- Magellan RoadMate Portable Wall Plug-in AC Home Charger
also, you have to have your magellan fully charged to do updates. if the unit is not fully charged before doing and update you risk bricking the unit.
Showing posts with label black and decker 18v battery charger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black and decker 18v battery charger. Show all posts
Magellan RoadMate 1200 / 1210 / 1212 / 1340 / 1400 / 1412 / 1430 / 1440 / 1470 GPS Portable Wall Plu
also, you have to have your magellan fully charged to do updates. if the unit is not fully charged before doing and update you risk bricking the unit.
SOLAR OS6110 40/15/2/200 Amp 12V Charger with Engine Starter
- 12V operation
- 200 amperes engine starting assistance
- Enhanced Transoid Transformer design for improved durability and increased efficiency
- New Quad Force Rectifier design meets the demands of daily professional use
- Rugged, Industrial-Grade Clamps for strong connections and efficient power transfer
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For Garmin Nuvi 360 / 370 / 510 / 550 / 650 / 670 Portable Travel USB Plug-in Rapid 12V Car Charger
- Brand new non-OEM
- Vehicle Lighter Adaptor
- Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a full battery and automatically switch to a saver.
- Plug never heats or overcharges the battery.
- Short circuit protection.
I bought a second one of these 8 months after the first one. Neither looks like the photo, nor do they look like each other. The first one charged my Garmin exactly as expected however, the one I just received puts the GPS into USB mode. So it seems like luck of the draw which kind you'll get.
See my comment on this review for a possible solution to forcing the Garmin out of USB mode.
Original review:
I bought this for my Nuvi 650. I was a bit nervous since the reviews of other cheap chargers said they put the GPS in USB mode and made it unusable while charging, but I had no such problem. It is a bit tight in the 12V outlet like another reviewer mentioned. Part of the cord is coiled, so be aware if your outlet is exceptionally far from your dashboard. I just had to stretch mine out a few times to loosen it up.
This lasted 8 months before the metal connector plugged into the side of the GPS snapped away from the wire casing after it fell to the floor one too many times. (Those beanbag friction mounts are pretty decent, but make sure to either dust off your dash first or exercise your lightning-fast reflexes if you've got sharp turns coming up.)It works great. The only problem is the part that fits into the cigarette lighter is way too tight. It feels like I will tear the lighter out if I am not careful.
Essential Gomadic AC /DC Charge Accessory Bundle for the Garmin Nuvi 775T. Kit includes the Gomadic
- 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 Garmin Nuvi 775T.
- 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!)
- Gomadic TipExchange Technology protects your investment by allowing you to change/upgrade either charger by simply swapping the physical charging tip. (Charging tips for Garmin Nuvi 775T included with additional tips sold separately).
- Specification: Wall Charger: Dimensions: (2.0" X 1.75"), Cable Length: (50"), Power Input: (110-240vAC), Output Power: (Garmin Nuvi 775T Specific); Car Charger; Dimensions: (1.75" X 0.5"), Cable Length: (42"), Power Input: (12-24vDC); Output Power: (Garmin Nuvi 775T Specific).
- A select best-selling product bundle from Gomadic Corp, one of the leaders in consumer electronic charging accessories since 2001.
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Hopkins The Engager 20099 Engager Break Away Systerm W/Battery Meter (Retail Box)
- Activates trailer brakes upon separation from tow vehicle
- Built-in battery meter with LED test lights
- LED's indicate: fully charged, re-charge, or charging
- Convenient test button verifies battery charge
- Built-in battery charger that charges battery while plugged into the vehicle
Buy Hopkins The Engager 20099 Engager Break Away Systerm W/Battery Meter (Retail Box) Now
Easy to setup, good instructions. The lights help you see what is going on (battery status, charging...) and diagnosing wiring issues is easy.The included battery was already charged and the box is easy to mount on the trailer. Overall a great solution, you won't need anything else to setup a breakaway system on your trailer.I thought I was a big fan of these, but I am learning that after they have been on the trailer for more than a year or two, they get ruined by what I assume is sun/ultraviolet damage. The plastic film that covers the test button and the indicator-lights cracks and breaks which in turn lets the water into the unit. This has happened on both of my trailers recently, and the damage is identical. This is not caused by abuse because there is no reason to be touching the covering on the indicator lights. This would be a nice product, but it clearly has a relatively short lifespan.
