RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel

• 2 USB Charging adapter
• Charge smartphones, tablet PCs, MP3 players, gaming devices and digital cameras
• Full speed charging

The Kindle Fire comes with its own charger, and if you're happy with that, then this probably won't apply to you. But if you have multiple devices that can use a USB charger and you need to consolidate the number of extra items that you may be carrying, then this RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel may fit your needs, and do it better than you think.

The Kindle Fire comes with a charger that has a DC output of 5V, 1.8A. Many of the third-party chargers that people have substituted as backup do not have the needed 1.8A (Amps) necessary to charge the device. Simply put, you'll find your Kindle Fire isn't functioning when you want or need it to do so. But this RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger has two outlets, and one is clearly marked with 2.1 Amp output (2100MA), so it will meet the needs of the Kindle Fire quite easily.

Pros:

* Dual USB ports; one marked 2.1 Amp output charges the Kindle Fire every time

* Charges two devices at the same time, just watch the power requirements

* Excellent quality with a compact design; well made

* Has a 3-prong grounded plug, useful in some environments where it required

* Rubberized plug cap protects the 3-prong grounded plug

* Fast charging times

Cons:

* Some may find the 3-prong grounded plug inconvenient with older 2-prong wall outlets

* Rubberized plug cap could get lost or misplaced

* No power indicator light

Observations:

The direction sheet states that this unit will shut down if you try to charge devices that consume too much power, and if that happens, they suggest that you try charging each device independently. I observed no problems charging a number of different devices simultaneously with the Kindle Fire, so you'll have to determine how that works in your individual case. There is no power indicator LED so you'll have to check the charge indicator lights on the individual devices. A red power indicator LED is found on the AmazonBasics Wall Charger with USB Outlet (2.1 Amp Output), but that one has only a single USB port, though it has a convenient swing-away 2-prong plug.

So far I've successfully used this RCA 2-outlet USB portable charger simultaneously with the following devices, and all combinations of two:

Kindle Fire

Kindle 2

Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Bluetooth Headset

BlackBerry Curve 9330

Be aware that this USB charger comes with no USB cable, which you will need. The Kindle Fire and the other devices listed above require a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B male cable, and below is a list of ones that I've used with the devices listed above. Some are higher in price than others, but each of these will work with this charger:

* Cloth Jacketed / Ruggedized USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B Cable, 6 feet, manufactured by Gator Crunch

* AmazonBasics USB Cable 2.0 A Male to Micro B, 6 feet / 1.8 Meters, gold-plated connectors

* Mediabridge USB 2.0 A-Male to Micro-B Cable, 6 feet, gold-plated connectors

You may want to check the reviews and the prices on these, but the one that I use daily for charging and data transfer is the ruggedized one made by Gator Crunch.

If you don't like the black color, there's also the RCA PCHUSB2R Portable 2 Outlet USB Charger for iPod/iPhone/Blackberry and Other Devices in white, but check the prevailing prices between the two units.

Summary:

Other than the minor irritation of there being no power LED on this USB charger, it's a good product, and is well constructed. I also have the AmazonBasics Wall Charger noted above, and both of these are excellent devices with two different ways of approaching USB charging. Just remember that you need a USB 2.0 A-male to Micro-B cable if that's the one that fits your needs. I'm knocking off half a point because of no power LED on this RCA Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger, but will round it up since there are no half stars here. It's a highly recommended 4.5-star device that does its job, and does it well.

7/3/2012

Buy RCA PCHUSB3R Compact 2 Outlet USB Portable Charger for Home and Travel Now

All those cables, chargers, supplies to take when traveling. And those hotel room plugs are usually never enough or inconvenient to use.

This little gizmo is small and can charge two devices from the same outlet. Unfortunately it has a three prong (grounded) plug. Good luck finding a three prong jack on a table lamp jack. But when you do, this has the ability to charge any of your devices. One of the USB slots is labeled 2.1, so that is enough for an iPad, Kindle Fire, pretty much anything. Lots more power than hooking a USB cable to your laptop.

While I wish it were a two prong device, it is small, easy to use, simple to throw in a bag and not fragile. Just be careful you don't lose the cap.

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The portable USB charger is about the size of a small candle or medium sized pencil sharpener, the USB plastic casing measuring 1.5 inches tall (not including the prongs) and about 1.25 in diameter. The included protective cap covers the USB plug's 3-prongs to prevent bending. There are no lights on this charger which I'm glad for since when on the go, I usually charge my devices at night in the same room I'm sleeping in and I prefer no extra lights to interfere with my sleep. This charger comes with a 12-month limited warranty.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this USB charger charged nearly all of my USB devices using each device's USB charging cable:

iPhone4

iPad 1

Kindle Touch

Kindle Keyboard 3G

Nook Color

Nook Simple Touch

Jabra Drive Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone

But it couldn't charge my Sony Reader PRS-T1. If wasn't for this one, this would be a 5-star product.

I was able to charge any combination of the devices listed above with the exception of the Sony Reader with no problem, as stated in full-speed charging mode. I liked that the USB slot for the iPad is clearly marked in a bright green outline with 2.1 AMP notation so there is no mistaking which USB slot to plug it into.

I would definitely recommend this portable USB charger, especially at the low price of this one.

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I have several other USB wall chargers at home. Used to be hard to find one, but now with all the smart phones out it seems like they collect around here like coat hangers. However, this one is quite unique to my collection since it has two USB ports.

The charger is slightly larger than some others I've had, but then again that's understandable because of two ports. It's important to note that they ARE NOT equal ports. Both are USB A female slots, the generic connection nearly every computer has, but they have different power outputs. One is a 2.1 amp port and the other is only a 1 amp port. For a device that needs more power, the 2.1 amp is a necessity. For a device that requires less, but can adapt to greater power being available, this port acts as a rapid charger. I didn't notice that much time saved on charging my devices, but maybe a little bit of a boost.

This is very important. If you have a cable in BOTH ports, then BOTH ports will only output 1 amp. The directions are very clear, if you have something like an iPad and your phone plugged in and it's not charging right, take one out and charge the devices one at a time. It's the same as a battery charger taking longer to charge 4 batteries than 2. The device's plug is a 3 prong grounded plug that is accessed by removing the cap on the bottom. You'd need an adapter if your power strip doesn't take 3 prongs.

What keeps me from giving it my top recommendation is that it's big enough you'll probably store it in your checked luggage, but while it's got a cap for the bottom, the top is fully exposed. If you have it bouncing around in your luggage and there's something sharp there's an admittedly small chance that something could stick into the USB ports and damage them. It also makes it susceptible to a shampoo leak which could get in or just dust and crud collecting in there if you have it sitting horizontally on a power strip. The cap is also not attached to anything, making losing it a possibility.

Still, for the price being charged, the quality of the construction, and the benefit two ports gives you, I really have no reservations in saying this is a very good buy.

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It charges the new iPod touch 5 or the old iPad 2 through the 2.1 amp output. Nice rounded design to throw in a bag and go. Bought two= Happy

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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.

