Comments for Reduce Energy Costs http://www.rt-site.com Solar and Wind Power Generators Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:58:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Etón American Red Cross ARCFR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger by J. B. Carter http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/comment-page-1/#comment-379 J. B. Carter Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:58:14 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/#comment-379 If you're of my generation you remember the old transistor radios with the antenna you'd have to tweak "just so" to get your station. Well this thing makes that look like rocket science. Even close FM stations fade in and out- more so when you personally move away from the unit making tuning a joke. Plain crummy sound when you do get anything. The rechargeable batteries barely hold a charge for a week when not being used, and I'm fairly sure (although they never said it) that the system only charges a cell phone (one of the big reasons I bought it) when you're turning the crank. It doesn't seem to charge through the solar cell. The tuners are crummy, buttons hard to see and use and it is very easy to deplete the 3-AAA "real" batteries by unknowingly leaving the unit on somehow.... but it's a cute little thing. Rating: 2 / 5 If you’re of my generation you remember the old transistor radios with the antenna you’d have to tweak “just so” to get your station. Well this thing makes that look like rocket science. Even close FM stations fade in and out- more so when you personally move away from the unit making tuning a joke. Plain crummy sound when you do get anything. The rechargeable batteries barely hold a charge for a week when not being used, and I’m fairly sure (although they never said it) that the system only charges a cell phone (one of the big reasons I bought it) when you’re turning the crank. It doesn’t seem to charge through the solar cell. The tuners are crummy, buttons hard to see and use and it is very easy to deplete the 3-AAA “real” batteries by unknowingly leaving the unit on somehow…. but it’s a cute little thing.
Rating: 2 / 5

]]> Comment on Etón American Red Cross ARCFR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger by Mark E. Lacy http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Mark E. Lacy Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:47:53 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/#comment-378 The features of this radio made it sound like it would be a good thing to have handy in case of an emergency, particularly the ability to recharge a cell phone from it. But I was very disappointed to learn that this radio was made so poorly, and so many things were wrong with it that I'm having to send it back for a refund. The backlight for the display did not work. The alert button would not operate. I could run it on crank power but the button to switch to battery power would not operate. I could get AM stations only (not even static on FM or shortwave) and it would not stay on a single station for long. The instructions were minimal. The overall design is poor. It's made of cheap plastic and everything feels like it might break if you bumped it. I won't be buying another one of these, that's for sure. Rating: 1 / 5 The features of this radio made it sound like it would be a good thing to have handy in case of an emergency, particularly the ability to recharge a cell phone from it. But I was very disappointed to learn that this radio was made so poorly, and so many things were wrong with it that I’m having to send it back for a refund. The backlight for the display did not work. The alert button would not operate. I could run it on crank power but the button to switch to battery power would not operate. I could get AM stations only (not even static on FM or shortwave) and it would not stay on a single station for long. The instructions were minimal. The overall design is poor. It’s made of cheap plastic and everything feels like it might break if you bumped it. I won’t be buying another one of these, that’s for sure.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Etón American Red Cross ARCFR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger by Jabbo http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Jabbo Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:51:05 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/#comment-377 I am sorry that I didnt read the reviews before I bought this piece of junk. This thing goes through batteries so fast that I cant keep up with it. I've had better service with a $10 transistor radio. If you like to crank your arm off then buy one. In case of an emergency they'll find your body with your hand wrapped around the crank handle because you probably used up your batteries in about 1 hour. Rating: 1 / 5 I am sorry that I didnt read the reviews before I bought this piece of junk. This thing goes through batteries so fast that I cant keep up with it. I’ve had better service with a $10 transistor radio. If you like to crank your arm off then buy one. In case of an emergency they’ll find your body with your hand wrapped around the crank handle because you probably used up your batteries in about 1 hour.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Etón American Red Cross ARCFR360R Solarlink Self-Powered Digital AM/FM/NOAA Radio with Solar Power, Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger by DC Josh http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/comment-page-1/#comment-376 DC Josh Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:56:12 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/eton-american-red-cross-arcfr360r-solarlink-self-powered-digital-amfmnoaa-radio-with-solar-power-flashlight-and-cell-phone-charger/#comment-376 I don't know what may have been wrong with the other reviewers products, but this radio works great and I couldn't be happier with its construction or what is designed to do. I made sure the rechargeable batteries were plugged in before I ran the hand crank and I have been listening to it while I have been typing this review. Works great and I can't wait to use it for camping and for my emergency preparedness kit. Rating: 5 / 5 I don’t know what may have been wrong with the other reviewers products, but this radio works great and I couldn’t be happier with its construction or what is designed to do. I made sure the rechargeable batteries were plugged in before I ran the hand crank and I have been listening to it while I have been typing this review. Works great and I can’t wait to use it for camping and for my emergency preparedness kit.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Elenco Solar Deluxe Educational Kit by Amanda Richards http://www.rt-site.com/elenco-solar-deluxe-educational-kit/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Amanda Richards Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:01:59 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/elenco-solar-deluxe-educational-kit/#comment-372 This one may be tossed - tomorrow <br />Bet your bottom dollar <br />That tomorrow, it'll be gone <br />Just thinking about, tomorrow <br />Clears my brain from cobwebs and much sorrow <br />It's no fun <br /> <br />When I'm stuck with a toy that's lame and boring <br />I just stick out my chin and grin and say, ooooh <br /> <br />This kit will be tossed, tomorrow <br />So I gotta hang on `til tomorrow <br />For trash day <br /> <br />Tomorrow, tomorrow <br />I love you, tomorrow <br />You're only a day away <br /> <br /> <br />Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but really, this toy can't hold a candle to the Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Educational kit by the same company. <br /> <br />For starters, this one requires a screwdriver and spanner to set up, and it's extremely unlikely that a typical eight year old will be able to do the (few) projects without adult help. The instruction manual begins with line drawings and schematics for connecting circuits in series and in parallel, and continues with the calculation and formulation for such things as "how many rows of solar cells are needed to make a solar panel work for a solar musical unit of 4.5V 100mA" <br /> <br />After they make your head spin (without the help of a solar panel), when you get to page 10, they helpfully add "If you do not want to make any calculation, just skip and follow the simple instructions below", which is followed by a series of black and white illustrations with captions like "No.2 screw connected to No.4 screw with jumper wire" <br /> <br />After you get all this done, you need to ensure that the panel is in direct sunlight. You can apparently use a 100W bulb 5 inches away from the panel, but only for 3 minutes, as the heat may melt the plastic frame. (!) <br /> <br />We connected the panel to the motor and fan today, and put the panel on a sunny window sill. I'd like to say we were blown away, but as the kit includes no form of storage for the charge, every time a cloud passed over the sun we were out of the flying fan and into the fiery heat of the day. <br /> <br />You can also connect small appliances depending on the required voltage and amperage (up to 4.5V or up to 300mA), but without a battery and charge controller it won't be very effective. <br /> <br />While this kit has the right idea at heart, they need to work on the presentation (looks cheap), the ease of set up for the target audience (from 8 years old), the instruction manual, and above all, they need to offer a complete solar set-up that can actually make the projects work effectively. <br /> <br />This one is not likely to be a favorite for anyone of any age <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Amanda Richards, January 1, 2009 <br /> Rating: 2 / 5 This one may be tossed – tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar

