GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Wireless In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter with Charging, Music Control, and Han

• On-board volume, play settings, and phone controls|Built-in microphone with enhanced voice detection
• FM tuner with an Auto-seek feature to help find the clearest FM station
• Universal USB port lets you charge your Smartphone or MP3 Player while streaming
• Includes "line in" port and 3.5 aux. cable for connecting non-Bluetooth enabled devices

When I got the HTC Evo back at the beginning of June I just went to Wal Mart and picked up an FM transmitter there for 50 dollars, but it would only transmit to the radio but not charge the phone. For anyone who has an Evo, you know that the battery life is not good. Plus it had a so much excess wiring. I returned it and bought this off of amazon and it is amazing. It paired within 10 seconds and transmits with barely noticeable no static, transmits far better than the 50 dollar thing I got from Wal-Mart or the FM transmitter I had for my iphone. I put my phone onto pandora, plug in the charger and set it down and if a song comes up I want to skip, I can just hit the forward button on the flexSmart unit which can be easily adjusted to any position for your hand.

I love this thing, its not obtrusive, theres not a ton of excess wiring, just the gooseneck and if you want to charge it simultaneously you can just plug it into the usb port with the included 6 inch wire or use your own. The calls come in clear and great too, just as good as any bluetooth headset.

I highly recommend this if you dont have an auxiliary port in your car stereo, I was considering getting the gomadic one which is only 5 dollars cheapers, but has so much more wiring and the typical inconvenient control module built into the wiring. I'm really glad I got this one, I'm about to drive from DC to Portland and this thing will make the trip much more bearable and its not an eye sore in the car.

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I have been using this with an iPhone 4. The set up was very easy to connect via bluetooth. I made a phone call and the sound was fine. The person on the other end could hear me no problem. However, then I tried to play music. The sound quality is lacking HUGE when you play the music wirelessly through bluetooth. I am big into music and a musician so I know what sounds good, at least to some extent. There is almost no low end whatsoever playing through bluetooth. And the volume has to be very high on both my phone and car to hear it well. I thought I was going to have to return the product until I tried connecting my phone to the device with the audio cable. BIG difference in sound quality. Now the low end is there and the music is full. The sound quality is very high for a bluetooth device when using this method. However, in order to achieve this I had to disconnect my phone's bluetooth. Otherwise the device overrides the audio wire connection and plays the music wirelessly. The product is still new to me, so maybe I just haven't figured it out yet. But this means I can only listen to music or make and answer calls separately. Meaning, I have to manually connect and disconnect my phone's bluetooth to switch back and forth between music and making phone calls. This is definitely an inconvenience. However, my main purpose for purchasing this product was to listen to music in my car from my phone. Since my car does not have an audio jack this device gets the job done. There is minimal interference in the sound quality that only is heard in between songs, and the volume has to be pretty high. Also note that with the iPhone 4 the music controls on the device (play/pause, next/previous song) do not work. The answer and hang up buttons worked fine for making phone calls. So just be careful when purchasing this product. Make sure you know why you are buying it. I hope this helps you make the right decision for you.

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This product is an FM transmitter that connects to your Phone via bluetooth, and then transmits the audio to your car stereo through an FM signal. Just the same as other FM transmitters, but using bluetooth connection to your phone rather than a cord.

Setup:

I take a lot of trips up to Santa Barbara on the weekends and it's about 90 miles away. I use this with my Motorola Droid usually, but also with my friends' phones too. First you just plug the FLEXSMART X2 into the cigarette outlet in your car, and then press the power button. You see the LCD light up and you can adjust the FM station with the twisting knob. Just match the FM station on the FLEXSMART X2 and your car FM radio. To find the best station you can just hold down the twisting knob for a few seconds and it automatically finds a clear station for you. All you have to do to put the FLEXSMART X2 into pairing mode is hold the blue call button for a couple seconds, and then the lights start to flash. Then you go into your bluetooth settings on whatever phone you have and search for FLEXSMART X2 from the list. It usually connects in about 5 seconds. You here two beeps. One thing to notice is that when you want to disconnect one phone and connect a friend's, you have to unpair the 1st phone before connecting the 2nd one.

Sound for Music and Calls:

The sound quality for music seems to be very good. It's way less interference than other FM transmitters, I think it's possibly because there are no wires connecting the phone to the transmitter. Bluetooth music seems to be superior. One thing I did notice was a difference in my sound levels with the bass and treble. I just tweaked the bass and treble levels and got it sounding the way I like. Call quality is different. I can't figure it out...sometimes when I make or receive calls everything is perfect.. then sometimes the person I'm talking to says they can hear their voice echo in the background, BUT they sound fine to me??? It only happens maybe 1 out of 10 times.. but I can't figure out what causes it... maybe a bad cell phone signal I'm not sure. BUt for the most part calls sound good and I like how I can answer and end calls without ever toughing my phone

Controls:

You can answer and end calls by the controls on FLEXSMART X2, and you can even hold down the call button to call the same person you last talked to. The twisting knob is used for fm station tuning. Twsting it will change the FM station by 0.1 with each click. One cool feature is this Auto-Seek that finds clear stations for you. You just hold down the twisting knob and it zooms into a clear station...very cool. Also, the knob controls volume if you click it down just once. It seems like the best sound comes when you turn the FLEXMSART X2 volume up to 30, and then your car radio at about mid level(depending on how loud you like your music). I've noticed by turning up the volume on FLEXSMART X2 first the sound quality is really great. The play, forward and back buttons control your music. These controls worked great on most phones I've tried, but only the play and pause control worked on the iPhone 3GS we used.

Other cool things.....

I noticed that when you leave your phoen bluetooth on, FLEXSMART X2 automatically re-pairs it when you turn your car on. Thats pretty cool. It also comes with 3 usb cables which can charge iPods and almost any cell phone. It has a USB port on the side of it that you connect these cables to, so you could charge your phone or your friend's phone even though your cigarette outlet is being taken up.

The lights are also really cool at night. They go nice with my 2002 Volkswagen console lights. ALSO, you can use this just like any other FM transmitter if you have an iPod or something without bluetooth capability. It has a 3.5mm headphone cord jack and a two-way cable. It's cool that you can use it even with things(mp3 players / laptops) that don't have bluetooth capability.

What a cool product... for sure one of the coolest car audio products I've ever used...hahha and my friends like it too.

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Okay, so maybe everybody knows this, but this isn't just for the Android phone-it's compatible with the iPhone 4 as well. I wasn't sure of this (I've never really messed with bluetooth before) as they list the FlexSmart on here for the iPhone and the Android phone as separate products. The one listed for the iPhone is actually more money and is not Prime eligible, so I took a chance and just ordered this one. Success, it worked! So if there's anyone out there that's as silly as me wondering hey, will it work for both? The answer is YES. I have an iPhone 4 and my husband has the Samsung Galaxy (an Android phone), and we both connect to it with NO problems whatsoever.

The sound is super crisp. I've had an FM transmitter for my iPod before and not been impressed-it was static-y and wouldn't hold the signal. But this little gadget really knocked my socks off! Pairing it with 2 different phones was super easy, and the sound quality is terrific. My husband wants one for his truck now. :)

In the item pictures, it only shows the mini & micro USB and audio cords, but this comes with a little package of all the USB cords you'd need for charging if you're a multi-phone family like us (including iPhone/iPod cord). That is REALLY awesome because now I've got ONE device for bluetooth, charging and music! I can get rid of all those other cords! The cord plugs into the USB port and keeps my iPhone charged on long drives. :)

I also plugged my mom's iPhone 3G and my sister's iPhone 3GS into it, paired it using Bluetooth, and it worked flawlessly with those models as well.

I highly recommend this!!

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This my quick review, I'll use the given standardized attributes -

Call Quality (4)

The quality is actually pretty good, but it wasn't 5 stars primarily because the voice volume is considerably lower than the music volume and this is with them set to be even on the phone, it's a big discrepancy in the two volume levels.

Compatibility (5)

Gave it a 5 for this because I tried it with a bunch of devices and it connected and worked NO PROBLEM! It re-pairs and reconnects effortlessly. It supports all the different pairing modes as advertised and paired with my Android phone I can control the music I play with the easy-to-use buttons.

Setup (5)

You don't have to be a Techie AT ALL to set this up in under 10 mins (and keep it setup). Pairing was easy, using was easy and intuitive. There is one little issue that I will mention at the end. What Is great is that they provide you ALL the cables you would ever need.

Sound Quality (4)

The sound quality is pretty okay, but not great.

