Showing posts with label 24 volt solar battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 24 volt solar battery charger. Show all posts

Monday, October 13, 2014

3-in-1 Synch & Charge USB Travel Kit for Samsung Epic 4G

3-in-1 Synch & Charge USB Travel Kit for Samsung Epic 4GThis charger will stall your handset, make your screen unable to unlock except when opening the keyboard, and disbale your touchscreen while in use. It also drains the handset while it is charging, and is vastly inferior to the wall charger that comes with the phone. I am returning mine.

This is great because it is such a universal charger. Seems to fit all the phones in the house. The wireless mouse, and the kindle fire.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXT90 18-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio (Black, Pair)

Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXT90 18-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio
  • 18-mile range, 22 channels, and 121 privacy codes
  • Hands-free operation (VOX)
  • 8 rechargeable AAA batteries and a "Y" wall charger included
  • Maximum range extender and belt clip included for maximum efficiency and carrying ease
  • Lead-free packaging

I gave these walkie-talkies to my son for his birthday. He and I don't read instructions. Regardless, we figured out how to operate them totally in less than 10 minutes! These are small enough to hold in the hand, easily operate the calling, talk, listen, channel features. We didn't test the, I think, 20 mile limit, but at one block it was fully clear. It comes with a recharger that recharges both units at the same time. While this is great fun for my children and me, it's perfect for adults. With unlimited cell phone calling now available I'm not sure that cell phones aren't even more useful, albeit more costly. I highly recommend these walkie-talkies and I give them a solid, "A".

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Purchased these walkie talkies for a cross country trip. We used them to communicate between two cars on a trip lasting 4 days from Oregon to Arkansas. The batteries lasted a reasonable length of time and the sound quality was great. Did encountered other people on the channel we were using, but it was no problem to switch to another channel. Cannot comment on the maximum range since we were never more than a mile apart. This turned out to be a great buy and do recommend this product, particularly for the way we used them.

Read Best Reviews of Cobra Walkie-Talkie microTalk CXT90 18-Mile 22-Channel Two-Way Radio (Black, Pair) Here

While these radios came highly recommended, and they do indeed work as advertised, I cannot seem to get the batteries recharged. The first problem is that the radio's display does not indicate if the batteries are charging or when they are fully charged. I emailed Cobra about the problem. Their recommendation was this: The radios should be 'OFF' while charging. The initial charge is 15 hours. Once fully charged you can keep them off of the charger during the day, charge back at night. You can use any other rechargeable battery, just score about 1/4 inch from of the plastic to expose the silver part of the batteries. Take a look at the batteries your radios came with. You need to have the other batteries look similar as far as the silver part of the battery showing at the bottom so you will need to remove some of the plastic from the battery.

I have followed the recommendations, and the batteries do not charge. I have sent Cobra another email, and I am going to try some Energizer batteries to see if they work. I don't mind working through a problem with a company, and Cobra has been very friendly and helpful. However, it seems to me the lower end priced Cobra's are going to have problems based on other Amazon reviews.

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I got these to use when i paintball and they are amazing they work in the snow and they are just awesome to use for car trips also and i give one to my little cousin when he walks home and i know he's safe that way

I purchased these walkie talkies, for use at Wal Mart while shopping, so I could find my wife at times, works good, also use them to carry with me when I walk the dog, and they do fine then too. I haven't used these walkie's over a mile yet and they work fine, don't really know how much distance you could get from them, but I live in a mountainous region and lots of hills, so, probably couldn't get much distance , but works fine for me.

Monday, August 18, 2014

USB Travel Kit with Car Charger, Travel Adapter & Cable for Apple iPod

USB Travel Kit with Car Charger, Travel Adapter & Cable for Apple iPod
  • Apple iPod USB Travel Kit with
  • Travel Adapter &
  • Car Charger,
  • Cable

The USB cable looks and feels very similar to the apple one, but the chargers have a somewhat cheesy feel. Then again, that's totally to be expected when you buy a whole set for less than half the price of a cable or either charger alone from Apple or one of the name brand companies.

I also should note that the AC adapter is 100-240v compatible, so it can work worldwide. I was wondering about that when I bought it because none of the tech info mentioned it. In fact, the casing itself was designed to be used with the EU style plugs, and that's why it protrudes from the body of the case.

Also, the items I received look like the submitted picture, and not the MFG's picture, for what it's worth... Doesn't matter much because in any case the items aren't very aesthetically pleasing anyways.

Bottom line, from reading the other reviews it looks like they have QC issues, but I wound up with a perfectly functional set at a great price.

Buy USB Travel Kit with Car Charger, Travel Adapter & Cable for Apple iPod Now

Guys,

Do NOT EVER buy this product. I lost my Ipod Nano(8gb) because of this cheap nonsense. As soon as I plugged in the charger into the wall outlet, and connected it to the nano, the charger blew a fuse, and had smoke coming out of it. My nano didn't start after that. No matter what I tried. I took it to apple store, and they couldn't start it either. My warranty was void.

Go for real apple products, not for these cheap chargers. I'm not sure if this company BargainCell is selling authentic products, or just cheap makeovers without ever having tested them out.

