state of charge), and supports temperature compensation (but the remote sensor is purchased separately). Three LED lights tell you how the system is performing, but I opted to also install a Trimetric 2020 meter for more extensive readings in a digital format. A meter is also offered as an optional item to the TS-45, but I have no experience with that.

Besides what can be set via the dip switches, there is an RS-232 serial port which can be used to connect the TS-45 to your computer for more extensive settings. I have never used that feature yet so can't comment on its functionality.

Also worth mentioning is the TS-45 comes with an outstanding instruction manual. Everything is explained clearly and extensively. In this day and age when so many items come with almost non-existent instructions this was a very pleasant surprise. I keep it where I can easily get to it and often refer back to it when wanting to learn more about the system.

Three years going and not so much as a hiccup with this charge controller. In fact, I am writing this from the Southern California desert via power supplied through the TS-45 right now. After my experience with this controller, I am sold on Morningstar products.

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I've been very happy with this controller. I have both flood lead acid as well as an AGM, and this controller allows me to charge each one correctly, by making minor changes to the switch settings.

Read Best Reviews of TriStar TS-45 Charge Controller Here

I like alot of the features , looks well made,had good reviews on the internet

the manual needs to be read many times to understand this controller

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Charge controller came with good instructions, very versitle, will cover close to 4ooo watts @ 48volts. Made well sold by an American company, but not made here, but made well. I had a problem when I first ordered the unit, my firmware was out of date (not from the Company, from a solar reseller), attempted to update firmware, and unit locked up. Contacted Morningstar and they stood behind the product!! Sent me a new unit out that was already updated. Unit must be configured before use, but using the free software, it is a breeze, step by step (my 12 year old did it with me!). You can monitor almost any paramater with a pc with a serial connection, or usb to serial. I am very Satified with the unit. Would recommend to anyone for off grid use.

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

Cell Phone Car Charger for Samsung Convoy U640

Cell Phone Car Charger for Samsung Convoy U640Work as it should and a lot cheaper than the one at the cell store.

It worked out great for our phones in the car.

Friends & family will really like this product for their travels.

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Product did not fit the Convoy phone as advertised. Had a different sized plug. Outside of that, service was ok.

Read Best Reviews of Cell Phone Car Charger for Samsung Convoy U640 Here

It is a good product and works well most of the time. I sometimes have to press it in more firmly to the AC outlet in my car to make sure that the light comes on and it charges my cell.

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have not used as of this time. It did fit the cell phone and I assume it will charge the battery when I have a need to do so.

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester

Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load TesterThis device is a carbon pile load tester.

A carbon pile load tester works by applying a calibrated load to the battery (the load is essentially a large carbon resistor that heats up when voltage is applied).

To properly test using this method, the battery must be at least 75% charged. A good battery should be able to supply half its cold cranking amps (CCA) rating for 15 seconds without dropping below 9.5 volts (if you want to test batteries that are not fully charged you'll need to purchase an electronic tester which tests by measuring the internal resistance of the battery.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This unit (by design) will get hot and might initially produce some smoke if there is any foreign matter on the resistor element.

*** UPDATE: The rocker switch on my unit MELTED rendering the tester useless ***

Remember, this unit is a carbon pile testerin other words, uses a thick carbon resistor to apply a heavy load across the battery terminals to load test the battery. Works flawlessly from the first, and I use this unit daily in my lawnmower shop it is a huge time-saver over "test by elimination" methods, and has successfully tested several dozen batteries and going strong. As long as unit is maintained (keep it clean and in a toolbox where dust won't settle on the carbon resistors) you'll be happy to have this unit in your shop. If you leave it out or splatter oil on it, obviously it will smoke as the debris burns off from the hot carbon pile resistor.

It does not test a discharged battery (but if a 12V battery does not have 12 volts, even after charging, it's obviously bad) but a quick charge from a charger and a quick, very brief load test to burn off surface charge easily lets me know whether to continue charging the battery or condemn it right away.

