Energizer Instant Charger Made for iPod/iPhone

Before Hurricane Sandy made landfall, forecasters in my area warned of prolonged power outages that could possibly last a week or longer. Thankfully, my area didn't take the brunt of the storm, but it got me thinking about what I would do for communications during a prolonged outage. I have a couple external, rechargeable batteries I could use to charge my iPhone, but what would I do once they were dead? Solar chargers are available, but the technology doesn't seem to be quite there yet and most reviews indicate they can take up to a week of clear, blue skies to recharge fully.

The Energizer Instant Charger is a practical choice. Although it comes with single-use Lithium batteries (expensive), you can use any brand rechargeable AA NiMH batteries in it (I personally like Rayovac's Hybrid AA batteries, which can be found for under ten dollars for a 4-pack at many stores). This allows you to keep as many backup batteries on hand as you like in the event of a power outage (you can use alkalines as well). So if it comes down to it, you could keep your phone charged with batteries from your remotes, clocks, etc. And for times when you don't need it, you can use the batteries in your Wiimotes, digital cameras, and other devices, so you don't need to keep batteries specifically dedicated to this charger.

PROs

+ Three NiMH batteries can take my iPhone 4S to a full charge.

+ The charger only turns on when it is connected to your phone, so you don't have to worry about it accidentally turning on and draining in your pocket

+ When your phone hits 100%, this charger automatically shuts off. You can override this by hitting the power button on the charger if you want to "trickle" charge your phone.

+ No internal battery to worry about eventually "wearing out" from too many charge cycles. Simply buy new AA rechargeable batteries if the ones you have start to wear out.

CONs

Connector is flimsy, so you probably don't want to carry your phone around while it's charging for fear of the connector bending and breaking off

I know it's only a matter of time until I lose the cap for the connector

It uses the Apple 30-pin connector, so it will not work with the new iPhone 5 or any Android phones (however, I believe this is also keeping the price of the device fairly low at the time of this writing)

If you have an iPhone 4S or earlier, and you wish to prepare for disaster, this is the charger for you. It accepts alkaline disposable, NiMh rechargable, and lithium disposable batteries. Energizer thoughtfully provided a set of its own lithium disposable batteries. This type of battery is great for disasters because they will wait happily for 10 years or more for the disaster to start.

Being able to accept alkaline cells is also great. Personally, I hate alkalines because they frequently leak on me. But in an extended disaster, you will want to be able to use whatever battery type is available. Alkalines are available everywhere.

No cable to lose, and the protective cap grips reasonably well.

I like the "slide out" battery tray. When you change batteries, you do not disassemble the charger so you won't lose any pieces. Well, except for the protective cap. Watch that one.

Durability seems OK. It looks strong enough to survive a fall of a few feet. If you sit on it, you'll probably smash it.

The only negative I can find is that this charger might be too specialized for some people. It will only charge Iphones and iPod Touches, and is not compatible with the latest models such as iPhone 5. The fact that there is no cable means that your iPhone and charger form one very long and slightly unstable unit while connected. That's the trade-off for having no cord to lose.

If you do not have landline telephone service at home, then it would be useful to have this charger at home. Change the batteries every 10 years or so, and don't forget where you stashed it.

Buy Energizer Instant Charger Made for iPod/iPhone Now

On a set of 2650 mAh (milliampere-hour, a measure of battery capacity) rechargeable batteries, I was able to bring my iPhone 4 from a charge of 52% to 100%. That's more than I was expecting to get out of 3 AA batteries, so I'm satisfied.

Now, Energizer recommends AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries (non-rechargeable, and comes included in the package), but you CAN use alkaline or rechargeable batteries. Take note that alkaline and rechargeable batteries have lower charging capacities than lithium batteries.

If you plan on using the charger regularly as your primary power source to power your device, think again. This charger is best used as a backup power supply in an emergency (since lithium batteries are expensive, and alkaline/rechargeable batteries won't fully charge the iPhone). Personally, I take it along on my hikes because I use an off-road GPS app on my iPhone. Having this charger with me gives me the peace of mind of knowing that if my iPhone battery runs low, I can still keep my GPS app going by powering it on a few AA batteries (I always bring loads of spare AA batteries with me as backup power for my flashlights, geotagger, and other devices).

● Construction

The construction is pretty descent, although the charger looks and feels a bit on the cheap side. Still, I think it will hold up quite nicely, as long as you're not putting it in your back pocket or anywhere the charger might get banged around. The iPhone connector doesn't jiggle, like a few people claimed in their reviews. I wouldn't leave the charger dangling on the iPhone however (or vice versa). It's best to hook up the charger to the iPhone and set both on a flat surface.

● Function

The 3 included lithium batteries can recharge a dead phone (i.e. 0% charge) to 100%. The batteries are pretty much spent after that. NiMH rechargeable batteries can add 50% charge to your phone. I haven't tried alkaline batteries, but I reckon the charge capacity of alkaline batteries to be between that of lithium batteries and NiMH rechargeable batteries (75%). The phone takes about the same time to charge on the Energizer charger as it does on the USB port on my computer.

The charger comes with a cap for protecting the connector on the charger (cap not shown in the picture on the product page). After you remove the cap to access the connector, you can pop the cap on the other end of the charger, where it will stay on securely, so you won't lose the cap.

The battery sliding cover allows you to quickly and easily change out the 3 AA batteries. The sliding cover cannot be removed, so you don't risk losing it.

● Portability

The charge is compact, measuring only 3-7/8" x 1-7/8" x 3-1/4" (Length x Width x Thickness). It weighs 1.6 oz without batteries and 4.8 oz with batteries.

---

This charger does exactly what Energizer says it will do on the product page. It gives the iPhone 2 times the run time when the charger is used with lithium batteries (i.e. after you've run down a fully charged phone, this charger will fully charge the iPhone once. The charger thus helps to double the run time on the iPhone).

However, this charger when used with alkaline/NiMH rechargeable batteries won't fully charge an iPhone whose battery is fully depleted (It's not the Energizer charger's fault. 3 alkaline/rechargeable AA batteries SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER to fully recharge an iPhone. It's a wonder they work to charge the iPhone at all). And the recommended lithium batteries are expensive.

But the charger serves as a very practical backup power supply for your iPhone in an emergency. Recommended as long as you don't have unrealistically high expectations of this charger.

Read Best Reviews of Energizer Instant Charger Made for iPod/iPhone Here

Let me say that this charger works well... but keep in mind, you should use this charger for emergencies only. why? Well the connection can be quite flimsy and if you have a particular case which is not completely open at the bottom, forget it... You'll need to remove your case completely. Why do I say use for emergencies? There are so many other battery/chargers around you can easily get something that would work better (like a Zagg Sparq), However, this shines when you have no access to outlets, need a charge and only have AA batteries.

Now as for does it work? Yes it works well with lithium batteries. I havent gotten the 2x performance, but will say i have been able to fully charge the device after being down to about 30%. Now keep in mind they recommend you use lithium batteries, which have a price premium hence another reason to look at other chargers for daily use.

Last thing to not... if you have an iPhone 5 don't buy this, it wont work with it unless you have the apple adapter.

