Power Bright PW2300-12 Power Inverter 2300 Watt 12 Volt DC To 110 Volt AC

So I have had this inverter for a little over a week now, I have tested it for the last few days, this thing is the real deal at a nice price. I had mine running 2 LG 10,000 btu window air conditioners to see if it would work and it worked like a charm! At first i ran the ac units and the wire was getting a little hot at the connections so I used a heavier gauge wire and a better connector and it works great. This inverter was worth every penny in my opinion. I made a battery pack that it connects to power all my fun camping stuff for when I go camping. The product itself is made nicely even the remote looks sweet, they could have cut corners on a lot of things but instead they did not. I love power bright just for that! For those of you that are wondering the inverter itself starts beeping at around 10.5v and its not a loud annoying beep that you will find on other inverters, its gentle to my ears. Also the unit turns off completely @ 10.3v

If you get this unit be sure to read the manual, its pretty short and sweet and has some useful info in it as well. Use 2 gauge or 0 gauge for best results. Make sure you use this with a deep cycle battery for optimum power. I'm extremely picky when it comes to buying anything that is electronic and I can honestly tell you that I cant find anything to complain about at all.

UPDATE!!! Ive had this inverter for about a year and a half now. I use it for satellite power where I need it on job sites and use it 90% of the time. Ive run just about all the big tools you can imagine for a contractor. Big table saws, tile cutters, reciprocating saws, hammer drills, impact drills, shop vacs, my compressor which is a rigid contractor roofing compressor,hell even my 120v ac welder at max setting purrs like a kitten with this thing :) drill chargers, masonry stone cutters (those babies need some serious power cutting through rock!!! I must say this inverter still makes me smile every morning it starts up no problem even though I use it a lot. I cant tell you how many hours i have racked up on old blue. Its well over 1000 by now, That's right i named her ;) I must say i would trust this thing with my life. If you use it all the time like me blow out the fans every 6 months or so to keep them flowing properly. If you keep the fans working this baby will last forever.

After doing much research, my being a nuclear/mechanical engineer & all, I elected to purchase this inverter, so as to power various appliances in our new RV, including a microwave oven, TV, stereo, etc. But instead of just installing it, without knowing what it's real limitations might be, I elected to test it 1st, by hooking it up to numerous ever increasing loads. So initially I used some non-recommended but still very high quality 6 gauge cables that I had lying around, thinking that they should work, just for my brief test period. At this point the inverter failed miserably, by only putting out approx. 600 watts, vs. it's rated 2300 watts = much disappointment. But a call to Power Brights Technical Support Dept. (they are excellent & most helpful) quickly determined that my cables were most likely the problem, as this inverter reportedly looks back at the resistance of the cable, vs. the load which is ramping up, at which point the inverter shuts down rather prematurely, as it's designed to, for safety reasons. In any case, their recommended use of 2-gauge cable, which is clearly stated in the provided Owners manual (I used 2-gauge very flexible welding cables, 6' long) immediately solved my very low output problem, hence this inverter now puts out > 4000 watts surge, with around 3000 watts continuous. So in lieu of it initially just being able to run a 500 watt floodlight, it can now start & run my basements 1/3rd hp sump pump, in conjunction with a 1400 watt microwave, in addition to the 500 watt floodlight, in addition to my 500 watt 3/8 drill, "all starting simultaneously", without a single hesitation, nor peep of any kind. In the meantime, the cables themselves remain at room temperature, with just a slight increase in temperature in the inverters metal case, with not a single cooling fan coming on, even with these rather heavy loads, hence there is no noise what so ever. In summary, this device easily exceeded all of my expectations (powerful & quiet), as I have yet to even find its true load limit. In reality, I'll only be using approx. 1/2 of this inverters output, with plenty of margin, should I need to run a power tool or something, while the microwave is on, and the stereo blaring, etc. And if I had to do all over again, I would purchase the 0-gauge, already made up 6' long power cables from Amazon for ~ $50., along with a $10. Bussmann fuse holder from NAPA (which I did, as it's identical to the 2 fuses holders that already came with our RV from the factory), along with a 225 amp Bussmann fuse for $5. (it's a near perfect match for this inverter), also from NAPA (ie. Amazon offers neither of these products for some reason). So nice job all around by Power Bright = Easy 5 Star Rating.

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This inverter is great. It's the perfect alternative to a gas generator. I use it for back up power at home. My wood stove heats the house and this inverter powers my whole den. Cable TV, computer, lights, microwave, etc. I run a string of christmas lights up the stairs to the kithen and bedrooms. My power source is a Diehard PM-1 deepcycle marine platinum battery. It's on trickle charge all the time. A user note is to keep the cord to the TV as short as possible to minimize RF interference. you can also coil up the AC cord to work as an inductive RF choke.

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Bought the Power Bright PW2300 as back up power to operate my sump pump and freezer in case of power outages due to hurricane Irene. In a dry run (as it were), I hooked up to my car battery using the recommended 4 gauge connectors and it powered up the sump pump motor ok. But it just could not get the freezer motor to turn on. I knew that pumps can require higher initial starting power than their running power need but felt that I had bought a unit with sufficient power head room. Based on another reviewer's comments, I returned it and bought the Whistler pro 2500 watt inverter for a few dollars less. The Whistler had not come up in my original search so I did not know about it until I noticed the review later. Hooked it up and the freezer started right up no problem. Maybe the difference between "2300" and "2500" was the extra umph that I needed. If you are trying to power household devices then I recommend going with the 2500 as a minimum. As a bonus, the wattage out indicator in the Whistler worked much better than the Power Bright's which often did not indicate watts if they were too low.

