DuroStar DS4000S Product Review: Portable Emergency Generator

Last summer (2012), a lovely storm rolled through and left us in a blackout for nine days.  I think we could have handled the nine days fine, except the temps stayed 100, and occasionally above.  To make matters worse - we had no generator, but our neighbors did.  I listened to it every night as I laid under the stars trying not to think of their lovely a/c running. 

Now that July is here again, I thought it'd be a great time to do a generator review!  I picked out the DuroStar DS400S because of the great ratings it received.  Since it's portable, it's great for campers, RV owners, home back-up power, on the job sites, and cabins in the middle of nowhere. 

Here's what I found on amazon, along with a phone call to the factory:

Ratings: 4.4 stars out of 5 from 188 comments on amazon.

Price: Reg. $479.99.  Amazon's price:  $329.99 + FREE SHIPPING!  That's a 31% savings.

The main features:

It's got 4 gallon gas tank and runs for 8 hours
EZ-Pull recoil start
Auto low oil shut off
4000 watt surge/3300 watt continuous
EPA Approved

Product Details:

According to amazon, it's dimensions are 20" x 27" x 22"
Amazon lists 2 different weights.  One says it weighs 93 pounds shipping weight, and the other says 135.  I called the company and they said it's 94 pounds.
7.0 horsepower
air-coiled overhead valve engine
NOT CARB compliant (So, not sold in California)
4-stroke single cylinder

More details:

If you run it at 1/2 load, you can get 8 hours out of 4 gallons of fuel.

Smooth quiet operation.  Recoil start, and the "super quiet" muffler reduces engine noise to 69 dBA.  According to one customer, it's as loud as a 22" lawnmower.  Another customer said it was more like 3 lawnmowers, and a third claimed it was right up there with a jet engine.

Big plus!  It has an automatic low-oil shut off.  Great for protecting the engine.

Limited 1 year warranty.

Comes with a few tools, that one customer said isn't quite adequate for assembling the generator.

Power panel:

Main controls, start switch, volt meter, circuit breaker
Two 120 volt, 20 amp, 3-prong outlets to supply power to all your home appliances
Plus!  One 120 volt, 30 amp outlet for high-powered tools.

Consumers Say:

There were 188 comments, so I didn't exactly make it through them all, but I did do about half.  Here's what I found. 

CONS:

1)  No one likes the manufacturer, because they felt they got the run-around.  Messages were left, and no one called them back. However!  Everyone loved amazon's customer service when something went wrong. 

2)  Some claimed the generator worked a short time and quit.  Some said it wouldn't start at all.

3)  It requires a flexible funnel to put the oil in.  They were unhappy about that.

4)  And there were those who had never actually turned theirs on, but they were certain it deserved a 2.

PROS:

1)  Loved the size.

2)  Loved the performance.

3)  Loved the ease of use.

4)  It's a great buy when you are on a tight budget.

5)  And there were a few who hadn't actually turned theirs on, but they were certain that it would deserve a 3 or 4. 

TIPS FROM CONSUMERS!

1)  Make sure you buy the wheel set, after all, it's 94 pounds - don't kill yourself.

2)  Use synthetic oil.  It will make the engine run better.

3)  Because of the position of the oil cap, use a flexible clear funnel with a plug.

4)  Drain the fuel tank when you put the generator in storage.  Old fuel is bad for any motor.

5)  Just like with any small engine, make sure you use a fuel stabilizer.

6)  Don't run the generator 24/7.  It needs some down time for the sake of the motor.

7)  One guy suggested picking up 4 tri-plugs, and 4 50' extension cords with lighted ends.

8)  Remember to buy a cover to protect it.

9)  A really big one here!  Make sure you chain your generator down.  During a blackout, there's a really good chance of someone stealing it.

10)  Do what the instructions say and change the oil every 20 hours.  It will extend the life of your generator.

11)  A back-up generator is a must if you have small children.

MY TIPS:

1)  Remember to never, ever, put your generator in the house.  You will die.

2)  If you or anyone in your family has a health problem, such as asthma, etc., or care for someone who is elderly - you need a generator. 

Here’s what it looks like:

DuroStar DS4000S in action.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

The DuroStar DS4000S 4,000, is a great piece of kit.  It's small, so if you're cramped on storage space it's not a big deal.

