Cheap Allstart 556 Marine Battery Jump Starter with AC Inverter

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List Price: $356.16
Sale Price: $140.24
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5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Jumper Box with 22 amp battery, 1700 watt peak power, and 300 watt inverter, November 26, 2012

By Big Sur Steve This review is from: Allstart Tools 5569 Marine Battery Jump Starter with AC Inverter and 2 Pack Microfiber Cloth (Automotive)

I needed a rugged jumper box, that had a high ampere battery, was easily portable, and had an inverter to operate a variety of small AC electrical appliances. Tthis jumper box fits the bill.

The box is a little shorter and a little thicker than the Clore box I've been using for the past 3 years, which is excellent at getting cars jump started: Clore Automotive JNC660 Jump-N-Carry 1,700 Peak Amp 12-Volt Jump Starter If Clore made a jumper box with built in 300 watt inverter, I would have picked it up. They are ruggedly built, with a thick plastic housing, have strong clamps and thick lead cables capable giving a 1700 peak amp jump with 425 cranking amps. This is plenty of power to jump a large displacement V-8 automobile engines in addition to a number of Diesel engines. The box is also small enough to make it easily manueverable and can fit into tight areas where space is limited.

After looking at a variety of jumper boxes, this one came closest to meeting the specs I was looking for. The box is a little heavier than the Clore, but it also has a 22 amp battery which is a little bigger than the Clore plus a 300 watt inverter, which the Clore does not have. By no means is the Marine battery a heavy jump box, just a little heavier than the Clore.

I like the clamps on the Marine jump box. The tops of the clamps look better insulated than the iClore clamps and have strong clamping springs to prevent slippage of clamps off the terminals. The leads use a thick gauge wire, but not as thick as the Clore. The jump box provided plenty of juice to turn over a high compression V-8, and is rated at 40 jumps between recharging. Also the Marine box has a light. The light provides adequate light and rotates. The Clore box doesn't have a light.

On the back of the Marine box is a two plug, 300 watt inverter which is turned on with a switch. I used the inverter to charge an iPad 3 from 5 percent to full at about the same rate as a wall plug. The meter on the Marine battery is a bit more difficult to read than the Clore box. It is a vertical meter with 3 colors: green for full power, yellow for marginal, and red for needs charging. The needle had moved down on the green zone and almost into the yellow after charging the iPad 3. I prefer the left to right needle gauge on the Clore box which reads DC volts to show state of battery charge. As far as overcharging is concerned, the Marine battery has the edge over the Clore with an overcharge prevention feature, whereas the Clore box does not.

One other inverter test I ran was on a large Netgear Router NETGEAR Wireless Router N900 Dual Band Gigabit (WNDR4500) On a fully charged box, I kept the router running for 24 hours before needing a recharge. In case we have a power outage with the cell phone towers also down, I wanted to know how much router time I had for Internet access. During Hurricane Sandy, many of the cell towers were down preventing access to the web through 4G.

Here are my likes:

-sturdy build

-22 amp battery

-300 watt inverter

-stout, insulated battery clamps

-work light

-automatic charging shutoff when box is fully charged

Needs improvement:

-meter needs to show percentage of charge remaining

-external fuse on inverter could get caught and break. Needs a better location.

Overall, I'm very impressed with this box. It has a stout build quality similar to the Clore, costs about the same and also has a 300 watt inverter. The Marine appears to be a quality box on par with the Clore. Only time will tell if it hold up as well as the Clore with extended use, but I suspect it will.

To charge the jumper box by solar, I use a Goal Zero 15 watt panel which I have plugged into the round 12 volt port. This works pretty well taking about 18 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge the battery.

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I should first mention that the first unit I received did have a defect, and Cal-Van customer service was great about shipping a new unit, and including a RMO label to return the first. The first had a problem with the inverter and simply didn't work, although I was able to use the 12v plug.

My primary reason for purchase was to run my CPAP machine while away, and secondary to charge devices, inflate air mattresses, and as battery backup. I was able to run a RemStar plus cpap for two nights (6-7 hrs each), including inflating two air mattresses and phone charging. I believe it would run the cpap alone for 3 nights but I have yet to confirm. It worked great, and now I can camp without keeping my whole family up snoring. It's far less expensive than Lithium Ion cpap battery packs, and has the benefit of 12v, inverter, light, and jump starting ability.

