Showing posts with label 48 volt battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 48 volt battery charger. Show all posts

Motorola Talkabout MC220R 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

Motorola Talkabout MC220R 16-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio
  • Up to a 16-mile range
  • 22 channels, each with 38 privacy codes for 836 combinations
  • 5 call tones
  • Quiet Talk interruption feature
  • Includes 2 radios, 2 belt clips, dual charger, charging adapter and 2 (3 x AA) NiMH rechargeable battery packs, and user's guide

These 2 way radios work great over a 1/2 mile radius (our most commonly used range). Apart from the initial 16 hour charge, they work right out of the box (actually one of those pesky clamshells you have to cut open) without having to read the instructions. Each unit comes with a rechargeable battery pack and a removable plastic belt clip, and share a charging base station with 2 slots. If the battery goes flat, you can use 3 regular AA's instead. There's a button to ring your team before talking, and if you don't like the sound, there are 2 more options to choose from. There is also a socket to plug in an optional headset.

Motorola is honest enough to prominently display on the package that in urban areas, the 16 mile rating translates into a 1 mile working range. However at this distance, with many buildings only 2 storeys high, and on a channel that transmits full power, I can hear the other set transmit but not well enough to understand what is being said.

I actually bought them for my son. My experience with kid versions of electronics is that they cost almost as much, are not as well made, and end up in the land fill very shortly after. However, the electro magnetic radiation warning in the instructions did give me pause. We've ended up using them on channels that work at half power. My kid loves using them. The only down side is that his fingers get tired pressing the 'Push To Talk' button after a while.

i'm pleasantly surprised that this entry level offering is not a stripped down product. I've dropped one radio on a wooden floor already, and it survived without a scratch. The battery cover didn't even come off. I highly recommend them to any casual user.

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Exactly what I wanted... I only use these on occasion for car drives where I need to keep a bunch of people gathered and organized en route to another place or just for a drive. The range on these is awesome and the whole time I had to communicate with the other walkie talkie from this set I could hear him perfectly. Other two-ways were on our channel in the group with varying ranges, and my set was by far the best.. For the price you can't beat it.

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These are exactly what i wanted, the have an awsome range, and i can here everyones voice very clearly! I mainly use these for camping, but they are also good for my sons airsoft wars! I think that it is well wot=rth the $33.00! GET TWO!!! It comes with a rechargable battary, and a stand to plug them into to charge! they have 23 channels, and you can scant to see if anyone ealse is on one of those 23 channels, as long as someone is talking.

Great, I strongly recccomend these for communication over ares between 5 ft, and 16 miles!!!! Though like all walkie talkies if they are too close together they make a high pitches buzzing sound(0-4ft)

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Got these for a trip in which my wife and I would be traveling in separate cars. While we do both have cell phones, the instant nature of the walkie talkies is a much wanted benefit. Overall, I'd say they performed admirably. The only instance where we lost communication was when my wife's mother inadvertently turned the volume down on their radio. I'd estimate that at times we were 4 to 5 miles apart, and on an open interstate the reception never faltered. There was some static at longer distances, but we could still hear each other. We've tried them in the neighborhood, and with her in our hi rise building, and me 3 blocks away inside a drugstore, we were still able to communicate.

An added "bonus" in the screwed up world in which we live, is that if there is some sort of man made or natural disaster, these will offer an added method of communication. Hate to think about that, but it's true.

Pros:

Ease of use

Decent range

Good, loud, clear speaker

Good battery life

Peace of mind

Nice feature set.

Cons:

Transmit button is awkward to use

Belt clip is weak plastic

Advertised range is unrealistic, though they do note that it will be about a mile in an urban area.

Takes a long time to charge.

No included wrist strap, though I think there is a place for one.

Volume button is too easy to move accidentally. Detents would make it much more functional.

Overall, for $40, I'd say these were a pretty good purchase. Will try them again on an upcoming camping trip at the beach and see how far apart we can get straight down the beach.

I purchased these in February 2011 from a local Target store for $39.00. I figured they would work ok but I was wrong. They work excellent. It is true that the range depends on many variables but what I can say is that in our housing development I was able to communicate 3/4 of a mile away on a cloudy day and was able to get a clear signal. When I got upto a mile it was difficult to transmit. I was in a car and my son was in our house so if we were both outside on a clear day I would say these might transmit a mile or more. We do a lot of boating so I am anxious to see how well they work on the water with an open line of sight. I also like the fact that they have a docking charger for the rechargable batteries and if needed they will work with regular alkaline batteries as well. The only flaw I can think of is that the detachable belt clip is not very sturdy and would probably break pretty easily if bumped hard. I have heard some reviews regarding the license that is required to use certain channels. That is and has always been the law but no one that I know of has ever purchased a license. I doubt all the truckers out there that use a CB have Licenses. Same thing for dog licenses. Everybody has a dog but I'll bet less than 10% have a license.....Anyway, great product, easy to use and is as clear as a bell when talking...

AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories -Black

AmazonBasics Universal Travel Case for Small Electronics and Accessories -Black
  • Interior offers secure storage space and prevents scratches
  • Universal travel case stores and protects small electronics, power adapters and memory cards
  • Molded EVA-plastic exterior; interior stretch-mesh pockets. Outer dimensions 9.5 x 5.25 x 1.88 inches (241.30mm x 133.35mm x 47.75mm)
  • Distributed by Amazon.com; backed by one-year Amazon Basics warranty
  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

I normally tote around a backpack between home and work with different gadgets, components and accessories spread across different pockets in my jeans, backpack or just carrying lose in my hand. This travel container helps put it all in one place with enough variety of sized spots to meet most needs.

Hopefully you find this video review (my 2nd, ack!) helpful.

UPDATE: I remembered after the video I could have thrown in my GPS, my fLIP and a 5inch camera/video tripod. Very cool case!

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The case is a semi-hard shell case with multiple dividers and pockets inside for every variety of add-ons and accoutrements you need for your electronic gear. Think, rubber pull tabs make opening and closing extremely easy. The width may be a bit thick for some briefcases, but it fits fine in my Booq EXO XL case.

I'm an IT professional and occasional writer, so no matter what I am doing that day to make a living, I have to carry a variety of electronics with me. My standard load includes: iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro 13", card readers, a variety of SD cards, flash drives and two 2.5" portable hard drives. That means I have a lot of stuff to plug in and charge, be it at a client's office or at a cafe. And this travel case holds the power chargers for the MacBook Pro, the iPad, the iPhone, all the variety of cables for the hard drives, all the SD cards and readers and a stack of business cards. I can fit one of the 2.5" hard drives in it as well if I need to, but usually I leave those in pockets in my briefcase.