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This is a very affordable, simple to install charges it's self when the trailer is hooke to a vehicle and works very well could not be any happier with it.
MOTOROLA Product-MOTOROLA MB140R 10-Mile Talkabout 2-Way Radios
- Motorola Mb140R 10-Mile Talkabout® 2-Way Radios - Outdoor Products
Stromberg Carlson Product PA-100 Aluminum Folding Platform Step
- Measures 19 inch x 14 inch x 3 inch or 8 inch having multi heights
- Supports 1,000 pounds and is made from light weight aluminum
- Light weight aluminum will not rust
Outside of that nitty little concern (and if just a tad pricey), it's terrific. Even with my large frame on it, the step gives no indication of strain whatsoever. If you're worried about climbing onto a flimsy stool, this one will give you confidence in your safety.
Buy Stromberg Carlson Product PA-100 Aluminum Folding Platform Step Now
Product is exactly as advertized, portable, sturdy, non-slip with two adjustable heights e.g., folded and unfolded. Great for RVs or trailers. Adds that extra boost to reach the first RV step.Read Best Reviews of Stromberg Carlson Product PA-100 Aluminum Folding Platform Step Here
This step for our RV is the most stable and sturdy we have owned. It weighs about 1/3 of the steel one it replacedWant Stromberg Carlson Product PA-100 Aluminum Folding Platform Step Discount?
This platform step is very sturdy. I use it for osteoarthritis in the knee for exercise since it is multi positional. My original use was for getting in my husband's F250 truck since the step up is too high. I am a big person and it greatly meets the need. Folds up easily to take anywhere. I also have used it getting in a camper or boat. What a great product thanks so much!
Garmin Nuvi 1100 GPS Navigation System 3.5-inch Touchscreen
- Nuvi 1100 has a 3.5 screen and can provide turn by turn directions.
- 3.5-inch touchscreen and has a battery life that can last up to 4 hours.
- FM traffic and MSN direct
- This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows® XP or newer and Mac® OS X 10.4 or later.
As for maps they are not complete. Functional for 2 years business location or middle school (built in 1958) could not be found with both C320 and nuvi 1100 but anyway data base and reception of nuvi is better than c320. The voice on nuvi 1100 loud and clear like on c320 not robotic like on nuvi 255. I set it at 40% to not shout suddenly through music on radio. Nuvi 1100 does not have lane assistance or text to speech but it tells and shows arrows where to turn. You can choose on main screen time or distance remaining to destination or hit speed icon to see all at the time it records your trip's time distance how much left or you've passed and so on).
Instruction (Garmin web site) says that a speed limit icon should appear on screen at the major roadways. But I never saw it neither when I was driving at 101 -highway nor at El Camino Real(CA). How much major they must be?! Well some people's reviews says such an icon signs are not accurate (+5-10 mph) so, better watch for sings on the roads than trust navigators' one. Well anyway I tried couple more locations and nuvi 1100 took me exactly from A to B. Screen of 1100 is much clear than TomTom or Magelan have. Top screen (when you on trip) shows arrow icon where to turn with mileage left to that turn and, next street Name to turn at (there is no current street, well less confusions). You can hit arrow icon to make it repeat where you gotta turn if you missed verbal direction at first time. You can hit street Name bar and see list of turns with streets Names and mileage to that.
There is bunch of text menu and speak languages (if you prefer your native one), there is a micro SD slot for JPEG viewing. There is not MP3player or audio plug but who needs it in the car? Everyone has a stereo. As for accessories I got bracket, suction cup with base (self adhesive on one side) and car charger. Manual says you can plug 1100 to PC USB for charge (means standard 500mA USB power). So I used for first charging Motorola RAZR cell phone wall adapter (for 4 hours) and regular mini USB to USB cable (not included) for maps update (took me about 45 minutes). So you don't need special accessories for that. In fact mini USB to USB cable connected to PC will charge your GPS. Just make sure you plugged to power supplied USB (not all PC USB supplied with power, some of them are just for data transfer). Connect GPS to computer. GPS will show picture of connection then press GPS power button to turn it off and look at the screen. The note like: "Now battery is charging" will appear for couple seconds. Then wait four hours (if it's a first charging) and unplug.
I picked this model because others had problems with shout down and rebooting a lot like: nuvi 1300-1350, 1390, 1450, some models 285 and 205. With 265 and 1300 people had problems like getting lost.