It is heavy, but the handle is comfortable. It comes with a heavy nylon bag that will also hold the 12v to 12v charging cable, but it is a little bit difficult to get in the bag because of it's weight.

Charging is easy either 12v in your car or connected to an extension cord. The male plug is recessed so you can't charge on something like a surge protector bar, and it has a cover. The charge level gauge is accurate and easy to read. The charge indicator light at first didn't turn green at full charge but somehow is working now (turns green), and the charge circuit is a great feature that you can leave it plugged in and ready at all times. I'm very happy with the product and with Cal-Van's customer service. Thanks.

Best Deals for Allstart 556 Marine Battery Jump Starter with AC Inverter

Was hoping not to use it the 1st time on my boat, turn out that had to use it twice same day to start the boat at different locations, one on docks and the other one way out fishing in the river, saved my day...

Design isnt that great, because clamps can stuck with on-off switch, not a big deal, dont worry about this, but it could be better, also it doesnt have a charge cord, you only need an extension cord to charge it. Anyway, works great, still after firing up my boat twice, it says full charge..

Honest reviews on Allstart 556 Marine Battery Jump Starter with AC Inverter

I got this based off a suggestion from my Yamaha dealer and so far it looks to be rock solid. I recently upgraded to 3 group 29 deep cycle batteries as I run a large audio system and needed to make sure I had a way to start them if I ever ran into a dead battery. I took the boat out recently and the batteries were rock solid so I didnt nee to use the jumper, but my cousin and another boater did end up using it and it jumped their boats with ease.

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i used it a few times and have no complaints, it is small enough but powerful enough to get you out of a bind

Gomadic TipExchange Tip Number A4 Review

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List Price: $7.95
Sale Price: $5.79
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

Gomadic charging tips work great. This is the fourth one I have bought, and I am very pleased with it and the charging station itself.

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The godamadic TipExchange tip numbre A4 is a excelent quality, and very fine, I recomend by nokia recharger cell phone, the phone is protect very well

Cheap Battery Tender 081-0069-4 Alligator Clips with Black 2-Pin Quick

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List Price: $7.60
Sale Price: $5.73
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

I ordered two of these and both had the color coding reversed. I had to correct it by removing the red and black plastic and re color coding with colored tape (typical China stuff). Other than that the units are fairly well made.

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Right product, showed up quick, what can I say? I had a Battery Tender, and this was the option I needed to make it right.

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My husband loves these. They work perfect with his battery tender to keep our off-road vehicle charged! Will purchase again.

Honest reviews on Battery Tender 081-0069-4 Alligator Clips with Black 2-Pin Quick

Item delivery was fast and the item worked great as advertised. It should have been included with the original battery tender when it was purchased. The aligator clips makes it very easy to charge whatever scooter or motorcycle I want charged. I can't understand why the original had circle ends that made you unbolt the postive and negative connections of the battery so you install them to the battery and charger. The aligator clips eliminates the need to unbolt anything by just cliping it to the end of the positive and negative connections on the motor scooters battery.

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I just wanted a replacement end for one of my many battery-tenders

thats what I got. priced right delivered on time.

Reviews of Griffin PowerBlock/AC Charger for USB Devices (White)

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $6.99
Today's Bonus: 77% Off

Another accessory in the line of products for the iPod from Griffin Technology. I am the owner of a few of their previous products and like them for the usefulness, quality and value for the dollar. The PowerBlock is no different. This products purpose is to provide AC power to your iPod. This is useful for me when I am at work and my battery dies. The PowerBlock also comes with a usb to dock connector cable so you can leave the one that comes with the iPod at home connected either to the dock or the computer. Nice bonus because I always seem to leave it at the place I don't need it. I am kind of an iPod junkie by owning a 30G 3G, 512MB shuffle and my newest edition the 60 gb iPod with video. So needless to say I can use a charger at some point. I think it was with the 4G that Apple decided to stop including an AC adapter cause I have the one that came with my 3G. It has a Firewire connector on it. Apple now sells the USB AC Adapter as an accessory to chagrin of many iPod owners myself included. The size of the AC adapter is nice and compact and is similar to Apple's product with the foldable AC plug. This makes it nice for transporting to and from home.

So with those words we move on to the testing of the Powerblock.

Test #1 iPod Shuffle

You don't need the cable (included) to charge the shuffle. You just plug the Shuffle into the PowerBlock and the PowerBlock into the receptacle and away you go. The fit of the Shuffle is tight and this test worked just as one could expect.

