Showing posts with label solar battery charger 12v. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar battery charger 12v. Show all posts

3 Pack Combo Accessory Bundle USB Car Charger + USB Travel Charger + USB Retractable Data Sync Cable

3 Pack Combo Accessory Bundle USB Car Charger + USB Travel Charger + USB Retractable Data Sync Cable for Microsoft Zune 4GB, 8GB, 80GB and 120GB models
  • Brand New Generic Bulk Package
  • included : USB Auto Charger, USB AC Charger, and USB Data Cable
  • Accessory ONLY

I bought this package because I needed the car charger. I would highly recommend the rest of the package as well, especially the synching cord, which eliminates extra wires when taking my Zune places.

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Love IT! Never go anywhere without it!!!Nothing more than I can say about it. Syncs well with CPU as well!

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It's exactly what I needed and wanted. It came quickly, and just in the nick of time for my road trip! Thanks!

E-Z Red S101 Battery Hydrometer

E-Z Red S101 Battery Hydrometer
  • Easy to read pointer for accuracy
  • Small, compact design for use in hard to reach places
  • Used by battery manufacturers for on-line testing
  • Accurate range of 1.100 - 1.300
  • Unbreakable, E-Z to read, economical, Used by battery manufacturers worldwide

Easy to use and quickly shows which battery (and which cells) are good, fair or poor. I have two old golf carts that have questionable batteries, and its always been difficult to determine which battery to replace (other than by age), and when I did this I quickly found the bad battery in each cart, and when replaced greatly improved the charging and charge holding capacity of each GC. For the price, you can't beat it.

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Spend the couple of extra dollars on this. The wide range of movement on the dial makes it easier to see small differences between individual cells in a battery. It dosn't say so on the web-site, but on the box it states that it self compensating for tempurature.

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Short of a laboratory grade instrument, this hydrometer gets the job done. I use it to monitor my solar power system battery bank, so it's important that it gives accurate and repeatable measurements. The built-in temperature compensation is a help no need to use cumbersome and confusing compensation charts. My only (small) complaint is that you need to be sure that the device is level when filled with battery acid or the reading will be off a bit. If you pay attention to this detail you'll be fine.

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[edited] Upgrading from 2 to 3 stars.

Overall, this tool will do a good job of letting you know whether any of your cells are bad. If that's all you need to know, then it's is a fine product.

I found, however, that the readings are not consistent enough to provide accurate measurements. Test after test usually ranges plus or minus a graduation (about .025 each).

Previously, I had a complaint that it was difficult to tell if the proper amount of fluid was being used because the meniscus (curvature of the liquid) didn't match with the fill-to line, but was informed that standard practice is to read at the bottom of the meniscus. I may have known that at some point, but certainly forgot about it. So, it turns out I've been using a number of devices incorrectly, but unfortunately with this one the readings are still inconsistent. Regardless, I've found this item to be useful enough that I'll give it a star boost.

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This Hydrometer give different reading at different times. Not worth the money. Spend a little more and get a hydrometer that works. I purchased a different one and it works fine. One of the glass ones with the temp scale built in works much better for me.

Black & Decker CPI10B 10 Watt Power To Go Cordless Compact AC/USB Power Supply (Black)

Black & Decker CPI10B 10 Watt Power To Go Cordless Compact AC/USB Power SupplyPROS: Small, easy to carry. USB and AC outlets. No need for a separate inverter.

CONS: This device takes 11 hours to fully recharge! Some devices can cause the Power-to-Go device to get very hot. Pretty bulky when you consider it cannot even fully recharge a tiny MP3 player like the iPod Nano.

I thought that this device would be able to fully recharge my at least my iPod Nano. I plugged it in when my Nano was at 50% and the Power-to-Go lost all it's juice before the Nano was even at 100%! The Power-to-Go was able to give me an extra bar of battery life on my LG LX8000 phone, but that was about it. Also when I unplugged my cell phone charger from the Power-to-Go, the metals plugs of my charger were very hot. The manual recommends that the Power-to-Go not be left unattended and that it be monitored for rises in temperature. I guess this device would be helpful for dire emergencies, but don't expect your electronic devices to be fully charged. Despite the small charge the Power-to-Go gives out, the power supply itself needs 11 hours to fully recharge from a fully discharged state. I've never owned any small electronic device that needed such a long recharge time.

Looking that the three versions of this 10W, 20W, 100W, I found the technical details on the B+D site helpful:

This Model # CPI10B has a 700mAh battery, the 20W a 2Ah battery, and the 100W a 4Ah battery. It looks like they are progressively heavier, but I can't find accurate figures on weight or dimensions.