Music Quality (4)

I gave this a 4 because the sound quality over bluetooth is noticeably less than when it is connected via cable (not too much of a surprise there). There's almost no bottom-end in the music over Bluetooth.

SUGGESTION to the manufacturers:

I really luv this product. There are two quick suggestions I have -

(1) Improve the quality of the music over Bluetooth (it needs to be able to carry bass).

(2) This next one is concerning the knob. It is very nice in every way, EXCEPT... I suggest to reverse the volume and tuning operations. When you turn the knob it changes the FM frequency (which is not something that you have to do much if at all)... HOWEVER, to adjust the volume (more frequently done) you have to first press the knob and then turn it to adjust. These need to be switched around.

If I discover anything else I will add more.

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Dayton 1JYU5 Battery Charger, 6/12V (M), 55 A Start

This charger works as advertised. Easy and self-explanatory controls. It arrived well packaged in original box, just as if I'd driven to a supply house and purchased it. All pros and no cons!

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Save A Battery 2050 20' Battery Extension Cable

• Gold plated connectors eliminate oxidation and provide proper voltage to battery
• Yellow cable that is easy to see preventing accidental unplugging
• Exclusive connector design provides easy tie down loops
• Extends the cable length making for a more versatile installation
• Modular design provides versatile operation cables that can be changed quickly and easily

this is the best example of a well designed charger, with the correct optional equipment.

i have not seen other chargers with as good descriptions of applications of use. i've used the chargers for over a year.

the optional carrying case holds all the necessary components.

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i can leave the charger in the garage. and have enuff cable out side to charge battery.

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Schumacher PSC-2516A DSR ProSeries 25 Amp 16 Volt Automatic Specialty Battery Charger/Maintainer

• Charges valve-regulated 16 Volt AGM batteries
• Charging ampere-25
• Microprocessor controlled with float mode monitoring
• 3 LEDs that signal six separate charging functions
• Durable, ventilated, heavy gauge steel case with baked enamel finish

Very impressed. Unit it heavier than my Powermaster but has five more charging amps and does not have a cooling fan.

If you need to charge between rounds when time is short, you may want to opt for this one. I purchased this one through

Amazon and it arrived in three days. It was also much cheaper than any other place I found them.

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This was a great deal on the 16 volt battery charger.It was a savings of over one hundred dollars over the last one I bought!Fast delivery as well .I couldn't be more pleased unless Tony Schumacher himself came over an charged my batteries.

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Kicker 6" Two Way Speaker KIT

• Sensor Technology MicroCheck advanced semiconductor technology
• Detection Range 0.00 - 0.40 %BAC
• Mouthpieces 2 included
• Test Count display's total number of tests performed
• Power Supply Two AAA alkaline batteries, included

This product arrived in a short amount of time and was exactly as pictured. The sound quality is much better than the stock Blaupunkt (alleged) speakers in my car and the amperage handling was compatible with the Sony WX-GT77UI head unit that I installed which pushes 17 watts RMS and 52 watts peak per channel. I installed them in the front doors of a 2004 GTO and didn't really need to cut out the backing cups (as suggested on Crutchfield) after having attached the provided wires first. It was snug but fit fine.

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Schumacher SE-6030 Manual Wheel Charger

• Helps in fleet operations and industrial use
• Has durable construction with tubular handle
• Accommodates both 6 and 12-volt batteries
• 4 amp slow charge charges a small 12V battery in 1-5 hrs
• Equipped with cooling fan for high-performance and long life

This was by far the best price we found anywhere on this charger. It still seemed a little spendy, however when it arrived there was a voucher to receive a free jump pack charger ($150 value) Very pleased with both chargers.

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Charged 2 volvos and they both started with no problem. Many new vehicles are challenged when you try to put a strong charge in to the system.

Trickle charging is best and works much better for most cars. A great value that will pay for itself over time.

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looks like a good heavy duty charger. the rectifier was laying lose being held only by the wires. might have been cliped on the bigger heat sink? pluged in and smoked it this gave power to the 12v dc cooling fans. I insalled a older 110 fan and made it work. poor job on the rectifer. they changed from 110v to the 12 v fans because it was cheaper. after this I hope it last as long as my old 30 year charger.

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Not the fanciest with the most options and functions, just a basic workhorse. I have plenty of multimeters and state of charge meters. I use it to start an Isuzu diesel box truck so I can move it around. The batteries onboard are several years past usefulness, but this charger will put enough charge in them after twenty five minutes to start the truck easily, even in the winter cold. Only had it for a month or so, but would buy another if I needed one.

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I bought one of these a few months back and my problems began....First one of the wheel brackets fell down inside and I had to take one of the side panels off to get it back . Once I got the side panel off, I noticed there were quite a few little nuts and bolts laying loose in the bottom of the unit. Next I found to my dismay that the screws included to install the handle would not fit. I had go find others. The top panel seems to move very easy. I had a little Schumacher that lasted for over 20 years. Now I would not buy another one.

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Rally 7413 200W Cup Holder Power Inverter with USB Port

• 200 Watt max continuous power and 400 Watt Peak Capacity
• Low Battery Shutdown Prevents Battery Drain
• Convenient shape allows for secure fit in the cup holder of the vehicle
• Dual 110V outlets and additional 12V outlet, USB port, and integrated iPod charging circuitry for maximum playing and charging versatility
• 2 year warrenty

This product does all that it was advertised to do and has plenty of outlets--2 standard wall outlets, a car outlet and a USB outlet. You can run a cell phone charger, a satellite radio and your MP3 player off of this power inverter. The one glitch, it has to be turned off and on--in other words, when you plug in a device, it will not start charging right away--you must flip the power switch back to off and then on again. Don't assume that just because you have it turned on that it is actually charging. It is a small inconvenience, but otherwise, the product works great!

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I wanted an inverter to power my laptop charger. Didn't want to permanently install one, but didn't want one sliding around on the floor or dash either. This design fits great in one of the center cup holders and plugs in the lighter socket nearby. Has a USB plug to charge your Iphone or Ipod, TWO AC outlets, and a built-in lighter plug so you can still use another 12volt device without having to unplug the inverter. It isn't completely silent, but at 200 watts the fan is necessary. I was a little disappointed in how the fan was attached inside the vent opening it pushed into the housing with very little pressure had to take the housing apart to re-attach it with some superglue.

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I received this product this evening, and I have to admit it looks great. I was really excited to try it because it seemed far better in construction than some reviews have said. I took it out to our 2003 Pontiac Montana. We power stuff through the utility & cigarette lighter adapters all the time. First problem: It would not stay put in the socket, but instantly popped out. I tried numerous times to get it to stick. Finally, I just decided to hold it in and see if I could power it one. No luck. Just plugging the adapter into the vehicle blew the fuse.

"Hmm, must be a fluke, I thought, I'll try it in my Camry." Took it over to the Camry, plugged it in, and before I could even try turning it on, my radio went dead -and the power port with it. It had blown the fuse in the Camry, too. And this is with nothing plugged into the inverter, mind you!

It's going back. Totally unreliable, and so far all it's done is blow fuses.

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First, I'm very happy this power inverter has a 12V female connector allowing me to continue having a 12V power port available. This is constant whether the power inverter is on or off. The USB power port is also constant. The only need for the power inverter to be in the "on" position is for using the 110V outlets. They (either individually or simultaneously) can handle a max of 200W with a spike (1/3 of a second) of 400W. I've only used them with a little more than 100W so far without any problems.

Second, the bad, really, not so bad...The fan does make noise but only when the power inverter is switched on to use the 110V outlets. This is acceptable and necessary for cooling the unit. Since using the 110V outlets may be rare anyway and when being used while driving, the road noise, A/C and talking make the fan noise virtually unnoticeable. Another thing is the protective caps are a bit difficult to remove, especially the USB cap. This cap can be left off/open for regular use.

As for the power inverter sitting securely in your cup holder depends on your cup holder. In my case, the unit was not very stable where I used foam around the bottom to give it a snug fit in my cup holder. Foam also allows air flow to the fan intake vents. I never received a "rubber chunk" as another reviewer stated.

Overall, I am very happy with this power inverter...With all these functions in my vehicle, it's like having a car office.

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I would rate this as so-so. The unit does fit in the cup holder, but it is not a snug fit, so it may flop around a bit. The fan noise is pretty loud in respect to it's purpose. I use the AC plugs infrequently, but nice to have them when you need them. FYI....fan noise is only present when using AC adapters.

