Showing posts with label 36 volt battery chargers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 36 volt battery chargers. Show all posts

Goal Zero 19011 Guide 10 Black/Silver Small Battery Power Pack

Goal Zero 19011 Guide 10 Black/Silver Small Battery Power Pack
  • Keep your power hungry phone juiced and ready for you to use
  • Power up your tablet for 25 percent longer
  • Never buy batteries again and recharge up the AA or AAA batteries right from the sun
  • Handy built in LED flashlight to help you search in that dark backpack or purse
  • AA rechargeable batteries included

Got this to charge my ipod, phone, or any other small electronics I might need out where there are no outlets to plug in to.

PHYSICAL DESIGNVery sturdy.

The solar panels are protected by sheets of tough, clear plastic, with rigid thicker plastic behind the panels to provide support. This is all encased in rugged nylon. As seen in the picture, 9 parachord loops are placed every 4 inches or so along the outer edges of the frame. This makes it very easy to tie the Nomad 3.5 down to say a backpack or a kayak in many different configurations. So far the loops have proven very strong and have not frayed or worn out. On the reverse side is a pouch made from nylon netting. Inside the pouch are the actual USB and solar outlets for the panel. This is extremely convenient because it allows you to simply plug in whatever SMALL device you want into the Nomad and then simply zip the pouch shut keeping your device secure and safe. You can also keep your excess chords and battery pack in this pouch. The whole thing folds up and is held shut with a velcro flap.

DIMENSIONSCompact.

Weight: about half a pound on its own. (about 3 pounds with battery pack)

Folded: 4" by 5.25"

Open: 4" by 10.5"

CHARGINGGreat for its size.

This is the smallest solar panel that Goal Zero makes. The "3.5" in the name Nomad 3.5 is the number of watts it produces. It's NOT going to charge your laptop, your tablet, or your smart phone. It is great for anything smaller like a normal phone or your ipod. But it doesn't pump out enough juice for devices larger than that, in fact, it says that in the the instructions on the panel. It can however, be used to charge the awesome battery pack that comes with it, which CAN charge a smart phone or a tablet.

BATTERY PACKAA removable batteries, great capacity, with an LED flashlight.

I recommend plugging the battery pack into the solar panel, charging it, and then use the battery pack to charge your devices. The amount of charge that the Nomad puts out depends directly on how much sunlight it is exposed to and whether or not the sunlight is constant and direct. If you're walking through a shaded forest the charge level is going to fluctuate and your device won't get a good charge. The battery pack however will supply a constant flow of energy to your device and has an impressive capacity. I charged my phone, ipod shuffle, and nook tablet and then used the built in flashlight all night, and it still had juice left. It will take approximately 4-5 hours to to charge the battery pack from 0-100%. But takes considerably less time to charge it from say 50-100%. So simply charge it before it gets completely dry and you won't have to wait long. DO NOT try to charge a device from the battery pack while the battery pack is plugged into the solar panel. There are safeties in place to protect the solar panel from over extending itself and causing damage so it WILL NOT CHARGE.

DURABILITYExcellent.

It's dirt proof, water proof, and tough. I left it in my car on the dashboard in 100 degree weather for and excess of 3 hours one day. Came back and the smell of hot plastic had filled my car. While there were no visible signs of melting the panel was searing hot to the touch. The smell came from the charger cable that connected the charger to the panel. It had softened and the inputs were loose but the cable still worked, the panel still charged, and the battery pack was fine. Absolutely no permanent damage! I often take it single tracking (mountian biking) with me in the woods and country side where things are not as clean and it handles the weather and grit like a pro. Because of its size I can just strap it to my handle bars and go. It's not heavy or cumbersome and because of its parachord loops it is easy to secure and won't jostle around. The panel has withstood temperatures in excess of 110 degrees, rain, hail, and mud; and hasn't so much as flinched. That being said it should still be cleaned and taken care of. Especially try to keep grime from getting into the built in outlets as that can cause damage.

In conclusion the Nomad 3.5 is very durable, compact/portable, and simple to use. It is Goal Zero's smallest models and as such cannot handle larger devices. However it is excellent for charging smaller gadgets. This flaw is remedied perfectly with the addition of the battery pack which can dish and enormous pay load and can handle tablets and smart phones with ease. Both are sturdy and low maintenance. If you want max portability and quality this product is worth it. Goal Zero also has several larger more powerful portable models if your need something with a little more juice. 5 out of 5

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Careful, the included panel will not directly charge a smartphone.... you need "large" set for this :/. the kit gets 3 stars off for the description being vague. You can use the panel to charge the included batteries and then, charge the phone from the batteries... Says it requires about 10 hours of sunlight to charge... Not too promising but better than nothing in an emergency. I bought 2 of these at once unsuspecting, so now I have to buy 2 large panels. I will and recommend purchasing from another vendor that clearly explains this subtle but costly difference between sets next time.

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this is awsome, it works great even in cloudy WA state. takes longer to charge bt still this is awsome

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it looks awesome and is small enough to put in my pocket but i need something bigger with more power

Uniden GMR4040-2CKHS Two Weather Resistant 40 Mile Range FRS/GMRS Radios With 2 Vox Headsets

Uniden GMR4040-2CKHS Two Weather Resistant 40 Mile Range FRS/GMRS Radios With 2 Vox Headsets
  • 121 Privacy codes per channel to help reduce interference from others
  • Connect a VOX or PTT-type headset for private conversations (2 included)
  • NOAA Weather Channels
  • Rechargeable niMH Battery packs
  • Roger Beep lets you know when others are finished speaking

If you take a bit of time to research your options you'll discover that regardless of mileage claims these radios will only transmit so far...usually a mile or two unless talking between mountaintops. It doesn't matter what brand/model you get. The uniden 4040 is well equipped with everything you could need including earbuds, NOAA alerts, ability to have over 2600 individual channels, recharging station..what more could you need? Works great for me!

