Showing posts with label battery charger for car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label battery charger for car. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Sunforce 45444 600W Wind Turbine

Sunforce 45444 600W Wind TurbineI purchased this windmill to augment a solar panel I use to charge a 12 volt battery bank. I have a solar powered well system for watering cattle, and the solar was not keeping up during times of low light. I intend for this unit to be an augment to my current system, not the only source of electrical current. I purchased this unit because it was 200 more watts output than the most popular sun force mill, but I was sort of disappointed that it is not made in USA like the 400 watt model. It is made in Taiwan. I guess this is ok, as Taiwan is an ally of the USA, so at least it was not made in PRC.

The package arrived quickly, and everything was in order and exactly as described. I assembled the unit in just under 30 minutes. There was an extra set of screws, nuts, and bolts included, and this could be handy for fumble fingers like myself. The fasteners are of good quality, and they were all present and accounted for. I did not have to use any of the extras (yet). Also included is a electro brake switch which I am not planning on using.

I first tried to mount the mill on a 21 foot piece of chain link fence top-rail, but it buckled over in the middle. I opted for a heavy piece of tubing from the chain link fence wholesaler, and it works great. I used #10 SOJ cable for my electrical connections. The mill started turning even before I had it hoisted all the way up, and it makes a pleasant enough sound as it turns. There is some small noticeable vibrations that may be due to a small imbalance in the rotor blades or something, but nothing that seems detrimental to the mill.

I made all the electrical connections without any trouble. The charge controller seems to be a fairly substantial unit, but could have been labeled on the back a little more clearly about which color wire goes to which screw, but the instruction manual cleared this up and there were no problems. The controller has a switch on the front that brakes the rotors to keep them from turning. I have not tested this in a stiff wind, but it stops the rotors in 8-10 MPH winds. Also included is a 30 amp panel meter to plumb into the electrical system in case you want to monitor current flow going to your battery bank.

The mill turns pretty much most of the time, although the charge light on the controller will only illuminate when there is a fairly good gust of sustained wind. This intermittent charging will work fine for me as this is supplemental to my solar panel, and I expect to get the most charging on cloudy days and windy seasons when the sun doesn't tend to shine so much. The unit is located in North East Oklahoma. I can readily see that another 21 ft of tower length would increase the output due to more undisturbed winds, but for now this is working pretty good, and I didn't have to use guy wires as the pole is attached to the side of the well house.

I am satisfied with this unit.

***** The Caveat ******

After reading so many negative reviews on this same product, I feel I must amend my review so that I am disclosing everything. Now pay attention: This unit requires wind to work! That's right, I know this is surprising, but this baby doesn't do a thing without wind! And even when it is working at max speed and full power, it will not replace your utility company, your neighbors will not be buying power off of your grid, and you will not be getting a fat rebate check from the grid. They won't be shutting down 3-mile island just because you have a wind turbine in the back yard. Hope this helps alleviate all the disappointed folks looking to start selling wind power and offering free rides to the moon.

The "Product Features" summary incorrectly states that it starts to "operate" at 4 mph, implying it's producing power. If you read the manual, there is a diagram that shows the turbine starts producing at 4 m/s that's 4 meters per second, or about 9 mph, and then the power production is small. It does not produce 600W until you get up to about 30mph. That's a **lot** of wind!

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I bought this from Fry's electronics years ago. i installed this after a lot of effort. it really is hard to get something that high and stable at the same time. I suggest that you set up the pole first before you buy the turbine. Finally, after many tech support emails later, i could only get a trickle of a charge. After everything looked good, Sunforce said that i did not have enough wind! I found that was not true, because I tested it blowing as fast as possible, and I still get the same trickle charge. i'm just too tired of spending more time and effort on this turbine. It is now way past the return period, and it would be hard to prove that their product is defective in small claims since i'm not an engineer. I don't buy any sunforce products now. Neither should you. Also, i suggest that you try to turn the turbine with a drill first to see if you get a charge before installing. I should have done this first myself.

Read Best Reviews of Sunforce 45444 600W Wind Turbine Here

"OK, I'll take your bait and do the math.

The stated rotor diameter was 2 ft (2/3.28ft/m = 0.61 m or 0.3048 m radius) and the stated power was 600 watts. We'll assume air density to be 1.25 kg/m^3, and the coefficient of performance = 0.4. The Betz Limit of coefficient of performance is 59.3% and is the theoretical maximum Cp.

The basic equation is

P = rho/2 * area in m^2 * (velocity in m/s)^3 * Cp

The area is pi *r^2 = pi * 0.3048^2= 0.2919 m^2. (For reference, 1ft radius^2 * pi = 3.14 ft^2.)