There were quite a few items mentioned above that consumers said were necessary, so rather than add links off to them, I put together an amazon store with the things they suggested.  It's called Emergency Standby Generator Supplies, and that's all it has in it.  Makes for fast and easy shopping.

However, if you want to check out the other generators at amazon, click here.

Hope the review has been helpful.  Leave a comment if there's anything else you want me to research for you.  I’ve got some articles I’ll be posting on generators and blackouts this week that you might find helpful.  Be sure to sign up for notifications.

To learn more about fuel stabilizers, check out my article here: Fuel Stabilizers in Emergency Backup Generators: A Big Waste of Money? Or Do They Really Work?

 

 

 

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Technorati Tags: emergency generators for home use,emergency standby generator,small emergency generator,portable emergency generator,emergency generator for backup power supply

Alphasmart NEO Review

A short review on a little gadget I think is totally awesome.  It’s called the Alphasmart NEO. 

It’s the ultimate tool for writers who get easily distracted by:

1)  email

2)  facebook

3)  twitter

4)  online games

5)  any excuse you can come up with for being online to avoid writing, etc.

The Review:

NEO gives you no access to the internet, but it does have:

1)  Word count

2)  Thesaurus

3)  Spell check

4)  Character count

5)  Timer

6)  Calculator

7)  Copy, paste, cut

8)  8 separate files to either use for chapters or having 8 separate projects going.

More cool stuff:

1)  3 AA batteries last 700 hours.  That alone beats a laptop.

2)  Unlike a laptop, you don’t have to worry about this baby overheating.  It doesn’t.

3)  Adjust font size, which also reduces the number of lines shown on the monitor, but it’s worth it to see what you’re doing.

4)  Screen contrast option.

5)  Limited number of lines on the little monitor equals less editing when you should be writing.

How’s it work?

Type, save work, transfer to computer via USB cable or directly to a printer.  Keep the stuff in the file on the NEO for awhile, or hit “clear file” to wipe it clean.

Technically, you get about 20 pages per file.

Tips on transfer:

You need to have some sort of word processing program open before you can transfer your doc from the NEO to your computer.  Doesn’t matter whether it’s OpenOffice, Word, notepad, wordpad, any of the above.

Plug in USB cord to NEO and computer, hit “send” and watch it transfer your data.  It’s not a fast transfer.  It kinda types it out as it transfers.  If you’re document is long, one user said go make coffee. 

Size:

Smaller than the keyboard on my 15” Toshiba laptop.

My own experience with it:

I can’t be on my laptop without wasting time on the net.  As hard as I’ve tried – I have no self-control.  That’s how I ended up buying a NEO.  I needed a way to write and be productive without the distractions of the net.  I can honestly say, I’ve accomplished more in the past week then I have the past couple months.  No kidding.

I love it that I don’t have to be worried about the battery needing recharged, or concerned about whether it’s going to overheat or not.  I just want to sit down and work on a project without being bothered by anything other than my cats.

The net alone isn’t the only thing that distracts me.  Have you noticed how the bells and whistles of word processing software can distract you?  That was another motivator.  : )

How to get one of these priceless gems of your own!

I bought mine through I.T. CompuParts.  They’re stationed in California and get it out to you fast.  I had mine 3 days after I ordered it.  Supposedly it’s used, but it looks brand spanking new.

Something to be aware of if you decide not to order it from the Amazon link below.  Read the fine print!  I’ve seen some sellers offer them dirt cheap, but the USB line isn’t included, or some other important piece has been left out. 

So, click here to make your life as a writer easier.  Your friends will miss you on facebook, twitter and google+, but your productivity will be better than it’s ever been.

Best of luck!

Technorati Tags: Alphasmart NEO,writing tools,how to deal with distractions when writing

 

 

Product Comparison: Wonderwash vs Wonder Washer

This is one product comparison that I'm going to really enjoy writing.  For one, I like both of these products, think they're great and worth every penny.  Both clean your clothes really well.  Both save you money by not having to go to the Laundromat or not have to go as often.

So, let’s take a look at the two:

Wonderwash

Pro's: 

1)  Hand crank.  No big deal if the electric goes out.
2)  Perfect to take camping, especially if you plan on camping in the primitive area where you don't have electric.
3)  Water drains out of the bottom using a pvc pipe.
4)  You get a bit of exercise in by cranking the washer for about 2 minutes, depending on size of your load.
5)  It holds a lot of clothes.  I can wash my Bengals acrylic blanket.  That's saying something!  I can also do two sets of full size sheets at one time.
6)  Easy to store.
 