Input 7.2 VDC, 2.5A

Output 115V AC 60Hz, 8W continuous

Battery 700mAh, NiMH

USB 5V DC (350 mA)

* Approximate talk time based on average results using commonly used cell ohones. Results may vary depending on features/cell phone used

Buy Black & Decker CPI10B 10 Watt Power To Go Cordless Compact AC/USB Power Supply (Black) Now

Got one of these for Christmas, plugged it in to charge, and left it for about two weeks. Then I tried it with my cell phone chargerit would have none of that. Tried a very small table radio. Nope. Finally charged my iPod Nano... for about four minutes before falling over dead. Now it's heading to take up landfill space.

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This device stinks. It takes over a day to charge, and it can barely provide any power. Don't buy this.

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It does work, but carefully read the wattage of what you want to plug in. I didn't. Keep thinking: 10 watts, 10 watts, 10 watts.

Garmin A/C Charger for Rino 530

Garmin A/C Charger for Rino 530
  • GARMIN REPLACEMENT AC CHARGER FOR RINO 520 530

Charger came with the much needed small piece that attaches to the battery. Wish they would sell that separately. Items were shipped on time and in good condition.

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I lost the little charger attachment piece for my Rino, so I was unable to charge the battery. Although I did not need a new cord, this set has been a "lifesaver" for me. Absolutely no problems with this product.

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Product is as described, fits just as it should. Good replacement, the only complaint would be the price over all.

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I had to purchase the entire charging system because I lost the apartor the that snaps on the back of the Rino to charge the battery. It works well if you have all of the parts. I'm dissapointed that I could not buy the adaptor only. I had the buy the A/C part also which I did not lose. I apparently left it on the back of the Rino and went hiking. I guess it got cought on brush and snapped it off and I never knew it. So I will leave this one connected to the A/C cord at home.

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This is what I ordered. Just wished Garmin hadn't made the connection so difficult and thus so expensive. Like all of them you have to use a rubber band to hole them on the Rino. Design flaw by Garmin.

KHOMO: 6ft (SUPER LONG) Pink Dock USB Charger SYNC Data Cord for Apple iPhone iPod & iPad (compatibl

KHOMO: 6ft Pink Dock USB Charger SYNC Data Cord for Apple iPhone iPod & iPad
  • Compatible with ALL iPhone models, All iPod models & All iPad models
  • Works with Mac, PC, iPod/iPhone Docks, and more. Supports USB 1.1 and 2.0
  • USB charge and/or sync compatible.
  • 6ft (twice the length) Hot Pink Color USB Cable.
  • Brand: KHOMO Accessories.

We got this for my wife's iPhone 4S. Insertion was difficult from the beginning, and now that she's been using it, connecting other cables (such as the standard Apple cable) to the phone is touchy and unreliable. It's not impossible to charge it, but it's become very difficult; we're throwing this cable away so it doesn't damage any other devices. It's a shame, as the six-foot length is nice and the color is distinctive and easy to keep track of.

Buy KHOMO: 6ft (SUPER LONG) Pink Dock USB Charger SYNC Data Cord for Apple iPhone iPod & iPad (compatibl Now

Dont waste your money going to others stored. This item works great and i bough not only one but 4. is super long my daughters love the colors. you will not be dissapointed.

Read Best Reviews of KHOMO: 6ft (SUPER LONG) Pink Dock USB Charger SYNC Data Cord for Apple iPhone iPod & iPad (compatibl Here

I like the extra length of the cord. It was at a good price and works great. Have hade it about a year with no problems.

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I bought this charger in order to have a longer cord to charge my iPhone with and it works. It fits well and it gets the job done. It has not affected the battery life of my phone at all. It is made out of good material I have had it for over a year and it still looks brand new.

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It's a great length and a durable cord! The ONLY downfall is it doesn't work when connected to my computer. But it's a charger so it's doing exactly that!

Computer-Controlled Universal Ni-MH & Ni-CD Smart Charger II

Computer-Controlled Universal Ni-MH & Ni-CD Smart Charger II
  • Computer-Controlled
  • Universal Ni-MH & Ni-CD
  • Charger II for all battery sizes

Great product. I use for charge all my energizer rechargeable batteries with 2500 mah. With this toy I can charge complete my batteries than with default energizer charger.

Cybertech 45W MagSafe 2 Car Charger Adapter (14.85V 3.08A) For Apple Macbook Air A1436 MD592LL/A A14

Cybertech 45W MagSafe 2 Car Charger Adapter For Apple Macbook Air A1436 MD592LL/A A1466 11'13', With USB Charger Port
  • Input voltage: DC 12~16V max 10A
  • Output voltage: 14.85v 3.05A, 45 Watt, USB port 5V 1.5A
  • Size of connector: MagSafe 2 5 pin
  • Product Type: Car Charger, Compact size
  • Warranty:12 months warranty

Does what it says and does it well. I have the newest Macbook Air i5 and it fits perfectly. The 12v plug end has a soft blue light to let you know its on. This might annoy some people when it is pitch black but I like it because it lets you know its on and in a car bouncing around things come loose now and then. The other end that plugs into the computer also has a soft light that changes color to let you know its charging and turns green when its done. This light is very soft and shouldnt annoy anyone. I also love the extra USB port. I use that for my iphone. Great product for the price.