Rearranging the equation, the velocity through the rotor must be

cube root of (P / (rho/2 * A * Cp))

Cube root (600/(0.625 * 0.2919 *0.40))

= Cube root (8222) = 20.18 m/s (1 m/s = 2.24 mph)

Regressing to the English mph, that's a windy 45.14 miles per hour.

Did I do that calculation right? Think I did. However, in such a small aperture, flow throttling likely would occur slowing the wind speed from that outside the turbine influence. The conclusion is that the 600 watts is a maximum rated power value. If the speed is cut in half, the power is one-eighth. So 22.5 mph yields 75 W, 11.25 mph yields 9 W, so this turbine is good for trickle charging a battery (just like a small solar module.)"

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This wind turbine will make good yard art and a good plaything, but if you really want energy output you need a real wind turbine, and you need to put it up high in the sky where the speedier and non-turbulent wind is.

And as long as you are going to the significant expense of putting up a decent-sized tower, you might as well purchase a heavy-duty turbine that has enough output to pay for itself.

Oh yes, and none of this is worthwhile unless you have a good wind resource, and that can only be determined by measurement and/or careful and pro-level observation.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Xtreme 88925 6-Feet Micro USB Cable and Car Charger - Retail Packaging - Black

Xtreme 88925 6-Feet Micro USB Cable and Car Charger - Retail Packaging - BlackCable is basic and not all that thick so I'm not expecting this to last too long but we will see. I do like the fact that it is longer than most cables that you get for Car Chargers. Also just hope the car charger part continues to charge for longer than 2-3months.

This works perfectly with my Ipad and android phone. Charges both items pretty quickly without taking up too much space.

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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Motorola Droid RAZR 4G XT912 Car Charger (Package include a HandHelditems Sketch Stylus Pen)

Motorola Droid RAZR 4G XT912 Car ChargerIt does the job of charging your phone, but it broke once inside the lighter plug in, and we had to re assemble it. Now the cord is breaking in various places-so you can see the inner cords. Its crap and not worth it.

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Friday, August 29, 2014

1 Pair Handheld Walkie Talkie UHF Radio 3W FM 16 channel Transceiver 2-way Radio 16 channels

1 Pair Handheld Walkie Talkie UHF Radio 3W FM 16 channel Transceiver 2-way Radio 16 channels
  • 50 CTCSS/105 CDCSS. Frequency Range: UHF 400-470MHz
  • Frequency Range: UHF 400-470MHz. Channel Capacity: 16. Channel Spacing: 25KHz.
  • Operated Voltage: 3.7 V. Battery: 1500MAh Li-ion. Battery Life (5-5-90 duty cycle): About 8 hours. Frequency Stability: ±2.5ppm. Operated Temperature: -30 centigrade- +60 centigrade. Antenna Impedance: 50O.
  • Dimensions (L×W×H) (with battery, without antenna): 115×60×33mm. Weight (with battery/antenna): 198g / 170 g. Communication Range: about 6km.
  • Package include: 2 x BF-888s Walkie Talkie, 2 x Antenna, 2 x Charger, 2 x 1500mAh Rechargeable Battery, 2 x Belt Clip, 2 x User Manual

These are great UHF Radios. Downside it is not 5 watts it is 3 watts. Real range is 1 to 2 miles in an urban setting. In open country it would do 3-5 miles. But the plus side is these will do GMRS, go get your GMRS license. ($80 for a family for 5 years)

Their are towers/repeaters that make your little radio talk any where from 15 to 45 miles.

These have a kenwood feel to them, very solid & light weight. For less than $25 a radio, you can not go wrong with these.

Not that we want a radio to be lost or broken. Things happen sometimes, why be out $500 on an HT that you can replace for $25.

These will be used with a repeater at a church campground. We need a lot of radios for very little. Buy the usb programming cable.

You can be your own Radio Shop.

Thanks

Paul Wood

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Bought these to keep track of our 10 year old while out playing with kids in the neighborhood. We get crystal clear reception from inside houses a half mile a way or more. At the $48 price point I was afraid I would get junk, but these radios really work great!

Read Best Reviews of 1 Pair Handheld Walkie Talkie UHF Radio 3W FM 16 channel Transceiver 2-way Radio 16 channels Here

I wanted UHF walkies for a 5 story hotel and these were the cheapest I found on Amazon. I bought two just to try them out... and they worked wonderfully. The clarity is great. I bought 4 more. :O)

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These walkie talkie's work very well. We were able to use them at over 5 miles away and not directly in line-of-sight. These are well worth the money.

