Harbor Freight Items

[N0SYA]

Does anyone run their 45w solar kit? If so, how has it fared?

[NV5E]

The guy at local Interstate store said a jumper needs to be 18 ah or more, and I agree with that.

I bot two "name brand" jumpers (one a Sears) and tested for the capacity. I did not get to try a jump as I didn't
need one. Neither one came close to the labeled capacity, returned both. So be careful.

My guess is the mfr hopes by the time you need a jump and maybe find out it doesn't work well you will have
forgotten the source.

Anyone else have experience with these?

I picked up two "junker" car batteries at yard sales. Both measured about 18 ah, both started my 4 and 6 cylinder cars, but have not tried it on my larger SUV.

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

I have one of the portable car jumpers I got from Rat Shack on sale for $19.99. It has a 12Ah battery in it and has started my totally dead Miata a couple of times. I opened it up and installed some Power Poles and now it mostly runs my K3 when the power goes out here.
Rob
NV5E

[KC0KBH]

I've found quality of harbor freight stuff varies wildly.

I've had really good luck with their impact sockets, oil filter pliers, cheapie multimeters, torx sockets, and some other random crap.

Most of the air tools seem to be of very poor quality, with the exception of the right angle die grinders. After coupon they're around $9/ea. They were used every day in the shop I used to work at with minimal to no oiling for years, and still kept going. I was also fairly impressed by the $13 air hammer; bought it expecting it to last one job, and it keeps going.

It seems like every electrical thing I've bought from harbor freight failed pretty quickly.

[WW7F]

Does anyone run their 45w solar kit? If so, how has it fared?

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/6825 Here, the commentary of amateur users seemed more pertinent than how well they charge a bunch of batteries though that is also useful, I considered buying them but space here limits the use of them they seem like a good buy for the money anyway. Good Luck I personally have a 20 watt panel that folds up for my ft 817nd works FB for me. 73 Michelle

[N0SYA]

Thanks Michelle, I had a sunlinq for a 703 and it went well with an 18ah battery. Wonder how much juice could be had from a roof full of the 45w kits.

[WW7F]

Thanks Michelle, I had a sunlinq for a 703 and it went well with an 18ah battery. Wonder how much juice could be had from a roof full of the 45w kits.

You're welcome Chris I am not sure how well they will last I have read and heard from a few users they hold up well, they DO lose some efficiency due to the thin film technology ut I think most amorphous types do or any panels for that matter.
My thoughts were I forgot to add those handy little coupons they have can save you enough to buy something else with I would not invest in a whole roof full one set or two at first or maybe someway there might be I doubt it but never know find out the vendor who made the raw panel itself should tell a lot about how reliasble they are now, I would think the efficiency has come up a bit in the past year or so .
Stil, it is a good bet for keeping shac batteries going I like the price but they are a bit large for the amperage out of them but I think that is the nature of that type of panel.
The powerfilm 20 watter I have I dont think I would use every day it is thin film and I am a bitr wary of unnecessary exposure to UV light save for when using it to power stuff might be a bit over careful but it was spendy I just want t o make it last a bit longer I guess and not lose wattage ability as it is it will do 1.2 amps in full sun sufficient for a qrp rig well, like a ft 817 or the lieks.
Alright then, I did a google search and found a lot more user input even some folks had videos on youtube of thier setup t gave me some good ideas for the cells if I ever have room to put some up that is 73 good luck with it solar stuff is fun IMO Sincerely,Michelle