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iRecharge IPR3 Rechargeable Battery Bundle for iPod Shuffle

iRecharge IPR3 Rechargeable Battery Bundle for iPod Shuffle
  • Handy rechargeable battery bundle designed for the iPod shuffle
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack lets you charge shuffle without power source
  • Delivers up to 40 hours per charge; charges via USB adapter
  • Includes green, blue, and clear sleeves to protect shuffle from dust and scratches
  • Backed by 3-year warranty

Yes, this inexpensive charger will recharge an iPhone (or any 4th generation or newer iPod.) I used this on my iPhone 3GS and it worked perfectly. The package only includes one USB cable, which you use to charge-up the iRecharge battery. You need to provide your own docking cable (included with the iPhone or iPod) to charge/power the iPhone (iPod).

In my very non-scientific test, I discovered the iRecharge will charge the iPhone battery at the rate of about 5% per 10 minutes. (I drained my iPhone to 30% and it reached a 100% charge in about 2 hours, 20 minutes.)

It is light weight but a bit awkward to use (it was designed to seat an iPod Shuffle while charging, so attaching the USB-dock cable requires somewhat nimble fingers; even more-so when detaching the cable.) If you have an extra docking cable, I suppose you could leave one attached at all times as long as you are careful not to short it.

Overall, an excellent portable, emergency power source for your iPhone or iPod.

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Progressive Dynamics PD4645 4600 Series 45 Amp Converter Upgrade Section

Progressive Dynamics PD4645 4600 Series 45 Amp Converter Upgrade Section
  • Size: 13.375W x 8.125D x 5.875H
  • Ideal replacement or upgrade for many RV power center converter and chargers
  • Easy to install
  • Four-Stage charging system dramatically increases battery life
  • The intelligent way to charge and maintain your battery

My old converter was only 1 stage, so thought I would upgrade to help extend the life of my batteries in the RV.

The instructions could have been a little more detailed, but were adequate. It fit in the place of my old converter very easily. Most of the problems were with trying to get the old converter out. All the DC wiring was soldered to the circuit board, on the old unit, which made it a pain to take apart. The new board has screw lugs, which made the job of connecting the old wires very easy. After letting it run for a day, I thought the 4 state converter was not working properly. After checking what the lights meant, and waiting for 15 minutes, it switched into the correct state. Apparently, I just caught it at the right moment, when it was in DESULFATION mode. It has been working fine for several weeks now. Have not had time to take it out on the road yet. Wanted it for a two month cross country trip this fall. I would definitely recommend this to anyone replacing their Magnetek/Parallax 6300 or 7300 series. The charge wizard should help keep the batteries from stratification, with its DESULFATION mode. The RV is now parked outside, and last week it was around 100 degrees, and I still have not heard the fan come on, so cannot comment on its noise level. It came well packed, and actually arrived 1 day early.

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Converter arrived in a few days, took about an hour to install. The instructions were easy to follow. We have been camping for a month now and it has been working very well keeping the batteries charged when hooked up without boil over. Brought our older camper up-to-date.

Read Best Reviews of Progressive Dynamics PD4645 4600 Series 45 Amp Converter Upgrade Section Here

The PD-4645 converter only took a few days to arrive. Instuctions were clear other than they mentioned removing a red wire and I did not have any red wires. There were two black wires. Installing the DC Districution board was easy but getting the smaller gage (thicker) wires) branch circuits into the connecting slots was difficult.

Installation of the new converter would have been easy if I had read the tag on the leads. What were DC + and -, I read as AC and I hooked it up that way. Tripped breaker. I thought unit was defective and got a new one, in fact two, one from the manufactfurer. After the third unit tripped the breaker I knew it had to be me or my circuits and then I realized the leads were maarked DC not AC. Dumb and lucky! Once I had that figured out the unit worked perfectly. Easy to install.

I have not had the opportunity to see how unit works but it is very quiet.

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Easy to follow instructions. Quiet.

American made, exact fit for my Mangatech 45 amp converter. Would recommend to others with old converters

Excellent. Placed as replacement old Parallax converter in 1990 motor home. Easy to install and great improvement over old unit.

