I received the panel quickly, it seems to work as advertised, and I have found no defects. It appears to be a solid panel, not too heavy, but rugged. The cables and blocking diode are higher quality than I expected. I will likely buy more.
Showing posts with label digital camera battery chargers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital camera battery chargers. Show all posts
Tektrum 30w Solar Panel/Blocking Diode Cable/2m long Cable and Clamps Battery Charger Kit for RV, Ho
I received the panel quickly, it seems to work as advertised, and I have found no defects. It appears to be a solid panel, not too heavy, but rugged. The cables and blocking diode are higher quality than I expected. I will likely buy more.
Dc Car Power Adapter for Haier Portable Dvd Player Pdvd7 Pdvd770 Pdvd771 Pdvd790 Craig Ctft701 Cdv51
- compact
- 100% compatible
Vector VEC043B 750 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level Meter
It took me days and days of searching the web to become informed enough to make a decision as to which power converter to buy. Let me share with you a summary of the important things to know.TYPES OF OUTPUT
Your AC equipment is designed for a sine wave, but only the very expensive power converters produce a true sine wave output. The cheapest AC power converters produce a square wave output. A mid price AC power converter (like the VEC043) produces a modified wave. Besides the price impact, there are trade-offs of what type of equipment you can use for square wave or modified wave.
Power tools have an AC/DC motor that works with all 3-types of outputs. If you only want to use power tools get the very cheap square wave power converter.
AC motors such as refrigerators need a modified wave. AC motors under heavy load can not start to spin using a square wave and even if it does "spin up," it will probably shorten the life of the AC motor to use a square wave.
The most sensitive AC equipment must use the true sine wave power converters. The worse case equipment is a cheap stereo or TV and their performance with a square wave power converter is completely unacceptable. A modified wave will work with all stereos and TV's, but some of the cheaper units will have a 60 cycle buzz in the sound and snow in the picture.
The VEC043 power converter performs well with most stereos and TV's, but not all of them, especially the cheapest units. It works with your power tools, AC motors, and computers. I personally felt it was the overall best choice, but if you want a true sine wave output, then be prepared to pay the big bucks!
LINKS TO PICTURES OF THE TYPES OF OUTPUT
Sine wave: http://www.energyusernews.com/EUN/FILES/IMAGES/82710.jpg
Square wave: http://users.uma.maine.edu/faculty/rsm/slides/chap4/f4-3b.gif
Modified wave: http://www.baintech.com.au/assets/images/square_wave.jpg
NOISE
All of the manufactures write about the electrical noise of their power converters, but it is the audio noise that is important to me personally. I have a friend who uses a power converter in his car on a daily basis. He just bought a new Black and Decker power converter, and he says it is much quieter than his first power converter was. His Black and Decker power converter makes a whining sound that reminds me of a dentist drill, and I don't like it!
There is a small fan in the VEC043 and it makes a little more noise than my laptop, and about the same noise as my desktop computer or the kitchen refrigerator. Best of all, there is no whining sound.
CAR BATTERY
Everything electrical on your car is specified to work down to a minimum of 10.5 volts. Less than 10.5 and your car may not start. The VEC043 has an audio alarm that sounds at 10.6 volts. Nice feature!!!
Running the battery down below 10 volts is very stressful to the battery and may even damage the battery. The VEC043 shuts off at 10 volts which is another nice feature.
SPECIFICATIONS FROM THE VEC043 MANUAL
Output: 2 AC outlets (110VAC RMS 60 Hz @ 6.8 amps)
Output protection: self-resetting breaker
Output power: 750 watts continuous (1500 watts peak)
Input: 10.5 to 15.5 Volts DC
Input protection: internal fuses
Reverse input polarity protection: none
Connection: battery clips only
Low voltage alarm: sounds at 10.6 volts
Low voltage cut off: occurs at 10.0 volts
Weight: 3 lbs (1.35 kg)
Length: 10.7 in. (27.2 cm)
Width: 6.25 in. (15.9 cm)
Height: 1.75 in. (4.5 cm)
Warranty: 2 year limited
Operating temperature: 30 to 105 degrees F (-1 to 40 degrees C)
Buy Vector VEC043B 750 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level Meter Now
Works as described on most products. I bought it to charge cordless drill batteries on jobsites. 4 stars because it drains the vehicle battery dry in several minutes unless the vehicle is running. . Had to get the van jumped off the first time I used it after only 5 minutes of using it for battery charging.Read Best Reviews of Vector VEC043B 750 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level Meter Here
This is the second Vector I have purchased. This newer version worked great. Kept the frig, a few lights and a pellet stove going without a problem for twelve hours plus.Want Vector VEC043B 750 Watt D/C To A/C Power Inverter With Power Level Meter Discount?