A+ BEST FOR THE MONEY. BOUGHT ONE SET THEN BOUGHT ANOTHER. ME AN THE KIDS LIKE THEM. WOULD BUY MORE IF NEEDED.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Xtreme 88903 3-in-1 Retractable Sync and Car USB Charger - Retail Packaging - Black

Xtreme 88903 3-in-1 Retractable Sync and Car USB Charger - Retail Packaging - BlackThe product works well ,although it is a little short I think I got a great deal for the price I probably could have gotten a cheaper version of it but shipping was an issue not to mention Chinese quality it works well, it's retractable and relatively cheap. I think that if you are in the market for a 3-in-1 adapter you should get this product so far I have had it for three months and it still works and looks like it is brand new. I would definitely recommend this to friends

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Replacement Battery SB3

Replacement Battery SB3Needed to get my fencer going again before the horses realized it was not working. This arrived in good time and I was able to get it going in no time.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Dual Pro 10 Amp/Bank Sportsman Series 3 Bank Charger

Dual Pro 10 Amp/Bank Sportsman Series 3 Bank ChargerCharger is working well so far. Had 1 battery run down brought it back up quickly. Charger is heavy for one person to install.

My husband and I bought this charger in August of this year. We have a R71 Ranger boat and needed something that would charge 4 batteries (two of the batteries are in tandem for a 24 volt trolling motor). We had been using two separate Cabela's brand chargers made by ProMariner. The Cabela's units did not last long at all so we decided to research other brands. This one stood out from all the rest. The big plus for us is that this unit is made in U.S.A. Even though it was more expensive than other brands we decided to try it. So far we have not been disappointed. Our first impression upon opening the box was that this unit was of quality construction. The cables were very thick unlike the battery chargers we had used in the past. The unit is also quite heavy. The charger was bigger than we ones we had before, but since we only had one unit to install instead of two it fit into our boat quite nicely. The readouts are very easy to see. So far we have not had any issues with it and are very pleased with the construction and performance of this charger. One unexpexted feature that we found really helpful is the unit comes with a cord keeper for the charger cord. Once installed the charger cord clips into the holder which keeps it out of the way. It's nice not having to dig around for the charger plug, plus the plug now stays clean and dry since it doesn't fall down into the battery compartment. We would highly recommend the Dual Pro Sportsman Charger.

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I had already decided on another charging system, but when I read the reviews there was little doubt that, although more expensive initially, this would be a far superior choice. It was delivered on time and as described, installed easily and works very well.

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easy to tell battery status charges batteries fast really well made batteries last a lot longer on than they did with other chargers i"ve used

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i have this 3 bank charge hooked up in my boat that needs to be charged after every use due to the large draw from the steoro system i have installed. hooks up with ease.

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Friday, August 8, 2014

centro black

centro blackI actually prefer using the button on the back as opposed to the Palm screen. The LED is bright but not a big deal. The package and cradle were only labeled as "For Tungsten 5" but does work with T|X. Due to the curved bottom of the T|X it can "rock" in the cradle slightly and not quite make proper contact. In the beginning I was getting failed HotSyncs before realizing what the problem was, now just have to be more careful when docking it.

This cradle looks nice and works just as you would expect it to. It also frees up your original charger to use as a travel charger.

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This is a fine and very well made cradle with two charging options:

1) A USB connection from the unit directly to your computer.

2) An AC/DC power connection directly to a wall outlet.

The Palm TX fits very snugly within the cradle which is also heavy enough not to fall over like some other cradles available in the marketplace. The cradle also has a nice blue LED light (that can even be used as a nightlight) that is illuminated whenever the unit is powered (no matter which method is being used above).

This cradle has never given me any trouble at all for many charging sessions and has performed flawlessly. I highly recommend it.

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I bought this as a second cradle to keep at work and I am very pleased with it. I think it works as good as the palm cradle but at a better price.

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Reasonable price works well. Using to charge the PalmP and to sync data with two different computers. I'm using two of them without problems.

Car Charger for HTC Desire

Car Charger for HTC DesireBought this car charger not expecting a whole lot for the price. Works great, hasn't melted my car down yet. Keeps my HTC Desire well charged

This product came in a reasonable time. It works very well and looks good and I would buy it again.

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Product was exactly as decribed!! Came in on time. Also so much cheaper than buying it from th stores!! I am very happy with this purchase!!

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Loved the price, but unfortunately it didn't work when I plugged it into my phone. And I have never gotten it to work.

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somehow these things never seem to last, so I have no expectations on durability. But gotta love the price here!

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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

CableForge 12v Vehicle Car Charger (Glows blue) for Motorola Droid RAZR XT912 cell phone coiled str

CableForge 12v Vehicle Car Charger for Motorola Droid RAZR XT912 cell phone coiled stretch power charger micro USB 4ftCan't say I expected this to actually be a Motorola product. That's the only thing that kept this from being a 5 star product (false advertising). Other than that, it works just fine. I am using it to charge my Droid Razr HD Maxx. The connections are snug, as they should be. Not difficult to plug it in, but not loose to where I'm worried it's going to fall out. The phone immediately recognizes the connection and charges just as well as the cable that came with the phone. The 6 feet length makes it great for bedside use, as I can have it charging while in bed and still use the phone. That extra 3 feet makes a huge difference. So if you need a long charging cable for a micro USB device, this will do the job. Have only used it for a few days so far, though, so I'll update this in the future to comment on the durability.