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First one arrived late March 2010. Watt meter did not read anything and the remote was broke. The box had no visual damage to it so I figure it was in the packing at the company. Paid for the shipping back to company. Second one arrived late April 2010 and everything has been good up to Nov 30, 2010, just over 7 months and now one of the outlets are bad. You can hear the crackling when something is plugged into it. Called the company and YES, I have to pay for the shipping AGAIN back to them from Maine to Florida to be repaired. The company told me I should have a spare anyways just in case something like this happens. Great $200 to $250.00 sitting on the shelf, yea right. It will not happen again with this company. I will sell this unit when it arrives back to me fixed and I will order from a different company this week. This inverter will end up costing me over $50.00 more now because of the extra shipping and finding another way to run my freezer and lights. Screw them!

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MIDLAND LXT600VP3 36-CHANNEL GMRS RADIO PAIR PACK WITH DROP-IN CHARGER & RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES, Mod

We got this Midland pack to test in the field and really like these new extreme range NOAA weather alert ,two way radios. Lots of great features , 121 privacy codes,keypad lock,water resistant, mic jack, and more. They tested out great, here in the hills and valleys of the high desert, in Central Oregon.

We use them to gain position, out predator hunting ,and when riding on our atvs.

Lots of optional accessories available for your special needs. Silent operation is great for hunting ,where a loud beep , can spoil the stalk, and you go hungry.

I give these radios a high recommendation ,for quality, features, and great range.

Pros/// 3 year warranty is great. belt clips and rechargeable batteries included. hands free operation.

Cons /// They work great and are a good value ,except if you run them over on your atv, like I did. I hope this review is entertaining ,and helpful. FISHGRILLER APPROVED

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Rapid Car Kit Auto Plug-in Power Charger for ATT Samsung A187 - A197 - Samsung Eternity 2 - Samsung

good shipping, good features and working. It replaced my old charger I had inside my car.

I would like a longer cable

It fits my car. It fits my phone. It charges my phone. It's black with a long cord that let's me leave it in my cup-holder while charging. I'm happy. That's all I got.

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I needed a car charger for the rare occasions that I might need it. Although this product seems cheaply built, it works fine and for the incredibly cheap price you couldn't ask for more.

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That is convenient for me, when I'm on the road and my cell phone needs

to be charged. And everyone can get a hold of me.

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Orange Nylon VG GPS Carrying Case (Size 4.3) for TomTom VIA 1535TM 5-Inch Bluetooth GPS Navigator +

• VG Brand semi hard nylon case, manufactured to fit your TomTom VIA 1535TM 5-Inch Bluetooth GPS Navigator
• Semi hard nylon exterior protects your GPS from bumps, dents, and shock
• Non scratch microfiber lined interior prevents scuffs and scratches from accumulating
• Fishnet pocket allows you to carry accessories such as cables, batteries, and a cleaning kit
• Designed accessory slots that allows to conveniently carry up to 3 memory cards

This item is very well constructed,however. It doesn't fit the Tom Tom 1535-TM as they indicate. Should have known that a 4.3 case can't hold a 5 inch GPS. DUH!!!! I only gave two stars since i haven't been able to use it, but it seems very well constructed.

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eForcity Universal USB Wall Charger for Apple iPod Shuffle/nano/touch/classic, Microsoft Zune 30GB/8

• Compatible With Apple: 10GB/5GB/iPhone 3GS 16GB/32GB . 15GB/30GB/40GB/10GB/20GB/iPod classic 160GB/80GB/120GB/iPod nano 1st Gen. 1GB/2GB/4GB . 20GB/iPod 4th Gen. 20GB (Color Display)/30GB (Color Display)/40GB (Photo)/60GB (Color Display)/60GB (Photo)/20GB
• Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a fully charged battery and automatically switches to a saver mode to prevent overcharging and short circuit.
• Type: generic/aftermarket.
• Please use Apple's iPod travel charger or our iPod travel chargers to revive your dead battery. For other brands, please make sure the travel charger has this special feature.
• Needs to pair with a USB charging cable(comes standard with iPhone or iPods originally). Additional USB charging cable is available for purchase separately

This charger works great.My bf bought me this since I have a lot of apple products.It even charges my portable photo keychain!!It doesnt get hot and the plug can be moved in different directions.Its a good price too!Its better than spending 20-30 bucks at an actual store.

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It fried my ipod. I didn't even know that's what happened because one night, the ipod just didn't want to turn on. I charged it earlier that day using this gadget and not until later when my daughter's ipod was fried that I realized that that was what happened to my ipod. It didn't even charge my daughter's ipod completely, it got very hot, then it didn't want to work anymore. This charger is very inexpensive, very easy to use, and I think it got great reviews which is why I bought it. But don't be tempted like me, you get what you pay for with this one for sure. You will regret it. We now just use a Gogroove speaker system or the computer to charge our ipods. If I ever get a wall charger again, it'd be an Apple product and even that, I will call them first to make sure there's no danger of frying the ipods again.