Again, do not buy it, unless you want to risk losing your ipod.

Read Best Reviews of USB Travel Kit with Car Charger, Travel Adapter & Cable for Apple iPod Here

The car charger worked great. I could charge my iPod while listening to it. I'm currently trying to use the Travel Adaptor, but so far it's not working. I'm trying to discover the problem. It's not the cord, because the cord is working when connecting the iPod to computer. So, I can't really say anything about how the travel adapter works. But I give the car charger 5 stars. It gets the job done.

edit :: i actually got it to work. it works great. you just have to wait a second for your iPod to display the charging symbol.

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The charger worked once. When I removed it from the wall electrical outlet an electrical spade just came off in the wall. These items are so cheap that they break the first time it is used. I wouldn't buy this item again.

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Product is pretty decent, so far so good, just as advertised. Works like a charm with ipod, infect the car charger can also be used for charging my blackberry / rarz phone, since it is USB enabled.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Premium Car Charger + ATOM LED Keychain Light for Samsung Galaxy Stellar (Verizon)

Premium Car Charger + ATOM LED Keychain Light for Samsung Galaxy StellarI ordered a charger for $2.50 and shipping was just as much. The charger didn't work and I wasn't going to send it back for that small amount of money.

IT WAS PERFECT AS WELL AS THE PRICE. LIGHT WEIGHT AND EASILY STORED IN CAR. MY DAUGHTER WAS HAPPY WITH IT.

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It was the right item and works as I expected, and better yet the price was what caused me to purchase it. I did not need the keychain light but have used it and like it.

Read Best Reviews of Premium Car Charger + ATOM LED Keychain Light for Samsung Galaxy Stellar (Verizon) Here

This was cheaper than buying it from Walmart and work just as good, and was shipped to me very fast.

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Love my car charger along with the reasonable price. No way I would have paid $20 or more for a car charger....I got my bang for my buck!....

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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Midland LXT80 12-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

Midland LXT80 12-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio
  • 22 Channel GMRS
  • Up to 12 Mile Range
  • Channel Scan
  • Vox Operation
  • Accessory Jacks

these units were so inexpensive I could not pass them up. They are very small and have worked great so far. Time will tell.

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have used these on several cruises and external runs and have always felt they are lacking in the supposed distance. the poor reception on cruises is explainable by boat metal, walls and multiple decks. If we were on the top say 3 or 4 decks it was ok, but from a mid cabin to an upper deck these were insufficient to be usable. I also went for runs in open country, some of the runs were on an almost direct line of site, albeit with a few trees, and the maximum usable range was only about 2 miles, not the 12 miles suggested. (actually it was probably closer to 1.5 miles as the crow flies) . I am now looking for a better radio to address these shortcomings. 1. multiple users on cruises using radios and not be able to find an open channel, and 2. distance limitation.

Read Best Reviews of Midland LXT80 12-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) Here

Even if it was free it would be a piece of junk. My son and I tried every channel at a range of three blocks and not once could we hear or understand each other. Save your money. Don't buy it.

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I thought the price was right but within a few days they started to give a motor boating sound when receiving. Replaced the batteries with new ones but made no difference. It is strange that they both started doing this at the same time on all channels. Very difficult to understand the voice with the putt, putting background sound.

One of these picks up every little sound, and the other barely works when you press the mic button and yell without stopping to take a breath.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Samsung Vehicle Car Charger for Samsung Captivate SGH-I897

Samsung Vehicle Car Charger for Samsung Captivate SGH-I897
  • OEM Samsung micro USB Vehicle Car Charger (CAD300UBE) for Samsung Captivate SGH-I897.
  • Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
  • Vehicle Lighter Adapter (12~24v DC). Short circuit protection. LED charging indicator.
  • Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver.
  • Includes a blue CCMaccessories Neck Strap / Lanyard

It's a pretty good charger, but you have to keep an eye on it and make sure the little light is on. You have to really jam it in there.

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Needed extra as car backup. Works well. I prefer to get the brand name accessories when it comes to electronics so I was happy to see this.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Cobra CPI-150 Micro Port 150 Watt Power Inverter (Black)

Cobra CPI-150 Micro Port 150 Watt Power InverterThis is a great product. It is perfect in (almost) every way. Smallest 150 watt inverter around. Very quiet. Works both in the car and on a plane. Has both a 3-prong AC and USB powerpoints. It shines particularly well verses the 'big-black' inverters for traveling for 3 reasons. 1) Again, it is so quiet that more often than not you can't even hear it; 2) when you re-start the ignition on your car it properly resets itself and keeps providing power (unlike the 'big-black' units which are universally dumb and unpower themselves); 3) if your car's battery voltage drops (because it is cold...older battery...or you are not running the engine) this unit tends to keep working whereas most others sense the voltage drop and quit working. The only minor quirk with it is that the silver-tipped spring that you insert into the lighter socket is overly sprung and in some cars you need to occasionally re-push it into the lighter. An annoyance but not a deal breaker. Overall I cannot recommend this enough. The only other unit that comes close is the Xantrex 175 watt unit (#813-0291). It has all of the above qualities except that the airline portion of the adapter would not seperate correctly from the cigarette portion of its cord. This resulted in the unit's tip being slightly loose at the plastic seem of the cigarette portion of the adapter.