Test #2 iPod 3G

As I noted above , my 3G came with a Firewire cable and AC charger. The 3G normally resides in my truck via a Kenwood adapter. Occasionally I will use this at work as well. Well the 3G needed charging and I thought I'd give the PowerBock a whirl. Using the included cable I crawled under my desk (not an easy feat) and plugged it it. The Apple icon appeared on the iPod but it would not charge. I thought I might have something wrong but how could I, it was so easy with shuffle. I did not have the packaging instructions with me at work but a quick trip to the company website put me in touch with reality ... the 3G is not compatible. So I was a bit disappointed but it was clearly documented on their website. This was confirmed by an email to tech support. It could have been more timely as it took nine days to receive an answer from Technical support. I do have to give a kudos to Griffin Technology. They have a compatibility chart on their website that references the various iPod models with their products so you can be sure the product you buy will be compatible. And I might add if you are in doubt, please feel free to email them. I think it is in the iPod's firmware but am not completely sure of that so don't quote me on it. There are reviews on the Apple website stating a Firewire cable will not charge a 4G iPod. A dock connector is not a always a dock connector I guess !!

Test #3 -iPod 5G

My pristine 5G iPod was the final test for the PowerBlock. Still new enough to be cycling the battery it was at work where it finally ran out of juice. I plugged the PowerBlock into the powerbar and using the included cable connected my iPod. No surprises here, the adapter worked as planned. During charging the adapter ran warm to the touch but not hot.

Value:

If you have a need for an AC adapter and your iPod is compatible, I highly recommend the PowerBlock. Compared to the Apple product you get the Adapter and dock connector cable for $29.99, the two separate products from Apple total $48.

Requirements:

* 5th Generation iPod with Video

* iPod nano

* iPod shuffle

* iPod mini

* iPod Photo

* 4th Generation iPod with Click Wheel

Griffin Technology iPod Compatibility Chart for reference

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Ipods are power-hungry electronic devices and sometimes it's just unconvenient to charge your Ipod through your PC when you aren't even going to use your computer while it is charging. Thankfully, Griffin made this USB power adaptor for your Ipod that you can just take with you anywhere there isn't a computer to be found. Just plug it into any wall outlet and you're set.

At about $30, it is a bit expensive once you realize that it's such a simple device, but that will pay off once you see how convenient it is. It is also small enough to fit in your pocket and the plug folds for easy storage.

To charge my Ipod through my computer it took nearly 4 hours, and for me thats a bit too long especially when I'm not even going to use my computer. With this it only took about 2 and a half hours and it seems the Ipod battery lasts alot longer when it is charged using this rather than the USB port on my computer. I don't know much about electricity and battery power but I believe it charges faster probably because it is directly in an outlet rather than the electricity having to travel all the way to the USB port of your computer and then to your Ipod.

The Griffin Power Block also comes with a USB cable. This is such a nice bonus considering the Apple USB power adaptor doesn't include one and their's costs about $10 more. I believe the Apple power adaptor is also larger.

If you want the best USB power adaptor for your Ipod 4th and 5th gen., Nano, or Shuffle then this is the one to go to.

Best Deals for Griffin PowerBlock/AC Charger for USB Devices (White)

The box states "AC charger for USB devices". I knew this was made specifically for Ipod, but I was hoping that it would charge other USB devices too (USB devices that I know can be charged through USB, that is). No luck, though, it only worked on the ipod. Worse, however, whenever I plugged a different USB device into this charger, the device would say "charging", but not actually BE charging. I had my phone plugged in all night thinking it was charging, but instead it wore down the battery more than just leaving the phone in standby mode.

So, if you're planning on getting this only for ipod, then yes, it works great. It is small, lightweight, and I love the way the plug folds in for easy travel. If you're hoping to be able to charge other usb devices, forget it... try something else.

Honest reviews on Griffin PowerBlock/AC Charger for USB Devices (White)

I had some initial reservations before purchasing this product, since the description did not mention compatibility with the iPod touch 2G. However, Griffin Technology's site indicated that it was indeed compatible and I went with that.

Another concern was whether or not the cable would support syncing as well as charging, since other products I researched did not offer this capability.

I'm happy to report that this product meets my needs perfectly. I'm able to charge my iPod touch 2G via USB or with the adapter, and the detachable USB cable also works to sync my iPod. I'm very pleased with the product.