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Charge my ipod touch and iphone. charger is compact, multi directional, and does not get hot. Works on european voltage too, great deal!!!

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I used this charger once, then all of a sudden it won't work when I plug the iPod into the USB in my car. The display showed up but nothing played. It only got worse. Then I got a "white-screen of death" on the iPod. Itunes doen't recognize it anymore & I have to take it in to get it fixed. I can't prove it was this charger, but the charger was the only thing different.

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I have an ipod touch 3G and this fits it just fine. What I do like is that the actual plug folds down into the white part so it makes a perfect travel/home charger that you really can tuck away into a bag and not worry about the metal prongs catching on anything. Really compact. I did try it only my old (2g) nano before letting the touch near it and had no problems. I don't thinks the charge is as strong as from the computer as the touch drains battery quickly if you use apps or safari.

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CTCstore 1900mAh External Backup Battery Charger for iPhone (Rechargeable)-WORKS FOR 3GS, iPhone 3G,

It is very good item for i-pod gamer.

When you play 3d games, battery runs out fast.

Good price and higher capacity of battery.

You must like it.

I am very happy with the life of this charger. It holds a charge for weeks that has recharged my iPhone multiple times. It is a little bulky, but because it charges so quickly you don't need to leave it connected for long.

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I bought this because of the i-Phone in the family whose primary user tends to let it run down. Think of this as the can of gas you keep in the back of the truck. It wouldn't normally be needed, but if you get stuck far from a gas station, you have the back-up. It only makes sense if you are not near a conventional charger (at home or in a car). You might think that one can charge the unit and a phone at the same time by putting the phone on the unit while it is charging, but that appears not to be true. Seems to hold a charge well. Good insurance, especially if you think of your phone as a security device.

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This battery stops working pretty early. There were other reviews about it dying within the first week. I usually charge my phone on a regular basis so didn't need it too much within the first few weeks I got it. I've used it occasionally only for road trips. It started malfunctioning on the 2nd full cycle using it, where it blinked and died out completely. I thought it was the end of the battery, but tried a few more times to recharge it, which it then came back on. I used it a few more times on occasion. Right now I trying to recharge it from complete empty and it's showing no life whatsoever. I've used it between 7-11 times max on occasion. So in this case, you're getting what you pay for. Perhaps invest in a better battery or a car charger?

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I have an iPod Touch 2nd generation and this battery is a wonderful, inexpensive accessory to own. I wasn't too happy with the battery life of the iPod touch but with this battery augmentation I can use it heavily (games, internet surfing) all day long and not worry about recharging until I go to bed. I would just give it a break on occasion because the iPod can get warm. As a side bar, I've used it a lot more lately because of corporate restrictions at work. Anyone with an unlocked Nokia e60 on up should get the program Joiku ($12!) to turn your phone into a hotspot. Just make sure you have a data plan and having an unlocked phone keeps you-know-who from knowing what kind of phone you're using and not paying the smart phone data plan. It's kind of slow but you can browse on your terms (he he he...) I will be getting a hand-me-down 3G S soon so this ad hoc system will go bye bye.

The battery is housed in a plastic case with a brushed aluminum bezel with 4 blue led charge level indicators and a charge level button to see how much juice is left when not connected. It is slightly bulky but light and I would have preferred it in black but it works and it isn't unsightly. The connector is standard for both iPhones 3g and 3gs and iPod Touch 1st-3rd generation (I tested it with my friends devices). The battery unit charges up quickly from 1-1 1/2 hrs. yYou need to charge it for 4 hours the first time.

I can charge both devices simultaneously with the standard cable while they are connected. I often keep the battery connected while in use and only let the iPod battery discharge on occasion to keep the iPod Touch battery in good condition. My battery App suggests I let it run down below 20% at least 1x per month to do a full cycle recharge. My only gripe is that the audio port is blocked while it is connected which is why I give it 4.5 stars. Not so for the iPhone though!

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CTEK 56-573 Comfort Connect Cig Socket

• Quick connect
• Watertight
• Charge your cell phone from your bike

As shipped, this allows you to plug a female cigarette lighter plug into a ctek-equipped electrical system using the o-ring weather sealed ctek snaplock connector. That's great, but you are still confined to the cigarette plug format.

You can cut the cig plug off and install what is known as an anderson connector on the end of the cord, change the fuse to whatever your wiring system can handle (10-20-30 A), and then use this as a high power interface since your ctek outlet is wired directly to your battery with high current cable (in my case #8 wire, 6 feet, directly to the battery) and it comes out on my dash next to the cruise control with the opposite polarity ctek connector.

In effect, this allows you to use a vehicle or battery in reverse, taking power out of the charger inlet. Your creativity is not burdened by the 10A wiring to the lighter socket in the vehicle.

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This is a good addition to all the CTEK accessories. I use it in my off-road RZR to plug in a heated seat

cushion for night riding. The entire CTEK line is high quality excellent equipment .

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Very good product. I use it to charge my cell phone while riding my motorcycle.