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Wagan EL2205 Elite 2000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

• 2000 watts continuous power, 4000 watts peak surge power
• 4 AC outlets, wireless remote control and high output terminal
• LED display shows DC voltage in and percent maximum load used
• Overload, overheat and low battery protection
• Recharge appliances faster and extend life of appliances using pure sine

This is a great inverter for my 11 foot truck camper. My first pure sine inverter was a Xantrex PROwatt 2000. After it failed I returned it on RMA. The replacement also failed and luckily the Xantrex customer service was excellent. I purchased the Xantrex from JTH Electronics and their customer service was also great. Thanks to Tami and the staff at JTH! I really liked the Xantrex because of its size, however for whatever reason it just didn't hold up. Since the majority of my camping is to remote fishing spots, I really wanted an inverter that I could run a microwave and CPAP without having to run a generator. I've used the Wagan EL2205 for two seasons and have had no problems. Typically, I'll arrive at my spot in the evening and use the microwave to heat frozen dinners. Then use it to run the CPAP over-night. My power bank is four 6 volt Interstate golf cart batteries and one 180 watt solar panel. I've easily spent 5 days in the middle of nowhere without the need to run the generator (solar panel in full sun). The only time I run the generator is for the AC. The Wagan EL2205 came with a wireless remote, which I don't really use, but I suppose for some it's an added convenience. The Wagan has a thermostatically controlled fan and does come on under heavy load, but for lighter loads it never comes on. Because of the mounting location in my application, I have noticed that the fan will come on when the unit is powered off when it's in direct sun for a while. The first time this happened I thought it had failed, but I soon figured out what was happening. The four power outlets are close together, so if you have multiple plugs that are larger than what you normally find you may not be able to use all of the outlets. This is not a problem for me since I only use one. It has a digital display that alternates between the supply voltage and percentage of load. Overall I think it's a great inverter and would recommend it for RV use.

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This unit works nicely to power my 15 amp skill saw no problem and operates quietly. It also came with all the basic connections.

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Inverter works as advertised but only 2 15 amp plugs are available. Do not know about the usb adapter wasn't what I was looking for anyway. This unit 700 sollars at other web sites I looked at so definitly a bargain from heartland.

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I bought this inverter at $399. I have a DSO and test the output wave form. That's true sine wave. Everything is working properly. I am happy with my purchasing

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HQRP Pair MC4 Solar Panel Connector male & female (M&F) for PV / Photovoltaic System plus HQRP Coast

I disagree with reviewers who say these connectors are overpriced. They are not, for what they do. They provide a positive latching seal, and as important they seem to be completely waterproof. I imagine they could be totally immersed in water and would not leak. Both male and female connectors have a tight wide soft silicone seal at the back of the connectors. The mating side of the "positive" connector has a red O ring that seals into the "negative" connector when they are mated together. However there are no instructions, so it takes a bit of pondering to understand how they should be assembled. It is important to crimp them correctly, not so much to make a good connection (I would recommending soldering them after crimping) but so they will fit into their respective shells and allow the rear seal to be pushed in completely. After crimping and soldering be sure they are straight and the edges of the crimp do not protrude. Be sure to examine the female connector on your cable or solar panel and notice how far the metal is recessed in the shell. Yours should be about the same.

Another hint to avoid getting + and mixed up when the stripped end of your cable is connected to the controller: Remember that your female connector that you will connect to the cable or solar panel male connector with the red O ring WILL BE HOT OR + END and the stripped end should be connected to the + side of the controller. The female that you attached to your wire is +. Your connector with the Red O ring will be negative, -. Clear as mud? Re-read this as you sit at your workbench until you puzzle them out.

One star knocked off for lack of documentation.

the mc4 solar panel connectors are just want i needed to connect my solar panels to a combiner box.it worked great!!!the shipment came on time as promised.i also requested extra internal clips for these connectors and they sent me two free.i really appreciated the excellent service.

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Easy to install... works the way it should. fa la l;a la la la la la la tis the season.

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these conectors make it easy to do solar projects the right way..gone are the days of twisting wires together and taping

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These connectors are very easy to put together and use. Why the 4 star....I don't believe they will acommodater any wire larger than 10 gauge, and you MUST solder the wire to the connector. No big deal, if you use a butane tourch/solder apparatus. Very happy with them myself.

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Goal Zero 19004 Nomad 7 / Rockout Combo

• Kit includes the GOAL ZERO Nomad 7 Solar Panel and Rockout Speakers
• The Nomad 7 is a Mono-crystalline Solar panel with USB and 12V DC outputs
• The Rockout Speakers deliver high quality sound from your phone or MP3 player for up to 20 hours
• Protect your device in the Nomad 7 or Rockout Speaker pockets.
• Use the USB port to charge the Rock-Out's rechargeable battery from the Nomad 7 or any USB output; know when the Rock-Out is on or receiving a charge by way of the power indicator

I bought this guy as a nice emergency item and also for camping. I connected the panel to my HTC G2 Android phone while it was playing the radio out of the included Goal0 speakers. I had the panels positioned in a not-so-optimal way with only moderate sunlight and it charged my phone about 12% in an hour WHILE the radio was draining the battery and connected to the external speakers. That battery is rated at 1500mah for anyone who cares about the specifics. The other piece that I purchased alongside this kit was the Goal0 battery charging pod. You can place 4 AA size NIMH batteries in the pod for charging with the solar panel. When there is no sunlight around, you can use your available AA batteries to charge your USB devices. I used the charging pod to recharge my smartphone again at night as well as my Kindle. Honestly, if you have a lot of good quality low self discharge batteries around (Like Eneloops) you can pretty much get away with not buying the solar panel at all, the charging pod will pretty much do the job in the short term.

As far as the speaker goes, the sound is AWFUL out of the box. As others have mentioned in their reviews of these speakers, the cones are covered by a heavy cardboard material. I simply took a flathead screwdriver and used it to break the glue seal around the edge of speaker that adheres it to the case. After that, I used the flathead to pry out the speaker from the case. From there you can see the inside of the casing is lined with cardboard, and on that cardboard, there's a fine indentation where the speakers are. I used a boxcutter to cut circles out where the speaker cones are. Place the speakers back in the casing and you're good to go. One note about this modification is that obviously the speakers are more than likely no longer "water resistant" as originally advertised.

All in all, very happy with the purchase. I docked one star for the speakers being horrible as they were out of the box.

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I purchased the Nomad 7 / Rockout Combo from Amazon about one month ago and wanted to test it before commenting. It weighed 370 gms / 13.1 oz. on the kitchen scale without any cables. Just like the other Goal Zero products it is well designed and well made using quality materials. If taken care of should last decades (do not throw on the floor or drive the truck over it, like the You Tube videos). It is nice to see the solar panel can take the abuse if an accident happens.

The solar panels are mounted to a heavy plastic sheet which gives the rigidity needed to protect the thin brittle solar cells (think a thin potato chip strength). The fronts of the solar panels are covered with an unknown clear plastic reminiscent of Tedlar. The outer shell is covered in a material that looks and feels like Cordura, so it should wear very well, most quality backpacks are made of this material. The built-in pouch is a perfect size for the Guide 10 and all but the 12 volt car lighter adapter (which could be carried if you plug it in the regulator / converter and place the large end between the pouch and regulator. I find it is best to carry it externally if you need it. I fold the flap with the regulator / charger behind the solar panel when charging to keep the electronics in the shade. Eight loops (not bungee cord loops) all around the Nomad 7 allow many ways to attach the unit to a pack or sticks for charging. It was easy to attach to my Maxpedition pack with Paracord 550 and charge while I was walking.

How does it work? Surprisingly well! I did a lot tests in the Arizona sun in July and August it held up well to sun intensity and heat. This is our monsoon season which means clouds and rain once in a while (intermittent sunlight). The Nomad 7 charged 50 NiMH batteries in the Guide 10 very well under all kinds of sky conditions. Even an overcast sky where the panel did not cast a shadow it still recharged low NiMH batteries in about 6 hours. Using the USB adaptor charged low tech LG cellphone in an hour in normal sunlight (it also charged cellphone using 12V 4W lighter adaptor). So far I have been able to charge a digital camera, Kaito Voyager radio, VHF / UHF transceiver and the Guide 10 in reasonable times. It allows you to use your equipment more since you can now recharge in the field and not be so concerned with conserving battery power.

As far as the Rockout Speaker goes, for the size they sound very good with my player. They charge up in an hour with the Nomad 7 Solar Panel. If weight and volume are considerations in a backpack, then you might leave them behind and use earbuds. Otherwise, they are great to have along as a luxury item. If you are car camping, then they are a great asset to the camping experience, nice to listen to music without the earbuds.