NOCO ISC400 iMob Black 12V 400mA (.4A) Solar Battery Charger
- For 12 volt batteries; 400mA (.4A)
- Works in all weather conditions
- Waterproof, shock and rust resistant
- Reverse charge protection
- Overcharge protection
Works in all weather conditions
Waterproof, shock and rust resistant
Perfect for topping up the batteries on a sailboat on weekdays between weekend use, right?
WRONG...right on the front of this solar panel's packaging it says "Even while weatherproof, do not operate this iMob solar charger in the rain"
Great...
Time to get this information prominently displayed in the product description, Amazon...and I want my return shipping paid...
Buy NOCO ISC400 iMob Black 12V 400mA (.4A) Solar Battery Charger Now
I set up my garden shed/work shop with 12 volt LED lights and a TV which I run off a car battery. I mounted the panel in a window to keep the battery charged, which it does a great job on. The best thing I like is that it charges even on cloudy days. I've had it for a long enough period that I don't even think about it. I just flick the switch on and always get power.
Instapark 10 Watt Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports for iPhone, iPad & all othe
- 10 Watt high-efficiency mono-crystalline solar panel with foldable design offers excellent portability, ideal for emergency preparedness, backpacking, camping and other outdoor activities
- Built-in dual USB charging ports for directly plugging in iPhone, iPad and other USB compatible mobile devices
- No additional battery needed for charging external devices, 100% green energy with zero carbon footprint
- Measures only 9 X 6 X 2 inches and weighs less than 1 lb
- 1-year manufacturer's warranty
Here are my test results:
* Charging my wife's iPad 2 was OK. This charged it from 80 % to 100% in under one hour.
* Charging one iPhone was fast and easy.
* Charging two iPhones from 45% and 56% respectively to 100% simultaneously on both phones in 80 minutes.
* Charging an iPad 3 from 28% to 85% in 5 hours. This is a good job as the iPad 3 uses a lot of power to recharge and takes a long time even using the Apple AC wall charger. My iPad 3 did stop charging 3 times due to clouds passing over and the iPad 3 displayed the charging not supported with this accessory error each time. I had to disconnect it and plug it back in to resume charging.
* Charging an 11000 mAh battery was also slow. It charged the battery from 25% to 52 % in about 90 minutes. Charging 2 1/2 hours more raised the battery charge to 62 %. It is good that you can charge batteries in this manner as now you will have both a daytime and nighttime source of energy. This slow charging may have been due to a few clouds passing over on the first day of testing.
* Be very careful of exposing your electronic devices to the hot sun. I covered mine with a white towel and then covered that with a white cardboard box. High temperatures are not good on batteries, electronics and LCD displays. Left in the sun unprotected they will be damaged severely.
* Charging a Kindle Fire worked but again it was slow going due to randomly cloudy skies. The Kindle Fire LED lit power button did not light up but the Kindle Fire did charge.
This solar panel would be ideal for outdoor use by campers and anyone who needed to charge a phone, iPad, or a USB rechargeable battery, GPS or flashlight. This product is great for emergencies when you lose power.
The unit folds up nicely into a portable package that is small and lightweight. It is easy to pack or put into a backpack. The USB ports are contained in a Velcro closed pocket that is also large enough to hold your phone and the cable while it is charging. You can also carry extra USB cables in the pouch for your various electronic devices. The solar panel has multiple hanging loops to hang it on a wall, side of a tent or a line if you need to.
