RAVPower Portable Power Bank 12000 mAh Car Jump Starter Review ( Model RP-PB27 )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

Carrying case with handle

I recently received a RAVPower Portable Power Bank 12000 mAh Car Jump Starter Review ( Model RP-PB27 ) for a product review.  This definitely was different than the standard USB battery packs I have tested.  The package included:

- Plastic carrying case with handle
- 12V cigarette lighter adapter to charge the power pack in the car
- AC power adapter to charge the power pack in the house
- USB to microUSB cable to charge devices
- Cable to jump start your car

Inside the carrying case

First, I focused on the normal function of a USB battery pack and noticed the following differences based on other high capacity packs:

- The pack was a bit larger than a 18200 mAh RAVPower pack, but this one has 12000 mAh capacity which still isn't bad.
- While this does have a LED flashlight, it is definitely not the same as other packs I have tested (I will explain the difference later).
- It has two USB outputs which is common
- It has uses 4 LEDs to represent increments of 25% of remaining capacity which is common

RP-PB27 (Left) and RP-PB27 (Right)

The first difference is the LED flashlight.  It is definitely brighter, and has three modes:

- Normal: On like any other light
- SOS Mode: Blinks SOS in morse code (3 short 3 long 3 short)

- Flash: Just what you would expect, it flashes on and off

The flash mode isn't a fast "strobe" type of light that an emergency vehicle would have, but I would imagine if you are changing a flat tire at night and put this on your trunk it would help make sure you are seen.

Blue LEDs showing full charge, USB output ports, charging port and jump start plug

To test the battery pack, I used two DROK USB volt/amp meters and two load devices (switchable 1A/2A load).  From testing the devices, the volt/amp meters are not super accurate but they are a great way to perform some quick tests.

Here is what I found during my tests:

- Output 1 (Rated 1A): Was able to handle over the 1A rated capacity.
- Output 2 (Rated 2.1A): Was able to handle over the 2.1A rated capacity.

I was actually able to get each ports up to about 2.8A, but when I tried to push it to 3A and 4A the port actually shut-off which I believe was due to internal safety mechanism the pack has.  The pack was actually able to support a 2A load on each port at the same time, but that is over the rated capacity so I wouldn't recommend doing it.

From real world tests, the smartphones and Nexus 7 tablet I have tested never went over 2A so I think this battery pack can easily handle 2 devices without any problem.

Jump Start Cables

While I was looking forward to testing the ability to jump start a car, I was not able to test that feature out.  Initially my plan was to just remove the battery from my car completely, and try to jump it using this pack but once I read the instruction manual for the RAVPower pack it clearly stated that you should not try to jump start a car with a completely flat/dead battery so I figured a missing battery was also a bad idea.  It wouldn't be fair (or smart) to test the device for a situation it wasn't designed to handle.

I am going to try to think up a way to test it, and will keep the pack in my car in case I run across someone who needs a jump.  Either way, I will update this review if/when I am able to actually test the feature out properly.

Update to review : I just use the power bank to jump start a Chevy Tahoe (large SUV) with no problem, two times and the power bank still showed full charge - very impressed!

Here are the main points I noticed about this product:

Car Jump Starter: While I wasn't able to test this feature, I have to say this is pretty much the main unique feature of this pack.  I have seen other portable devices to jump start a car but they are usually much larger.  As a gift, this has that extra "oh wow that is neat" aspect that anyone who is into cars and technology would love.  It would also be good for anyone who just wants the peace of mind of having the ability to not only charge their phone in an emergency but also jump start the car.

LED Flashlight: Recently we have had a power outage or two on our street, and I quickly found my LED flashlight to be useful - not only to get around the house at night, but also to leave on as a night light for my youngest.  This light is actually much brighter than the normal packs, but as an emergency light for both the house and car it works great.  The flash function would be useful in situations where you need to make sure you are seen (such as a broken down car on the side of the road) and while I hope I never need the SOS function I would imagine if someone does need it they will be happy the feature is there.