For a small shop that does not need the advanced features of a resistance circuit computerized battery tester, this unit is well worth the investment. (we use different procedures for charging system testing, depending on the equipment being serviced, so it is not always possible to test these charging systems we work with with an advanced computerized unit, so.. )

Only complaint I have with this unit is the cables are maybe a little short, and quite stiff. It'd be nicer if the cables at least had more flexibility to them, or were about 6 to 10 inches longer some places it is a little clumsy to hook it on to the battery, while holding up the tractor seat at the same time, and other places the battery is slightly recessed. smaller clamps to fit in tight spots, and more flexible cables, and this unit would be *perfection*

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Besides checking batteries on my car and truck I have several other deep cycle batteries for RV and other purposes. This unit provides an easy and quick way to know if the batteries are healthy and expected to last awhile. Yes, the tester did smoke slightly during it's first use, but it's expected to 'burn in' when new, like a muffler on a new car. The BT-100 looks and feels like a quality piece of equipment, is handy to have around and a good buy from Amazon.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher BT-100 100 amp Battery Load Tester Here

I purchased one of these from Amazon about a month ago. My issue...I have an on-board battery charger in my bass boat, so I simply plug in from a remote plug and end up not checking/maintaining my three boat batteries as often as I should. So, when I went to use the boat the first time this year, I did check the water level in my starting battery and found it low (below the top of the plates). I had charged it to put away last year, but wasn't sure if I should trust it this year. So I ordered this, followed the instructions to load test the battery, and found it good. Without this, I would have probably just bought a new battery "to be safe". So save one battery. I have also used it to test the JD lawn tractor battery, the battery for my wood splitter, my trolling motor batteries, and both my vehicle batteries. I also keep a couple spare 12v batteries. One tested bad, so I could dispose of that, otherwise I may have just had that sitting around and kept trying to keep it periodically topped off with a 2A trickle charger.

So, I figure it has already paid for itself, and I'm a light user. Now my brother can check his batteries too. Yes, I recommend!

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i have use several like this, my snap-on one broke and was going to cost me 5 time what i paid for this one to fix it !

great in all shops. I use mine on anything that got a battery;golfcarts ,farm tractors, equipment, you name it.

good tool for the money and it is nice to trouble shoot the charging system.

the only bad i wish the cables were a foot longer, but only in some instances.

great tool -great price a++++++

thanks rusty

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Sunday, June 15, 2014

Retractable Power Pack (Car Charger & Travel Charger) for Palm Centro

Retractable Power Pack for Palm CentroThe concept of a retractable car charger is great. No more dangling cord to add clutter. Just pull out as much cord as you need, and retract the cord when your done. The Palm car charger is built solidly, has a blue light to indicate if the car battery is supplying power and a push-button to retract the cord. I would reccomend it to anyone. The wall charger is similar. Also very nice.

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Sunday, June 8, 2014

Griffin 9865-TFLEX5G TuneFlex Auto Charger with Flexible Docking Cradle for iPod

Griffin 9865-TFLEX5G TuneFlex Auto Charger with Flexible Docking Cradle for iPod
  • Flexible steel neck that adjusts to any angle, and a cradle that securely grips your iPod Nano
  • Plugs into your car's 12-volt cigarette lighter accessory outlet, providing power and charging your iPod
  • Low-high audio output switch that ensures clear sound without distortion
  • Built-in, 0.125-inch stereo line-out audio jack lets you attach an audio cable directly to your stereo, or run the included cassette adapter into your stereo's tape cassette player
  • Compatibility: iPod (1G only)

Works really well, but tends to droop after awhile. Overall I thinks its worth the price.

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Easy to install and works great with the cassette adapter. The amp. boost feature and level sound could not work better. The one small problem is the 30 GB ipod does not fit tight and on bumpy roads causes the sound to go in and out.

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There are only 2 of these things in the market....well, the time I bought it there were only 2. This one and the Ten Technology one. This product is excellent!!!!! 2 things though 1) The switch from high output to low output is basically useless. 2) The rubber thingie that keeps the cradle from moving gets weak in time. But then again, I would really recommend this product!!! I'm getting another one if something happens to this one!

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This thing moves and wobbles and turns and absolutely will not hold my ipod classic. While trying to set it up right it snapped at the base completely ruining it. I suppose you might like it if you have a lighter ipod like the nano but for me this was a giant pain in the ###. I'm glad I only spent 10 bucks on it instead of 30 or 50.

Don't waste your money.

It's a good product for playing my iPod touch in the car (I don't have an AUX jack). The FM transmitters I tried all had a terrible signal; luckily I have a tape deck so I can use the cassette adapter in this package. The one thing I didn't think about before I bought this was that the charge plug and the headphone jack are both on the bottom of the iPod. That means I can either play my iPod in the car, or I can charge it but not both at one time. (When the adapter is plugged in, you physically can't plug it into the cradle.) I can still sit the device in the cradle so I can look at it and control it while it plays music, but it is kind of a bummer, since I could have just purchased a cassette adapter for much cheaper.