All in all 3/5 stars

pros:

small

good for emergencies

cons:

poor connection

expensive batteries

compatibility issues with newer iProducts

Want Energizer Instant Charger Made for iPod/iPhone Discount?

This unit is not meant to recharge rechargeable AA batteries ...it's only meant to be a conduit to channel power from any AA batteries to the battery in your phone or small notepad (I used this successfully on both my Nexus 4 phone AND Nexus 7 tablet). And that's exactly what I wanted........extra power that I could carry around and would not have to worry about keeping charged up all the time for that moment I needed it. With this charger, if my phone needs an extra boost (even while I'm using it) or if I use up all my power and need to make a phone call, or if I just need to "top it off", I can go into any store and buy three cheap alkaline AA batteries and get a charge out of it. They also include 3 high-powered lithium-ion non-rechargeable batteries (which cost about $2 a piece when purchased separately) which actually provide enough power to fully charge a dead phone; I'm estimating that regular alkaline batteries would probably recharge the phone to maybe 75% (and again, any batteries would be useful to keep it going awhile longer when using any power draining apps). I would not really recommend this as a regular way to re-charge a totally dead phone.....it will work, but will nearly totally deplete your batteries each time you do this). But for providing emergency or extra power when needed, it's excellent.

Save 8% Off

Dc Car Power Adapter for Sony D-v500 Dvp-f5 Dvp-fx1 Dvp-fx5 Dvp-fx700 Dvp-fx701 Dvp-fx705 Dvp-fx805

• After market replacement car adapter
• Save money on batteries
• 100% compatible to orginal manufacturer equipment
• Use this dc car charger adapter to charge or power your Portable dvd player in your car

Product was ordered as the correct one based on my DVD model number. Actual part had no markings to confirm what voltage it stepped down car DC power down to and ended up frying my portable DVD player.

Buy Dc Car Power Adapter for Sony D-v500 Dvp-f5 Dvp-fx1 Dvp-fx5 Dvp-fx700 Dvp-fx701 Dvp-fx705 Dvp-fx805 Now

A couple of three-year-olds have been using our portable DVD player and their parents misplaced the power adapters. I was pleased to find a replacement that works well.

Nyko iBoost Mini Battery Pack for iPod Mini

• Up to 10 hours extra play time
• High quality lithium-ion battery cells
• Charge and transfer files, all at the same time
• Can be charged with car charger (not included)
• Charges via AC adapter supplied with iPod, or via computer's USB or FireWire port

The other reviewer is 100% correct. The iboost when charged and left unused will only last about 2 days. Then the red starts to flash and then it is out of battery. You then have to charge it again and it will last you another 2 days if not used. But if you do use it it will last a while. Like 10 hours for 1st gen and 20 for second gen. That is if you use it immedialty after it is done charging. Warning also could cause your battery to be out of sync!!!!!!

I gave a 2 stars because I brought my Ipod to listen to school everyday. (I had a TA class where I listen to music and grade papers) So it worked for that becuase I consitinly charged the battery everyday. But if you are looking for a Battery Pack that is more realiable and is recharagable (that could replace your depleting battery) look further. This is not what you are looking for.

Buy Nyko iBoost Mini Battery Pack for iPod Mini Now

I purchased a Nyko iBoost Battery Pack for an iPod mini back in December and it started failing within two months of purchase. After six months it failed to hold a charge. I notified Amazon about this and they also could not back up the product with a replacement or partial refund. Do not buy this product as there is no guarantee, either from Amazon or the manufacturer. I suggest buying an external pack (i.e. Belkin) in which the batteries are separate and can be easily charged and replaced. Chalk it up to a painful lesson learned about buying things like this from Amazon.

Read Best Reviews of Nyko iBoost Mini Battery Pack for iPod Mini Here

I bought this bat pack around 2006 and I'm still using it to this day. With mine, if left unused, it will stay charged for a few weeks. While being used several hours a day, I get at least a week minimum use out of it.

I'm not sure why the other two reviewers had such bad luck. In fact, my iPod Mini 2G that I bought this bat pack for is still working right along with the bat pack itself and has since been passed down to one of my kids.

I'm actually considering buying one more of these as a backup to the one I have.

BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248

I did a bit of research before purchasing this product. If you want a quick charge, I have read that your battery won't last as long. For battery life, the ideal charge is low amerage. I appreciate that this charger provides a low amp charge to the battery. I had an older battery charger that I believe prematurely destroyed one of my 12v batteries, so I did my best to find the best value replacement. As a matter of fact, the way I saw the older charger behaving (according to my digital multimeter), I was concerned that it could cause the battery to explode or start a fire. I decided to get a new one. I looked at all of the battery chargers I could find on Amazon and other sites. Eventually, I settled on this particular model for these reasons:

1. Provides a low amperage charge, which is supposed to help prolong battery life.

2. Desulphination mode, which is supposed to help prolong battery life.

3. Safety shutoff features, so that it doesn't overcharge the battery.

4. Reads the battery polarity and illuminates a red light if you have it reversed.

5. Excellent review on Amazon and other sites that sell battery chargers.

I've only been using the battery minder for a couple of months, but I think it is working well. The recharges and maintenance modes seem appropriate. The batteries seem to last a long time after I charge them. This product seems to be living up to the claims and ratings. I am impressed.

Years ago a solid state battery charger would be ignored by most as unreliable and/or cheap. Times changed and now many solid state items represent those of the best quality. I've found this product line to be one of those lacking nothing and of the best quality. The five year warranty that comes with it helps re-enforce that idea.

Yes, this product is made in China to the American (USA) VDC company technological standards. I wish everything could be made here in the US as I am USA born. That's no longer the case with many of the product names I grew up with at least VDC is still an American company based in Huntington, New York. But still, I'm glad I purchased my BatteryMinder 12248 over a year back in 2011.

There-in was also something I found especially refreshing. When I opened the packaging, I wasn't greeted with instructions in some other language but in my own native English taught to every US citizen and recognized as the true one language of our country by most Americans. Seeing instructions in every language always tells me some portion of what I spent on a product went into all those other translations especially irksome when, to start with, the language is SUPPOSED to be English for products sold in the US. The small instruction manual is clear there's just 35 pages VDC would like you to look over first to improve your knowledge of this product. That's nothing excessive or unreasonable. I actually like to know the proper use of products just like I enjoy knowing the proper way to operate a vehicle I'm driving down the road. I find it safer that way, and my cars all last longer for my knowing how to drive and maintain them and I'm also sure other passengers, drivers, and pedestrians appreciate my responsibility.

I could have easily used the 12248 without the manual by just using a little common sense and knowing how batteries are sized and what type they are, but the manual does contain everything you need to know concerning the operation of the 12248. There are also printed instructions on the unit. Nothing difficult in use, and even if it was VDC provides a technical service number right on the manual. That number is also on the unit. They even answer it quickly I know, I called them to start the warranty on my purchase and to inquire about the free battery tester they will send you for registering your product.