I am delighted with the Nomad 7 / Rockout Speaker Combo. They are well engineered and perform very well. The Nomad 7 Solar Panel is perfect for light weight backpacking.

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Love this unit and the fact it cost the same even with speakers made it even sweeter. Easy to use, incredibly flexible, and worked great on all my apple products I travel with. Key to best use is direct sun. Worked fantastic by pool and when camping, on the windshield of the car. Charges quick in direct sun. Even charges my iPad, albeit a little slower. Love the speakers. Great sound from a small package and last forever.

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I was a bit nervous buying this thing due to the reviews but once I got It I'm extremely excited about it. I bought the rock out combo.. Nomad 7 and speaker kit.

Some of the people say the nomad 7 won't work with the iPhone 4, they must be re-traded or technology ignorant. I plugged in my phone and it's charging.. Simple as that. It seems very durable and well put together. I'm a rockclimber/ backpacker so in the summer of 2012 I'll put it to usefeild test it and write up a more in depth review. So far, I would recommend that everyone gets one or many for the 2012 zombie apocalypse!!

The speaks are very well put together as well, I plugged in my iphone and they actually are very loud.

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Although I purchased this on sale in a big box store, I wanted to write a review of it because I'm so impressed. I purchased this to charge my iPhone and iPod Touch. After purchasing several competing products which didn't quite work, this one has the best design, utility, and solar panel size of any I saw. Admittedly I don't really use the speaker very often, and when I do it's just for my own listening, so I don't have any complaints about it; the speaker is solidly designed also and volume is not my key criteria in judging it. One tip is to get a long USB charging cable, so that the USB device you are powering is not also sitting in the sun. You can't simply set your smart phone in the sun without overheating it. In the case of the iPhone, it will auto-shutoff until it cools down. Been there, done that.

Pros:

--Providing a powered USB port was pure genius that few other makers seem to understand

--Great folding design with 2 solar panels

--Sturdy canvas and velcro shell

--Utility pocket that fits an iPhone or other smart phone

--Great ease-of-use; nothing to setup, just place it in the sun and plug in your USB-powered device

Cons:

--USB port should be deeper; cables plugged into the USB port feel like they are hanging out too far, although the connection is solid

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World Travel Voltage Converter Adapter Kit 50-1600 Watt

• To use your travel appliances overseas, you must use a converter to reduce foreign electricity, otherwise, you will burn your appliances

This product ("World Travel Voltage Converter Adapter Kit 50-1600 Watt") is sold under different brand names (such as the "Simran PG3 50-Watt 1600-Watt World Travel Voltage Converter"). Basically, all those 'dual wattage' converters share the same circuit design, and have the same limitations.

At the low ('50W') setting, the converter uses an AC transformer to convert 220V sinusoidal voltage input to 110V sinusoidal voltage output. For low-power electronic appliances (such as battery chargers or portable DVD players) that are rated for 110V AC only, this is the safest way to operate them while traveling to other countries with 220V AC lines. One obvious limitation is that the appliance's power consumption must be under 50 watts (most laptop computer's AC adapters are rated for 90W or higher, by the way). If you connect a higher-power appliance to this converter, the transformer's iron core will become saturated. This results in runaway input current, which may then cause smoke or even fire.

At the high ('1600W') setting, the converter simply uses an electronic switch to 'chop' the 220V sinusoidal input voltage into smaller segments, such that the average power delivered to output load is reduced. This is the same principle used by most incandescent lamp dimmers. It works reasonably well for simple HEATING appliances, such as travel irons or hair dryers. However, if you try to power any electronic appliance that is rated for 110V-only at this setting, the high-voltage stress will likely cause the appliance to break down and burn out within seconds.

This is not to say that this product is completely useless, only that you have to be EXTREMELY careful about what you can plug in at each setting. Unfortunately, some appliances fall into the grey area between 'heating' and 'electronic'. For example, most people will classify a curling iron (hair straightener) as a heating appliance. Yet it contains electronic circuit and its power consumption is higher than 50W, which means neither high nor low settings can be used.

The good news is that most portable electronics (such as chargers for cameras, cell phones, laptops, etc) are already designed to handle universal input voltage. Check the AC adapter of your appliance to make sure. If it says "Input: 100 240V AC", then you don't have to use a voltage converter at all. All you need is a set of adapter plugs (such as the Travel Smart Polarized Adapter Plug 5 Piece Set), which allows you to physically plug into AC outlets in other countries, and you are good to go. In case you already bought this travel converter and adapter kit, then just leave the 'converter' unit at home and bring only the adapter plug set with you. Better safe than sorry.

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I thought I was doing myself a favor by saving money and buying a cheap converter, but I was severely mistaken! First of all, the converter itself does not plug in securely to the adapter. Secondly, whatever you plug into the converter does not plug in securely and hangs halfway out! Thirdly, after having the thing for three weeks, it exploded and died. DO NOT BUY. Go somewhere and spend the $20 or $30, so you can return it if you need to!

Read Best Reviews of World Travel Voltage Converter Adapter Kit 50-1600 Watt Here

Bought this for a trip to Ireland. Thought I needed it for a hair dryer. As it turned out, I only used it to charge a camera battery.

Plugged it in for one night on the 50W setting, everything looked normal and the battery was charging. The next morning the converter was dead. Couldn't tell whether or how much the batter actually charged. The converter never worked again.

Absolute trash.

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My daughter took this unit to Germany.

Plugged her 1500 watt hairdryer in &

FFFFFZZZZZzz lasted all of 5 minutes.

Don't know what to recomend, but certianly

not this one.

Emailed seller ( No response after a week )

JUNK !

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We purchased this to power a white noise machine when we were traveling to the UK. We didn't make it through one night before the converter died.

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Optima Batteries 8022-091 75/25 RedTop Starting Battery

• 12-Volt, 720 Cold Cranking Amps, Size: 10 5/16" x 6 13/16" x 7 5/8" tall, Weight: 33.1 pounds, Dual SAE & GM Posts
• Reserve capacity of 90 minutes for constant performance
• Optimal starting power even in bad weather
• Fifteen times more resistant to vibration for durability
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Optima batteries, by virtue of their spiral cell design and construction, there is not a wetor gel-cell lead-acid battery out there that can compare in terms of charging efficiency and durability. However, do not purchase this through Amazon -it is NOT an authorized Optima dealer. Only an authorized Optima dealer, where you made your purchase, is obligated to replace a defective Optima battery with a new Optima. Check the Optima website for authorized dealers.

The above said, Optima batteries are better purchased at your local auto parts store that is an authorized dealer for the following reasons:

1. In the event of a warranty issue, it will be a simple swap.

2. Eliminate the wait and reduce shipping angst. Although an Optima battery is quite rugged, when shipped in a flimsy cardboard box and then tossed around and dropped by a careless courier, the impact by the battery's heavy bulk can cause its plastic case and the internal connections to weaken, crack, or break.

3. You can visually inspect a unit for physical damage from mishandling. Missing retaining fingers around the vent covers is a subtle but tell-tale sign that the unit has been mishandled.

4. You can check the voltage before walking out of the store with your new battery.

Hint: This is a long-lived product -purchase through a store chain (franchise) if you anticipate relocating within three years, and do not lose your receipt.

If you insist on purchasing an Optima battery online, your best bet is to order from Optima itself directly. This is the only instance that Optima (the manufacturer) will deal with you directly and give you a replacement battery. Otherwise, all warranty issues are addressed through the authorized dealer where you purchased your Optima battery.

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My 2002 vette needed a new battery and instead of buying the OEM Delco I decided on the Optima RedTop for a lot less money and more starting power. The engine never cranked better on start up.

Read Best Reviews of Optima Batteries 8022-091 75/25 RedTop Starting Battery Here

Worked great for 6months, then lost current. Wouldn't turn the starter over with out putting it on charge. Got progressively worse. Bought a battery tester and the battery failed the test.

NOTE-

Amazon doesnt allow returns for Car battery's so i guess i have to eat $100+. I realize you do get a bad batch, but not being able to return is what warrants the low review.

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Below is a copy of the email I got from Optima regarding a battery purchased from Amazon.

So be aware the money you are thinking you are saving maybe costing you big time. You should also know that for marine batteries Otima is strongly reccomending the use of there $200 charger to keep them charged properly.

Hello John,

Amazon.com is not an authorize online OPTIMA retailer, We do not know where they acquire the OPTIMA batteries nor does Amazon.com honor the OPTIMA warranty.