I have my StreetPilot c320 for 5 years now and it never let me down except temporary loosing satellite reception.
I hope very much that 1100 won't let me down too.
PS I would not advise to buy refurbished. Your Amazon warranty won't be granted on it and you have a big risk to loose whole thing by saving couple bucks .
Six month later:
The GPS still works great. I recently went to Yosemity National Park, CA. The GPS never lost reception in the woods or in the bottom of the canyon. I never was there before. So I entered Yosemity Gift Shop address and navigator had no problems to find it even inside of the park and bring me there.
Buy Garmin Nuvi 1100 GPS Navigation System 3.5-inch Touchscreen Now
I purchased this reasonably priced unit today after having many difficulties with a more expensive Tom Tom which was out of warranty by 9 months and started malfunctioning. I paid 3 times the cost of this unit when I purchased that one. I can not recommend Tom Tom.I can recommend this Nuvi 1100. It works very well. The interface is better.
It does not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive units. You can not make a bluetooth call on it with your cell phone. You can not check weather or get live traffic updates.
It is small which I think is good. It is easy to operate also. I would recommend this purchase if you need a simple easy to operate GPS unit.
Read Best Reviews of Garmin Nuvi 1100 GPS Navigation System 3.5-inch Touchscreen Here
This cannot get any easier. Right out of the package it worked like a dream. Once satellite acquisition was made it was able to place me and give me directions to the place I wanted to go. I think this is a great product for the price. Nice entry GPS system. The only problem is the updates for it take a long time. Otherwise it is great. Enjoy!Want Garmin Nuvi 1100 GPS Navigation System 3.5-inch Touchscreen Discount?
I bought this Nuvi at Wal-Mart (WM) to replace one that failed after ~1.3 years of use. After only 3 weeks, the 1100's touch screen began failing intermittently, which was the same problem I had with the old Nuvi. I tried to return it to WM on day 33, but was told they only warranted my Garmins for 30 days, and that they had recently reduced their in-store warrantee to 15 days on Garmins. Garmin's quality must be falling off significantly for WM to cut their in-store warrantee in half. Too bad, I've had a Nuvi 265T for over 2 years with no trouble and love it.BOTTOM LINE: Don't buy the Garmin 1100 and think twice about buying any Garmin. Don't buy from Wal-Mart; in-store warrantee is too short.
It has a 3.5" screen, bicycle and pedestrian modes, and lifetime maps. The cheapest lifetime map equivalent at the warehouse store was about 30 percent more. I read that the smaller units are a little easier to carry around, and we'll be in Seattle soon, on foot for part of the time, and I also want to stick this thing on my bike at some point, which I can do with pedestrian and bicycle mode.
I hooked it up this morning. It came with a window mount and a dash mount. On the way back from dropping my daughter off at Space Camp it told me to head north which is counterintuitive, so I ignored it. Later in the day after picking up my daughter at the same location, we decided to follow the GPS and it took me home on an alternate route, which saved me a mile, a bunch of red lights, and about three minutes. It would have been faster but the GPS didn't know about the construction.
It also has a feature called Ecoroute, where you input your city and highway MPG and gas prices, and it measures how efficiently you drive and grades you for the day. Not as cool as a full-on aftermarket mileage computer, but still pretty cool, as I tend to spend a lot of time on long trips mentally calculating my MPG over and over. It lets you input gallons, distance driven and cost of gas at each fill up. I love this.
Cobra Micro Talk CXT-85 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Pair (Black)
- 16 Mile Range
- 22 Channels
- 6 Rechargeable AAA batteries and "Y" wall charger included
- Belt Clip included for easy carrying
- Lead-Free
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These cobra micro talk radios are perfect for camping or having fun with the kids.The range is pretty good, not 16 miles but at least 2 miles in the city. My kids love them.
Read Best Reviews of Cobra Micro Talk CXT-85 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Pair (Black) Here
it would be nice if they could add 2 features. #1: and indicator light to let you know that the units are actually charging when they are plugged in. #2: battery level display. I had to call the cust. service number b/c i thought my units weren't charging. When you turn the units on, the LOW BATTERY light shows up for a few seconds which made us think they were low. Come to find out, the little battery light will never show full power. It is just a 'low battery' indicator. A little more details in the instructions about those to things would have been helpful. Other than that, they are perfect for 2 kids (ages 9 and 7) to use while playing spies in the backyard.Want Cobra Micro Talk CXT-85 GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio Pair (Black) Discount?