It does seem to fit quite snugly in the cigarette lighter...I haven't tried to remove it yet because I read another review on here where the buyer ruined the entire device and his plug trying to pry the thing out. But, I can easily pull it out enough for the power to disconnect so the green light isn't on all the time. Then I just push it back down if I want to charge.

I also haven't experienced the "drooping" some people have described, but I haven't had the item that long. The control arm is plenty long enough for my car, a Dodge Stratus. It's actually the perfect length.

If you have an iPod touch or iPhone and no way to play it in your car, I'd say the cassette adapter is the way to go, but check around for something that might be less expensive, since this can't charge and play simultaneously anyway.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

2pcs 2013 BAOFENG UV-5RE New Version Dual Band U/V Radio 136-174/400-480Mhz Transceiver Free Earpie

2pcs 2013 BAOFENG UV-5RE New Version Dual Band U/V Radio 136-174/400-480Mhz Transceiver Free EarpieceMY RECOMMENDATION AS AN AMATEUR OPERATOR, I LOVE THIS RADIO FOR THE PRICE.

BATTERY LIFE IS ALSO EXCELLENT

WISH I COULD HAVE MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES.

GET THIS RADIO.

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Clarion VX409 6.5-Inch Double-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch-Panel Control Station

Clarion VX409 6.5-Inch Double-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch-Panel Control Station
  • AM/FM radio, DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA receiver
  • 4 x 40 Watts maximum power with six channels of preamp output
  • 6.5-inch QVGA color TFT LCD with 480 x 234 resolution
  • Includes AV input/output; easily add iPod direct control, Bluetooth, SAT radio, navigation system
  • One year warranty

I installed this unit in my 2009 Subaru WRX. I removed it and returned it after 3 days.

The good:

-It has a good amount of power. I ran this to my stock speakers and they sounded much, much better than they did with the factory receiver.

-Good build quality. The physical unit feels well made. Mechanical flip face works smoothly, buttons and volume dial feel solid.

-It's cheap.

The bad:

-iPod integration is terrible. There is no way to easily scroll through artists/albums etc. You have to click an arrow to flip through each individual entry. This is OK if you have a couple albums on a nano, but not OK if you plan to connect an iPod with a large library. Finding an artist beginning with 'N' took close to 100 clicks with my full 120GB iPod classic. And if you want to go from Nelly to Nirvana, you have to start all over from 'A' again.

-Poor screen resolution. Font edges are jagged.

-No dimmer. It has a dimmer connection wire, but it did not work on my unit. The screen was at full brightness at all times, and the manual dimmer control did not work either. At night it was like having a spotlight in my dash.

-Restarts between sources. Every time you change sources, the entire unit restarts. Screen shuts off then on and everything. It doesn't take too long, 3-4 seconds maybe, but it is rather odd and obnoxious. I took the whole thing out to check for a loose connection when it first happened. Called Clarion about it and they said it is normal operation.

-Navigation. The specs list this unit as being compatible with an optional navigation unit. However, the only input for the navigation unit is a component video connection. So if you were to connect navigation, the VX409 would only serve as a monitor, and you would not have touch screen control of anything.

Overall, the actual physical unit could be quite nice. However the software feels like going back to using Windows 95.

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The VX409 is a great unit, but for the price, you'd think you would get a lot more.

The Positives:

-The unit makes your factory speakers sound way better. I installed it in a 2000 Honda Accord and had no idea that my speakers could sound that good.

-The motorized fold down screen is awesome. It looks good and is very smooth when it flips down. I expected it to be jerky or sound labored (like other units I've seen) but it simply works and works well. The touch screen responds well to touch whether the weather outside is cold or hot. Also, when the screen is cold, it doesn't lag like I've seen in other units.

-The EQ controls are as easy or as complicated as you want them to be. It's a good unit for beginners or for higher-level installation.

The Negatives

-The software is awful. There is no room for any customization other than sound (which I guess is what really matters, but other things are nice). Another problem is that any time you change from one interface to another, the unit does a small reboot. So if I change from watching a DVD to listening to the radio, I push the mode button and wait for it to reboot into "A/V Input", then through "iPod" and then finally to radio. It takes a while to get to anything because of the constant rebooting.

-The settings menu seems to be its own program on this unit. That is a problem when you're listening to music and then you have to adjust the sound, so you exit the music (which stops playing at that point), boot up into the settings menu, change your settings, then enter back into your music and check the settings. The whole process should be integrated but it's not. Changing and checking one setting takes about 2 minutes due to rebooting.