I think this is a bit misleading advertising. You dont need the A/C charger that comes in the pack because you get one when you buy the GPS. However, the car cigarette-lighter charger is a must have and this does a great job keeping the power charged. Get one.

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RoadPro RPBH-012 12V Beverage Heater

• Plugs directly into your lighter/power socket
• Heater coil works directly in beverage container
• Use with glass or ceramic containers only

Hot water in my flask doesn't stay hot enough for a whole day out, and this is a good way to bring my tea or coffee up to temperature. I haven't tried heating water from cold it is always at least warm when I start. It takes several minutes and the wait can be a bit tedious, but it does a good job. The clip which is supposed to hold the heater onto the side of the mug doesn't (it flops about), so I have to hold it to keep it properly immersed. It cools off quickly and is reasonably easy to clean with a small brush.

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This is a good product. I use it in a stainless coffee mug in the car. Sometimes the cigarette lighter plug on the Road Pro will melt if you leave it on too long. Radio shack part number 270-1521 is a much more robust plug. I just crunch the old plug up and cut the metal tabs with the wires soldered to them from the original plug and put them in the holes in the Radio Shack heavy duty plug and it is fixed and lasts forever. I leave the LED connected and it indicates when it is plugged in.

Great gadget. Much better than the plug in mugs that fail quickly.

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I purchased this item as a gift for my son. He is an over the road truck driver and I thought this would be nice so he could make coffee of a morning. He used it twice and it burned out. It may be that it was just a defective product, but on the other hand at a cost of about $12, it is not worth taking the chance. I would have returned the product, but it may be months before I see him again, and he had already discarded the packaging. My loss could be your gain. Don't buy!

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I bought this item to heat water so that I could keep hot coffee during a 5-day cross-country road trip. (Without having to pull over to purchase it...) The product specifications indicates that the so-called "metal" clip would attach neatly to most "CERAMIC" coffee cups. Firstly, the "metal clip" is NOT METAL but some type of hard plastic. I chose a ceramic cup with the narrowest rim to be sure it would accomodate the space allowed for the clip to engage. However, as soon as I placed the clip on the rim of the my cup, the clip snapped off! (With little or NO pressure!!)

I just finished the trip on Saturday Sept. 4th and any hot coffee during my trip was purchased from various vendors enroute so I wasted $16.98 on the item and shipping cost. WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP!

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Although the other reviews were not promising I gave it a chance. Wrong! The heater was in pieces on arrival, the tip was unscrewed. I put it back together, used it once and the tip melted. I had used the 110v units years ago and although they didn't last very long, I decided to give this a chance, as I work from a vehicle. Don't waste your time or money.

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4) COBRA CXR-925 2 Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies 35 Mile

• (8) Brand New MicroTalk Cobra CXR925 35-Mile Radios with UHF/FM - Ultra-clear long distance reception.
• Up to 35 Mile Range - Extended range capacity provides up to 35 mile range. (Range will vary depending on terrain and conditions.)
• Rewind-Say-AgainTM Digital Voice Recorder - Miss a call? Playback the last 20 seconds of audio. Transmit saved messages. Record messages to yourself.
• Selectable Power Output - Choose between High Power to maximize range or Low Power to conserve battery life (in GMRS).
• 3124 Channel Combinations - Available when the 22 channels are combined with the 142 privacy codes (38 CTCSS/104 DCS), these combinations prevent interference from other radios.

I have had these for a few weeks and use them daily. They work as advertised although, as has been widely reported, the range is no where near what is advertised. They do reach across our small town and I have taken them with me to the store and been able to chat with home base. That is maybe a mile with houses and hills in between. Have not had them in the woods yet. They are light weight, small and easy to carry and use. We have put them throughout the house so we can conveniently contact one another in and around the home. (With five kids and a large house, it saves on the lungs or feet.) The "play back" feature is especially nice because my hearing is not great which also brings up my chief complaint (besides the range issue) which is the volume. They are not easy to hear (hence four rather than five stars) and my hearing is bad anyway so the playback feature is very nice. Given the good price on these, I think they are a very good value and recommend.

Buy 4) COBRA CXR-925 2 Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies 35 Mile Now

This turned out to be a decent bundle for family excursions. Purchased for a cruise and found reception to be okay. Reasonably compact compared to other popular radios. The replay feature is what pushes this review from 3 to 4 stars.

Read Best Reviews of 4) COBRA CXR-925 2 Two Way Radio Walkie Talkies 35 Mile Here

I bought over a dozen of these for the staff at our school because the price was low and I'll admit: I don't know a whole lot about two-way radio. Well, most of them stop working almost immediately. Some began to transmit even when the person did not intend to transmit anything. I had the pleasure of listening to one teacher teach his class for 15 minutes before we finally found out whose radio it was. This is a joke! Avoid these at all cost! I gave two stars because the seller did ship them to me pretty quickly.

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If you want a two way radio that reaches further than motorola's two way radios, this is it. I'm not saying you can go across town with it, but I've been trying to get connected within a 10 block distance, downtown, lota of building, and all the radios I've bought simply didn't work. This is the only one untill now, that delivered what I wanted. That's why I'll buy other 8 pairs of it.

The features are great but not worth much if you can only use them in your own house! Very disappointed!

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Alemite 595-B 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Powered Grease Gun, 10,000 psi Pressure, 25 Cartridges per Charge,

• 27 Grease Cartridges per Battery charge
• 8,000 psi (552 bar)
• 6.0 oz (170g) / min
• easy to prime at low temperature
• Durable ultra-flexible Kevlar reinforced hose with flashlight

Have one of these already. Ordered another one for the guys on the crew. Great grease guns. Sure beats doing it by hand when you have alot of machines to grease everyday.

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I am a heavy equipment operater and if you do greasing on a regular baisis invest in the 18V Alemite!!! I have used just about every grease gun on the market over the past ten years threw my company and this is hands down the BEST!!! It is a little on the spendy side but I have used this gun hard over the past year and it still works like new. This one gun will outlast many lincon grease guns. I really like the speed of this one, it never air locks the cartridge always threads right on and the battery is AMAZING! lasts forever and doesn't develope a memory. Best grease gun ever!

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Sunforce 37015 60-Watt Solar Panel - Crystalline

• Built with high efficiency crystalline cells
• Designed for RVs, homes, boats, back-up & remote power use, 12 Volt battery charging and solar power stations, pumps, beacons, and lighting equipment
• Easy to install and maintenance free
• Completely weatherproof for added durability
• Kit includes: 60 Watt crystalline solar panel, 7 amp charge controller, wiring, brackets and screws

I was advised to purchase this size solar panel by a friend so I could keep my RV deep

cycle battery from discharging. The second day camping , I set up the solar panel on top of my

camper shell and hooked it up to my trailer battery. By 11:00 am the battery was fully charged.

The only thing I added was some insulated electrical connectors from Home Depot. The solar

panel works great, I no longer need to be concerned about saving power to make the battery last.

I have plenty of power to last however long I stay.

