Showing posts with label battery chargers marine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label battery chargers marine. Show all posts

Sirius radio 5v cigarette lighter car power cord adapter 5v

Sirius radio 5v cigarette lighter car power cord adapter 5v
  • This is the 5V Cigarette Lighter Vehicle Power Adapter for the newer SIRIUS Radios.

There isn't enough information in the description. It just says fits "newer" Sirius models. Well, the SDST5V1 Starmate 5 is a newer Sirius model and this power cord does not fit the SDST5V1's power dock.

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Item broke after about 3 months, the cord is made out of cheap plastic and it ripped right at the point where the cord meats the adapter for the cigarette lighter. FYI I thought that this thing might actually light up or something, because of the plastic see through top there, it doesn't. Just in case any of you were wondering about that.

Read Best Reviews of Sirius radio 5v cigarette lighter car power cord adapter 5v Here

I wasn't getting power to my Sirius sat radio. I determined it was the charger. After going to numerous radio shacks to be told they don't have one but they would be willing to sell me a new radio with all the accessories I went to the Amazon site and boom there it was.It works as expected and was inexpensive.

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Shipped fast. Worked, which is always good. Learned that plugging and unplugging from power port is probably the action that ruined my power cord in the first place. So, leave the power cord plugged in if you know that it won't drain your battery...probably wont on newer models.

Cord is of adequate length, price was right for another cigarette charger. I keep my other charger in my boat so I wanted a second charger. No complaints with this one. Keep in mind that this model is flat black, no white graphics. Just a plain black cigarette charger, same dimensions as the one that comes with the radios.

Sync & Charge USB Cable for Apple iPod Nano 5G (White)

Sync & Charge USB Cable for Apple iPod Nano 5GLost the original cable for the Nano, was lucky to find this replacement at a great price. The tunes are rocking again.

It fits the description, works like it says, but is very poorly made. The plastic feels really light and cheap. The wire insulation doesn't fully cover the wire all the way into the plastic ends. So far I've only plugged it in once and it's charging my Nano 5G as promised.

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Shipping was great. The product worked very good. Only one problem. It can break very easily if you but on the cord. Make sure if you buy it that you only put on the connector.

Read Best Reviews of Sync & Charge USB Cable for Apple iPod Nano 5G (White) Here

It was very cheap and work perfectly, what else would I want? In my country it costs 20 times more.

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This charging cable was originally ordered hoping to be used for an iPod shuffle but it did not work so now I am using it for my iPhone. It works perfect. Thank you.

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Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod (Black)

Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod
  • Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; iPhone 1G, 3G
  • Charges two devices simultaneously via USB
  • Quick-charge port to minimize iPhone charging time
  • Compatible with most cases that offer dock access
  • iPod/iPhone charging cable and mini-USB cable included

Hi All,

So I had an interesting situation one lighter socket and 2 devices to charge. One iPhone 3g and a Blackberry Javelin 8900. I use both and thus they both need to be charged at some point during my long 2 hour commutes.

The belkin charger has two usb ports on it...one for regular trickle charging and one quick charge port (a little more amps on the quick charge). I had to test this Quick method and thus took my nearly dead blackberry and plugged it into the quick charger...sure enough it charged up to full in about 30 minutes...where it would take about 1 hour under normal circumstances on a normal charger.

With my iPhone 3G I was a little scared/cautious and thus used the regular charging port to plug into it. It worked fine. The iPhone went to charging immediately and had no signs of errors etc....some accessories have issues with iPhone 3g and I can CONFIRM that this Charger WORKS perfectly.

The box includes a usb to apple connector cable for ipods/iphones etc and a usb to mini-usb for usb based charging devices. The color is BLACK as can be seen here....the finish is glossy.

I now have 2 of these for both cars and I could not be happier. For what is included at this price point...it is a MUST Buy.

5/5

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Please ignore my review unless you know a little about electronics and USB.

I haven't done any current tests or analyzed the USB signal (there's supposed to be a signal to enable 1A charging on a device), but I have taken the charger apart. Each USB port has dedicated connections (even ground). Other USB hubs/ports I've looked at hook all of the power connections together. This leads me to assume Belkin has dedicated power management per USB port.

Other than that, it's a charger. It charged a 4th gen Nano, a 3G iPhone, and Blackberry Pearl just fine.

Read Best Reviews of Belkin Dual USB Car Charger for iPod (Black) Here

I got this because it comes with both an iPod/iPhone charging cable and a mini-USB charging cable, and both can be used at the same time. Since my wife has a 3G iPhone and I have a BlackBerry Bold which uses the mini-USB connection, we can charge our phones at the same time in the car. And if any phone needs it, it's the iPhone! The best part is that this is $10 less than the same item at the Apple Store. Thanks Amazon!

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This is great! It can charge my iPod and keep my GPSr (Geocaching) going while I drive making me only have to use battery power when I'm out of the car in the final stages of caching.

There are enough good amount of reviews for it. I'm just adding a 5 stars ^_^

It looks nice (glossy)

It works

It charges quick

Has 2 ports

Has wire long enough to extend all the way to back of car

additional: I used it with a 3G S.

No CON so far.

If you are thinking about buying a $5 charger.. , just make sure u know it will work. I bought one before for ~~$5. When plugged it, it will light up and you'll see the charging-battery icon, but in fact.. even if it's plugged in for hours, no power is coming in. There's an article explaining why that happen, that I'm not going into that.

BUY THIS ONE WITH CONFIDENT KNOWING IT WILL WORK AND IT'S THE BEST ONE AROUND. =) (Performance and price wise)

myCharge Peak 6000 Rechargeable Power Bank

myCharge Peak 6000 Rechargeable Power Bank
  • Charges 3 devices at once
  • 6000mAh battery, +27 hours talk time
  • Built-in USB charging cable & USB port
  • Built-in Micro-USB and Apple connectors
  • Ultra-fast wall recharging

I've seen and used many power banks in the past to charge my electronic devices. This one is given to me by a family member. There are things you should know about power banks before making your purchase; hopefully, this review will help since it's not a free sample review by Amazon vine. My opinion on this unit therefore is different from other reviewers.

Built-in AC Adapter:

-Power banks such as this having the convenience of the AC adapter built into the unit is a plus. This is definitely not the first in the market. There are about a dozen power banks on Amazon with this feature having the brand name Pisen New Battery High Power Box III 7500mah, Revolve Electronics xeMilo Hybrid USB Charger and Battery Backup for ipod, iPhone, Blackberry, iPad and More, All-in-One USB Travel Charger 1500mAh Portable Battery, AC Wall Charger, and 12V DC Car Charger in One with USB Output PortGreat for Charging Cell Phones, iPods, iPhones, and Other Wireless Devices, New! Tenergy Mobile Power Bank w/ Built-In AC Power Plug and USB Port Dark Red Color, NAZtech, McCally, and other non-branded ones.

-Built in usb charging cable is not practical. The description says that your can charge the mycharge peak from your laptop. Who would do this unless they want to completely drain their laptop batteries. Most laptop allows sleep charge on the USB ports.