Enough with the literature and literacy. The VDC BatteryMINDer 12248 will charge/maintain up to six batteries at a time with full-time desulfation. This is why I wanted it. It also has low amperage draw in use, and provides temperature compensation also important in my hot Southern US climate. An earlier purchase of a BatteryMINDer 12151 (engine compartment mounted style) proved to me the patented BatteryMINDer desulfation technology works and works very well (see my 12151 review here at Amazon "BatteryMinder 1.5A or BatteryMinder 1.3A? (chuckle) Like the "Tortoise and the Hare" When Compared To Some Chargers.").

The 12248 still isn't the fastest charger with only a top output of 8 Amperes, but it's not the tortoise the 12151 is either when recharging a dead battery. Is desulfation faster using the 12248 instead of the 12151? Possibly, but not necessarily. The 12151 just can't charge and desulfate more than one battery at a time, and it only charges with a reported maximum of 1.5 Amperes although I have seen a 12151 charge at 1.8A for short initial start-up periods. The 12151 is also designed to be permanently installed to a vehicle, whereas the 12248 is a "bench" charger that can either be hung from a bench or used sitting on a bench it also sits on four rubber pads for this.

This model 12248 comes with the $20 temperature compensator with ring terminal option supplied, and a ring terminal battery connector with 15 Amp fuse for a permanent charging connection to a vehicle mounted battery. All terminal connectors and fuses are also supplied with well fitted caps to prevent corrosion from moisture and to and keep out dirt. It also has the standard spring clip connector with 15 Amp fuse. Nice wire lengths have also been supplied to all cables that make connections simple in most any proper use of the unit.

The only caveat I've noticed is the temperature sender cable pins can be connected wrong if not paying close attention. If you look closely, you can see a minus and positive sign at each connection terminal that should be observed when making the electrical temperature cable connections. A red marking for positive would make this connection much easier, or pins that only fit one way.

I plan to update this review as more use is applied to the 12248 with various batteries. (chuckle) Nothing quite like an on-going accounting of product performance.

My first (far reaching) trial:

settings: 8 Amp, Standard lead-acid, temperature sensor clamped to the negative battery post

A thirteen year old, 75DG size group, Grand L 3010 HST Kubota diesel tractor standard lead acid battery that somehow still hangs on despite it would no longer start the tractor it came with. After about nine years of good service, up until it wouldn't start my Grand L, this battery was replaced with a new one and forgotten in a corner of my garage. This battery had a swollen case and plates, and had been sitting idle and untouched for roughly five years in that corner. One month back, I had put a quick charge on this battery and had it reading 12.6 volts when I immediately started using it for some very light electrical duty. Over the next several weeks I continued using it a few times to power a car radio system I was working on in my garage. It was still showing 11.4 volts when I connected the BatteryMINDer 12248 and made the proper settings. The 12248 accepted it and began charging it. After 30 minutes, I used an Amprobe digital meter to check the voltage and amperes being put out by the 12248 at the battery they were; volts@14.01-14.02, amperes@.10-.12 with a solid green charge indicator.

July 28 (eight days after connection) voltage while connected was at 13.22 volts, the same as when checked after the initial 24 hours of connection. Since day two, the voltage has remained the same and the charge indicator has been flashing. Amperes are at .16 and are the same as they were when checked on day two. Visual inspection of the plates shows the normal coloration of light and dark plates returning. The case end swelling is also diminishing. Of course, I don't expect this 13 year old battery to ever be capable of supplying the heavier amperage loads it once could without self-destruction, but it will be interesting to see what it can withstand. For my purposes, this battery will only be used in my garage for temporary power on a work bench with light loads it may even be usefull for some boost starts on equipment with weak but still marginally functioning batteries. For these purposes it should be fine, as it continues to charge and desulfate well on the 12248. A standard charger would have simply burned and cracked all the plates, and boiled the battery acid solution away long before now leaving the battery useless with dead, shorted, and open cells. As it is, the 12248 is rebuilding a lot of capacity to this old battery.

August 5 On August 2nd I had checked this battery with the 12248 connected using my Amprobe digital meter. I noticed the voltage was varying slightly between 13.20 and 13.24. A check of the supplied amperage showed rapid changes occuring varying from .08 to .94 amperes. This peculiar amperage behavior in maintain mode is different from the 12151 BatteryMINDers I have installed to two of my vehicles. I removed the charger and checked the battery after a twelve hour "rest". The battery showed 12.70 volts. I reconnected the charger and saw the voltage initially increase to 14.5, and then begin dropping. Amps were initially steady at .10. After two hours, I checked and found the charger back in maintain mode and again at 13.20-13.24 volts and amperage varying from .08 to .94. I checked again today and saw everything the same except the case swelling now appears almost gone. During the time the charger is off this older battery, I've been putting it on a year old 78DLG Duralast Gold 800 CCA battery from Auto Zone. This battery now shows 12.88 volts after a twenty-four hour rest after each time it has been connected to the 12248. Once I'm better satisfied with the charge condition of the old Kubota battery, I plan to connect it and the Duralast battery in parallel and make use of some of the multiple battery charging capability of this 12248. Even if these two batteries do have a large difference in age, they still match in type and are close in size group.

August 23 On August 12th I finally felt secure in how stable the condition of the old battery was and connected the much newer Duralast in parallel. There had been no changes in the BatteryMINDer output on the older battery alone, the plates in the battery were looking good, and there was no longer any case swelling. Afterwards, I fairly well forgot about the two batteries connected in parallel to the BatteryMINDER 12248 until today. Again, I had checked the BatteryMINDer output when I first connected the batteries. The voltage was staying about 13.23 and amperes were steady at .10 when first checked. Today, the voltage was varying slightly between 13.21-13.23 and amperes were varying up and down between .12-.15. A look inside, to see those 13 year old Kubota battery plates, revealed plates that now look almost new in coloration and conformation. Could it be the BatteryMINDer 12248 is restoring this formerly dead and unused 13 year old battery, that lay useless for almost five years, to an almost new condition? From just looking into the cells at those plates, it appears so after a month on the BattryMINDer 12248. After a few more weeks on this BatteryMINDer, I'm going to load test this old battery out of pure curiosity. I have the thought that it would start my Kubota diesel tractor, it came new with, right now with no problems.

Update 10/24/11:

I finally got around to load testing the 13 year old Kubota battery. IT PASSED! I also used it to start my Grand L Kubota, and it started the tractor just like a brand new battery. This is an amazing recovery that makes me wonder how many "bad" batteries I could have saved and continued to use through the years, if I had only had this BatteryMINDer 12248. It's great to find a tool, and a company, that truly saves you money.

Update 9/11/2012:

I have't lost a single battery since I put this 12248 in service, and all the batteries I mentioned above are still doing fine and in service. I also have purchased multiple 12151 BatteryMINDers, and have them installed to my stored vehicles. It's very nice to just turn the key on a vehicle that has been in storage for many months and hear the engine roar to life with just a turn of the key minus jumper cables. It's also nice to know all your batteries have been kept fresh and ready for good service by simply using a BatteryMINDer.