BigJAY

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I purchased two of this item one came with a 7 amp charger the other one did not

DO NOT BUY YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHAT YOU WILL GET!!!!! NO CHARGER NO WIRING

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2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the HTC EVO 4G - Uses Gomadic TipExc

• Transmitters emit a powerful FM signal that is the maximum allowed by FCC regulation. Advanced signal isolation provides crystal clear sound quality.
• Smart technology circuit architecture provides precision voltage and resistor regulation specific to the HTC EVO 4G. Protects the internal battery longevity by modulating the charge in a safe and efficient manner.
• Full FM frequency spectrum is available and is user selectable in 0.1MHz increments from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. Advanced Digital PLL sound coding maintains stable and high quality sound.
• Sophisticated power protection mechanisms keep your EVO 4G safe from power surges, overcharging and short-circuiting.
• Product is designed to last and is backed by our Gomadic Lifetime Warranty. Buy with confidence!

This is a return review. I have used this charger/fm transmitter for my htc evo for five months. It served its purpose for the five months. however, it is not working and not charging now, i just wanted to mention that to users

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I have had this product for some time now and it still works as expected. No complains so far. I would recommend.

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it's been a year since I had this and it still works well and still love it, also got 1 for my wife and she loves hers

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Exactly what I was looking for. My truck doesn't have a MP3 jack to listen to my music on my phone. Love this product!

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Mine worked fine till i hit it with my knee. Ordering my second now. I love this little thing, never had any problems with signal interference, in fact it drowns out local stations, unlike other fm transmitters i have used. (Sirius satellite radio & my GPS (it plays mp3s))

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HI-CAPACITY B-CHU1BL ChargeSmart 2200 External Charger for Phones (Black)

• 2200 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
• Slim and cylindrical design for portability
• LED charging indicator
• Short Circuit Protection

Able to use my out of battery Galaxy Nexus phone while recharging. Easy to keep in my tech vest pocket or in my briefcase because of shape and light weight. Better than AA battery devices as there is no danger of electrolyte leakage, light weight and rechargeablity. Recharged my phone to 80% from total discharge. Plenty of talk time until I can find an outlet to get a recharge.

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Charged my Samsung Galaxy S III. The charging and discharging lights are clearly displayed during use. Compact, portable and easily carried while traveling. Will make an excellent and useful gift.

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I was given Chargesmart to test. It is a wonderful battery backup and is light weight and will rescue me almost anytime if I have forgotten to fully charge my phone, Ipad or Ipod before getting on an airplane or anywhere. It will fit in a small pocket or purse. It is great!!

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This is exactly what I was looking for. Works as advertised. I use it for both my iPad and iPhone with the standard Apple white cords.

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Lifesaver on many occasions. Would not be without and I would recommend to all to not hesitate to purchase this product.

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Powerful Samsung Focus Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Gomadic Brand Battery Pack - High Capacity Porta

• Very easy to operate. Simply connect Samsung Focus, press activation button on pack, and charging begins. Quick start guide included.
• Specification: Internal Battery (3400mAh lithium polymer), Input port (miniUSB), Output Port (Standard USB), Onboard Circuit Design (Samsung Focus Specific), Dimensions (4.0 X 2.0 X 0.5 inches), TipExchange enabled (Yes)
• Integrated circuitry tailors output voltage and charging current to exact specification of the Samsung Focus (accurate to 0.1v).
• Elegant, compact design is approximately the size of a standard deck of playing cards. Rugged exterior is built to last and backed by Gomadic Lifetime Warranty
• Built using unique Gomadic TipExchange Technology that protects your investment by providing the ability to upgrade charging ports by simply swapping the physical connector.

Works well. Wife and I went on a camping trip and I wanted to make sure I had enough juice for my new Samsung Focus phone. Battery indicator went down to about 1/8 on the phone and the Gomadic charged it up fine. There are four indicator lights on the Gomadic indicating how much juice it has left and after charging the Samsung with about 1/8 left, the Gomadic still had two lights, so I could have gotten more juice if I had needed it. As a plus, the Gomadic has a LCD flashlight. It also allows you to pull out cable and have it fixed in place so you have some slack to use the device while it's being charged. Push a button and the extra cable is pulled right back into the device. Only downside for me was that I was hoping I could have charged it from a wall outlet, but it only gives you the option to charge the Gomadic from a USB connection. Maybe there's an adapter so I can charge from the wall if needed? Anyway, overall I'm pleased with it. Going to keep it in my backpack with me as a backup.

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Odyssey PC1200MJT Automotive and LTV Battery

• Cold Crank Amp (CCA)- 550; Better warranty: Limited 3 and 4 year full replacement warranty - not pro rata; Longer service life: With 3-10 years of service life, ODYSSEY batteries save consumers time, money, and aggravation
• Longer cycle life: 70 percentage longer cycle life compared to conventional deep cycle batteries, up to 400 cycles at 80 percentage depth of discharge- high stable voltage for longer periods of time
• Faster recharge: The highest recharge efficiency of any sealed lead battery on the market, capable of 100 percentage recharge in 4 - 6 hours; Mounting flexibility: Non-spillable design
• Vibration resistance- design protects against high impact shock and mechanical vibration; Extreme temperature tolerant- Operating temperatures from -40 degree Celsius (-40 degree Fahrenheit) to 45 degree Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit).
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

I installed a sealed Optima Red Top 35-910 in my car. The Optima failed, was replaced under warranty, and then the replacement failed, as well. The Optimas did poorly in cold weather and wouldn't hold a recharge.

I purchased an Odyssey PC1200MJT because I need a more reliable sealed battery.

The Odyssey is just a bit smaller in overall size than the Optima, but apparently has more total plate size due to its conventional configuration.

The Odyssey has done well so far, but it is the warm season, so I cannot speak to cold weather performance.

However, the specs for the Odyssey are excellent. It is claimed to accept hundreds of charges without a problem (deep cycle), and to handle very cold conditions extremely well.

In regard to the purchase experience, this is the first time after several years of excellent service that I have been disappointed with Amazon.

The Odyssey qualified for Free Shipping, but I needed it sooner than the typical 5 7 days, so I paid an additional $27.00 for expedited shipping. My order clearly stated the total price including expedited shipping, but UPS showed 7 day shipping anyway! I don't know if this was the result of a technical error or what, but I contacted Amazon immediately. Amazon did nothing to correct the problem and would not refund the additional shipping fee! Delivery took a full week.

As Amazon has proven unreliable, I will look elsewhere before making a purchase from now on.

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I purchased my first Odyssey PC1200-MJT seven years back at a good deal from a major racing parts shop (S) I've dealt with for years for a low mileage 1979 Berlinetta Camaro I own. I needed a battery that would not eat another inner fender and battery tray out again like a brand new Walmart battery had done in only six months time. The Camaro was only driven about 20 miles once a year and its electrical system was perfect, but that didn't stop that 6 month old battery from destroying the Camaro's battery tray and inner fender liner at great cost to me. To say the least, I was really angry and determined this would never happen again.

