Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, U

If the Xantrex Xpower Powerpack Solar lived up to its specifications, I would rate it 5 stars and consider it well worth the money. That's why I bought it in the first place. Unfortunately, its performance falls short of the manufacturer's claims.

The overall design of the product is very nice. I had considered building something similar based on a how-to article in Popular Science, but the Powerpack is so nicely packaged for only a couple dollars more, I chose to buy it.

The Powerpack disappoints in the amount of energy stored in its battery that is available to power other electronic devices. The battery is specified as 12 volts and 10 amp-hours. As such, I was expecting to get as much as 120 watt-hours from it, but I barely get half that.

As a test, I fully charged the battery using the included AC adapter. By "fully", I mean the unit claimed to be charged. I then ran the built-in LED lights. The manual claims they should run for 48 hours. They ran 27.5 hours for me.

I assumed this performance reflected a bad unit and exchanged it. The new unit performs similarly. Either the battery in the unit performs poorly, or the electronics to monitor and control the battery state-of-charge are weak.

As another example of the poor performance, I charged the unit completely (again based on its built-in indicator that charging is done). It indicated 100 percent charge when I turned on the AC or DC output, but as soon as I plugged in any load, it almost immediately dropped to 70 or even 60 percent. Soon after the unit's indicator dropped to 40 percent, the unit shut itself down.

So, on the one hand, this is a nice unit to carry around, and it does slowly-but-surely charge the internal battery using the included 5 watt solar panel. It does a fine job charging cell phones and iPods, and a barely acceptable job charging a notebook computer. Compared to its specifications, and for that matter my previous experience with the Xantrex Powerpack Mobile Mini, however, the product is a disappointment.

The product information should include these crucial tidbids, which you only find out AFTER buying (by reading the detailed owner's manual): 1) you cannot use it while you are charging it, and 2)if you want to charge it using the sun, it takes 45 HOURS (YES -that's HOURS). I used it at an outdoor festival to power a laptop, and -even thought the manual estimated it would last for up to 4 hours, it pooped out after 1.5 hours. After that, I unplugged and charged it in the sun for a while. It got a lot of interest from people at the festival, who thought it was cool. I think it's cool too. I just wish it worked better.

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Many Cons

Battery not "user replaceable" (User manual recommends throwing the whole powerpack out when the battery can no longer take a charge)

If you do take the unit apart to replace the battery, it is an uncommon type not available at battery specialists.

Solar panel is too small to adequately charge the unit. Useful only as a top-up charger.

My unit has locked up twice, where the buttons and display do not work and you need to take it apart to disconnect then reconnect the battery to reboot the internal microcontroller.

Very difficult to take apart (to reboot the unit or change the battery).

AC power adapter puts out too much voltage, causing the unit to complain about an overvoltage situation when it is left plugged in when fully charged.

Loses its charge quickly when not plugged in.

LED lights on both sides of the unit are wired to come on at the same time. No switch to disconnect one bank to double the runtime as a light source.

As a warning, if you do have one, do not leave it off its charger for longer than about 1 month or you can damage the battery.

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Length:: --:-Mins

This is a great little unit, I have used it a few times to test just how long it lasts and it never failed to impress. The only problem with this unit is that the digital display is highly inaccurate in displaying the batteries charge level when anything is plugged in and the ac output of devices under 50 watts. I have not experienced any error code problems. I've used this unit to power a small table fan, a laptop computer and some other small draw items. Here are my run times:

Small ac table fan = 3-4 hours on low setting, 3 max on low setting

12 volt dc fan = 5-7 hours on only high setting (0.8 amps 10 watts from walmart)

13.3" macbook = 2.5 hours with lots of processing and display on full brightness

4 hours max with low brightness and light web browsing only (full battery)

acer aspire one = 5-6 hours on low brightness and light browsing (battery charged prior)

netbook

Items that will not run long on this powerpack:

1. powerful entertainment or gaming laptops

2. desktop computers

3. big ac fans

4. high draw dc appliances such as a dc coffee maker, hair dryer and spotlight

5. items with heating elements in general EX: coffee maker, heating blanket, electric heater of any sort (expect 3 min or less run time, just don't even try to plug any of the mentioned items in AT ALL!)

6. big lcd tv's or any crt tv (yes even the 13" rated for this product)

Items that will be damaged by this device due to modified sine wave ac output:

1. rechargeable batteries (your laptop will not be damaged because it has a special transformer (I.E. the power brick)

2. nightlights of any sort

3. rechargeable electric shavers

4. any devices that specify they will only work with pure sine wave power (grid power = pure sine wave. keep in mind that 99.9% of all powerpacks use modified sine wave for ac power)

Bottom line: Don't treat it as if it is a generator or as if you still have power coming in off the grid in an emergency, be conservative and it will last the night. If you have never owned a power pack like this, keep in mind it's just a battery and the solar panel won't make it function like a generator. If you don't know solar, keep in mind this unit has the largest possible solar panel that will fit on the unit, that doesn't mean it will charge in a day like your solar accent lights outside. A full day of sunlight will give you 10-20 percent of overall charge (use this to charge your cellphone or run the efficient built in lights at night). You need to charge this unit every 1-3 months. Failure to do so will cause the internal sla agm battery to sulfate and refuse to charge(your warranty is voided with xantrex for neglect). Realistically don't plug devices in that use more than 70-80 watts if you want reasonable run time (this is true with most powerpacks, even the huge ones). Large items should not be used at all in an emergency power situation. If you want more power and longer run times, buy a 400 watt inverter for your car (please don't kill your car's battery, start it up) or buy a $100-$150 2 cycle generator, especially if you need power for medical devices. This unit should last you at least 5 years before the battery needs to be replaced (10 ah agm battery, nut and bolt terminals, tall style battery = $29 online) A lot of powerpacks use this battery. My campbell hausfeld power pack with this battery is 3 years old and counting with the same battery (runs great too, no loss of power) and my past devices using sla batteries lasted an average 7 years before needing replacement. Treat your battery right and it can last just as long. Feel free to ask any questions, I'll try to respond asap or whenever I can check my inbox.

