Battery Charger Review

Kathy Steinemann asked:




Travel by vehicle poses distinctive problems that you can solve with a little advance groundwork and a few practical gadgets. This article describes several of these gadgets. A search that you can use to locate each item on the Net follows its description.

1. Universal USB Car Charger

Electronic wonders like iPods and MP3 players make it easy to enjoy music and watch videos. However, many devices require recharging via computer USB ports. How can you accomplish this when you are stuck in a vehicle?

A universal USB car charger solves the dilemma. The most versatile of these chargers will plug into AC current as well as a vehicle’s power point or cigarette lighter. Use your device’s USB cable to connect to the charger’s pseudo-USB port, and it will recharge without a computer.

Keywords for searching: USB car charger adapter

If you would like to construct your own adapter, you can splice together a 5-volt car charger and a USB female plug. Many websites publish complete instructions.

Keywords for searching: how to make USB car charger

2. Mobile Rechargeable Battery Charger

You may own a GPS, digital camera, or PIM that uses rechargeable batteries instead of alkalines. Rechargeables are a great environmental alternative – until they run down in the middle of a road trip. Fortunately, there are car chargers available. Carry one in your glove box.

Keywords for searching: vehicle charger rechargeable batteries

3. Solar-Powered Rechargeable Battery Charger

You can use a solar-powered system to recharge your batteries if the sun is shining. The best of these systems will also work with your vehicle’s cigarette lighter as well as household current. If you do your research well, you may even locate one with special adapters for your PDA or cell phone.

Keywords for searching: solar powered battery charger

4. Portable Water Heater

Many automotive and travel shops sell small water heaters that look like household kettles. These plug into your car’s power point, enabling you to enjoy coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or soup – anytime – anywhere.

Keywords for searching: portable kettle car

If you have an infant who requires a warm bottle at feeding time, try to find an immersible heater. These devices have a small heating coil that you can immerse in any liquid. Heat a bit of water in an appropriate container, and then leave the baby bottle in the water until it reaches the proper temperature.

Keywords for searching: portable car immersion beverage heater

5. Portable Hand-Held UV Water Purifier

Tainted drinking water can quickly cause a case of the trots – also known as ‘travelers’ diarrhea’ or ‘Montezuma’s revenge’. The answer? Purchase a portable pen-sized ultraviolet water purifier. UV light effectively kills bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. These sterilizers are so tiny that you can carry them practically anywhere – stowed in the glove compartment, in a purse or shirt pocket, or in the baby’s diaper bag.

Keywords for searching: portable hand-held UV water purifier

6. Multi-Tool

Many different types of multi-tools are available – with combinations of tools that might include nail clippers, screwdrivers, penknives, pliers, scissors, can openers, corkscrews, and other handy gizmos. Hunt around in the stores or online until you find one that contains everything you might need for your next road trip.

Keywords for searching: multi tool camping travel

7. Repair Kit for Eyeglasses

Don’t pass over this tip just because you have perfect vision. Whenever you go outside, you should don a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. Eliminate the nuisance of loose hinge screws or a missing nose pad with a speedy field repair. Eyeglass repair kits are cheap and small. You can find them in most pharmacies, department stores, and grocery outlets. If necessary, try the Internet search below.

Keywords for searching: repair kit for eyeglasses

These are just some of the devices that can make your holiday more enjoyable. Whenever you travel, make a note of any little glitches you encounter. After you return home, get on the Net and look for a solution. If you can’t find anything, maybe you should develop a new invention and become the next Dean Kamen!

(Dean Kamen: inventor of the Segway)

(c)Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author’s note below (with active links) are included.

Jason Miller asked:




If you have ever owned a car or boat, dead batteries have been a part of your life. Without a battery, your car is not moving and can leave you stuck in places you would rather not be. Car batteries also have a tendency to die on you when you least expect it and without warning. There are several causes of dead car batteries. The most common is the build up of sulfate on the plates. This interferes and prevents the proper charging and discharging of the battery. This situation is worsened in the following conditions: temperatures over 70 degrees, storing without a trickle charger connected to it, and discharging the battery below 10.5 volts. Another common issue is losing electrolyte from overcharging or over heating the battery. Finally, under charging the battery will add to its untimely demise.

There are several strategies you can use to extend the life of your car battery and avoid a dead battery crisis. Regular maintenance of your automotive battery is a must, especially in extreme weather conditions. Remember over heating is bad. Check the electrolyte level in the battery. One of the easiest cleaning tips, is to make sure the terminals are clean. You can buy an cheap terminal brush and scrub off any corrosion on the battery terminals and cables. Sometimes a dead battery is nothing more than corroded terminals. Once they are clean, your car will crank right up. Car batteries also need to be recharged after deep cycle discharges and jump starts.