High Capacity Battery Pack: At the end of the day, even if you never need to use the jump starter function or LED flashlight this is still a portable battery pack.  The 12000 mAh capacity is still enough to keep multiple devices charged.

Bottom line: This portable power bank is the perfect "just in case" / emergency use device.  The ability to charge USB devices, act as a LED flashlight and jump start a car are useful capabilities of any emergency kit and you get them all in one device.  Of course a gadget geek would love something like this, but even the average person could keep it in their car just in case they need it.

Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00SH1SN6C

RAVPower Xtreme Series 18200 mAh External Battery Pack Review ( Model RP-PB26 )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

Battery pack and packaging

I recently received a RAVPower Xtreme Series 18200 mAh external battery pack ( model RP-PB26 ) for a product review. In addition to the battery pack itself, the package also included 2 USB to microUSB cables (one short, one long).

NOTE: My test unit was part of the first batch of this new product, I have been advised that future units will come with a carrying bag.

Battery pack and two USB-to-microUSB cables

I noticed the following things in comparison to some of the recently battery packs I have tested of similar (but less) capacity:

- The pack is a bit larger and slightly heavier than other battery packs I have that are high capacity (15000~16000 mAh range) but none are 18000+ mAh.
- Built-in LED flashlight which has been a common feature
- 3 USB outputs (instead of the common 2 USB outputs)
- LCD screen which displays the remaining capacity on a 0-100% scale when most other packs just use 4 LEDs to represent increments of 25%.

Normally once you get into the higher capacity battery packs, you aren't really worried about size and weight so I think those are not really major issues especially when you consider the extra features this unit has.

To test the battery pack, I used two DROK USB volt/amp meters and two load devices (switchable 1A/2A load).  From testing the devices, the volt/amp meters are not super accurate but they are a great way to perform some quick tests.

3 USB outputs.  The charging input is on the right, and the LED is below it.

Here is what I found during my tests:

- Output 1 ( Rated 1A ): Was able to handle over the 1A rated capacity.
- Output 2 ( Rated 1.5A ): Was able to handle over the 1.5A rated capacity.
- Output 3 ( Rated 2.4A ): Was able to handle over the 2.4A rated capacity.

Using Output 2 and Output 3, I was able to handle both 2A loads (total of 4A, measure at about 3.8A).  I even connected my Moto X on Output 1, and was able to charge it at 0.5A with both 2A loads going - total of 4.5A which isn't bad at all.

From real world tests, the smartphones and Nexus 7 tablet I have tested never went over 2A so I think this battery pack can easily handle 3 devices without any problem.

Fully charged and ready to go
"IN" shows up on the screen when charging

Here are the main points I noticed about this product:

High Capacity: Bottom line, this pack has 18200 mAh of capacity.  In theory, I could charge my Moto X and Nexus 7 tablet 3 times each before this pack runs out.  I know that is just based on simple math, but this should work great for a power user or family of tech users.

3 USB Outputs: Most of the packs I have tested only have 2 USB outputs, but this one has 3.  This is definitely a plus for a power user who may have multiple devices.  If you consider some people carry multiple devices (phones, tablets, speakers, even cellular hotspots) the extra port could come in handy.

LCD Display: I consider this more of a neat feature than a required one but for some users knowing how much capacity they have left may be important and the simple 4 LED approach many other packs use may not be enough.

Bottom line: If you need a high capacity battery pack with the ability to handle multiple devices at the same time, or need the ability to keep an eye on the capacity to a greater degree of accuracy then this external battery pack is a great option to consider.

Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00RYHVFXI

DROK NFC Enabled Bluetooth Audio Receiver Review ( Model IBT-08 )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

I recently received a DROK NFC enabled Bluetooth audio receiver for a product review. The receiver itself was a bit smaller than I expected based on the pictures, but larger than another adapter I recently tested.  In addition to the receiver itself, an audio cable and USB cable were also included.