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this works great if you need an additional power outlet on a motorcycle lawn tractor or what ever you maybe using the charger on . Very well built and should last along time.

I dont have a Ctek charger just the hook up put on by the dealership. This little product is very nice because I dont have to install a 12v plug. This is easily put away when not needed. Shipper was fast and on time.

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Cyclops CYC-S35012VR Thor 12-Volt 3-1/2 Million Candle Power Spotlight

• Direct use with 12-Volt DC plug adapter
• Compact design

Tried this to replace another spotlight that had some problems. I lucked out. This is a very good spot light.

Pro. Good bright light. My other one had quality control issues and I think a loose connection that did not allow the bulb to reach its full brightness.

Soildly made case. The other one was two thin plastic halfs screws together. When I received it they were not mated correctly to one another

Soild thumb switch. I was afraid I would not like it because it lacked the trigger switch. But it is reminiscent of the spotlights I used in my early days of police work (before we got post mounted nights). The switch is well made and eay to use.

Compact design. Its not bigger than it needs to be.

Excellent price.

Cord is a good length. The other one was a bit shorter and was always pulling out of the outlet just enough to unplug it. Very annoying. The cord is a little longer on this one (not enough to make it a nuisance ) and the cord has more flex in its coils.

Cons: Lose the red lens cover. It will only get you in trouble with the police if used from a moving car.

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If you need a spotlight that can recharge then this one is not for you. If you want a spotlight that plugs direct into a 12volt outlet and has power that will get out 400+ yds then this one will put a smile on your face.

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No complaints here! Everything about this light is well designed. The light is very strong and the spotlight is very sturdy. Best spotlight for the price I have found so far and I have used many over the years.

Updated 10/19/2011

I have been using these light regularly now for about 10 months and I have to admit that my initial review is flawed as the spotlight stops working after about 2 months of regular use. I think it might be the on and off switch but I am not sure. I just know that the light all of a sudden stops working and I have opened it up and have not seen anything noticeably wrong. I tried switching adapter with no luck and I tried wiring the wires from the on and off switch directly with no luck. I have already bought 5 off these and 4 have broken. I keep buying because I have that hope that somehow if I do something different it will last longer as it is a good price for a good light (when it works). I just want to make you guys aware that it might last you more than 2 months because I do use it about 5 time a week for about 3 hours everyday.

Updated 12/8/2011

Okay, I am done throwing away my money, the same thing happened again with this light. It honestly works for about 2 months with constant use. I don't know what better review you can get than from a guy that bought about six of these and used them on a constant base. I would think cyclops would test these out as much as I used them before selling these units. I guess they just test them out for a week or so, because I am confident that if they tested them for 2 months they would not work.

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I found this light to be convenient and compact...it's brightness surprised me! The red lens can easily be removed! The grip is comfortable and the switch is located perfectly where your thumb can flip it on or off. I'm happy with this product...nothing bad to say about it.

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This is a great light. It plugs into the socket in my vehicle. I tried the re-chargable ones and they don't work if you let the battery go dead. It can't be recharged. This will work anytime I am in my vehicle.

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Kindle Fire PowerBolt Duo USB Car Charger with USB Cable by Kensington

Kensington makes excellent products. This Powerbolt Duo car charger is no exception. This Kensington car charger is good for charging the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire, and it comes with a micro USB cable for the Fire, but it costs $30.

The Kindle Fire requires an electrical charging current of 1.8 A (1800 mA), so only chargers meeting current output of more than 1.8 A can charge it in reasonable amount of time. Many chargers on the market have output current of 2.1A. Make sure you see this specification on the product page. Kensington, Skiva, and Scosche all make car chargers that meet the 2.1 A requirement but are much more expensive.

The least expensive is by AmazonBasics, under $10.

AmazonBasics 2-Port USB Car Charger with 2.1 Amp Output (Black)

You also need a micro USB cable (for charging and data transfer):

AmazonBasics USB Cable 2.0 A Male to Micro B (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters), $6

This is the kind of cable (USB 2.0 on one end and micro USB on the other) that some reviewers were saying that Amazon should have included in the Fire box. It is used for charging if the connection is between the Fire and a USB charger, or copying files from your computer to the Fire and vice versa, if the connection is between the Fire and your computer.

This charger has two USB ports that share the 2100 mA output, so if you want fast charging, use just one port to charge the Fire/iPad, and leave the other not used by anything else.

This combo costs $16, about half the cost of the Kensignton.

I would only recommend the Kensington if you want to charge the Fire or iPad AND another USB device that consumes less than 1.0 A SIMULTANEOUSLY and don't want to sacrifice charging time. Physically, the Kensington is smaller and also well-made.

The other two reviews don't say much of anything other than negative stuff so I am going to tell you about the good stuff. I ordered this for my first Kindle. No it is not black like the picture or at least mine is not. Mine is white. It does work nicely when I have been in a crunch to charge my Kindle while traveling in the car. No it's nothing fancy that needs to cost a ton of money! Amazon has provided a good product for charging the Kindle. I hope this helps anyone they may want to purchase. It really does work!

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Love this charger. Now I don't have to worry about not being able to charge up my Kindle Fire. This fits any standard car plug (former cigarettte lighter) and it even piggy backs a similar product since the plug has two ports.