I tested the unit over 2 days and both days had nice sunny skies. Despite that fact the solar panel performed much better the second day. Full intense sunlight provides the best results and any clouds or shadows can stop your device from charging even though the solar panel resumes outputting the proper voltage and current levels when the sun returns. This is due to your electronic device charging circuit and this cannot be helped. Please watch my attached video and I hope it is informative for you.
I was provided a free sample of the device for testing and to provide an impartial review.I'm not sure why as of this writing this product isn't getting amazing reviews but it deserves them! For the $60 bucks I paid, it is phenomenal. In full sun, I can SIMULTANEOUSLY charge an iPhone 4 and Galaxy S2 (two of the most power hungry types of phones). I've only used it a few times so far, but one of those times it was a completely cloudy afternoon & I left my android phone plugged into the solar panel while streaming audio all day. It was pretty neat to disconnect it at day's end with a charged battery all while in the field with no power outlets having been otherwise accessible :) It folds up the size of my hand and is probably half an inch thick or so, weighs about as much as my phone so it's lightweight and sturdy enough to toss into a backpack. There's a pocket to stick your phone in while charging that velcroes closed, handy when hanging it somewhere via the builtin straps on each corner or placing the panel on your dash as it secures the phone/loose wires etc... If you are thinking about getting something like this, look no further.Good power output, enough to charge my phone and Nexus 7 pad in reasonable time, however, I question how durable the device is in the long term.
The entire solar panel is divided into three semi ridged sections. Each section puts out about 600mA under full sun. Each of the panel is designed to put out about 6V under full sun, there is a small regulator in the USB connector to convert it down to 5V for the device.
After receiving the device, although it looks fine, under microscope, I can see two of the panel have half of the solar cell cracked. As a result, the two damaged panel puts out about 450mA under full sun. This led me to question how easily these panel can have cracked cells resulting in degrading output capacity.
Packing weight for the panel is about 600g, it is a bit too heavy to use for backpacking.
Tested under full noon sun, output taken before the regulator, the short circuit current is 1558mA.
Full data:
6.16V 32mA
6.08V 116mA
5.89V 288mA
5.54V 586mA
5.33V 862mA
5.13V 1050mA
4.61V 1327mA
3.60V 1500mAI just spent a good long time deciding between the Instapark Mercury 10 and the Goal Zero Nomad 7 (usually sold as the Goal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Small Adventure Kit). Hopefully you can benefit from my observations.
I spent about a week with my brother-in-law's Nomad 7, and ultimately bought the Mercury 10 (actually, the Instapark 10 Watts Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger with Dual USB Ports for iPhone, iPad & all other USB Compatible Devices, 5,200 mAh Battery Pack Included). Here's how the two compared:
FORM FACTOR:
These two units are almost identical in size. Folded, they're both 6" x 9" (or about the same height as an iPad and about 1.5" narrower). Unfolded, the Mercury 10 is a couple of inches longer because of the closure flap (which can be folded back behind the unit).
The Mercury 10 weighs more. On my scale, it comes in at 17.7 oz., about 5 oz heavier than the Nomad 7. This is because it provides three solar panels instead of two.
There's a difference in the thickness when they're folded. Both units have a tri-fold design. In the Nomad 7, two sections have solar panels in them and the third has the power connector and a storage pocket. With the Mercury 10, all three sections have solar panels in them. The storage pocket is on the outside and has the power connectors in it.
If you were to put the folded units side-by-side, the thickness would be about the same. But there's a subjective difference in feel. Closing the Nomad feels like closing a folder with a deck of cards inside, since it has its power connectors and battery chargers on the inside flap. It feels lumpy and awkward. The Mercury 10, on the other hand, folds completely flat, with accessory pouch and the bulky connectors on the outside. Again, it's purely subjective.
I will say this, though. I think Instapark came up with something brilliant when they decided to put the USB connectors on the back of the unit, inside the Mercury 10's storage pocket. This makes it so you can put smaller devices, like cell phones, in the pocket while they charge. This keeps them off dirty surfaces and uses the shade of the solar panels to protect them from heat.
It's also worth noting that both are housed in sturdy, black fabric with a Velcro closure, both have loops for hanging the panel, and both cover the solar panels with a thin plastic sheet for protection. Virtually identical.
POWER:
Which one you go with will probably come down to your power requirements.