Get this adapter for your laptop! I tried two other adapters and they failed to support the load on my Sony Vaio Z series laptop adapter. Plus it comes with a nice little case and has the airline adapter. There are two fuses one in the tip and one in the adapter to help keep things safe. Highly Recommended!

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I spent an absurd amount of time comparing the different inverters on Amazon and finally decided on this one. I'm glad I did, and I am a very persnickety designer. Unlike some of the other ones I was looking at, this one has a clean, slim design. Most inverters must be triple or quadruple the size and weight, if not more! This one is light and tiny, about half the size of a small paperback book, if even that. The plastic it is made out of is the high quality impact resistant stuff, not the fragile junk I was half expecting. The cord is detachable and is just right to keep the inverter out of the way of things like your shifter, but not too long that it's messy. The product comes with this nice little case for the inverter and cord which is pretty handy, perfect for storing it in the glove box. I just got it but have tested it out and it was charging my laptop. I recommend going with this one, you will be happy.

Read Best Reviews of Cobra CPI-150 Micro Port 150 Watt Power Inverter (Black) Here

The product is great overall. Incredibly small for inverters (will be perfect for flying with my laptop), the power is not underrated, and the pouch it comes in is very handy.

The only downside is that it is noisy. I've heard noisier inverters, but this thing is far from silent. I can hear the cooling fan distinctly over my car's engine and road nice (and I have a pretty loud car).

Overall still happy with the product. I needed an inexpensive, compact power inverter that can be used in a car and on a plane.

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I read a lot of these reviews and couldn't find definitive answers. So I bought the Cobra, and now I have some very specific notes I hope will help you judge whether this unit will work for you.

I used the Cobra CPI-150 in an American Airlines 737 plane.

The DC plug was the standard "car lighter" size, and the Cobra comes with an adapter so you can plug into that. If your plane has that miniport DC power, the Cobra will fit that too. (I didn't find its ability to fit in either port detailed in the product description, but it's a really nice bonus.)

When we were stationary and then taxiing on the runway, it charged my iPhone 4s via the USB port no problem, no interruption. I mention this because some folks had complained they didn't have power on the ground but did so once the plane was in mid flight.)

Then I plugged in an Apple MagSafe 85 watt power adapter with a 3 prong extension to charge up a 2007 17" MacBook Pro. It charged fine for a quick minute, then the Cobra began to reset, light turning from red to green over and over, first sending power to the computer, then nothing, then sending power, then nothing. I thought the problem was that the plane was still taxiing and under-powering the Cobra.

However, mid-flight, I was having the same resetting issues with the Cobra and the 85w Apple power adapter.

I borrowed a 60 watt Apple MagSafe power adapter, and that seemed to solve all the problems. In fact, I'm typing this review on my 17" MacBook Pro that is charging steadily with the Cobra and the 60 watt MagSafe adapter.

So, in conclusion, though the Cobra is labeled 150 watts, it doesn't even sustain 85 watts for longer than a few seconds. Booooo! Shame on you, Cobra. But 60 watts? Sure, no problem. And charging an iPhone via USB, heck yes, it can do that.

Happy, fully-charged journeys to you...

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Goal Zero 8mm Input 30 Ft Extension Cable Black OS -Kids

Goal Zero 8mm Input 30 Ft Extension Cable Black OS -KidsVery useful product if you want to charge your Goal Zero panels directly away from the battery. I seems like a necesessary item for me. I like it.

the extra length this provides is what I needed between the panels and Yeti. It lets me have the panel in the sun and the Yeti near where I need it.

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Arrived on time and hooked it up with no issues. It works perfect and I want to buy more of the goal zero products.

Read Best Reviews of Goal Zero 8mm Input 30 Ft Extension Cable Black OS -Kids Here

It is a nice long extension cable, but it takes a lot longer to charge the battery with it. It does allow you to have the battery quite a ways from the solar panel.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

BAOFENG UV-5RE New Version Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-way Radio

BAOFENG UV-5RE New Version Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-way RadioI was kind of hesitant about ordering this radio. Didn't know which model to get. I highly suggest ordering the programming cable when ordering this, or any baofeng radio. I have the software for it to be programmed (factory software doesn't work with the firmware) and if you need it, I can e-mail it to you (just comment on review). Other than that, I have communicated back and force with customer service, before and after I ordered it and they are great! It was delivered sooner than expected (which was great). I will be ordering another one of these VERY SOON. If you are going to order one of these definitely order from this company! Best Price and also very good customer service.

Good radio for the price. I would give it a 5,,, but the software needs a little more work.

But nothing major. The rubber duck it comes with kind of sucks tho.

Plastic case: A+

Battery life: A

Transmit and receive: B

Firmware: B

BTW,,, The seller is getting a 5!

Thanks for the fast shipping!!!!

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My first radio. I got it with the programming cable and downloaded CHIRP to program the radio. With out that, I've heard programming it by hand is difficult. But I haven't needed to attempt that yet.