Priority Start 12-Volt-Pro-SP PriorityStart Automatic Battery Protector

Priority Start 12-Volt-Pro-SP PriorityStart Automatic Battery Protector
  • 12 Volt
  • Easy to Attach: Connect your existing vehicle positive cable to Priority Start.Attach the PriorityStart! cable to your battery's positive post.Attach the ground wire to the battery's negative post.
  • Successfully being used in vehicles with: 2 way/CB radios, Radar Systems, GPS, Cell phones, Computers, Flashlight Chargers, Mobile Equipment, Dual batteries, Hi-Amp Stereo Systems, Mobile T.V
  • 1 Year Factory Direct Warranty
  • Replaces: PSI-12-PRO, PSI-12-PROX-SP

BMW X5. Installation had to go rear, right near battery, which meant mounting on spare tire wheel well and then buying a new positive cable to stretch from the battery to the Priority Start. Perhaps on cars with battery in front, not such a big deal installing.

Priority Start as disconnect battery only once I know of and that when car sat for an entire week.

Certainly rugged.

Recommend if you can tackle an installation job that might mean drill, cable, etc.

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First of all, this electric shut off device worked, but it was poorly designed. On the top of the unit is a metal contact to screw a battery post to. But when I used my fingers to tighten it the post kept turning. I tried to unscrew the battery post but it kept turning and it wouldn't come off.

I ended up using a large screw driver to lift the top metal contact up until I could pry it all the way up. Then I discovered the problem. Below the metal contact plate was a hex nut that wasn't attached to anything. It wasn't welded to the metal plate. It was merely glued down with what looked like epoxy. It is a horrible design and I'm sure everyone who buys this device will eventually fall victim to this serious design flaw, especially if they try to remove it.

I imagine it would have taken another few cents to weld the metal nut to the metal contact plate so the company choose saving a few cents over making the product competently.

I ended up leaving the metal contact pried at a 90° angle so I could tighten the battery post to it. I had to leave it in this position because I couldn't tighten the post without using a wrench to hold the hex nut.

I wrote the company and even sent them photos with ways to properly engineer this device but I never heard from them.

Since I was forced to pry their PriorityStart open I'm sure the company would use this as an excuse to void my warranty, which doesn't last long anyway. And speaking of 'warranties' the buyer has to pay for the return of the unit and THEN the company determines if the unit is bad and from the wording of their warranty information it leads me to believe they will use any reason to avoid honoring their warranty.

Obviously their product is poorly engineered when finger tightening a battery post to it will cause an epoxy-held hex nut to break free. The company obviously doesn't care if customers have to be subjected to what I had to endure. Per their warranty it's obvious they wouldn't replace a unit if the top metal plate had to be pried open just to remove their device from a car even though 100% of the problem was their fault.

Fortunately, their product does work and I can start my car but to have engineered it the way they did reveals a company that doesn't have a quality control department or doesn't care about what happens after a sale is made. After all, their warranty would discourage (intentionally?) almost anyone who tries to get a replacement or a refund.

Lastly, I'm a NASA engineer and no device at NASA would have been made as defective as this device is. I give it 2 stars because it does work but if it was designed properly I would have given it 5 stars. Btw: Any smart and ethical company would take my suggestions and redesign their product and reward a person like myself who told them how to redesign it. It would lead to more sales and more satisfied customers. You'd think a company would have that as their number one priority but sadly most companies don't give a damn about customer satisfaction and only care about making a quick buck. If this company redesigns their product using my suggestions and doesn't compensate me for it then it reveals their total lack of gratitude and appreciation. It also reveals what kind of people are manufacturing & selling this product.

Read Best Reviews of Priority Start 12-Volt-Pro-SP PriorityStart Automatic Battery Protector Here

Update Sept 2012 - The Battery Protector protected my battery

Wife tried to open up car, no power, she opened trunk with key, that put current to the battery protector, that put battery back on line, opened car, car started, worked like a champ.

This car has a tendency to not shut off a relay, somewhere in car, the battery protector worked, money well spent.

------------------------------------------

Installed item on car, so far working as advertised.

Have not had a problem with a battery drain yet, so can not say that item has protected the battery yet.

However I am sure it will, this car likes to surprise me every now and again.

Battery on this car is in trunk, and space is limited, was able to make it fit, in my case the cable being a few inches longer would have helped, but it is OK.

Seems to be quality product.

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i purchased this for installation on a 96 suburban. i use this vehicle as a member of the local volunteer fire department and police reserves. My hope was that this would allow me to run my emergency led lights and radio equipment on a scene without the need to leave the engine running. It works perfectly. With the fire radio on and receiving, led strobes front and rear and the headlights and hazard signals on the system shut the power down at 1hr 15min. a quick flip of the head light switch and the truck started up just fine. i was a bit concerned if it would work for this purpose but it has performed perfectly.

installation can be a little tricky if you have short or tight battery cables but there is nothing "hard" about the install. i was installed in testing in less than 15min.

this product is great. i will be adding one to my daily driver as well.