That tomorrow, it’ll be gone

Just thinking about, tomorrow

Clears my brain from cobwebs and much sorrow

It’s no fun

When I’m stuck with a toy that’s lame and boring

I just stick out my chin and grin and say, ooooh

This kit will be tossed, tomorrow

So I gotta hang on `til tomorrow

For trash day

Tomorrow, tomorrow

I love you, tomorrow

You’re only a day away

Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration there, but really, this toy can’t hold a candle to the Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Educational kit by the same company.

For starters, this one requires a screwdriver and spanner to set up, and it’s extremely unlikely that a typical eight year old will be able to do the (few) projects without adult help. The instruction manual begins with line drawings and schematics for connecting circuits in series and in parallel, and continues with the calculation and formulation for such things as “how many rows of solar cells are needed to make a solar panel work for a solar musical unit of 4.5V 100mA”

After they make your head spin (without the help of a solar panel), when you get to page 10, they helpfully add “If you do not want to make any calculation, just skip and follow the simple instructions below”, which is followed by a series of black and white illustrations with captions like “No.2 screw connected to No.4 screw with jumper wire”

After you get all this done, you need to ensure that the panel is in direct sunlight. You can apparently use a 100W bulb 5 inches away from the panel, but only for 3 minutes, as the heat may melt the plastic frame. (!)

We connected the panel to the motor and fan today, and put the panel on a sunny window sill. I’d like to say we were blown away, but as the kit includes no form of storage for the charge, every time a cloud passed over the sun we were out of the flying fan and into the fiery heat of the day.

You can also connect small appliances depending on the required voltage and amperage (up to 4.5V or up to 300mA), but without a battery and charge controller it won’t be very effective.

While this kit has the right idea at heart, they need to work on the presentation (looks cheap), the ease of set up for the target audience (from 8 years old), the instruction manual, and above all, they need to offer a complete solar set-up that can actually make the projects work effectively.