Built-in Cables:

This is also a great idea to have; however, as one reviewers here mentioned that the cables are too short. His/her suggestion of a retractable cable is a good idea; unfortunately, most retractable cables snap easily. The micro usb and Apple products cable are simply too short. They can only be left for charging because of their length. A person can hold the Mycharge Peak on one hand and an iPhone on the other but definitely not iPad. It would definitely be nice to leave the power bank inside a bag or pocket with a long cable to enable a person to use the iPad/phone or anything else while charging. That's why I rather carry an extra cable in a wallet/messenger bag. Again, there are lots of powerbanks with the built-in cables feature: Anker, Powergen, New Trent, Skiva, Tursion, RAVpower, Targus, Nokia, and etc...

6000mAh Capacity:

The size of 6000mAh is not what you should assume to get out of it. The actual battery inside the power bank is actually rated at 3.7V. To charge your phone/tablet, it needs to convert to a 5V rating. So, you need to convert 3.7 to 5V and in a virtual world if this unit is 100% efficient one would get 74% of 6000mAh = 4400mAh. In Reality, the efficiency is about 60-70%. The actual energy that can be used to power your phone/tablet is about 4000mAh. It charges the iPhones about 300%, ipad 2 55%, ipad 3 33%.

Current Output:

2.1A on the iphone/ipad cable might damage the internal battery or even the phone because they're supposed to be charge at 1.00A or less.

Micro USB 1A is good because most devices such as bluetooth, speakers, and Android phones can be charged correctly.

1A USB output is a bit low IMO. myCharge/Homedics should rate it at 2.0A to also target Android Tablet users to expand their market.

Size:

Bulky! Imagine it's a bit longer than a 3X5, index card and 1 inch thick. 1/2 lbs is the weight of this mycharge Peak. It's not much, but it adds up in a backpack, purchase, bag, with other stuffs already in them.

Finally, Price:

It appears that they're raised the price since the release date. Originally, it was less than $60. That was a great price. At $99, it's expensive. This might be the reason why there so many Amazon Vine reviewers rather than actual purchased (about a hand full) reviewers. For $25 (WOW), one can get an 8000mAh powerbank such as the EZOPower White 2-Port Ultra High-capacity Portable External Rechargable Backup Battey Pack -8000mAh (2A) for IPhone, IPOD, IPad, MP3 Players, Tablet, GPS, Mobile Phone, Android Phone, Cell Phone, Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson, Pantc... which can charge all types of devices including the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Anker [Upgraded Version] Anker® Astro2 Dual USB Output 8400mAh Backup External Battery Pack Charger with built-in Flashlight for iPhone 5, all iPhone, iPad, iPod models; Android Smartphones: Samsung Galaxy S3 S III I9300, Galaxy S2 S II I9100, Galaxy Nexus, G...] for $40, New Trent New Trent iCurve IMP70D 7000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for "The new iPad" the 3rd Gen ipad, iPad2, iPhone 5 4S 4 3Gs 3G, iPod Touch (1G to 5G), Android (Samsung Galaxy Note S S2, HTC Sensation EVO Thunderbolt, LG Optimus V), Blackberry (Bold ... for $42, HITOSELLER 8400mAh Mobile Extended Battery Backup Pack Charger Adapter Case Power Bank for Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket SGH-I727, i777, S3 i9300, Galaxy Ace Nexus Note Prevail Precedent, Blaze, Infuse, Epic 4G Touch, Vibrant, Fascinate, Intercept; HTC One X/S, Sens... for $22 (WOW), and many others at better values.

Overall, I think that mycharge peak is an OK device. It's definitely not a bag for the buck. Competition is fierce since there are many other battery sellers and new ones with new ideas are coming out such as the one by XTG technology that allows your to charge even in the car. Also, RavPower is about to release one similar to this at a smaller size, better price, without the AC plug, same capacity for $54RAVPower xRobot RP-PB05 Power Bank / External Battery / Juice Pack -6000mAh Capacity / 2.1A Max Output for APPLE: The New iPad, iPad Mini, iPad 2, iPhone 5 4S 4G, iPod Touch, Nano; Smasung: Galaxy Note 2 N7100, Galaxy Note N700, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy .... Another competitor is the Skiva Powervault 5000mAh for $35 Skiva PowerVault 5000mAh Rapid Charging Portable Power Pack for iPhone/iPad/iPod, Kindle Fire, Samsung, HTC and LG Smartphones.

Buy myCharge Peak 6000 Rechargeable Power Bank Now

I've used several rechargeable power packs, most requiring additional cords for different devices but never one that had near all the cords attached like the myCharge Peak 6000 and never one that could recharge every device I connected to it. I was very impressed with charging abilities of this ultra portable power pack. It charged every single device I attached to it.

Highlights:

The power pack has three notification modes: Voice, Tone or Silent. The power pack comes with Voice mode on by default. Additionally the led indicators on the side flash the power levels when a device is connected or when the level check button it pressed. When in voice mode, every time a device is attached a voice notifications tells you that it's charging and what type of device is connected i.e. Apple, USB or Micro.

A level check button on the side when pushed will tell you how much power is left by either voice or tone, depending on mode selected, and the led indicators will flash the corresponding bars: 5 bars = 91% 100%, 4 bars = 71% 90%, 3 bars = 51% 70%, 2 bars = 35% -50%, 1 bar means the power pack needs to be recharged with less than 25% power left.

Recharges fast. It took about one hour and 20 minutes to get the power pack to 51% 70% charged once it reached 1 bar and the power pack's voice prompt indicated that it was time to recharge. The manual says it will take up to 4 hours to charge via wall outlet and 13 hours via standard laptop USB port with onboard USB cable.

Can recharge the power pack via wall outlet or the attached USB cable through your computer.

Compact. This power pack is the size of a portable hard drive.

Has a USB port and three charging cables attached: MicroUSB, standard USB and Apple(not the new iPhone 5 one) connectors.

Can charge up to 3 device at the same time with Apple devices charging first since these devices are high-powered with exception of the Nano then USB connected devices and the microUSB devices.

I was able to charge an iPhone 5 from 82% to 100% in 20 minutes, Logitech K800 Wireless Keyboard from 1 bar to fully charged and iPhone 4 from 51% to 91%, which is when it ran out of charge, right out the box, and this is all after I ran around spot charging the devices listed below.

Items I could charge:

iPhone 4

iPhone 5 via the iPhone 5 cable through the onboard USB port.

iPad 1

iPad 2

Logitech K800 Wireless Keyboard

Kindle Touch

Sony Reader PRST1

Nook Simple Touch

Nook Color

Sony Ericsson Hi-Fi Bluetooth Stereo Headset

Jabra Drive Bluetooth Speaker

Motorola S305 Bluetooth Headset

Motorola S10-HD Bluetooth Stereo Headphones

Sony NEX-F3 Camera

ETA:

Samsung Droid Charge

As you can tell, I went around trying to find anything I could to charge with the power pack. I'm thrilled that I didn't find not one item myCharge couldn't charge.