After years of electonica ruling or at least enabling the world, it's like someone finally put some thought into the cases those devices need. I'm surprised it took so long. The pockets and layers and pouches inside are all well thought out, solid but not intractable so they can adapt to any device, be it the huge ugly brick of a Toshiba laptop or the rounded compact Apple wall chargers. The zipper pickets perfectly fit everything from memory cards to iPod cables. And you can see though the mesh so there is no fumbling around.

I have only had this about 10 days but it's standing up to pretty rigorous use. It's MUCH studier and better-made than any Case Logic or other brand cases. Those usually last me about three months each, cost the same, but those seem outright primitive in details and product design compared to this case.

I have been impressed with the whole AmazonBasic line they are exclusively the cabling and blank media I buy now. For a line Amazon seems to be paralleling with "generic" goods, AmazonBasic as a line is superior to to the "name" brands. I can only wonder what and hope for what a "AmazonAdvanced" line will give us.

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I was offered the opportunity to review this new, Amazon-branded case, and I have to say that my first impression was "Wow". I was very impressed by the non-cheapness of this case, when compared to others in the

MinnKota MK 345D On-Board Battery Charger (3 Amps, 15 Amps Per Bank)

MinnKota MK 345D On-Board Battery ChargerThe on board charger is easy to use and to hook up. I usually charge all 3 batteries for about 5 hrs after using the boat, accessories and 24v tolling motor for about an 8-10hr day. Haven't have any issues yet and would definitely recommend and purchase the minnkota charger again.

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Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Archos AV500 Series. Kit includes the Gomad

Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Archos AV500 Series. Kit includes the Gomadic Home and Car Chargers at a Money Saving Price. Based on TipExchange Technology
  • Gomadic Wall Charger is built to support worldwide voltage input levels ranging from 100-240vAC /50-60 Hz. High output 10W /2A transformer provides output voltage and resistor configuration specific to the Archos AV500 Series.
  • Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by allowing you to change/upgrade either charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tips for Archos AV500 Series included with additional tips sold separately).
  • This Gomadic Car charger has a wide input voltage range of 12-24vDC to support all vehicle charging ports. Works in cars, trucks, planes, boat, RVs and more (both domestic and international). Available output current is an impressive 10W/2A . (Twice most competing products!)
  • The Gomadic "Power Sleep" feature limits power consumption when chargers are not in use. Both car and wall chargers will draw less than 0.1W of power when in "ready state" (e.g. not connected to the Archos AV500 Series).
  • Backed by our Gomadic Lifetime Warranty. Quality products protected by a quality guarantee.

Both units are universal 5v chargers made in China. The AC unit is rated at 1-Amp output vs the stock 1.6A. Don't think it really makes much difference. Both cords have replaceable #27 plugin tips for the Archos av500. Both charge just fine and the price is right.

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Garmin External Speaker with 12-Volt Adapter for StreetPilot ( 010-10477-01)

Garmin External Speaker with 12-Volt Adapter for StreetPilot
  • GARMIN EXTERNAL SPEAKER WITH 12/24-VOLT ADAPTER CABLE (REPLACEMENT)

Garmin had to go out of their way to engineer the poor quality connector on the speaker/power cord. It is an over-all dumb design perdicated out of the Garmin's apparent desire to make it a little less epsensive to build the main unit to water-resistant specifications.

In less than a year, the poorly designed and manufactured connector on the main-unit end of the connector cable began to de-laminate and cause random unit resets when my car was jarred by pot holes or road irregularities.

I also own an older Street Pilot III which uses a much more robust round connector with pins that stick into holes in the cable. It probably cost Garmin about fifty cents or a dollar a unit more for the old style connector. Given Garmin's reputation for quality products, I'm really surprised they changed the engineering to the lousy leaf spring connector they're using now.

Garmin really should have a voluntary recall and replace these junky connectors to promote customer satisfaction instead of making us shell out between $30 and $40.

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Works fine with my Garmin StreetPilot 2610. This was a replacement for the first one that broke. The plastic end is not particularly strong, so be careful when not in use. Speaker quality is fine for its purpose.

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Overall, the adapeter replacement works fine. I plugged it in and the unit powered up. I am still a bit frustrated that I needed to replace this adapter. The Garmin unit is great the directions and interface work incredibly well but this adapter design is less than ideal. I had the 2720 unit less than two years and I needed to spend ~$100 to get it current replacing this adapter and buying the updated mapping CD.

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I've about had it with this durned power adapter/speaker cord. Every year it falls apart and I have to buy another one. Garmin just makes the durned thing too durned cheap. Speaker and cord part is great. . .just the part that plugs into the lighter socket keeps falling apart. Gotta admit I'm a heavy user. . .like all day everyday for 5 years. The GPS itself is fabulous, as long as you order the update maps when they're available, (which isn't often enough). Update maps are $150 plus $25 or more for the adapter. . .costs me $180 a year to run under this system. Gotta admit. . .I love it. . .cept when it breaks.

The new one works fine, and was about 20% cheaper than buying it directly through Garmin.

It still is a bit disappointing that Garmin didn't step up to the plate and replace these for nothing. When I was searching for my replacement, I found quite a few people also had to replace the adaptor.

BESTEK 150w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc adapter laptop charger notebook adapter

BESTEK 150w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc adapter laptop charger notebook adapter dc charger ac adapter usb charger Dual USB 3.1A 1511CWell made and solid. I am using it to power some small motors like air compressors and electronics while camping. I am not sure if it will power larger equipment as it does run off the battery. Just to be safe I run the engine while I use the lamps and compressor.

I purchased this converter to power a uniden video monitor in my car. I'm using it as a baby car seat monitor. Since the monitor doesn't have the best battery life I need to have it plugged in all the time. It only came with an ac outlet charger. This converter worked like a charm. The fan is not loud and it slide right into my cars cig lighter. It's pretty large but not more then I expected. I also loved the fast shipping and feel very satisfied with my purchase. I appreciate a company that cares for their customers. That seems so rare these days.

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Purchased for my 2000 Toyota 4Runner with 3 120W 12V outlets for use on long trips etc., based on positive reviews here. The 120V AC output of the charger works well for my Lenovo t61p and a friend's Toshiba Satellite laptops. I've used it for about 2 hrs since my purchase so far. Construction is of decent quality plastic and the product feels solid.

However, there are a few quirks you should be aware of. Minor, but nuisances nonetheless, and enough to subtract two stars from the rating.

1) The click-angle head of the product is weak. It cannot support the weight of the product outlet head and a plug at an upwards angle -it will creep downwards as you drive with your car's driving vibrations. The click head more or less holds its place when used horizontally.