These guy's do the job for casual usage. They are inexpensive enough to be considered practically throw aways. That's a good thing, in my case. Easy to use.When I took them out of the box, I was surprised on how small they were and I thought that they were kids toys, but I was proven wrong when they worked great as I tested them. A lot of people said that the charger does not work on them, but I have found no problems at all with charging them. All you need to do is plug the charger into the wall, and there will be a split in the cord so that you can charge both at once, you so open up the little plastic cap on the top of the walkie talkie and put one of the charging cords into it. MAKE SURE IT CLICKS IN! There is a little click when you put the cord in, so make sure it clicks or else it will not charge. This might be how the other people had problems with charging, maybe they did not push the charger into the walkie talkie all the way until it clicked.
EDIT: Oh, also the battery cap is a pain and a huge design flaw because once you take it out it is almost impossible to put back in, but I will tell you how. When you go to slide the cap back in, it will not slide regularly because the teeth are laying on the bottom when the holes for the teeth are slightly elevated, and since there is a very sturdy belt clip in the way, it is impossible to slide it regularly in. What you need to do is lift the side of the cap with the teeth forcefully up until they are aligned with the holes, and then push it in. Once you get the hang of this it is very easy to put the cap back on.
CrazyOnDigital In Car Holder Mount Cradle for AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III
PROSWell made (okay, it's not titanium but it probably won't break unless you're a klutz)
Tilting arm locks at any angle (little teeth in the rotating hinge prevent the phone flopping down even if the tightening knob loosens due to vibration, which it will when new; I may install a rubber washer to keep it snug)
The mounting plate sits on a rotating ball joint that lets you aim the phone at any angle; doesn't move once you snug it up
The phone is held at two corners plus one tab in the middle of the opposite side; it looks minimal but that suits the aesthetic of the S3 and it doesn't interfere with the screen or controls; the supports fit perfectly and the hold is VERY snug; your S3 will not fall out unless you get run over by a tank
I draped my recharger cord over the arm and it stays put whether plugged in or not, always right there if I want it
Well priced, does the job well for less than some other dash docks
Designer dull gray matches my car's dashboard ;-)
CONS
-No glue-on plate (some installations don't have a flat, texture-free surface where the owner wants to mount the phone; my dash has a pebbly texture so I use a round glue-on plate with a smooth surface that helps the suction cup hold better; this suction cup fits the plate I mounted for my old Moto Droid so no issue for me but it might be for some)
Cheap packaging, just a flimsy box inside an unpadded envelope; things came apart during shipment so the semi-mangled box had only half the parts inside, the rest were rattling about the envelope and could have been damaged or lost (1 star deducted for this)
SUMMARY
Just what I wanted, recommended for S3 users on the go but buy from a reliable source in case the cheap packaging results in getting only half what you ordered.
1) There is very similar holder on "DealExtreme" website for $5.40 + free shipment from China (need to wait 4 to 6 weeks for delivery though), so if you can wait go and buy there.
2) Phone wouldn't fit the holder if there is any cover on it it's huge disadvantage for me, due to I have the case on my S3 and now I need to do something to make my S3 fit the holder.This stand was great. Hung up on my windshield for a week and was working great until the plastic broke on the plate that holds it in. I wouldn't recommend getting this since it broke after a week of use.This fits perfectly my Samsung galaxy S3 and I could mount on the windshield easily. The only issue is that it fits so perfect that I have to remove the cover.
Scosche IPCHRGPCA1 Car Charger/Cassette Adapter for iPod
- play your iPod through your car stereo
- charges your iPod through your 12 volt powersocket
- specifications: Input Volts: 12/24V Output Current 250 MA
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Sound quality is poor. Does not always work when inserted into cassette port.Read Best Reviews of Scosche IPCHRGPCA1 Car Charger/Cassette Adapter for iPod Here
I still have a tape player in my car, so I was very happy to get this product, in order to listen to my ipod. Unfortunately, the cassette adapter never worked! The cassette kept getting spit out. We tried over and over, hitting the prog button, turning it on in different order, hitting the rewind button, etc... It never worked, and I was very disappointed.The charger on the other hand did work, but my intention was to use the cassette adapter.