I'd recommend the myCharge Peak 6000 power bank to anyone who wants to cut down on the cords, power bricks and adapters that have to carried around for most portable devices, especially while traveling, that's truly compatible with nearly all chargeable devices.

Read Best Reviews of myCharge Peak 6000 Rechargeable Power Bank Here

There are cooler looking solutions but this one works perfect and has all the right plugs and cords built in for Micro USB, Ipod/pad/phone. The difference make is that this also has a 110 outlet plug that also is built in to the device. I have used it a few times on work trips to charge my ipad, energy sucking samsung galaxy s3 and bluetooth headset.

In short I love this device and have ordered a second. The current price @ best buy is about $99.00 so this is also a good value.

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I've had a number of different rechargeable battery packs, and have always enjoyed the extra time they give me to continue to use my devices when I am away from home. The three main devices I take with me everywhere are my iPhone 4s, my Samsung WB150F Digital Camera and my Kindle Fire. The myCharge 6000 battery pack has connections on it to charge all three of my devices.

The features that set this charging pack apart from the rest are:

Voice notifications, which can be set to any one of four languages: English, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Wall prongs that allow you to chose whether you want to recharge it via wall outlet or through the standard USB cable

And my favorite feature, having all the different charging cables built right into the battery pack itself.

The voice notification feature can be turned on and off, in case you would rather not have the audio on. When you plug the unit in, the voice will tell you that the pack is charging, and will also let you know when the charge is complete. When you plug one of the adapter cables into a device, the voice recognizes it and confirms it by stating that the connection has been made. If you decide you want to turn the voice off, you can set it by pressing a settings button located underneath the iPhone/iPod adapter, using a pin or paperclip.

I really like that you can charge this battery pack using built in wall prongs. I already have a bunch of things plugged into the USB ports on my computers. Having one less thing attached charging is a plus. In addition, there are times when I travel and I only take my Kindle Fire and my iPhone, I have no computer/laptop with me to recharge a battery pack through USB. The wall prongs have proved to be extremely useful.

But my favorite feature of the myCharge 6000 is that all the adapters are attached to the battery pack, and store in it until they are needed. With my other battery packs, I find myself always trying to track down the correct interchangeable tips for the cables. That's never an issues with this one. If I have the battery pack, I have everything I need to charge all of my devices.

The whole unit is just an inch or so larger than an iPhone 4s and maybe about half an inch wider. So there's a lot packed into a very portable package. The pack is white and silver in color, with the main USB adapter being neon green in color. In addition to the micro USB adapter, iPhone adapter and the USB adapter, there is also a USB port on one side. So if you have a device that does not fit one of the main adapters, and you do have a USB charging cable for it, you can plug that into the USB port and still charge your device. All around, it's very well designed unit and is my favorite battery pack, by far. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great quality rechargeable battery pack, who needs devices charged that take micro USB, USB and iPhone/iPod adapters.

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Pros :

+ Built in AC plug for recharging (4 hours for a full charge). Plug folds out of the way when not in use

+ AC works on 100-240V 50/60Hz, so it's travel friendly (with the right plug converter)

+ Built in connectors Apple 30 pin (note : not the new Lightning connector), micro USB, and normal USB to recharge the myCharge

+ Voice prompts tells you exactly what is happening

+ Solidly built

+ Charges everything I threw at it

+ Apple dock connector can supply max. of 2.1A, other two can supply 1.0A each. Total supply cannot exceed 3.1A (managed by the charger).

+ Charger can manage power draw. Priority is given to the Apple dock connector, followed by USB port, and finally the micro USB.

+ Syncing can be done through Apple Dock connector when unit is also connected to computer. But no syncing through USB port or micro USB cable.

+ Able to recharge the myCharge while having it charge my phone at the same time.

+ Manual is well written. I should not be surprised by this, but I've seen so many manuals that are obviously the result of a translation software without human editing. I've found only 1 omission to change sound mode, the manual says you need to plug it into your PC. You can also plug the unit into a wall outlet.

Cons :

Price! The Anker® Astro 5600mAh Backup External Battery Pack Charger is 1/3 the price.

Size. The Anker is 1/3 the size (but cannot be recharged by plugging into wall socket and does not have attached cables).

Weight. The Anker is 5 oz compared to the 9 oz myCharge

Flap that holds the USB cable secure uses a magnet that's "exposed". Might affect credit cards. I'll post a photo showing what I mean.

Having a voice announcing what's happening in English, French, Portugese or Spanish seems like overkill. A small LCD would probably be more practical.

No syncing through USB port or micro USB cable

2A output only through Apple Dock connector.

Requires Lightning adapter for new Apple products

Takes up to 13 hours to recharge from a 5V 0.5A standard USB port

Other observations (does not affect my rating):

= 1 year limited warranty

= Nice packaging

= Made in China

= Lithium Polymer batteries

I used this extensively over a few days, recharging just about everything I have around the house that can be recharged over USB. The only item that wouldn't recharge properly is my SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip. If the Clip Zip is powered off, it does not recharge it will only recharge if it is powered on. I think this is a problem with the Clip Zip and not the myCharge, as it has issues with the Anker as well.

Other than that, all the cell phones in the house (2 Samsungs and one ZTE feature phone) charges fine. I was also able to use my Garmin Oregon GPS receiver without batteries, connected to just the myCharge. As the Oregon does not draw a lot of power, this is to show that the myCharge can operate even when supplying a small current.

The manual notes that the Samsung Galaxy tablet requires a proprietary USB port and cannot be recharged from the unit. The Asus tablet can be recharged, but only when the screen is off, and even then, it recharges very slowly you need something that outputs 15V for the Asus tablet to charge quickly.

You can change the sound mode between speech (choice of 4 languages), tones, and silence. There is no volume control. If you find the sound too loud (as I do), I suggest placing a piece of electrical tape over the speaker holes.

To test the capacity, I charged the unit to full capacity, and over the next 4 days, I let my Galaxy Nexus drop down to 5% charge before recharging it. After the second full charge, the myCharge reported that it is below 25% capacity (one blinking white light). The phone's battery is a 1750 mAH. I was careful to not use the phone while it is charging. Judging from what I've read, this is about what is to be expected after accounting for losses during the entire charging process.

In conclusion, this is a nice unit, self contained and I will definitely pack it when I'm traveling, since it can double as a portable power supply as well as a USB AC plug. I'd like to have the Apple Dock connector replaced with a USB port capable of supplying up to 2A instead. Other than that, it's a nice but expensive external power pack that has worked reliably with everything I threw at it.

If the price is not so much higher than the alternatives, I'd rate this 5 stars. It deserves 5 stars for functionality, I took 1 star away for it not being a great value for money.

Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester

Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester
  • 12 Amp fast charge to monitor battery condition and prevent battery damage
  • 8 Amp medium charge to self-adjust charge rate and keep the battery in peak condition
  • 2 amp slow charge to charge small and maintain large batteries
  • 50 Amp clamps for top and side-mounted battery posts
  • Electronic push button controls switches for selection of display mode, charge rate or battery type and retractable handle for easy portability and storage

Forgetting to remove the negative connector before storing my vehicle for the winter; the internal sytems and alarm drained the battery, and of course it was sulfated. This unit worked like a charm. The battery was down to 8 volts/15%. The SC-1200a properly began to charge, then desulfate, and slowly was able to get the battery back to 98% before I removed it to start the car. This took approximately 17 hours (700 CCA Battery), which isn't bad for a dead/sulfated battery using a charger costing less than $50. The plus is you can use it to maintain your battery on a vehicle you do not drive much. Keeping your battery charged above 98% can greatly extend the life. How long it will the charger last running 24/7? ...I do not know yet. I have only had it maintaining the battery for 3 weeks, but still no problems. It does have a cooling fan which probably should be cleaned/vacuumed occaisionally; and I've never felt the unit being hot to touch. Not sure what problem the first reveiwer had, or if the unit he had was defective or dropped before he purchased it. For a $50 charger which maintains and also desulfates a battery, you cannot beat it.

Buy Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester Now

Stay far, far, far, away from this charger. I walked away from tested, good, low charge battery being charged on the 8amp setting connected to a 750CCA regular car battery and when I came back a couple hours later it was boiling and still trying to charge! I checked the charge voltage and it was at 16 volts (measured with a Fluke meter)! Bad, very bad, charger and not automatic or smart at all.

Read Best Reviews of Schumacher SC-1200A SpeedCharge 12/8/2 Amp Charger/Maintainer/Starter/Tester Here

This thing is NOISY. I got it to charge and maintain a battery for a back-up sump pump, was going to have it in the equipment room in the basement, so didn't think noise would be an issue for me (saw other reviewers mention it). Even so, it's too loud. There's loud humming noise from the fans which are always on, and when charging a high-pitch tone joins the mix. It also draws 10 watts at idle when not even charging. Totally not suitable for this purpose.

Otherwise it seemed to charged my 75 AH maintenance-free sealed deep cycle battery no problem, and went into battery maintain mode as expected.

Update: purchased Schumacher SEM-1562A 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Maintainer and much happier now. This unit doesn't have a fan and consumes only 2 watts while maintaining, and no transformer noises. Maybe I was just trying to use wrong product for my purpose. But I did want to have the ability to charge the battery faster than over several days...

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This is not what Amazon is thinks it is. They have confused the SC-12000A Schumacher Speedcharge Battery Charger, Model# SC-12000A

which is no longer available and substantially a more powerful unit.

This listing (this one above, SC-1200A) has the correct picture and model number, but the descriptive text in the title and details touts the specs of the the 12000, not the 1200.

I sent it back today once I saw that it was the less powerful charger. I missed the Gold Box this week because I saw this unit and thought it was the better unit. I went out today and bought locally as I can't wait for an alternate item to ship.

One of the earlier reviews (4-12-2007) alludes to this issue but it appears this was not Amazon's mistake. A model number with a single zero difference enables confusion all the way around.

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I was hoping to find the Schumacher model 7000A 2/20 Amp charger to review, but this 1200A is just a variation on the same thing. Looks identical too. After reading bad reviews of Schumacher and Vector it's clear these companies can't do anything right. Seems any product that has a microprocessor is programmed by the incompetent. Let me tell you about Schumacher speed chargers.

They won't charge batteries that don't already have a significant charge. If your battery drops below 10 to 11 volts, forget it. You'd have to have a manual battery charger as backup for when this won't charge, which eliminates the need for this thing in the first place. The explanation from the company is that the charger has to feed off the voltage in the battery, blah, blah. The purpose of a battery charger is to charge batteries, period. Then I was lied to by the tech and told if I hold down a certain combination of buttons when plugging the unit in, it would go into manual 2A mode (where the processor doesn't decide it won't charge your battery), but I sat there on the phone with him doing just as he said, and turns out no such feature exists. The manual doesn't mention anything like that either.

The charger is totally unpredictable. It almost always goes into desulfate mode. It has never completed a charge after coming out of desulfate mode, but ends in an error. Needs to be unplugged and plugged back in to start charging again to "completion". However completion doesn't seem to get the battery to 100% power, more like 80%, if that. Sometimes it won't charge at 20A and drops down to 2A. Don't know why. And according to the manual, desulfate mode can take up to 10 hours. So much for speed charge. Need to get into your car and go somewhere? Well you may need to wait until the next day.

It has a retain mode where the charger can sit there and monitor your battery and charge when needed. Figured I'd just leave the thing on my car almost permanently. But those who programmed the thing don't understand setting upper and lower thresholds. What it should do is charge up to the upper threshold, then when the battery drops below the lower, it charges to the upper again. I therefore expected it to turn on once a day or whatever. Instead it's turning on and off every several seconds, with the fan and relay clicking on and off. That's a good way to ware out the unit in no time.

It has a 70A engine start feature just incase you don't have enough juice to quite start your car, but if the battery is low enough where the charger won't charge it, the engine start feature won't work either.

My last car battery was probably only 1.5 years old before it wouldn't even take a charge. I'm beginning to suspect the damn charger might be responsible. When going into desulfate mode for instance, I see the voltage climb up to well over 16 volts. I don't know if that's good for the battery.

The simple act of charging a battery can be turned into a stressful nightmare with this crappy charger. Stay far away from Schumacher. It's clear they can't build a realiable charger, nor does it appear they've actually tried out their own products before dumping them onto the public.

Gsi 3-In-1 Charging Kit For iPhone 4/4G/3G/S And iPod Touch, Nano And Classic - Includes Home Travel

Gsi 3-In-1 Charging Kit For iPhone 4/4G/3G/S And iPod Touch, Nano And Classic - Includes Home Travel USB Charger, Rapid Car Charger And Dock Connector To USB Data Cable
  • New All In One Portable Charging Kit For Your Apple iPhone Or iPod
  • 1- Mini USB To Wall Outlet Charger Adapter - Connect To iPod With USB Cable Included
  • 2- Mini USB To Cigarette Lighter Car Charger Adapter - Also Connect With USB Cable Included
  • 3- Dock Connector To USB Cable, Connect To PC Or Laptop For Charging Or High Speed Data Sync
  • Both Home And Car Adapters Are Universal Fit, Can Charge All Electronic USB Devices And Mobile Phones

We like to take road trips and quickly ran down the battery on the iPod. This solves that and allow us to charge it in the hotel room as well. The packaging makes for a convenient little travel case as well.

Buy Gsi 3-In-1 Charging Kit For iPhone 4/4G/3G/S And iPod Touch, Nano And Classic - Includes Home Travel Now

It arrived quickly, but ultimately did not work. It fit with the iPhone we had but it said the accessory was not supported. :\ It also feels as cheap and flimsy as it was.