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ive been using the dual purpose blue tops in my boat and have been so impressed with them that ive put one of these in my truck.

when you think about how much you depend on the thing its pretty reasonable to spend the extra money IF the product is true to its claims.

in my experience these things are worth paying extra for. i never worry about them.

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Instapark 10 Watts Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports for iPhone, iPad & all oth

• 10 Watts high-efficiency mono-crystalline solar panel with foldable design offers excellent portability, ideal for emergency preparedness, backpacking, camping and other outdoor activities
• Built-in dual USB charging ports for directly plugging in iPhone, iPad and other USB compatible mobile devices
• Detachable high-capacity 5,200 mAh rechargeable lithium battery pack with two USB charging ports for easy & convenient power storage, compatible with iPhone, iPad and other USB equipped portable devices.
• Measures only 9 X 6 X 2 inches and weighs less than 1 lb
• 1-year manufacturer's warranty

I had been looking around on Amazon for portable solar panels for charging my devices. Many of them on here only supply 5 watts which is not nearly enough to charge an iPad. While looking for a 10 watt charger, the Mercury 10 fold out panel popped up in my search and was on Prime (fast delivery). While I haven't put this portable solar charging system through the full motions with all of my devices, I have tested it against the device I wanted it to charge, the iPad 3. I put the panel out at 11:15AM and plugged my iPad 3 in. The iPad did it's familiar little chime to let you know it's charging and it works fabulously. This is one of a very few portable solar chargers I've found on Amazon capable of generating 10 watts of power. 10 watts is required if you are looking to charge the iPad.

The package comes shipped with the fold out charging panel, a micro USB to standard A USB (flat type) connector cable and includes an Instapark® MP1800U2 5,200 mAh External Battery Pack & Charger with Dual USB ports. The included cable is very short (8 inches or so). So, you'll want to get something longer to carry around with you. For charging the iPad, you will also need to get an iPad USB charging cable to carry with you as it does not come with one. I personally like the Retract Ipod USB 2.0 Sync cable in black. The Mercury 10 solar panel has a two USB ports nestled inside of a small pouch (can charge 2 devices at once, although haven't tried this) on the back side of one panel which is big enough to hold the battery and a few cables to help recharge your devices. The ReTrak cables are the perfect size for carrying around in this pouch.

Note that there are loops all around the panel so you can hang it up on a wall, from a nail or a tree branch to get the best sun placement.

There is only one downside to this panel, if you can call it a downside. The glues they used to put it all together makes it stink badly. However, if you're outdoors using it, you probably won't even smell it. It will also probably air out in time. Indoors, you will notice the smell if it's sitting near you. That said, it seems reasonably well constructed and definitely works to charge devices.

While I have also charged the 5,200 mAH battery from grid power, I haven't fully tested the battery out, but it claims to recharge the iPad 25% in 1 hour and phones up to 75% in 1 hour. I am still holding out full judgement of this device until such a time that I can test it out fully. The fact that the panel will charge the iPad leaves me nearly certain that it will charge nearly all of my devices properly. Note that the panel only has USB connectors. So, if you want to charge non-USB type devices, you will have to find a way to convert USB to that other format. Also, I don't know how fast it charges a device so I'll still have to test this. If you're looking for a solar panel to charge the iPad, though, this one will definitely do it.

Note that because the panel does what I needed it to do, I'm rating it 5 stars. However, I may change the review later after I've put the device through more usage scenarios and I am better able to determine charging speed and abilities under various conditions. I will say this, though, the panel will not charge 10 watt devices using ambient light from indoor lighting. The panel definitely needs sunlight. For times without sunlight, this is where you would use the included battery's stored energy, so be sure to charge it up.

Buy Instapark 10 Watts Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports for iPhone, iPad & all oth Now

I took this thing camping, with the intention of trying it out before deploying back to Afghanistan. This little guy is a beast. With the included battery we able to play music on the iphone all weekend long without any issues. We could even throw a second iphone on there to charge when people needed it. I expected more of a trickle charge, while this thing will charge an iphone 74% in 1 hour. It won't charge like a wall outlet, but I never expected it too. I am very impressed with this item, and have already ordered a second one for my Fiance.

Read Best Reviews of Instapark 10 Watts Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports for iPhone, iPad & all oth Here

I purchased this setup prior to going camping and seeing phish for the weekend. As with all camping your cell phone never lasts, especially the iphone. This comes in a very nice package which is about the size of a a notebook. It folds out into the 3 panels, but also has a pocket that holds the connections to the USB connections.

I was able to put this out in the sun, and hide the phones under some shade. I went from a dead iphone to 80% in 6 hours. I will say that the first 50% charged way faster and it slowed down after it was at 50%. I was also charging a Friends blackberry with the other port.

Once everything was charged, I put it in the car with the windows cracked and put the batter in for a charge. When I got back at night and my phone was near death, I was able to pull the battery and charge the iphone from the aux batter that was charging while I was away.

This was really simple to setup. I highly recommend.

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The solar panel:

================

Power:

-----

Regardless of weather and cloud conditions, it always gives 5.18~5.19 V, unless you cover one of the panels while fully exposing the others. Then drops to 3~4 V. Under normal conditions with the three panels getting the same amount/exposure of light it always stays at 5.19V.

The following applies to a single usb port, since I could not get a Y cable which I could use without cutting it. I arranged a USB charging cable from my Tekkeon MP1580 TEKCHARGE Mobile Power Pack and Battery Charger which has replaceable mini and micro USB tips, using the hollow tip with a jumper cable to connect the positive to my multimeter clamp test leads. I took lectures at different times, most of the I directed the panels toward the sun, and sometimes I left the panels horizontal on the ground.

There is no observable difference in behavior between USB ports. But I only tested one or the other at any given time.

The amperage you can get varies a lot. From the interior of an apartment room, just from day light from the surrounding panorama it gives 50~70mah.

On a sunny day winter day with few sparse clouds, when properly oriented produced from 1090 mah to 1138 mah, if horizontal on the ground 700 to 750 mah.

Properly oriented late on the day a couple of hours before dusk produced from 800 to 1000mah, with some thin clouds lowering to 400~500mah. Horizontal like 200~400mah.

With heavy clouds an hour before dusk late on the day produced at best 100mah, at worst 60mah.

So it can produce at worst 0.26 watts late on the day or with heavy clouds

With few or thin clouds produces from 1 to 5 watts depending on orientation, time of the day.

At best gives 5.9 Watts, which is quite impressive.

If it truly can provide 10W is something I can't currently measure. But is definitively likely.

On the device charging side, both the include Lithium-Ion battery and my Tekkeon battery pack on six to ten hours, depending on clouds, orientation, etc. So it not easy to quantify. Specially since there is no way to know it fully charged without strict checking every minute. So take this numbers with a grain of salt, since weather can vary wildly from day to day.

Aesthetics, Workmanship and general features:

--------------------------------------------

Is very light, slim and easy to carry.

The solar panels are pretty much sewed/glued to the synthetic material/cloth/bag, my panels had a few light scratches on the surface when closely examined. The assembly process seems to be somewhat rough, more "home crafted" than industrially assembled. But the product is solid and sturdy.

Comes with a side pocket where the two usb ports are located, which provides a nice place to put whatever you want to charge.

The cover fabric is from a rough somewhat porous material. I'm afraid that it might attract dust and be difficult to clean, but I can't know for sure yet. I definitely would not leave it on rain.

It has some cloth rings which come from the main body of the cover, they seem to support the weight pretty well, so you can strap the panel to a wall, roof or a backpack. How strong they are under continuous use is difficult to estimate, on a backpack they definitely would wear quicker than tied over a tree. But I think they should last a while.

-------------------------------

Bottom line: It provides good power, workmanship and aesthetics are somewhat rough but not ugly or shoddy. Is a practical and straight to the point device. Is not a fashion shiny leather/plastic/duracoat eyecandy with lot of bells and whistles.

Other thoughts: The short male usb to male microUSB cable is short and meant to connect a battery pack or device inside the back pocket of the product, there is an included adapter female microUSB to male miniUSB, this adapter is somewhat flimsy, it locks fine, but could break under stress.

The included 5200 mah battery pack:

===================================

Can charge my Galaxy S3 twice in 2 hours. Unlike the panel, the aesthetics and workmanship seem of industrial grade. Its has a glossy plastic cover, with rubber on the sides and base, so has a lot of traction and does not slide.