I had read about the Odyssey MJT batteries and liked what I saw metal jacketed, sealed brass top post connections, small size per CCA, CAN BE MOUNTED IN ANY POSITION WITHOUT SPILLS. Battery life was also 6-8 years (with good care) in the factory literature, and I had seen reviews of it having lasted as long as 12 years and no, only using and charging a battery for twenty miles driving once a year is not good care. Okay, those specs and reviews softened the steep initial price considerably to which I added a new Odyssey Billet Aluminum Battery Mount of the correct size. Mounted in place, the new battery looked great. It fit the bill, as I needed something that could be left in the tight confines of the Camaro as moving the batteries in and out of my other antique vehicles wasn't as difficult.

Forging ahead, over the next seven years I still didn't drive the Camaro more than 20 miles once a year. But this time there was never so much as any wiring corrosion. In fact, the PC1200-MJT still looked brand new after removing it and wiping it off with some spray window cleaner with a cloth. Yes, after seven years there was a reason for removing it it was quite dead and had failed to start my stored Camaro for the first time. I removed a new battery from my '85 Pontiac Trans Am and started the Camaro driving it a while and checking everything before storing it again. Not knowing if the Odyssey battery here would hold a charge anymore after seven years, I took my time trying to bring it back up with a large NAPA industrial charger I had owned for many years. After a number of hours of close monitoring, I finally got the Odyssey up from a 20% charge to a small cranking charge. I also knew I needed a charger that would properly charge this AGM Odyssey battery without such close monitoring as my NAPA charger was not designed for AGM batteries and could easily overheat and destroy them. So, I purchased a Schumacher charger designed for AGM batteries and let it do its thing for several days. The new charger brought this Odyssey even further back to better health but I did notice it slightly heated the Odyssey while charging. Although it was very slight heating, that's not a particularly good thing for any sealed type battery. But, the PC1200-MJT was sufficiently recharged for good use.

Having a number of antique vehicles with AGM, sealed lead acid, and standard lead acid batteries, I started checking out what else was available in new chargers I could leave hooked up for longer periods of time on stored vehicles. I found the BatteryMINDer line and purchased one (12151) that could be mounted under the hood permanently one that would also desulfate and charge any style battery. I mounted the new 12151 charger with this old Odyssey battery into my '85 Trans Am. It offered full-time desulfation at a maximum of 1.5 amperes charge rate. The TA has a high horsepower small block 406 and a sound system of over 600 RMS watts (well over 1000 watts total). It also has a 140 ampere alternator to keep the power up when two Kenwood stereo amplifiers hit high power levels. So, I wanted the Odyssey PC1200-MJT back to 100% capacity if possible.

In the first few days of using the new BatteryMINDer, with the charger and engine off and the stereo on, I noticed the PC1200MJT battery would lose power fairly quick until I switched off the stereo while there was still enough power to start the 10.25:1 compression engine. After some weeks on the BatteryMINDer 12151, I checked the health of my PC1200-MJT again. After a 12 hour rest (charger disconnected), the battery was showing the same performance as a new battery 12.84 volts as the Odyssey paperwork stated for a battery charged to 100%. I noticed the stereo system could now play much longer with the engine off without apparently pulling the battery down. I could also see the PC1200-MJT AGM battery was charging back very quickly after starting the engine much faster than the previous new sealed Delco had ever recharged in the TA, and proving to me this Odyssey AGM battery recharges much faster by comparison. I already knew it held a charge longer without charging, proving the Odyssey stated longer shelf life.

Okay, I also purchased more new BatteryMINDer chargers after seeing so much first hand with repeated checks using an Amprobe digital volt/ampere meter. The chargers (12151 and a new 12248) have restored all my batteries, including one 13 year old diesel tractor battery that had been sitting around dead for years. But, aside from that, I've seen the quality of the Odyssey when a seven year old battery can be returned to like new electrical condition after reaching its expected service life in years. The military specs of the Odyssey also concerns more than the sealed metal jacket on this battery. It concerns how strong the battery is internally, and that tells me the battery is still physically in good shape internally especially after I did some load testing and saw how quickly the battery recovered. Any lead acid battery can be internally destroyed quickly from vibration (or heavy loads) the Odyssey is designed to take much more than others.

I also have a PC925-MJT in an antique 1957 Ford tractor, and another PC1200-MJT in another vehicle all are performing great. I bought the second two Odyssey batteries after having only seen the strengths of the PC1200-MJT after only a few years of use. A bad charging system (now repaired) on the old tractor took the brand new PC925-MJT down to 50% and a no start condition before I found the problem. The charging system was showing a proper charge in volts, but was supplying no amperes. Once repaired, and after the PC925-MJT had spent a short amount of time on another BatteryMINDer, it too came back to its brand new specs. Because of this, I now use BatteryMINDer desulfating chargers on all of my stored vehicle batteries. Obviously, you get what you pay for with the Odyssey as it is designed much stronger throughout than any other automotive battery especially the MJT series and Extreme series by Odyssey.

These Odyssey MJT batteries are almost bullet proof and well worth the money even if given almost no care. All you really need is a healthy charging system and to charge/desulfate them once in a while as needed. Oh, and the MJT stands for Metal Jacketed Top post. From what I'm seeing, my Odyssey batteries may outlast me if cared for properly with the proper BatteryMINDer desulfator/charger while not in use. The top terminals can also be easily adapted to side post wiring connections with no fear of wiring corrosion since the Odyssey batteries are completely sealed. Just be sure to order the proper battery size, terminal placement, and amperage for your application. Some might confuse the 1200 in this model to mean 1200 CCA but this battery actually supplies 550 CCA @ 0 degress Fahrenheit (725 CCA @ 32 degrees Fahrenheit). This is still more than enough for my Camaro or my Trans Am, even though the factory batteries were rated 600-700 CCA, as the Odyssey has a proven much faster charge recycle time than other batteries, provides greater power on initial high loads such as engine starting, and has a 70% greater life cycle. This is much like a deep cycle boat battery and an automotive starting battery combined. You get the best of both worlds with better vibration resistance to boot using this Odyssey. That alone makes it worth more than other batteries. My Trans Am's amplifier system can quickly reduce a standard starting battery to almost nothing and in no time that standard battery would be worthless (internally shorted and burned open circuits). The Odyssey takes it in stride. Need a battery that is able to withstand the pressures of racing year after year for a race car? Get yourself an Odyssey MJT and forget worrying. They don't leak and they are tough as nails.

Manufactured In USA and UK

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this battery is the best i ever own and perform perfect in cold weather. i run full sound system with 2 10" subs with amp for 2 hours without running the car and still holds enough energy to turn the crank on to run the car. Small and Best ever so far.

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I bought this as a starting battery for a Kohler home standby generator.

I bought it primarily because my experience with Sears Di Hard batteries was that they failed much too often after too short a time.

I cannot give an honest review at this time because while the Odyssey is supposed to offer a long and dependable service life, it has only recently been put to use.

Though initially expensive, I bought it because it is promoted as being of military grade and rated high for reliability.