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You can use it to charge your laptop, PDA and your cell phone. But it's not strong enough to even just power a 12" fan.

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Delphi SA50000 XM SKYFi Radio Receiver

• Large display shows channel number, channel name, artist name, song title, and channel category
• Plug-and-play connectivity works great with home kit, car kit, and boombox options
• Remote control delivers convenient channel navigation
• Delivers more than 150 high-quality, XM satellite radio stations
• Measures 4.7 x 2.9 x 1.3 inches (W x H x D)

The SA50000 is well-worth the money. It's a bit bulky compared to the Roady 2 but you have to remember that the Roady is for car audio use only. The SA50000 can be installed on a boombox/indoor unit or in the car so you get both functions with this receiver. When you buy this receiver, there are no accessories included except the remote. Use a C2032 battery to power the remote. So before you head out and buy this, don't forget to buy the battery. I had to open one of my old motherboards and pulled out the battery. I don't think it's mentioned on the packaging about what type of battery it uses. So I'm saving you all a headache and telling you. Ok let's start off with the installation. I bought a Delphi Boombox to hook up the receiver. To actually review this product, I would have to review the boombox as well cos without a boombox or car adaptor, this receiver is useless. So...installing the receiver is quite easy on the boombox. The boombox has a cradle that catches the receiver. Be careful not to force the receiver into the cradle mount. Just slide the receiver into the cradle. The contact pins should catch the receiver in the cradle, and then lightly push the receiver forward. Push the receiver on the top-most part of the device. Push the receiver until it clicks. To unseat the receiver, just push it again and it will make a faint click. Pull the receiver off gently.

Now, to activate. It's really a painless process. Make sure that the receiver is hooked up and seated properly in the boombox cradle. Ok, power-up the boombox and receiver. Just have your credit card ready, a pen, and a piece of paper. Once the receiver is powered-up, go to Radio ID channel. To switch channels, use the rotary dialer until it says Radio ID. It should give you the Radio ID number. Copy it and then activate it online. Activation fee via online is about $2.00 less than if you activate it over the phone. Once you get a message on the XMradio activation page, go back to your receiver and start looking for the channels, starting with channel 1,4,5,6,7, then 122. You can also use the number keys to switch channels. The ENTER key is that big button on the rotary dialer's hub. If after activating it, you don't get any sound from the channels I mentioned, please don't blow a gasket. Give it like about 30 mins. for the satellite to update your receiver. After about 30 minutes, you should be getting most if not all 120 channels.

Now the remote...well one thing is missing on the remote and that's the MENU key that's found on the receiver. Maybe it's somewhere on the remote but I haven't found it yet. Remote is fairly straightforward operation. As for the boombox, it comes with an antenna. It has a 20 ft. cable. I suggest you put the antennae close to a window in your house. It says to look for the southern part of the house to get best results. I didn't bother looking for itcos how many people here in US know exactly where the south part of their house is? Anyways, get the antenna on an elevated position and turn it towards the window. The receiver has a function that will tell you the signal strength of the satellite waves and the terrestrial repeater waves. You can access this by going to MENU and then scroll down to Antenna Setup. If you see four-bars filled for satellite and three bars filled for terrestrial, then you are GOOD TO GO. The boombox packs a wallop! The sound is crisp, tight, and powerful. I have it at level 20 volume and it's shaking my lounge. I don't know what the max volume is and I won't even try it. The boombox comes with a humongous sized power adapter to power your receiver and boombox. Overall, the SA50000 is a fantastic receiver, it's easy to install, activate, and it gives a nice clear sound and signal. My suggestion is buy SA50000 and keep it for home use only. If you want to have a satellite radio for the car, I suggest you get the Roady 2.

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I was researching recently on which satellite radio system I should get. I came across two choices: XM radio or Sirius Satellite radio. XM offers 130 channels while Sirius offered something like 110 channels. XM was also 9.99 while Sirius was 12.95. By comparing I decided to get the XM Delphi because of the number of channels and for the monthly price. So far its been awesome, music is crystal clear and is everything people made it to be. The only reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it isnt 100% commercial free. I would say its in the range of 95% commercial free. It has any genre your looking for, including 12 news channels (MSNBC, NBC, ABC, BBC etc...), 3 Comedy Channels, and Automated Weather Channels.

I purchased the home kit simply because my home theatre system is fully compatible. So far no problems I highly recommend this product. If you are planning on purchasing this product, the activation might be a little complicated. If you activate over the Internet its 9.99 or over the phone for 14.99. Technical support is very poor for this product, however rarely will it glitch or have a problem.

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XM Radio, what can I say it was the first and still remains number one in sales and stock for Satellite radio! And those baseball fans out there, XM will have EACH and EVERY MLB game starting from the spring training up to to the world series! It doesn't matter if you're a Dodgers fan living in NYC or your local market does not play your team (there are no blackouts where they block the game), you'll hear your team!

Did I mention XM has FOUR channels with Christmas songs? One with tradational, another with contemporary, another with country and the last (my favorite) is songs like the Chipmonks, Muppets, Barney, (you know all those non-tradational songs we all love).

Ever listen to the radio and say "hey what's the name of that song?" Well no more doing that with this receiver as it displays the song title and singer! Plus you can hit the memory button and it'll store it for you!