Update: My girlfriend and I have each had our cords for about 2 months now. So you can bet that me updating this so soon means bad news. About a week ago, she noticed her phone didn't charge well overnight (when using this cord). I thought she most likely had a loose connection when she plugged it in, either at the USB/base portion or the microUSB/phone connection. Then just last night, I noticed when I plugged my phone in to charge, the battery icon started "flashing" between charging/not charging, as if it was rapidly being plugged in and unplugged. Basically, this cord is shot. Other cords used with the same base charged just fine. We took a look at her cord and it did the same thing mine did. So...

This cord (TWO OF THEM!) lasted only 2 months before kicking the bucket. Though having a 6 foot cord is great (in my opinion), it's not worth the purchase if its only going to last 2 months. Would not buy again!

Seems to be a high quality item at a very low price. What more could you ask for from a cable?

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the cable end does not make contact when plugged in the phone it so loose it will not stay in the phone very unhappy cheap made i would not recommend it anyone

Read Best Reviews of CableForge 12v Vehicle Car Charger (Glows blue) for Motorola Droid RAZR XT912 cell phone coiled str Here

Needed to charge phone and for data connection to computer. Works like a charm. The added length is nice for charging. My husband has a USB wall-socket adapter he uses and the length makes it like a normal charging cord.

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It is a real pleasure when a product does what it's supposed to do, time after time. It charges my Motorola and syncs with my computer. All the parts fit and is a good length not too long as to get wrapped up with other wires and not too short to have to hang from the computer (and disconnect as a too-short, loose-fitting Ipod cord did). A quality product, for me, is one that does what it is supposed to do, consistently and comfortably, even impresses with its sturdiness and the thought that went into considering the convenience of its end user. This cable meets or exceeds in all areas.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Morningstar PS-15 ProStar 15 Charge Controller 15A 12/24V

Morningstar PS-15 ProStar 15 Charge Controller 15A 12/24V
  • MorningStar Solar Charge Controller
  • PS-15
  • Solar Panel Charge Controller
  • mid-range solar controller
  • ml solar

This is a great controller. Easy to hookup, and the meter displays correct values for Solar Current, Battery Voltage, and Load Current. If your batteries are more than 5 meters from the controller, there are connections on the controller to read the actual battery voltage.

Handles Gel, Sealed, and Flooded Batteries. Charging modes include Boost, PWM Regualtion, Equalize, and Float. Gel Batteries are not Equalized.

Temperature compensated and optional remote temp sensor if needed.

Pushbutton switch is multifuction.

Quick push Turns the load on/off.

Hold for 4 seconds Turns Load off, and Solar input off.

Hold for 7 seconds Runs a self test.

I very pleased with the performance of this controller. Highly recommended.

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I originally bought a charge controller for about 40 bucks and it was a total waste of money. If your just starting out with a basic starter Solar system, I definitely recommend spending the extra money to get a charge controller like this. The display makes it easy to trouble shoot any problems too. Great product and so far great service!

Read Best Reviews of Morningstar PS-15 ProStar 15 Charge Controller 15A 12/24V Here

The Prostar 15 is a no-nonsense, high quality solar charge controller for a reasonable price. I have been using mine for a few weeks now aboard my boat with a 100w solar array. The controller was very easy to install, provides indication that it is operating properly with LEDs, and gives off no noise or RF interference (mine is mounted in an electronics cabinet just a couple feet from my VHF and FM radios). There are many other chargers out there that offer more features for considerably more money, but for the intended application, the Prostar is a solid controller at a great price.

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Great product, solid, excellent work. This does exactly what it is supposed to. Rugged and puts up with being in outside battery house.

I have worked on a system using this charge controller and over the years the controller has had to be replaced on average once every two or three years because it simply stopped working. No indication why, it just simply stopped. For the price, I would be expecting a product that would last, but that is not my experience with this charge controller. I am currently in the market to replace the controller right now and am looking at alternatives.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

New Potato Technologies TuneLink Auto Bluetooth in Car Stereo Wireless Adapter for iPhone, iPod Tou

New Potato Technologies TuneLink Auto Bluetooth in Car Stereo Wireless Adapter for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad - - 1001-01002Basically, this peripheral is an expensive ($90) dongle that plugs into the power port in your car and connects to your phone (and other phones) via bluetooth. You can then either plug the dongle directly into your stereo via audio cable (short ~1 foot cable included) or it can also act as an FM transmitter. As far as I can tell, if you only want to stream via cable it doesn't matter if you have an iOS device or any other bluetooth enabled music device. I think you should be able to connect and stream music, though you will be lacking on a lot of the features of the device. I also haven't tried this yet so don't buy it with that specifically in mind as it is labeled as for iphone and ipod touch.