But Its features are somewhat rough/unconventional. With 10% of charge you have a orange led, from 11% to 100% you have a blue led to indicate capacity. This is while giving power to other devices, it inverts when being charged from the wall or the solar panel, 0 to 80% orange and >80% blue. When fully charged the blue led flashes.

What I can not understand is why comes with both a weak led light and a powerful high pitch siren which are activated by sliding a button. Why not a better gauging system for battery charge instead?

From what I researched on the net this model has two 18650 Li-Ion cells, from its looks it does not seem easy to disassemble and replace the internal cells. I'll leave that as an experiment for when this battery pack dies or has little charge retention in one or two years depending on the 18650 cells quality.

===============================

Overall is great combo of battery pack + solar panel. The individual products have a few light minuses in aesthetics, material or features but deliver very well on their intended purposes.

If you want something that works well pick this products.

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Update March 17th 2013: I contacted Instapark more than a month ago. No reply whatsoever. I've updated the rating accordingly. I can't recommend them.

This won't show up as an but it is. My wife ordered it through Amazon for me for Christmas. The Mercury 10 solar panel was bought with a MP1800U2 powerpack as a unit. That's why I mention both the panel and powerpacks in this review.

=== Executive Summary ===

Do no buy Instapark powerpacks. The solar panel seems fine but the powerpack originally ordered was dead on arrival, and the replacement powerpack that Instapark sent failed about five weeks after I got it. Also, the powerpacks sold by Instapark are not designed to take full advantage of the solar panel. However, customer service has so far been great.

=== QA Issues ===

My wife ordered the Mercury 10 with MP1800U2 pack for me. The MP1800U2 pack never worked. I plugged into a stable power source (i.e. AC) and left it to charge overnight but it would not power anything once unplugged. Whenever plugged in the charging light would flicker from orange to blue real fast. It looked like the logic was fried. I contacted Instapark for a replacement. It took a little bit of work to get the person at the other end to understand my problem but they eventually sent me a replacement. And I should say that once they understood what the problem was exactly, they did not fuss about it. What they sent was a whole new solar panel and a PPD600 power pack. They did not provide for return shipment of the old stuff but neither did they ask me to return anything. So I've got two solar panels. Great! (Note that this is taken into account in my final rating.)

The PPD600 powerpack worked fine at first but it is now completely dead. The issue is with the AC input. The AC jack fell from its hole and is now floating into the casing of the pack. It was a gradual failure, with the jack becoming progressively looser over time and the chances of a good connection getting lower over time. At first there was no problem making a connection, then the connection would happen maybe 70% of the time, then 50%, and now no connection is possible because the jack is too far in. My logs suggest that the failure began on Jan 19th, which was about two weeks after I got the replacement unit. On that day I logged an unexplained drop is performance. Sky condition and exposure were perfect. The only thing which explains that drop in performance is that the jack started failing then and that for at least part of the day there was no connection between the solar panel and the powerpack.

=== Poor design ===

The Mercury 10 solar panel can output 2A. However the MP1800U2 and the PPD600 (both made by Instapark) are rated to accept only 1A for charging. (Actually, the MP1800U2 is rated for a little less than that.) So to fully charge a depleted pack it takes twice as long as it *could* take if the pack were designed to take the full output of the Mercury 10.

I will also note that neither units are designed to be user-servicable. I'm sure I could fix the jack issue myself but I'd literally have to crack the casing open to do that.

=== Conclusion ===

If I were in shopping for a solar panel + powerpack solution today, I might look at Instapark's panels but I'd stay away from their powerpacks. The score I'm giving is based *primarily* on the fact that the whole package of solar panel + powerpack is defective.

I'm going to contact Instapark to try to get a replacement PPD600. Review to be updated in light of the results I get.

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Forney 54775 Side Terminal Conversion Posts, PR Converts Side Terminal To Top Post

• Converts side terminal to top post
• High quality terminal ends for many applications and uses
• Fits wire sizes from 8-Gauge to 4/0
• Meets or exceeds SAE standards
• Proven in rigorous testing and designed to fit and convert to most battery styles

Converted a side-post battery to be used with trolling motors or as a backup using these, now i can use the battery maintainer with it as well as jumper cables, trolling motor, etc

Does the job and didnt cost a lot, if you have an extra side post battery laying around, put it to use with these

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Belkin USB Charging Kit with Wall Charger and Car Charger for Apple iPod (Black)

• CHARGING KIT W/4FT CABLE BLACK FOR IPOD

QUICK SUMMARY: This Belkin iPod/iPhone charging kit does the job, so it's not a bad choice. But if you can get the some functionality in smaller, more discrete chargers, there's not much reason to choose this product.

WHAT I LIKE:

The charging cable seems heavy-duty, much thicker (better insulated?) than the charging cable that came with my iPhone. Good for those who aren't gentle with their charging cords.

The same charging cable has a larger plug that fits into my iPhone (the plug is maybe 1/4" longer than the plug on Apple's iPhone charging cable). This is a nice feature if you're using an Otterbox or similar case protector because it's much easier to grasp this cable's longer plug. Now I don't have a hard time pinching the plug to remove it from my Otterbox-protected iPhone.

This set is complete. Need a cable to charge from your computer? Got it. From a wall outlet? Got it. From a vehicle 12V outlet? Got it, and the vehicle adapter can be used to power any USB device (with the right USB cable), not just to charge an iPOD/iPhone.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER:

The wall adapter is rather big, but doesn't come with any kind of surge protection. If you're going to have a bulky wall adapter, you might as well add surge protection, too.

The wall adapter's prongs are foldable so they don't stick out (good for transporting in a bag), but the prong tips still stick out a bit from the adapter itself (so you can later unfold the prongs), and that creates a risk the prong tips could scratch something if you're storing it in a bag. A better design would have had a niche that keeps the prongs folded and completely recessed so the prong tips couldn't scratch that new iPod Touch you also threw into your computer bag.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE:

The wall adapter has a BRIGHT, BLUE LED light that is so bright you can easily read a book from the light it casts. I dislike BRIGHT, BLUE LED lights that are ridiculously bright. I prefer dimly lit, small, little green or amber LED lights that tell you, "Yes, the device is working," without screaming, "YES, THE DEVICE IS WORKING!". Tip: put black electric tape over the LED light. Hint: If you've plugged in the wall adapter, it's working, and if it's unplugged from an electric outlet, it's not working.

CONCLUSION: This isn't a bad choice. It could be better, though.

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THE QUICK TAKE: The Belkin iPod Charging Kit is well built, but the chargers are bulky by modern standards. If you prefer these larger chargers, because you find them easier to handle, this set will be a good choice.

GOOD BUILD QUALITY: I've been happy with the Belkin chargers and cables I've owned, the build quality is solid. I've found that the cheap iPod cables come apart, often leaving parts stuck into the plug on the iPod or iPhone.

This cable just plugs in and pulls out no need to press tabs on the side. The plug seems compact, and fits fine in my iPhone despite the case on the phone.

And I've never thought that the cheap knockoff chargers made sense it's going to be plugged in almost all the time, in my house, where my family sleeps. And powering an expensive piece of electronics. I'm not going to give up quality just to save a few bucks.

1 AMP WILL CHARGE PHONES: The wall charger is rated at 1 amp, which is enough to charge an iPhone or an iPod, but won't effectively charge an iPad get a 2 amp charger for that. The car charger is rated at only 0.5 amp, which surprises me. That's enough, but just barely.

LARGER SIZE: Both the car and wall charger are much larger than most chargers these days. When plugged in, the wall charger is 2-7/8 high by 1-3/4 inches wide by by 7/8" deep (not counting the foldable prongs). The car charger is about 3-1/2 inches long by 1-5/8" across.

INTERNATIONAL VOLTAGE: The wall charger can accept 100 240 V, so it offers flexibility.

FOLDING PRONGS: The outlet prongs fold into the charger, which is a nice feature if you pack it in a briefcase or your luggage.

SMALLER ALTERNATIVES: Most people would likely prefer the smaller alternatives, such as Belkin MicroCharge + ChargeSync Kit for iPod & iPhone. It's also less expensive, and has a 1 amp car charger.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin USB Charging Kit with Wall Charger and Car Charger for Apple iPod (Black) Here

The cord that comes with this set is four feet long. That's longer than you likely want for use in your car and shorter than I want for use at home where my wall electrical outlets are pretty low (near the baseboards) and I want the cord to reach to the top of a piece of furniture where I will place the phone to charge.