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I have Odyssey Batteries in most of my other cars, so when my Wife and I bought a new Z06, I began to think about an Odyssey for that, but when I looked at the catalog on the Odyssey web site, I saw that the Odyssey Battery which fits in the rear battery compartment of a C6 Z06 is not an exact fit and that the ".... vehicle battery restraint(s) may require modification."

I also noted that the dimensions of the Odyssey Battery (PN PC1200MJ) suggested for use in C6 Z06 were somewhat smaller than the stock battery and that the CCA rating of the Odyssey was slightly less, 590 vs 550. I contacted the folks at EnerSys, the maker of the Odyssey brand, and was told the modification to the battery hold down, if necessary would be minor. I also asked about the vent hose which connects to a stock battery to carry away battery fumes. This prompted a response from Kalyan Jana, Product Manager of AGM Products for EnerSys, the company which manufactures and markets Odyssey batteries. He told me, "Odyssey batteries do not require a venting system and therefore the PC1200MJT does not have a connection for the hose. As long as the battery is not installed in a gastight enclosure no special venting arrangements are necessary for any Odyssey battery."

One of the reasons I've become a fan of the Odyssey Battery is its very high pulse cranking current output. in short, "pulse cranking output" is not the same as "cold cranking amps" (CCA) and is a very high current draw for a short period while the engine is cranked during the starting sequence. Pulse cranking is usually defined as lasting five seconds. The LS7 in a Z06 has a very high compression ratio for a production engine and the battery is in the back of the car, at the end of a long cable run. Both those characteristics demand a battery capable of high pulse cranking current output. In that context, I, also, questioned Jana about the difference in CCA ratings and he responded, "The answer lies in how CCA is defined, which is: a 30-second discharge at 0ºF. Unless the user is planning to actually discharge the battery at 0ºF for 30 seconds, the CCA rating of a battery is pretty meaningless. What is of paramount importance in an engine cranking application is the number of amps a battery can deliver for 3-5 seconds (ie: pulse cranking amps) to get that engine turning rapidly. In that respect, an Odyssey battery will significantly outperform an OEM battery that is physically much larger."

As it turns out Delco does not rate it's batteries for pulse cranking amps but Odyssey does. The pulse hot cranking amps (PHCA) rating of the Odyssey PC1200 MJ is 1200-amps for five seconds. I decided to order a PC1200MJ and test it out.

So, how does the Odyssey PC1200MJ work in the real world? Well, first off, you don't have to modify anything to install it in a Z06. While the battery is a little smaller in length, its height is the same as the stock battery so the stock battery hold-down in a Z06 works fine. No modifications are necessary. Because the battery box in the back of a Z is so small, lifting a battery in and out is easier if you have one of those rubber strap battery carriers which attaches to the battery posts but, you can remove and replace the battery by hand if you have a strong grip.

Odysseys are shipped fully charged. I installed the battery, then let the car sit a week before I tried starting it. In spite of not having a charger connected either upon installation or after a week, the cranking speed was, perhaps, 10-20% faster than it was with the original battery. One characteristic which concerned me with the C6 Z06 was the LS7's somewhat slow cranking speed compared to the LS6 in my 2004. Going to the Odyssey battery solved that problem for sure!

The other reason I like Odyssey batteries is they have a long service life, usually 5-7 years and sometimes as much as ten years. Also, they are more tolerant of "deep cycles" (where you run the battery dead, then fully recharge it) than are most conventional battery designs, such as the OE ACDelcos. Thought I've not tested the deep cycle tolerance with the battery in my new Z06, I have run an Odyssey dead and charged it up several times in my 71 Coupe with no ill effects to date. Now that car uses a larger Odyssey, a PC 1500, but the engineering and materials used in of those two are the same only the sizes differ.

There's a downside to the Odyssey PC 1200 and that's weight. The Odyssey weighs about 4 lbs or about 10% more than the stock ACDelco. Hardcore racers might no like that, but I'll take the extra weight in exchange for the Odyssey's better performance and durability.

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Universal Fits For SUVs Cars Black Fender Air Intake Side Hood Vents Set 2Pcs Highly Durable ABS Pla

• Fitment: Universal
• Conditon:Brand NEW
  Color:Black
• Include: 2 Pcs Universal Side Air Fender Vents with Strong Adhesive Tape
  Size: Approx. 21cm(L)X9cm (W)
• Material: Highly Durable ABS Plastic with Black Doping
• Item location is Hong Kong, International delivery to USA take 7-15 days. *Not Accept Shipping Time Please Don't Purchase ! *

When I recieved this product I was excited until I opened the package and the vents were entirely bigger than what I expected, and to top it off the vents were so scratched up it was ridiculous. I will not be sending them back because I do not have the patience for the whole return process, so I will just suck it up and just go to a local store and buy them there.

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I have this on my black scion.

It's a cheap piece of plastic but the painting looks really good. I wish it was more glossier but a simple spray paint can fix that; hence the 4 stars.

Easy installation, just peel the tape off. Be sure you mark the placement for these vents before taking off the tape. The tape is extremely sticky and will leave a residue taking it off.

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Universal External Battery Pack Power Pond 5v 12000mah Li-ion White Us

• Chemistry: Li-ion Voltage: 5.0V Capacity: 12000mAh
• Power: 60Wh, Input 1: 5.0V 2.0A Input 2: 5.0V 1.0A
• USB 1 output: DC5.0±0.25V 2.0A (Max.) USB 2 output: DC5.0±0.25V 2.0A (Max.)
• Charging Time: 8-15 Hours,Color?White
• Defective function: Over-charging Protection, Over-discharging Protection and short-circuit Protection

I was stranded at the airport for a full day & crowds made plugs hard to come by. This recharged my Iphone & Ipod twice each & seemed to have plenty left. It's not heavy & it looks very good. I'm pleased with it.

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love the look of this device. Different textured surfaces. The battery charged my Google nexus10(5% remaining/ turned off during charging) & galaxy s 3 (from dead also remained off). Both devices were charged to 95% which is better than risking overcharging

Takes quite sometime to charge. Wish the device had clearer information on if it can be charged with a 2A micro usb.

Cool lights on the front showing every 10% used. Seems to be a little inaccurate while charging.

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I received this PowerPond from a friend as a gift. Never knew something like this existed. I have been using the Pond for about 4 months, it goes everywhere with me when I travel and it has proven to be very useful to charge my Samsung Digital Camera, Blackberry...and friends and families phones and other gadgets. It is very well built, fits easily in the bottom of my backpack or suitcase, and gives me the peace of mind that even if I won't have a place to recharge I will not be stranded without power in my gadgets.

I have checked up on the price and consider the pond to be great value for money as you can simply buy a Pond instead of another battery for your phone, digital camera, etc. This pond is far more versatile and might outlast your gadget for which you do plan to buy a spare battery. It holds enough to recharge a Blackberry Bold 4-5 times and my tiny Samsung PL120...I have not found out yet! It does take around ten hours to recharge when fully so make sure to start charging early.

I can recommend this as a solid product that does exactly what it says and it looks cool too.