Me I have the SA5000 SKyFi with the Delphi SA1001 Boombox. XM has a VERY strong signal (stronger than any other), so much that I have the antenna on top of the table in my bedroom (signal must go through walls, and part of another house) to reach me. Now that's strong! Weather does not effect the signal, and it does not fade like AM/FM radios. You either get the signal (again I'll bet you will) or you don't. Just be sure to face the antenna south (if you're using it in the house).

What I like about XM is the upcoming MLB (trust me you'll hear more about this as spring comes), and the receiver allows you to keep 20 channels. There's a Decades (I enjoy the 80's), country, hits, christian, rock, urban, jazz&blues, Lifestyle, latin, world, classical, kids, news (has all the news like FOX, CNN, CNN Headline, MSBNC, CNBC, BBC), sports, comedy (3 comedy one of them has funny talk shows), talk/entertainment (Rollye James, Art Bell/George Noorey, Alan Colmes, Mike Medved, Bruce Williams, MIke Gallalgher), Traffic Weather, Special Events and Premium (Playboy and Opie and Anthony).

And did I mention that with XM you'll be hard pressed (or have to listen 24/7 for days on end) to ever hear a repeat song!!

What's real good is that you can listen to your tunes/show and scroll through and then go to whatever channel and see what's currently playing, PLUS with the weather you can either scroll or tune to the weather channel you want (have all the major cities) and see the curren temp., conditions and any road or emergencies as in traffic, etc. XM is the only one that has this!

And you get a remote control that gives you FULL control of your radio, including the volume! Even has a mute button! The display is a orange/amber color.

Personally I enjoy listening either with the lights out or dimmed down as XM lights up and the information on the screen and buttons make it very calming and cool to watch while listening to my favorite shows!

You can't go wrong with this receiver! Nor will you find this price anywhere! Look around at your local stores or other online stores! It's basically for free!

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Satellite Radio Good. If you spend much time in the car I would almost say it is a must have. The channel variety, super clear reception. Gotta love it.

Delphi Bad. The first Skyfi I received did not work at all. The replacement worked for a while but now the tuning knob functions erratically. It will skip stations and if you land on a station for more than a few seconds it will automatically change the channel. The volume knob on the boom box no longer works as intended. No matter which way you turn it the volume goes down. If it wasn't for my remote control both the receiver and boom box would be completely worthless. Speaking of the remote control. The clip mounted to the back of the remote control is inserted under the battery cover. Occasionally when trying to clip the remote to something the clip will pop off and take the battery cover and sometimes the battery with it. What a heap of junk.

I will never purchase anything from Delphi again. If that means I have to switch satellite providers so be it.

This is a replacement for the original that has been eaten by the jungle.

Good product, good delivery and the price was right.

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eForCity USB POWER ADAPTER CHARGER Compatible with iPad® iPhone® iPod®

• Note: Needs to pair with a USB charging cable(comes standard with iPhone® or iPod®s originally). Additional USB charging cable is available for purchase separately.
• Need to charge your iPod shuffle® at work or when going out of town? Don't even bother to unplug the original charger from home. Simply carry an extra handy and light travel charger and you can charge up anytime, anywhere!
• Type: Generic/Aftermarket. Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a fully charged battery and automatically switches to a saver mode to prevent overcharging and short circuit.
• LED charging indicator. Best replacement for your original iPod® and Zune Home/Travel Charger. Color: White.
• Accessory ONLY. Electronic not included. Fit all electronic appliances that use a USB charging cable.

The picture on the product page shows a 'CE' mark, but the device does not have it. DO NOT USE, potentially unsafe product. Also, the back label shows the product at 1000mA, not 2000mA as it is advertised -it is only a 5W supply, not a 10W.

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This adapter is not made for the ipad. It will not charge the ipad. It is 1000 milliamp. An ipad needs 2000 milliamps to charge properly. Don't waste your money like I did. I hope amazon drops this company.

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iPad users are well aware that it can be a challenge to find a charger that properly chargers iPads at full speed. Many iPod/iPhone chargers list iPad also, but charge them at a snails pace because they are not 10watts. This one specifically advertised 10w and was very cheap, so I decided to give it a try.

I have used it extensively and can attest that this does indeed charge iPads at full speed. While it is extremely inexpensive, the only thing "cheap" about it is the plain-wrap packaging -which is jut fine by me. The manufacturing quality strikes me as just fine.

A previous reviewer mentioned that his device did not come with the CE logo as shown on the image; however, mine did in fact have this logo just as shown.

I highly recommend this for iPad users. I have used my first one for several months and have since ordered two more. If they ever fail me, I will update the review accordingly.

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NOT A 10 WATT CHARGER. NOT EVEN CLOSE.

The Charger specifications label clearly states it's capacity as 5V @ 700mA i.e. 0.7A so 5V x 0.7A = 3.5 Watts (you can even read the specs in the product photos if you look closely enough) NOT 10 Watts as Fraudulently Misrepresented in the Title and Product Description. An Official Apple iPad charger is rated at 10 watts and provides 5V @ 2.1A = 10.5 Watts or THREE TIMES the power of this charger.

Since neither the iPhone nor the iPod requires anything close to 10 Watts to charge and only the iPad does and this charger only provides 3.5 Watts as it's label clearly states, one must assume this is an illegal attempt to scam iPad owners into purchasing a product completely inadequate for the purpose of charging an iPad especially the new iPad 3 which is said to struggle to charge off an actual 10 Watt charger.

It is of course completely adequate to charge a typical USB powered device like an iPhone or iPod just not any device that requires more power than it's accurately rated 3.5 Watts but this is not what it's being advertised as. It provides 1/3 the power of the official Apple product that it is claimed to be equivalent to.