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THE ITEM WAS JUST AS PROMISED. IT WORKS WELL. IT COMES WITH THE USB CORD AS WELL AS CIG LIGHTER ADAPTER.

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The price was right, the product is good and the delivery time was great. I have been very please with all of the things I have purchased from Amazon.

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Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel

• Collects 7 watts of solar power
• Use solar power with USB or 12V devices
• Can charge most cell phones in 1 to 2 hours
• Protect devices or cables with built-in pocket
• Foldable rugged design and weather resistant
• Fashion forward
• Protective
• Practical

I have purchased, used and tested every lightweight solar charging device on the market that I could find. The Goal0 nomad 7 and Guide 10 set is the only one that works sufficiently that I can be completely off the grid with my backpacking devices and have no need for extra batteries. See below for solar panels tested. I have been testing portable solar panels for several years now, and the Goal 0 products are the best.

The Nomad 7 is the only solar panel that has the capability to charge an adequate battery pack, my headlamp AAA's, AND my smartphone/GPS all in the same day in full sunlight. It is the only panel that has reserve capacity to charge my devices in less than full sun (shady/cloudy). No other panel has the output of the Nomad 7. Its closest competitor is the Brunton panel. The Brunton weighs 20% more and is rated to output 30% less than the Nomad 7 (Brunton = 5 watts, Nomad 7 = 7 watts). In my testing the lower output was verified. The off-axis performance of the Nomad 7 is superior. It maintains full output to a greater angle of sun than any other panel I have tested. The Nomad 7 is the only panel, in my knowledge, that uses the more efficient mono-crystalline panels. It does seem to give it an edge in real-world usage. As far as flexibility, that characteristic has nothing to do with panel efficiency. Another of the well-thought out features of the Nomad 7 is the connection options. The Xpal SP-2000 and the Solio both rely on many different tips to connect to different devices. The Nomad 7 has three great options built in: 6.5 volt fast charge for the Guide 10 charger, 5 V USB connector, and a port that the included 12V female car lighter adapter plugs into. Every portable device has the option of an inexpensive car power adapter, and the Nomad 7 nicely offers that ability.

The Guide 10 charger works to its rated specifications, unlike most of the other solar devices I have used. It charges AA and AAA batteries. It charges them faster with the Nomad 7 than any other solar panel/charger combination that I have tested. The Goal 0 batteries that ship with the Guide 10 are the best of their type I have tested. They are low-discharge, like the Eneloops, but much better. The Eneloops are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge only to about 1900 mAh capacity. The Goal 0 are rated at 2000 mAh, but charge to 2200 mAh. The guide 10 has some very well thought out features, including the LED flashlight, the function switch and the built-in hanging loop. These touches all demonstrate that the designers are users, and thought well about how these devices would be used.

All is not perfect, though. The Guide 10 does have an overheating problem, but only in very strong sunlight and under certain conditions. This is a known issue that is being fixed as I write this. This brings me to one of my most important experiences; customer service. Goal 0 has the best customer service by far than any other of the solar panel manufacturers I have tested in this group. Immediate phone contact, responsiveness to questions and warranty service are far and away some of the best I have experienced.

Following is a list of the solar panels I have tested, and short comparison comments on each.

1. Powerfilm USB + AA: This one has a great form factor, is flexible and very durable, and is the lightest weight and most compact of all the solar chargers. Its fatal flaw is that it simply does not put out enough power to be practical in extended backpacking. It does not fully charge the AA batteries when it indicates a full charge, and is not nearly as flexible as the Nomad 7 for connection. The unit was replaced on warranty, but the replacement performed exactly the same. I tested a total of four of these, and all performed the same. Customer service was good, after spending weeks trying to get their attention, and this happened several times.

2. Solio Classic: This one has a nice form factor, but the unit simply does not charge its internal battery nor a connected device at all adequately. Just in case, I had it replaced on warranty and the replacement performed exactly the same.

3. Xpal Power SP-2000: Same as the Solio. Internal battery rated at 2000 mAh, only charges to about 1100-1300. Not enough power overall to be practical. Very good customer service.

4. Brunton Explorer: A good panel, but not enough overall power. Weighs 20% more than the Nomad 7, output is 30% less.

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Since there isn't a lot of detailed info out there about this product, I'll give the obligatory novel-length review.

I actually purchased this on sale for $60 elsewhere, which was quite the steal (it's gone up in price since). I received it yesterday evening, so have had it less than 24 hours and just tried it today about an hour ago on my lunch break. Got it primarily for use with my iPhone 3Gs when camping and hiking this summer. Frankly, I didn't think it would work out of the box for my iPhone because Goal Zero states on their website that the Nomad 7m may or may not work directly with the iPhone and it's best to just buy a battery pack and charge from there. Their documentation also states you should let the panels warm up in the sun a bit before trying to charge anything.