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Received the product and immediately charged it overnight using a micro usb cord. The battery level indicator showed full charge. I let my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with its 3100mah battery run down to 10% and charged it. It fully charged in a couple hours. I again let run down to 10% and started charging it again with the Power Pond. I admit, on this last charge, I was using the device frequently. It charged to about 80% before the Power Pond was fully discharged. I figure that it would have charged the Note 2 at least twice if I had not used the phone. I was expecting three to four charges before the Power Pond would die. I don't know if this is an unrealistic expectation. This may occur after several cycles of fully charging and discharging the Power Pond. At least that is my hope. I will try this again, only charging at night without using the phone and see what happens.

My second charging cycle revealed the same results. Charging a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with a 3100mah battery ran down to 10%. The Power Pond gave me two full charges. Again, I expected 3 to 4 charges, but that maybe unrealistic. It is what it is. I hope this helps someone in their decision. The product overall functions well and I like the build quality and function.

Hello, I'm Evan. I thought that my input might be needed since there are only a few reviews.

It all started about midsummer-early fall (no, I'm not exactly sure) when I needed a battery to keep the juice in my Kindle Fire (1st Gen.). If you have one, or the 2nd Gen. (but not the HD version). If you didn't know there was a second generation Kindle Fire that wasn't HD then go home, you're drunk. Nonetheless, I probably stared at this site for days, weeks, trying to decide if the risky buy was worth it. YES. YES. YES. How many times do I have to say it? Seriously, though, it's made in Japan or China because their language is on the bottom. Also, the English on the bottom is very grammatically incorrect, which is only amusing and not serious to any degree. But before I start giving away all the secrets in a congested paragraph, I'll organize it a little bit.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

When I say I was excited as a 8 year old child on his birthday, I mean it. The day it came, I opened the box immediately, which took about 1 week or two, If my memory serves me correct. This is because it shipped from a foreign country. My experience was fine in terms of shipping, and yours is likely to be similar, but be careful folks. At first, I charged it for about 30 minutes. When I tried charging my Kindle Fire with it, it failed miserably. I probably went through buyer's remorse about 10 times that night. I THOUGHT that it was dead buy (meaning it was dead upon arrival), but after several (i mean about 10 hours) hours of charging overnight, it finally came through. I definitely was scared, considering right now it cost $40, but I bought it for $53 when I found it. It actually worked and charged my device VERY VERY VERY WELL. I'd say it charges while the device is in use, but I've not an idea. My Kindle Fire is rooted, so it's running a custom Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean rom, therefore the charging aspect of the system was screwed up, so it only charged when not in use. However, I would charge my device to 100% from 15% and I'd still have over 60% battery remaining in the Power Pond. Impressive. It's biggest failure is that if you drop it, which I did several times, the bottom begins to release itself from whatever holds it on (probably just leverage). So, be careful where you take the thing. As for phones, I have a basic Samsung Solstice II. It's not a smartphone, but the dive charged my phone without ever getting below 90% battery level indicator (and that was at 10% battery remaining level for my phone!). Charging the device was the worst. It had to be charged overnight, because there's TOO much to be charged I guess. All I know is you could charge it any day and I promise you that weeks later it'll still have its charge. It's perfectly what it should be. It's a bit bulky, but I took it to school with me for months and used it to charge my Fire because I'm constantly taking electronics to school and never getting in trouble. Heck, I take my laptop to Study Hall to play Steam games on it. So, it's a versatile power pack, and a beautiful interface, but it definitely needs some planning before use, because charging times are lengthy, especially from almost 0%.

If you missed all of that, or neglect to read a personal review, then see the recap below:

~ Solid build

~ Impressive battery power

~ Extensive charging time

~ LED charging/charge level indicator is innovative

~ A bit on the bulky side

FINAL IMPRESSIONS:

After months of use, I'm still equally as impressed that I opted to buy the 12,000 mAh Power Pond and not any other option! It's charge is still holding incredibly well as well as its bottom plate that covers the insides. I mentioned earlier that it was wedging itself off after a few drops. I stopped dropping it! :D IT works entirely the same as it's first days, in fact I reckon it's gotten a little better. My Kindle Fire seems to charge a bit faster, but maybe that's just me. Below are the quick sum ups of my experience. I still use the thing, since my Fire's battery is an utter mistake on Amazon's part. So, it's still getting it's full use like all battery's should.

~ Still solidly built

~ Battery is still holding great

~ Charges devices quick and without fail

~ No overheating

~ About 2 Full charges for Small 5V Tablet

TECHNICAL ASPECTS:

Since all chargers are different, these are some important things you must be told so you believe the pictures.

It's all white with a button on the top. It's lights up green when charging itself or something else. If you press it, the P O W E R P O N D letters light up green. IF tit's full charged and you are charging something else, it will only light up the letters starting with P in power to indicate 10%, 20, 30 and so on... If you have your device plugged in to charge of the Power Pond and it's not charging, press the circle button. It activates the battery. If it's plugged in and you don't want your device to be charging anymore (but keep it plugged in to charge off the Power Pond) then press and hold the button. Release after it starts blinking. THIS IS IMPORTANT as by pressing and holding until it blinks resets the device to a non-charging dormant state.

That's are the only technical things associated with the device. Also, it charges itself through mini and micro USB 2.0, You can choose, though Mini USB charges faster. It included an Apple cord and a Mini USB cord for charging itself. In addition, because they can, they included a adapter from Mini to Micro if Micro USB is your preference.

All in all, folks, you'lll find this device to be what you're looking for with a clean appearance, a nice battery display, and a powerful, long-lasting 12,000 mAh battery.

Your friend in reviewing,

Evan A.

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GNS 5870 MFI GPS BT Receiver for iPod, iPhone and iPad

• First Apple certified Bluetooth GPS receiver
• Made for iPod iPhone iPad
• compatible to iPod touch 2G+3G, iPhone 3G+3GS+4, iPad
• supplies also GPS information to PDA, handhelds and notebooks
• high sensitive 32 channel GPS

Like some, I bought the Wi-Fi only iPad because I specifically didn't want the 3G capability. But in hindsight, I did miss at least the GPS capability. So to make up for my "remorse", I ordered the external bluetooth GNS 5870. It pairs quickly with the iPad buetooth and locked on to 6 satellites (based on one app's notification) through a large upstairs window in about 2 or 3 minutes. It was a little faster I believe through my car windshield. And it stayed locked on even after walking briefly into a shopping mall with it in my shirt pocket. How accurate? Two iPad apps say accuracy is within 30 feet but this reading is through an apartment window. The accuracy of Wi-Fi only was reported as 213 feet. But the GNS 5870 works very well all by itself and thats why five stars. I would not rate it less just because the "touch and slide" on and off is slightly finicky and can be unexpectedly activated by certain movements within a coat pocket etc. Its very portable at 1 3/4 x 3 inches and has a nice rubberized body except for the 1/2 inch wide plastic touch strip. The total GNS 5870 cost at $160.00, means I'm paying about $30.00 more than the iPad 3G model would have cost.