-Due to legalities, this unit will not play DVDs while the vehicle is moving. They do this by requiring you to hook up a wire to your parking brake. I don't have a problem with this except that I bought this unit so I could send the video signal back to TV headrests for long trips with my kids. This can't be done without buying a small "cheat box" that gives your unit a false parking brake signal and making it work. This of course makes your unit operate in an illegal way and can get you a huge ticket in some states.

-For the love of God, don't set a security password on this thing. Brand new, out of the box, I put a security password on it. It was the same password I use on EVERYTHING so I know it wasn't user error. Long story short, the unit locked me out after three attempts, went into a 24-hour lock out mode, then gave me three more chances to get it right, then went into a permanent lock out mode. After 2 weeks of wresting with Clarion customer service, the whole unit had to be reset.

I love this unit now that I have worked all of the kinks out using aftermarket products and cheat boxes but I don't think I should have to do that after spending $600 on a product. There are tons of units out there from companies who have learned to integrate all programs to work together and also integrate your portable music. This particular Clarion unit has failed to do that. I recommend finding a unit that does.

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I've owned this unit for a few years now and just wanted to say it's been great! It's not the flashiest around but gets the job done.

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For the price of this unit, there are far better choices that the vx409. Despite the fact that the unit has added features that you may purchase such a IPOD adapter, bluetooth adapter, and navigation. The controls for these options seems like an after-thought, meant to push more units out the door and make it sound feature rich. The add-ons offer little in terms of seemless user interface. The unit takes a good 3 seconds when switching between different sources, even more when it is trying to decide if the CD you put in is actually a dvd, cd, or mp3s. There are 4 EQ selections and the only changes you can make is the fader, bass, and trebble.

PROS

It looks nice and the buttons have a nice tactile feel

Smooth operation

Display is bright and crisp

CONS

LCD touch screen loses sensitivity even after calibration

Title text is limited to a few characters.

Delays when switching between sources

User interface is counter intuitive

Add-on modules are not tightly integrated

CD/DVD take forever to load

Lacks features for the price.

Very nice stereo, would be nicer if the instructions included were clearer and made more sense but they don't. I don't beleve I can use this stereo to it's fullest potential because of this fact. It has noce features but needs a usb port and sd card slot to be complete. Not very customisable. That is all it really lacks to be complete. Put it short this is just another stereo and nothing spectacular...... Easy installation for the mechanically inclined...

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Battery Tender 081-0148-12-BG4 12.5' Extension Cable - Pack of 4

Battery Tender 081-0148-12-BG4 12.5' Extension Cable - Pack of 4I'm a Battery Tender fanatic. I honestly think I need help. Maybe it's all in the deviously subliminal master plan to someday transition to an electric car? Anyway it's winter in the Northeast and the boat is in storage (three batteries) along with the waverunners (two batteries) and the motorcycle (except for a few warm winter days), not to mention the non daily driver car that sits. So everything is on chargers since I hate hitting the start button and getting nothing, having to wait, go get a battery, install, and miss an opportunity. Anyway, these chargers never had long connector lines. I had to move the box close to the battery and not too far from the outlets... Enough!....and then I found these extensions which solved my problems. Now I'm tucking (heavy) batteries away in corners where I don't need 'em for a while, and the ones leading into the car and motorcycle aren't getting tripped over knocking Tenders onto the floor. Love them. They work perfectly as long as I lable which ones were going where. These things are great and they work perfectly.

I was sent a pack of only one on two occasions. Then they tell me it's no longer in stock, and other shippers are selling for more money! Very disappointed!

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These battery tender cables work fine ; no problems thus far.

Would be nice if they have the protective caps for storage or when just lying on the ground.

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Quality at a competitive price. Fast delivery. Works as intended. I was able to use this with a 4 port charger and charge my bikes all around the garage.

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Used these to put all of my Tenders on the wall in an array. Did a high enough location so that I could see them when I opened the garage door, see in an instant if everything is charged.

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Lenmar AC150 TraveLite Adapter - Ultra Compact All-in-One Travel Adapter

Lenmar AC150 TraveLite Adapter - Ultra Compact All-in-One Travel Adapter
  • Use your devices in over 150 countries with one adapter
  • Compact, lightweight design is perfect for travel
  • Compatible with any 100-240V AC powered device
  • Works in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America & South America, and South Pacific
  • 1 year warranty

Just came back from a trip to Central/Europe. The adapter works as advertised. I had no problems with it. Yes, all the outlets in Europe are the recessed type. However, regarding Amazon reviewers such as TravelGuru who posted a review, I'm not sure if I should fault the reviewer for not knowing how to operate the equipment or the manufacturer for not providing explicit instructions. The adapter prongs screw out, so there is no problem with recessed outlets. I would recommend this adapter.