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This is the second set of these Radio's I have purchased from Amazon. My first set have been in use for over Four Years and still work like new. I purchased this second set for my Son. Both he and I enjoy the out doors, and never hunt or fish or explore alone. These have been used several times in helping locate the other people in your party. The desert is no place to be cought in a sudden rain storm. Having the instant weather reports from the Nation Weather Service is a must have addition. Take care of them and they will last many years.

Read Best Reviews of Uniden GMR4040-2CKHS Two Weather Resistant 40 Mile Range FRS/GMRS Radios With 2 Vox Headsets Here

I took these bad boys snowboarding and handed them out to our group. Of course as anyone says with these walkies, the range specified is very dependent on the situation (weather, terrain etc). These walkies are tough and withstood a beating from spills from snowboarding, and the cold of winter.

There was one time where the battery died in a couple hours and I was not able to understand why. I did not experience that again since. While the walkies do use a rechargeable pack, you can also use AAA batteries as a backup if you choose.

I used these along side motorola walkies and they talk to each other very nicely.

Over all these walkies are easy to use and recommended for anyone who wants good working walkies.

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I love my set, I have tested it up to 30 miles and it works fine. It comes with cool ear mic that works well. battery life is real good, also let you switch over to NNAWA weather and will alert you like and emergeny weather radio will very nice.......

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Would buy again, durability, long range make these above the rest, the only down fall I'd say is the ear/mic isn't really hands free

Brunton Restore 2 Solar Panels and 2200 mAh Battery

Brunton Restore 2 Solar Panels and 2200 mAh BatteryWe purchased this in advance of a hurricane and initially charged it with the USB and a computer. Our electricity was out for four days and we used this to keep the Android phone alive. We recharged it in the sun and it worked great too. Just don't put the phone in the sun while you are recharging. It will cause the phone battery to overheat. This item is on our list for the emergency "go bag". It would be good for backpacking if you don't mind the extra weight. Warning-if you don't use mini/ micro USB adapter, then bring your original USB connectable charging cord to use. This item did not recharge an iPad, so if that is what you want, get something else.

It works as described. But had to returned it because I did not realize it will not charge an ipad.

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This is a handy little charger that will be most useful in a grid down scenario. It charges well and holds a charge well in cold weather and is resistant to inclement conditions. A definite go bag item!

Read Best Reviews of Brunton Restore 2 Solar Panels and 2200 mAh Battery Here

This item works great to keep a charge in a multitude of electronics!! Used this where it was hard to charge things but there was plenty of solar power!!

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Purchased this to charge my phone while out in the desert. The Restore worked wonderfully and performed its job, but the device took a beating from the sun and sand. After about two weeks, the plastic started to warp and the panels started to protrude from the case.

Overall this is probably a great product for camping trips and most standard uses. The electronics work great, the battery charges fairly quickly (never really timed it). The device just isn't durable enough to withstand the stress applied to it in harsher climates over long periods of time.

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130 Watt Portable RV and Marine Folding Solar Panel Kit with Built in (USA Made) Digital Charge Cont

130 Watt Portable RV and Marine Folding Solar Panel Kit with Built in Digital Charge Controller
  • 130 Watts of power, Patent Pending Made in USA Digital Charge Controller
  • 7.5 Amps operating current, 13.8 - 17.2 V operating voltage, Adjustable tilt legs
  • Motion Sensor Alarm, 4 different battery adapters, 15 foot cord
  • Lead Acid, Gel and AGM battery compatible, Safety fuse, Built in Inclinometer
  • Panel: 40"X20"X3.5", 36 lbs., Padded metal storage case: 41.3"X22.3"X5.3", 18 lbs.

Purchased the Economical Version of this product directly from their website. These solar panels are solidly built. They feel really solid. They also come in sturdy storage cases. After spending a month or more looking all over the web, I chose to purchase from this vendor because of the storage cases and the great customer reviews on their website.

I have three (130W) "economical" versions of these panels. What is offered here is the "professional" version of their 130W system. This is actually a nicer product than the economical version. The difference between the economical version and this version is a) inclometer (to check optimal sun angle), b) CEA Solar patented control charger (for blow by blow geek status updates :) and 3) theft-alarm deterrent system.

My version does not appear to be available on Amazon but is available from their website for about $645. ). As soon as the inverter arrives (A Samlex PST 200S 12A 2000 W Pure Sine Wave inverter), I will be running 390W Solar arrangement with the Samlex inverter and 4 Optima Yellow Top Dual Purpose AGM Batteries.

The reviews on their website are right on. Their customer service support is exemplary. They will NOT sell you what you don't need, and they give good advice about accompanying products. I chose to wait until my panels arrived to purchase the inverter, since I had heard horror stories about UPS guys and glass panels shipping with inverters.

Seriously, go to their website. Look at their products. Call Bob Nichols and ask him questions. Fill out their questionnaire to figure out your actual solar needs. These guys are cradle to grave merchants and I feel very secure that if any thing goes wrong they will work with me to find solutions.

Will post another review once everything is up and running, which should be very shortly.

Honeywell 1600-6065 1,600 Watt 99cc 4-Stroke OHV Portable Gas Powered Inverter Generator

Honeywell 1600-6065 1,600 Watt 99cc 4-Stroke OHV Portable Gas Powered Inverter GeneratorI bought this unit nearly one year ago and today it still sits in the local generac / honeywell service dealer. Not only did the unit fail after about ten hours (would not start) it only had one real use.

When it failed, the dealer wanted to charge me to even look at it and then to pay for the warranty repairs / parts and have me seek my reimbursement from Generac / Honeywell. I refused and have been on the phone and emails with the factory since early August 2012 (It is now mid-October). Still no generator, no resolution and I am fed up and have requested a full refund.

I am / was a Generac fan with four purchased since 2000. This one was a disgrace to the Generac / Honeywell name. I am equally disappointed by their response for now nearly three months.

My suggestion as an owner I would not buy this unit.

I bought this generator to supplement a 1000watt inverter that I already had (also Honeywell). I time road races, so this is used to power the chip timing system, about 4 laptops, 2 large screen lcd monitors, and a printer. It handles that load well. I have not had any trouble starting it (have probably used it a half dozen times now). It was used in a heavy rain and had no problems. The only reason I held back a star was that it is noisy. I couldn't justify spending twice as much for a quieter Honda. As long as you have enough space, just bring along a 50' extension cord and keep the noise further away cheaper.