2) The click-angle head's rotational range is narrow. The range or motion shown on the product picture is its maximum range of motion. Due to the adapter's large size, it may not fit your vehicle if the 12V outlet is right behind your shifter, etc.

3) The cooling fan is loud during operation, even when only using the USB outlets. The noise is bearable on the highway amongst highway vehicle noise (and my truck's on the loud side by today's standards), but the constant whine is unpleasant during street driving. You should purchase a separate adapter for dedicated use with USB devices. I think the noise is about equivalent to a vacuum cleaner behind a thick door or 2.

I would consider a corded inverter instead of this product for space use flexibility and placement muffling -the noise will be far less obnoxious say, under your legs than on the dash console; even if the other product is equivalently loud.

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My Sony camera requires the use of a separate battery charger. However I needed the camera immediately and since I was leaving on a car trip, my only option was a car charger. That is where this little gem comes in play. I am now able to charge my camera, just as I do my phone, my gps and my mp3 player. When camping I realize that I can also use my air mattress pump. Handy device...and item was shipped immediately and received as advertised.

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this came in the mail faster than expected...we went camping and it worked good to charge my cell and to blow up my air mattress for the tent ...it gets a little warm to the touch but it works good.

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YTX12-BS Motorcycle Battery for TRIUMPH America 865CC 09

YTX12-BS Motorcycle Battery for TRIUMPH America 865CC 09
  • Chrome Battery YTX12-BS Mainenance Free and Fully Charged
  • 5.91in (length), 3.43in (width), 5.12in (height); 8.46lbs
  • 18-Month Warranty, 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
  • High Cranking Amps & Low Self-Discharge Rate
  • Heavy Duty Terminals

I put this battery in a little scooter. It took a little extra work to get it to fit. The gel inside means no liquid to spill

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like I said, its a great product, it got here fast, trickle charged and running ever since.

Keep up the great work and great prices.

myCharge RFAM-0003 Portable Power Bank 2000

myCharge RFAM-0003 Portable Power Bank 2000
  • Most popular connectors - including Apple, Micro USB and Mini USB - are included along with the charging cable.
  • Integrated Key Ring
  • USB Power Out
  • Mini-USB Charging Port
  • LED Power Indicator

On the box it says it is ready to charge, though reading through the instructions it says to "please fully charge before using for the first time." After reading that, in it being a complete contradiction to the label, I had a felling it was going to be a horrible product. So after charging it for the 2.5 hours it takes to fully charge the Bank 2000, I plugged in my HTC EVO, which has a 2,000 mAH battery and was completely dead, with the provided micro USB into the USB labeled output on the bank 2,000 and pressed and held the multi-function button for two seconds. The four indicator light up and my HTC showed it was being charged. After ten minutes the HTC showed 18% charge, but when I pressed the multi-function button it showed two lit up lights; indicated 25 50% charge remaining. I was disappointed. But it held steady at two lights for thirty minutes. At this point the HTC showed 40%. It took an hour for the bank 2000 to fully discharge leaving the HTC at 50%. I wasn't using the phone with the exception to turn on the screen and check the charge.

I was content with the end result. The Mycharge bank 2000 comes with a storage pouch, micro and mini USB and an apple connector as well as a longer micro USB cord with a standard USB at the other end to charge the bank 2000. They expect you to use your own 5v 1A wall charger that came with your phone or iPod to charge. It puts out 5v 1A which is the same as my wall charger. The lights do turn off when charging a device, but if you want to view the remaining charge click the button and the lit up lights indicate how full it is. When It's fully discharged the lights will not light up. To charge use the micro USB and plug it into the input, simple enough. The lights light up one by one across, then turn off to start over. It indicates charge the same when charging as it does when discharging. The lights stay lit according to how full it is. When It's fully charged the lights all turn off. You can also use it to charge a phone while the bank 2000 is being charged. The directions say it puts th charge of the phone over the device itself, though it seems to take longer to charge my phone when plugged into the wall through the device. After the phone is charged the device charges, though when the device is done charging it cuts off power from the phone. It can be plugged into the computer through the device as well to mount the ad card. Again, though, it slows down the connection for data transfer. It does get a little warm when It's near the end of charge.

In summary, it gives out about 1,000 mAH, instead of 2,000. It charges devices just as fast as the wall charger, it holds a decent amount of energy to continue use for a few hours for most devices, but it takes 2.5 hours to charge back up from complete discharge, not all that important though notable. I would recommend to people who want something fast and has enough charge to continue use for at least a couple hours.

***EDIT***

After using this for about three months the casing for charging has broken off of whatever was holding it in place. It now requires constant pressure on the cord while charging. It's simply a nuisance. It still works, but the overall quality is less than what I first assumed, therefore I'm reducing it by another star.

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Bought this silly thing from a Kiosk, and has been nothing but frustration and uselessness. Phone was low, and wanted to walk around with it so spotted this is at a kiosk and bought it. Says READY TO CHARGE right out of the box. It should say it is ready to charge fully before you can use it. So later after I charged it (indicated fully dead when I set it to charge, then slowly charged to full), when I plug it into my Motorola Droid, it charges for about a second, enough to show charging, then turns itself off and goes black. Very expensive key chain fob. Have submitted request for assistance from mycharge.com, but still no reply. Think I may be just out the money and learned an expensive lesson.

Okay, an update... I fully charged it AGAIN and no (after a couple more false starts) it seems to be charging, NOPE shut itself off again after about 30 seconds now (sigh)

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MyCharge Portable Power Bank 2000 Review

It only makes since that the unit will need to be charged before use. I have an iPod charger which has the light in it. When I first plugged in the MyCharge the red light on the iPod charger flashed on and off. After about 1 ½ hours the light on the iPod charger was steady on and lights 1 & 2 on the MyCharge unit came on steady and lights 3 & 4 flashed in succession showing that it was half charged. After about 4 ½ hours MyCharge was fully charged.

I waited until my Huawei Ascend II smartphone's battery status was red indicating it was getting low (33%) and then I shut my phone off. I plugged in the MyCharge and turned it on (hold button down for 2 seconds). It started charging my smartphone immediately. During this time I could check the status of the MyCharge unit by pressing the button and seeing which lights were still on. After about 1 hour my phone was half charged. After 4 hours MyCharge flashed light #1 showing that it was done. My cell phone showed 98% charged. The MyCharge unit works fine.

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Similar to other people's response....

I purchased the device, (had to charge before use, but I was ok with that eventhough the box said "ready to use"). I charged up the power bank. So far so good.

The problem comes when I try and charge my phone (i.e. the important part) When I plug it into my phone and press the button to start charging the device looks like it is charging and my phone also thinks it is charging. However after about 15 seconds the device stops charging and locks up. It becomes non responsive and I have to plug it back in to the wall charger to get it to start working again.