Update 12/23/2012:

The 13 year old battery finally developed an open cell condition causing its voltage to drop. At least the BatteryMINDer did give me another surprising year of use from it. I have also recharged a dead 9 year old "gold top" AutoZone battery and have its voltage back up. It was unable to start the old GMC pickup truck it was in, as I was unable to recover enough capacity using the BatteryMINDer on it for that purpose, but it's still maintaining proper voltage and usable for lower current draw applications such as quickly checking 12 volt parts for operation or temporary 12 volt lighting during a power outage. So, some batteries will just be too far gone in one way or another for help from a BatteryMINDer. However, I have recovered two expensive Odyssey batteries and a now 6 year old sealed Delco that are still working great. One of the Odyssey batteries is 8+ years old and used in a Trans Am with a high compression V-8 and strong Kenwood amplifiers in that car. The other sits in my antique '57 Ford 640 tractor. I was able to recover both of those batteries to 100%. The Delco had died several times in my 2007 Silverado before it was four years old (I replaced it with a new battery after four years). After recovering that factory Delco to 100%, I put it back in my Silverado and have had no more trouble from it. I did add a BatteryMINDer under the hood of that truck, as it has parasitic draws that had even killed the new battery I had placed in it. I brought the new battery back with this BatteryMINDer and placed it in the old GMC pickup. Overall, BatteryMINDer has saved me around $600 to date and I really like that.

made in china

Buy BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 Now

I've been using the small BatteryMinders (the 1.3 Amp maintainers) for the past few years and decided that for some of my larger batteries, especially the deep cycle setup used in conjunction with a set of solar panels, that I needed something that was capable of pushing much more than 1.3 Amps. Enter this product with its 2 / 4 / 8 Amp settings and the ability to automatically reduce the Amp "push" and start cycling the battery (or in my case batteries, as I have 4 large deep cycle batteries connected in parallel) with a maintenance charge.

So far I've been very happy with this product as I have been with the 1.3 Amp BatteryMinder in the past. The construction is solid, a direct-wire connector is included, the ability to connect directly with included clips is great, and there isn't that "it's going to break next week" cheap feel that some of the other competing products have (I bought a used bike and a competing product came with it now it is hooked up to a BatterMinder and the other charger is sitting in a box).

If you have need to keep a large battery or bank of batteries well maintained and on a steady charge, be they for your trolling motor or a battery backup for your sump pump (because the power always seems to fail during a rain storm just when you need that pump most), I strongly recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 Here

I installed this for my 4 very large house batteries on my RV. Since it cost about $1800 dollars to replace those batteries I am interested in getting as long a life as possible. It has been in place for about 2 weeks and so far it is doing what I expected. The batteries hold a charge longer than before. This type of battery in Arizona normally lasts about 4 years, and this set is 18 months old and beginning to show its age. But with this device installed they are back to about 95% of what they were when they were new. My only complaint is about the temperature sensor that can be used with the unit, it does not come with the device, but is an extra cost option. I think it should be included since it provides a feature of the device.

Want BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 Discount?

I attempted to use some cheep harbor freight 2 stage chargers and ended up ruining 6 batteries ranging from 40.00 to 125.00 each. They continuously overcharged and boiled my batteries dry. I purchased these Batteryminder chargers to try and salvage my batteries. It worked and saved 3 of the six. Thats about 200.00 worth of batteries I have been able to reclaim. I am very pleased with the product and also purchased their 2,6,8 amp model for my large deep cycle batteries. The instructions say that if after charging, your battery won't hold 11 volts they probably have a shorted cell. The three batteries that couldn't be reclaimed had bulged cases and only showed between 5 and 8 volts after bulk charging with a regular automotive charger. Hope this helps you decide if yours may be reclaimed. The three batteries that were reclaimed would charge past 11 volts but when load testing dropped off immediately to less than 6 volts. They must have been heavily sulfated because they are as good as ever now after desulfating for several days. I wish I had made this purchase years ago. I would have saved alot of money. Oh well live and learn.

Save 10% Off

Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Samsung T459 Gravity, T919 Behold, R550 Jetset

I've had this charger for 1.5 years. I use it all the time when we go out of town (I would say it gets used about 3 times while we're on a trip and we take several a year... every other month I guess). I have not had it drain my battery at all. I'm actually upgrading phones, but this won't go to waste as my husband just got the Samsung Sunburst and it works on his phone.

I had purchase this product and so far it works very well. No problems at all.

Buy Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Samsung T459 Gravity, T919 Behold, R550 Jetset Now

This is an independent seller. They are reasonable with shipping and send me a free gift (an antenna booster). Thanks. Moreover, the charger is working fine.

Read Best Reviews of Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Samsung T459 Gravity, T919 Behold, R550 Jetset Here

Does what it's supposed to do, i.e. charge my cell phone. I didn't try the antenna booster, most of the other reviewers seemed to think it made no difference.

Want Rapid Car Charger + Generation X Antenna Booster for Samsung T459 Gravity, T919 Behold, R550 Jetset Discount?

this is a great charger. charges my phone from one bar till full in bout an hour give or take ten min. didn't cause my phone to get hot while doing it either. the external antennna booster they give though is junk does nothing to help boost reception otherwise i'd given 5 stars.

Advanced Golf Buddy Voice GPS Rangefinder 2 Amp (10W) Mini Car / Auto DC Charger - Amazingly small

This charger works very well in my golf cart. By charging in the cart I don't have to take the Golf Buddy into the house where 9 times out of 10 we will forget to put it back in the golf bag.

Save 34% Off

Belkin USB Car Charger

• Micro Auto Charger with USB port connection
• Low profile design
• Quick-charge USB port for fastest possible charge

This item was a complete piece of junk. It BLEW FUSES on BOTH my vehicles.

Had to pay a mechanic to diagnose the problem.

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS!

By the way, the issue was with the product NOT the seller!

The seller generously refunded my money.

Buy Belkin USB Car Charger Now

This thing blew two separate fuses within minutes. The idea is great but there is something wrong in the wiring. Definitely wouldn't get this again.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin USB Car Charger Here

I own a genuine version of this charger and bought 2 of these which was only about 3 dollars. This IS a cheap knock off, I know so because I own a real one, and the ones I got both broke instantly as soon as I plugged then into my car.

Don't waste your money on this piece of crap. Get a REAL one.

Want Belkin USB Car Charger Discount?

I really like it because of style and compact......so far,no problem at all with charging very quick, noticeably .....recommend this one..

Save 43% Off

It worked 1 or 2 times then died. The LED light comes on, but it does not deliver power to my device. It feels as thought the USB connection is loose.

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

Very 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.

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

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.

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

Griffin Technology PowerDuo Reserve for iPhone and iPod

• Charges IPhone, IPod, MP3 Players, Or USB-chargeable Devices
• Removable Backup Battery
• Battery Is Interchangeable
• Industrys Most Trusted AC And 12 Volt Charger

Bought this because I needed a car charger for my Itouch and the old Ipod charger didn't work for this technology. When getting ready for a flight, I started searching for a battery boost and saw this and realized that I already owned it and just wasn't using that part of the product! I have used it twice now for flights in addition to daily car charger and am happy with the purchase.

Buy Griffin Technology PowerDuo Reserve for iPhone and iPod Now

I had bought this exact same one at another store and then came home to check Amazon prices. I saved over $20.00!!!! It was worth my time and trouble. It is just what I wanted and it works beautifully. Thank You Amazon.