The dongle itself has just 2 jacks in the front of it, one for the audio cable and one for a USB cable. It says that it provides enough power to be able to charge the iphone / ipod as well as an iPad, if that's what you're hoping for. There are no buttons on the dongle to initiate a connection. This causes problems if you are listening to something while your car engine isn't on and then you turn it on. The connection will die and won't try to re-connect so the only thing you'll be able to do is either pull out your phone and tell it to reconnect or pull the adapter out of the port and plug it back in.

The device is controlled via your phone using an app from the app store. The app provides you the ability to find good radio frequencies that should best work with the FM transmitter and set the station the dongle will broadcast at. You can also use it to manage the currently playing song or handle the music that is currently playing. You can name your specific Tunelink device, set a default location (to help with FM frequency help) and set up options to automatically connect, automatically start playing, and even automatically load the TuneLink application when it connects.

An additional feature of this is the capability to have multiple people in the car connect to the adapter and share playback of the music through the Tunelink application. There are different modes that you can set it to to change how this works (automatically queuing, requesting to play something, etc). I have not tried this so I can't speak to how well it works.

Finally, the important bit of sound quality though I might not be the best judge. I have only used mine with a direct connection but it sounds as if my phone were directly connected to my stereo. I haven't tried out the FM transmitter portion yet, but one of the reviews on Amazon indicated it sounds "Very Very Decent" and other reviews I've read have said that it sounds really good, though suffers from the same problems as all FM transmitters.

Overall I'm VERY happy with my purchase. The convenience of just getting in my car and having my music start up as if I've got a CD in the player is great. Having the charge port on there makes it great for normal usage even if you're low on battery and it comes with a cable so no need to get another one or carry one with you. Sorry for the wall of text, but hope this helps.

Pros:

Easy connect

No hassle

FM Transmitter / Direct Audio link

Sharing?

Cons:

No control from the device (need to use a headset and voice commands or take your phone out to control things)

Can't force a reconnect on the device

Cost

This product gives me a high quality audio connection between my iPhone 3GS and Mazda3 factory stereo. It pairs easily from the first time and then I do not need to do anything to re-pair it. On short rides, I do not even take the phone out of my pocket as soon as I start the engine, in few seconds music just starts playing where it stopped last time. Of course I use AUX connection to my stereo to avoid any potential static in the city but I tried FM for a couple of days as well and it's very, very decent, volume is not much different from radio stations, and very clear sound if you take care to choose an empty frequency as you should anyway. Also, I set FM Volume to LOW for most clear sound. I can listen to Alan Parson's and Pink Floyd over FM just fine, to my surprise. Dynamic range and frequency response seem to be excellent.(this section of review is updated after weekend testing). I had other FM transmitters before and the sound never was that clear.

So I'm keeping it no questions; and it offers sharing the connection with other people in my car kids love that.

so, to be short, I am done with my car audio upgrades. Tunelink is not cheap but it's MUCH cheaper than to buy and install aftermarket ipod-enabled or bluetooth stereo; besides, it's portable. Oh yes, it charges the phone too, and even the cable is included.

Negatives? hmmm... well, it requires having an iPhone or touch.. though I've heard they have Droid version now.

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This thing was fabulous while it worked. It dropped signal a couple of times but nothing that unplugging/replugging in didn't fix. Unfortunately, the return window (through Amazon)expired today and it just so happens that as I was leaving for a road trip it quit working entirely. It's not communicating with the radio OR the application. It still has a pretty blue light but yeah not what I bought it for.

Update #1 New Potato has a one year warranty on their products so once I am home from my road trip I will contact them and exchange the defective equipment.

Update #2 Contacting the company was quick and painless as was getting a replacement once I sent them the defective unit. The last unit worked for month so I can't really judge the new one until that time has passed but so far so good. At the very least, New Potato is great.

Update #3 (November 2012) In the last month I've no longer needed this but it still works all this time later.

Read Best Reviews of New Potato Technologies TuneLink Auto Bluetooth in Car Stereo Wireless Adapter for iPhone, iPod Tou Here

I bought one through amazon and after a few months it would no longer aut connect. That quickly degenerated into no longer being able to connect more than once without deleting the pairing. The next time I would start the car it wouldn't pair again.

New Potato did replace it under warranty but after a few months the replacement is doing the same thing.

When it works, it's a fantastic device. But when it doesn't, it's amazingly frustrating.

For what this costs, it should be a lot more reliable. I suspect it suffers from heat issues and that doesn't make for long life in a device that is in a car.