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Although this product accomplishes its end goal of charging your Ipods, there are simpler an cheaper methods for accomplishing this. First let me review the product:

Strengths:

It's Apple white (like anybody cares any more)

The charger itself allows the prongs that insert into the outlet to be folded away for convenience, protection, etc.

You get a spare communications cable that attaches to your Ipod and the computer; so you have a spare

The connector for the charger unit is a basic USB connector so you can use this to charge other USB devices such as those that you connect with a mini-USB connection (cameras, Nintendo DS-Lite, etc.)

Weaknesses:

The charger is only the basic USB 2.0 standard amperage. This is a shame because although this may be fine for the Ipod if you wanted to charge other USB devices, this may only represent a trickle amperage and you device will charge slowly.

Essentially, it works and its convenient but not perfect.

Recommendation:

Go to Walmart, go to the Electronics section, find one of the many multi-plug universal chargers with USB charging capability, get the one with the largest amperage capacity, save at least $10, and enjoy the fact that you came out ahead AND can charge / power multiple devices when needed.

Discount Motorola EM330 Cell Phone Car Charger

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This is not the high quality charger. I suppose, being that it's made in China, it probably has lead paint I'll wager. It does it's job I guess. I give it a so-so rating

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Discount CTEK Multi US 4.3 Battery Charger

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This is the best charger I have ever used to maintain the Battery in my play vehicle (Corvette). Some times this car is not driven for a few months and I have gone through sevral cheap trickle chargers and even a "Battery Tender" but none of them have the technology to properly test and maintain the Optima in my Corvette. I would highly recommend this Item to anyone who wants the best.

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This Charger is exactly what I wanted I have 3 Deep Cycle Marine Batteries to Store for the winter. I have hooked these batteries in parallel and It maintains all three at once to the exact battery voltage for extended periods of time. It goes through 8 steps to constantly read and communicate with your battery, charging only to its direct needs and therefore avoiding any possibility of incorrectly charging the battery. Furthermore, by ensuring the battery is conditioned as well as charged, your batteries last significantly longer. Moreover, each CTEK Smart Battery Charger regulates and maintains voltage to protect any sensitive electrical and hi-fi equipment. Now that's smart! Very Highly recommended

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Used to charge my motorcycle and tractor batteries. Love the way this little guy works. Lets you know where you are in the charge cycle. Also tried to charge a bad battery and indicators let me know right away that the battery is no good.

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Best $60 I spent this year, works very well, saved me from buying new batteries for two of my Cars.

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This battery charger worked great. It is much smaller and lighter than my old one and does several additional functions, like testing tht the battery is good before attempting to charge it

Buy Rubberized Retractable Car Charger for Apple iPhone 4 (Black)

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List Price: $16.73
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I've spent a lot of time trying to locate a car charger that has a short or retractable cord so that I don't have my regular length cord dragging all over the car. I thought this retractable cord device would be great! BUT...the connection to the iPhone is shorter than the standard plug so if you have a bumper or other cover that the plug has to fit with, it's too short to get it into the phone to make a live connection. Sigh. So, you have to remove the cover every time you plug it in. NOT.

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The charger stopped working after 2 weeks. Even when it did work, it did not stay securely plugged into the iphone. I was looking for a good deal, but I ended up wasting money by buying this product.

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It powers my Iphone4 just fine. I like that I can have the excess cord rolled up!!! A Negative would be that the Plug is a bit large and so doesn't fit into my Iphone 4 Bumper. I have to take the Bumper OFF. Then again, to fit my Iphone 4 into my RAM mount, which the Iphone 3gs RAM mount does work with the Iphone 4, though there will be a Iphone 4 version released in a couple weeks hopefully, but will have the same problem of not working with a case on it, which includes the Bumper. So I have to take it off anyway when it's in the RAM Mount anyway. Wear and tear on my Bumper having to come on/off could be a issue later, kind of a hassle, but what can I do. The other Negative I think is the cable/wire is really THIN!!! Hoe good it holds up who knows. I don't let it roll back up and then later pull it out. No need to. I think it would wear out quickly doing that. The cable stays locked into the length that I need it. Pop my Iphone 4 into the Ram Mount, then this Power Adapter to that. I'll see about getting a picture of my setup posted. Then I use Navigon for my GPS Navigation. I really like all of it's features. Also I use Trapster. Check them out.