The ProMax works great. I have not had to jump start the car or charge the battery once. It was easy to install.

Thinkpad Battery 27++

Thinkpad Battery 27++
  • 57Y4545 is discontinued and replaced with 0a36304
  • BATTERY 27++ , BATTERY 28++
  • NOT A STAND ALONE BATTERY - WORKS WITH NORMAL LAPTOP BATTERY FOR EXTENDED RUN TIMES
  • 9 CELL ADD-ON BATTERY THAT WORKS WITH THE SYSTEM BATTERY
  • LENOVO FACTORY SEALED RETAIL BOX = SHIPPING 0A36304

I am using this additional battery on a Lenovo T420. It does what it is supposed to do. I am getting (roughly) about twice the battery life of my normal 9 cell. Like the previous poster, I could not get it to fit tight initially then all at once it snapped into place. Now I do not want to take it back off in case I have trouble getting it into position again. You may want to (very carefully!) play with it a bit if it does not snap into place initially. I have no idea what I did, but it seems snug and secure now. The extra power is great. I knocked off a star due to the somewhat squirrelly connection. Be aware that like any battery, this is going to add some weight and a bit more thickness to your laptop.

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Though this battery's capacity is very good, you need to be very careful when using it to avoid data loss. This battery always shuts off my T520 laptop unexpectedly. After the shut off, all the files that are not saved will be lost and windows will tell you your computer were not properly turned off when you restart.

With this battery attached, laptop will lost its power completely when your turn the laptop into sleeping mode, or unplug the AC power adapter. It will also shut off your computer when you try to attach the extended battery when the computer is running.

The technical support from Lenovo is very impatient and they refused a full refund. Very dissatisfied.

Read Best Reviews of Thinkpad Battery 27++ Here

This battery is listed as item: 0A36304 in its description. However the battery slice I received was part number 57Y4545. The difference is that battery part 57Y4545 will only work in pre 2012 Thinkpads due to changes in battery chemistry. (Read about this on the lenovo forums). If you have a newer thinkpad, do not buy this battery. The battery you want is this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085MPGZY/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Pros:

+ Cheaper than Lenovo's price (more than $50 difference)

+ Adds a solid 6-6.5 hours computing time

+ Elevation is nice when laptop is on desk

+ Fits firmly and no loose feeling on my Lenovo T410

+ Discharges first and is hot swappable

+ Is an authentic Lenovo battery

Cons:

Not really a con but adds quite a bit of weight. I've gotten

used to it.

Bottom Line:

If your laptop is compatible with this battery, get it. I love not having

to carry my charger with me when I leave the house with my laptop. I

am not a fan of how far batteries and electro-chemistry have progressed

in comparison with other technologies but go ahead and buy this battery.

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Mixed. Defnitely extends the battery life and does not create that much extra bulk. A little diffilcult to attach and several times computer has just died. Not sure if connection or what.

Delphi SA10000 XM SKYFi Radio Receiver

Delphi SA10000 XM SKYFi Radio Receiver
  • Satellite radio receiver for your car or home; includes wireless remote control
  • Access to XM's 100-plus channels of satellite radio, featuring music, news, sports, and more
  • Direct channel entry plus 20 presets; preview a channel before switching
  • Requires separately available car or home connection kit and subscription to XM satellite service
  • Measures 4.7 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D)

I can't say enough about this system. For years, I have been disenchanted with commercial radio and the junk they play. If I wanted good music, I'd have to shell out a king's ransom for CDs. I had gotten to the point where I didn't even bother listening to music anymore; I'd just tune in NPR in the car and watch TV at home for entertainment.

I was skeptical about paying for satellite radio until I checked out the sample programming at www.xmradio.com. It took me about a day to realize I couldn't go another day without it. Now I listen to the radio all the time at home, and I've even hooked up the Home Adapter kit at work and listened through my computer's headphones. (It took a bit of doing to position the antenna for good reception in my office 'cube farm' inside a steel-and-concrete building, but I got it to work!) Now I can't wait to get the car adapter so I can take my stations with me on the road.

One of my favorite features on the Delphi SKYFi is that you can save Artist/Song Title information while listening if you hear something you really like. This has allowed me to discover several great new bands since I started listening to XM. I can confidently pick up new CDs of bands I'd never hear on commercial radio. It's like having a great college radio station!

Another great feature about the Delphi unit is that you take your one subscription with you wherever you go; there's no need to pay for an extra receiver, even though XM offers additional subs at a discount.

XM radio has a great fan following. Check out www.xmfan.com for a great online community of fans and fanatics. I learned a lot about antenna placement in poor-reception areas (XM at work!) from reading the message boards.