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Setup, (if you even want to call it that), totally consists of plugging the Tunelink device into a powered outlet, plugging the AUX cable into the Tunelink and into car AUX port, pairing the Tunelink with your iphone and that's it. Done deal. Sounds quality is better than my factory installed XM radio. Tunelink is rock solid and I highly recommend it.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices

Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices
  • Belkin F8Z280TTP Dual Auto Chrg F/Iphone/Ipod

Actually comes with Ipod/Iphone charger cable and mini-USB cable. Wasn't expecting these, but nice to have extras. Adapter design is compact, and two cables plug in with no crowding (assuming they have standard USB plugins). Jacks on the side work great for center console comparements where top jacks might create issues for closing the compartment lid.

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This adapter does delivery what promises. Good finishing, complete cable set sent with the product and the 2 USB ports are really handy as I had cell phone, iPad, GPS and iPod to be used at the same time.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone, Android, and all USB Devices Here

This USB car charger is great. It works perfectly for my Motorola Atrix and my girlfriend's iphone. It puts out a good amount of power, I don't know too much about electrical, but I does charge both our phones pretty quickly. And it works with other things like our cameras, and gps, etc. There's smaller versions of these chargers out there made by other companies, but I knew Belkin makes good quality product. One thing I read about a lot of the other smaller ones, were that they don't put out enough power, this one doesn't have that problem.

I would highly recommend this charger

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This comes with two cables. This works well with my I-Pod with the included cable. It also works well with my Verizon phone, but neither of the two cables that came with the product would work with the Verizon LG phone. I guess the phone cable is for an I-Phone). However I can use the plug in cable that came with my LG Verizon phone, I just need to remember to bring it along.

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I bought one for my wife and she loves it. She can charge my daughters Fire and her iphone at the same time. Great product.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Sunforce 86319 Solar Flashing Alarm System

Sunforce 86319 Solar Flashing Alarm SystemIt seems alright, the first one they sent me had a dead battery, they say battery is good for 6 years, I will find out, it has pretty good range for the transmitters, and seems to work as claimed, I have had it for 1 week, not long enough to judge durability

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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

JR Products 70725 Small C-Shaped Drawer Slide Socket Set

JR Products 70725 Small C-Shaped Drawer Slide Socket SetThought the small one was what was needed. Checked with mfgr site after placing order and found out I was wrong.

I was only looking to fix a broken back base plate so the size of the insert did not matter. Amazon could do a lot better by insisting that vendors publish actual product dimensions.

exactly as described, fixed the drawers in our camper and sold it the next day :) We couldn't find these anywhere else at a better price and wanted to get the drawers fixed before it was seen they arrived on time and we didn't have to spend a fortune getting the camper ready for the sale!

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

SOLAR PL2216 Pro-Logix 16 Amp Automatic Battery Charger

SOLAR PL2216 Pro-Logix 16 Amp Automatic Battery ChargerThis is easily one of the best battery chargers around for consumer trucks and autos. It automatically checks the condition and type of battery and adjusts the charging cycle accordingly. These are very well made; a quality case and good clamps and cables. They LED displays are eimple to interpret (just read the instructions!). It's also gret thtat it can charge such a range of battery types from Gel Cells to standard Lead Acid. Considering it's power the case is not very large and you can easily store this in a closet or average shop shelf.

This is a great little charger that has a lot of power for its size. It doesn't take up a lot of space and works on all automotive type batteries no matter what your application.

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Original review from early 2011, purchased july of 2010:

Perfect all around charger for all automotive batteries. Don't let the low amp rating fool you it'll charge your battery -correctlyfaster than you might think.

I did have problems getting it to charge a completely flat battery, had to start the charge with my traditional charger first to get it going, then switched over once it registered any voltage.

Con: Clamps are a bit small, and difficult to fit over battery terminals.

Oh, and don't expect it to jump start you. :)

Updated Feb 2012:

Now that the charger is dead, I'm less happy with it. Instead of charging, it appears to be internally shorted so when it's plugged in and says its charging, it actually discharges the battery (leaving you with a very hot and very deeply discharged hunk of lead, instead). Since it's outside of it's 1 year warranty, guess it's time for the recycle pile. :(

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Friday, May 16, 2014

iBike Dash CC Cycling Computer for iPhone 3G/3GS/4 and iPod Touch

iBike Dash CC Cycling Computer for iPhone 3G/3GS/4 and iPod TouchHey Shack, it's too bad you have to bash a product to promote your own. Why can't you just write a decent review. I'm off my soap box.

I've used a regular iBike for years on my race bike but really like the "CC" for my hybrid. I've used this cycling computer for a few months now and I'm very pleased. Lots of bells and whistles, tons of data if you want or just enjoy a simple view. I got rained on hard and my iPhone stayed bone dry. Easy to read, easy to use and reasonable battery life. A bit big, but solid as a rock. I'm actually thinking about getting another one for my wife's Electra cruiser.