Should have read the reviews first. Although it's hard to complain about an item that costs 1 cent, it's totally wrong. Bought three hoping to have a few to charge my iPad with...however upon receiving them, immediately knew that they wouldn't work, as they don't put out the proper wattage. So, now I have three that are getting thrown out. Guess I'll have to just shell out more to get the Apple version...but buyer beware, this product has misleading information.

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GSI Mini USB Power Adapter

• Charge Up Your iPod, iPhone, Camera Or Any Electronic USB Device
• Plug USB Cable Into One End, And Adapter Into Wall Socket
• Small And Compact, Great For Traveling Without Computer
• Constructed With Quality And Precision, A Notch Above Standard Aftermarket Devices
• Note: USB Cable NOT Included - Use Your Own Cable

I bought this adapter so that I can charge my Ipod. I just got my Ipod about a month or so ago and found it a little annoying that there was only a usb cord included in the box from apple. So I did some research online and came across this adapter. I bought last week and now I am so pleased that I can just plug my usb cord to the adapter and charge it in a regular wall outlet. It makes my life so much easier.

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This charger is nice that it folds up and seems pretty durable, but it does not work with 'All USB Devices' as stated. I bought it to use with my new Samsung Droid Charge as a spare, but once my phone was plugged into this charger, it locked my phone from use. It was charging, but wouldn't allow me to use the phone while it's charging. Plenty of other chargers will charge while you are using the device, but not this one. :(

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Don't waste your money on this one. I opened the package, plugged in my daughter's iPod, and nothing. Gave her my adapter and, plugged this one into my iPad, and nothing. Total waste of time and money.

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I have had success recharging my Kindle Touch, IPod, and Sansa Clip MP3 player.

This is far more convenient than charging on computer and avoids the tendency of the Kindle and Sansa to reset(refresh) when connected to a computer.

Save 80% Off

Well, I received this product and it looked cheap. I was hoping the cheap look would not make the product be cheap too, but it was. Point is that it did not work at all. I would 100% recommend buying the official original product from Apple, because I made a mistake, and my mistake led me to this awful product. Horrible product.

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S50 Solar Fence Enegizer

we have had this panel installed for the last 3 weeks and it works great! animals learned real quick and battery is keeping its charge. Great product!

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DLO 009-3030 Transpod In-Car Cradle/FM Transmitter, White ( 009-3030 )

• Play, charge and cradle your iPod with one simple, secure device
• Transmits iPod's music to your existing radio already in your car (using FM channels 88.1 to 107.9)
• 4 assignable presets let you jump to commonly used frequencies
• Plugs into any available auto power outlet
• Compatibility: iPod nano (1G and 2G), iPod mini, 4G iPod with click wheel, iPod Color, iPod Video

I've had an iPod for quite a while, but no way to listen to the music in my car. I have an older factory-installed CD player, so cassette adapters were out, and the unit doesn't have a line-in. I heard terrible things about portable FM transmitters from pretty much everyone I spoke with, but with a couple of long road trips planned I decided to bite the bullet and try the Transpod. I am very pleasantly surprised.

The unit combines a car cradle, a charger, and an FM transmitter in one. There's a short arm that plugs into the car's lighter port, an optional extension arm, and a cradle for the iPod with tuner buttons for the transmitter (along with a backlit LCD nice touch) on the face.

The FM performance is very good. I have tried the Transpod in both rural and urban areas and the signal comes through my radio clean and clear. The unit has four presets, but except for a longer trip to another city I have not needed to change stations at all so far.

The Transpod has a line out port on the side, so if I ever upgrade my stereo or purchase a new car I can use that option without having to buy a new cradle and charger. The unit plays music through the data port (it came with an adapter for the iPod mini, and a foam backing for the new, slimmer models no idea if it fits the Nano) so volume is controlled through the car stereo only.

A couple of minor complaints. On the first Transpod I bought, one of the tuner buttons broke. I was able to exchange it with the retailer. No problems with the replacement. Also, a hard bump can jar the charger loose in the lighter port on my car, and sometimes requires a jiggle to reset it. When it loses power it shuts off completely and the sudden burst of static is jarring.

Still, I'm very satisfied with the Transpod.

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I have two FM transmitters: a Belkin Tunecast that I purchased when I first purchased my iPod and a DLO TransPod. There are four key differences to me:

my Belkin only lets me select from four pre-set FM stations whereas with the TransPod I can select across the entire FM spectrum (winner: TransPod, for it's flexibility in FM markets where the four stations the Belkin offers might already have strong transmissions)

the TransPod is car powered whereas the Belkin is AAA battery powered (winner: TransPod, because not only does the DC power provided by the car seem to provide a greater signal, but also it keeps the iPod charged)

the TransPod is a very solid unit whereas the Belkin is smaller and connects via a cable (winner: TransPod, because the unit keeps everything together whereas the Belkin, with its cable, is clumsy)

the TransPod connects to the iPod dock connector while the Belkin uses the headphone jack (winner: TransPod, for several reasons: for one, the dock is a superior connection and you don't need to control the volume of your transmission on the iPod when connected this way; it also puts less stress/wear on the headphone jack)

I read a lot of reviews on Amazon, the Apple Store, and other sites before going with the TransPod. I didn't want to get another device like my Belkin. The bottom line is that if you have to connect to a car stereo via a non-cable/direct means, you need strong signal and I needed some good reviews to assure me I was making the right decision.

(...)the TransPod is an awesome deal. I couldn't be more pleased with the it. With the first use, it was significantly better than my Belkin and I can't praise it enough.

Read Best Reviews of DLO 009-3030 Transpod In-Car Cradle/FM Transmitter, White ( 009-3030 ) Here

I bought this item for my wife and it worked wonderfully for a couple of months and then just stopped working completely. After going back and forth with DLO customer service about the problem, I was told that the arm between the Transpod and the cigarette lighter "requires maintenance and needs to be replaced about every 6 months" and "is not defective, but does require maintenance".