This one is not likely to be a favorite for anyone of any age

Amanda Richards, January 1, 2009

Rating: 2 / 5

]]> Comment on Elenco Solar Deluxe Educational Kit by Matthew Nelson http://www.rt-site.com/elenco-solar-deluxe-educational-kit/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Matthew Nelson Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:41:52 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/elenco-solar-deluxe-educational-kit/#comment-371 This set is exactly the same as the Radioshack Model 277-0011 "Solar Deluxe Educational Kit". As the other reviewer stated, this is poor. After returning one set for a defective solar panel, the second set seems to have the same problem. It is difficult to setup due to having to use the wrench. Compared to their Snap Circuits SC-300 (which is excellent), I don't know why the company failed to use simple snap modules. Rating: 1 / 5 This set is exactly the same as the Radioshack Model 277-0011 “Solar Deluxe Educational Kit”. As the other reviewer stated, this is poor. After returning one set for a defective solar panel, the second set seems to have the same problem. It is difficult to setup due to having to use the wrench. Compared to their Snap Circuits SC-300 (which is excellent), I don’t know why the company failed to use simple snap modules.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> Comment on Back-Up Rechargeable POWER Boost for iPod, iPhone 3G / 3GS, ALL BlackBerry’s, Kindle 2 & Kindle DX – Refuel 3 Ways AC, USB and SOLAR by mark IV http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/comment-page-1/#comment-368 mark IV Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:04:07 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/#comment-368 I thought my Ipod was going to be permanently attached to my clock radio. The battery was dead after always sitting on a charger. I couldn't take it out of the house because it would only last 5 minutes. Now with this super handy portable charger, my music is with me again. It charged up quickly out of the box with the ac adapter and I was off and running. It kept my Ipod going while I took a long walk. The best part is when the battery runs out, I always have the sun to keep the power on. Rating: 5 / 5 I thought my Ipod was going to be permanently attached to my clock radio. The battery was dead after always sitting on a charger. I couldn’t take it out of the house because it would only last 5 minutes. Now with this super handy portable charger, my music is with me again. It charged up quickly out of the box with the ac adapter and I was off and running. It kept my Ipod going while I took a long walk. The best part is when the battery runs out, I always have the sun to keep the power on.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Back-Up Rechargeable POWER Boost for iPod, iPhone 3G / 3GS, ALL BlackBerry’s, Kindle 2 & Kindle DX – Refuel 3 Ways AC, USB and SOLAR by Thomas E. Howe http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/comment-page-1/#comment-367 Thomas E. Howe Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:57:05 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/#comment-367 This is a great idea for both camping/hiking and emergency kit (earthquake/storm) as you can power and charge your phone, mp3 player, handheld games etc. They have all the common adapter tips except my plantronics bluetooth (my next headset will be micro usb and be covered too). If you run it out of charge, it can even be recharged solar. If some of the lost hikers had this with their cell phones they'd have been able to call for help for weeks. For long flights it recharges the MP3 or games. Somebody was thinking! Rating: 5 / 5 This is a great idea for both camping/hiking and emergency kit (earthquake/storm) as you can power and charge your phone, mp3 player, handheld games etc. They have all the common adapter tips except my plantronics bluetooth (my next headset will be micro usb and be covered too). If you run it out of charge, it can even be recharged solar. If some of the lost hikers had this with their cell phones they’d have been able to call for help for weeks. For long flights it recharges the MP3 or games. Somebody was thinking!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Back-Up Rechargeable POWER Boost for iPod, iPhone 3G / 3GS, ALL BlackBerry’s, Kindle 2 & Kindle DX – Refuel 3 Ways AC, USB and SOLAR by Smile http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/comment-page-1/#comment-366 Smile Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:49:34 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/#comment-366 Great device for the iphone. This is a back up battery and a little power factory. The battery can be charged by just putting it in sunlight. On cloudy days it still recharges but not as well. In that case I can plug it into the wall or the commputer to recharge it. Once recharged I can power my iphone when that battery gets low Rating: 5 / 5 Great device for the iphone. This is a back up battery and a little power factory. The battery can be charged by just putting it in sunlight. On cloudy days it still recharges but not as well. In that case I can plug it into the wall or the commputer to recharge it. Once recharged I can power my iphone when that battery gets low
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> Comment on Back-Up Rechargeable POWER Boost for iPod, iPhone 3G / 3GS, ALL BlackBerry’s, Kindle 2 & Kindle DX – Refuel 3 Ways AC, USB and SOLAR by sunny http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/comment-page-1/#comment-365 sunny Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:08:57 +0000 http://www.rt-site.com/back-up-rechargeable-power-boost-for-ipod-iphone-3g-3gs-all-blackberrys-kindle-2-kindle-dx-refuel-3-ways-ac-usb-and-solar/#comment-365 This charger works great with my LG Rumor, Ipod and Kindle. Its super convenient that you can charge so many diffrent electronic devices with the same charger. I like how you can charge this charger by AC/USB and solar. Rating: 5 / 5 This charger works great with my LG Rumor, Ipod and Kindle. Its super convenient that you can charge so many diffrent electronic devices with the same charger. I like how you can charge this charger by AC/USB and solar.
Rating: 5 / 5

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