I have completed over 200 miles of riding with the iBike Dash + Power (the power meter variation of this product) and am thoroughly impressed and pleased with it. I am posting this review because I believe in the company, the products, and have a very closely related version of this product.

Cycling has its share of gizmos. iBike earns it keep and is a great product. For those that are looking for power measurement the options are few and costly. This system works flawlessly with the iPhone. I believe iPod Touch (have not tried) would find that this is a great way to use the iPod Touch. I just completed a 75-mile ride and the iPhone battery and the backup iBike battery lasted the entire ride (could have easily lasted for a 100 mile ride in my view) with the cell phone and WiFi radios on and working. For beginning riders you'll appreciate the simplicity of iBike. I have seen good applications and this is one very good application. You should like it as much as I do.

For iPhone and iPod users the iBike is a great answer. It does the job. It makes you a more informed rider. It puts your iPhone/iPod to work. It protects you iPhone/iPod. And it makes you look forward to doing even more on and off your bike like viewing your own custom screens and viewing your data on your laptop post ride. Think through whether or not you really want another device laying around like a cycling computer. In my view it is best to use your iPhone and ride with it where you can see texts and quickly catch up on email at stops. It is just a great answer for cycling.

For riders that are checking out other power information systems my view is that the iBike+Power works. It does what it needs to do and does it well. This system is thought through and has good workmanship. I have not had any issues and have given one to a nephew who also loves the system.

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I am a solo physician who must keep my iphone with me at all times, so I loved the idea of killing two birds with one stone with iDash. The waterproof case securely transports my phone and alerts me to calls while riding. The iDash combined with the iPhone GPS, provides all of the ride data I need, in a big graphical Apple-like format, that is far superior to the numeric only data on the Garmin, Cyclops, etc.

I also have a Powertap hub and wanted to be able to gather that data as well. Initially iDash was lacking in its ability to display that data in the ways that I wanted, but after communicating with the company, a revision was released that cured 75% of my issues, with a promise to continue working on the others. This occurred within a 2 week period excellent response! They also fixed a data bug that I found in sending data to Training Peaks, and now my coach can see all the data he needs, on par with the Garmin or CycleOps.

I love the flexibility to modify the software and the responsiveness of the iBike team to improving the system. The iPhone format allows more flexibilty than any of the other units I compared it with.

At this point, there are just a few minor improvements that I can imagine to the Power data display (smoothing mostly, since as all power meter users know can be very jumpy) , but I feel sure iBike will add these in time.

My final test will be to crash the bike and see how the system and my iphone hold up. Will post update when that occurs!

Read Best Reviews of iBike Dash CC Cycling Computer for iPhone 3G/3GS/4 and iPod Touch Here

I have given up on this application. I bought it about 6 months ago. When it works it is great. When it doesn't it is totally frustrating. First, the case fell apart completely when I hit a rough patch of asphalt. Luckily I was able to catch the iphone before it fell, otherwise I would have lost it as well. The I Bike folks were very nice and sent me a replacement. The replacement was defective and would not let me calibrate. Another call. Another nice person who sent a replacement. This replacement could be calibrated, but the wind speed measurements were always off. (Yes, I zeroed it out each time I used it.) That meant the power calculations were off and useless.

Other problems: I had the stem mount and it caused the star nut to loosen and once again the case and phone fell, creating a very dangerous situation. Fortunately I was just riding up an incline so my speed was somewhat slow. Had to abort the ride to get the star nut replaced since it is a safety issue. Obviously there has been little thought given to the reliability of the stem mount regarding the star nut issue.

Battery life was abysmal. I bought the spare batteries. Their life was even worse.

Finally I gave up and bought a Garmin.

I will say on the few occasions that the ibike worked, it was great and gave valuable data. The shame is that it was unreliable, and on a couple of occasions dangerous. I would not use one if it was given to me free. Seems like they brought it to market too quickly without enough testing. A real disappointment.

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I got this from my husband as a birthday gift and I love it!

It was super easy to install (there were on screen videos) and it fits very securely on my handle bars. I really didn't want anything that I was going to have to struggle with before every ride. Don't have time for that!

The screens are really easy to read while I'm riding which helps me to be able to stay focused on traffic. I love that I can take an emergency call if I really have to without losing any ride data. It's great to have access to maps, GPS & weather while I ride as well. I get a lot of use out of the calories and the ride comparisons. It keeps me motivated to ride a little longer and to push myself a little bit more each ride.

We watched the waterproof video on the web site. It was one of the key features that sold us on the product. Before I took it on the road I tried it for myself (dunked it in the pool with tissue paper in the case). There wasn't a drop of water in the case.

It's a great bike computer and training tool. Now that I have it, I wouldn't ride without it!