The real measure of a solar panel's potency is how much current it pumps out. More current = faster recharge times. The Mercury 10 puts out twice the juice: 2 amps vs. 1 amp from the Nomad 7. Both panels can increase their output by working in tandem with a battery pack. The idea here is that the solar panel keeps the battery pack charged, and the battery pack charges your devices.
The Mercury 10 aims squarely at the USB market, since most devices charge off of USB these days. It offers two USB ports and can supply up to two amps of charging current. That's some significant juice for such a small unit. You'll be able to charge even large devices like iPads straight off the panel.
The Nomad 7 goes for a broader range of power options. If you want USB, it provides one port, but at only 0.5 amps. That's fine for phones and small devices, but isn't enough for a tablet. To charge a tablet, you'll have to use Goal Zero's optional battery pack in tandem with the panels.
The upside of the Nomad 7 is that it also lets you charge AA batteries (if you get the optional AA/AAA battery pack/recharger the Guide 10 Plus). That's a bonus for adventurers who need to charge batteries for their flashlights, GPS units, etc.
To charge AA/AAA batteries off of the Mercury 10, you'll have to get a separate USB battery charger. Instapark doesn't make one (why?), but Sanyo has a fantastic one the Eneloop USB battery charger. The Mercury 10 produces enough power to run four of these (eight batteries at a time).
The Nomad 7 also has a 12-volt option with a standard cigarette-lighter-sized plug. But at that voltage, it only produces 0.2 amps of juice, only enough for very small applications.
SUMMARY:
With the Nomad 7, you get lower weight and more power options, but at a lower output. If you get the add-on battery pack to improve the power output, you lose the weight advantage.
With the Mercury 10, you get a slightly heavier package because of the additional solar panel, but you gain twice* the output. However, you're limited to charging USB devices.
For me, power output and charging time matter. So the Mercury 10 was a no-brainer, especially paired up with a couple of AA/AAA USB battery chargers, which I could more than afford at the Mercury 10's lower price point.
[*How do you get twice the output from only 50% more panel area? Because the Mercury 10 keeps its operating voltage down to 5 volts. Lowering the voltage gives it a current boost. You see the same principle in reverse with the Nomad 7: it normally produces 1 amp at 6 volts. But when they double the voltage to 12 volts, the current gets cut in half.]
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I really highly recommend this solar panel by Instapark. It is simply amazing to watch this panel charge up my 5200mah to 6000mah rechargeable power pack batteries As fast as it does. This Solar Panel has got to be maxing out really close to its 2 amp potential as is stated in the product info section.As the above reviewer mentioned, I too simply can't understand how it is possible that only two people ( as of now ) have reviewed this item.I have been shopping around for really high quality and well priced solar panels for almost six months now. I have a 12 watt panel, very well made, totally up to new tech standards, and I really think just from observation that this 10 watt panel is putting out a good amount more then the 12 watt, 5volt model I purchased. And these panels are half the size of that one. They take up no room at all.
This is a really great buy! I love this panel and already have bought myself a second one. Right afterwards they raised the price about ten per cent! LOL!!
It also keeps charging even when the clouds move in, although I can't say at what precise output levels since I don't own a micro volt meter measuring thing.
I bought both of my 10 watt as kits with Instapark batteries. The 5600 mah one, is working fine. And it is the least expensive of the two offered. I also bought the panel along with the series 1800 I believe, it is the one that is rated at 5200mah, and it totally burnt out last night when I went to use it for the first time with my IPhone 4. I was kind've disappointed!
So the panel is beyond great. ya gotta get one for yourself to see its high end performance. But I do not know about instaparks batteries. I had to return a much larger one that also was brand new but was already acting up. If I mixing up battery info with the panel review it is only because they offer this panel alone and also with the two different battery kits. But putting that aside, the panel even looks great, comes with a well designed foldable system that reduces it to a very small and cool looking paperback book sized black kit with a separate well designed compartment where you can store your battery or evn your phone and has this wonderful Velcro closed pouch cover. So the whole kit will fit in any small to medium shoulder bag, knapsack, or even a large coat pocket. I will update my review since I bought these a month ago and am curious to see how long they maintain their outstanding performance. They work so well, that if they bring their prices back down that ten percent I am going to be getting a third one.