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this is by far the best adapter in terms of size and functions, this adapter covers all country's, i just wish it has a USB output

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This travel adapter worked pretty well while we were in Italy and France. The only complaint I have is that the plug portion is not very long. There were many outlets in Italy and France that were somewhat recessed, which meant that this adapter would not work because it got too big too close to the plug (or the plug was not long enough). If the outlet was flush with the wall, there were no issues. Luckly we had a few different adapters for these types of outlets. The size is great (small), compared to other adapters.

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All of the outlets in Europe sit in a circular recessed hole. This adapter is too big and does not fit in any of the recessed outlets I have tried.

They need to redesign it to be smaller so it actually fits.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Black & Decker BCS10B 10 Amp Simple Battery Charger

Black & Decker BCS10B 10 Amp Simple Battery ChargerThis Black and Decker Car Battery Charger impressed me. Years ago,,I was an auto shop teacher and I was NIASE national repair mechanic certified. Right to the point, this unit used the latest SMART TECHNOLOGY to automatically and safely charge a car battery. A car had the key on start for several hours, the engine would not turn over and the lights were dim. After hook up, the charger gave readouts as to the increasing batter voltage, when fully charged, it indicated so. It also indicated the per cent of charge as it increased. Reassuring. It also can indicate alternator condition and can do a quick start. Note that with jumper cables I could have started the vehicle but would have had to drive the vehicle for some time to recharge the battery. Very important to know is that it will NOT charge a dead battery think,,, a dead battery is truly deceased, and can not be brought back to life. But this charger might get you a start so that you can go to your auto parts chain store and get a replacement battery installed free. I also have the "auto shut off" Black and Decker tire inflator, and it still works flawlessly. I really believe the Black and Decker car battery charger is a gem worth having in the garage, and recommend any of them in this 37 dollar price range or above. I do keep a set of jumper cables in the work truck. FINALLY, wear safety glasses, please, when connecting or any other mechanics play with car batteries. Over the years, I have seen accidents and near injury from novices or not paying careful attention. BUY IT !

It is a very solid charger, charger much fast than regular one, I have a marine deep cycle everstart 24dc battery 109amp\hr, it charged it full only about 4-5 hrs.

A real good buy!

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I bought this for my husband for his birthday. It is so much easier than trying to charge from another car. You can only use it when you have an electric outlet.

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I bought this item for my small John Deere tractor and it never really worked well. I was always having to fiddle with the connections to get it to stay on charging as it would say battery full and yet it had only been charging for a few minutes and the battery wouldn't turn over. With enough fiddling I was always able to charge and restart my tractor. I should have returned it, but, as many can attest, sometimes you just don't get around to it.

More recently, the charger would flip from charging to "service the battery", but the battery wasn't very old so I knew that wasn't correct. I went to my local hardware store and bought another make, and it works like a charm. I will update when I get back in town with the model that I did buy and am now happy with, but this is the 2nd Black and Decker product I have had to return (the other was a battery operate weed wacker and blower kit Black & Decker LCC220 20-Volt Max Trimmer and Sweeper Combo Kit). I am not impressed with the Black and Decker brand/products...

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IT WORKS, BUT SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE AND GOT THE 10 AMP, BUT WILL NOT POSSIBLY HAVE TO USE IT MUCH

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

For Magellan Maestro 4210 4220 4250 4370 Portable Travel USB 12V Plug-in Car Charger + Home Wall AC

For Magellan Maestro 4210 4220 4250 4370 Portable Travel USB 12V Plug-in Car Charger + Home Wall AC Charger Combo Bundle Package
  • 1x Mini-USB Car Charger
  • 1x Mini-USB Travel Charger

Not able to use because GPS unit believes that it is connected to a PC and not a power source. Cannot access directions while it thinks is connected to PC. Have had same issue with other mini USB car chargers as Magellan seems to use non standard mini USB.

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It does not work in Car. You need to go for "Magellan Vehicle AN0201SWXXX Power Adapter / FM Antenna" for Magellan Maestro 4250.

I do not recommend to buy it.

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Finally found one that worked. Note that the Magellan uses a special type and not just any USB can charge it. This one works.