It's nice that the prongs can be folded down into the wall charger so it take up less space (if you have vertical outlets,) but the prongs do NOT swivel. Swivel prongs that also fold down are far more useful. Swivel prongs make it much easier to plug in chargers without blocking an outlet. I have this Belkin wall plug that both swivels and has fold down prongs Belkin AC Charger with Swivel Plug & Charge Sync Cable for iPod and iPhone One positive about the wall plug is that it has a small blue light that lights up when it is charging. This is actually quite useful so that you don't inadvertantly plug it into an outlet that only works when a wall switch is turned on, then wake up in the morning to find your phone did not charge.

The car charging plug is much larger than necessary I purchased the Griffin micro car charger here on Amazon Griffin Technology PowerJolt Micro (Flat) 2A x 1 USB Power Charger for iPod/iPhone/iPad (Black ) (so small I can close the compartment in the car with the plug still in the outlet) I would never want such a big charging plug as this Belkin unit has. Well, on second thought the big one MIGHT be good to put in a travel kit. If you do so, make sure to take a bright color of electrical tape and put a loop of it around the car charger to make it more noticeable. That way you are less likely to leave it in a rental car or relatives car when packing to return from a trip.

I can't really recommend this set unless the blue light on the wall plug is important to you.

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I already had an excellent wall charger for my iPod, but I just had to have this one because of the car-charger. I enjoy reading and texting while on long drives with my daughter and have been disappointed many times because my battery died at the most inopportune times. I also enjoy having two chargers, so I can keep this one in my purse for those unexpected road trips.

The four-foot cable is also convenient when connecting to my laptop computer.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, March 15, 2012

Author of award-winning novel "1106 Grand Boulevard"

Save 26% Off

This is a straightforward, all-in-one solution to charge your iPod. The kit includes a standard wall wart, an auto adaptor plug and an Apple pin-type to USB cable that fits into both the car and wall ports. I tried it with our iPod Classic, iPod Nano and iPhones (4 and 4s) and it worked for all, BUT charging an iPhone using the car port brings up a compatibility message and though it DID charge a bit, it didn't do very much, and was quite slow. In addition, neither the car or wall adaptor will work with an iPad2.

You can also plug the cable directly into a computer for charging and it works just like the original Apple cable. It's also worth noting that this thick plug, larger than Apple's own, may not work with your iPod or iPhone if it's in a case. Your mileage there may vary. (My husband's phone case accepted the cord, mine didn't. Both are cases that work fine with the Apple cable.) You can plug an Apple cable into these adaptors, but that would eliminate use of one of the three pieces you're paying for.

Though it is not advertised as such, it will also charge many other USB devices, as long as you have the cable, as the wall and car plugs simply have a USB slot. We tried charging our USB plug GPS and it did charge using the car adaptor. Though, be aware, as with the iPad 2, anything that requires more power, may not work with these low-watt chargers.

Another big downside is the size: the wall wart is large, even with the prongs folded inward. Apple's teeny, tiny plug only, which does the same thing, is much easier to carry with you for travel, which is what the Belkin system seems designed for. The car plug also seems larger than our other Griffin and Belkin car charging products. If you were trying to carry these with you in a travel bag, I see them quickly ending up in a big, jumbled ball of corded mess. For me, the size alone of the components, makes it not-so-useful.

Consider what Apple charges for replacement cables alone, this isn't a terrible buy, though it's still a little pricier than similar, no name solutions. If you need all three parts of this system (cable, car and wall), and only have an iPod, not an iPhone, this is a fairly good deal. But if, like me, you've got multiple Apple i-devices, I'm guessing you'll prefer something that works for ALL your products, and not this more limited system.

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Samlex PST- 150S -12A 1500 Watt DC/AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter - 12V

• Protection systems include input low voltage, input over voltage, over temperature, overload, and short circuit.
• Low idle power draw
• Comes with pin-type battery cable lugs
• Low battery voltage alarm and system shut down
• Built-in electronic GFCI plus two temperature controlled cooling fans.

I have had several inverters over the years, and the Samlex PST150S -12A 1500 Watt DC/AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter takes the cake. Not only was it economical for a 1500W pure sinewave inverter, but I have used it heavily every day for a year (It hasn't been turned off at all in fact) using 15A powertools, charging everything I can get my hands on, 52" Sony TV with subwoofer and surround sound, Nintendo Wi, large refridgerator and freezer for several hours a day, 1500W oil filled space heater, lights, 2 laptops, toaster, 1400W microwave, blender etc. In fact I am writing this review using solar power via the Samlex inverter.

Important to know-

*The inverter fan is quite noisy, but I went my first 2 months never hearing it. It seems to only kick-in when you run a product that consumes more than 600W for more than 30 minutes, even then its intermittent.

*The positive and negative connection points from the battery are smaller than I would expect. They appear to support up to a 2 AWG wire, but not bigger than that. This shouldn't be a problem however since 2 AWG should be big enough for the maximum amperage this product can supply without turning off.

*Some "Pure-Sine" inverters produce a buzzing noise or interference when used with certain products with tv or radio signals, interfere with cell phone signals, or cause brushed tools to run "funny" this one doesn't. In my opinion, it is the purest power you can get, probably better than the electrical grid supplies.

I would recommend this inverter to my friends and family (And have several times)

Buy Samlex PST- 150S -12A 1500 Watt DC/AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter - 12V Now

I have owned several different sign wave inverters in the past 15 years, so I was real happy to find this unit to be so rock solid. Even at 100 degrees in the store house where it is mounted, this unit pumps out the power. Use it every day with my computer, TV, lamps and more. This is the best unit I have ever owned. I recommenced this unit to anyone investing in solar and wind power.

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Motorola Talkabout FV800 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios

• 22-channels each with 121 privacy codes for 2662 combinations
• 11 hour estimated talk time
• QT interruption feature
• Audible low-battery alert
• 10 call tones

I understood when I purchased this item that I probably wouldn't get anything close to a 16 mile range for these walkie talkies, however, I didn't expect to only get 0.3 mile. We live in a residential area (no skyscrapers or large powerlines) and I was very disappointed when the signal went from clear to static after about 4 blocks. I called Motorola technical support and they indicated that was a common complaint.

If range is a concern,don't waste your money on this product.

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Nice 2 way radio, Design is nice and battery fits well. The digital display is s little small but it does the job.

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Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black)

• Compatibility: iPod nano 1G and 2G, iPod mini, iPod 4G with click wheel, iPod color, and iPod video (includes docking adapters)
• Built-in FM transmitter wirelessly connects to your car stereo; operates on multiple FM channels from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz
• Four single-touch, programmable preset buttons; uses iPod display for quick and easy FM tuning
• Flexible steel-neck construction that positions easily inside your car
• Custom-designed swivel cradle for a secure and stable iPod connection

Strengths: All-in-one solution for docking, charging, and FM transmission; adaptable to all iPods and vehicles; versatile FM tuning options

Weaknesses: Sound quality issues typical of FM transmitters; no auxiliary audio input or output

Let's face it: using your iPod in your vehicle just isn't as simple as it should be. Unless you're driving a 2006 model year or later vehicle, chances are that your vehicle's stereo head unit doesn't provide any easy way for you to connect your iPod (or any other digital music player, for that matter). That means that you only have three options for listening to your iPod through your vehicle's stereo: direct connection to your head unit via an auxiliary input, a cassette tape adapter, or an FM transmitter. Most automobiles don't offer an auxiliary input jack on the front of their receivers, and connecting your iPod to a rear aux input--if your unit even has one, that is--is a complicated process that involves removing your receiver and (sometimes) part of your dashboard as well. So even though this setup offers the best sound quality, installation can prove difficult...or impossible. On the other hand, cassette tape adapters provide a far simpler and good-sounding method to connect your player, but they only work if your vehicle has a cassette player. So if neither of the above solutions are an option for you, then you have to begin considering either (1) purchasing an aftermarket, iPod-friendly head unit or (2) looking for an FM transmitter, and that's where the Belkin TuneBase FM for iPod comes into the picture.

If you decide to go the FM transmission route, you really can't lose with the TuneBase FM. Not only does it transmit the audio output from your iPod to an FM frequency you select, but it also provides a convenient dock for your iPod that even charges your iPod while it's in use. Many all-in-one solutions such as this are poor performers all around, but the TuneBase FM fulfills all of its duties superbly.

