Category Archives: Reviews

Review of the PYLE PNVU500 Ultra Compact 240 Watt DC/AC Power Inverter

The PYLE PNVU500 is a great way to power USB devices while you are on the road. This power inverter features a cigarette lighter adaptor for easy installation, 120 Watts maximum continuous output of power, electronic overload protection to help you protect your electronics, automatic shut off for when your battery becomes low. The only issue is that this product doesn’t feature polarized plugs for those that require that feature.

This product is incredibly easy to install and use. The PNVU500 works on a cigarette lighter interface so you don’t need to run cables to and from your battery or alternator. Once it is installed it provides some of the best protection for your electronics while it is in use taking every safety precaution they can. This makes this product extremely easy to use.
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Review of the Navigon Three-way Car Power Adapter

This review of the Navigon Three Way Car Power Adaptor aims to let you know the technical details of the product while simultaneously informing you of what to expect from it. You’ll find out how easy it is to use or it requires heavy maintenance and also the most important question – does it work at all? Is it something you want to plug into your car?

Depending on where you purchase it, it costs around seven to fourteen dollars. It aims to let you charge three things in your car at one time. Traditionally, most cars only have one plug to allow a third party item to charge, such as a cellphone or even a laptop. As the name suggests, it has three open ports and works with anything that has a car charger attachment. Think of it as an expansion or extension cord for your car and is something that you might have been looking for.
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Review of the Scosche SolBAT II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger

Owning the Scosche SolBAT II solar powered backup battery and charger can prove to be lifesaving. Considering that most people are carrying around some battery powered gadget (cell phone, ipod, mp3 player, etc.…) having a portable battery charge is a godsend. Finding a wall socket or computer isn’t always possible and without them charging a battery can be a challenge. The portable backup battery can indeed come in handy. Throw in the fact that this battery charger is solar powered and you have a handy tool.

The Scosche SolBAT II can fully recharge many of today’s cell phones with some charge left over, due to its 1500mA lithium-ion battery capacity. The adapter for the charger is a type A USB cable, which is the standard size for most USB ports. The SolBAT II can be charged through a USB cable connected to the computer and can also be charged through a solar power panel.
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Review of the HQRP 30W Flexible Solar Panel Power 30 Watt 12V Mono-crystalline PV Module

The HQRP 30W Flexible Solar Panel Power 30 Watt 12V Mono-crystalline PV Module has four Stainless Steel Grommets plus HQRP Coaster. It is intended for use with an RV, Boat, or Yacht. It has a maximum power voltage of 18V and an open circuit voltage of 20.7V.

The maximum power current is 1.667A and a short circuit current of 1.783A. It is relatively small, measuring just 850 x 400 x 2.5mm. The junction box is protected by silicone and has a 1 year warranty. The flexible solar panel has a maximum bend angle of 30%. The HQRP® is marketed and sold exclusively by Osprey-Talon with a price point for this solar panel starting at $130.00
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Goal Zero Solar Chargers Review

Goal Zero is a pioneer is the portable solar charging industry, making some of the best chargers on the market. There are many products, but this review will look at three of their most popular models: the Nomad 7 foldable solar panel, the Guide 10 Adventure Kit and the Sherpa 50 Adventure Kit. Each one has different features, making them perfect for different uses or trips.

Nomad 7 Solar Panel

goal zero nomad 7The Nomad 7 is a very compact and lightweight solar panel. When folded up, it is not much taller than a pencil, and it’s about as wide as a small journal. The solar panel can collect about seven watts of energy from the sun, and the output is around five watts. You can also connect a USB or 12V connecter right into the solar panel, so you can charge directly from the sun.
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Review of the HQRP Solar Power Controller 10Amp 150W with Digital LED Display

The HQRP 10Amp 150W Solar Power Controller manufactured by Osprey-Talon is an easy to use and nicely crafted device used to control those 12 and 24V solar panels and regulate the charging of your batteries. It supports up to 150W for 12V and 300W for the 24V panels. It’s four stage charging mechanism conducts equalization, Pulse Width Modulation, Boost and Float, and temperature compensation. It has a regulations point voltage of 14.4 volts with a low voltage disconnect at 11.1V and a low voltage reconnect at 13.1V