Overall very dissatisfied, Contacted compnay, we'll see what happens.

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I got this as a gift from a friend, it worked for about 2 weeks, what it does now it shows that 3 bars out of the 4 indicating that is almost full charge, when I plug my phone to it it just turns it self off and does not charge. It seems that most of the reviewers here have the same problem.

Universal Rechargeable AA/AAA Ni-MH Battery Charger with LCD Screen (Silver) for Creative labs mp3

Universal Rechargeable AA/AAA Ni-MH Battery Charger with LCD Screen for Creative labs mp3
  • Input: 100-240 V AC 50/60 Hz 200 mA, 12 V DC 800 mA
  • Output: AA/AAA/C/D 1.2 VDC * 4 1000 mA, 6 F22 9 V DC 25 mA
  • Discharge current: 300-500 MA
  • No-load power consumption: 1 W MAX
  • Carrying power: a 10 W MAX Battery full rate: 80% frequency

Just bought this one, And WOW SUPER FAST BATTERY CHARGES, 2.5hrs I didnt think it would charge my batteries so fast for so cheap it can detect if its partially charged or fully charged so it doesnt start from the beginning & DOESNT KILL MY BATTERIES, CHARGES ALL BATTERIES TO 90% or more. Doesn't require any on off switching its all automatic opun insertion of a battery, & I LIKE the Lcd display to show battery charge health

Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.

Roadpro 12V Hot Pot, 20 oz.
  • Constructed with durable material
  • Features compact size, safety circuit protection
  • Inner lid closes securely to prevent spilling
  • Outer lid can be used as a cup
  • Powered from vehicle's cigarette lighter socket

I bought this hot pot, along with a 4-pack of Melitta Ready, Set Joe kits, for a road trip during which stopping for coffee, tea and hot chocolate was not an option. My executive summary of the product is that it works well (and, for those wondering about product longevity, still works even after multiple uses) and that it can boil water. We're very happy with it.

Read on to find out why I give the product 4 stars instead of 5.

The product description could do a better job of managing customer expectations. While this hot pot will boil water, it does take 35 minutes or so to bring a full 20 ounces of it to a boil. This isn't due to any defect in the product's design. It has everything to do with the fact that a car's 12-volt, direct current electrical system isn't made for high-wattage appliances. My minivan can supply up to 120W per outlet, i.e., up to 10A at 12VDC, which is not very much, and I assume this is fairly standard. In contrast, conventional hot pots draw 3-5 times as much power from household current, which is why they boil water faster.

Other than that, my few gripes about this hot pot are:

1. It comes with a mounting bracket, but no instructions that might give an inkling on how one might use it to attach the hot pot to anything on the inside of your vehicle. We ended up discarding the bracket and placing the hot pot on our center console, which is flat, as well as several other flat surfaces we created. But this requires somebody to watch the hot pot while the vehicle is in motion.

2. The lid and removable drinking cup sit on top of the pot, but don't snap or screw on. So this hot pot is NOT spillproof. See #1 above, and understand that if it tips over while it's in use, somebody might get hurt.

3. The exterior of the pot gets quite hot to the touch during use (although the handle stays nice and cool), so trying to hold it to prevent it from spilling is a bad idea.

4. The inside of the pot quickly builds up scaling from the minerals left behind when water evaporates. There's no way to reach in there with any kind of a brush to clean that out, and the interior surfaces would probably be damaged by such a brush anyway. I recommend filling the pot with white vinegar and soaking it for an hour or so after every trip to keep the scaling under control.

5. Despite what the product description says, don't even think of making soup, hot chocolate or any other prepared food in this hot pot. You will never be able to get the interior clean again if you do. Stick with instant drink and soup mixes, use a mug or bowl and pour the boiling water from the pot into your mug or bowl in order to make these foods.

6. There's no spout, and it's difficult to pour without spilling, so do be careful.

To help put the 20-ounce capacity into perspective:

1 standard mug holds about 10 ounces of liquid.

A typical travel mug holds 12-14 ounces.

A normal size disposable bowl holds 12 ounces.

A large size disposable bowl holds 20 ounces.

A normal size packet of hot chocolate requires 6 ounces of water and gives you about 8 ounces of hot chocolate.

As annoying as these shortcomings may sound, they're minor compared with the comfort and convenience of being able to have real, high-quality coffee (that's what the Ready, Set, Joe kits were for!), tea, cocoa and soup while traveling in places where service stations are few and far between or just nonexistent.

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This unit works far better than the Max Burton version. The hardwired plug prevents the unit from shorting out. A cup of water almost boils in about 5 minutes. Would be nice if it were sealable like a thermos, and helpful if the measurements on the side were in cups as well as milliliters. about 250 milliliters to a cup. And like my Max Burton review, Nothing but water in these things. They say soups work in these things but even the protein in milk will burn on the heating elements. ONLY WATER! so instant add water drinks, oatmeal, ramen noodles, mashed potatoes.

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I purchased this to use in an RV while boondocking. I have a solar system installed in my RV, and use a 12 volt system, so I needed something to boil water or to at least get water hot enough to make coffee. Well, this hot pot does the job! It definitely boils water with no problem. It takes a while if you have it to the full mark, but that's not a problem for me, as I'm just happy that it works and I don't have to use my propane stove and can now s ave money by using this 12 volt hot pot on power generated by the sun. Works perfect!

UPDATE: When it worked it worked great, but for some reason it stopped heating, but the light still works. I have since requested a replacement, and will return the defective one. I will update in a few months to let you guys know if the new one is still working.

UPDATE #2: I received the replacement unit, and it works fine, but I truly believe the first one stopped working because I left it on after it reached the boiling point, which I guess you need to unplug it at that point. I changed my 5 star rating to a 3 star because you have to really watch this pot or set a timer to make certain it doesn't overheat.

UPDATE #3: Its been 9 months since I've had the replacement unit, and it is still holding on. I heat it up until the boiling point and turn it off. I use the hot water for instant coffee, French press and the mellita drip cones, and all versions do fine with this Hot Pot. I love the fact I don't have to use my propane to heat up water over a stove. This pot has worked wonders for me, but as I had mentioned before.....just don't leave it plugged up too long and it will work wonders for you too. By the way, I noticed on the side of the hot pot is an "imprinted" messages that actually says to UNPLUG the cord as soon as it starts to boil, so that probably explains the failure of the first one. I will up my rating of this product to 4 stars, but now I just use a timer to keep track of the progress. This could be a 5 star product if it had an internal temperature control and wouldn't overheat.