Read Best Reviews of Griffin Technology PowerDuo Reserve for iPhone and iPod Here

I mainly bought this item so I could charge my iPhone 3GS while in the car. Since I noticed it had the battery included, I thought that could be a nice bonus. As far as being a charger for the car, I would give it 5 stars. The battery is okay, but not great. I can get about a 20% charge off the fully charged battery. I've only used the wall charger portion a couple of times but it appears to work well also.

Want Griffin Technology PowerDuo Reserve for iPhone and iPod Discount?

I spend a lot of time on an island that gets frequent power outages. So I keep the charger in the car. When the phone's power reaches about 20%, I plug the removable plug in battery into the phone and it will transfer about 30% extra. What I love about this is that I don't have to remember to plug my phone in when I get in the car, and I can take that little charger with me when I leave the car. I never use the wall charger. But I was unable to buy the car charger separately. This is the second one I've purchased. The first one is still in use after 4 years.

Save 25% Off

My Brother got one for me as a gift on Ebay. He used to pay $4.25 for it. Now it's $13 on Ebay still with Free shipping. So If you use your phone a lot. This is a must have item.

eForCity Black Micro USB Car Charger compatible with Samsung© Galaxy S III / S3

I would recommend this car charger to everyone. It works great and is VERY reasonably priced! It's a real "must-have" for travelers.

The product is very fragile, after repeated insertion and removal. Be careful with it's use and store with care inside your car.

Buy eForCity Black Micro USB Car Charger compatible with Samsung© Galaxy S III / S3 Now

only lasted 5 days...poor construction and quality...should have known at this price, but to not even last a week...oh well my fault...

Read Best Reviews of eForCity Black Micro USB Car Charger compatible with Samsung© Galaxy S III / S3 Here

Genuine Samsung Cell Phone Car Power Charger, S 20 PIN: CAD300SBEB/STD for Samsung SGH-a657

AND this one works exactly as its supposed to.

I like to keep this in the car in case I need it.

Everything fits fine in my car.

Works great, delivered on time, what more can I say except the price was right (Come On Down!) OK, bad joke. My wife say the humor is lacking......

Buy Genuine Samsung Cell Phone Car Power Charger, S 20 PIN: CAD300SBEB/STD for Samsung SGH-a657 Now

Battery Tender Cigarette Lighter Adapter 081-0069-5

I have several of these lighter adapters and they work great with the Battery Tender Plus. Many car manufactures have their cigarette lighters controlled by their ignition. So when the key is off the lighter is not functional. That is not the fault of the battery charger company. This is the design of the vehicle.

I use this in my BMW's. Otherwise, ya gotta smash the cord in the trunk or disconnect the trunk light which never turns off in my BMW E39 models. Just crack a window, plug this baby in, run the cord through the window, & presto chargo... trickle charge away using a Battery Tender Plus 1.25 amps.

Buy Battery Tender Cigarette Lighter Adapter 081-0069-5 Now

This little neat tool lives in my battery tender pouch, and I use it for keeping the odometer and radio stations and clock when changing batteries. I live in AZ so with 4 cars it seems like I'm always changing batteries. On most cars you have to turn to accessories, 1st click, plug this in, and then change the battery. Great quality as all the other battery Tender products. I can highly recommend all the models. My favorite is the water proof 800ma...that thing is indestructible! I've accidentally run it over with my truck, no damage! Also, get a 6 or 12' extension, they are cheap and SO handy! BTW, the 800 works overseas 120-240 with just a cheap plug changer....my dad keeps one in his humid garage and always plugs the cars in during the winter! NEVER a starting problem.

Read Best Reviews of Battery Tender Cigarette Lighter Adapter 081-0069-5 Here

The cigarette lighter adapter for the Battery Tender allows one to plug the unit into the cigarette lighter inside of the vehicle to keep the vehicle battery charged. Without it, I had to unlatch and raise the hood of the car, and then connect the Battery Tender by some "alligator clips" to the car battery. This is a handy device that is easy to use and saves one the hassle of having to raise the hood and connect the Battery Tender to the automobile battery. 'Get one!

Want Battery Tender Cigarette Lighter Adapter 081-0069-5 Discount?

Works very well with tthe battery tender device. I used it bor my Bimmer that had been in the garage for more than 6 months, so far so good.

Save 84% Off

EMPIRE® Samsung Intensity III U485 Car Charger (CLA)

I did not know what to pick because there were so many choices. This was a good choice & I went largely by cost. Figured not much to lose. This works beautifully and I wasn't disappointed at all. Once again Amazon came through for me

Save 77% Off

VCAN Blinc 136 Flat Black X-Large Full Face Helmet with CRUSADER Graphics

had a hard time hearing.. however my bike is kinda loud.. as a result i found myself tugging on the portion that had the speaker to adjust it... after a few rides.. the wiring came loose and i lost sound... after a soldering iron and a speaker taken out of a greeting card i was up and running and louder than before.. so all in all it worked out...

Truck PAC ES6000 3000 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter

Purchased new and Clore Automotive refuses to replace DOA batteries. Clore Automotive said the dealer should have sold the product within six months of accepting delievery form the manufacture. Since the manufacture date was greater than six month the unit fail to qualify for manufacture warranty. I am now out $235 and Clore Automotive made a two time profit from me. I am now in the market for a new battery charger and you can bet it will not be another Clore Automotive manufacture defective un-warranty piece of junk.

Thanks

Lack of Customer Service Clore Automotive for showing me the light.

The ES-6000 is indeed a powerful unit, but the case started breaking apart after a few years. First the sides where the battery clamps attach fell off, then the center handle broke off. The company refuses to sell replacement plastic case parts, and instead only offers a "refurbishment service" which costs as much as a new unit. With the clamp holders and handle missing, there is no place to safely store the the clamps (which are always "live"), thus making the unit in this condition extremely dangerous and unsafe to use.

Buy Truck PAC ES6000 3000 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter Now

The first Jump box came via UPS and the shipping box was damaged. Inside, the heavy unit was cracked open.

The seller replaced it immediately and I sent the other one back, no problem.

Cons: Like another reviewer mentioned, if you touch the cables together, it's gonna spark, big time. D'oh!

So, if common sense prevails, you don't touch the cables together.

On the pro side, I have used this to jump start a Tri-axle Mack truck in the dead of winter a few dozen times. When it's below freezing, I need to hook up a car in tandem, but it's a 1980 POS truck with 3 big batteries. In summer just the Truck Pac will start it. I've also used it to start 24 Volt excavators and loaders, but you need to be careful how you hook it up.

For cars, it'll start most everything, even at 20 below..

I actually run my old chevy plow truck, (with electric plow), directly from the jump box, rather then buy and install a new battery for the dozen or so times a year I use the plow.

I've had the Truck Pac 6000 for over 3 years and only last week did it not take a full charge. (I loaned it to an idiot neighbor who somehow hooked it up wrong and then ran it dead trying to start a big block car that was out of gas. Now it's only charging 70%.)

He cooked it to the point of the cables smoking. I think it's low on battery acid. I'll take a look inside and see what makes it tick.