If you run an auto shop or other mechanical service, you will need a car battery charger to recharge your batteries. The time required to charge a car battery back to a full charge depends on the number of ampere hours (AH) depleted. Ampere hours are calculated by multiplying the number of hours times the number of Amps that the battery supplied to the load. For example, if a load was connected to a battery that used 7 Amps for 5 hours, the car battery supplied 35 Ahs. The recharge time would then be calculated by dividing 35 Ahs by the amperage charge rate of the charger. Once you are armed with this information you can make sure your batteries are fully charged and remain healthy.

If you are storing you batteries for a long period of time, such as a ski boat in winter. A trickle charger is highly recommended. These will slowly charge your battery and make sure it remains fully charged through the winter months. It is better to let the battery stay fully charged then try to recharge it in the spring. Fully discharging the battery will reduce its overall life.

By taking these simple suggestions, you can extend the life of your battery and hopefully avoid getting caught with a car that won’t start.

Chris Campbell asked:




Is it really possible, to get more than you pay for? We all like to believe that, as we’re walking out the store with our brand new purchase still shrink wrapped neatly tucked under our arm. But, how long until the shrink wrap is cracked, and buyers remorse starts to settle in. In the case of the Kodak EasyShare M753 Digital Camera, it may not take too long. But, whose fault is that? The consumers, or Kodaks?

I’ve bought EasyShare cameras in the past, and they all seem to experience the same problem with the mode selection wheel. It never seems to stay put. Every time you slip the M753 into a case (not included by the way) you have to make sure you didn’t accidentally turn it own. Otherwise, that’s a sure fire way to churn thru batteries. Even using the camera, you’ll find it annoying to have to check the mode wheel, to make sure it hasn’t slipped. There nothing worse than thinking your taking a still picture, when the EasyShare is actually in movie mode.

Kodak made a strange decision with the EasyShare M753 when it comes to the battery. It comes with a rechargeable battery, which some people will like, but others will hate. The only way to charge it out of the box, is to plug the M753 into your computers USB port. For those with no computer, this could be an awkward proposition. You can get a separate wall battery charger, but that of course is extra. Even if you do have a computer, this may not be the best camera for an extended trip. Unless you plan on dragging your desktop computer (aka: camera battery charger) with you. The exclusion of a battery meter doesn’t really help much either.

While camera manufacturers seem thrilled to throw lots of megapixels into a camera, they really cheap out with internal memory. The M753 only has enough for a few pictures. Be sure to budget for an additional memory card, as a 7MP camera can fill up a small memory card pretty quick.

While I know, that less than $100 is not much for a camera these days, Kodak could have made the case a little stronger. An extra few millimeters of plastic can’t cost that much can it? Or failing that, how about bundling the M753 with a protective carrying case. One that won’t mess with the power switch would be nice.

In terms of image quality, don’t set your expectations too high here. For less than $100, you don’t really get much here. If your planning on only shooting outside on nice sunny days with plenty of natural light, you should be ok. Of course if you already have a phone camera, you’ll probably get just as good pictures using that instead of an EasyShare M753.

Pinky Savika asked:




Battery chargers are a medium to ‘recharge’ electrical equipment. It is like transference of energy through the medium of chargers. A basic example would be mobile chargers used in mobiles. Every mobile phone has their own chargers and they cannot be switched for other chargers.

Charging battery also depends upon the flow of electric current and the suitability with the equipment to be charged. Like, a mobile phone will not need 12 volt battery charger- it is used in cars. Batteries are of different shapes and sizes. You can compare the battery size installed in mobiles with those used in cars or generators. Sustainable charging are those that require long time to charge.

Also, never keep chargers in reach of children. Keep them dry, safely tucked away as they emit harmful gases detrimental to general health. Every battery has the provision to show the amount of voltage input. Depending on equipment, it can vary from 12 volt to 24 volt power. Some machines needs to be charged overnight. Remember to connect charger and battery at opposite ends- the negative (-) side with the positive (+) side, and vice versa.

Always carry wherever possible battery chargers. If you are driving a car, you can store the 24 volt battery charger at the back or if you are using mobiles, carry the charging plug in pocket. With time, batteries lose its capacity. Then, either they have to be replaced or buy a new one.

There are types of chargers- simple (works on DC power), trickle (slow charger), timer based, intelligent (works out battery output and time automatically), fast, pulse (feeding DC pulse), inductive (uses electromagnetic induction), USB based, and solar chargers.

Using heavy chargers like 24 volt battery charger increases the monthly electricity bill too. So, use wisely and buy good charging products seeing not the money but the quality. Service them occasionally to prolong its life.