None of my views would matter though, if the GNS 5870 cannot work with the few iPad mapping, navigation, and GPS apps that are compatible with the Wi-Fi only iPad. So I discuss these apps not as an endorsement, but just to show that the GNS 5870 does work well without Wi-Fi and with no extra expense of a 3G data plan. It should be noted however, that this does not replace the usefulness or maybe the overall accuracy of the iPad 3G, as the iPad 3G has three modes of triangulation: Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS, which provide navigation assistance when some of the modes like satellite are not available. My uses however, may be in areas of no Wi-Fi and no cell towers. In this case, my Wi-Fi only IPad with the GNS 5870 will probably be as useful as the 3G model.

That said, I have tried all the following apps riding in my car with the GNS 5870 resting on the dash. The device tracks fine with the following apps that store map data internally in the iPad: Topo Maps, MotionX GPS HD and the iPhone app Navigon MyRegion. It also works fine with the iPad Google Maps but only in "classic" and "terrain" views. This is because Google's map base is not stored internally in the iPad and must be first accessed on the fly through Wi-Fi. The "satellite" and "hybrid" views are too large I believe to be cached in the app itself. For the same reasons, the GNS 5870 does not play well with Google Earth because the app does not store large data fields internally. But smaller, less memory intensive map areas and routes in Google Maps ("classic" and "terrain") can be cached and used later using only the GNS 5870. These are erased from the cache however after any changes are made. The GNS 5870 works and tracks with the app Big World although this app also uses the Google Maps data base and I'm not sure how much of that map base is stored internally.

But if you are having Wi-Fi only iPad "buyers remorse", and you still want GPS, this is one excellent way to go. And if I get lost 30 feet from where I want to go then I'm in big trouble anyway.

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The GNS 5870 was purchased to add true functionality to the iPad Foreflight App in the cockpit. Since day one, it has preformed flawlessly on all domestic and international flights. It allows the iPad to be used in several different areas of the aircraft without any degregation to the quality of the GPS Signal. Additionally, I have not encountered any problems turning the device on and off as has been mentioned in other reviews. I wholeheartedly recommend this device to fellow pilots without hesitation.

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I purchased this GPS for my WiFi Apple iPad and even though my emails said the expected delivery day would be more then a month ahead of my order date, I recieved it within a few days (it took some time to get to the US from Germany). The initial setup with my iPad worked flawlessly and I was able to pickup an extremely accurate GPS signal lock within seconds using the Maps app that shipped with the iPad. I was very impressed ... Until I couldn't shut the unit off. It worked a couple of times turning on and off, but now I am unable to just swipe my finger across the touch sensor to shut it off. Without a real switch, I'm stuck waiting for a reply from their email team as to what I should do to resolve the problem.

Otherwise it works great. I have tested it using the Maps app, Google Earth, and WiFiFoFum (yes, I snagged this lovely app from the app store when it was still available, no jailbreak here ;). I'd rank it a 5 star if the switch would still be working after less then a day of testing it.

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I'm a Flight Test Engineer by trade. IF the GNS 5870 were a piece of equipment in an airliner cockpit, it would be considered non-certifiable per FAR 25.1301(d). Granted, it's NOT a piece of equipment in an airplane cockpit, but that's where a lot of people who buy this device (myself included) will try to use it. So buyer beware. When I purchased the device, the Bad Elf was all the rage and this really sounded like a better product. I read the reviews For and Against, including several anecdotal descriptions about a quirky power switch. Admittedly, I chuckled at the thought of some who idiot couldn't get shut his device off. The day I got the device, I had ZERO problems switching the device on and off. "Swipe On, Swipe Off" I couldn't believe people were having problems simply swiping their finger across the device. It seemed ridiculously easy. Call it beginner's luck because the next day after my first flight with the device I had a couple of "mis-swipes." OK, Nothing to be concerned about. I'm sure even the swiftest of finger swipers occasionally need to recalibrate their digits. ---To digress for a second, in terms of Bluetooth/GPS performance, the until synched instantly with my iPad and to use it with Foreflight HD is a thing of beauty. It captured a signal quickly, tracked very well and I was wowed. ----My next flight with the device required a fuel stop. Parked at the pumps, I tried to turn it off and it wouldn't. 10 20 30 swipes of varying pressures and nada. I took a deep breath, shook out my hand and tried again with a very very light touch and again and again and again and still couldn't get it to shut off. Frustrated, I left the device on while I refueled and dined on my $100 hamburger. Returning to the plane, I swiped once more just for the hell of itand it magically went off. Of course, now I was getting ready to fly again and needed to turn it back on. It took me 30 finger swipes to coax it back on. The I flew home and had to turn it off again. Let's not go there. This frustrating sequence of events now describes every flight on which I attempt to use the GNS 5870. I've now got over 50 flight hours of use on the thing (and calluses on my fingertips).

This of course assumes that the unit is fully charged. As difficult as the unit is to turn off, I find that when stowed / transported inside a protective case itself in my flight bag, all it takes is a mosquito fart's worth of pressure to bump the switch, turn the device on and drain the battery just in time for my next flight in IMC.

I must admit, the next point of contention could be true of any bluetooth device. Using the supplied suction cup holder, I fixed the GNS 5870 to the upper windshield of a C-172 and while flying found that the device spat out some rather interesting EMI that caused my glareshield-mounted magnetic compass to oscillate 30 degrees in each direction. Relocating the GNS 5870 to a side window eliminates this problem.

Lastly, I've also been unable to acquire a GPS signal whatsoever while flying in the cockpit of transport category airplanes. This blocking of the GPS signal is generally attributed to these airplane's heated windshield wiring/circuitry. Interestingly enough, the makers of the XGPS150 bluetooth GPS receiver have issued a firmware update to correct this issue in their device. This coupled with their device using a revolutionary concept known as "The Simple On/Off Button" (something the GNS 5870 designers apparently have never heard of) are two reasons why I've just ordered an XGPS150 to replace my GNS 5870.

I was extremely disappointed to find that my GNS 5870 did not work when it arrived. The unit employs a "touch-swipe" on-off switch which requires the user to run his/her finger over the LED screen in order to turn it on and off. However, the unit required several dozen swipes to turn off, and will not turn back on no matter how many times I swipe it.

Contacting the manufacturer, I was advised that I must send the unit back to a service center for a firmware update.

I am disappointed on three dimensions: 1.) in the design of the product, which represents a triumph of design sizzle over functionality: what genius decided that a fancy swipe mechanism was better than a just-plain on-off switch to power the unit? 2.) that a brand-new unit was shipped directly from the manufacturer without current firmware; and 3.) the firmware is not easily updatable directly through the USB port (though since the unit won't turn on, I won't protest too loudly about this).

I'm excited about the functionality of this unit as a supplement to ForeFlight on my iPad in an airplane cockpit. But the actual arrival of the device was a big letdown.