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The Hot Pot heats the water pretty weel, but the cap do not close tight, and the hot water can spill out very easy. I only use once, because I need to make some teas, while working outside and sometimes is difficult to find hot water, but I will never use it again and if I had the possibility to return I could do it, but I don't have the box and the packing list, anyways is not too expensive.

I would like to know, before I bought it, this trouble with the cap.

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In preparation for a weeklong roadtrip with my son, I ordered this hotpot, planning to be able to warm up our coffee as we drove. Well there is a light that comes on when you plug in the pot, to let you know you have power, however the unit we received was defective. After about an hour of waiting for heat, I decided to see if it could be fixed. It is very easy to take apart. The leads for the heating element were loosely wrapped around the connectors, but not soldered. Having no tools with me in the car, I tried to reconnect the wires by hand, but could not get a good enough contact for it to heat. Final result: Cold coffee and 12v hotpot put in trash.

T225 Bluetooth Car Kit

T225 Bluetooth Car KitIn February, I purchased two Motorola T325 Wireless Bluetooth Car Speaker Portable Vehicle Visor Mount with Auto Pairing For All Cell Phones and SmartphonesBLACKNon-Retail Packaging. for my wife's and my vehicles and gave those units a 5-star review.

I requested a review unit of this T225 because the limitation of our T325 per-vehicle solution has been that if my wife and I swap cars, we don't have hands-free calling unless the first person out remembers to also swap the speakerphone units.

This T225 speakerphone pairs with multiple cell phones so that more than one person can use it hands-free. The extra people might be in the vehicle (which would be a little weird, as the microphone would typically be on the driver's sun visor). But, in a multi-driver household, any driver would have hands-free operation.

What's not to like? Well, all of the features of the T325 that this speakerphone does not have which make the T325 more "hands-free" than the T225.

This is a very basic, 'dumb' unit. When a phone rings, it announces that the call is for Phone 1, Phone 2, etc. If two paired phones are in the car, you have to have some idea which phone is 1 or 2 (etc) to know if it is your phone that is ringing or someone else's. Doesn't sound like a huge deal, but...

What about when only one of multiple paired phones is in the car? This phone simply rings and says that there is an incoming call. You have no idea who it is from. The T325 announces the caller by name. If you don't want to answer the call on this T225, you have to somehow press both the volume UP and DOWN buttons at the same time. With the T325, you just press a single button.

How about dialing? Both support voice dialing using your phones own voice-dialing feature. So, the intelligence depends on your phone itself. But, what about calling your 'favorites' or frequently called numbers? The T225 offers nothing. The T325 memorizes a list of favorite contacts and easily lets you scroll through the list with one button, listening to the name being announced and then pressing the dial button when the name comes up.

Entering the car, the T325 announces "Connected to John Smith's iPhone. Battery level is high" (e.g.) while the T225 announces "Connected to Phone 1. Battery level is high." Receiving a call, the T325 announces "Call from David Jackson". The T225 announces "Call for Phone 1".

The T225 is so limited its only real feature is the ability to pair with multiple phones that I just cannot recommend it, when I consider how powerful and useful the T325 is.

I've posted a photo showing both the T225 and T325 clipped to the sun visor to compare their sizes/shapes.

Open it up, turn it on. Pair your phone with it.

That is it. The device is simple, it does one thing, and it does it well. Sound quality is clear, people say they can't tell I'm on a speakerphone (but I use Sprint and their voice quality is not so good.

There are other models that do more, I read the three star review, but I put it to you this way: You want a device that does one thing and does it well, and you want the battery to last as long as it can so that you can use your phone as long as you can. The more features you load on to the device, the more the battery wears down, and the harder it is to use, or the more likely you are to get it into an odd state.

It really is a top quality device, and I have nothing bad to say about it. Voice instructions for hookup, you really do not need the instructions.

Buy T225 Bluetooth Car Kit Now

In a different product review, I proclaimed the Supertooth HD as a near-perfect Bluetooth device for hands-free use. I came up with a list of 14 criteria items. I will post that list here and that will show why I rate the Motorola T225 as 2-stars.

What makes the perfect car bluetooth speakerphone?

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

1. It should have caller-id that speaks the name of the caller

The Motorola T225 does not have caller-id.

2. It should automatically turn on/off as you are away from the car

The T225 is pretty bad in this department. While it seems to have an auto-off, it will never turn itself back on unless you purposely move the micro-power-switch off and back on again. I tested this multiple times and it simply has no way to turn itself back on automatically. It is waaay too inconvenient to have to remember to turn this device off and back on each and every single time you enter your car.

3. It should have ample volume while driving at highway speeds

Volume on the T225 is pretty pathetic. The Supertooth HD is probably 4x louder.

4. You should only have to press a single and easily accessible button to answer or place a call

This is a really bad design on the T225. It has a mute button and an answer call button, both are the same size and you have to remember which button to press or...take your eyes off the road and look up to see which button you are pressing. Sure you will memorize it eventually, but the device is so small, if you're off by 2 inches, you'll press the wrong button.

5. It should make use of your phone's built-in voice recognition system (if your phone has this)

Confirmed, this works.

6. It should be easy to pair and auto-download your phone's contacts

Yes, easy to pair multiple phones, but there's no caller-id name announce, therefore, it does not store contacts. This is a huge deal-breaker why have the fancy technology of bluetooth, if it won't announce who is calling you ?

7. It should reconnect easily when you are in the car

Does not do this at all once it has auto-turned itself off. You must physically move the power switch off and back on.

8. Callers should be able to hear you clearly at highway speeds

Callers seem to hear me fine, but I couldn't hear them because of the low speaker volume, with volume turned all the way up

9. The charging port should not be obstructed when the device is installed on a sunvisor

Not obstructed

10. It should have a long battery life

Seems to be as advertised, but probably because it turns itself completely off, you must manually turn it on each time after it auto-powers off.

11. It should be reliable whether it is -40 degrees in Fargo or the internal car temperature reaches 140 degrees in Texas

Unknown at this time

12. It should have good documentation or manufacturer's website and support

Motorola has always been good about this.

13. It should be usable whether the sun visor is flipped down or up

If you flip your visor, you must remove and reposition the device and visor mount.

14. It should be reasonably priced

Compared to the *feature packed* T325, this T225 is over-priced it simply has no real features. If you're going to spend the same amount of money, get the T325 on Amazon. If you want a bluetooth device that matches the 14 criteria items above closer than any other device out there, for a reasonable price, get the Supertooth HD.

Read Best Reviews of T225 Bluetooth Car Kit Here

I've had this unit for a few months now, and I'm still running off the initial charge! Battery life is amazing, clarity is good, and the bluetooth range is greater than I had anticipated.

Pairing was simple, and re-establishing the connection is as easy as turning it off and on again. Big talk button, easy to hit even with gloves on. No complaints, I wish I'd gotten it sooner!