Quit stalling. Buy it. I promise you'll love it.

Buy Delphi SA10000 XM SKYFi Radio Receiver Now

Forget the naysayers. This product was worth every penny, as well as the subscription fee.

I do not own a car, as I am legally blind. However, one does not need to own a car to enjoy XM radio. I live in the Coachella Valley in southern Central California, and quite frankly, the radio reception here bites, even on shortwave.

I also live in an stucco reinforced apartment, with NO WINDOWS at all in my bedroom.My Sky FI radio rests in the boombox docking station, and sits on top of my televison set. The antenna is simply clipped to the back of the boombox, and I do not use a single inch 0f it's 20 foot cable.

The radio works flawlessly.

All 121 channels.

No fading or digital artifacts.

The sign up process was quick and painless. I was up and running in under an hour.

Belive me, XM blows regular radio out of the water. My two favorite channels are 163 (Sonic Theater) and 164(Old Time Radio)

These 2 channels are well worth the subscription cost alone.

XM radio should side market this product to the visually impaired or blind as well. I could think of no greater a gift for someone blind, such as myself. An A PLUS!!!

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I purchased my XM Radio Skyfi system from Best Buy just before a cross country trip. My wife and I love it. However, after losing the signal a few times in the rain and then losing the signal for a few days after a heavy rain. I discovered that the magnetic antenna supplied with the system is "known" to be a problem. Best Buy techs know it. And Delphi, the suppliers of the system know it. When I called tech support at Delphi, I got a curt recommendation to seal the area of the antenna where the wire enters the antenna then I wouldn't have any more problems. In other words, their problem was my problem. The Best Buy techs graciously told me if I got any kind of replacement antenna, they would replace my antenna at no charge. I couldn't find a replacement. The Delphi people need some customer service training. So, if you buy this system, save yourself some trouble and seal the area where the wire enters the antenna. If it weren't for the antenna problem, I'd give the system five stars.

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I recently rented a Cadillac from Avis and was able to listen to XM at no charge. My wife and I really enjoyed it and decided the home kit option was something we were very interested in as we don't spend long periods of time in our cars.

I was reluctant at first because of worries regarding the antenna not being in a south-facing window. My stereo system is in a built-in entertainment wall and does not allow for the antenna to be pointed at a south facing window. After reading that many others have had success with the antenna in less than ideal areas, I decided I would give it a try.

My house is 2 years old, one story brick with a normal pitched roof consisting of plywood decking and dimensional fiberglass shingles. It has 10 foot flat and tray ceilings.

After hooking up the cables to my surround sound receiver and placing the antenna on the top of the stack of stereo components, I pointed the antenna generally to the south and toward the ceiling at about 45 degrees. I plugged the SkyFi in and immediately was getting two bars on the signal strength indicator. I do not have terrestrial repeaters in my area, so I am relying solely on the satellite. After a few quick adjustments I was getting 3 bars or it bounced between 3 and 2 bars.

I was very happy to have it work, and it is not even close to sitting in a south-facing window. After getting a strong signal and hearing the sample channels loud and clear, I activated the subscription online. I timed it and it took 12 minutes before the tuner updated and began receiving all channels. I was pretty impressed it activated that quickly.

I generally listen to talk radio in the car along with a few CD's and I absolutely despise FM radio with all of the repetitive commercials and DJ's having meaningless "conversations" with people that call in requests. I love the concept of satellite radio. I like to hear different types of music depending on the occasion or mood I'm in. XM is like a jukebox in the house with something new and different on each channel. I am terrible with song names and groups so I especially like to be able to look up and see the info on the Delphi display.

I picked XM over Sirius because I had a chance to hear it in the Avis rental car and I trust Delphi equipment. Satellite radio IS rocket science, but you don't have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy all it has to offer. Overall, I am very happy with the SkyFi, the home kit, and the XM service.

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As a caveat here, I've been a subscriber of both XM and Sirius at different times. I'm not here to pump or dump either service or comment on programming -simply the merits and drawbacks of the SkyFi, so here goes. (1) I managed to break the SkyFi within 10 minutes of setting it up at home, simply by trying to turn the round tuning dial, and this didn't instill confidence in quality or build. I was able to get it replaced at my retailer, fortunately. Otherwise, the size of the unit is quite nice and the remote is slick. The display is nice, although the config options are a bit limited (and it's very, very red, which can be annoying to view). (2) The satellite reception was not bad but it was very, very touchy as to location. To that end, I moved to an apartment with a north/west exposure, so using it there was out of the question (no signal at all); ergo, I'm no longer a subscriber. (3) I also considered purchasing the Boom-Box rather than simply plugging into my home stereo -a friend still has his boom-box, but the volume on it is weak (it's only 4W output), and it has no adapters for external devices. Stylish, yes. Functional, not so much. It worked better through my home stereo's Aux input -even the latest boom-box model is still ONLY a 4 watt output, which is less than most cheap PC speakers. -Again, I won't discuss programming (I personally enjoyed XM, but that's a personal preference). The unit is nice, but there are some limitations, especially if you consider the satellite orbit for XM is very low and south-only; if you don't have that orientation available, try Sirius.

Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack

Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack
  • 350 watt hours of power pack storage capacity
  • LCD status monitor keeps track of power storage in 20 per cent increments
  • Ergonomic rubberized handle for greater comfort and grip; UV treated and weather-resistant
  • Built-in temperature control and fuse systems to ensure safety and long-term performance
  • This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

The 350 batteries are chainable to up to 4 GOAL0 batteries, but don't add the wattage of each battery thinking that you will get that much total output wattage. That's right: there is not enough output wattage to power a sump pump, or a small stove burner, or a small microwave oven when the electricity goes out.

At the time of this review, the maximum output wattage you can receive from the chained 350 wattage is totally dependent on the INVERTER used (the Goal0 33001 Extreme Universal Inverter). This fact is not promoted enough by vendors or the manufacturer Goal0 (Goal Zero).

You can only get UP TO 400 watts output power based on the existing Goal0 Universal Inverter.

After speaking to the manufacturer (Goal0), they said their engineers are working on an inverter that will allow more output wattage on chained batteries. They expect to have it on the market sometime in 2012.

Meanwhile, the Goal0 350 Battery (chained batteries) and Universal Inverter is GREAT for running anything that does not consume over 400 watts of power. By the way, the general rule of thumb for calculating wattage is: Electrical Voltage X Amps = Watts. For example, if your device (or combined devices connected to a power extension cord) runs on a typical American residental electric circuit (115 volts) and the label on the device says 3 amps (or total 3 amps for all devices on the extension cord), then you could use the equation: 115 volts X 3 amps = 345 watts.

Using this product, you can power several things. If the electricity goes out as a result of a storm, it is amazing how this device enables you to utilize the small things in life that will help establish some normalcy in your household during a minor or major critical incident.

For example, as a result of Hurricane Irene, our electicity went out for three days. While I had a gas powered electric generator running our sump pumps, deep freezer, security system and refrigerators, we were watching the news and movies on our backup 12" screen CRT-type monitor hooked up to our dish sattelite receiver. Both were on an extension cord and plugged into ONE GOAL0 Ranger 350 Kit with Ranger Universal Inverter.

(Before running the generator, I plugged our home security system (a professionally installed comprehensive system) into this product. Not only did it power the security system, it also charged the security system backup battery at the same time. This is good to know in case there is a long-term, major outage on the electrical grid and you cannot get more gasoline to power your gasoline generator.)

You can also obtain the alligator clips cable adapter so the GOAL0 battery can trickle charge other batteries, such as battery-operated back-up sump pumps, too.

There are several other peripheral GOAL0 products for the 350 Battery and Universal Inverter. Two critical items are: the Goal0 22003 Escape 30M Solar Panel Briefcase, and the Goal0 4.7mm Input to 8mm Input. The latter item is a cable adapter that will allow you to fit the output plug of the solar panels into the batteries. If you chain the batteries together you will need the GOAL0 chain cable, too.

For your convenience, I reviewed the aforementioned GOAL0 solar panels and adapter cable separately on Amazon.

By many accounts, the year 2012 will be a challenging year. This includes warnings by scientists of major solar flare activity that may produce EMP to damage the electrical grid. Getting prepared NOW is the way to go.

Stay Safe!

Buy Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack Now

I do not own this product. I researched solar off grid systems for a while and while the components of this kit look nice and are easy to connect (it seems), you are paying double for the nice packaging.

This power pack is a 30 Amp battery with a small charge controller. You can buy a standard universal sealed 12v battery, 35amp for ~$80. add a charge controller (as big or small as you need) and some cables, and you are spending no more than $140. You will have the flexibility to choose any battery from small all the way to 250 amp (3000KWH) rather than buying several units and daisy chaining. and your components will be universal and not proprietary to a company that apparently has no support and may not be around next year.

So if you are a do it your self guy, remember amp x volt = watt. We are dealing with 12V so amp (or amp/h) x 12 = watt (watt/h).

Figure out how much energy is needed to run your item(s) and how long you want to run them each day, you could then calculate the Wh or Ah you need per day, and based on that determine how many panels and batteries would be needed. If you have a laptop and a lantern using 50 watt and you will use them for 6 hours, 300 Wh or 25 Ah is all you need.