I decided to try worst case scenario and plugged my iPhone in directly right away and stuck the Nomad in my car's front window on a very cloudy, rainy day in Seattle. Nothing happened. No charging, no messages from the phone. Let it sit with my iPhone plugged in for about 15-20 minutes and still nothing, so I unplugged the phone and let the panels continue to warm up in the car window. About 10-15 minutes later, the lower, darker clouds blew away and it was still quite cloudy but noticeably brighter, so I plugged the phone back in and got an error message that the phone didn't support charging from this device (which made me happy because at least SOMETHING was happening). I tried a few more times, got the same message, then decided to let it stay plugged in while I drove back to work. And, LO! About a minute later, I heard that blessed "buzz buzz" the iPhone gives off when it's been plugged into a charger.

My drive back to work was only about 5-6 minutes long and I'd say the charger was only directed toward the sun (still quite overcast) about 2-3 minutes, but the battery went up 1%, so I'm calling that a win. Every time the panels go out of the direct sun, it's the equivalent of unplugging your wall or USB charger, so I'm thinking that investing in the Guide 10 battery pack to harness power is a good idea if you can stand the extra weight. The battery pack itself is the size of an iPhone and the Nomad 7m is just a bit smaller than an iPad and a little over a 1 lb. in weight, so a backpacker might have a hard time justifying carrying around all of this gear.

One commenter asked if the cells were bendable and the answer is no. There's a slight amount of give so that it's not what I would call fragile, but the panels are, presumably, breakable. The case it comes in is sturdy, so I would think you'd have to be pretty rough with it to break anything. Like other reviewers have noted, the case it comes in is well made and there's lots of little hooks to attach it to whatever. Plus, it comes with a small, light caribiner which is handy.

I obviously haven't had this long enough or tried this in enough conditions to give an accurate star rating, but I'm giving it a tentative 4 because I'm pleasantly surprised that it worked directly with my iPhone in such crappy weather conditions, but wondering if the "warm up" time is a first time issue or a consistent issue. Having to wait almost an hour before it starts charging would be kind of a bummer. I may update my review after I know more. Going to try this with an iPhone 4 as well and will include an update if the experience with that is any different.

UPDATE:

Originally gave this 4 stars, just bumped to 5. Finally got a relatively sunny day yesterday and it charged my older generation iPod in 1 hour. Successfully charged an iPhone 3Gs AND an iPhone 4. Note: You have to take the bumper off, or the connection isn't good enough for the iPhone 4 to even recognize the device. It still took warm up time (about 20-30 minutes), but that was with cloud cover coming in and out on a cool day in Seattle. It's incredibly efficient when the sun is beating right down on it. Love this thing. Going to order the Guide 10 battery pack next.

Read Best Reviews of Goal Zero 12301 Nomad 7M Solar Panel Here

This is bar none the best portable solar charger I've come across. It charges basically anything smaller than an iPad. I've charged countless toys in little amounts of time during hikes in / or fly fishing. Amazing piece of technology. Secondly, their customer service is polite, know their products, and respond quickly to emails / phone calls. This company and their gear couldn't be more highly recommended. It's the best I've found.

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I bought a Nomad 7 last year. Love it. It makes great power in all conditions.

I liked it so much I decided to pick up a second one to keep in the car. I went through two of them. The first wouldn't make power in full sun (obviously something wrong). The replacement for it, would charge my cell phone (via 12V cigarette lighter adapter) in direct full sun, but not in full sun sitting on my dashboard (something my original Nomad 7 has no problem with). Apparently the glass is reducing the light enough that it cannot get the power high enough to charge.

Needless to say, both were returned and I guess I am not going to get a second one. The first one is great, but the power output of the subsequent ones has been all over the map. A better job of QC needs to be done before the panels ship out to make sure they perform consistently.

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I bought this from Goal 0. It charges my Droid X from 25% to full in less than 2 hours. A must have for campers and hunters.

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Black & Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump-Starter with Built-In Air Compressor

• 450 amps instantly jump-starts without the need of another vehicle
• Built-in ultra-bright LED work light for emergency roadside assistance
• Exclusive built-in 120 volt AC charger for use with ordinary household extension cord for recharging
• Reverse hook-up warning alarm to prevent damage to vehicle or electronics
• One year warranty

I just wanted to clear up some common misconceptions regarding these jump-start/inverter/inflator products. I personally own 3 different types from 400 watts to 1500 watts and have done tons of research on them. I guess you could call it an unusual hobby I have. I blame the manufacturers for over hyping these units or just choosing not to inform consumers of their limitations.

THESE UNITS ARE NOT AS POWERFUL AS YOU THINK! Most people seem to be very disappointed by the amount of "juice" these put out.

--FRESHLY CHARGED this item will probably run a small TV/DVD combo continuously for around 2.5 hours. That's it. Also, you can't run a coffee maker, hair drier, microwave, refrigerator or heavy duty power tool off this. It's just not designed for that kind of use. Buy this to run a small TV, fan or laptop for a few hours, or to charge your cell phone. That's all it's designed for.

--You probably won't be able to jump start an 8 cylinder engine with this especially if it's an older car or has a totally dead battery. These units are mostly for 4 and 6 cylinder engines. They just don't have large enough batteries in them to turn over a big V-8.

--The air compressor is little more than a toy. All of these units have tiny, noisy compressors in them that will take 20 to 30 minutes to inflate a single full size 16" tire that is totally flat. And you will completely kill the battery just doing one tire like that. Plus you may damage the compressor by running it that long continuously because they heat up so much during use. You're better off taking your tire to a gas station!