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update 10/05/2012 Finally found the oil leak was due to the cheap oil sensor. I call Generac waste of time they are not making this part yet. Solution I took the sensor and the generator to a machine shop they solve the problem after looking for an oil plug all over the country it has very unique nut thread measurements. Check oil periodically if there is no leaks no problem no oil sensor is need it. valve noise a was able to lower it adding a 25% of 20W50 truck oil to the recommended SAE 30W oil. It will run much better I am happier now, by the way if happen to you don't forget to check for nuts tighten. And do not use the 12 volt outlet unless for battery charging the voltage is 18v at low running and 24v at hi which will damage any 12v accessory good luck.

Read Best Reviews of Honeywell 1600-6065 1,600 Watt 99cc 4-Stroke OHV Portable Gas Powered Inverter Generator Here

I would have left a 0 rating if I could. Just finished the 5 hour break in period and this thing is leaking oil out of the top and bottom of the generator. Measured Db's and at 1 meter from the generator its 81db's, not quiet, not even close to quiet. Honda's are rated at 56db's. Don't waste your money if you want quiet.

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BikeMaster ChargeMaster 365TD - --

BikeMaster ChargeMaster 365TD - --
  • Triple mode, 7 stage charger
  • Assesses battery connection polarity
  • Analyzes and diagnoses battery condition
  • Recovers mildly andor heavily discharged batteries
  • Bulk charges batteries quickly

I recently purchased a Moto Guzzi California. The dealer installed a pig tail for easy recharging, without removing the seat. He recommended a charger. After a bit of on-line research, I focused on the Bikemaster Chargemaster. It has extra cables, just in case, and it worked first time, every time. My Guzzi is happy, I'm happy, and my battery is always charged and ready. Great product, good service....

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Works Great I hooked it up and everything is working great, the lines that hook to the batt. are fused. would buy again!

easy to use and setup.

Read Best Reviews of BikeMaster ChargeMaster 365TD - -- Here

This bikemaster product is a very slick piece of gadget. It worked exactly as specified and took me

Midland Consumer Radio LXT600VP3 36 Channel GMRS with NOAA Weather Alert Up to 26 Mile Range and wit

Midland Consumer Radio LXT600VP3 36 Channel GMRS with NOAA Weather Alert Up to 26 Mile Range and with Rechargeable Batteries and Charger
  • 36 Channels with Up to 26 Mile Range
  • NOAA Weather/All Hazard with Alert and Weather Scan
  • 121 Privacy Codes
  • 5 Call Alerts
  • 3 Level Vox for Hands Free Operation

We purchased two pairs of these radios so four of us could stay in touch during a large event on two levels of the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. The radios worked flawlessly. A BIG bonus is that they are small and lightweight. We are buying two more pairs today, for a total of eight radios.

We charged for 24 hours before first use, used them all day/12 hours, and batteries are still at full power. We were advised by a Midland rep NOT to leave the radios on the charger as a matter of course, but only to charge the radios when they actually needed it. It is on our checklist now to check radio battery life two days before event.

When you buy: They need a 24-hr charge before first use; and if you are running a large event, buy enough to give one of your radios to the venue rep for the duration of your event. It will save you a lot of running around looking for that person when you need them to act.

Love these radios.

Buy Midland Consumer Radio LXT600VP3 36 Channel GMRS with NOAA Weather Alert Up to 26 Mile Range and wit Now

I originally purchased one pair to stay in contact with my lead man on our shift in a manufacturing facility. Our department is extremely noisy, as we have numerous machines stamping out metal parts, forklifts beeping and driving by. I use the AVPH3 surveillance headset because my job entails that I use both hands working with pneumatic tools to set the dies to stamp the parts. When my Lead calls, I have no trouble hearing him, and answer him with the push-to-talk button clipped to my shirt.

After we used the 1st pair for a few days, we realized just how much more efficient we were working, so I ordered a second pair to give to operators so that we can be in constant contact with each other. Now, if there is a problem with one of the machines, I can ask them what the problem is, and avoid wasted time walking the 50 to 75 yards to survey the problem, and then walk back to get the necessary tools to fix the problem.

The in-ear headset also doubles as a sound-reducing ear plug, but still allows me to communicate with the crew. However, the clear plastic behind-the-ear spiral looks rather CIA/Secret Service, and I have had to put up with some ribbing from some of the other workers in the plant. If they only knew just how comfortable, and, convenient this headset is, they wouldn't rib for long.

Midland Radios has long been a leader in radio manufacturing, and that was one big selling point for my purchase. These are NOT cheap little toys, but, well-constructed, solid radios.

I would suggest to follow the instructions to give the units a 24 hour initial charge, and then to charge them only as needed, every 2 days or so.

All in all, I am very pleased with the quality, the performance, and the range that these radios provide. We may even decide to purchase a third set.

Read Best Reviews of Midland Consumer Radio LXT600VP3 36 Channel GMRS with NOAA Weather Alert Up to 26 Mile Range and wit Here

I decided to buy a pair of these.

I tried them out 11/03/2012 ref'ing a paintball game on a 2 1/2 acre field (mostly trees about 10% open space about .2 miles from one end to the other) with no difficulty on a FRS channel (Channel 9, CTCSS Sub-Channel 11). They also communicated well with my uniden radios.

The real test was yesterday (11/17/2012 ) when I was be ref'ing a much bigger event on a field that is almost 20 acres (mostly trees about 5% open space over 1/2 of a mile from one corner to the opposite corner)

They worked great! On the field they reached cleanly from one side of the field to the other (on channel 9, no sub-channel)... the longest line of sight thru dense wood that I had a chance to test was over a 1/3 mile... but better than that i had to run an errand and on the way back i used one from inside the car on the way back... they worked great from inside the car across about 1/2 mile from the responder at our registration area. About 1/2 that distance was woods and a large church building line of sight between us (That is much better than the uniden I have). I have no doubt I would get at least a mile thru dense wood. I probably won't get a chance to try them on a larger field until January. (If I don't post an update by Feb. 2013, ask for an update) (If I remember, I'll post a video of part of our field.)