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This is truly a universal product. I have a 5 years, old fashioned cell phone from Samsung provided to me by Verizon, which was never happy with any other Bluetooth device. It worked with this one like a charm. Very easy to pair and connect, almost like plug-and-play. The product itself has a very beautiful design and speakerphone is very powerful. Even if you drive with your windows open, you can clearly hear the voice from your call. Battery lasts a lot. This is an excellent deal for the price.

I am extremely happy with this product and I recommend it to all users who experienced problems with other Bluetooth devices in the past.

Amazon.com was kind enough to provide this product for me through their Vine Program for reviewing and I was not request to provide a positive review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

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Solar Panel - Best 50 Watt Value - BP Solar BP350J Bolt In Replacement Solar Panel 50W.

Solar Panel - Best 50 Watt Value - BP Solar BP350J Bolt In Replacement Solar Panel 50W.
  • PREMIUM Product, High Quality Construction and Components Used.
  • German Manufactured Grade A Solar Cells by Q Cells.
  • Compact Size and Shape. (21.14 Inches X 33). Due to High Eff Cells.
  • Pmax=50, Vmp=17.2, Imp=2.91Rugged Industrial Construction.
  • FREE - Technical Support With Every Purchase

this is a very nice solar panel, it works in low light and is more compact than my other 50w solar panel with mono-crystalline cells. it's small,light and can go anywhere I need back up power. this is the perfect panel because it's cheap and works great! and we all know everyone out there is looking for the best deals, well this is that!

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This appears to be a well made unit that matches the description. This product has good output and will work well mounted on the stern pulpit of my sailboat.

Read Best Reviews of Solar Panel - Best 50 Watt Value - BP Solar BP350J Bolt In Replacement Solar Panel 50W. Here

Seems to be a quality solar panel, at a very good price. Very fast shipment. Would and probably will buy again.

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I ordered this in haste and misread the description that it is not a BP module but a BP compatible model.

None the less, it looked fine when we unboxed it. Hooked it up to a SunSaver 10L. We got a charge

light... so all is good we think. We'll see.

UPG D1761 Sealed Lead Acid Charger (12V Dual-Stage with Screw Terminals)

UPG D1761 Sealed Lead Acid Charger
  • For use with sealed lead acid batteries
  • 12V dual stage charge
  • Screw terminals
  • 1000 mAh
  • 14.8V fast charge

I'm using this to charge four 12v 7ah SLA batteries wired in parallel. Although it has not seen extensive service yet, I have completed a dozen or so charge cycles and all seems to be working well. My unit was slightly damaged in shipping (bent electrical prong) but I bent it back into shape without difficulty. The status lights are clearly marked, and logically colored. There's no mistaking when the charge is complete. Bonus points for not using annoying blue LEDs.

Thus far, I'm quite pleased. If I were doing this again, I would probably get the next size up. For one or two batteries, this is the one you want.

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I use this to recharge 7ah sealed lead acid batteries. It works well. The screw terminals make it easy to connect whatever wiring harness you need for the application.

Read Best Reviews of UPG D1761 Sealed Lead Acid Charger (12V Dual-Stage with Screw Terminals) Here

Item works like the original. Product is a solid build, last one we ordered last 8 years, However, this one only lasted 3 months before it died on me.

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This brand/model charger came recommended to me by local amateur radio friends. Proper charging of sealed lead acid batteries is critical to their longevity. This smart charger does the job nicely and has 1000MA output to charge 7.5MAH batteries in a reasonable period of time.

Energizer 84020 12V All-In-One Jump-Start System with Built-In Air Compressor and Power Inverter

Energizer 84020 12V All-In-One Jump-Start System with Built-In Air Compressor and Power Inverter
  • Energizer 84020 12-Volt All-In-One Jump-Start System
  • 250 PSI internal air compressor inflates most automobile tires in 10 minutes, pressure gauge and ON/OFF switch is thermally protected from overheating, strong fabric-covered output hose with clamp-on valve stem coupler
  • Two 12V DC power sockets for powering 12V devices and protection by a 30A manual-reset circuit breaker, and an internal power inverter and three-pronged socket for AC power on demand
  • Heavy duty 400A insulated metal battery clamps, shortened clamp and reverse polarity audio alarms, ergonomic handle that doubles as protective housing for docked clamps, an adjustable light
  • A 12V 1 amp internal battery charger with two-stage charger allowing for the charger to be safely connected to the wall outlet indefinitely and fully charged
  • Item is nonreturnable

A great ergonomically designed little jump start unit.

I love the fact that it can be left plugged in perpetually

and will take care of itself. I'm not mechanically inclined

so the less I need to do the better.

The only complaint I have about it is that it doesn't come

with a cord to plug into the wall. You have to get a heavy

duty extension cord to connect it to the wall, and they

never tell you that when you are reading the product

description. For the price of this item, I think it should

come with a simple short extension cord.

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If it weren't for my All in One, I would have been dead in the water, literally, on Lake Lewisville in Texas. Needless to say, we ran the stereo & fish finder WAY longer than we should have and found ourselves stuck in a cove in the middle of nowhere. We brought the all in one, with the intention of just using it to inflate to tubes for the kids, but the Jump Start feature is what really saved us. I didn't even realize that it had a light on the handle (thank you wife for noticing) but that came in handy too trying to jumpstart a boat in the dusk while mosquitoes were starting to attack! I have since recommended it to many of my co-workers and fishing buddies.

Read Best Reviews of Energizer 84020 12V All-In-One Jump-Start System with Built-In Air Compressor and Power Inverter Here

I spent a few weeks researching different jump starters and I wanted something that was easy to use, had a built in float charger, air compressor and was cost effective.

This unit fit the bill and the additional features (plug-ins) is a bonus.

These boxes are basically a battery you charge and use it to start your car when your battery is dead. When you charge batteries you must be careful NOT to overcharge...meaning, you can not just plug them in and leave them until you are ready to use them 1, 2, 9 months later. The overcharge will literally cook the battery and render it useless. Suprisingly there are very few jump boxes on the market with built in float chargers...meaning, when the battery is fully charged it will go into a float mode and trickle charge the battery not overcharge.

I have used this box 5-6 times over the last 4 months and it has performed flawlessly...even started our 2005 Diesel truck and that takes some power!

Agree with many of the other users the box should come with a cord to plug it in...another $10 at the store and the cables could be just a touch longer as it is sometimes difficult getting to a grounded location with the negative cable.

All in all I knew about the need for a power cord and cable length going in and I felt this was the best product for the price...value!