THE UNIT WILL SELF-DISCHARGE JUST BY SITTING IN YOUR CAR! It will lose about 10 20% of it's charge PER MONTH. The hotter it is outside the faster it will self-discharge. PLUS YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY THE INTERNAL BATTERY BY LEAVING IT IN A PROLONGED DISCHARGED STATE! You can easily kill this device permanently by a process known as sulfation, in as little as one year, if you don't keep it charged. (This is what happened to my first unit, a Xantrex Power-Plus 400. It cost me about 1/2 the original cost of the unit to replace the battery!)

To prevent this you need to either bring it in the house and recharge it about once a month (who's going to remember to do this?), or keep it plugged into the cigarette lighter at all times. Some people claim this can overcharge the battery, but I disagree. Your cars built-in voltage regulator should keep the unit topped off without doing any damage to it. Plus you know you always have a freshly 100% charged unit ready to go.

-You should immediately recharge it after each use. If you use it for a jumpstart or even to recharge your cellphone you should recharge the unit within a day or two. This practice will prevent harmful sulfation and prolong the life of the unit.

-These don't last forever. Just like your car battery eventually needs to be replaced so will the battery in this device. Expect about 100 full charge/discharge uses or 5 7 years, whichever comes first, before the battery in this will need to be replaced. Some of these jump-starters/inverters don't have user replaceable batteries so you may have to replace the whole unit anyway. You can usually find a reasonably priced replacement battery on e-Bay if you're handy enough to disassemble the unit and find out what size battery is inside. Based on the weight and size I would say the VEC026BD has a 20 Amp Hr battery inside it, but that is only a guess on my part and should be verified by disassembly.

For the money I'm not super-impressed with this unit. I just bought the Xantrex PowerPack 600 on sale from Amazon for $100 delivered. The 600 has a more powerful battery and can run larger appliances longer than the B&D. It usually goes for $130 but even at that price it's worth the premium over the B&D.

I hope this guide has been helpful to you to maximize the usefulness and life of your jump-start inverter, and to give you an idea of what to expect when you purchase one.

Buy Black & Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump-Starter with Built-In Air Compressor Now

I just purchased the electromate 400 a few days ago ....I charged it overnight then tested it on a few things. Obviously it will jump start a car since it is basically built around a car battery.

It ran my large box fan just fine. Also worked great when I plugged lamps into it.

I tried using it to brew coffee using my Mr.Coffee but apparently the amps being drawn by the water heating and also heating the hotplate under the pot was too much for it and it would just shut down after a few seconds every time I tried it. Too bad ! I suspect if you have a newer coffee maker with the insulated pot and no heated hotplate you might do just fine.

One thing I could not find much info on before I purchased it was just how long will it power ordinary household items during a power outage ?

To test this...with the electromate fully charged, I plugged a 13" color tv with a built in DVD player into the electromate, put a DVD movie in...and checked the clock. It kept the TV powered and the movie playing for just a few minutes under 3 hours. Not bad. This is a well built unit...seems very sturdy...but is a bit heavy so don't plan on taking it backpacking. I'd recommend it highly to anyone looking for a way to keep some of the small conveniences going during a power outage.

Read Best Reviews of Black & Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump-Starter with Built-In Air Compressor Here

Bought this for jumping off my second vehicle which oftens goes several weeks without being driven and for powering small devices when camping. Worked fine for jumping off the vehicle; however, used the unit to power an electrically powered air mattress inflator and it did fine. Went to plug in the small fan and nothing. For whatever reason, the electrical outlets do not work now. Tried everything.

Follow up:

Just received my second unit. Charged it 24 hours. Plugged in regular size box fan and the unit's electrical outlet status light starts blinking green and shuts down after less than 2 minutes. Plugged in a small desk top fan and the same thing. Even plugged just my answering machine in and the same thing. Black and Decker must have issued a bad batch since most other reviews are positive.

Amazon has been truly amazing. They shipped the replacement model which I received three business days after filing for a return and even had UPS pick up the original one.

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Perhaps too heavy to carry in your car all the time, but I did take it on vacation, and sure enough, I left a dome light on long enough to kill my battery. This had plenty enough power to get my car started. The 120 volt was used to power a trouble light at home, on a rewiring project. It sure beat trying to work with a flashlight. I have not tried the inflator. I bought this with some camping use in mind, but haven't got to go camping yet.

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While this may not be the most powerful backup power unit and it is a bit heavy (but a cool and practical design) I have found so many uses for it and well worth the $100 I paid for it. I'm kind of a tool girl and buy stuff even though I don't think I will need it. I was so wrong with this one.

I purchased my original unit in AUG, 2007. I immediately took it on a dry camping trip just cuz it was a group trip and we all like to show off our stuff. I won! On that trip, I was able to air up my mattress and keep a florescent drop light on for one of the party nights then recharged it off of a friend's portable generators.

I do craft shows and like to take samples. I was able to run a large crock pot with this unit, keeping my chili warm for hours, turning it on and off through the period of time I expected to need it and the chili remained at a "food safe" temperature.

At a most inconvenient time, the battery in my 1999 5 Liter V8 Ford Explorer died and I used this unit it to jump my truck several times a day for 3-4 day without recharging.