The radio is excellent in quality, feel, sound, and function. I've had it for a few weeks and I'm still learning more and more things that it can do. The dual scan function is a great feature.

The battery life is phenomenal! Follow the instructions on the first charge, as well as the subsequent 3-5 charges, and you will be very pleased with its impressive battery life. I can monitor stations virtually non-stop for three days or so, listening to conversations as they come up on the local repeaters. I have the battery save function set to 1:4, which is recommended to have a balance between battery duration and listening sensitivity. I have not yet talked on this radio to measure the battery life when receiving and transmitting, but I would assume it will still be impressive, although shorter than when only receiving (which is to be expected).

Overall, you can't beat this price for the quality, functions, and abilities of this radio.

Read Best Reviews of BAOFENG UV-5RE New Version Dual-Band 136-174/400-480 MHz FM Ham Two-way Radio Here

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Car Vehicle Charger for Danger Hiptop (Hip Top) / Hiptop2 / Hiptop3 / T-Mobile Sidekick / Sidekick

Car Vehicle Charger for Danger Hiptop / Hiptop2 / Hiptop3 / T-Mobile Sidekick / Sidekick III ordered from Amazon a car charger and a sidekick II cell phone.

Previously, I was the owner of the sidekick II. The sidekick became inoperable after several years and the vendor no longer carried the sidekick. However, I was offered another cell phone. With this offering I felt that it was not a good choice for me. So, I chose to go online to Amazon and order a new Sidekick II. Since, I had lost the car charger, I chose to order this, too.

Thus far, I am happy with my choice to order another sidekick II and a car charger,

Both arrived in perfect condition and I was amazed that I received them so quickly. This order allowed me again to link up with my

friends and transact any other communication needed.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

USB Sync & Charge Cradle / Docking Station for Samsung Galaxy Tab

USB Sync & Charge Cradle / Docking Station for Samsung Galaxy TabOverall the unit is compact and performs as advertised. You need to pay extra attention to insure that the Tablet is properly inserted into the cradle or it won't charge correctly. After a couple of failed charges my wife and I finally got the hang of it and now enjoy using the cradle.

IT DOESN'T SAY IT IN THE DESCRIPTION BUT THIS IS FOR A 7" TAB NOT THE 10" ONE.

SO LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel

Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar PanelI have purchased, used and tested every lightweight solar charging device on the market that I could find. The Goal0 nomad 7 and Guide 10 set is the only one that works sufficiently that I can be completely off the grid with my backpacking devices and have no need for extra batteries. See below for solar panels tested. I have been testing portable solar panels for several years now, and the Goal 0 products are the best.

The Nomad 7 is the only solar panel that has the capability to charge an adequate battery pack, my headlamp AAA's, AND my smartphone/GPS all in the same day in full sunlight. It is the only panel that has reserve capacity to charge my devices in less than full sun (shady/cloudy). No other panel has the output of the Nomad 7. Its closest competitor is the Brunton panel. The Brunton weighs 20% more and is rated to output 30% less than the Nomad 7 (Brunton = 5 watts, Nomad 7 = 7 watts). In my testing the lower output was verified. The off-axis performance of the Nomad 7 is superior. It maintains full output to a greater angle of sun than any other panel I have tested. The Nomad 7 is the only panel, in my knowledge, that uses the more efficient mono-crystalline panels. It does seem to give it an edge in real-world usage. As far as flexibility, that characteristic has nothing to do with panel efficiency. Another of the well-thought out features of the Nomad 7 is the connection options. The Xpal SP-2000 and the Solio both rely on many different tips to connect to different devices. The Nomad 7 has three great options built in: 6.5 volt fast charge for the Guide 10 charger, 5 V USB connector, and a port that the included 12V female car lighter adapter plugs into. Every portable device has the option of an inexpensive car power adapter, and the Nomad 7 nicely offers that ability.

The Guide 10 charger works to its rated specifications, unlike most of the other solar devices I have used. It charges AA and AAA batteries. It charges them faster with the Nomad 7 than any other solar panel/charger combination that I have tested. The Goal 0 batteries that ship with the Guide 10 are the best of their type I have tested. They are low-discharge, like the Eneloops, but much better. The Eneloops are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge only to about 1900 mAh capacity. The Goal 0 are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge to 2200 mAh. The guide 10 has some very well thought out features, including the LED flashlight, the function switch and the built-in hanging loop. These touches all demonstrate that the designers are users, and thought well about how these devices would be used.

All is not perfect, though. The Guide 10 does have an overheating problem, but only in very strong sunlight and under certain conditions. This is a known issue that is being fixed as I write this. This brings me to one of my most important experiences; customer service. Goal 0 has the best customer service by far than any other of the solar panel manufacturers I have tested in this group. Immediate phone contact, responsiveness to questions and warranty service are far and away some of the best I have experienced.

Following is a list of the solar panels I have tested, and short comparison comments on each.

1. Powerfilm USB + AA: This one has a great form factor, is flexible and very durable, and is the lightest weight and most compact of all the solar chargers. Its fatal flaw is that it simply does not put out enough power to be practical in extended backpacking. It does not fully charge the AA batteries when it indicates a full charge, and is not nearly as flexible as the Nomad 7 for connection. The unit was replaced on warranty, but the replacement performed exactly the same. I tested a total of four of these, and all performed the same. Customer service was good, after spending weeks trying to get their attention, and this happened several times.