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I've gotta say that this is an EXCELLENT product for the price. I've been a musician for 25 years and I know quality sound, and the sound quality of this product is first rate. For those of you getting poor quality sound try CLEANING your tape deck head unit. I know good sound and the clarity is just a tad bit below my CD player. Both units of which are connected in tandem with the same head unit in my F250 Super Duty. I've got 2 kicker 12" subs, a hyphonics 1000 W amp and alpine tweets and like I said the sound is excellent for the price. For those of you that rate this product as poor, you should seriously look at your audio system and maybe spend a few bucks and get a head cleaner, or a new system all together.Save 47% Off
After reading all of the reviews for the FM transmitters I decided I would go the cassette adapter way. It worked for about 2 songs then the player kept spitting it out. One of the reasons that I bought it was the power adapter that came with it. Maybe someone will get smart and make one of these things that actually WORKS!!!
Wsch Rapid Travel Charger for Apple iPod/iPhone
- New generic Travel Charger
- Best replacement for the original iPod Home/Travel Charger
- Small and lightweight for convenient portability and storage
- LED charging indication
- LED charging indication. Quantity: 1, Color: White.
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THIS IPHONE CHARGER IS WELL WORTH THE SMALL PRICE. I BOUGHT IT AS AN "EXTRA" CHARGER SO IT'S ALWAYS KEPT PLUGGED IN THE WALL IN THE KITCHEN.Read Best Reviews of Wsch Rapid Travel Charger for Apple iPod/iPhone Here
This charger stopped working after a few weeks. Very cheaply made. Not worth even the small amount of money I spent.Want Wsch Rapid Travel Charger for Apple iPod/iPhone Discount?
It's a wall charger, that works like a wall charger! I have a ipod 4 and the charger works as it should.Save 98% Off
I needed a new charger for my Ipod but I didn't want to have to travel to other stores or spend more than I thought a charger was worth. Came across this while searching and was skeptical, but for only 2 bucks I figured why not.Turned out to be a very good purchase. Works great with my classic iPod and iPod Touch, and has still been working well since I bought it almost a year back. Seems like a lot of other reviewers are having issues with it not working for long, but that hasn't been the case here. It is rather generic looking/cheaply made, but that doesn't effect its use for me and for the price I'm happy it worked out on my end.
Porta-Jump 91300 Emergency Jump Starter
- 5 year life expectancy
- Small enough to store in your glove box
- Does not require periodic recharging
- Works without jumper cables
- Fully charged and ready to go right out of the box
BTW, not meant to use for a bad battery that will not take a charge; only for situations where your battery still takes a charge but is run down ie by a light left on or a loose/corroded battery terminal, etc.
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I bought one of these in a store about 3 years ago (I've forgotten which automotive store it's been so long). I had a number of instances back there where I needed a jump, and I loved those little kits the triple AAA guys carry to jump cars, much easier than involving another car. So when I saw this in the store I had to buy it. I admit the entire time I've had it I was skeptical it would work. But fortunately I've not had occasion to use it, until today. I remembered that I had this in the back, and despite the package saying a 5 year lifetime, I was not at all confident that it would work after this long. But I opened it up, followed the little instruction list on the back of the battery, and sure enough 10 minutes later my car started right up. The thing paid for itself because triple AAA wanted to charge 35 dollars to come down and jump us. Totally glad I bought this thing.And like other reviewers have said, this won't help if you have a piece of crap battery in your car. Even normal jumping won't get you far with a lousy battery that needs replacing.
Another thing: Make sure you have some strong scissors in the car to open it, or take it out before storing in the car. I was lucky I was at a library at the time, and could borrow a pair. They make the plastic packaging on these things very strong.
Read Best Reviews of Porta-Jump 91300 Emergency Jump Starter Here
I was skeptical at first, but I bought it anyway because I liked the idea, and thought it might be worth it. I left my lights on one day while I was disc golfing, and of course my battery died. I plugged it in, and my car started 10 minutes later. Make sure you read the directions. The car has to be in accessory mode for the Portajump to charge your battery.Want Porta-Jump 91300 Emergency Jump Starter Discount?
It will only work if the Battery is low because of leaving the headlights on.It will not work if the battery is bad such as having a bad cell, bad starter etc.
myCharge RFAM-0006 Portable Power Bank 3000
- 3000mAh battery DOUBLES the run time of most smart phones
- Charge level indicator
- Built-in M2 connector with mini & micro USB
- Built-in Apple connector
- Mini-USB Charging Port
Working great for me so far.