Honest reviews on Rubberized Retractable Car Charger for Apple iPhone 4 (Black)

This car charger stopped charging my iPhone 4 after only a few days, less than 10 partial charges. From reading the reviews, it looks like I'm not the only one who ran into this problem with this device. Save your money, buy a different brand. I just did.

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Low quality and doesnt charge my iphone. It constantly connects and disconnects just by driving over bumps or making turns in my car. I would not recommend this product.

Buy Car Auto Charger for Verizon Novatel MIFI 2200 Wifi

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This unit might be suitable for charging a bluetooth headset but doesn't provide enough current to charge the MiFi 2200.

For $2.69 you get at most what you pay for.

Seller gets low points for even offering this.

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It worked for two days ONLY! I contact the seller but he is not replying. It does not worth to buy even for free!!!

Best Deals for Car Auto Charger for Verizon Novatel MIFI 2200 Wifi

I use this for both my phone and my MIFI...I love this. It makes it so much easier to travel

Honest reviews on Car Auto Charger for Verizon Novatel MIFI 2200 Wifi

I just happened upon this item while looking for a device to give me my own hotspot for my laptop. It works very well with the verixon mifi 2200 wifi hotspot.

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I use my MiFi 2200 extensively while traveling by car, and this proves invaluable for keeping it charged during long road trips.

OEM Original Rapid Car Vehicle Auto Plug in Battery Charger Reviews

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List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $5.99
Today's Bonus: 80% Off

After doing some research I found all car chargers are not equal,due to charging speeds capacity and most importantly over charging and or destroying a battery,ergo invalidating the phone warranty,so decided to go with original equipment recommended by Motorola for their products,so what better choice than a Motorola car charger.It IS OEM,had read some reviews of copies that were not good,but can confirm what I received IS OEM and functions as it should without issue,was worth the couple extra $$ for peace of mind.Not saying everyone should buy this particular product from this particular vendor,just noting my preference and that I want to keep the warranty intact.I am pleased with this product and it was shipped in a timely fashion.5 stars well earned.

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This plug works great and looks nice as well. Plus the price was perfect. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a car charger for their RAZR MAXX XT912. The plug also fits my Kindle Fire, so I can use it for that as well.

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Car chargers in retail stores cost $20-25+, ridiculously high. Other chargers on Amazon are about the same price as this or even lower, but they don't look sturdy. Have had 1-2 stop working after a few months. This one's been used 3-4 hours every day for the last 6-9 months (yup, real long commute), and still works. Price I paid ($9-10) is very low. And looks nice too, with the blue light.

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I don't know if I would call it a "rapid charger" as I do not have anything to compare it with, expect the house charger. I like it and I would buy it again.

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This has been working good for me. Love this charger , especially the way it light ups when is plugged in.

Discount Optima Batteries 8052-161-FFP D31M BlueTop Dual Purpose Battery

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The Optima batteries carry a price premium because of their design, however their long life and ability to work in any orientation and in rough environments is what you are buying. Additionally, you do not need to worry about acid spilling out like you would with traidtional deep cycle marine batteries. Cost, however, is substantially higher.

I ordered mine through amazon and it was shipped ground from their fullfulment center in Sacramento nearest to me in the bay area which meant it arrived overnight. I was a little disappointed at first getting ground service as a prime member, but overnight beats 2 days and their fullfillment centers are across the usa so chances are you will get yours in 1-2 days by ground ups.

I have used Optima batteries since I killed my first battery in my H1 humvee offroad in Alaska doing 60 MPH over rock roads from the Yukon territories to Alaska. Ordinary car batteries just don't do well to the vibrations the H1 hummer can produce. Additionally when offroading, the H1 may tip up to 40 degrees on sideslope which will spill the acid out of a normal car battery while the optima does not loose any acid or liquid at all.

You *MUST* match the color code of the optima battery with YOUR intended purpose as follows:

BLUE (this one) DEEP CYCLE applications RV's, inverters, UPS systems basically applications where you plan to drain the battery dry every time then recharge it pretty soon afterwards.

YELLOW (what I use in the H1 Hummer engine) Has both deep cycle ability and engine starting ability. If you drain a NORMAL engine starting battery dead you take between 5-10 percent of its life away right there. The Yellow Optima batteries can take deep discarge running lights and accessories with the engine off and still start the engine then recharge from the alternator provided they are not totally dead. NOTE: if you use the side post for engine starting, ALWAYS connect a winch to the top post. Look closely and you will see that there is a slim bar that makes the side terminal FROM the top post, which is the main terminal. Because a winch will draw 200+ amps for minutes at a time, the top post is advised by optima for this and any heavy, long running loads. Engine starting is brief (4 seconds) so the thin strip inside the battery is fine.