Read Best Reviews of Gsi 3-In-1 Charging Kit For iPhone 4/4G/3G/S And iPod Touch, Nano And Classic - Includes Home Travel Here

These are probably the least expensive charging kit for the iPhone 4, and you get what you pay for. The wall charger works fine for the iPhone (less well for the iPad), but the car charger is terribly slow. Don't expect to recharge your phone in the car, even over the course of an hour commute. If you're playing a podcast at the same time and keep your 3G data on, it'll probably just maintain your battery at whatever charge it came in with. Better than your phone dying on the road, I guess.

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It's almost indistinguishable from the originals that came with the phone. Excellent quality and I couldn't be happier with it.

I ordered this product and only 2 of the 3 came in the mail. Then I called and the man was really friendly and sent me my extra piece. A week later the part that plugs into your phone detached from the cord!!! Horrible product. I guess you get what you pay for... and I think I paid $5 or so and I had it for 3 weeks..

TecMate TS-121 TestMate Mini Battery and Charging System Tester

TecMate TS-121 TestMate Mini Battery and Charging System Tester
  • Test without disassembly
  • Weak batteries and charging system problems identified in seconds
  • Checks battery voltage, starting power and vehicle charging system

Delivered on time and works exactly as intended. Buy the leads that permanently attach to your batteryso you can just plug it inthen check your battery and charging system with it as soon as the motor is running.

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Straightforward product, does its job well. One small issue is the cable is not very long. So, for my trunk mounted battery, I cant bring the meter all the way to the dash to see it. I set it on the trunklid and was able to view it in the rear view mirror, reversed, but still understandable. It takes the guesswork out of diagnosing the charging system and battery state.

Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator (CARB Compliant

Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter GeneratorThis is a very high quality unit, nicely designed. I chose it over the Honda Eu2000i because it has a fuel gage and is a hair lighter (2 pounds), and liked the styling better. Specs are so close it's a tie... the Yamaha unit specs a bit quieter in "eco" throttle but the Honda specs a bit quieter at full power. Prior to this purchase I had bought a Honeywell inverter generator (a much less expensive Chinese-made knock-off) from Costco which I returned, because I was unimpressed with the Honeywell unit's quality and noise level. While the price difference is major, you get what you pay for in this case. Anyone looking at the cheaper knock-offs should really consider that a 5db increase in noise level is a major difference, the way humans perceive it.

The most impressive thing about this unit is how quiet it is. Even at full engine speed you can stand about 6 feet away and have a normal conversation without raising your voice, or talk on a cell phone without undue distraction. It features an "eco" setting which tapers down the engine throttle and noise when full load isn't required. At half-throttle or less, from about 6 feet away it is about half as loud and amazingly quiet. I used it to run a 50-amp 12v battery charger and at full charge level the charger only required the generator to operate at about half-speed, and when the charger tapered down the charge level to under 30-amps the generator became so quiet I literally forgot about it. It is MUCH quieter than my boat's inboard diesel engine, and more efficient than running the main engine just to top off the batteries. I also used it to power a heavy duty 120v grinder and it had no problems supplying the needed power, even on electric motor start-up.

I got this mainly for charging our boat's batteries at anchor but I also wanted the ability to run power tools. The lighter 1000-watt inverter generators could easily handle the charging application but not the more power-hungry tools. Having the extra power also means the eco-throttle will likely kick in earlier and the unit will operate quieter. The number-1 purchase criteria was "quiet" because I don't want to be distracted by incessant noise or be a bad neighbor in anchorages. The Honeywell was not quiet enough in my opinion.

If generators are abused it will lead to regulations banning them, so an appeal to other boaters and to campers: Please don't settle for "cheap". Get a better quality inverter-generator unit that's quieter so you minimize noise pollution in get-away places. (Leave your "contractors generator" at home!!!) Also, please be considerate of neighbors and limit running it to times/places you aren't as likely to disturb others... and don't leave your boat or campsite while it runs and runs. We all like our electric conveniences, but if you really need 120v power more or less constantly you should either stay home or get a dock/parking space where you can plug into "the grid". It's rude to disturb others who are trying to get away to find some peace and quiet.

Negative: The unit ships without engine oil, so you need to buy a quart of standard 4-stroke engine oil and fill it. You will also need a funnel, and a pan to catch excess oil. There is no dipstick; you need to fill to the level of the bottom of the filler hole until any more runs out. It uses less than 3/4 quart. I think they should have included the required amount of oil, and a plastic filler container with a spout, marked to show the proper amount of oil to use.

Update 2/22/2012: In general still very happy with the unit, but checking oil level is inconvenient (you need to open the case with several screws) and changing the oil is a messy operation involving rags and clean-up because there is no neat way to capture the waste oil or overflow directly into a container. I think the next generation of this product should improve on that design issue and provide a dip stick or oil level indicator that's either externally accessible or located behind a quick-access panel.

Update 8/29/11:

Having owned this for almost 2 years now I would add the following:

1) I have found that it has enough power to run the charger AND the hot water heater's 120v heating element at the same time. It is near-max (running full speed) but doesn't light the overload light when doing that and the charger is in bulk phase. Nice when you're in an anchorage for a few days and haven't run the engine. Why run a 57hp diesel just to heat water and charge the house bank?

2) If I shut off the fuel and let the carburetor run dry before putting it away, it does not smell of gas with the fuel vent and fuel valve both closed. The maker advocates storing in a well ventilated area or garage, but odor from fumes is not a problem.

3) It's also useful at home during power outages. I have a larger much louder 5500w contractors generator that plugs into a 12-circuit transfer switch wired by an electrician, but as a courtesy to neighbors I shut that off overnight. I can use this Yamaha unit with an extension cord to keep just the refrigerator running overnight and it stays in 'eco mode' so it practically purrs. Also the fuel burn rate is extremely low so it uses a fraction of what the larger generator would use.

Have had zero problems with this unit so far.

This generator is super quiet and the engine runs really smoothly. It instantly changes it's operating speed just as fast as I can move the speed switch on a 1850 watt hair dryer I used to test it. It doesn't include oil and the angle of the oil fill hole is nearly horizontal, making it a little difficult to fill even with a funnel, but they did put a nice little drip tray right below the opening so it doesn't go everywhere. The gas gauge is really nice. Made in Japan. Their competitor (Honda) has some nice videos on their website demonstrating the sound level of actual generators running and the equivalent size Honda generator is very close in noise level to this one. Yamaha should do the same but until then, check out the Honda website.

Yamaha says this is CARB compliant on their website so I'm not sure why Amazon says it isn't. The label on the generator says it is a 3 on the 10 point California emission scale. Yamaha simply isn't making a big deal of it like some others do I suppose. This is a new model as of summer 2009. The starter cord is really easy to pull unlike any other engine I've ever started by hand.

Buy Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator (CARB Compliant Now

I purchased the EF2000iS 2,000 watt inverter-generator for extended fishing trips for charging 12 volt marine batteries and for running corded power tools in remote areas. At first I wasn't sure if the 2,000 watt model would be enough power to meet my needs, but I decieded to take a chance with it because of the price, and boy am I glad I did.