Yes, I would buy another set.

The reason for only 4 stars is I haven't tried them at a really long distance yet. The largest field I've played on is Wayne's World (about 1/2mile x 1/3mile)()

Review Update:

January 19, 2013

I did order more radios.

We liked them so much we ordered 2 more radios. They went into use today.

I HUGE motivator for getting more of these radios is their battery life!

When we use them they are on continuously from just before 9am until about 2pm

The charge is lasting us 4 5 game days before they run out of a charge.

If I could bump my rating up to 4.5 stars, I would.

The reason for only 4 stars is still the same... I haven't tried them at a really long distance yet.

Review Update:

February 17, 2013

I now have 6 of these.

I tested them for distance yesterday (2/16/2013). On channel 11 (no sub-channel this time), I got 1.2 miles away in a mostly open area with some trees, and a hill preventing line of sight. There was an elevation difference too... about 100 feet. from the downhill radio the hill went up 100 feet over a distance of a 1/2 mile. I traveled level for a distance of almost 3/4 of a mile beyond that. At that distance the communication had a lot of static, but it was still very usable.

There's a picture of the test location (Fishhawk, Florida)in my facebook photos (facebook dot com /RickLiebespach)... The album titled "WFC Fields)

(There is a thin blue line from radio to radio, so you can see what was between us at our most distant conversation)

I suspect I could have gotten 1.5 miles, but I think my partner turned off his radio. This was using channel 11 (no sub-channel this time). This will serve my needs very well. (I play and referee paintball games on large fields)

As a result of this test, I am now upping my rating to 5 stars.

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The product states that it has a 36 mile reach without anything in the way, such as trees and houses, etc. I live in suburbia Chicago, where everything is realtively flat. The true range of this product is somewhere in the neighborhood of half a mile, which is fine if your group or person you're communicating with gets lost or separated. It's a good trail radio. Bike trail.

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The range is great! Used them in our neighborhood with exceptional clarity from a good distance (1/2 mile). Look forward to trying them for even farther distances. Would highly recommend.

Peak PKC0A1-01 450 Amp Jump Starter

Peak PKC0A1-01 450 Amp Jump Starter
  • Built-in 12 volt DC accessory receptacle
  • Polarity indicator for added safety
  • Battery status check button
  • High impact resistant rubberized housing

I bought this unit and it worked great to jump vehs and put air in my motorcycle tires. However, every time I would jump my truck I would have to charge it. I could get several jumps of smaller cars but it just didnt seem to hold enough juice for my F150. Another problem I had with it was the charge lights never worked right, no matter how drained it was it would show to have a full charge. Then on Christmas day my grandma needed some air in her tire so I went to help. After 45 seconds to a minute the unit popped and then started smoking really heavy. I put it in a safe place and made sure it was safe. The unit's air switch is stuck and the pump is burned up. For the price I paid I dont think this unit was worth it. I took care of it and followed the directions to make sure it would last, but after just one year of what I would call light/medium use, its dead. I thought maybe the warranty would help me out but I found that it only has a 90 day warranty, so here I am shopping for a new one.

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Today I tried to jump my sisters Camry but it just fell short and would not start the car. One problem with these low cost chargers is the battery connecters are plastic and break easy. Mine snapped so looking for a way to fix it but glue failed. The inflator gauge is off but it did put enough air in my tire just have a tire gauge with you. Bought this at BJ's for $29 so can't complain but they need to make the connecters out of something stronger than plastic.

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Ive used this unit to successfully start my car when the battery was dead. I have 2 of these units, however, when i plug one of the units in to recharge it, the "charging" indicator light doesn't go on. The light does go on when charging the second unit. I'm not sure if its just the indicator light that's bad or if there is some problem with the unit accepting the charge. This is the reason for 3 star. It's fairly expensive and now i need to replace the unit that doesnt charge, i cant rely on it. I'm going to try the black and decker 450.

SunGuard SG-4 4.5 amp 12 volt Solar Charge Controller Regulator by Morningstar

SunGuard SG-4 4.5 amp 12 volt Solar Charge Controller Regulator by Morningstar
  • Vdc (voltage direct current): 12 V
  • Solar Amps: 4.5 A
  • Weight: .5 lbs./.22 kg
  • Dimensions: 2.5" x 2.0" x 1.4"/63.5 x 50.8 x 35.56 mm
  • Warranty info: 5 year warranty from manufacturer

I recently purchased this item to go with the Harbor Freight 45 Watt SunPanel kit as their controller leaves a lot to be desired. This unit is the ideal controller for this kit if you want your battery to be regulated properly.

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I installed the SG-4 with a 50 watt solar panel on a motor home. This setup replaces a non-functional 7-watt panel that was supposed to keep the coach batteries charged. The controller is mounted behind the coach monitor panel and I connected it to the original solar charge wiring, which made the installation pretty easy. It is pretty much install and forget and it has worked perfectly for 2 years. The system has kept the two 6 volt house batteries and a 12 volt chassis battery fully charged while the RV has been in winter storage as long as two months unattended. It works as advertised and keeps the batteries healthy. It has internal circuitry (diodes I suppose) that keep the batteries from discharging back through the panels at night. Since it is only rated to 4.5 amps, you would not be able to use much more than 50 watts of panels with this controller. That means it is not suitable where you have to have a lot of energy to recharge batteries quickly. But for charge maintenance, this is perfect.

Read Best Reviews of SunGuard SG-4 4.5 amp 12 volt Solar Charge Controller Regulator by Morningstar Here

Received the item fast. Unfortunately it didn't work. We went to the Mfg website and looked at all the help files, followed all of their recommended procedures, and test procedures and nothing helped, it's just dead. My husband has a background in electrical, so he knows what he's doing. Returning it and ordering a different brand of controller. Hope that one works! SunGuard SG-4 4.5 amp 12 volt Solar Charge Controller Regulator by Morningstar

Returned the defective controller 2 months ago and am STILL waiting for my refund! Won't buy from this seller ever again. Just filed a claim with Amazon, maybe they can get me my money back.