For the guy whose charge port slid into the unit, I would imagine that there are screws under the rubber feet that could be removed to take the unit apart and repair it. I had to do a similar repair to my large Duracell (Xantrex) power pack/starter battery/inverter when it's charge port slid back into the unit.
Chris Shaker
Buy myCharge RFAM-0006 Portable Power Bank 3000 Now
I have a Droid3 phone that I wanted to use this device to charge while on a long flight. It worked sort of. I had to keep turning it on and back on again. According to the manual, if it flashes two lights while you are attempting to charge a device, this is the signal for an overload. This happens sometimes if you connect more than one device at a time, the manual says. But I never did that, only just tried to re-charge my phone in flight. Unfortunately I had to keep watching as it charged to make sure it kept working. Not sure if it is peculiar to the Droid 3 but I could not find an obvious solution to this nagging problem. So yes it works, but it isn't plug & forget. I think IGo makes more reliable products.Read Best Reviews of myCharge RFAM-0006 Portable Power Bank 3000 Here
This seemed like a great buy, no losing tiny tips or mixing up cords and it comes with the three most common power ports.Unfortunately the power input port (micro usb) that you use to charge the battery broke off and fell into the unit when I tried to plug it in tonight. I spent $80 and got to use it for exactly 3 days. I really should have kept that reciept.
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i chose this rating because this piece meet all the expectatation i have of it. i told quite a few people about this product and how it is working for meSave 59% Off
Salaam Aleikum, LONG LIVE THE IRANIAN EMPIRE AND IIA, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN!This powerpack is very useful if one needs an emergency supply of power. It gives about 2 to 3 hours more to a cellular phone or GPS system. The item isn't very heavy so it can be carried with ease. It is also quite durable and made of sturdy construction. Do not take it into water simply because it looks waterproof, however. Overall a good product!
Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Pack of 2)
- Each panel creates 1.8 Watts of energy and charges 12V batteries
- Works with motorcycles, cars, snowmobiles, tractors and more
- Made of durable ABS plastic and amorphous solar cells
- For indoor use--solar panels are not waterproof
- Each unit includes 7.5 feet of wire, 12V DC plug, suction cups for mounting for easy mounting onto windshields, and battery clamps for plugging into cigarette lighter
Doing a little testing on my amp draw of my jeep. I found that is pulls .088 amps with no key and all accessories off. Sticking a panel to my windshield resulted in a reduction of my amp draw to .017 amps. This is better, but not quite what I was wanting. Remembering that all windshields come with a UV filter in them, I pulled the solar panel into the direct sunlight and found the vehicle was now charging .023 amps. This is more like it, however, reading the directions, these panels are not weather proof, meaning, waterproof.
Installing the second panel along with the first behind the windshield resulted in a charging of .017 amps. So, it seems I need to install both panels to keep my battery maintained while in "storage". Remember to check that your cigarette lighter is a constant power on (there is power with the key in the off position). If not you will need to install a aftermarket plug for the panels to work.
Buy Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Pack of 2) Now
I keep several antique vehicles, two pickups, and two new cars I drive almost daily. So, I was looking for a solution to maintain the battery on my 2007 Siverado pickup with only 5,500 miles accumulated on it after almost four years. As you can see, it's not driven much and it still looks brand new for all intents and purposes. The standard alarm system and electronics place a constant drain on its battery and I was having to jump start every time the truck hadn't been started within a month I also knew that wasn't doing my battery any good.Local and other stores wanted $15 to $20 more for just one of these solar maintainers than priced at Amazon.com. I was surprised to find this offer of two, for what amounted to the price of one, and quickly purchased them at the savings offered. I also have a pristeen 1981 GMC Sierra with only 22,000 miles on its clock. So, this two pack gave me one to use with it as well although the Sierra doesn't drain its battery quickly at all while sitting idle.
Now, this is two complete blister packed SunForce 50012 Solar Maintainers I received for a 50013 "Twin Pack" labeled product ordered from Amazon.com complete with spring loaded Alligator battery clamps and a "cigarette lighter" adapter. A generous amount of wiring is included (8 feet from the factory panel connection) with a standard connection to adapt either the provided "cigarette" or Alligator clamp type connectors. The wiring also looks well insulated and of a durable gauge to support long life in standard use of the product. The overall look of the product is sturdy but not unbreakable. So, it's not something to bang around with rough treatment. Stow it with some care when not in use.