Over all, it's a great thing to have and the long cables are nice. It's paid for itself many times over with all the vehicles it has jumped.

Read Best Reviews of Truck PAC ES6000 3000 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter Here

If you need a heavy duty commerical application jump pack, this is the one! The only down fall I can see is there is no on\off switch. I sold this unit to one of my fleet accounts, where there will be many different people useing it. They are worried about someone accidently hooking it up backwards or toutching the clamps together and causeing issues that nobody wants. This is the only complaint I recieved

Want Truck PAC ES6000 3000 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter Discount?

The only complaint i have for the unit itself is you would think someone who makes such a great product could come up with a better way to store the battery clamps for transport. the clamp holders do not hold the clampsthey are allways draggiong behindbuyers of this pruduct have to come up with creative ways to keep the clamps hook onto the unit

Save 55% Off

PowerFilm 5W F15-300N Foldable Solar Charger

I received the charger just days after ordering, way to go Amazon! The units primary responsibility is to charge a combination of AA/AAA batteries for expedition flashlights, Steripens, GPS, Cameras, etc. But I am thrilled it has enough juice to recharge my flip-phone even while talking on it.

The Bottom line: It is currently the best value in its class on Amazon. The 15-300 at approx. 5 watts is more than twice as powerful as the competing powerfilm charger that only charges AA/USB. The 15-300 is also currently listing at $20 cheaper than the AA/USB model. With over 15 volts this little guy also has the ability to slowly recharge a car battery.

Hands down, no emergency supply kit should be without a solar charger: to re-charge digital communication devices, re-chargeable NiMh batteries, portable GPS units, even car engine batteries.

For me, the PowerFilm solar panel chargers more than fit the bill. Plus, PowerFilm is a U.S.A. company, and manufactures its solar panel chargers in the U.S.

What follows is a preliminary review, which I'll update with photos and more details in the coming months.

But, thus far, my use of the 5-watt PowerFilm (PF) foldable solar-panel charger has been so good, that I don't want to hold up information that may be useful to other people.

Test Frequency: so far, I've separately tested two 5-watt units, two times each.

Test Conditions: indoors, under mild sunlight through a lofty skylight, during peak sunlight hours in my region (11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

Battery Results: using a GoalZero AA/AAA battery re-charger (which connects to a PF unit, and is sold separately), each of my 5-watt PF units fully re-charged four of my (Eneloop) NiMH AA batteries in approximately 4.5 hours. To me, that's impressive. (I used a battery meter to measure and confirm the results, itself an indispensable device.)

Cell Phone Results: an Android 2.0 Motorola cell phone was successfully re-juiced with the 5-watt PF panel (with a separate cell phone adapter* connected to it). I didn't record the re-charge time, though, and will do so when I test the unit on an iPhone as well. Unless mistaken, I recall it taking about 4.5 hours as well, maybe less. *I use the "Philips DLM2264/17 PowerPack AC and DC Adapter for iPod/iPhone," model DLM2264/17; there are other adapters out there, this is just one.

Considering that even clear window glass (including untinted auto windows) can partially diminish the intensity of sunlight, I found that the PF units performed well under the above, indoor conditions. These units got the job done. (The GoalZero battery re-charger units are sometimes inconsistent, though.)

Caveat: under the above indoor conditions, I did have to move the solar panels several times, to keep them in line with the sun. But, if AC power is ever not an option, I'll be grateful to have any alternative power source. So, I have no complaints.

Under more optimal conditions (outside in direct sun, at a camp site, strapped to a backpack or bike rack, or through a larger window or on a dashboard on a sunny day), I would expect that this task would be leave-it-and-go convenient, and that re-charge times would be significantly faster. This is why I'll be conducting repeated, comparative tests in both stronger indoor and outdoor sunlight in my region's spring and summer seasons ahead.

Overcast Days: the PF solar panels are said to work, albeit at a much slower re-charge rate, even on overcast days. I've yet to test that claim, but will do so.

Daisy Chain: for higher watt output, I'll be connecting my PF solar panel units together, with a PF daisy chain, to see how much faster the re-charge times might be. (One of my PF panels is a 7.5-watt version, which was/is specially manufactured for, and sold via, Boy Scouts of America. The 5-watt unit has six rectangular panels; the 7.5-watt unit has 8.)

Other Solar Panel Chargers: I spent months researching various solar panels available. Most were priced beyond my budget, were too bulky for my portability needs, and/or had too few or sketchy user reviews. This is not to cast those other panel chargers in a negative light, because I've tried none of them myself. It's just that, based on my research, the PF units seemed a more reliable, affordable risk for me.

Affordability: Like most everything else these days, the price of PF panel chargers has gone up in the last year, at least on Amazon.com. My first purchase of a 5-watt unit, via Amazon.com, was less than the current price listed. My subsequent purchases of PF items were all at sale prices some at deep, deep discounts (as much as 70% off). So, keep an eye out. Hopefully, you'll find some good deals.

Conclusion: for price, compactness, lightness of weight, and reliability (so far), I could not be more pleased with the performance of the PF units. In fact, I'm thrilled.

In addition, someone I know uses the 5-watt PF unit in his car, leaving it on the dashboard during peak sunlight hours, to re-charge his cell phone and NiMh batteries. He is also very pleased with the results. (He uses the "BESTEK 75w DC AC Power Inverter...," model MRI711C-3.)

The PowerFilm Company: I've spoken directly with some of the PF staff. Each has been very helpful, polite, courteous, friendly, and well-informed. The company seems to be in this market for the best of reasons and principles: developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are designing and manufacturing an affordable, reliable, natural-energy efficient, applied technology that is eminently practical. Apparently, the company doesn't have a lot of frills, and a bare-bones-to-non-existent marketing budget. So I'm happy to help them spread the word.

Because, who knows, these devices could help get you out of a serious jam. At the least, they reduce your carbon footprint, and will make your life and work a lot easier and less disruptive during an electrical power outage. When most everyone else will be scrambling around without auxiliary power (to communicate by phone, to re-charge batteries for radios, flashlights, etc.), you'll be set.

Non-Affiliation: in no way am I associated with the PF company. I get no kickbacks for my review. I'm an individual customer who has paid, in full, for every one of my PF items. But, when a company and its people do such a standout, conscientious job to provide smart and much-needed products for ordinary folks, I'm sincerely grateful, and readily volunteer a good word.

Suggestions:

a) Be sure to do your homework before laying on unreasonable expectations of any solar panel recharger. For example, how much current does your particular device (cell phone, etc.) minimally need to re-charge? Will it need more than 5 watts? Because the more wattage needed, the bigger/heavier the solar panel typically will have to be. Or, you might have to daisy-chain two panel chargers or more to get the job done.

b) Various cell phones and other small digital devices require different adapters to connect to the PF solar panel chargers. Identify the right one(s) for your needs, check user reviews and, if need be, contact the manufacturer (whichever brand you're leaning toward) for assistance. This technology is still in a relatively early phase, and solar panels are still expensive, making it tough for developers to price down. In other words, don't expect these puppies to fly you to the moon and back. It's advisable to learn about the power needs of devices you use and depend on daily, so that when the convenience of AC power is not available, you can be as self-sufficient as your knowledge, know-how, and auxiliary tools and resources make possible.

c) Try out any solar panel charger as soon as you receive it, to make sure it has no defects and works for your needs.