2. Solio Classic: This one has a nice form factor, but the unit simply does not charge its internal battery nor a connected device at all adequately. Just in case, I had it replaced on warranty and the replacement performed exactly the same.

3. Xpal Power SP-2000: Same as the Solio. Internal battery rated at 2000 mAh, only charges to about 1100-1300. Not enough power overall to be practical. Very good customer service.

4. Brunton Explorer: A good panel, but not enough overall power. Weighs 20% more than the Nomad 7, output is 30% less.

Since there isn't a lot of detailed info out there about this product, I'll give the obligatory novel-length review.

I actually purchased this on sale for $60 elsewhere, which was quite the steal (it's gone up in price since). I received it yesterday evening, so have had it less than 24 hours and just tried it today about an hour ago on my lunch break. Got it primarily for use with my iPhone 3Gs when camping and hiking this summer. Frankly, I didn't think it would work out of the box for my iPhone because Goal Zero states on their website that the Nomad 7m may or may not work directly with the iPhone and it's best to just buy a battery pack and charge from there. Their documentation also states you should let the panels warm up in the sun a bit before trying to charge anything.

I decided to try worst case scenario and plugged my iPhone in directly right away and stuck the Nomad in my car's front window on a very cloudy, rainy day in Seattle. Nothing happened. No charging, no messages from the phone. Let it sit with my iPhone plugged in for about 15-20 minutes and still nothing, so I unplugged the phone and let the panels continue to warm up in the car window. About 10-15 minutes later, the lower, darker clouds blew away and it was still quite cloudy but noticeably brighter, so I plugged the phone back in and got an error message that the phone didn't support charging from this device (which made me happy because at least SOMETHING was happening). I tried a few more times, got the same message, then decided to let it stay plugged in while I drove back to work. And, LO! About a minute later, I heard that blessed "buzz buzz" the iPhone gives off when it's been plugged into a charger.

My drive back to work was only about 5-6 minutes long and I'd say the charger was only directed toward the sun (still quite overcast) about 2-3 minutes, but the battery went up 1%, so I'm calling that a win. Every time the panels go out of the direct sun, it's the equivalent of unplugging your wall or USB charger, so I'm thinking that investing in the Guide 10 battery pack to harness power is a good idea if you can stand the extra weight. The battery pack itself is the size of an iPhone and the Nomad 7m is just a bit smaller than an iPad and a little over a 1 lb. in weight, so a backpacker might have a hard time justifying carrying around all of this gear.

One commenter asked if the cells were bendable and the answer is no. There's a slight amount of give so that it's not what I would call fragile, but the panels are, presumably, breakable. The case it comes in is sturdy, so I would think you'd have to be pretty rough with it to break anything. Like other reviewers have noted, the case it comes in is well made and there's lots of little hooks to attach it to whatever. Plus, it comes with a small, light caribiner which is handy.

I obviously haven't had this long enough or tried this in enough conditions to give an accurate star rating, but I'm giving it a tentative 4 because I'm pleasantly surprised that it worked directly with my iPhone in such crappy weather conditions, but wondering if the "warm up" time is a first time issue or a consistent issue. Having to wait almost an hour before it starts charging would be kind of a bummer. I may update my review after I know more. Going to try this with an iPhone 4 as well and will include an update if the experience with that is any different.

UPDATE:

Originally gave this 4 stars, just bumped to 5. Finally got a relatively sunny day yesterday and it charged my older generation iPod in 1 hour. Successfully charged an iPhone 3Gs AND an iPhone 4. Note: You have to take the bumper off, or the connection isn't good enough for the iPhone 4 to even recognize the device. It still took warm up time (about 20-30 minutes), but that was with cloud cover coming in and out on a cool day in Seattle. It's incredibly efficient when the sun is beating right down on it. Love this thing. Going to order the Guide 10 battery pack next.

Buy Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel Now

I've been using this SOLAR panel for a few years without any problems. There seems to be alot of mixed reviews for the SOLAR panel and I'm not sure why. To clear up a little confusion for the SOLAR charger I've listed the most common complaints and explained them below. As you can see, SOLAR panel will be in caps for the duration of the review for reason...

#1 It is a SOLAR panel. Many customers are upset that charging stops when the sun goes away. It is NOT a SOLAR/Cloud charger. While it's possible for the sun to penetrate thinner clouds and continue charging, it's quite possible the speed of such charging will decrease.

#2 Some are upset at the output. It is a small, compact unit designed to take hiking/camping or other places where space is of concern. It is not designed to charge a 12 volt battery. You cannot jump start your car with it. Use common sense when attempting to charge larger items. Which brings us too...

#3 It WILL charge a battery assuming your device is not currently using more power than it can provide. Again, this seems like common sense, however, some underestimate the power draining features of modern phones/tablets such as backlights, screensavers, GPS, WIFI, Bluetooth and networks. Turn your phone off if possible or dissable some or most of those options.