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I've had mine for over a year and it's just perfect for what it is. Vastly better charging than the dumb threshold on/off units. Temperature compensation is excellent. Albeit not MPPT, it really gets your batteries charged to their peak charge by floating the proper temperature-compensated voltage/amps to them. I.e., cold mornings you'll see like 14.6v, hot summer afternoons 14.2-ish.

How it works: When your battery needs charging, it directly connects your solar panel to your battery, so your solar panel voltage drops to battery voltage (below optimal, which is why MPPT is better). As the battery is charged, the voltage climbs to meet the target (say, 14.4v), it starts pulsing the current very rapidly to the battery to give it just the right amperage it needs to hold the target voltage. You'll see the solar panel voltage rise above battery voltage as this starts to happen. The target voltage is held and over time, the amperage taken from the panel decreases. Cool.

My application is my first dip into solar to maintain two big batteries in my Dodge diesel pickup that isn't driven often and is not located near an outlet. And when it is driven, the system only puts out 14.0 volts, not 14.4 like many other cars do, so while batteries certainly get a charge while driving, short drives can't replace all the energy taken on start-up. Compare that to say my 2008 GM which puts out 14.7v for the first 15 mins or so, then 14.4.

Even in the short winter days, a 10 watt panel is overkill, probably could have gotten by with a 5 watt panel. Again, my use is not "charging", it's "maintaining." I agree a 50W panel is about the max you can use on this, which is rated to be 4.5A at 12v (54 watts), or ~3.8A at 14V. That's still a pretty good charging rate for a single battery in applications where it is discharged.

I might put the solar panel in the interior (factory tint side windows block quite a bit) and see how it goes. Then again, I might bring the batteries to the basement for the winter and treat them to weeks of desulfating from my BatteryMinders.

I use a "Watts Up" on the solar side and battery side to monitor Whr, amps, volts, etc and a voltmeter on the batteries. Neat stuff!

I bought this to replace a cheap controller that I use with a 15watt solar panel to keep a Jeep battery charged. The cheap controller just switched on and off and didn't have PMW to 3-stage charge the battery.

The good

It is ruggedly built with heavy duty wire in and out. It's in a heavy duty plastic shell that's filled with "potting compound" to make it water proof. The 4 wires come out through the potting compound. (They do warn you to install it so water doesn't collect in the open end of the shell.)

I hooked up a voltmeter and it's not contstantly turning on and off like the prior one. Now I'm getting a steady (in the short term) voltage based on the battery's state of charge.

The bad

There aren't any LEDs. You can't tell if it's working without a voltmeter and then you can only see one measurement at a time. (Volts in, volts out.)

There are cautions all over the instructions about not shorting out the solar power leads or it will ruin the controller. If you'll frequently be connecting/disconnecting the solar panels, install a short proof automotive connector that also prevents you from reversing the polarity.

Old World Automotive Prod PKC0J6 "Peak" Jump Starter With Inflator - 12 Volt 600 Amp

Old World Automotive Prod PKC0J6 'Peak' Jump Starter With Inflator - 12 Volt 600 Amp
  • "PEAK" JUMP STARTER WITH INFLATOR
  • 600 amp
  • 8 AH AGM sealed lead acid battery
  • Low charge alert
  • Battery test reading

Peak PKC0J6 I bought and unboxed this unit and it does not contain any type of inflator either built in or as a separate unit. In fact there must be some manufacturers confusion with this version and next version up. Or perhaps bad interpretation of Mandarin.

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This was the only product I bought on Black Friday 2012. Days later my neighbor rang my bell after leaving her car light on overnight and I brought it over to jump her Honda SUV. It delivered enough power to cause the engine to turn over a bit, but not enough to start it. Useless. Strangely, the nationwide store where I bought it also advertised it as "with inflator." It definitely doesn't come with the inflator. According to the box, the next model up has an inflator, but the inflator also gets poor reviews.

Anchor Brand 100-JUMPERCABLES-15FT Anchor 4-15 Cable Kit W-Ab-Red & Black Clamps

Anchor Brand 100-JUMPERCABLES-15FT Anchor 4-15 Cable Kit W-Ab-Red & Black Clamps
  • Made in USA
  • With True Enhanced Performance.
  • Latest Technical Development.

I have been looking for a pair of these specially insulated jumper cables. This pair is specifically made so that I can attach the cable to the nipples of an individual I am questioning and not be worried about getting shocked as well. We all hate when that happens and it tends to ruin the moment; the prisoner and all of Gitmo laugh. But, with rubber gloves and this pair of cables, I have found I no longer get shocked when tort.. interig.... asking questions.

I strongly recommend these.

Leopard 8

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Believe you me, when I pulled these puppies out to jump my buddy's 1983 Chrysler LeBaron at the 2012 Southwestern Arkansas Rock and Gem Exposition, well, I was the star of the show. Everyone forgot about the replica rock hammer from The Shawshank Redemption and the awesome geodes that dick Steve always finds in his pappy's crick. Was it worth three of my organs, my participation in a donkey show, and $3753.14 on an Amazon Prime Card? Yes, yes, and yes.

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I check back on these DEE-Luxxxe jumper cables, from time-to-time.

I noticed [today] that there has FINALLY been a 23% drop in the asking-price.

I think ---despite the $40,500 reduction in price--the value is deminished,

somewhat, due to the outrageously-prohibitive shipping a-n-d handling costs.

That extra thirteen-dollars and forty-nine-cents is a REAL deal-breaker for ME!

I MUST postpone my purchase until Amazon offers me a super-saver shipping deal!