Rapid Car / Auto Charger for the Navigon 8100T - uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology
- High output Rapid Charging adapter fits cigarette lighters in both foreign and domestic vehicles
- 12 - 24 VDC; 1000 mA high output current for faster charging; full lifetime warranty
- Advanced internal circuitry prevents device from power surges; overcharging and short-circuiting
- TipExchange Technology protects investment providing means to upgrade charger tips at lower cost ( Navigon 8100T Tip Included )
- Charging adapter works with both foreign and domestic car lighter ports
Save 34% Off
Home Wall AC DC Travel House Battery Charger+Rapid Car Kit Auto Vehicle Plug-in Power Charger For Ne
Chargers work great honest seller. Product was as described and arrived early. I would use this seller again. I now have use of my phone thanks for product I not only can charge my phone at home but on the go as well. Great combination for a good price. I'm well pleased
really appreciate Amazon's availability and great service on their products, Thank you,
Phillip E. Haddock
Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone
- Hands-free Calling - Bluetooth connects your phone and car kit so you can make and answer calls safely while driving. Hands-free calling uses the car kit speakers and microphone. And it works even if your phone's not docked.
- Extendable microphone - Clip the extendable microphone to the sun visor in your car to bring it closer. With less background noise, your conversations will be even clearer.
- Sound Boost - A built-in 2 watt speaker brings quality audio to your car. Hear hands-free calls and navigation instructions loud and clear with Sound Boost.
- Easy-reach answer and reject buttons - The easy-reach answer and reject buttons work even when your phone is not docked. On short journeys where you don't need navigation, you can answer or reject calls with your phone in your pocket.
- Voice menu and spoken instructions - Connect your phone easily using the voice menu that gives you spoken instructions on how to pair a phone. The spoken instructions take you through step-by-step and give feedback such as 'phone connected'.
Pros.
-Blu tooth works great. Once you pair your phone it remembers pairing. Starting car without phone in dock you immediately get a voice prompt telling your phone is connected.
-It remembers volume setting. Doesn't revert back to middle volume but stays at set level.
-you don't have to remove case to use dock. 30 pin connector tilts forward place phone on connector tilt it back and it locks in place. To remove phone just push top holding arm back and tilt phone forward to remove.
-fast charges your phone while you are using it.
-built in 2watt speaker should be plenty in a car. (I have a pick up truck that doesn't filter out noise very well so have to turn speaker on full)
NO MORE removing phone from case!!!!!
Cons
-no GPS chip built in, my old tomtom does. Only useful if you have apps that could use the chip.
-bigger than old dock, but this is to accommodate telescoping top arm (locks phone in place)
-old dock suction cup smaller and closed flatter for transportation.
-default position for microphone on right hand side, as driver it would make more sense to have it on left side closer to driver when mounted towards middle of windshield or dash. (Mic can be clipped to visor but then you have another wire in the way.
-old tomtom dock had audio out port on side built in to run wire to cars aux port in. You could just leave it plugged in 24/7 no need to remove it.
This unit does not you must plug audio cable into headphone jack on phone. You must insert and remove it each time.
Overall a nice dock. Mount turns to hold phone vertical or horizontal. Since it locks top and bottom in place should work with any apple 30 pin device like I touch. With blue tooth you don't need phone in holder to use speaker.
This review for 30 pin connector they have a version for the new iPhone / I touch.
Buy Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone Now
Great product. Works with both of our iphones (3 and 4). Charges phones super fast and was easy to use and figure out. Fast shipping.Read Best Reviews of Tom Tom Incorporated Hands-Free Car Kit for iPhone Here
man, i have the white ones already and love them. so i wanted to get this shoe and the red pair also. get them if you have wide feet or achie feet. they work will with all types!!
iBOLT xProDock Kit for HTC
Been waiting for this dock ever since I got my DNA... so happy that I can now enjoy it!Pros:
-VERY sturdy construction. The parts that are plastic are really solid and feel like they will last forever. There are even some metal parts on it (the top spring-clip). I feel like this would survive a bad car crash unscathed (not that I want to find out firsthand)!