Hope this helps folks decide which solar-panel chargers are best suited for their purposes and budgets.

Buy PowerFilm 5W F15-300N Foldable Solar Charger Now

Just opened up the box put it outside and measured .292 amps at around 19.8 volts. So it does at least 5 Watts, and its pretty light. I might try to come up with my own connector / cabling due to what seems an overly hefty cigarette lighter adapter + cable. I will also probably try to build or find an adapter that regulates the voltage down to 12 or 5 volts.

The label on the product lists it to be .3 amps at 15 volts, but there is a little more according to my nice fluke multi-meter. Very impressed, effective layout / configuration, looking forward to getting it in the field.

I bought this item at $76.95 on Amazon.com

Read Best Reviews of PowerFilm 5W F15-300N Foldable Solar Charger Here

I bought this solar panel to help keep my smartphone charged while on an extended backpacking trip (in Virginia in July). The bottom line is that it functions, but not very well, and instead of this panel you should buy the Goal0 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel for $8 more.

The good: The Powerfilm panel is light and fairly compact. It has a car charger adapter, so you can plug in anything you can plug in to your car.

The bad: To charge my phone, I had to attach the included car charger adapter, then find a separate car-charger-to-USB adapter, then a separate USB-to-micro-USB cable, so it's a fairly ridiculous contraption. Also, it's meant to run at 12V to charge batteries, so much of the potential is lost on phone charging. Even in full, bright sunlight, my phone takes about 4 hours to get a full charge (1500 mAh). It is impossible to charge for that long at once, though, because this panel really only works within a couple hours of solar noon. Morning or evening sun is useless. Setting up the panel to face toward the sun can be a pain, because it is made up of so many panels with nothing to stiffen them, but it's manageable. Forget trying to move it around while charging, though--there is little or no capacitor to buffer the current, and the slightest interruption in direct sunlight causes everything to reset, disrupting the charging and often causing the device being charged to spontaneously turn on. This also means that you shouldn't leave it out in intermittent sunlight, such as clouds moving past. Worse, sometimes when I unplug the phone it doesn't notice and drains most of its battery. Lastly, after a couple weeks of use the fabric that the panels attach to had started unraveling, and I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing eventually falls apart.

The solution: my dad bought the Goal Zero 7W panel for the same purpose, and it solves almost all the above problems, plus charges much faster even in intermittent sunlight and while hiking through partially-shaded forest. True, it's somewhat larger and heavier, but definitely worth it.

Want PowerFilm 5W F15-300N Foldable Solar Charger Discount?

You must remember that this is not the best case scenario, if you are charging your phone or batteries on solar you must be away from a plug that works, correct? So when using solar you must do the math and find out what your needs are then your demand and find out what panel will meet that need. for example, and i am not an expert, i have a 7Ah battery i use for my amateur radio. This 5W panel puts out less than one Ah of power at optimal use so i am prepared to let the battery sit on charge all day in good sun light. if you have questions i advise you Google and call Powerfilm and they can give you official instructions on how to use this product to the fullest ability. I recommend that you over buy your demand so you have enough power when your panel is not in the best sun.

That said i love my panel and i went and got a second one. I charge Sealed lead acid batteries, amateur radios, FRS radios, 12 V AA/AAA battery charger, Iphone 3GS and Iphone 4, will update on Iphone 4S when i get it later this weekend. I recommend them to all my friends and to all who read my review. Just as everything else do your research and know what you are getting. The review that said he cant wait 4 hrs to charge his phone better start caring a gel cell battery so he can store power and charge when he can. just remember we are all dependent on power and we are spoiled that we can just plug in and have constant good power in the US but when you go out to the woods you have to understand you are compromising and using solar to fill the gap, you cant expect it to be the same as at your house in the city. Also i HIGHLY recommend you try the product before you NEED it. when you unbox set it on your patio and make sure it does what you need, if not send back to powerfilm and go bigger

Baofeng 2013 Newest Dual Band VHF and UHF 5W Walkie Talkie Baofeng UV-B5

• Dual Band
• Dual Display

After reading the reviews on the previous model (UV-5R) and this UV-b5 I knew what to expect with this radio. But, it has turned out to be much better.

Pros: The new software is very easy to add repeaters. I decided to use the current DAILY build of CHIRP since that allows me to download the repeater info directly from the repeater book. Both programs worked fine though. They both need the USB cable to connect the radio to the PC. Much easier to use these than to program the radio by pressing buttons.

I was concerned about the squelch when I first got it. I thought it was 100% off or 100% on. I must have inadvertently changed some setting, because when I reset the radio the squelch worked fine.

The distance is great. The FCC has not yet processed my license so I haven't tried transmitting yet. But, with a mobile antenna I was listening to stations 2000 miles away through a nearby repeater. And, I can pick up the repeater from 20 miles away With the rubber duck or the mobile antenna. With the included rubber duck I was listening to a tornado drill and heard radios 40-60 miles away. It is obvious this rubber duck is better than past ones.

The battery has lasted about 20 hours so far and has most of the power left. Got to love lipos.

The scanning of the memory channels is very easy. Simply click off or on under the scanning option in the software. On the radio press menu then scan. When I hear something good I press menu and it stops the scanning. Works great. I have loaded all of the repeaters in my state. Plus, I loaded the ones for a coming trip and saved the file so I can just load them into the radio right before I go.

Sound is fine. Haven't tried it with the external microphone/speaker yet.

Cons: All piddly stuff, nothing major. Buttons are small and hard for my old eyes to read. Can't imagine they could make them any larger, though. The LED light on the menu screen doesn't stay on long enough But maybe I can change that in the menu somewhere. The LCD screen is hard to read the memory channel numbers after you get into the double digits. The frequencies are very easy to read though. The owners manual leaves much to be desired. Like maybe an owners manual. It is best to go to the Yahoo UV-B5 group or search the web with questions. The manual is pretty much useless.

Summary: Much better than expected. Does more than I expected. Works better than I expected. Battery lasts longer than expected. Great purchase.

Buy Baofeng 2013 Newest Dual Band VHF and UHF 5W Walkie Talkie Baofeng UV-B5 Now

I work with the American Red Cross in disaster response on a local and national level. I have a number of public safety grade portable radios that I use on a daily basis. With responding to disasters/emergencies outside of my normal area I wanted something that I could program on the fly in a hurry in case I couldn't get one of my other radios programmed. I looked at several different dual band portable radios and when I came across the Baofeng UV-B5 I couldn't pass it up. For the price (under $50) it looked up to par with some of it's more expensive counter parts. I've been using this radio on a daily basis for over a month now and I'm glad I bought it. With the 2000mah Li-Ion battery I can get between 24-36 hours on a single charge (depending on how much I transmit) before the battery becomes to low to be useful. I put it on a service monitor just to run it through it's paces and I get 5 watt's out on both VHF and UHF, and receive sensitivity is up to par with my Motorola and Kenwood public safety grade radios. There are only 2 things I don't like: 1, When assigning Alpha tags to a channel you only get 5 characters and 2, the scan feature isn't that great because it is pretty slow, but then again if you want a scanner then buy a scanner. I use the dual watch feature and I've come pretty fond of that feature. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this radio to someone else or to buy another one. Matter of fact my son is considering getting his amateur radio license and if he does this will be the radio I get him for his first.