It easily powers drills, grinders, skill saws, table saws, sawzalls, and portable cement mixers pretty much anything that draws under 16.7 Amps. Most power tools draw up to and under 15 Amps. My industrial right-angle concrete drill only draws 8 Amps, and that thing is rugged. It's more than enough for my needs for working in the woods where I can't just "Plug In."

Another thing that's slick about it is it also charges marine batteries and has its own special DC receptical and comes with the included cable. You just fire it up, hook up the terminals to your battery, then plug in the cord. It doesn't have a charge meter built in, so I purchased a hand held battery tester and check the charge level once an hour. I think the battery tester was under $30 (a good investment).

With that in mind, I used it last Memorial Day weekend during our Men's Family Fishing Trip out at Johnston Pond camp here in Maine, out in the woods roughing it with tents. The area is surrounded with small-ish ponds, so my dad and I brought our little skiff and trolling motor with us (too small ponds for our larger, 2-stroke boat). We brought two 12 volt marine batteries with us to make sure we could spend the whole day out each day, then that evening charge one or the other up so it was ready for the next day. It worked great, we didn't have to worry about running our batteries low and having to paddle all the way back to the landing. Peace of mind is nice.

This unit really is really quiet. There were five of us on the fishing trip, two younin's my friend and I, and three old farts my dad, uncle, and elderly cousin. They complain about everything (old people tend to do that, haha). I figured someone was going to say something about the generator being noisey and I'd catch hell for it or something, but actually, everyone did nothing but praise how quiet it was. After it's been running for 15 minutes or so, you kind of forget that it's even there. Unlike our neighbors at a site a ways away from us, who had an old style generator that they ran at night, we could hear them having to hollar at each other in order to talk.

On top of all that goodness, since it's an Inverter as well, you can also safely power computers, charge cell phones and iPods, run a tv and DVD player, and plenty of other things, if that's what you're into while camping, or in an emergency situation.

It starts up really easy. Mine started first pull right out of the box (make sure to put oil in it first, it's not included), and still does every time. If you run it on Eco Mode (tv's, appliances, ect.) I'm not sure how long the tank will last you hour-wise, I haven't used it for that application yet, but in full power mode, meaning you're constantly getting the amped up rpms for more amperage, the one gallon tank lasts for about 6 hours or so. I'd figure that it'd almost double that in Eco mode, and it's twice as quiet. You can stand right next to it and it's like a little humm.

I give the Yamaha EF2000iS five stars hands down for the price and performance. I'm really happy I didn't go ahead and go with a knock off lesser brand. It was well worth the extra money for something that's going to be reliable and dependable. There's no sense in paying $500 or less for something that's just going to be junk in a few months.

If you need a medium duty Inverter-Generator, I highly recomend it. You will enjoy it. It's also very light and compact. Transporting it isn't a problem at all.

Read Best Reviews of Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator (CARB Compliant Here

This little gem arrived to me in perfect condition. Kudos to Amazon for their quick delivery time. The genny itself is bigger than the pictures let on, but for 2000watts, this isn't bad at all. THESE UNITS DO NOT COME WITH OIL IN THEM. Go buy some 4 stroke 10w30 oil at home depot or lowes. Follow the instructions to put the oil in, fill it gas, and turn it on. The pull cord is very easy. Just practice a couple of times. You will love this generator, I promise. I will use it for my travel trailer for camping/fishing during the colder months.

Edit: I've had two EFYamaha 2000is generators since the beginning of Sept, 2010 and have mainly used them for camping. The first workout for both of these units was tailgating. I also have a cord that connects the 2 of them to make 4000 watts, more than enough to power your camper A/C (13,000-15,000btu) and everything else in the RV. However, it was colder on this outing and I didn't need to use both hooked together yet. I did bring both of them though and I'm glad I didhere's why:

The guy next to me brought his 6000watt Champion generator, which is construction grade, and told me he was sorry, but would be running it in the mornings. We were about 15 feet away from him. I said no problem, it couldn't be that loud. He then turned it on for me so I could see. WOW! That thing was LOUD. I told him I brought a spare Yamaha inverter and he was welcome to use mine because I told him it would be much quieter. He came over and heard mine running and couldn't believe it. The next morning we were both sleeping soundly, both of us running these awesome Yamaha units.

Here are some tips for those considering this generator:

1) Get some fuel stabilizer. This is not needed, but is nice because it stabilizes stagnant fuel that sits around during the winter monthsor just longer periods where the generator is not in use. I use Stabil, and its sold here on Amazon. Put some in your gas can(s).

2) If a generator has been sitting around awhile, you need to run it periodically ( I will run mine about once a month for at least 10 minutes) to 'exercise' the unit. This will ensure that when you REALLY need it, it will start no problem.

3) Tie these units down when in transport. They tip over easy and if they do, when you start them up you will be greeted with a mess of white smoke (oil burn) until it burns off. Buy some ratchet tie downs. Bungee cords won't cut it.

4) Realize the limitations of a 2000 watt generator. I don't know how this got started, but someone somewhere said his 2000 watt genny was powering everything they needed without being specific. Then folks just assumed that they would get the same results. You HAVE to do a power audit for YOUR specific needs. What will you be powering? What is the main purpose of the unit? If you have an RV with a 15k A/C, one 2000watt will NOT power it on. Remember, air conditioners, microwaves, etc take pull a lot of AMPS to cycle on. Once they are on, the AMPS are reduced during the rest of the run time. The trick is, what will power these appliances THROUGH the higher amperage cycle? Thats why I bought 2 of them.

5) Buy a cable lock! Generators tend to grow legs and walk away when they are not locked down. This is more true when you camp with them or tailgate. A lock is not totally foolproof, but will deter the 'honest' thief enough to make it not worth it.

Yep, they are pricey. I paid about 2K for both of them. Inverters are always going to cost more money for several critical reasons.

A) They are labor-intensively constructed. That is, they are built to insulate and are very tightly arranged in their cases. The insulation provides a lot of the lower decibels you will be hearing. Good things just take time to make, and part of the cost is wrapped up in that.

B) Portability: This goes back to the tightly constructed package they come in. The 2000is model weighs about 45 pounds minus the gas. Try going to a Home Depot and lifting a construction grade generator. Not fun.

Want Yamaha EF2000iS 2,000 Watt 79cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator (CARB Compliant Discount?

Received this product and filled with oil and gas and it started on the third pull. All subsequent times it has started on the first pull of the starter cord. More money than a comparable Honda 2000 but it has a number of advantages.

1. All controls are on one side on an integrated simple control panel including the starter pull. Honda controls are scattered on both sides.

Much easier operation in confined spaces.

2. Has a very visible fuel gage. Not supplied on the Honda

3. Has a carb fuel shut-off which allow you run the fuel system dry for storage. No such system on the Honda

4. The carb bowl has a drain screw and drain tube to remove all remaining fuel-if any. No easy carb drain on Honda.

5. Unit weighs over 50 lbs with a full fuel tank and oil but lighter than a Honda and every pound is important when carrying this weight.