RED these are just simple replacements for engine statring ONLY they are NOT meant to be deep discharged and will suffer a shorter lifespan if you do drain them. They still have all the benefits of the Optima design of being sealed, vibration proof, and spill proof.

Hence for cars, I always choose Yellow tops, and for boats or RV's & UPS systems I use blue tops. Honestly I've never bought a Red top because I normally want a battery that can run accessories on a vehicle with the engine off for a long time.

This battery is rated 75AH and I realize you can buy alot more AH in a deep cycle marine cell with liquid acid for less money. I have no concerns anchoring this battery down inside my vehicle because I know it will not spill acid if I accellerate or corner sharply or go off road. I know that the wet cell deep cycle marine battery will spill acid under many conditions even just climate changes or charging rapidly.

You get what you pay for in the Optima batteries. Considering Amazon does not charge to ship a 69 lb battery to you and does not hit you with a core charge it's not a bad deal to get it on your doorstep overnight or 2 days. All together it proved to be an excellent piece of my inverter system (see Xantrex Technologies Prosine 1,000 to 1,500-Watt Power Inverter #1000 for the inverter I used)

The optima battery can deliver high enough currents for the Xantrex true sinewave inverter to start an air compressor which is a difficult load to deal with. Other batteries I tried refused to provide the inrush current to start the compressor. The reason is simple inside the "6 pack" of cans are rolled up lead calcium gelled acid sheets with LOTS of surface area, which translates into higher currents possible.

Finally, there is a pamphlet stuck to your new battery on how to care for your Optima cell for charging currents on the D31M model. One of the cons of the Optima design is that they do not take equalization charges like wet cells do so it is best to maintain a constant voltage of about 13.6 VDC on the battery when you are able to to prolong its life. I keep mine on the CTEK Multi US 7002 12V Battery Charger which charges at 6-7 amps and can also supply 6amps for items running off the battery when ac is available.

This is professional gear and will deliver excellent results when used properly.

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Optima batteries are one of the best on the market. I am very impressed by their longevity and high power delivery. I have had a yellow top Optima in my 4wd truck for 9 years now and it is as strong as the day I installed it. Other great features of Optima batteries are the facts that you never have to add water, they can be mounted in most any position and the terminals never corrode.

This purchase was a second blue top D31M. I use two of these batteries in parallel to power a 2000 watt inverter. I tested it by placing a 1500 watt load on the inverter which drew 137.5 amps from the two batteries in parallel. They were able to sustain this load for 27 minutes. That is like cranking a 6 cylinder engine for half an hour. I previously used marine deep-cycle flooded-cell batteries for my inverter but they would only last about two years and I constantly had to check and add water as well as clean corrosion from the terminals. The bottom line is even though you pay more initially to buy an Optima battery the long life and power delivery quality actually make it cheaper than other batteries when you divide the cost by the number of years of service.

Best Deals for Optima Batteries 8052-161-FFP D31M BlueTop Dual Purpose Battery

Over the past 5 years I have purchased 3 Optima batteries. The first one lasted just past it's warranty date and then failed. It was a red top. The last two were very expensive blue top marine deep cycle/starting batteries purchased at the same time and put in the same boat. The batteries operated through a Perko switch set on ALL. They charged together and discharged together. They are just now 37 months old. One has failed completly and the other still works. The warranty is 18 month free replacement and 18 month prorated. So here again no warranty help.

Most battries that you purchase for $200+ have a 48 or 60 month warranty. Optima does not. The company would go out of business if it had to honor warranties that other battery manufactures offer. Optima is just a lot of hype. I have learned my lesson and will never purchase another Optima battery.

Optima is owned by Johnson Controls and moved their manufacturing plant to Mexico. In Mexico they are not held to strict enviornmental laws and employ cheap labor. They now offer only a 24 month warranty, period. I guess they know how long their battery is good for.