Product box, receiver, and included cables

The back of the receiver has two audio output options ( 1/8" headphone style jack and RCA jacks ) and also has a USB connector that allows you to use a single power source to run the adapter and charge your phone.  Power is provided to the receiver via a micro USB port.

Back of device
Left to Right : Power In (microUSB), Power Out (USB), Audio Out (RCA), Audio Out (1/8")

On the front, you have buttons for volume and play control.  If you long press the volume buttons, it will restart the current track (-) or skip to the next one (+).

Controls on front of unit

To test the receiver, I used the included cables to connect it to the aux in of a portable speaker.  I was able to pair with my Moto X phone just by touching my phone to the top of the receiver (where the NFC word is).  I didn't have any problems playing music, and the quality was good.

Size comparison next to a standard AA battery

I also tested my Nexus 7 with the adapter, and it paired using the NFC feature pretty easily ( I had to try it more than once, when I kept the Nexus close to the receiver while pairing it worked better ).

In addition to testing the receiver in my house on a portable speaker, I also tested it in my car.  I used the aux-in cable to connect the Bluetooth receiver, and was able to play music just fine and I found it useful being able to hold the + button to skip to the next track since I didn't have to look at the screen to make it work.

Here are the main points I noticed about this product:

Audio Output Options: The receiver has multiple audio output options and includes a cable with headphone plug on one side and RCA on the other.  As long as your stereo has some sort of aux or RCA input you should be able to hook up this receiver without any extra cables.

Power Pass-Through: If you plan to use this on your desk, or in the car, where you don't have multiple power options I think the USB power output is a nice extra feature.  I tested it with my Nexus 7 tablet and it worked.

Ease of Use: If you have a NFC-enabled phone or tablet, it is very easy to pair with the device.  The manual explains the various features of this adapter and how to use it, but once you read the manual it is very easy to use.

Bottom line: This is a nifty little gadget if you are looking to add Bluetooth to your home or car sound system.

NOTE: I used this product as one of the options for my Nexus 7 install here:
http://bigboystoys13.blogspot.com/2015/02/nexus-7-in-car-setup-non-permanent-mount.html

Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00Q2ND632

HooToo USB 3.0 Hub Review (Model HT-UH15 and HT-UE02)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these products for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

I recently received two USB 3.0 hubs from HooToo for a product review. I decided to review them at the same time, since they are very similar.  One is a 4-port hub and the other is a 3-port hub with built-in Ethernet port.  They are bus-powered, so a power supply isn't required.

Both hubs, they are about the size of a candy bar.

I tested both devices to make sure they worked properly on both Windows 7 and Ubuntu.  I expected the 4-port hub to work without any problems, but I was unsure if the 3-port with Ethernet would have drivers available or if I would have to load them.  The 3-port hub with Ethernet does come with a CD that has the drivers.  I had no problem with either device, and was able to get the Ethernet port to work on Windows and Ubuntu without having to use the driver CD.

In addition to functionality tests, I also wanted to see what sort of load (power wise) they pulled.  I used my DROK USB testers to measure load, and come up with the results below.

4-Port Hub ( HT-UH15 )
- Hub only: 0.03A
- Hub + 16GB microSD card in adapter + external hard drive: 0.42A

3-port hub w/ Ethernet ( HT-UE02 )
- Hub only: 0.07A
- Hub + Ethernet in use: 0.20A
- Hub + Ethernet + 16GB microSD card in adapter + external hard drive: 0.6A

Two options to choose from, depending on your needs.

Based on the tests above, both of these hubs should be able to handle multiple USB devices without any problems but be careful when using power hungry devices (such as an eternal USB drive) since they can push the limit especially with a USB 2 port that only provides 0.5A of current.

For my final test, I used Ubuntu to perform benchmarks on an external USB 3.0 case (with a 500GB 7200rpm drive in it).  The hubs had minimal (maybe 1%) impact to the measured speeds, which is similar to what I have seen on other hubs.