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This should come with the tow truck and mechanic. I don't want to get my hands dirty with this one

Mini Battery Charger Kit for Samsung SB-LSM80, SB-LSM160 & SB-LSM320 Batteries - with fold-in wall p

Mini Battery Charger Kit for Samsung SB-LSM80, SB-LSM160 & SB-LSM320 Batteries - with fold-in wall plug, car & EU adaptersers
  • (110/220v with Car & EU adapters)
  • Replacement Charger for Samsung SB-LSM80, SB-LSM160 & SB-LSM320 Batteries
  • Smart Charging LED indicator
  • Automatically turns to trickle charge after fully charged
  • 3 Year Limited Warranty

Perfect for my needs. I thought I was going to have a decision to make: spend a fortune on a charger or just go ahead and buy a new camera. This charger is the great, and the cost is minimal. Plus it comes with a car adapter.

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Original Mitac Magellan Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter Cord for Magellan Roadmate 1700 7 inch GPS

Original Mitac Magellan Car Charger Vehicle Power Adapter Cord for Magellan Roadmate 1700 7 inch GPS Navigator
  • Original Magellan Accessory in No Fuzz No Mess Packaging
  • Rapid Fast Charging (5v 2A)
  • Compatible with Magellan Roadmate 1700 7" GPS

Came back from a trip to Texas and found that my charger had been confiscated while packed in my checked baggage. So annoying. I hate not being able to lock my luggage! Same exact charger as the original. No complaints. :)

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This charger was not available through the manufacturer or through Magellan retailers. I had almost given up on finding one, but decided to give Amazon a try. To my pleasant surprise (I should have tried Amazon first!) Amazon had them and at a price much cheaper than anyone else. Keep up the great work Amazon!!!!! By the way, the charger works great and is the exact unit that comes with the Magellan product.

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This power adapter worked as well as the one that came with the original GPS unit but for a fraction of what the manufacturer wanted. A great deal.

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I can't believe how fast this was delivered. Also, it's well made and works perfectly. I previously bought a cheap one at Walmart and got exactly what I paid for. Was that ever a waste of money but not this one.

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The replacement did not look like the original which was good because the original "pin" that connects to the GPS did not fit into the connector fully. The replacement fits perfect.

Schumacher XC12 SpeedCharge 12 Amp Battery Charger

Schumacher XC12 SpeedCharge 12 Amp Battery Charger
  • 12 ampere fast charge charger monitors battery condition and adjusts charge rate downward to prevent battery damage
  • For car, light truck, marine, RV, farm equipment, AGM, gel cell and deep-cycle batteries
  • 8 ampere medium charge has a self-adjusting charge rate for everyday charging needs and keeping your battery in peak condition
  • 2 ampere slow charge for charging and maintaining small batteries
  • The charger automatically determines whether the connected battery is a 6 volt battery or a 12 volt battery

So I bought this because 1) it could do 6V and 12V and 2) it had a digital display for voltage and percent charge. It chooses automatically between 6 and 12V fine. The display however, seems quite off. The voltage is ~0.2V off vs a multimeter, but to be fair the resolution is only 0.1V so its hard to say exactly how off it is. The percent charge, which I was most interested in, appears way off. I had a 6V motorcycle battery that sat all winter, read ~3.5V before charging. I hooked it up, on the slow trickle charge setting recommended for small batteries, and it read 90% state of charge to begin. The SOC rose quickly to the high 90's, where it sat for quite awhile until fully charged. I understand there are a lot of battery types and sizes out there, so this may be hard to calculate, but I thought everyone should have a proper expectation about it. I like to monitor this type of information, which is why I elected for this model with SOC display (I didn't really need the 12A). Now I wish I would've just went with a more basic model.

Other Good:

It does kick out automatically to a maintenance mode once fully charged, and automatically start charging after a power loss.

Other Bad:

The fan is loud, and there is no on/off switch (you must unplug it). Also, while charging, the display switches between the SOC and the voltage setting(6 or 12). It would be more helpful to see an actual real-time voltage instead of what setting it is on. To check voltage status with the unit, you must abort charging and put into testing mode, then go back to charging.

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fairly fragile construction. but worst thing was that it failed to charge at the 2 amp setting after only a few days.

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This charger is fully automatic and will charge and maintain all types of 12 volt batteries. It also has a small footprint to fit into tight spaces. The only con is that it is rather noisy at times.

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Very reliable machine . It shows how much charging of the battery. fully automatic. worry free. I recomond it .

Battery Tender 021-0133 12V 5-Bank Commercial Battery Management System

Battery Tender 021-0133 12V 5-Bank Commercial Battery Management System
  • Simultaneously charges and/or maintains up to 5 12-volt batteries, with 12 volts/2 amps per charging bank
  • Six foot lead with clamps included, along with a 3-year warranty
  • Maintains batteries at full charge without overcharging via its 4-step charging system
  • Spark-free design via microchip circuitry that will not activate output voltage until clips are correctly connected to battery
  • Reverse polarity protection and a built-in 72-hour safety timer that ensures batteries attain float mode status

I purchased this unit from Amazon. After using this on various cars and motorcycles, leads started to go intermittent on me. Only by jiggling them on the contact points on the tender would they make contact. Now only 2 of the 5 banks work. I took the unit apart and found that the nylon snap contacts for the leads are soldered directly to the master board with 2 delicate solder points. As the user connects and disconnects the leads, the nylon connectors snap together. Very flimsy way of making contact for a point that sees repeated usage. Absolutely no stress relief for the solder points. Poor design for reliability. It would cost a bunch to repair, then after use, would fail again. They should have placed a flexible intermediate lead to the disconnect points. Buy the individual units instead. This is NOT commercial quality by any stretch of the imagination.

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This tender is just as adv. Ihooked up 4 batteries and within 12 hrs. all the batteries were in storage mode.

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I started buying the individual Battery Tenders and with two batteries I had it covered. Then the third and forth battery came into the operation so this 5 bank tender is the cat's meow. Organized and looking professional and functional to keep all our batteries ready for action.

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This was the perfect item for our boating, jetski battery needs. Able to maintain charge on several items at once.

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This unit is for thoses who need to keep multiple batteries charged during the winter season. I have lawn equipment and chemical sprayers that have batteries that during off season need to keep charged. This unit keeps them charged ready for the next seasons work. A great way not to have to buy a new battery each year.