This controller also has some other features you won’t find on similarly-priced models that make it easier to use. Osprey-Talon has designed this unit to allow you to turn the load off and on directly from the controller, whereas some other similar products require that you manually unplug the unit. It also gives you the ability to use up to 6mm2 or 10 guage wiring at the solar panel terminals; many others only allow for up to 4mm2 or 12 guage wire.
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Review of the Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger

The Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger offers many features to keep you connected even when there is no power grid in sight. Weighing at 12.8 ounces and measuring 1.8 x 5.2 x 2.5 inches, this radio is ultra-portable, and easily fits in the palm of a hand.

The radio is powered by a rechargeable battery that is easy to charge either by using the hand crank or solar cells, and the device features a USB adapter that can be used to charge a cell phone, mp3 players, blue-tooth headsets, Kindles, i Phones and i Pods. A flashlight utilizes three LEDs, useful for night use.

This radio is ideal for keeping connected while on outdoors adventures, such as camping, hiking, sailing, or biking. Because the radio picks up stations on the FM, AM, and NOAA weather band, it is useful for following the news, listening to a favorite radio station, listening to baseball games, or not missing important public service announcements or alerts. This ability to stay connected without wires also makes it valuable for emergency situations, natural disasters, or power outage.
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Review of the Go Power! GP-RV-95 95-Watt Solar Kit with 25 Amp Digital Regulator

After purchasing a small mobile home earlier last year, I decided to lessen the strain on the environment (and, yes, my pocketbook) by looking into picking up a portable solar kit. I eventually decided on the Go Power! GP-RV-95 95-Watt Solar Kit with 25 Amp Digital Regulator, since its smaller size fit nicely with my smaller RV.

This solar kit purports to convert solar rays into free DC power, allowing you to charge electrical devices and batteries without relying on a permanent/grounded energy source. When you’re traveling cross country, having a reliable power source is a godsend, so I was more than happy to try this bad boy out.

The Go Power! GP-RV-95 95-Watt Solar Kit with 25 Amp Digital Regulator is one of the efficient models on the market, providing one of the highest power rates for a monocrystalline solar panel with the smallest amount of space. This particular Go Power! unit provides, on average, 5.45 amps of power per hours to charge your batteries with.
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Review of Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit

sunforce 5033 Technical Details: With the Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit, a person will have new found love for the sun. This product only weighs two pounds and a person can use the kit to keep a charge on just about any available 12-Volt battery available. This product has a LED indicator that tells the person when it is fully charged and ready to use.

Ease of Use: With easy to follow instructions provided with the kit, setup is quick and easy. There is virtually no learning curve to using the product and once it is setup, nothing needs to be done but allow the sun to do its job. Depending on what the charger is asked to charge, it may take longer than most people will want to wait.
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Review of Cobra CPI 480 400-Watt 12-Volt DC to 120-Volt AC Power Inverter with 5-Volt USB Output

The Cobra CPI 480 is a 400-Watt power vehicle power converter. It plugs into a 12-volt DC vehicle outlet, such as that used for vehicle cigarette lighters, and converts the output to 120-volt AV and 5-volt USB. It has two outlets for 120-volt appliances and a single USB port.

It also comes with an optional set of cables allowing for a direct vehicle battery connection. The Cobra CPI 480 also has a number of protective features, including an external fuse, low-volt alarm, low-volt shutoff, thermal shutdown sensor, and reverse polarity protection.

Ease-of-Use – The Cobra CPI 480 vehicle power converter is very simple to use. If you want to plug it into the 12-volt socket of a vehicle, the included plug fits right in. In some vehicles, you might have to give it a slight jiggle before it makes a solid connection, but this is due to the nature of 12-volt DC vehicle sockets and is not fault of the charger. It also comes with a set of alligator clips so it can be connected directly to a vehicle battery.
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