#4 Many people use this on the dashboard of their car. While it is a portable unit, there is a faster and more efficient method. Most vehicles, even old ones have at least 1 12 volt cigarrette lighter output. You can purchase a USB adapter for about $5 to charge your phone, ipad, etc.

#5 It is not durable. I have dropped this off a mountain side, into water and left it in zero degree weather for some time. It shouldn't work....It still does.

Please excuse the sarcastic tone of this review but I believe this product and company deserves some respect and praise for designing such a wonderful SOLAR panel. Thank you!

Read Best Reviews of Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel Here

I bought a Nomad 7 last year. Love it. It makes great power in all conditions.

I liked it so much I decided to pick up a second one to keep in the car. I went through two of them. The first wouldn't make power in full sun (obviously something wrong). The replacement for it, would charge my cell phone (via 12V cigarette lighter adapter) in direct full sun, but not in full sun sitting on my dashboard (something my original Nomad 7 has no problem with). Apparently the glass is reducing the light enough that it cannot get the power high enough to charge.

Needless to say, both were returned and I guess I am not going to get a second one. The first one is great, but the power output of the subsequent ones has been all over the map. A better job of QC needs to be done before the panels ship out to make sure they perform consistently.

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This is bar none the best portable solar charger I've come across. It charges basically anything smaller than an iPad. I've charged countless toys in little amounts of time during hikes in / or fly fishing. Amazing piece of technology. Secondly, their customer service is polite, know their products, and respond quickly to emails / phone calls. This company and their gear couldn't be more highly recommended. It's the best I've found.

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Saturday, April 19, 2014

eForcity Car Charger Adapter for Garmin Nuvi 200 205 250 255 GPS

eForcity Car Charger Adapter for Garmin Nuvi 200 205 250 255 GPS
  • Compatible With Garmin: Colorado 300/400i/400t/Dakota 10/20/Edge 500/605/705/Nuvi 1200/1250/1260T/1300/1350/1350T/1370T/1390T/1450/1450LMT/1450T/1490LMT/1490T/1690/200/200W/205/205W/2200/2250/2250LT
  • Recharge on the go by harnessing power from your car with a cigarette lighter adapter.
  • Smart IC chip recognizes a fully charged battery and automatically switches to a saver mode.
  • Plug never heats or overcharges the battery. Short circuit protection. LED charging indication.
  • Best replacement for the original car charger. Color: Black.

This charger does just what it should at a price that's far below the OEM cost. But the picture doesn't show how short the output cable is, only about half the length of the Garmin original. The cord is coiled, but it's quite stiff and doesn't stretch out too easily. Still, it was long enough for my small car; other users might find this too short for them. Also it's a straight plug for the receiver, while the original has a right angle one. This makes the plug stick out farther in the back. And coupled with the short cord, it puts some extra strain on the receiver power jack. I just needed to move the Garmin a little on the windshield, but again this may be a concern for some users. I docked this adapter a star because of these issues.

Other than the short cable, this is a great value. It powers and charges the receiver just like the original, and you can't beat the price. I have no idea how long it will last, but if I need to replace the charger again I'll probably come back for another of these.

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This adapter puts my Garmin GPS unit into the computer connect mode, so it's not suitable for its intended purpose of providing power for use. Additionally the curly cord is too short. The seller authorized a return but will not pay for shipping. Shipping would eat up the refund, so it's a loss. Stay away from this one.

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This charger will put your GPS into PC sync mode, disallowing you from actually USING your GPS while it is charging in your car. Completely useless. I don't understand why some reviewers didn't have this problem and others do there must be different units coming from different sellers.

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This charger does not work. The cords are also is far too short to use properly and safely. Don't waist your time or money!

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Works perfect for Nuvi 205 as advertised. Also was shipped on time and buying process was smooth. Saves you a few bucks.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Boss TW15 1-Inch Micro-Dome Swivel-Mount Tweeters

Boss TW15 1-Inch Micro-Dome Swivel-Mount Tweeters
  • Single micro-dome mountable tweeter
  • Peak power handling: 250 watts
  • Frequency response: 2.5-21kHz
  • Equipped with neodymium magnet structure
  • Three mounting kits: mounting surface/flush/swivel
  • Power Handling (Peak): 250 Watts, Neodymium Magnet, Impedance: 4 Ohm
  • External Crossover, Frequency Response: 2.5k-21k Hz
  • SPL 1 Watt/1 Meter: 93 dB, Type: super polymer

So you know some of my background, I work as an engineer in the Audio recording and Broadcast Television industries for more than 25yrs. and have been an audiophile ever since I can remember. Last summer, I purchased a Boss 6" 2-way component speaker system for my Buick Century front doors. They were extremely affordable at $25 for the set, spec'd out very well on paper, and had more than ample power handling capabilities to match my amp. To be honest, I had never heard of Boss Audio until I bought a Boss CX1800 5 Ch. amp(80WRMSx4 & 200WRMSx1 @ .01%THD sig./noise > 105 dB) for this system, also having great specs on paper. I generally don't buy any audio gear without first listening to them, but I went purely on the specs quoted and price was a big factor. I installed the amp before buying the speakers and I was absolutely blown away at the clarity and punch of the Boss Amp driving the new set of Sony X-Plode 6x9 3-ways(also and excellent sounding spkr.) in the rear and the factory door speakers as well as the 12" 2 Ohm sub in my trunk! Having been so impressed with the amp, I figured why not try their speakers. So I bought the 2-way component system that uses this very tweeter. Again I was amazed at the clarity and soundstage of these tweeters. My son liked them so much, he bought a set to replace his blown Alpines. He only needed the woofers so the tweeters got set aside. He was also pleased and happy that he saved $80 since he didn't have to by another set of Alpines.