Con's:

1)  Some people don't like cranking the handle.
2)  The base feels a bit unstable when cranking, but it's not a big deal.  It holds up quite well.
3)  Because of it's shape, I've found it hard to clean cat hair out of it. 

Wonder Washer

Pro's:

1)  You can wash clothes for a lot longer time than you can with the Wonderwash.
2)  The bucket is much easier to washout than the Wonderwash.  So, if you have a pet and whatever your cleaning has pet hair on it, this is the one you want to use to clean it with. 
3)  Time settings: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 minutes.  Two cycles: standard and gentle.

Con's:

1)  It's taller and a bit more awkward to store, but on the bright side, because the Wonder Washer is two separate pieces: bucket and motor, it can be stored in two separate spots. 
2)  I've found the agitator to be a bit harder on clothes.
3)  It doesn't come close to holding as many clothes as the Wonderwash.  A huge downside if you don't want to be stuck doing extra loads of laundry. 
4)  The motor sounds like it's going to die when you put in a full load.  It groans a lot.
5)  The bucket cover has holes in it that you drain the water out of.  Yip, that means you've got to lift the bucket off the floor and dump it.

With both washers you have to hand wring them afterward.  Personally, I don't.  I wring them just enough to put them in the basket and carry them outside and hang them on the line.  Wringing them out produces wrinkles, this method cuts down on them.

TIPS:

1)  Use a little bit of fabric softener in the rinse. 
2)  Be careful with the soap.  Clothes tend to get stiff on the line because not all the soap has rinsed out, so watch carefully how much you put in.

All in all, you can't go wrong with either washer.  In case you might be wondering which is my favourite - it's the Wonderwash.  It's a heck of a lot of fun, takes less time, and I get a bit of exercise to boot.

Click here to buy the Wonderwash.

Click here to buy the Wonder Washer.

 

Technorati Tags: mini-washing machine,wonderwash,wonder washer,wonderwasher,compact washer,compact washing machine

Product Review: Alera Nico High-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair, Black

If you’re tall or know someone who is, and looking for a great desk chair, you’ll definitely want to check out this best seller from amazon.

Summary:

The Alera Nicro High-Back Swivel/Tilt Chair is one of Amazons best sellers, and comes in with a 4 star rating out of 41 consumer reviews

Stats: 32.5 x 54.8 x 14.5 inches ; weighs 54.8 pounds

Seller: amazon.com

Price: (reg $399) Amazon’s price: $140.99. Saving of $258.01

Main Features:

· Black CaresBft upholstery looks and feels like top-grain leather

· Tufted cushions, lumbar support, padded arms and headrest make it an excellent chair for those who are desk-bound for hours on end.

· Sturdy black steel frame.

· A five-star base with casters for easy rolling.

· Pneumatic seat height adjustment, and 360-degree swivel.

Durability:

Consumers love the sturdy feel. Even guys who weigh in at 240 pounds say it’s solid.

Performance:

The majority of consumers love the comfort and lumbar support. The one problem most agree on is the headrest isn’t positioned where they like it. It’s either too high or too low. This tends to be a problem with most office chairs that have headrests. But when you think about it, how often does your head rest against the back of the chair while you work?

Who this product is suitable for:

This is an awesome chair for the guy who is 6’ and over and has a hard time finding a chair that feels right.

Overall Thoughts:

I worked as an administrative secretary for years and listened to the big guys in the companies talk about how tough it was to find a chair that actually fit their frame. So to me, this is a wonderful find, especially if you’re tall and need that extra lumbar support for those long hours at the desk. Click here to check it out.

 

Technorati Tags: alera nicro high-back swivel tilt chair,office chair,home office,office furniture

Product Review: CraftMaster Deluxe Drafting Table Cherry Woodgrain

Summary:

Size: 40x24” workspace

Seller: Amazon.com [FREE SHIPPING]

Price: (Reg. $229) Amazon’s price $147.21 (save $81.79)

Main Features:

Durability:  Solid, sturdy base.

Performance: 4 stars outa 5, based on 18 customer reviews

Who this product is suitable for:  It’s the perfect solution for those who do their crafting on the kitchen table, coffee table, floor, or some other place that roommates or family complain about.