I noticed a blue LED began flashing on the panel in normal room lighting as I removed the packaging. I walked outside and watched that LED immediately go brighter and remain solid blue. I connected the provided "cigarette" adapter and checked the power output. Using a new Amprobe ACD-14 Plus, I measured the output and found it exceeded the factory rating of 125 milliamperes @ 15 volts. The instructions say the voltage will read 16 volts to 25 volts in full sun, and the sun was already low in the sky as I made my measurement so I imagine it will hit 25 volts in full sun. With that thought in mind, do not turn on any electrical device using 12 volts with this connected. The excess voltage could cause damage.
I connected the unit to my Silverado's cigarette lighter connection, but the Silverado has a short style lighter and too much of the adaptor plug was hanging out for my liking. I then moved it into the deeper accessory plug on my Siverado, and it fit well inside it. Since power is always on at these Silverado connections, either would work for charging purposes. The unit lay easily in the dash depression on passenger side of my pickup and looked good there. As I connected it, I had immediately noticed the blue LED began flashing upon connection and went solid when I removed the connection a sure sign it was charging my Silverado's battery when connected. I'm sure the battery was ready for a charge as it had been two weeks since it was last driven.
The instructions say to disconnect the panel before starting and operating the vehicle for safety reasons, and that is simple enough without further details (see above voltage details). I wouldn't want it connected while driving anyway, and its thin small design stores easily under the passenger seat with its attached cable (roughly 14"x5"x1/2"). Sunforce also states on the packaging the unit has built in overcharge and discharge protection (no other electronics needed for use), and it is waranteed against all defects for one year with a five year total limited warranty.
The warranty will be voided if used outside and weathered, but the instructions say it can be weatherproofed against moisture by sealing the edges of the glass frame and around the plugs with a clear silicone caulking. Four small suction cups are also supplied, but only two can be used at a time. Personally, I don't trust the reliability of any suction cup on any device even if it is feather light. I don't need them, but they are included.
In my use, I'm looking forward to a long service life from this product that it appears I will get. At this low price, even a few years of reliable use (and not having to jump start my pickups) will easily pay for it. Now, only time will tell if one of these supplying up to 1.8 watts delivers enough power to prevent the electrical drain from my Silverado's security system on its battery. I know one can keep the battery pumped up on the older Sierra.
If this doesn't work for my Silverado, there is another larger and more powerful solar panel sold by Amazon that will for about $80 (6.5 watt Sunforce 22005 12-Volt MotoMaster Eliminator Folding Solar Panel). It rolls out on its nylon cloth of a size to roughly cover a dash, is made to handle abuse, and it is also fully weatherproof if needed outdoors. Indeed, one of these 1.8 watt SunForce 12 volt Battery Maintainers will also work very well in one of my antique vehicles instead of my removing their batteries if the 1.8 watts turns out not to be sufficient for my Silverado.
To further allay any fears concerning this product, the rated panel current, of the 125 milliamperes supplied, is insufficient to overcharge any automotive battery and a diode prevents battery discharge through the panel. One or both of these panels will aid in the prevention of battery sulfation and the resulting power loss it creates. These panels are NOT battery "chargers" and will not recharge/repair a heavily discharged/sulfated or otherwise damaged battery (internal shorts or dead cells). This product will overcome parasitic electrical system losses that would eventually drain a battery over time, such as while a vehicle is sitting idle provided those parasitic losses are not too great. Hence the name "Battery Maintainer".
*Also note a discharged automotive battery, that is still undamaged and not totally drained, can "rebuild" its power levels after some time sitting idle with all electrical loads removed. This "re-bound" is normal in good batteries, and this product can aid in that "re-bound" by working against sulfation.
***UPDATE*** December 1st, 2010
It has now been four months since I placed my two battery maintainers in use. My 2007 Silverado just sat unused for two months without being started, and its battery was fully charged when I started it. That never happened before I used this solar panel from Sunforce my battery would have been discharged enough, in only one month of disuse, to require a jump start. After TWO MONTHS of not using this truck, my battery was FULLY CHARGED and placed no recharge drain on the engine's electrical system when I started the engine!
I then decided to check my 1981 GMC Sierra, as it had just sat idle for 3 months. Normally, starting it after this length of time would have caused a squalling alternator belt as the battery recharged after starting the engine in it. This time there was no noise, and the truck's electrical guage showed only a normal draw as if the truck had been driven daily! Moments later, I turned on the headlights and the heater fan to "high". Even that didn't make the alternator belt so much as whimper.