Here are the main points I noticed about these products:

Ease of Use: As a USB 3.0 hub, there isn't much you have to worry about since they pretty much just work when you plug them in but it was nice that two operating systems (Windows 7 and Ubuntu) were able to support the adapters without any additional drivers.

Style: I normally focus on performance and usability since I consider these tools, but the aluminum cases and good built quality are worth noting.  They aren't too big, about the size of a candy bar.

Performance: Both hubs pulled less than 0.1A for the hub itself, and had no real impact on the USB 3.0 performance of a connected USB hard drive.  Unless you are going to use multiple power hungry devices, these hubs should do the job and do it well.

Bottom line: Both of these hubs are solid options if you are looking for a portable USB 3.0 hub.  I would recommend you only consider the 3-port with Ethernet if you have a need for it, otherwise just get the 4-port.

Amazon Product Page: HooToo HT-UH15 USB 3.0 4-Port
Amazon Product Page: HooToo HT-UE02 USB 3.0 3-Port Hub w/ Gigabit Ethernet Port

TaoTronics Elune LED desk lamp review ( Model TT-DL01 )

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free so that I could provide product feedback to the company and post a product review. I was not required to write a positive review and I do not rate products higher than they should have been. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's requirements.

I recently received a TaoTronics Elune LED desk lamp for a product review. I have tested other LED lamps before (including the TaoTronics TT-DL04) but this one seemed to have a wider range of output options.  The lamp is larger than the TT-DL04, however I don't consider that an issue since the base itself doesn't take up too much space.  I think the TT-DL04 was more of a neat gadget (with the detachable lamp) but this lamp has a much wider range of light output options that the TT-DL04 did not have.

The TaoTronics lamp on my night stand, fits in with my other geek gear
( 4 port charger, battery pack, wireless charger and LG G Watch )

The setup was simple, and lamp has a good range of motion.  The instruction manual explains multiple operation modes including the following:

- Reading Mode ( Stimulates concentration & reduces eye strain )
- Study Mode ( Increases attention & concentration )
- Relax Mode ( Promotes relaxing along with improved mood )
- Sleep Mode ( Encourages deep sleep with a comfortable soft light )

In addition to the 4 modes (which changes the color temperature of the light) you have 5 levels of brightness control.  It also has a 60 minute timer so you can just hit the button and have the lamp turn off automatically.

Next to a 2 liter bottle of soda for size comparison

Now I will be honest I wondered about the claim that the different color temperatures would really have any major impact.  I did some research online, and this site had a pretty good layout that made me feel like what they were claiming was real and not just marketing magic.

http://www.westinghouselighting.com/color-temperature.aspx

When I actually tested the different light modes, I could definitely tell the difference in the color temperature and the lowest setting "sleep mode" was very dim.  I think this gives a very wide range of options so each person can adjust to what they need.

Close up of the base of the lamp, showing 0.69A output on the USB port as it charges my phone

Here are the main points I noticed about this product:

Ease of Setup and Use: The directions are easy to follow for both the setup and the use of this lamp, and the instruction manual does a good job of explaining the purpose of each of the modes.

Variety of Output: This lamp can put out a variety of color temperature to match different moods / purposes, and within each mode you have 5 levels of brightness control.

Other Factors: The lamp has a built-in USB port (1A output) for charging devices which is great if you happen to only have one available spot to plug in your lamp and still need to have the ability to charge a device on your desk or night stand.  The lamp itself is a good looking lamp, it won't stand out like some clunky old lamp on your desk or night stand.

Bottom line: While I do not consider this lamp as "geeky" as the TT-DL04 I reviewed it is a very good product with a wide range of lighting options.  I think anyone who is going to use the lamp often will appreciate the range of output, and the stylish design of the lamp.

TaoTronics Product Page: http://www.taotronics.com/taotronics-elune-tt-dl01-black-desk-lamp.html
Amazon Product Page: http://amzn.com/B00APAQSP6