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GoalZero Boulder 15m

The Boulder 15 Solar Panel is most often sold with the Escape 150 battery pack (the Coffee Maker looking battery), such as in this "kit". The advertisement above says to expect to fully charge the Escape 150 battery from empty charge in about 15 hours using the panel. When I bought the two together I charged the battery to full and then ran it down to empty. The next morning at sun up (I live in the California desert mountains . . so I'm high above the haze layer and have 100% crystal blue sky and sun) so I faced the panel directly at the sun for 11 hours solid. At the end of that time I was knocking on the door of 80% power (75%??) according to the battery charge indicator, and took the next day for another 3 hours (total of 14ish hours) to get the Escape 150 fully charged. Recommendation: if you're going to run the Escape 150 down to empty during the day/night (for laptops, etc.) then you'll need two (2) Boulder 15 solar panels (daisy-chained) to fully recharge the battery the next day. NOTE: Also, I did run the battery to empty off 3 of their LED lights (which are outstanding at 207 illumens 3-watt, "Light-a-life" as they're called). Manufacturer states to expect getting 16 hours of light (with 3 lights daisy chained). I got 17 hours 10 minutes with the Escape 150 battery.

This items works as advertised. I was able to trickle charge my car battery using the optional Goal Zero 4.7 mm to female cigarette adaptor. The items looks and feels well built. I also was able to charge a 12V 8Ah AGM battery used for my small electronic devices. I look forward taking this solar panel during camping trips.

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The solar panel arrived well packaged and with no discernible damage. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the actual time to charge the goal zero 350 takes about 15 20% longer than advertised, and one needs to keep moving the panel every few hours to follow the sun to get the best results. This purchase was actually my second panel so I could chain it to another Boulder 15 panel to get faster charging. If you are trying to decide between the Boulder 15 and the Boulder 30 to use with the Goal Zero 350, the Boulder 30 is probably the better deal.

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Absolutely love Goal0 and recommend it to my friends that hike, bike, ride, and boat.

Brought this out while primitive camping out in Joshua Tree National Park for 8 days. We had 2 DSLR cameras, 2 iPhones, 1 ipad, 1 laptop, 1 GoPro camera and never ran out of power. We used these to charge our Nomad 150 battery pack during the day while we were out climbing and would charge all of our electronics at night and would still have 20% charge left over.

Obviously when hiking in several miles to set up a base-camp every ounce counts. The panels and battery pack fit perfectly and easily into my pack with my clothing and honestly, I forgot I was even carrying it.

I don't mean to sound dramatic but having portable power has become life changing. I planned on only spending 4 days of my vacation in the woods doing video and night photography and with the constant power available I was able to constantly dump and edit photos and charge batteries and edit time-lapse videos with out worry.

I highly recommend this for anyone that enjoys time away from the grid, but still enjoys the convenience of electronics.

I also bought the Nomad 7 and charge that right on my backpack, or on my car dashboard depending where and what I'm doing.

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I picked this panel up at COSTCO for about $100. I use it to charge my 22 Ah Marine Jumper box with 300 Watt inverter: Allstart Tools 556 Marine Battery Jump Starter with AC Inverter Currently I have one of these 15 watt panels, but other Boulder panels can easily be daisy chained together for more juice.

Instead of going with the Goal Zero battery with inverter: GoalZero Escape 150, I went with the Marine unit because it costs about the same but has a larger battery (14Ah vs 22Ah for the Marine), and doubles as a very good jumper box.

The panel has a black frame, is waterproof, and is light to carry. I spliced a 12 volt auxiliary adaptor to the power cable, plugged it into my Marine jumper box/inverter and was able to charge it half way in one 8 hour day of direct sunlight. By just adding another panel, I could juice the 22Ah battery in one day.

The panel works great, and COSTCO had them on display along with other Goal Zero equipment at Christmas time.

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Wagan 2485 200-Watt Power Dome NX Jump Starter & Emergency Power Source with Built-In Air Compressor

• Overload and short circuit protection, as well as jumper cable safety switch
• Portable and rechargeable power: 400Amp cranking power jump-starter; heavy duty cables and clamps; 260 PSI air compressor; tire pressure gauge; 2 AC outlets; 1 DC outlet; 1 USB port; LED lights; storage compartment
• Great for use during emergencies or any time you need power
• Input charging by DC or AC w/included cables; with DC output at 12v; charging time: AC 38 hours; DC 12 hours.
• Built-in AM/FM radio, with audio-in jack and LED work light; weighs only 18 lbs.

I purchased this from Amazon on a whim during a lightening sale. My wife was understandably skeptical, as it appeared I had bought an expensive radio/tire pump.

She was readying the car for a long road trip and by accident left the car on. Battery was quite dead. We own a Prius and one of the quirks is that if the car is jumped with too much power it resets the computer and the windows don't work right. We experienced that a few years ago when a friend jumped our car.

The Wagan was fresh out of the box (we had only gotten it the day before). Fully charged and ready to go. I went outside, hooked up the Wagan to the two posts in the fuse box and we started the car. Less than five minutes from learning the car battery was dead to having it run again. That was because I had to go in the house and get the charger...

Suffice to say, the Wagan is kept in the car all the time-even when space is a premium. We know that if we get a flat, the unit can inflate the tire long enough to get to safety.

The flashlight is bright and even though as the other reviewer states the doors are flimsy, but we are not rough with it.

We haven't used it as such but it will power lights for a few hours while car camping.

It can be used for charging any electrical devices or even running a shaver! They thought of everything and if there is any deficiency, it is that there's almost too much to use it for.

We like this mobile power unit and recommend it to anyone owning a vehicle dependent on electricity to start.

Bottom Line:

WE FEEL MUCH SAFER WITH THE WAGAN ALONG!

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I read a bunch of reviews before I purchased this product, And was very impressed! however I must have missed that ONE review that spoke about the compressor and the power check button. I used the compressor to inflate my tire on my 300 zx and the Damn thing started smoking!, "like it was about burning out." So me in my infinite wisdom turned it off. I then checked the power by pushing the power button and it broke!, "what the hell", I though. Now I had this this thing for about two months and only used it once. So be very careful and make sure you read all the reviews before you purchase it.

Read Best Reviews of Wagan 2485 200-Watt Power Dome NX Jump Starter & Emergency Power Source with Built-In Air Compressor Here

The first one I bought had a short inside so it would never charge all the way and would quickly run out of battery without me doing anything. I replaced this with a new one and everything works fine. The speakers make a weird whirling sound when I play music through them but they are not pro-speakers so what do ya expect. the flashlight is fine and so are the inverters, built in fan keeps the unit from overheating as well. I look forward to using all the features.

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A great size to leave in your car, as a woman, this is the perfect piece of equipment, when you are on the road alone.

All The men in my family loved this Christmas gift.

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I have received 2 separate deliveries of these from Amazon, and both of them did not had all of the functions working.

The whole area with the clock, FM Radio, and plugging in a music device to use the speakers is non-functional. When I got the first

one it was DOA upon arrival. Amazon sent me a second one, and it worked for one day and died after the second day. It seems like there

is a loose plug jack in that section, but there is no way to get to it, so it is worthless. I called Wagman and told them of the

problem. They said there is nothing that they can do about it since you cannot sent back a sealed battery through the mail or a carrier.

Not recommended.

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