Feature & Benefit Comparison

· Laminate top w/rounded corners making it safe if you have little tots about.

· Two 3-drawer storage units measure 7''Wx 10''D x 7''H. Excellent for storing smaller items that you use a lot.

· Comes with both casters and floor glides.  If you use the casters, you can adjust the height to 28" to 32"

· If you use the floor glides, the height adjusts 26" to 30".

· Handy metal pencil ledge keeps your pencil from hitting the floor, and plastic instrument tray

· Footrest crossbar with rubber tread and 21'' of leg room

· Convenient one hand tilt angle mechanism adjusts tabletop from 0 to 30 degrees

Overall Thoughts:

To me, the key thing you want in a hobby table is a good, solid, sturdy base.  Otherwise, when you go to erase something, or if you’re using it for a sewing station, you’re going to be chasing it around the room and picking things off the floor.  : )

Consumers provide mixed views about how solid the stand is.  The consensus comes down to – use your own tools.  The tools provided, like those with any put-it-together-yourself furniture, never get the bolts, nuts, or screws in tight enough. So, use your own tools and you’ll have a really solid base.

The size is excellent.  There’s plenty of workspace, and yet doesn’t take up a lot space in your room. 

I love the storage drawers. They’re perfect for all the little odds and ends I use regularly when card making.

The other thing I like is that it adjusts to lying flat.  This is brilliant for those who are into card making.  You can angle the top to make it easier when creating your designs, and then lower it to the flat position and put it all together. 

It’s really an awesome dream of a table, and one that’s well worth the investment if you’re into crafting and need a convenient space of your own.  And!  Your family or roommate will thank you for it.

Click here to check it out.

 

Technorati Tags: product reviews,craftmaster deluxe drafting table,hobby table,art desk

Pillow Reviews: The Total Pillow

This morning I woke up with my lower back killing me again.  I’m not sure what I did to it yesterday, but this morning it’s letting me know what it thinks of me – it hates me.

So, I sat down at my netbook, shoved my Total Pillow behind my back and breathed a sigh of relief.  That’s when it hit me – duh!  Why haven’t you done a review on a product that’s been your lifesaver for nearly a year.  And so I am.  : )

Product Overview:

Summary:  The versatile pillow that changes shape for total comfort and support!

Size:  12 x 12 x 3 inches ; 9.6 ounces

Seller:  Amazon.com

Price:  $14.39 & eligible for FREE Super Saving Shipping

Main Features: 

Twist turn and shape the Total Pillow™ any way you like!
Filled with tension easing micro-beads

Great for use:
On a plane
In a car
Watching TV
Playing games
In the office
Seat Cushion, Neck Rest, Lumbar Support, Pillow, Chair Cushion, Floor Pillow, Head Rest.

Durability and Performance:  Now this is where consumers take a hatchet to the Total Pillow.  I didn’t mention the crappy rating reviews earlier that consumers gave it at Amazon, because I didn’t want you to be immediately turned off.  The rating is 2.5.  I disagree with the rating.  I give it a 5, here’s why.

Basically, consumers main complaint is that it is poorly constructed and falls apart really easy. 

I’ve brutalized mine for nearly a year and it’s just fine.  My cats love it!  If I’m not using it behind my back for support, Little Lillie sleeps on it while I work. 

I don’t just use it for my back at the desk, but I:

• sleep on it at night
• use it behind my head when sitting in my rocker because there’s no neck support.
• use it to prop myself up when lying on my side reading a book…

See what I mean?  My Total Pillow gets very little rest from me or my cats.  LOL  It reminds me of the Energizer Bunny – it keeps going and going.

Anyway, just like beanbag chairs, the little pellets begin to shrink.  Does it hurt the effectiveness of the pillow?  Not even in the slightest.  In fact, it makes it even more comfortable.  : )

Another complaint some consumers gave was that they couldn’t make it twist into the shapes on the box.  Maybe it’s because I’m mechanically inclined, because I could.  I  did.  I do.

So, I’m really not sure what’s with all the bad reviews, because I’ve been anything but kind to my pillow and it’s still going.

Who this product is suitable for:

It’s suitable for everyone except:

• curious little kids who are always opening things to see how they work.
• dogs, because they like to chew everything.
• which then leads me to - little tykes who are teething.