If they know a part is going to fail every 6 months, that is a design flaw not something that requires maintenance. Also, if they know that the part will "require maintenance" every 6 months, why is that not disclosed on the packaging? I feel I was deceived into buying a defective product, and will never buy anything from DLO again.

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[This review is of the Silver Transpod FM, but they are functionally the same] I have tried cheaper FM transmitters in the past and they have been terrible, so I really didn't expect this one to be much better. Luckily, I was completely wrong. Sound quality is great, and I can hear almost no static at all while listening to my music through the Transpod.

Using the included extension, you can position your iPod into just about any position to avoid the controls of your car and still make it accessible. I did not have to use the extension in my car, but I did try it out to make sure it works.

The package includes an insert to hold an iPod mini and iPod Nano, however the insert did not work for me because I have a case on my Nano. That being said, I leave my Nano in it's clear plastic case anyway and I don't see a need for the insert. The Nano seems to be completely secure to me, and I haven't had any problems with it coming loose.

I drive a vehicle at work, and this accessory will make my iPod Nano worth every penny I spent. I highly recommend this item for anyone with an iPod who spends some time in a vehicle.

This product worked well that is it got the music from my ipod into my car's stereo. The unit, however, didn't fit my car well. I had to use both the cigarette lighter arm and the extension arm to get it to fit. Once I put my ipod into the cradle it became quite top heavy. Every time I would go around a corner it would tilt over. I would find myself doing the mom arm protection move for my ipod. Not good. I would only recommend this product if it fits your car using the single arm that fits in the cigarette lighter.

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Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger and External Battery Pack with Integrated Ult

• Latest generation ultra efficient monocrystalline solar cell module.
• Charge most of USB-compatible portable gadgets
• Built-in high-flux LED lamp for indoor/outdoor activities and SOS use.
• Built-in rechargeable lithium battery will hold a charge for up to 2 years, making it suitable for emergency use
• Can be charged from sunlight, USB port or a wall plug

The concept of this Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger (SD4000LP) is good. Essentially, it is a battery-powered USB charger sized like a typical 7-inch tablet. Its internal Lithium-ion rechargeable battery can be recharged either using the solar panel, or through external USB power port. Once charged, you can then use this unit as a portable charger for other USB-powered devices. The unit also features a powerful 6-LED flood light.

Since I'm an engineer, I just HAVE to open the case to see what's inside. I'm quite impressed by the high-quality components found (see the photo I uploaded to 'Customer Images' section):

The internal Lithium-ion rechargeable battery is rated 3.7V 4100mAh (the product description says '4000mAh')

The LEDs are mounted on an aluminum-backed PCB. This is great for thermal dissipation (but you don't see this very often due to high cost)

The battery charging/discharging operation is controlled by an 8-bit microprocessor (again, you don't see this often due to high cost). This is very important because, without the correct charging algorithm, a Li-ion battery can be easily damaged by over-charging.

I then tested the unit electrically, and found it to work more or less as expected:

When you recharge the internal battery through a computer USB port, the charging current is at 500mA. This is limited by the current capacity of a standard USB port. So the charge time is around 8-9 hours.

When charging through an external 5V 1A USB power adapter, the battery charging current increases to 0.69A. That means the charge time is reduced to around 6-7 hours.

When charging with the solar panel, the highest charging current I can get is ~350mA. This is under optimal test condition of bright summer sun at noon time, with the panel perpendicular to the sunbeam. In real life, it will take at least two full days of direct sunlight to recharge the internal battery. Also note that if you place the solar panel inside your car, the charging current is cut by half because the car window filters out most of the UV light.

Next, I tried to use this Soladec unit to recharge different types of USB-powered devices. The outcome varies according to the power requirement:

When charging a low-drain USB device (such as the Philips GoGear Aria MP3 Player), the USB device is powered up correctly, but the Soladec's LED indicator light does not cycle to show 'charging in progress'

When charging a medium-drain USB device (such as the Nintendo DSi XL), the device is powered up correctly, and the Soladec's LED indicator cycles to show charging in progress.

When powering a high-drain USB device (such as the VIZIO 8-Inch Tablet VTAB1008), the Soladec's LED indicator still cycles normally, but its output current fluctuates wildly because the maximum current limit is exceeded. This may cause the receiving device to get confused as it constantly enters and then exits charging mode. Actual maximum output current I measured is around 0.81A, even though the product manual says only 0.5A. So at least the product is performing better than specified.

When ON, the LED light draws 200mA from the battery. This means a runtime of 20 hours. However, I'm skeptical about the advertised light output of '170 lumen', as it requires an amazing efficacy of over 200 lumens per watt.

On the other hand, I have noticed some major design flaws with this Solardec charger:

1. There is no on/off switch. The push button switch beside the LED light does not turn off the whole system, only the light. The system is constantly drawing a 3mA standby current from internal battery. Simple calculation shows that this standby current will drain a 4100mAh battery in less than 2 months. So although the product description says the built-in battery will "hold a charge for up to 2 years", in real life you have to recharge it every single month, if you intend to use it in case of emergency.

2. The case is not weather-sealed in any way. In particular, there are no rubber caps for the two USB ports on top. So if it rains, water can easily get in through those openings. That makes it dangerous to leave this solar charger outdoor exposed to direct sunlight. The only safe way is to place it underneath your car's windshield. But doing so also cuts down the solar power by ~50%. So now it takes 4 days to fully recharge the internal battery by solar panel.