6. Overall service and maintenance is very easy.

7. Low pollution total operating hours are twice the Honda

8. Larger carry handle.

9. Very quiet at all speeds extremely quiet at the eco throttle or low speeds/low loads.

Researched the low cost Chinese knock-offs and there really is no comparison from a noise and weight factor. The comparable Honeywell and Kipor etc are about ten pounds heavier for comparable output specs. Ten pounds additional is about 60 lbs wet and 20% difference but a huge amount when carrying any distance.

Overall well worth the money for an extremely well designed quality product that is Yamaha's reputation. Amazon service and delivery was spot on as usual.

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BatteryMINDer Solar Charging System - 12 Volt, 15 Watt Panel, Model# SCC-015

BatteryMINDer Solar Charging System - 12 Volt, 15 Watt Panel, Model# SCC-015Yes, I own this Battery Minder product too! My wife thinks I am a battery freak! Maybe I am!! So far, so good, with this unit as I would expect from this company. It is quite durable. Own this unit more than 2 years. I use it for a service truck AGM (non-leaking/sealed) battery hooked to a power inverter 12 to 120 volt. I bolted the solar panel to the top of my camper shell. Then installed control unit next to my inverter inside of camper shell. Unit works well and no problems to date. Wish I could hook another panel to it though. Manufacturer says you should not connect more solar panels. But I could always use another charge controller to add on another solar panel addition. As always, monitor your battery voltage after sundown and battery has "rested" for proper state of charge. Unit came with a quick reference unit for state of voltage/charge.

Daniel

The is a great unit. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a way to charge 12 volt batteries without power

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The order was delivered within four days of purchase. BatteryMart was the merchant, and they did a nice job packaging to prevent breakage. The solar panel works well in all light conditions, even on cloudy days. I use it to maintain the 2 deep cycle batteries on my travel trailer, as we will only use it once or twice over the winter. The hookup was very easy, with all parts clearly marked and set up nicely for install. Its keeps the batteries charged at about 12.5 volts, which is ok for batteries at rest. I wouldn't expect this product to charge the batteries if they were near dead, you would need more solar panels to put out more charge. I've checked the output of the panel with a voltmeter, and it puts out about 1.15 amps, which is a little better than the advertised 1 amp.

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Works as advertised. Use it on my RV to maintain my batteries. Easy to hook up. Almost fool proof. Very happy with the product!

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I've used it for one summer and for one winter's storage to maintain four boat batteries. In the summer, it kept the batteries at about 85% according to my regular deep cycle charger, which I routinely used to get the batteries to 100% before I went out every couple of weeks or so on a lake that allows only electric powered boats. Charging to 100% took about a half hour each time. I just took the boat out of winter outdoor storage and the batteries were at 95%. I had all four batteries connected in parallel over the winter and the charge to 100% with the regular charger again took about a half hour with a single charge to all four batteries still connected in parallel. I am very pleased.

HQRP 10 Amp 12V / 24V Solar Two Batteries Charge Power Controller / Regulator 10A 150W for RV Carava

HQRP 10 Amp 12V / 24V Solar Two Batteries Charge Power Controller / Regulator 10A 150W for RV Caravan Car plus HQRP UV Chain / UV Radiation Health Tester
  • HQRP™ Solar Charge Controller plus HQRP™ UV Chain / UV Radiation Health Tester;
  • Maximum solar voltage: 30V (or 55V);
  • Battery voltage range: 1-15V;
  • Self-consumption: 4mA at night, 10mA at charging;
  • Terminals: 4mm2; PWM Type of Charging. 200 days warranty!

This unit does what it is suppose to do. It keeps the batteries on my RV fully charged when in storage. I no longer have to jump start my RV. Easy to install. A great way to maintain batteries.

Power Bright VC2000W Voltage Transformer 2000 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 Volt

Power Bright VC2000W Voltage Transformer 2000 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 VoltI found the Power Bright VC2000w Voltage Transformer to be just what I needed. We moved from the Philippines and had several appliances that needed 220 volt power in the United States. While the transformer is fairly large and a bit heavy, it is not noisey. I have had no problem with it using it every morning for boiling hot water with my Korean water heater which boils water in less than 1 minute. The product was reasonably priced and we are happy with it.

It is 2000W and my device is using 1000W (load). The transformer is cold after using for about 1 hours (good sign). I do not notice any bad part of it, it works what it should be. It has hum noise some times, overall it is good. Daily use, it has been using for more than two month long, no problem.

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I live in Germany and got this to use some of my US appliances like my Keurig coffee maker and blender ... it works great and very quiet ... there are just a few downsides: it's very big, very industrial looking and only can support 1 US or European plug at a time. That said, if you are looking for something to make US or European appliances work with 110 or 220, this is it!

Read Best Reviews of Power Bright VC2000W Voltage Transformer 2000 Watt Step Up/Down 110 Volt - 220 Volt Here

We had 2 transformers, but were looking for a higher wattage one for the kitchen here in Europe for our numerous American appliances. We went with this one and were amazed. It is the highest wattage and yet the QUIETEST of the 3. We couldn't ask for more. Honestly.

Highly recommended.

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I got this transformer for an Onkyo speaker system I ordered on amazon, to convert the power to 110 volts. The speaker system is rated at 1200watts full load and this transformer hasn't missed a beat since day one. So im quite happy with it =D

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Motorola 10 Mile GMRS / FRS TALKABOUT T6510XLR 2 Way Radio Rechargable Walkie Talkie Special Package

Motorola 10 Mile GMRS / FRS TALKABOUT T6510XLR 2 Way Radio Rechargable Walkie Talkie Special Package with $40 Accessories
  • Up to 10 mile range (twice as many other motorola 2 way radio, like T5950, etc. Based on unobstructed line of site, range will vary based on terrain and conditions)
  • 22 Channels, each with 99 Subcodes; / 10 audible call tones;
  • 8 Weather Channels (NOAA Weather Radio with Alert Mode)
  • Voice activation (vox); / VibraCall Alert; / Enhanced Voice Activation
  • Talk confirmation tone; / Keypad lock; / Backlit display

I was a bit reluctant at buying these radios for being only available in this special package. I could not find information on them as separated units, not even in Motorola's web pages (though they look exactly the same as the T6500). Finally, the price and the number of accesories made it a very good offer so I decided to take the risk. Besides, I never believed the 10 miles range promised since they were 1W units, same as many others that are supposed to be only 5 to 7 miles. However, to my surprise, in a trip to Easter Island I managed to sustain a normal conversation with a partner that was 18 Km away from me (about 11 miles). I am sure of this because I measured the distance with my GPS. The conditions were optimal though, as I was at the top of a hill (400m high) and the other radio was at sea level with no obstructions in between, other than being inside a car.