Honest reviews on Optima Batteries 8052-161-FFP D31M BlueTop Dual Purpose Battery

Bought this on 3-09 realized it was bad when I summarized my boat 4-11, one month after the Warranty was out, started to notice it was going out last summer but thought it was sulfated and bought a ctek charger to take care of it in the winter. I had bought a walmart battery at the same time with a perco switch just in case and the walmart is still able to start my boat but the optima will not even crank the motor over! Called to optima and they were thrilled that the battery was just out of warranty and did not even want to help!! I got about 7 months out of this battery. I would have considered even giving them a chance if they would have at least prorated a new one since the battery has not been in use since October of last year, im 31 and have a lot of battery's to buy in my lifetime but it will not be an optima!!

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I have used optmas in my cars since the 90s.I have used them in my 87 Buick GN and multiple corvettes. They were the best. However the last copule of years something has changed. I use to let my vettes sit for weeks and they would start without a problem. Now they cant sit for more than two weeks without going dead. Once they are dead forget about charging them. 6 months ago I changed the optima n my 90 Callaway vette to an interstate and can go a month with out a charge. i also examined the electrical system the only draw is the clock and factory security light. Tonight the same problem in my GN. The car sat for three weeks (red top Battery is 3 months old) and the battery is dead and wont take a charge. I never had a problem with the yellow tops or red tops in the 90s, and now I have the same problems with both. I think something was changed in theses batteries and I am now done.

Review of Macally 3 in 1 (Auto, Home, Portable Battery) Stand Alone USB Power

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $35.99
Sale Price: $19.99
Today's Bonus: 44% Off

Purchased this item about 3 months ago (Oct 2010). The USB adapter (AC-2-USB or auto-2-USB) seems to work fine, but the 1000 mAh battery fails to keep it's charge more than 30 minutes. It takes roughly 3-5 hrs for the battery to charge to where the indicator reads full, but once disconnected from the power source it seems to discharge on it's own even with no load attached.

I bought this device for the 'emergency' battery capability for when I'm not near a power source and my phone needs a charge. The interchangeable AC and Auto adapters are nice, but the battery appears to be junk.

I'm contacting Macally to see if they'll honor their 1 Year Warranty on the unit and RMA it for a replacement. If they stand behind their product and all I had was a faulty unit then I'll come back and change the rating on the product. If not, well the rating stays and buyers beware.

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The Macally PowerGo is useful. It works as a home charger, as a car charger, and offers a battery for when you're on the go. When travelling, i don't think there are many devices that are better than this at charging whatever device uses a USB charger. However, it claims to have a 1000 mAh battery that does not seem to provide all that much power. I have owned several other battery products to charge my iPhone, ranging from 500 to 2500 mAh, and they all seem to provide more power to my device than the PowerGo did. In addition, they took less time to charge than the PowerGo does. Unfortunately, those batteries/chargers were not as mobile, reliable, or even as good looking as this device was. I really like that i can swap out the car charger for when i'm driving, then bring it into the house and plug it into the wall while never keeping my phone from charging. Just wish that 1,000 mAh battery lasted longer/charged faster.

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It came within a week!

Although it was a used rechargeable battery item, it's a new product, so it charges and lasts like new!

Love it! I no longer use my smaller but battery-less Apple wall-USB adapter!

One of the included adapters works perfectly with my wife's Blackberry, so we both use it on the go!

Now my wife wants another one for her Balckberry!

TomTom Car Charger for GO Navigators (9A00.001) Reviews

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This item was advertiesed as working with a TomTom One. I selected it from the TomTom One "accessories". It DOES NOT work with TomTom One. Wrong plug style. Probably works fine for the appropriate device.

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What I ordered and what I got were not the same thing. The product didn't match the picture. But, the buyer kindly sent me the correct item at no cost. As a consumer who has now gone to her third replacement cord. Don't leave it plugged into the GPS all the time. Charge only when necessary. The attachment head has fallen apart each time.

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It does what it is suppose to do. What more can I say about a low tech device?

Honest reviews on TomTom Car Charger for GO Navigators (9A00.001)

THE CHARGER IS GREAT BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN HAPPY WITH THE TOM TOM RIDER 2 SICE WE GOT IT. WE GOT IT IN THE WINTER AND DIDN'T USE IT MUCH UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMED SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LEARNING TO USE PROBLEM. AFTER ALL SUMMER IT STILL SUCKS!

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This product is advertised as if it will fit every GO Navigator out there. I had to return mine because it was not compatible with my 700 GO. However, I must compliment Amazon on how they handled my return. They sent me an email with a return postage pick up and instructions on how to return it at their expense. I received a full credit to my credit card account. From now on, I will have no hesitation to order from Amazon because of their customer sensitivity and service.