CONCLUSION:

The Soladec SD4000LP is a good attempt with quality components inside. But unfortunately, the two major design flaws mentioned above make it less useful either as an emergency power source or as an outdoor solar charger. It does work well as a LED work light, but that can hardly justify its high price tag. That's why I can only give it a 3-star neutral rating, meaning "It's Okay".

[Side note on capacity]

Is the capacity of internal battery (4100mAh) sufficient for you? That depends on the USB device you intend to recharge. For example, my POLAROID 7" INTERNET TABLET has an internal 3000mAh Li-ion battery. So on first glance, the SD4000LP contains more than enough energy to charge up my tablet from empty to 100%. However, the battery charging process has to go though two conversion steps. First, the 3.7V from internal battery is boosted to 5V at the USB port. Next, the 5V is stepped down to around 4V to recharge the tablet battery. Even if each conversion step is 85% efficient, you still lose 30% of energy in the process. That's why you always need 1/3 higher capacity than the device you want to recharge.

Buy Soladec Hybrid All-in-One Portable Solar Power Charger and External Battery Pack with Integrated Ult Now

The biggest problem I found with solar chargers is they never get your phone past 50%, this is the only charger I have found that will take it to 100% in the same amount of time as a wall charger. The battery in the solar unit takes 7 hours to charge plugged in and 12 hours to charge using solar, and it never has any problems keeping up with any of my devises.

I'm a hiker and I'll use the GPS on my iPhone 4S to navigate through to wood in the Sierras, and for all of you iPhone 4S users out there you know how short the battery life can be, it actually drops off on average a percent a minute so I needed a heavy duty solar charger. Even with the high power consumption, as long as I stay plugged in my phone never drops below 100%, even at night when I'm using the GPS and the rediculiously bright light all nigh long. The light is also amazing, from a 12 hour charge it will run 18 hours and will stay bright the entire night. So to sum it all up, I actually couldn't pull more power than it could put out, it always felt like there was a wall outlet in my tent becouse no matter what I did I couldn't kill the thing! It was well worth every penny spent

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This new Soladec Hybrid solar powered charger, has Outdoor Chef Kurt ,ready to hit the outdoors,with confidence.

The new Micro-B USB type port allows the unit a wider variety of charging options. The distress signal from the LED light,could save your life, in all sorts of instances, if needed.

The new charge indicator, lets you know when to charge up, the unit . The electronics inside the charger ,that makes it work , have been super charged, for better efficiency overall.

Pros/// Dependable power when you need it most ,quality construction for durability.

Cons// price is a little higher ,but it is well worth it ,with quality and dependability ,and maybe your life at stake. When outdoors, in remote places.

it is important to have a dependable product , that will harness the suns power,that is why I give this new Soladec Solar Charger my highest reccomendation. 5 ***** {FISHGRILLER APPROVED}

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This is an excellent product. The flashlight is super bright and lasts all night long (if you don't use all the battery for charging your devices). I live on an off-grid sustainable organic farm in Hawaii and I use this every night for reading. It's the first solar USB charger I've ever owned so I have none to compare it with but I am very satisfied and this little gadget meets my particular needs. Hope this is helpful. Oh, and I use it to charge my HTC Resound cell phone.

Update: It does require full sunlight for best results. And now that I'm in a new location that doesn't receive full sunlight it requires much longer to charge a device.

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This is for all you iPhone 4S users out there...if you're like me, your phone keeps dying in the middle of the day or when your day isn't anywhere near over and it gets pretty frustrating pretty quick.

This my friends is the solution to all of our problems... be honest I wasn't expecting a whole lot from a solar powered backup battery charger for my iPhone 4S, but on a full charge this thing...it really does replace a wall socket.

I would highly recommend this backup battery for anyone who is tired of their iPhone battery dying on them.

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GSI Super Quality Rapid Home Travel Charger For Apple iPad 3G/Wifi Tablet Reader, Wall Outlet Plug I

• Charge Up Your Apple iPad Tablet At Home Or On Your Travels
• Small And Compact, Meets And Exceeds Original Models, Perfect Fit
• Constructed With Quality And Precision, A Notch Above Standard Aftermarket Devices
• Built In Safe Circuit Fuse, Eliminates Overcharging And Overheating The iPad
• Connect To Your iPad Direct Or To Apple Docks, 30 Pin Connector Plug

I purchased three of these and none of them worked. One of them worked for about 10 minutes and then the red light flashes on the head of the charger and it quits working. Would give it a rating of zero stars but it won't let me.

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I bought this charger to charge my iPad 2. To test it, I hooked it up to my iPad with the battery at 74%. Then I left for 30 minutes. When I returned, the unit was beeping, it smelled like the iPad was burning and it was still 74%! I tried other plugs and got the same result. The worst part about this is that Amazon charges $5+ to return it, so basically I just wasted $5.99. Please don't do the same by purchasing it.

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I think Apple should be including one of these with every purchase. But since that doesn't appear to be happing, I got this. Maybe I am just too much of an ipad addict or something but this has become my new best friend. I mean seriously before this whenever I went on a trip my options were drag my 5 pound laptop (and of course the bulky cable) since I knew the dreaded "20% battery" screen was looming. This is so great for travel but also great for home cause I don't have to turn on the computer every time I want boost and it charges much faster than the USB. Long story short: this makes my ipad happy thus makes me happy.

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3 in 1 charger kit - car charger travel charger USB charger and date cable

• For Apple Touch Itouch 1st 2nd Generation, Nano 4th 3rd 2nd 1st Generation, iPhone 1st 2nd 3G Generation, Classic 1st 2nd Generation, Video
• This Combo Pack Includes: One USB Home Charger, One USB Car Charger, One USB Cable.
• Car Charger: Vehicle Lighter Adaptor.(12~24v DC). Short circuit protection. LED charging indication.
• Home Charger: Charger: Input: 100V - 240V (U.S. & World Standard) (50~60Hz/180mA).Output: 7.6V / 800
• Cable: 2-In-1 Features: Hotsysnc & Charging. Connect your Ipod with your PC/Laptop by USB port.
• iPod, software & technical support not included.