I must admit that I was very impressed by this result and I can recommend them to anybody. They are not the smallest nor the lightest GMRS radios you can find, but you will not be disappointed. The radios look good quality and the weight, slightly heavier than average, indicate a solid construction and good internal shielding. Battery duration is similar to other Motorola models. I have had many other models of Motorola FRS radios since 2001 (T280SLK, T6250, T5620), but these are clearly the best of them.

Buy Motorola 10 Mile GMRS / FRS TALKABOUT T6510XLR 2 Way Radio Rechargable Walkie Talkie Special Package Now

The price is a bargain for the spec (Standard GMRS/FRS channels + NOAA weather radio, vibrate, earbuds/PTT mic, battery packs and charger). They're rugged looking units, and work on 3xAA size batteries, which gives a potentially longer operating time than radios with AAA's.

However, my main gripe with these things is the quality of the audio output when receiving transmissions from another walkie talkie. Just terrible, in my opinion. Compared against my cheap-o 'Columbia' FRS units ($30 for the full kit), speech from the Mot T6510s is just about unintelligible. I keep having to ask people to repeat what they said and put my ear right up against the speaker. Using the earpiece doesn't improve matters much.

Transmitting from a T6510 to another brand is fine, so it's not the microphones. Receiving NOAA messages is also quite audible; but that's a clearly spoken, recorded message. I think the problem is that the AF section seems to only chuck out a very high, squawky, mid-range tone whereas my other units have a much flatter, softer response. If I didn't like the look and features so much, I'd have taken them back for a refund long ago.

The other thing I don't like is the rotary volume control, protruding from the top (same as most Motorola radios). I find that when worn on the belt clip, clothing makes the knob rotate back to the 'min' position and I find myself continually checking that the volume's turned up while on a walk. The vibrate feature has come in handy there.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola 10 Mile GMRS / FRS TALKABOUT T6510XLR 2 Way Radio Rechargable Walkie Talkie Special Package Here

The range is actually 1 Mile only.Its not 10 Mile Range that has mentioned on the product.we were disappointed.

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Great radio but I got .3 miles flat land with trees range.

I though more of moto

oh well

Beware !!!!!!!!!!!

Logic3 Car Charger for iPods

Logic3 Car Charger for iPods
  • One meter cable length
  • Fits any 12V accessory outlet or vehicle cigarette lighter sock
  • Fused and filtered to protect your iPod or iPod Mini
  • LED power indicator

I had to give this 3 stars because it only lasted about a month before it went bad and stopped working. In terms of usefulness, it worked well for the first month, I could plug my ipod into my auxiliary port and keep it charged with this device, but as soon as I pulled it out of the packaging I could tell by the way it felt that it would not be a long term investment. It just feels cheap. But, you get what you pay for, and perhaps someone else will have better luck.

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This gadget works very well--has the apple white style look and goes well with ipod.

Read Best Reviews of Logic3 Car Charger for iPods Here

Nothing special, works well. No problems. Blue recharging LED is a little too bright for my taste, but no big deal.

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I purchased this charger for my mini and it's great. It charges my ipod faster than if I plug it into the charger attached to my computer. It's great because I can do it while driving without trying to remember to connect to the home charger at night.

PowerStation PS1118 Jump Starter

PowerStation PS1118 Jump Starter
  • Instant jumpstarts in extreme conditions
  • 12 VDC outlet provides power at any time
  • EHP battery provides 400 cold cranking amperes
  • Extra long 4 gauge leads
  • Integrated long-lasting LED work lamp

I purchased the PS1100 (no longer made, the PS1118 is similar) a couple years ago and it worked great in all applications until.....I recently tried to use it for starting my 2003 Tundra (V8). I got the loud clicking noise from the solenoid indicating it wasn't getting the needed power to fully engage. Looked up the specs on the truck battery and the PS1100 and found the pS1100 provides "about 400-450 CCA" and the truck battery spec calls for 750 CCA. Bottom line? These portable starters are great unless you have a vehicle that requires higher CCA. If you're not sure, take the time to check what your vehicle requires. If it's over 450 CCA, this unit will probably not start your vehicle, especially if your battery has been severely discharged.

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Excellent tool to have around the shop to start disabled vehicles. We had one exactly like it for many years. It finally went bad and we couild not find one like it locally. Thanks to you we found one.

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I use these with a converter to run a light, credit card machine, and cash register at trade shows. It lasted all day without problems.

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This unit provided the best combinations of features I considered desirable (cold cranking amps) and features I was not interested in (compressor) for the money. An added plus is the ability to recharge directly with just a power cord. Not needing a wall wart is a convenience.

Makita BTW253 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench Kit

Makita BTW253 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench Kit
  • Makita-built 4-pole variable speed motor provides superior fastening power with 155 ft.lbs. of Max Torque, 0-2,100 RPM and 0-3,200 IPM
  • Compact, ergonomic design at 6-1/8-inches long; weighs only 3.4 lbs. for reduced operator fatigue
  • Designed with convenient features such as a built-in L.E.D. light that illuminates the work area, and lbs. and a rugged tool belt clip
  • Makita LXT Lithium-Ion battery and Energy Star rated 30-Minute Rapid Optimum Charger produces 430% total lifetime work with 2.5X more cycles
  • 3-year warranty on tool; 1-year warranty on batteries and charger.

As a professional automotive technician I depend on my tools for my livelyhood, and this Makita impact wrench excedes my expectations. I finally wore out my 9.6 volt Makita gun after 17 years, and wouldn't even consider another brand as it had been so good. This 18 volt gun is extremely powerful, the batteries are light, yet last FAR longer before needing a charge. If you are thinking of stepping up to the LTX, do it. You won't be sorry. I couldn't be happier.

Buy Makita BTW253 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench Kit Now

I've been rebuilding transmissions for over 30 years and have been through my share of tools, this Makita BTW253 is the BEST impact gun I've ever used. Powerful, light, and does the job. I'm very satisfied and I'm sure you will be too. The Snap on gun doesn't compare and is more money. This ones a keeper.

Read Best Reviews of Makita BTW253 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench Kit Here

Had this Makita for a month and use it everyday in the Armored vehicle shop I work at. Batteries last a long time, unit does what i ask it to and isn't heavy to have with you all day.

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This impact wrench is extremely strong! Bought this on sale a few weeks before Christmas for a gift and it is amazing how much power is in this wrench. When my Dad opened it up on Christmas day all we wanted to do was see how powerful it actually was so we went out to the garage and tested it on some of the lugs on my car. This thing had no problem buzzing them right out, and they were torqued to 81 ft/lbs. The batteries also last a VERY long time. We've been using it quite a bit on my race car engine and gearbox since Christmas, and we still haven't had to recharge or change the battery since the first charge.

My Dad also bought a very short 3/8" extension to keep on the wrench so the small ring on the end of it doesn't get worn out, and I would recommend this also.

I like the portability of this tool. Recently set up two irrigation wheel lines in my pasture(which is what I purchased it for) and with hundreds of bolt fasteners per line, it was a snap.

Can't believe it runs as long as it does on one charge. So far so good.