I have used it to top off my tire when I had a slow leak and needed to hold over until I could get it fixed. (Pretty large tires)

Most recently when Hurricane Ike was coming in during the early AM hours, I knew my power was going down. I fulled charged the unit and plugged the wireless router and modem into it so I could watch the live broadcast of the storm coming on shore on the laptop. It held over until almost daylight and I felt like striking up the generator.

I do chili cook-offs and have one of those blowup nylon/poly decor things like folks put in their yards at Christmas, a little smaller though. I can plug that into the unit and it runs for hours and I have power if I need it for a blender or something else like that.

I run a large chile garden and take this with me when I work in it for the day. Instead of running the truck radio or long, long extension cords out to the field, I just plug my radio into the unit.

My home and garage were burglarized this year and my original unit was stolen. It was one of the first things I replaced because I just think it's a good thing to have around.

This is by far a very amateur and non-technical review but I do hope that it does let someone know that this is just one of those things you think you will never need and you will be surprised at all of the ways you could use it. Sure, it would be nice it it ran for a longer period of time and it did not weigh as much as it does (but the handle is very comfortable, even when lifting it up onto the under-hood to jump your battery) the Electromate has managed to make the list of Hurricane Preparedness down here.

BTW, I would have never gotten the one with the radio instead of the air compressor...just plug the radio into this while you air up the inner tubes for the river!

I hope my info helps!

Beth in Texas

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Uniden GMR 2638-2CK Two Way Radio

• 121 Privacy codes per channel to help reduce interference from others
• Connect a VOX or PTT-type headset for private conversations (not included)
• Rechargeable niMH Battery packs
• Dual charging cradle allows you to charge both radios simultaneously
• Roger Beep lets you know when others are finished speaking

The radio is great, it has very good duality sound. But it came with some issues:

One of the radio was almost all the time receiving static, then I changed in the store, but I founded the same issue, so I took the two good radios and leave the two bads ones.

I live in the city, so the maximum range was like a kilometer or 1000 meters. But after that it is a good product.

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Thought this would be a great gift for my children. They charge and stay charged well and the reception is very good, but one of the unit always makes continuous static after you release the talk button.

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We bought these so our kids could keep in contact with us when they are out and about in the neighborhood. We couldn't get them to work past 2 miles or so, but to be honest, we didn't really try that hard either. I imagine if you played with it a bit you could make it work farther.

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is basic, as expected, but works excellently, and recommend the product very well that came with rechargeable battery, this saves a lot of money at the time-

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Have purchased these before for work and for hunting. Very well made compared to other brands. Highly recommended to others.

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Car Charger Power Adapter for Philips DVD Player PET723 PET726 PET729 PD700/37 PD7012/37 PD7019/37 P

• for Philips DVD Player PET723 PET726 PET729 PD700/37 PD7012/37 PD7019/37 PET741/37 PET941/37 PD9000/37 PET1000/37B PET941A/37 LY-01 AY4133 AY4198
• about 5.5', 170cm in length, 90° connector
• 12V input
• quality generic replacement for Philips DVD player car adapter
• high quality car power cord

good service, good quality thanks. I would recommend this to another buyer. they say I have to write eight more words, so there, I did.

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Product is well work the money! Works great and shipped to me really fast...very impressed. Worth purchasing versus high priced items from the manufacturer.

Read Best Reviews of Car Charger Power Adapter for Philips DVD Player PET723 PET726 PET729 PD700/37 PD7012/37 PD7019/37 P Here

It works perfect. No difference with the original one, and it is not expensive. Also arrived on time, so I have no complaints.

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Not exactly as what I had, but worked just as well, replaced what I had lost, and arrived very fast

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Wagan 2544 500 Amp Battery Jumper with Air Compressor

• 500 cranking amp jumpstarter with extra long six gauge booster cables and heavy duty clamps
• 260 PSI air compressor with quick flow that inflates 16 inch tires in 5-10 minutes
• Comes with 2 DC portable power outlets and 1 USB power port
• Built-in work light, battery status indicator lights and built-in safety features
• Ideal for cars, vans, SUVs, trucks, boats and more

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00167S67A/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

The jumpstarter was purchased because my car failed to start on its own one very cold morning. It arrived within two days, and I haven't had to use it personally however my neighbors car did the same and I lent it to him he started first try. Since then we've had power problem outages and I've used the light and battery power to run my laptop and printer. throught the usb port. So far the best buy in the worst winter we've had since 1993.

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This has already paid for itself in saving me time and money. I have a slow drain that is too expensive to trace... so I use the jump starter fairly often. It works great and I love it!

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I gave this as a Christmas present and recently found out that after a few uses the unit sparked, smoked and stopped working. It is a piece of junk.

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I purchased this because i am wheelchair bound. I wanted an air compressor for both my wheelchair and automobile tires. Also for roadside emergencies. It is lightweight compared to similar models. I have already used the air compressor which is great. I am very pleased with this product because of the various accessories and lightweight (woman friendly). I would definitely recommend this product.

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Bought on of these for my wife in February and we love it. We have used it several times and the air compressor once. The air compressor really came in handy to get the tire blown up more than enough to get it to the tire shop with no problem. Now, I am buying one for myself

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