So recently I have been rebuilding an old pair of JBL L19's and needed a pair of tweeters. I figured I would pull out the Boss pair and give them a try. Feeding them a pristine 75W audio signal from my Van Alstine modified Dynaco 150 and listening to the movie soundtrack from "Beyond the Sea" with Kevin Spacey(Excellent recording), I was once again blown away at the detail, clarity and texture of the vocals, horns, drums and cymbals. Effortless and very musical. Mind you, these are relatively small 2-way cabinets with 8" woofers crossed-over at 2.5KHz., but the sound was full and plenty loud only peaking at about -7db on my meters! I walked the soundstage to about 180 degrees off-axis and there was hardly any drop in level or detail in the high end. Fantastic dispersion. I couldn't be happier if I had purchased tweeters at 3 times the cost. Can you tell that I am very pleased with my Boss purchases? I think you will be too!

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They work great sound better then the stock, but docent seem like the bass blockers are working. over all i would buy again, been using them for a few months now

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These tweeters were a replacement for a set of vifa tweeters that i had. I needed a replacement for the vifas due to size constraints, the vifas while they sound great were 2 1/2 inches and would not fit in the window sill were the side view mirrors are mounted, but these little BOSS TW-15 tweeeters were perfect and they swivel for better staging and direction of highs. They sound good, maybe not as good as the vifas which cost three times as much, but with a wider range of placement applications due to its size (1 1/2 inches) and it's ability to swivel although minimal one can direct the highs, and the highs are more directional sensetive then say the a midrange or a subwoofer. In general its sound quality is good, mounting options are great and price per performance can't be beat

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Sounded great for 10 min. Then both blew. Didn't even have a chance to really test them out before they stopped working. Cheap is all I can say.

Great tweeters, good quality and excellent sound. Recommended 100%. Also you can choose more than 3 different positions in your car.

Monday, March 3, 2014

GTMax Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for Verizon HTC Droid Eris CDMA Cell Phone

GTMax Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for Verizon HTC Droid Eris CDMA Cell PhoneThe car charger works great for my uncle's Blackberry Curve, too bad I bought it for my Droid Eris. The charger didn't fit my phone, bottom line, I would not recommend it. Especially since you have to pay shipping to return the item. Who wants to pay shipping twice on an item that cost eleven cents?

This charger does not fit the Droid Eris. This was a waste of time and money. The way this seller works, their products cost less than the shipping charges. This encourages you to NOT return your items. I have filed a claim with the seller if that does not get me a full refund, I plan to file a claim with Amazon's A to Z guarantee.

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It does fit the Droid Eris, but it is NOT made for it. The plug is not the same shape as the charge port on the phone. It did work, but it the part that plugs into the phone ripped out of the charged and got stuck in my phone. Had to get needle nose pliers to pull it out. Don't risk ruining your phone with this thing. Buy a better quality one.

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I understand everyone is different and everyone's experiences with the same product may differ, but here's my personal experience with this charger.

I ordered one, obviously attracted by the dirt cheap price and fairly positive reviews.

It worked great, for about a week. Then it just stopped working, the red light was off, it wouldn't charge. I thought perhaps a fuse blew in my car. Nope, the charger just stopped working.

I emailed the company (not Amazon, but the actual company), and complained. Very promptly, they asked if I wanted a refund or a replacement. Wow, they didn't tell me I had to ship it back! I said I'd like a replacement, since I need a charger more than the $.11 plus $3 or so shipping. About 1 1/22 weeks later I got a replacement. COOL! And it works!

After about 4 or 5 uses (3 days, literally) this second one stopped working. On this one, the little red light was still on, it just stopped charging. I thought maybe it has a weak usb end, so I wiggled and jiggled, I held it to this side and that side, nothing worked. It was junk too.

I have not since contacted the company a second time regarding a third charger because A) I can't wait another week or two for another defective charger, and B) I dont want this cycle to keep perpetuating.

That' my story. I will say though that they (the company) were very helpful and willing to get a replacement to me without a hassle, but I literally got $.11 worth of use from both of these chargers. Too good to be true.

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So this charger is the same charger you may have had for your v3 Razor. Although it looks slightly different it is also a mini usb charger and works just fine for the HTC droid and costs a lot less. So if you happen to have your old v3 chargers just use them, they work great.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer

Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/MaintainerI purchased this unit two months ago, and I have used it twice since then. The first time, I used it to charge my Lincoln, which had a defective battery. I didn't think the problem was with the one and a half year-old battery, but it was. It took all night to charge it, and the battery seemed OK for a few days, but went dead again. I then replaced it.