You will need these components:

Battery to store power: The ampere hour (Ah) of a battery tells how much energy can be stored inside.

Generate power to charge battery: AC adapter, DC (car) charger, Solar panels, wind turbine, etc. The number and size of solar panels will determine how fast you will charge your batteries. More panels/bigger means faster charging. Panels are usually sold by the watt. a 30 watt array will need 100 hours to charge a large 250 amp battery (at full sunlight). smaller battery will charge faster. Remember that the wattage of a panel is what it could generate under ideal conditions full sunlight, clean panels, right angle toward the sun. If you want to account for less than ideal light, you will need more panels to compensate for reduced effectiveness to get tot he same wattage. To avoid over charging you will need a:

Charge controller: between the panels and the batteries to prevent overcharging (1 amp for every 15 watts of panels to be safe).

To use the power in the battery get a good: Inverter it will convert the 12 volt power of the battery into 120 volt power to use. The size of the inverter determines how much power can be pulled from the battery at any one time. How long it will power your item(s) will depend on how much power is available in the batteries. Peak power means it could accomodate a power surge up to a peak of x watt fora few seconds useful for devices that have a wattage spike when they start but consume less while running.

Top it off with the right cables, connectors, and a multi tester (to check loads and currents) and you've got a modular, universal system you can tailor to your needs for a fraction of the price, and repair or upgrade any time with any vendor's components.

Read Best Reviews of Goal Zero Extreme 350 Power Pack Here

I bought my Goal Zero Ranger 350 kit about a year ago and used it a couple times when the power went out. It worked great powering 120v xmas lights and recharging cell phones.

I followed the instructions and charged the battery every couple months to maintain the charge. A few months ago, the battery stopped holding a charge. I would charge it to 100%, and after unplugging it, the charge would go to 60% in 15 minutes. I checked the manual and noted that the battery was outside the 6 month warranty period. I called Goal Zero and the rep told me that the batteries now had 12 month warranties, which was a nice surprise. The rep agreed to send me a new unit with a return shipping label. It took about 4 weeks to get the replacement, which seems to be working fine over the last couple months. I keep this unit plugged in all the time, hoping that it won't have the same issues as my first battery. The manual indicates the battery should have a 5 year life span if maintained properly. Time will tell...

As another reviewer mentioned, the inverter does seem very cheaply made and doesn't connect to the battery very securely.

I'm not sure I would recommend buying this unit, especially for the price. I think Goal Zero has some bugs it needs to workout before it can justify such a high price tag.

****Updated 10/25/12

The replacement battery will not hold a charge above 12.4 to 12.5 volts, which is roughly 70-80% discharged for most 12v batteries. I have charged the battery every week since I received it and have not abused it in any way. I have used it to charge some batteries on and off using the 12v cigarette adapter. I also let it run down to 50% and then recharged to see if it would get above 12.5 volts. No luck. There is no explanation for why such an expensive battery would perform so poorly.

I agree 100% with another reviewer who said the high price must be for the fancy packaging. You would be much better served creating your own power back-up system without relying on the Goal Zero proprietary cables & plugs.

I bought a couple Trojan 24-TMX batteries for $135/each and a NOCO genius charger. Much more bang for your buck.

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After several power failures, I was looking for something I could use to recharge phones, power my DSL modem and wireless router, and other small devices when the power next goes out. After doing some research, I came across this kit. It worked right out of the box. I charged up the battery (it arrived with an 80% charge) and tested it out by plugging in both my modem and router. After over 14 hours of continuous use, the battery still showed a 40% charge remaining. The battery itself only comes with a cigarette lighter connector. In order for it to be truly useful, you also need the inverter, which has another cigarette lighter connector, as well as a USB connector, a 6 volt connector for other Goal0 lights, and a universal AC plug. Plug in a power strip into the AC connector, and you can run a number of devices at the same time. When you charge the battery with the included charging cable, the power brick becomes quite hot my infrared thermometer measured the temperature at over 150 degrees f.

Not only will this kit power my devices during the next power failure, but I will take in with us during our next car trips.

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well i bought this product because of power outages in california, it arrived promptly, everything was fine, no damage, followed the instruction about charging it before using it. well charged it a day and a half, the power level was at 80%. ok that's great tried to charge to full strenght, never got a 100% and the power was decreasing and it's not in use, so charged it up again now not getting 80% maybe if i'm lucky i'll get 60 to 40 %. Now the power goes out and the energy is not there only has 40% power......that sucked!....well emailed goal0 about this problem hopefully they can help me, if not going to return this product and build my own kit...and i did order the boulder 30 solar panel but, it was cracked on the backside and a really really smart person tried to hide it with a touch up paint pen, naw i wasn't going to see 4in crack on the back. had no problems with the return of that product.