MPPT Tracer 2215RN EP Solar Charge Controller Regulators 20A + Remote Meter LCD Display (MT5) for So

MPPT Tracer 2215RN EP Solar Charge Controller Regulators 20A + Remote Meter LCD Display for Solar Regulator with 2 Meters Cable
  • MPPT technology; Excellent thermal design and nature air cooling; CE certificate;
  • Peak conversion efficiency of 97 %; High Tracking efficiency of 99%; Several seconds tracking speed;
  • Very fast Sweeping of the entire I-V curve; 4- Stage charge with PWM output; Temperature compensation function?
  • Full power output in ambient temperatures up to 45 degree; Sealed, Gel, Flooded battery type optional; ON/OFF, Dusk to dawn, 1-15h timer?
  • Diversified load control: Manual, Dusk to Dawn, Dual timer, TEST;

You may find cheaper MPPT charge controllers on Amazon but read the specs and the reviews carefully. Some are ordinary controllers that somehow have been allowed to be advertised as MPPT. This one does what it says and is great for small scale experimental solar projects like the one I'm building. I especially wanted one with a display to easily monitor the parameters and what was going into the batteries without having to be measuring with my multimeter all the time. With the proper gauge wire, fuses etc. this unit (fed by a 100W monocrystalline panel which was doubled to 200W last night) keeps 180aH of batteries charged after an overnight drain running my multiple-tank aquarium set-up (25-125W, 0.25 1.7A draw through a pure sine wave inverter). My old PWM controller used to choke during peak hours (10am 2pm) and default to float mode here in the tropics (10 degrees north latitude). The Tracer keeps going all day and harvesting all the power that the other charge controller just wasted even with the efficiency drop due to panel heating.

If you've been fooling around with solar power long enough like me, this one was a breeze to set up. My only regret was not getting the larger 30A unit but I am gaining enough data to spec out a much larger system. MPPT is the way to go even with "low powered" systems like mine. I've read some comments suggesting MPPT is more useful for over 400W but for my situation with low loads, high solar intensity, high temperatures, overcast but bright, light to heavy rain about mid day to cool panels and other tropical features, this is the sweet spot for MPPT.

Seven Star 100 watt 110-220 volt Transformer Converter

Seven Star 100 watt 110-220 volt Transformer Converter
  • 100WATTS DUAL VOLTAGE CONVERTER/ ADAPTER FOR USE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

I got an european lamp (220V) which I wanted to use here in the US and the transformer works perfectly for it as it converts both ways I will use it when I return to Europe to power my laptop.

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I bought it to use a Swedish lamp in the US. It reliably does exactly what it is supposed to: transform voltage. The construction seems sturdy and of high quality, and it looks pretty nice too (for beeing a voltage converter). Highly recommended.

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Pros: Not expensive

Cons: Complete failure!

I bought one of these transformers to take with me on a year-long fellowship in Switzerland. I thought it would be fine because it was able to convert 110V to 220V-240V (Switzerland is 230V). When it arrived in the mail, it smelled like gasoline. I called Amazon and requested a replacement, which they sent out immediately (love Amazon!). When I got the second in the mail, it smelled the same, so I decided to take a chance and just take both of them with me. I should have trusted my instincts!

When I got to Switzerland, I found out that the plug did not fit Swiss outlets, so I finally found a plug that would adapt a European plug to a Swiss plug. I charged a phone on it, and it worked no problem. I took that to mean that it would work for my motorized wheelchair, the ONLY reason I went for a heavy duty transformer instead of a simple converter--it should have been able to handle a continuous load over several hours, as advertised. So, that night, I plugged in my wheelchair before I went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, I discovered that I had blown the circuit in my room--not a big deal. I called for help and got ready for the day while I waited. In the process, I used my second transformer to try and dry my hair in another room. A big puff of thick black smoke rose out of the box, and that transformer died. This was totally my fault because I should have realized the wattage was too great for it to handle. However, once security helped me turn the power back on in my room, I realized that the transformer I plugged my wheelchair into was also dead.

I did the calculations 5 times to check the wattage of my batteries and made sure that I bought a transformer that could handle twice the wattage of my wheelchair. The transformer should have worked!! Now, I am stuck and am thinking about buying a Swiss wheelchair (super expensive) just so that I can get around on my own. This is a really bad situation, and I wish I had listened to my gut instinct! If you really need a heavy-duty transformer, DO NOT BUY THIS!!!!

P.s. I bought a Swiss hair dryer rated at 2000W, and it works, so I know that it was the transformer that broke the circuit and not my wheelchair.

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Burned up quickly with my wife's straight iron..... I expected more use from it. It should have run a straight iron...

it just does not work at all! i had to throw it away because I only tried to use it 3 months after purchase

Gomadic Intelligent Compact Car / Auto DC Charger for the Creative Zen Micro - 2A / 10W power at hal

Gomadic Intelligent Compact Car / Auto DC Charger for the Creative Zen Micro - 2A / 10W power at half the size. Uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology
  • Charger provides a full 10W (2,000mAh) of available current in a small form factor a little over 1 inch long. Flexible, straight cable measure 50 inches in total length.
  • Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by providing a means to change/upgrade your charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tip for Creative Zen Micro) included with additional tips sold separately)
  • Intelligent circuit provides precise output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the Creative Zen Micro. This ensures battery is safely and efficiently charged without affecting battery longevity.
  • Power Sleep"" feature will cut power draw of charger by over 99% when not in use. Charger will draw less than 0.1W of power when in ""ready state"" (e.g. not connected to the Creative Zen Micro).
  • Uses latest state of the art advancements in charging and surge suppression technologies to deliver a unique product in an unbelievably micro-sized form factor.

The product tends to get the job done more or less, but tends to be glitchy, as does the Zen itself. Sometimes when you plug it in or pull it out while the Zen is playing, the zen will freeze or shut off. But overall this product tends to get the job done if you learn how to work it.