Cheap Go Power! GP-SW2000-12 2000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

Customer Ratings:

I spent more time installing this in my motorhome than it lasted once it was installed.

I bought one of these in 2008, installed it in my motorhome and spent a few days camping in the Arizona desert. The following year we didn't go camping at all, so did not use the inverter. This fall, I was getting the motorhome set up for camping and I noticed the inverter was not working correctly. It runs for about a minute and then shuts off. This happens under heavy load or no load at all. After a few phone calls to Go Power, I learned that there are no user fixes, the inverter is shot, and they offered to sell me another at 1/2 price since mine was beyond the 2 year warranty.

I declined their offer, given that the first one only had about 10 hours of use on it, and there was no reason to think that another unit wouldn't do the same thing. I figure this one cost me about $75 per hour to operate, so even at half price, it isn't a deal.

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I own this Go Power GP SW 2000 – 12 2000 W pure sine wave inverter, and first off let me say it is very solidly built. It's designed to have an assortment of accessories that are compatible with it and that suit the consumer market--at the same time it has the reliability and quality of an industrial power inverter.

While I chose to source my own cables and fuse, a product that has the entire line of the accessories with guides that allow you to size them is very valuable to people who are not necessarily electricians or electrical engineers but want the ability to generate their own power. It includes a port which is easily wired with 24 AWG cable that allows remote control of the unit with a standard wall switch, but there's also a company manufactured remote that shows additional information about the status of the inverter, so if you're a DIY'er you can set up your own remote switch for the inverter, or if you're just a consumer who wants a turnkey solution to remote operation you can buy theirs.

Whether it's from a back-up bank, a solar power system, or a wind power system, a quality power inverter with ample capacity is a must, in my experience, 12 V appliances are limited in performance and of lesser quality, there few cases, such as led lighting in a camper, where it's better to use the 12 V power directly. and pure sinewave inverters are the only ones that can produce power of the same quality as utility power. Modified sinewave inverters are simply not good for your electronics, the premium you pay for quality pure sine wave inverter is worth protecting your electronics, motors, compressors, all of which suffer with modified sinewave inverters. Since my campers 12 V I use the 12V version even though I don't use too many 12 V appliances directly off the battery. But for applications where no 12V appliances are necessary, I recommend the 24 V version. Building a high-capacity battery bank is easier at 24 V and it's also easier to charge. Also 24 V PWM charge controllers can be found cheap on Amazon. Most people however will find the 12 V version better if they have car chargers/accessories that they want to use.

That being said not all pure sinewave inverters are created equal, I've always thought if something is worth doing it's worth doing right. Choosing an inverter with a high enough capacity that produces a pure sine wave will keep your appliances running smooth, and give you independence from the power grid. These units are made by a company that stands behind its products and even produces products for cities and municipalities. I've contacted them for customer support and they are extremely professional and helpful.

I find that this pure sine wave inverter is extremely accurate: devices that have ac frequency based timers are seldom off by a significant amount. My window unit air-conditioner starts-up without so much as dimming the lights. The dual cooling fans keep it cool even under high loads. And the post terminals with plastic guards are very thick and heavy duty to allow efficient conduction of power. I recommend their cable kits, however any inverter cable kit with ring terminals and a high enough gauge for the wattage and length that you intend to use will work fine. A fuse is a must, and theirs are high-quality and designed to withstand start up current without blowing unnecessarily. Sourcing all of the components for an off-grid solar power or backup power system it can be difficult for a normal consumer, this inverter allows you the flexibility to provide your own accessories or to use the pre-fabricated accessories that are tailor-made to this inverter.

I've owned several types, capacities and brands of power inverters. I've assembled several solar power systems and advised others on how to build their own. I always recommend this power inverter line and/or the kit that includes this power inverter to anyone who wants a solar power system that can provide a comfortable off-grid lifestyle, be it in an emergency, on the road, or in a camper, for off grid you can't beat this inverter line.

As a note, I would advise anyone who chooses this inverter to have at least a 200 amp hour deep cycle battery, although 2 in parallel would be better. And a 200 amp slow burning fuse on the positive battery terminal.

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This inverter was deliver on time and in good condition. I installed it in our fifth wheel trailer as a replacement for a modified sine wave unit. This inverter works great. Our microwave doesn't even know the difference between the line and the inverter. A great choice. C