The Total Pillow is squishy and really relaxing to squeeze like tension release balls, but it’s not a chew toy.  You should also use caution when your cats use it for a cushy bed.

If you have back problems, the Total Pillow is a blessing.  It provides great support in a chair, and depending on where you put it, it also helps your posture.

If you’re going to a game or lecture and the bleachers, chairs or benches hurt your bum – take it with you.  It’s an all around functional pillow.

Overall thoughts:

I think it’s a brilliant pillow, and yes, I’m buying another one when this one finally bites the dust.  For those who might buy it and decide they don’t like it, well…your cat will love you for it.  : )

Click here to buy now!

 

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: the total pillow,pillow reviews,pillows for back support,good pillow,back aids

How to Organize Paperwork: Wonder File Review

A couple weeks ago I got had a hankering to write a new RPG (role playing game). So, I pulled out my overstuffed Wonder File, unfolded it on the floor and sat there amazed at how much I'd managed to stuff in that thing. But there it was, everything in it's place, everything ready for me to dive in.

As I sat there basking in the glow of my brilliance at buying the Wonder File, I wondered why on earth I hadn't done a review on it. So, here it is! A review that should have been written months ago.

Product Overview:

Summary

The point of the Wonder File is to help you get organized and clean up your cluttered work area, by providing lots of pockets to store your documents, research, school work, gaming downloads, receipts, bills, etc. When opened, it creates it's own workspace and a nice big one at that!

Size

Open's to a 34 x 28" workspace. Closed it's 14 x 11 3/4 x 1 3/4" for storage

Seller Amazon.com

Price$15.93

Main Features

• 4 clear heavy plastic corner pockets with elastic corner bands to hold 8.5 x 11" papers in place.
• 1 zipper pouch
• 2 small heavy plastic pouches with Velcro closures
• 1 large heavy plastic pouch that holds a netbook, files, etc.
• 2 pen holders
• Folds out to a large 34 x 28" workspace.
• Fold in half, fold in the sides and you have a nice lap desk.

Durability

To be honest, when I took the product out of the box, the first thing that went through my mind was, "What a cheap pile of crap!" It honestly does look flimsy. But, I was desperate for something to help me keep my RPG stuff together, so I gave it a try, and very glad I did.

This was one of those rare moments when looks can be deceiving. I'm far from kind to mine, as are my cats, so I can say from experience that the Wonder File can take a good deal of abuse.

However, the elastic that holds papers in the plastic corner pockets are another story. They don't hold up well when you put ridiculously thick reports, etc. in them. You have to use your head, something of which I didn't and in return - I've got to sew them back on.

Performance

In my experience it works great or else I wouldn't be reviewing it and suggesting you stop what you are doing right now (meaning reading this) click this link and buy it.

As for what other consumers think. The Wonder File only receives a 3.3 star rating out of 5 stars. Here's the reason some people don't like it:

• Small stuff falls out of the corner pockets.
• The size - super big 34 x 28".

What those who like it think:

• It's great for storage.
• It's perfect for keeping organized when writing school reports, etc.
• Convenient

Still telling it like it is - everyone, including myself, agree that it's annoying when the smaller papers fall out, but some of us find that insignificant compared to the benefits of the Wonder File.

Who This Product is Suitable For

• Business people
• Secretaries
• Work at home moms
• Homeschoolers
• Crafters/hobbyists
• Gamers
• Teachers
• Students
• Writers
• Song writers
• Musicians
• Speakers, etc

Features & Benefit

What makes this product so awesome, and so worth the little inconveniences is that you can pull out the Wonder File and get straight to work on your project without having to hunt around for where you put what and where.

For people who are time conscious, to have a product that saves you time and frustration the Wonder File is a serious must have piece of kit.

Overall Thoughts

Although the little papers falling out is annoying, there's always the option of using the zipper section to hold those smaller papers or even store them behind the larger papers that do fit!

As for the size, I love it being that big. It gives me lots of space to work on. If it were smaller, it would be a bit useless for me.

Personally, I love it so much I bought a second one here lately to help me organize my PLR business. And! I'm planning on buying another one for RPG's again, because my first one is stuffed and overflowing.

There ya have it! If you're always losing papers and stuff like me, the Wonder File is an excellent buy and one you won't regret. Click here now to pick it up from Amazon and get yourself organized!

Technorati Tags: wonder file,how to organize paperwork