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I bought this charger to replace an old charger (Duracell brand) that had worked wonders for me for years...but finally gave out. This Energizer charger works really well and includes an air compressor, with which I topped off all four tires (added 10 psi to each tire...I know I waited too long to inflate them) and it worked like a champ. Only drawback this charger has is it needs an extension cord to charge it (spent less than $10 on a 12ft one from H--D----). This model has a built in sensor to avoid overcharging, so you can leave it plugged in until you need it without overcharging the battery. Very happy with this purchase.

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This jump-starter, air compressor, inverter, is of excellent quality and usefulness. As mentioned in other reviews, it would be nice if they included an AC power cord; and possibly a DC power/charging cord for the price. This is a fairly large unit and takes up a large amount of room in a trunk or the back of a station wagon/hatchback. It charges fast and has plenty of reserve power to start our motor home or inflate large tires. Great carry handle.

UPDATE 19 May 2011: The user manual was missing. Now I need it to check something. Item itself is pretty user friendly. Tried to download manual on website from manufacturer (UPGI.com) but no manuals or documents available from support. None available from Energizer. Tried Google. No one has uploaded manual yet. Finally found support 800 number for UPG Inc. which is also a wholesale/retail sales number. Nice lady answered. She took my name, email, telephone, address, etc. Said she would "look around" for one and send it "somehow" if she finds one.

Apparently, this is a "marketing arrangement" where they buy the use of the Energizer name, then import and distribute it.

Design pretty good. Sales-marketing good. Support not so good. Technical support essentially non-existant. Downgraded to two stars. Will post another update if I ever get the manual.

12V 7.2Ah SLA Rechargeable Battery for Security Systems/ Replaces Standard 7.0Ah

12V 7.2Ah SLA Rechargeable Battery for Security Systems/ Replaces Standard 7.0Ah
  • It can be operated from any angle.
  • It even has a low pressure safety release valve. This battery will last a long time both physically and chemically.

This battery was a replacement for the emergency power supply on my home alarm. It came as described, sooner than promised and has worked perfectly. Much better than having the alarm company come out and replace for four times the cost. I'm very please with this purchase.

Buy 12V 7.2Ah SLA Rechargeable Battery for Security Systems/ Replaces Standard 7.0Ah Now

I no longer have to listen to that annoying beep from my FIOS battery back-up. Went to Verizon's site, saw how much they wanted for a replacement and found that I could buy this one on-line, have it shipped and STILL get it for half of the price Verizon wanted. They're really looking out for their customers. But this was a perfect match for the battery it replaced and seems to be working fine.

Read Best Reviews of 12V 7.2Ah SLA Rechargeable Battery for Security Systems/ Replaces Standard 7.0Ah Here

Product came on time. Only thing I noticed was that it was not charged. After a night of charging, my security system was back up without any faults.

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I would recommend this product. It lasts long and works fine. Did the job for me. It was a good price.

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Got these batteries very fast in the mail and replaced the dead ones in my Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS). I have several UPS in the house for various devices. Works great, and much cheaper than going to "Batteries -RUs" for replacements. No problems.

Schumacher CR-2 Charge 'n Ride 1.5 Amp 24 Volt Universal Battery Charger for Ride-On Toys

Schumacher CR-2 Charge 'n Ride 1.5 Amp 24 Volt Universal Battery Charger for Ride-On Toys
  • Automatic charger for battery powered ride-on toys
  • Switches automatically from continuous charge to float-mode monitoring
  • LEDs indicate battery status
  • Reverse hook-up protection
  • Compatible with most Peg Perego, Power Wheels, Razor and Schumacher batteries

My son got this for his razor dirt quad which stays in the garage in cold weather. This not only charges the battery much faster than the original charger but protects the battery from freezing during the cold weather. There's nothing wrong with my son's razor batteries because of the schumaker cr2!

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Motorola On-Site RDU4160d 16-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio

Motorola On-Site RDU4160d 16-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio
  • Two-way radio with up to four watts power (two-watt low power setting); up to 16 channels with aliasing (up to eight characters); repeater capable
  • 38 analog and 83 digital interference eliminator codes; 22 hours battery life; battery gauge; signal strength indicator
  • Designed to IP-55 and MIL-SPEC specifications; channel scan with selectable scan list; keypad lock
  • Three voice-inversion scramble settings to minimize eavesdropping; three audible call tones; five programmable buttons
  • VOX with three sensitivity levels; tri-color LED with transmit, receive, and low battery indication; two-pin accessory plug

This radio has the solid quality that you expect when you buy a Motorola Business Radio with more flexibility at the user level than Mot has offered in the past. I ordered the radio with GMRS and Amateur frequencies programmed into it. With the FREE software from Motorola's website, I can select which 16 of 99 frequencies I want to use, I can change the CTCSS codes, and save different configurations. Since it can be programmed to work with repeaters, it is perfect for the 'ham' and GMRS repeaters while offering MUCH more reliable radio operation than the typical consumer radios offer. You get what you pay for...no excuses.

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I use this at a club (I'm a DJ) it is really loud and clear! Really good durable quality. I recommend If you are planning to use a two way radio outside in the rain or snow get one without a lcd screen.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola On-Site RDU4160d 16-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio Here

GREAT RADIO BUILT TO LAST, I WAS VERY PLEASED THIS RADIO WAS BUILT WITH THE END USER IN MIND, FUNCTIONED WELL AND PRICE WAS FAIR AND WORTH IT

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This is a great radio for GMRS. All you have to do is contact Motorola and send them your frequency list and your license and they will send you the code plug. Buy the programming cable and download the free software from their website. You can set this radio up to use GMRS repeaters. Once you load the radio with your frequencies you can change the PL Codes from the front radio just like a bubblepack radio so you can use differnt repeaters that use the same frequency pair. Or you can just do it all from the software. The speaker is supper loud and clear for its size. Even if you turn it up all the way it's still clear. I was very impressed with its clarity. The mic is clear also and can be adjusted to three differnt mic gain levels. You can switch from repeater to direct easily by programming one of the buttons on the radio to do that. You can switch it from high to low power to conserve power. You can also set a scramle mode so that only other radios set to that same scramble code will here you. This radio comes with a high capacity Lithium Ion battery 2400 milliamps. I bought the rapid rate charger because it only comes with the slow charger.

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I ordered this product for emergency purposes for our family.

Unfortunately, after multiple calls with Motorola and the FCC, the FCC says that this radio can only be used with a business license, and for business purposes. That means it's a complete no go for personal use (even if you are a business).

The FCC also noted that the information in the Motorola manual was incorrect wrt licensing: You cannot apply directly for a license, but instead need to work through an aggregator to purchase a license.