Read Best Reviews of Baofeng 2013 Newest Dual Band VHF and UHF 5W Walkie Talkie Baofeng UV-B5 Here

I read great reviews on this Baofeng UV-B5 before I bought it, and many had stated that unlike some of the earlier models this one seemed to be a superior model. As a ham rookie (I'm studying for my exam to take in a month) I couldn't be happier with this little radio. It is pulling in stations from miles off using a cable and magnetic mount antenna I bought here on Amazon, and I'm looking forward to passing the exam so I can finally start talking on it.

Programmability is excellent simply keying in from the keys on the front of the transceiver. You really don't need a cable or software to program it, but the software and cable do make it a good bit easier to store your stations and to change them quickly.

The seller was great, too if you need to contact them for anything they get in touch with you quickly even though they are across the globe in China.

I'm extremely happy with my purchase, and I highly recommend both the seller and the Baofeng UV-B5! Just be patient it takes a couple of weeks to ship from China.

Premium Car Charger For HTC ThunderBolt

• Brand New IC Chip Controlled Plug in Car Charger
• State of the art Intelligent Chip circuit prevents overcharging
• Conveniently charge your HTC ThunderBolt battery while your drive
• Non interrupted charging, even while the HTC ThunderBolt is in use
• Essential accessory in case of car accident or another emergency

Received the item ok but, it is junk. at least the one i got is defective and does not work. I have the HTC Thunderbolt and the phone does not recognize the charger at all. the light on the charger comes on and that is it. For only a couple of bucks i will not even waste more time or effort trying to send it back. Do yourself a favor and spend a little extra for a quality charger. Advice I should have followed in the first place.

Buy Premium Car Charger For HTC ThunderBolt Now

I've used a lot of electronic equipment over the years and have never had a product fail this fast. It worked great for the first month but it just quit working on me. I highly recommend buying a more robust product.

Chris

Read Best Reviews of Premium Car Charger For HTC ThunderBolt Here

It seemed like a good deal, and the technology is simple enough that I thought it should at least trickle charge the phones. Not so. Mine failed (phone will not recognize) within 5 days and my wife's failed after 2 weeks. The LED still lights up on the charger, but no power to the phone. Tried swapping and trouble-shooting and determined that the chargers are not worth buying. I agree with other poster, spend a few more dollars and get a decent one.

Want Premium Car Charger For HTC ThunderBolt Discount?

Charger was shipped on time, looks good but one little problem, it doesn't work! It lights up, looks good but doesn't do anything to charge phone. I would ship back but postage is more than charger is worth, it went out the the trash. Order only if you want a good looking car charger that doesn't do anything but get in the way. A boot lace would do the same for charging your phone as this charger does.

Just simply did not work. Since I only paid a small amount for it, it wasn't worth the time and effort to contact seller.

Eternal(TM)Ultrafire 18650 3000mah 3.7v Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (Pair) + Charger Combo

First id like to start by explaining the product to you, I bought this battery pack & charger for my new Ultrafire Flashlight & i couldnt be Happier, These batteries work great they last very long & they hold a charge forever. The Charger that comes with it is very nice also, its the perfect size, its nice light weight not big & bulky & does a fantastic job charging the batteries, & Im not sure if its these batteries or not but my flashlights never been brighter. Bottom Line is You wont find a better deal or product than this anywhere ( im very Pleased). Most important of all tho, is that i had a minor issue way down the road, months later, Nobodys fault, simple mishap that can happen anywhere with anything,( Let me tell you tho) this Company that makes & sells these couldn't Help me fast enough they immediately contacted me & fixed my issue on the spot (without hesitation or even asking to see the problem) this is a stand up company & on that alone I Highly recommend them to anyone. They stand behind there products & they want every one of there customers Happy. I hope this review helps someone i can promise you, you find a better deal /product or customer service this good anywhere......... Thank you

I bought this for charging the many batteries I have. The batteries which power my many lasers. it charges faster than any other I've purchased. It might be the specific combination of THIS charger and THESE batteries.If so, then it was a good idea wasn't it?

Buy Eternal(TM)Ultrafire 18650 3000mah 3.7v Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (Pair) + Charger Combo Now

The service was awesome I really like how easy it was to get this and it was fast. The quality is great and I would suggest you use these guys for your charger needs.

Read Best Reviews of Eternal(TM)Ultrafire 18650 3000mah 3.7v Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (Pair) + Charger Combo Here

It was shipped quick thats good and it works nicely but I'm just confuse when I unplug it with the battery's intact, it should that its still charging. Is this wireless or is there something wrong with it ?? Does it do anything ?? Confused but it works like a charm.

Want Eternal(TM)Ultrafire 18650 3000mah 3.7v Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (Pair) + Charger Combo Discount?

Motorcycle Battery Hard Wire Charging Cable for Garmin Nuvi

• Charge your GPS directly motorcycle battery. This alternative angled mini USB power connector has been designed to limit cable damage due to bending when fitting
• Mini USB plug - suitable for Garmin Nuvi GPS systems that use mini USB to charge.
• Angled mini USB charging connector. Waterproof & fused designed for motorcycles. Red & Black ringed battery connectors. On/Off switch
• Weather caps. Input Voltage: DC 12-24V / Maximum: 16A Output Voltage: DC 5V Reverse, Short-Circuit & Overload Protection. Total cable length approx 3m.
• What's included 1 x angled mini usb power connector & 1 x direct to battery charger lead.

You can actually tell that the person who designed and made this product rides a motorcycle. Build quality is great and the set includes all necessary components. Installation is fast and easy. Just connect the red and black ends to you battery terminal and you are done.

Well, you still need to run/hide the cable to make it look nice and neat but that's something the manufacturer can't help you with. They, however gave you enough cable so you won't have problems even on a large bike.

What you get in the package are: main cable that connects to the battery and has weather sealed connector that accepts the other cable that actually terminates with a mini usb plug. Included voltage reducer (from 12v to 5.2v) has on/off switch and a green light indicating when the system is on, so you won't accidentally drain you battery. There is also a safety fuse. They also included wire wraps and Velcro tape for cable management. It took me about 30 minutes to finish the work. Most of time was used by planing the run of the cable. Charger worked immediately after installing and my Nuvi 260w gps worked perfectly fine. I took my bike on the road the very same day and went where I have never been before. I couldn't have asked for more. This is so much better than 3 feet of basic wire offered by others.

Buy Motorcycle Battery Hard Wire Charging Cable for Garmin Nuvi Now

This charger works great. It was easy to install and had penty of slack in the wiring to allow me to route it in way that was out of the way. Works great with tmy RAM EZ-Strap Mount. I love the fact that you can turn the chrgaer on and off in case you do not wnat it continously running. Great product.,