I purchased 2 of these for my kids and am very disappointed! My daughters broke within 12 hours of getting it and my sons made it a whole 4 days!! Very cheaply made. Save your money!

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Usually it's better to buy accessories in a bundle, it's cheaper and sometimes it ships faster. This particular product was a practical purchase because I actually use each item when I travel.

The retractable USB Data Hotsynch charging cable is not an excellent quality. The cable gets stuck and does not retract well back into place. But it works for for what I need it for, which is hiding the long cable and it doesn't get tangled up with other cables.

The travel charger works well when I travel especially if I'm not carrying my laptop around. It lets me plug it when I'm at the airport, coffeshop or anywhere else with a power outlet.

The car charger I really don't need because I have a stereo that connects to my IPOD and charges my IPOD while it's playing.

Overall, its a good buy.

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I really enjoy my itouch. I like to use the apps all the time but the first generation battery doesn't last long. This kit gives me what I need to recharge no matter where I am. Laptop, standard ac outlet, car....all are covered and it works great.

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The pictures and description are accurate and you receive exactly what you think you will. I especially like the retractable cord for charging the ipod.

It does exactly what it is supposed to do!! I would recommend it to anyone needing a charger that can do both car and home! :)

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GSI Super Quality Mini Universal In-Car USB To Cigarette Lighter Port Rapid Charger Adapter - For Ap

• Charge Up Your iPod, iPhone, Camera Or Any Electronic USB Device
• Plug USB Cable Into One End, And Adapter Into Cigarette Lighter Plug
• Small And Compact, Great For Traveling Without Computer
• Constructed With Quality And Precision, A Notch Above Standard Aftermarket Devices
• Note: USB Cable NOT Included - Use Your Own Cable

I bought this to charge my Zune in my car. I liked the small size and price, but it doesn't work. The fit in the cigarette lighter is extremely loose; the charger slips out whenever the USB cord is removed which sucks. I don't know why, but my Zune won't even charge off of it. It doesn't recognize that it's plugged in. The overall build of the thing is cheap (which is expected), so even if it worked it wouldn't last long. There are better options here on Amazon.

Don't bother with this, keep looking.

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Does exactly what it's supposed to do, it allows you to charge your USB device with a car's cigarette lighter port.

Been having it for over a year and still works great.

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sometimes this product decides to charge and sometimes it decides not too.

you definitely get what you pay for.

it's nice when it works.

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I like it...when you don't have a lot of room in your computer bag to carry chargers for your iphone and crackberry and bluetooth headset and gps and...you get the picture...this little thing will allow you to charge any of them with their usb cables...only down side I can see is it gets a little warm...may have been my iphone was really low on power.

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Eastwood Emergency Battery Booster Jump Start Pack

Very nice, lightweight, compact and functional unit. Leads aren't so long they get tangled, but long enough to do the job well. I really like this booster and will probably buy another in the future.

It's basic and nothing fancy but it jumps my dads car anytime his battery dies. The box has a 12 volt outlet that my dad plugs his phone car charger or GPS into when he needs the extra outlet.

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BAL 28015 Pad Lock

• Padlock

Bought these for our 5th wheel and my husband said they work SO WELL and is very happy with the purchase.

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These are the best wheel chocks ever. I have two of them for my 35 foot fifth wheel. With the proper lock, it is easy to secure the chock. I'd recommend this to anyone with a multiple axle trailer.

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Marshall Gas Controls 42421-60 60" Extend-A-Flow Adaptor Hose

Used this to connect the high-pressure receptacle on my pop-up camper to my Coleman LXE Grill. This is the type of grill that normally uses the small 1 lb propane canisters. Essentially it runs from the camper to the regulator on the grill. Good flame adjustment and easy to light once the line pressurizes (might take a few seconds for the gas to actually reach the burners when first hooking it up).

Works as expected. Might get a slightly longer hose if/when I need to replace this one.

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Yeasu FTA-230 Air Band Transceiver

• New BNC Antenna Connection
• Exclusive 12VDC Charging Sleeve
• Improved Channel Recall Flip-Flop Feature
• Submersible Construction
• NOAA Weather

Actually, I made a mistake when I ordered the FTA-230 as I wanted to purchase the next model up, the FTA-310. When it

arrived, I thought someone had made a mistake and sent the wrong item. Upon checking I was the one who made the mistake,

a good one. This model does not have the VOR/CDI function. Now that I no longer fly, that function isn't much use on land.

I own the Amateur Radio version of the FTA-310, the VX-170, and wanted both radios to be the same style and size. But

all of the accessories are the same and this radio serves my purpose very well. The item arrived quickly, and is easy to

operate and program. Yeasu has the programming software available on their web site for free downloading. I already had

a programming cable from my other radio. Even without the software, loading local frequencies is very simple and quick.

This radio is comfortable in your hand, great receive audio and comes with a headset adapter cable for most common

aviation headsets. Makes a great backup radio for your aircraft. All in all, it's what I've come to expect from Yaesu.

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I like this radio Yaesu FTA-230 has a sharp sound and very strong, the functions of the menu are balanced and the radio is built strong and resistant to water from rain, I love the screen has good lighting and excellent reach many miles.

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Car and Wall Charger for Sansa Clip

• This value combo includes:1 X Rapid Car Charger1 X Premium Travel Charger
• 100% New High Quality Generic (Non-OEM) Item.
• Compatible with: Creative Zen V / Zen V Plus / Zen Stone / Zen Stone Plus / Sandisk / Sansa Clip

When connected to the wall charger, the 4GB Clip displays that it is connected to the computer and does not charge at all (no flashing battery symbol). Completely useless.