-Suction cup well... it sucks! For whatever reason, on most other docks I've used, I have had to clean the windshield and then dampen the suction cup before applying. This one actually worked without me cleaning or getting the cup wet at all.
-Fits many phones, even with thick cases. I would imagine this fitting most of the 4"+ screen phones out there on the market. The USB charging cable it fully adjustable in length, so you could fit it with a phone that has a micro USB port on the end or on the side. Also, the bottom "feet" of the dock move in and out almost an inch (just an estimate), so even those with the really thick hard cases will not have any issues in getting their phone to fit.
-Love the way it is secured in the dock. Instead of having a plastic clip at the top (landscape mode) that flips down on the phone, this has a cushioned, spring loaded "clip" that you simply push up, place your phone in the dock, then let go. It's really easy to put your phone in and take it out, and the clip appears to be made of both metal and really sturdy plastic, so it isn't likely to fail/break on you.
-Extra long cable. Cable is something like 8 feet long. You can put the dock pretty much anywhere you want and you can be sure that the cord will reach. Put it to the left of the steering wheel, put it on the far right (passenger seat), you name it, it will most likely reach.
-Cable management is good. Plenty of little clips on the back of the dock allow you to neatly route the charging cables and/or stereo headphone cable.
The Cons:
-USB Charging cable. For those of you that don't have a USB port/car charger, you are essentially SOL. Though the cable is nice and thick/long, it does not come with a USB to car adapter. I am lucky enough that I have a micro USB car charger with a USB port on it (purchased from Verizon), so my cable fits nicely in it, but those of you without will need to make an additional purchase.
-Dock is somewhat "universal." Though I know there are limitations on the Droid DNA (because of the USB port cover), I would have liked to have seen a more "proprietary" dock port so that you can slide the DNA onto the USB port, which would also hold the phone in better. (For an example of what I am talking about, see the official Car Dock for the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx.) This dock can likely hold most any phone though, so if you have different phones in your family, it may be of benefit to you.
-Lack of cable ties/clips. Since this cord is so long, it would have been cool if they included some cable ties and/or clips so that you can neatly route and store the cable. This is a minor issue as you can find them cheaply at a local hardware store or Radio Shack.
All in all, I love this dock. I always get a car dock for my smartphones and honestly this is my favorite of all of the ones I have previously owned. I decided not to wait for the Qi (wireless) car dock as I am worried that I will use more power than the Qi dock will be able to effectively charge the phone.
Side note: I just wanted to note that as iBOLT suggested somewhere, I use the "Car Home" Android app instead of the stock HTC car app. It's much more feature rich and customizable and this dock will activate that app.
Buy iBOLT xProDock Kit for HTC Now
Been really hesitant to get this. All my mounts to date have been specific to the phone I was using at that time. I have only had HTC phones and when I got the DNA I was bummed out that the charging port changed and realized that a good mount was going to be hard to find as most universal mounts are crappy! So, last week I went to the Verizon store to pay my bill and low and behold,,they finally have the same exact mount (minus the stupidly long USB cable) and for only $29.99.1st, the charge port is very sturdy, almost too sturdy to bend into position to plug it in. It works perfectly though.
2nd, the suction cup is the best of all windshield mounts I have had in the past. I was worried that the mount would come off the glass every time I inserted the phone or removed it but that's not the case. It stays on without and problems.
3rd, when mounted on dash the mount is completely out of the eye of the camera
I would definitely recommend this mount for any big phone out there. You wont be disappointed. Just to be clear this IS a universal mount and will work ALL large phones. BTW, the guy who claims the mount broke his charge port is just crying because he broke it and now Verizon probable wont help him out with it. The port is a tight fit. Just try installing before mounting the phone a few times to get the hang of it.
Read Best Reviews of iBOLT xProDock Kit for HTC Here
It bRoke the charging port on my phone. Completly disapointed and upset with the results of this product and that it broke the charging port on my phone.Want iBOLT xProDock Kit for HTC Discount?
I love this mount. I have owned several mounts over the years. Every time I bought a new phone I had to buy a new mount. This is flexible enough to work with just about any phone and the included charging wire is long enough to reach anywhere!