The second time, I used it to charge my van. I inadvertently left the key in the accessory mode, and, when I discovered it, the battery was as dead, and I mean DEAD. It was as if there were no battery hooked-up at all. To my surprise, the unit charged my van in only a few hours. I expected it to take longer.

I, especially, like the added features: Auto Start (doesn't supply current to the battery clips until a battery is properly connected); offers three connector options; no problem if you mistakenly reverse battery connections; automatically detects and corrects a sulfated battery; and does not need to be monitored can be left connected practically forever. It automatically switches over to Maintain Mode.

All-in-all, this is a great little unit, and, because of the reasonable price, should be in everyone's garage waiting for that unexpected moment.

I have owned this model for over three years and have it connected to a pair of golf cart batteries I use for backup power. It has operated 24/7 all this time and the batteries perform like new. Even though this is listed as a trickle charger, it cycles on and off as needed to maintain a float voltage.

I have also connected this to my Watts Up Pro power meter and tracked cost of operation. Maintaining these 220 amp hour batteries cost about 30 cents per month at the .09 cents per kilowatt rate. I don't use this to recharge the batteries after running them down, as it would take far to long. Not sure why they call this Speedcharge, but it would work well for slow charging smaller batteries.

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I am writing my review not to describe the product so much (which is great) because the same reviews you just read before mine do that, I bought it because of those reviews. Rather I want to answer 2 questions I had that where not the clearest, or at least answered to my satisfaction.

Yes this works on cars. I plugged in my Lumina sedan that had a failing alternator and it charged the battery up over night. Went from 11.8volts to 12.7volts.

Yes you can charge your car by plugging it into the cig lighter port. As long as your port has constant power! That is, your car off and key out, you still have power there. Leave the charger outside the car though, you never know...

Just wanted to help others who may have had the same concerns I did before I could test it. And oh yes, this thing is tiny! Figure the same footprint of a paperback book.

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This Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer is exactly what I needed. The day it was delivered, I thought the guy had the wrong house because the package was so small I wondered what could this be? Did I forget I ordered something else? I was so ready for disappointment that I did not open the package until 3 days later. I finally said I may as well open it up because it cost too much to return it maybe I can use it for something else. So I took it out of its packaging, set this little box on my kitchen table, and it sat there for a week or more.

Finally, and with my grass needing cutting badly, I took the charger out of the box, read the instructions (so simple and easy), hooked the charger to my riding lawn mower battery, and to make a looong story short IT WORKED !!!!!

This charger is so powerful to be so small!!! Now I don't have to use my SUV to charge my lawnmower battery I have a Schumacher SC-200A Speedcharge Charger/Maintainer, and it is GREAT !!!! My riding lawnmower cranks NOW without being charged. And for extra battery maintenance, I keep the charger connected, at intervals, when I am not using my riding lawnmower.

Great investment !!!!

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I hook it up to my antique car and the battery is charged all the time. Thought it didn't work when I first bought it because it didn't charge the battery overnight. Takes a while the first time but will keep it charged after that. It was a bargain.

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Gomadic Portable AA Battery Pack for the HTC Touch - Powered by 4 X AA Batteries to provide Emergen

Gomadic Portable AA Battery Pack for the HTC Touch - Powered by 4 X AA Batteries to provide Emergency charge. Built using TipExchange TechnologyThe Charge Extender works great, but it is very delicate. The cord became loose after about a week of usage. I super glued it back and it still works fine.

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Friday, December 20, 2013

Fosmon Premium Quality Retractable Car Auto Charger for Motorola Droid X Smartphone

Fosmon Premium Quality Retractable Car Auto Charger for Motorola Droid X Smartphonethese break really easy....didn't realize this when i bought it. Not sellers fault just not a great product to buy.

The USB connector never properly retracted into the base. It leaves a mess of cable in my cigarette lighter plug.

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This is my second time to purchase this exact product. The first one did stop working after 3 months but with the low price it's still cheaper to replace it a few times a year than to buy it from the local retailer. Thanks!

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It does what it says it does. Retracts nicely and works with my Droid X and my wife's HTC Incredible. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because this is the second one I've had to buy. They are not high quality chargers and as a result, the cord snapped a couple months after using it. However, four of these charges cost the same as one from Verizon so it's worth it to me.

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I knew exactly what I was buying and that's exactly what I got. We bought 2. One works, one doesn't. The one that works is definitely cheap but it does what I wanted it to do so I have no complaints. As for the one that doesn't work, it is what it is.

Monday, December 2, 2013

GTMax Retractable Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for AT&T LG Thrill 4G Optimus 3D

GTMax Retractable Rapid Car Charger with IC Chip for AT&T LG Thrill 4G Optimus 3DThis charger works fine. I am definitely worried that it will snap in half at any moment tho. Also, the retractable part does not work! Worth the 3 dollars I paid for it tho!!!

I keep this charger in my purse at all times. That way it follows me to whatever car I am taking for that day.

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It didnt work! I purchased two of them and one did not work. I would like a refund for this.

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this product works as it says it would. charges well. cord is a little thinner than picture shows but seems strong

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It is very convenient

it really works as said

Need to purchase one for my other car and I'm done

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