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Kensington Digital FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod

Kensington Digital FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod
  • Simultaneously plays and charges iPod using the car's DC power source (cigarette outlet)
  • Transmits iPod tunes through any available FM radio frequency
  • Simple up/down button speeds frequency selection and three programmable buttons lock in station presets
  • Compatible with iPod Nano (Gen 1,2,3); iPod (Gen 1,2,3,4); iPod Classic; iPod Touch
  • Patented Aerielle wireless technology enhances noise reduction and stereo separation

After I realized that I was gonna have to go the route of the FM transmitter to play my ipod in my car, I did tons of research. I must say that this unit sounds really well, if you configure it right. The first thing you need to to is set your ipod EQ to "treble reducer" or "small speakers". (I have yet to figure out why the EQ affects the sound through the dock/line out, but the volume control doesn't) The high end sounds will break up and annoy the crap out of you if you dont! Then you have to have multiple stations to work with. I find myself switching presets once every couple of car rides depending on where I go in town. I live in Louisville, KY and there are plenty of free stations which work well. While you can scroll down to 87.9 by holding down the right two preset buttons and scrolling, I have found this to be useless where I live. Stations higher in the band are overridden much easier than this one for some reason. Also, as with all fm transmitters, there will be some sound of static hiss as you crank up the volume. I find that this scares lots of people, but it really isn't that bad in the end. Ingeniously, if you turn on the air in your car to the lowest setting, it seems to match the static well and canel it out:) All in all this is a great solution for those with CD player only car stereos. The ipod is charged as you drive and you save hundreds on getting an ipod compatible stereo installed or hardwiring a connection from the back of your car stereo, which you can't even do (that I have seen) with my 2001 honda civic.

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I have the Kensington 33185 in one car and the iCarPlay Plus in the other. While the iCarPlay Plus is decent, the Kensington wins out.

First, the Kensington has better reception, which I believe is largely due to it being tunable. You can set it to any station on the FM radio frequency so you get to control which station works best for you in your given area. The iCarPlay Plus has three stations pre-set and they can not be changed, so if those three are being used in your area by high-power FM stations you're out of luck. Luckily, I can use the three pre-sets in my area because there are no high-powered broadcasts on those stations already, but the Kensington still sounds better.

Second, the Kensington's controls are molded into the unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter while the iCarPlay Plus' controls are separate. This is a problem for the iCarPlay Plus because the unit tends to get flung around during sharp turns or lost between the seat and center console during normal use causing the buttons to be pressed and the station it broadcasts on to get changed. It can be very dangerous to try to find the unit again and switch the broadcasting station while driving. Since the Kensington's controls stay in place plugged snuggly into the cigarette lighter, they are always in easy reach and never get accidentally changed.

Third, I protect my iPod with iPod Armor which gives accessibility to the iPod's dock connector at the bottom of the iPod. The slot is plenty big for the standard USB and Fireware connector that Apple ships. However, the iCarPlay Plus' connector, for some unfathomable reason, is nearly twice the size of the standard connector, therefore I have to remove my iPod from the armor every time I want to use the iCarPlay Plus. This is annoying! The Kensington uses the same size connector as Apple which means that I don't have to remove my iPod from its armor so I can just plug in and drive away.

While the iCarPlay Plus is a nice unit that does work quite well, the Kensington 33185 is the overall winner based on sound quality, reception, and thoughtful engineering.

Read Best Reviews of Kensington Digital FM Transmitter/Car Charger for iPod Here

The idea of playing your iPod through your car's FM radio is a good one. And it works well if you are basically staying in one place. You can identify a frequency with no signal, set your transmitter to that, and you're fine.

However, it's very painful to use on long trips, since as you travel you move into areas where your chosen frequency is no longer empty and you begin to hear lots of static. At that point, you have to start looking around for another frequency. In a recent trip (from New England to Pittsburgh), sometimes we were lucky and didn't have to change for an hour and a half. At other times, we wound up searching for new free frequencies every 20 minutes or so. This was annoying with two of us in the car; it would have been near impossible if there was only the driver.

What one of these devices really needs is a "seek" function that works the opposite the way the radio's seek function works. The radio seeks to the next solid station. It would be great if only I could press a button and have it seek to the next clear frequency. Yes, I'd still then have to tune the radio to match, but that's not bad. It's the searching around for a free frequency that's painful.

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I've been an iPod junkie for as long as I can remember, and for as long as I can remember, I've been trying to get my iPod to work with my stock Bose stereo in my 2002 Nissan Altima. I've been through at least 3 or 4 other FM transmitters, the iTrip, Belkin Tunecast and a couple of generic ones. I live in LA, so anyone from a metropolitan area will agree with me and say they pretty much all sucked. Lots of random interference no matter what "empty" station you think you may have found and lots of "sibilance" where the "s" sounds are pronounced and fuzzy. Very annoying. I finally found a means of direct connecting my iPod to my stock Bose stereo about a year ago and I was incredibly happy with the sound. THen about 2 months ago, my car was broken into and my STOCK stereo was stolen (in addition to other things). After it was replaced by the bodyshop, the newer stock stereo did NOT have the ability for a direct connection, and sadly, VERY sadly, I lost my direct iPod connection. Needless to say, in my desperation, I began looking at reviews at some of the newer FM transmitters, and found an overwhelmingly positive average for this Kensington and decided to give it a shot. As other reviewers here will tell you, I was BLOWN away by the sound quality! (you MUST set the iPods EQ to "Treble Reducer" though, it get's rid of the sibilance completely). Choosing 88.3 as the frequency, there's VERY minimal background static that's almost non-existant once the car is on and in motion. The sound is darn near that of my lost direct connection, and dare I say, BETTER than FM radio! No kidding! I've driven through all of LA with it, and have yet to hear any static interruption. I will agree with some of the other reviewers here in that if you move the connector to the ipod, it will sometimes cause static noise, but it's rare, and ONLY happens if you're fiddling with it. Great great unit. Highly recommended.

After reading the reviews about FM transmitters I was concerned that I would be happy with this purchase. As soon as I plugged it in and found a frequency it worked perfectly. Rarely have to change frequencies in the FM crowded NY, NJ, Philadelphia region.

The sound quality is definitely not CD quality but is certainly good enough for car listening.

Highly recommended.