I am now very pleased with the performance of these two Sunforce solar battery maintainers. It looks like my days of having to drag out the battery cables for jump starts are finished at least until I actually have a bad battery, and that may not be for a very long time now. Too bad these things aren't built into new cars.
***UPDATE*** December 2011
It has now been well over a year since I started using the Sunforce battery maintainers. Both are still performing as they did when new, as I checked them with an Amprobe digital meter. Both were still showing 18 volts output in sunshine and were close to the advertised ampere output.
But, while the maintainers have kept my battery voltages up over extended periods of a month or so of not running my vehicles, they don't fully protect from the naturally occuring problem of battery sulfation. Getting a 12 volt battery reading does little for starting an engine when sulfation has reduced the factory fresh (rated) available ampere charge below that needed for starting an engine the Sunforce product here only aids a little in sulfation prevention by keeping battery voltage up.
While these maintainers did work well for vehicles I drove once a month or so, the batteries still sulfated. The end result one of "maintained" batteries was recently unable to start the vehicle it sat in. A look under the vent caps told the story of why when the battery was initially reading 12.5 volts yet couldn't start the engine unless "jumped" from another vehicle and no, there were no parasitic voltages in the electrical system. The plates had all turned light gray with sulfation the normal alternating light and dark gray plate coloration just wasn't there. Fortunately, the battery wasn't as yet swollen.
I also own a BatteryMINDer 12248 charger/desulfator, so I put it on the battery. It immediately showed the battery was heavily sulfated with its yellow indicator glowing steady. Even though I had earlier charged the battery at 30 amps for 30 minutes and it still could not start the vehicle. After two days on the BatteryMINDer 12248, the battery recovered enough to start the vehicle again. But, I installed another battery and will let the BatteryMINDer fully desulfate this one before re-installing it.
What this points out is these Sunforce panels are not good for a long term (storage type) maintenance cycle on lead acid batteries without some type of regular interim battery desulfation. For this reason, some may be expecting a bit too much from these Sunforce panels. For those folks, the best solution will be using a BatteryMINDer solution for a day or two each month or so or just using a BatteryMINDer like the 12151 I use on a few of my stored vehicles. Whichever BatteryMINDer solution, rest assured the BatteryMINDer de-sulfation process will restore a sulfated and dead battery back to operation unless the battery has other defects. I've even used a BatteryMINDer to fully restore a 13 year old battery that had sat dead for the last five years in my garage. After a few weeks on the 12248 BatteryMINDer, that battery unbelievably returned to like new performance.
So, the Sunforce has its place but you might also want to invest in a BatteryMinder for periodic de-sulfation of any lead acid battery.
Read Best Reviews of Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Pack of 2) Here
Gave my husband this because he was always complaining his battery was going dead. He has a van that he doesn't drive all the time but the couple of times he really needed to have it start in a pinch and it was always dead! Since I got him this solar charger there's a lot less cursing and frustration and it starts every time! It has made my life easier and he said it was one of the best gifts I got him ! I would definately recommend it!!Want Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer (Pack of 2) Discount?
I have a Ford 150 Pickup that I don't drive very often and I was having problems keeping the battery charged. I am now using this product and it works great. I live in the Pacific North West and it works well even with our cloudy and rainy days. I think this item is priced a bit high here but it works great.Save 30% Off
Amazon's product #52013 is confusing. This item is NOT the Sunforce 50013, it is two of Sunforce 50012. Though the description lists boat and PWC application, the 50012 is not meant to be around water, while the 50013 is completely waterproof.According to the user manual, the panels can be waterproofed by tracing a bead of clear silicone around the glass frame. I've done this and installed the panel. We'll see how this works.
After several years of using Amazon this is my first eperience with this sort of confused product identification. The website makes it difficult to complain directly to Amazon, so buyers should beware.
In summary, if you have marine application in mind, make sure you order Sunforce #50013. It costs the same, although you only get one in the package.
Tenergy 2-Channel 18650/18500/14500 Li-ion Battery Charger
- Two independent charging channels for individual charging and detection
- Reverse polarity protection. It automatically terminates charging and the LED flashes red when the polarity is reversely connected
- Worldwide voltage for 100-240V AC
- Constant current and constant voltage charging mode
- Applicable battery type: 18650/14500 rechargeable Li-ion battery