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Friday, May 2, 2014

Cobra MicroTalk FRS220 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio (Charcoal)

Cobra MicroTalk FRS220  2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio
  • Up to 2-mile range and access to all 14 FRS channels
  • 500 milliwatts of output power, maximum allowed by law
  • Audible incoming-call alert
  • External slide switch lets you change between 2 FRS channels
  • Backlit LCD display for nighttime use

I just bought this radio not to long ago... I am VERY happy with it! It has features that the more expensive Motorola TalkAbout FR60 does not have, such as a lock (so if you have it in your pocket and a button is pressed mistakenly, nothing will happen!),LCD backlit display,a bendable antenna, and belt clips (you would have to pay EVEN MORE for this on the FR60)! It has excellent clarity, easy to use buttons, a Call button, 14 channels, 38 subcodes (so other people cannot annoy your conversation!), and much more! The only thing I would like on this Cobra is that it would have better clarity with people in a longer distance (about a mile and a half, you cannot hear at all, depending on the surroundins). I definitely reccomend this Cobra radio! If you are about to buy the Motorola FR60, drop your credit card and turn to the Cobra FRS 220 2-way radio!

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I have recently purchased the Cobra 220 2 way radio set. for use to keep track of kids in parks and Malls. This is a great Product with channel lock and Phone like ring alert We have yet to find an area where it will not work even in the largest mall we had great reception.. I recommend this product to any parent with free roaming Kids..

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When I got this radio, it was more that i could hope for. I use these radios for everything. They are great for fairs and amusment parks, to keep in touch if members of your party go seperate ways.

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I just got these walkie talkies for the holidays. As soon as I opened the battery back thing, it broke off. But, otherwise its great for just talking to people. It has great radio reception and is loud and clear.

Well worth the money...

Still going great after 13 years. The battery's finally gave out 2 years ago I think, along with the charger but oh well. The triple A option still works.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Solar Panel Charger KIT - Boat RV Marine - Frameless, Unbreakable - Non Glass Construction. 12V Bat

Solar Panel Charger KIT - Boat RV Marine - Frameless, Unbreakable - Non Glass Construction. 12V Battery Charger 12 Watts.. INCLUDED: Blocking Diode, All Weather Holder & Fuse, Battery Eyeletts and Cigarette Lighter Adapter. 17.5' L x 10.5' W x 1/4' Thick.I originally gave this product one star because although the product description says that no voltage regulator is required, the documentation that came with the product clearly indicates that one is required. Upon reading my review, Rich, from ITC called me to inform me that the documentation was wrong and that the solar panel did indeed not need a voltage regulator. I am very impressed with the speed with which Rich responded to my review. The panel is very well made and suits my needs perfectly (trickle charging for the deep cycle 12 volt battery on my sailboat. Rich informed me that the solar panel should be installed with a fuse and diode which he graciously provided to me. This panel is well worth the price considering the quality and speed that ITC provides technical support.

My old solar panel on my motorhome broke and was only a 5 watt. I did a lot of research and found this one and I like how it doesn't have a glass panel and it is flexible a little bit, plus it was the exact size I needed to replace the old one and installation was a snap.

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Needed a small solar cell to keep my boat battery charged. This fit nicely on the front of the cabin and has been doing a great job keeping the battery "Up".

Read Best Reviews of Solar Panel Charger KIT - Boat RV Marine - Frameless, Unbreakable - Non Glass Construction. 12V Bat Here

Easily keeps my battery topped off. Put out 17 when off the battery 12 on, so we know it is charging away. Very sturdy, I do not have to worry about it breaking. One bad thing, it did not come with the cables to attach to he battery, so four stars for making be fiddle with it. Good buy. It also does not seem to have the requlator that it said it did. Still would buy again.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

eForCity Retractable Car Charger Compatible with Blackberry 8310 8330 Curve

eForCity Retractable Car Charger Compatible with Blackberry 8310 8330 CurveButton to retract works well. Meaning the cord easily retracts without having to press down to hard. But this charger broke before I owned it for a year.

I love this product! No cords hanging all over the place in the car when I'm done charging I retract the cord and put it away.

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I don't know if it's this charger or a mistake on the seller's part, but this charger did not fit my 8130 (or is it 8310?) Blackberry.

Read Best Reviews of eForCity Retractable Car Charger Compatible with Blackberry 8310 8330 Curve Here

Ordered a few being the price was SO reasonable! My mother and I both had them in our cars and they lasted for a good time, Charged with no problem for her old school flip phone and my ancient blackberry. Have to be careful when retracting as the cord can get caught and stripped. Keep away from children that like to pull on strings ( that's how 2 of the 3 were broken). The last one to stop working I think was just because it had lived its life

Very impressed with the quality for the price. Would order again if Ihad the same charging nook in my new phone.

Quick delivery and an impressed buyer.

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Takes a little while to charge a phone completely, but for just under $3.00 with shipping, you can't beat it. The retractable cord is a great feature and has worked well.