It goes without saying that the most important element of the TuneBase FM's performance is sound quality. After all, it doesn't do much good to dock and charge your iPod in the car if you can't listen to your music. As FM transmitters go, the TuneBase FM does an admirably good job getting audio output from your iPod to your vehicle's stereo, but it is plagued by the same sound quality issues that affect all FM transmitters. I live in an area that has a pretty crowd frequency spectrum; there are only a few frequencies that are relatively free of other transmissions. Despite this, however, the TuneBase FM still manages to transmit a clear audio signal to my receiver most of the time, although static can be a problem from time to time. I commute almost forty miles one way to work everyday, and I rarely have to switch frequencies, which is pretty impressive. Your results may vary depending on how crowded the airwaves are in your region. Compared to my last FM transmitter, a highly-rated iRock! BeamIt model, the TuneBase FM transmits a slightly clearer and more powerful signal. You won't get a much better FM signal from any other FM transmitter.

The TuneBase FM's other features are what really make it stand out from the rest of the crowd. Its docking solution, utilizing a flexible steel "neck" to support the cradle, is much more elegant, flexible, and pleasing to the eye than other solutions that use a series of thick, jointed plastic connectors. This allows you to position your iPod just about any way you please, and it also virtually guarantees that this dock is adjustable to fit just about any vehicle on the road. The dock is secured by inserting the base into a free power or cigarette lighter outlet, which is also how the device receives power for charging the iPod. Included in the box are plastic and rubber outlet adapters to ensure a snug fit in just about any outlet, and this seems to work quite well; even over bumpy roads or terrain, my iPod remains firmly upright in its cradle. It would be nice if the adjustable neck were just a couple inches longer (this unit includes a four-inch neck, the TuneBase FM for iPod nano includes a seven-inch neck), but a longer neck would likely be too flimsy to support heavier iPods such as the 60GB and new 80GB 5G video iPods.

The TuneBase FM automatically pauses and powers down a docked iPod when it the power supply to the device is interrupted, and it powers up the iPod and resumes playback when power is restored. One note about this: there is no on/off switch on the device, so it remains powered as long as the vehicle's power outlet is powered. If your vehicle's power outlets deactivate when you remove the key from the ignition, then this is not an issue. However, if your vehicle (like mine) powers your outlet(s) continually (even when the vehicle is off and the key is removed from the ignition), you need to remember to manually turn off your iPod when exiting your car or risk draining your car's battery.

Tuning to different radio frequencies with the TuneBase is a simple exercise. The device interfaces with the iPod through its dock connector, so it is able to display frequency and present information on the iPod's own display, which is much easier to read than a separate LCD readout. Tuning options are very flexible. In addition to four presets (which, if you sync with the presents on your vehicle's receiver, makes channel-hopping a breeze), the TuneBase FM allows you to to any frequency from 87.9 to 107.9, including broadcast-free even-numbered frequencies such as 88.8, 96.2, etc.

I only have a few minor complaints about the TuneBase FM for iPod. As I mentioned earlier, there is no on/off switch to accommodate vehicles with continually-powered outlets and cigarette lighters. I haven't experienced any difficulties with leaving my TuneBase plugged in for extended periods of time as long as I manually power down or remove my iPod, but it's an unnecessary extra step that I shouldn't have to take. It's also unfortunate that Belkin does not include auxiliary input and output jacks for direct connection to supported receivers or the ability to use the TuneBase for other digital media players and not just iPods. There's even a spot on the cradle specifically for an auxiliary jack; Belkin just decided not to include it with this model. That's really too bad, as I would have been more than willing to pay an extra five dollars or so for the added functionality of an auxiliary jack.

Overall, however, the TuneBase FM for iPod is an excellent product. If you have decided that FM transmission is your only option for in-car iPod connectivity, then this product is definitely worth considering and will perform admirably.

Buy Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black) Now

This is an excellent FM tuner solution. Unlike other FM tuners I have used, the frequencies you can use are not preset and can be reset on the fly. In addition, the Tunebase charges your battery while the iPod is in use.

There are drawbacks to keep in mind: like all FM tuners, you will hear static if you are getting signal interference. This is going to be an issue if you tend to drive in areas with heavy airwaves. This was a problem I had with previous solutions but is less of an issue since the frequencies are not hardcoded into the device and can be reset manually. It can be a little work to find a clean frequency, but that's just the nature of FM tuners.

I had originally considered finding some direct input solution for my iPod but found that it would be impractical for my car as far as the investment of dollars and work went. Seeing as how my car is about three years old, most solutions involve either replacing the stereo or actually going in and messing with the wiring in my car. I got the Tunebase as an interim solution but I am so satisfied with it I think I'm just going to use it for as long as I have this car.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin TuneBase FM Transmitter for iPod with Dock Connector (Black) Here

This is solution for your traveling iPod! The unit includes adapters for many different iPod models. It also includes fitting to ensure a snug fit into your 12-volt car power adapter. The fit is tight enough that the plug will not rotate with the weight of the iPod.

Sound quality is great. It holds your iPod quite securely. You can position your player where it is most convenient and visible!

I have two complaints:

1. As high volume, you can hear the electronic whine of the charger. This is unavoidable but less at lower frequencies. It may not be noticeable with some music but I am an audio-book listener so I can hear it.

2. The controls are little limiting and awkward. Adjusting the transmit volume, which you admittedly do only once, is quite awkward requiring you hold the unit, hold two buttons down while pressing a third. However, selecting a different station is very easy and one-handed.

Overall, I am quite please with this and recommend it.

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I, like many, used those old fashioned tape adapters when I first bought a portable CD player. The sound on that old device is far superior to the quality of this Belkin product.

My fiance & I recently purchased a 30GB Video iPod and wanted to get something so we can listen to it in my 04 Accord and her 04 Cavalier. We agreed getting a radio transmitter was the best idea since we could switch it between cars when we wanted. We got this Belkin product from a local retailer for a relatively good price.

The flexible arm was nice, we could maneuver the iPod to face us and still be within reach to skip songs or change playlists. It also displayed the station we were using on the iPod itself, instead of on the Belkin device, this too was a pretty neat feature.

But from there on out, it's all downhill. We found an empty radio station in our suburb of Chicago, 88.3, and used it. The sound was ok, but I had to turn my radio up pretty loud in order to hear it. With that came a lot of static and high pitched whirring noise that was actually a little louder than the music itself. I didn't notice the noise / static too much when we listened to pop, rock, or R&B but when Classical or Vocal music played, you'd hear static instead of silence. Also, as we'd accelerate the noise would worsen!

We got used to the static and said, we'll deal with it. However, we drove into the city recently and experienced a plethora of other problems. As we'd drive on the highway, someone would pass us. Coincidentally some of them had radio transmitters on the same station as us. We'd hear their music crystal clear as if it was being played in our CD player. After they passed us, we'd go back to our staticy sound.

A little later on, the static starting getting overwhelming and it turned out there was a weak broadcast on that station in the city, so we switched to a different empty station 88.1, and we still couldn't hear. So we tried another, and another... we didn't hear any music for the rest of our day. NO station worked.

On the way home we stopped at my fiance's parent's house, and they said we should try their DLO Transpod. We plugged it in and tried 87.9 (which they recommended) and it was crystal clear. We decided to try 88.1 and 88.3 too since they were what we used earlier that day. As expected, they worked perfectly. I've now driven for days with this new device all over the suburbs and in the city. It's like night and day compared to the Belkin device. We are returning ours today.

To sum it up, FM transmitters are rather expensive and an imperfect solution to the iPod / car issue. But if you're gonna shell out your money on a device, you expect it to work. On top of that, you don't just expect it to work "ok", you expect it to work great. The Belkin achieved a nice sleek design and ease of use, but beyond that the product is worthless. DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE!

If I could rate this a 0 out of 5, I would.

I have owned the itrip, which was convienient, because you could take it anywhere (being cordless) and play it on any radio. But the sound was absolutly awful, and it drained the baterry. Then I bought the Transpod, which was an improvement, b/c the sound was a little better, and it charged the ipod. However, It was ugly as junk. Anddd after just a month of owning it, it broke. All It did was sit in my car. You can tell it is very cheap. So now I bought the belkin tunebase fm...ANDDDDD......This thing is amazing. The sound is serously BETTER then a cd quality (if you beleive that) I serously have never heard the bass in my car hit so sharply. It also charges it, and the tunebase is pretty small and holds the ipod without any ugly cords. You need to find a station that doesnt have reception for it to come in perfectly clear, and at times I do notice the ringing noise the other reviewer mentions, but I rarely notice it. I give the itrip 2 stars, the transpod 3, and this thing 5 stars by far. I don't know how it compares to the other new fm transmitters, but compared to the older ones, it is in another league. I highly recommend it.

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