Aluratek AUCS05F Dual USB Charging Station with Mini Surge

Aluratek AUCS05F Dual USB Charging Station with Mini Surge
  • Instantly Turn your AC Outlet into a Dual USB Charging Station with a built in 3 prong Surge
  • Built in Surge protection for AC and USB - protects your devices while charging via USB
  • Surge Indicator led light lets your know your devices are protected while charging
  • AUCS05F Dual USB AC Charger for Ipad/Ipad2 Apple iPhone 4 4G 3Gs 3G (AT&T and verizon), iPod Touch (1G 2G 3G 4G), Motorola Droid, HTC Android EVO, Blackberry, Kindle DX, Samsung EPIC, Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Samsung Galaxy S and much more

As a college student without a vehicle, everything I need for the day has to fit into my backpack. Before I got this, I had the Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger, which isn't bad, but has it's flaws if you have a large adapter (Like my Laptop charger, a Targus Compact Laptop Charger (AC) for HP, Compaq, Acer, Asus, Gateway, and Fujitsu APA6911US (Piano Black)), it will block another outlet (two if you plug it in the middle); the plug also sticks out the back, taking up that much more room in a bag.

This has three AC outlets and two USB ports, just like the Belkin. But that's where the similarities stop. The plug on this folds up, meaning there's no room lost for it (it's also a very innovative folding design for a three-prong plug). The main outlet is on front, but there's one on each side (I didn't even realize they were their when I bought them!), with the bottom of the plug facing out, so many large adapters still work. With the three outlets spaced this way, you don't have to worry about one blocking the others; you may not be able to plug in three huge transformers at once, but you don't have to worry about a plug always being covered. The USB charging ports (USB outlets?) work well; I haven't used them extensively but they seem to do the job quite nicely.

As far as weight, I've seen no issue. It's got a bit of heft to it, like any good surge protector should, but it's well balanced and shouldn't be enough to pull it out of the outlet.

The Belkin adapter mentioned above definitely has some advantages compared to this one; it can handle higher joules, has a $75,000 equipment warranty, and includes a mini-USB charging cable (although honestly, it's been a couple years now since tech moved over to micro-USB). So, this may not protect if it's plugged into an outlet that's struck by lightning, but honestly you shouldn't have your stuff plugged in then anyhow. It's all about your needs compact and well-spaced or bulkier & warrantied.

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I haven't used it for long so I can't say how reliable it is but so far I like it. I have plugged in my and my wife's phones at the same time and it charged both (Samsung Intercept and LG Optimus).

I prefer it to the Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger. The Aluratek lacks the fancy guarantee that Belkin has, has a lower-rated surge protection (612 joules), and is more expensive--hence the 4 stars rather than 5. But the Aluratek is (a) smaller and lighter than the Belkin, (b) has the outlets arranged so all three can be used at once--the Belkin's are together in a line so one large plug will hog more than one outlet--and (c) its outlet prongs fold up completely out of the way, where the Belkin's not only stick out, but are on a base that sticks out from the main case, making the Belkin very awkward to pack in a small space.

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I have considered:

* The Belkin Mini 3 outlet with swivel plug.

Steered away from it because of too many complaints about low frequency humming.

Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger

* Belkin Travel Surge with Hidden Swivel Plug.

No USB ports, though the product picture shows a USB hub, not sure what that's about. Two outlets with no USB and protrudes a bit. It's priced right however.

Belkin F9H220-TVL Travel Surge Protector with Hidden Swivel Plug

* The Monster Outlets To Go.

They don't have surge protection.

Monster MP OTG400 BK Outlets To Go 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip (Black)

* Tripp Lite TRAVELER3USB Mobile Surge Protector 3 outlets 2 USB Charging Ports

I actually purchased this and decided against it due to it's less than ideal design. The plug is too shallow and narrow. I felt it posed an electrocution risk should I pull it out of the receptacle haphazardly. The materials did not invoke confidence in my opinion. I posted photos of the hallow/narrow plug on the product page.

Tripp Lite TRAVELER3USB Mobile Surge Protector 3 outlets 2 USB Charging Ports

* Simran SM-60.

110V-250V universal makes this a versatile surge suppressor. However, I don't need 220V support and it's a bit beastly looking. I didn't personally inspect a unit but seems to get good reviews. This was a runner up choice.

Simran SM-60 110V-250V Universal 3 Outlet Power Strip/Surge Protector for Worldwide Travel with Overload Protection, Black

You'd expect for what appears to be a simple device that there would be a lear winner from the big names. This hasn't been the case for me. However, the Aluratek AUCS05F fulfilled my requirements. It's well built, simple and considering the boundaries from which they had to operate it's a well thought out package.

Pros:

* Easy pull and grab design so you don't risk electrocuting yourself.

* Good surge protection rating (joules)

* 5V and 1.5A USB. Now I don't know if that's for each USB or combined but its sufficient for my needs. A little note accompanies the packaging notifying the owner that while the Ipad may not register itself as being charged that it is indeed being charged. I assume more slowly and the Ipad charging probably typically operates at 2A not 1.5A.

* Good design. This a matter of personal opinion. To keep it compact it occupies the top outlet of a dual outlet receptacle. Using it on the bottom outlet would block the top outlet of the receptacle. That's acceptable to me knowing it won't block the bottom outlet where you might have a transformer plugged in anyway. That's a considerate design in my opinion. It's not a rotating plug but that also means it stays upright. So if you had to choose between bottom and top it seems reasonable to me that they chose top.

Cons:

Nothing really here, except some may want a rotating plug like the belkin mini. Not necessary in my opinion.

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I bought this from a local seller, not Amazon. I immediately plugged it in and plugged in two Apple USB charging cables with an iPhone and iPad plugged in. Within 15-20 minutes, the iOS devices began to flash on and off, like they were being unplugged and plugged back in every second. The top of the Aluratek charger was hot and smelled like burnt electronics. I tested on another outlet with the same results. I tested at my office the next day with two completely different iPads with the same results after 15-20 minutes. Perhaps I just got a lemon but this thing overheats! I plan to return and exchange for another one to see if it was just a bad one because it seems like the perfect charger for what I need. One star because it doesn't work, but if it worked I'd give it 4 or 5.

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This product works great. I use it to charge my iphone, ipad, and e-book reader. For my ipad it says not charging but it definitely does charge it. I like the comfort of knowing that my devices are surge protected while charging as we get a lot of electrical storms in the summer months. Highly recommended!

AC ADAPTER BATTERY CHARGER PWR

AC ADAPTER BATTERY CHARGER PWR
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There are plenty of chargers out there, but I've not seen one yet that matches the quality, reliability and functionality of the OEM stuff. This works exactly as expected with the right cables. The seller was great to work with too.

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Good used unit. It was the perfect replacement for my original charger/power supply. It arrived promptly and just as described.