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This product does not work. If possible, I would give zero stars.

I was dumb and gave a positive feedback based on the low price and quick shipping before I tried it.

Do not buy.

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When I got the chargers (wall and car) I rated the vendor 5 star for the delivery. However, I carried the two to Florida on vacation along with the Sansa 2 GB MP3 and plugged each in at various times. They do not charge only light up with a solid battery on the screen. The battery is supposed to blink when charging and it does not. Since I didn't have my computer with me I had no player to listen to while there. Only $7 but I have junk here!

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I did not look at the reviews until after I bought this item. I won't make that mistake again. Neither charger will charge my Sandisk Sansa Clip 2G.

I got this bundle thinking "I got a great deal" right? WRONG! The chargers don't work with my Sansa Clip 2GB. The light comes on and the charging screen pops up and everything but once you unplug you notice that there is no charge, even if left over night charging on the wall charger. And the car charger I just don't know some times it charges and other times it does not. So if you are thinking of buying it you might want to think again...

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RoadPro RPSC-818 12V Hair Dryer/ Defroster with Folding Handle

• Plugs directly into your lighter/power socket
• Can also be used to defrost car windows
• Folding handle and hang loop for easy storage
• 8-foot power cord, 12 Amps

First I need to state that I'm not using this 12v "hairdryer" for hair, or deicing a windshield. I'm using it to clear up the dew that settles on the objective of a large amateur telescope, so I only need to warm it up slightly. Therefore, I'm not really putting it to any stressful use. It's a good thing as this blower is not really a solidly built piece of equipment. In fact, it should be handled with care as it is a bit flimsy. It gets warm, not hot. It blows gently, not hard. It has only a simple on-off. Folding the handle seems to be prone to causing the rear housing to separate from the rest of the blower, so don't do it! If dropped from a handheld height onto a hard surface I'm sure you will find it irrepairably dead. BUT! It's darned cheap, in build along with price. Obviously, I got what I paid for.

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My wifes RoadPro 818 died within a month. It started smoking and the switch melted.

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I ride motorcycle and camp out frequently. Most campgrounds provide a 110-volt outlet in the restroom, but at rallies, they can be a very popular commodity involving a long wait in line! This 12-volt hairdryer actually works, and although it takes longer to dry my (short) hair, it does the job adequately and I can get on with my day. For longer hair, it would not work as well, but I can honestly recommend it for short hair styles.

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Very disappointed with this item. It does not even blow enough air to move your hair, u would be better off turning on the car heater or a/c. This should not even be compared to a hair dryer or a car heater as described. Don't waste your money.

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To start things off, the plastic package was half open when I took it out of the shipping box. Then, after the first 5 seconds of the first time using it, smoke started to come out of the back.

I got this even after reading the bad reviews because I wasn't going to use it as a hair dryer or defroster. So I didn't care, as long as the thing blew air. But it cant even get that right.

Don't waste your money. I'm returning this thing immediately.

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TecMate TM-221 OptiMate 5 2.8Amp Weatherproof Desulfating Charger/Maintainer

• Safe long-term maintenance cycle
• Tests battery every hour
• Proven reliability and ease of use
• Optimizes battery power and life

Was recommended by a friend. Works as what it's supposed to. Excellent product. Should come with a carrying case to make it complete.

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Great charger for big toys, I am really happy with this also with the price and delivery, really fast thank you.

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The OptiMate 5 is hands down the best battery maintainer money can buy. I have had this now for about 6 months and every time I want to ride my motorcycle, I CAN!

Gone are the days where I would go to start my bike and hear the ubiquitous clicking noise. I used to have the itch to go ride and then I'd have to charge up the battery and by then, I didn't want to ride anymore. This was the best purchase I have made in a while, as it has directly resulted in more riding time and absolutely ZERO hassle.

This maintainer DOES NOT CHARGE YOUR DEAD BATTERY! It was not intended to do that. It just cycles the battery and keeps it topped off. You must charge your battery prior to plugging this in.

I highly recommend you get multiple pigtails to hook up to all your outdoor toys/tools and you can then keep all of your items fully charged!

I have been very impressed with the way this works. It doesn't make any noise like other battery chargers I have used in the past, it won't cause thermal runaway and it has brought back several of my batteries from the dead after a short charge from my main battery charger. I have even refreshed a 12 year old Harley battery with this thing.

Imagine the money saved over the years, imagine riding your bike whenever you please.

Buy one of these and stop dreaming!

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After reading up on battery chargers this one has what you need to keep your batteries in TIP TOP SHAPE. I have used this charger all winter and I can say that my betteries (all 5 of them) now hold a charge longer and require less frequent charging.It's simple to use and safe and a great way to increase your battery life.

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After unsuccessfully trying to charge 5 different deep cycle and motorcycle batteries, I had to send the charger back to TecMate. They checked it out and because it was faulty, sent me a new one. I used it on several batteries and never was able to get one to charge. I checked and the batteries all had water in them . These same batteries were always charging with no problems with my Battery Tender, but that got left out in the rain one evening thus the new purchase. After talking to the customer service at TecMate again, I was told to return it to the place of purchase. Luckily, after a detailed explanation of my experience, Amazon accepted the return with no original packaging and after 6 months of the purchase date. I ended up buying another Battery Tender after going without a charger all Summer. I would not recommend this charger to anybody. I was hoping to get a better charger with the desulphating feature and weather proof, but I ended up with a more expensive lemon...Twice. I'll stick with my B.T. and keep it covered overnight.

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