SunJack Portable 20W Solar Charger and Battery Review

While I’ve given up on using solar chargers to recharge my batteries on east coast backpacking trips because there are too many trees in the way, they’re still a great portable energy solution for car camping trips and stationary camp sites. My wife likes to car camp and she likes bringing her “devices”, so we’re always in need of off-the-grid power.

While solar power is limited by the availability of sunlight, we usually get enough sunshine on our car camping trips justify bringing a solar power panel along. One product we’ve had good luck with last year is the SunJack 20W Portable Solar Charger which comes with 2 x 8000 mAh fast charging batteries. We are able to get a full charge in just 6 hours, making the SunJack a viable solution for our needs.

When we go car camping, my wife and I bring our iPads along, smart phones, and a cellular-based wifi modem, in addition to a USB-powered lantern and USB rechargeable headlamps. But, we can only last about two days without recharging our batteries (no I don’t work constantly). This is a pain when we’re at a primitive campsite because it means a visit to town and a few hours spent hanging out at a cafe and hogging their wall outlets. Anecdotally, I can recharge my iPad up to 80% power from one of the 8000 mAh SunJack batteries and a smartphone several times.

The SunJack 20 Watt product includes four solar panels (each the size of a Kindle), two fast charging batteries, two USB cords, and a power splitter so you can charge two batteries at once. The batteries are capable of powering 5V devices including iPads, smartphones, and Kindles, but not a laptop. Each battery also has two USB output jacks and one input jack so you can recharge two devices simultaneously while recharging the battery, which is awesome when we’re in camp.

The lithium-ion batteries and cables provided with the SunJack 20W are also faster changing than the other USB batteries I own because they’re rated for 2 amps instead of 1 amp. I’ve tried switching in different USB batteries and different USB cords I own, but they take over twice as long to charge.

The benefit of having the pair of batteries hooked up to the solar panel is that you can store twice as much power without having to switch in a new battery. This is very handy when we’re away from camp all day. The two batteries stow away in a pocket on the back of the panel for easy storage when the unit is hung outside or folded up for storage. However, if you travel with other USB cords, you do need to be careful not to switch them with the fast-charging SunJack power cords because they are indistinguishable.

First Ride: the Haibike Xduro Allmtn 10.0

Over the past couple of years we’ve seen a spate of new electric bikes released, mostly designed with the commuter cyclist in mind. For the uninitiated, HAIBIKE XDURO use a battery-powered motor to assist in pedaling, allowing riders to maintain a constant speed with less effort, even while climbing hills. This has made them a popular mode of transportation in urban environments, where traffic and quick navigation can often be a concern.

For the most part, ebikes haven’t sparked much interest from the hardcore cycling crowd, most of which prefer to do their own pedaling rather than receive assistant from a motor. But, Haibike – one of the pioneers in the ebike industry – is hoping to change that with its line of electric mountain bikes, including the Xduro AllMtn RX a bike that offers solid off-road performance with a little extra kick.
POWERED BY BOSCH

Originally founded back in 1995, Haibike introduced its first electric mountain bike in 2010, just as the ebike industry was starting to really gain traction. Since then, the company has worked to refine its products, upgrading components and refining their designs over time. Today, its latest offerings seamlessly blend traditional bike components with technology designed to make riding easier and more accessible then ever before.


That drive system – powered by the battery of course – is what really sets the Xduro apart from a standard mountain bike. When engaged, the motor offers assisted pedaling in four different modes, including Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. A large digital display mounted to the bike’s handlebars indicates which mode the bike is in at any given time, while also displaying speed, distance traveled, and current battery life as well.

Eco mode is by far the most energy efficient of the four options, but as you would expect offers the least amount of pedal-assist too. If the bike is ridden in Eco mode only it has a range of about 60 miles before the battery is completely depleted. Each successive drive mode increases the level of pedal assistance at the expense of battery life of course. So, for example, if ridden exclusively in Turbo mode, riders will find that they make short work out of hills and can maintain a high level of speed at all times, but the range of the bike is reduced to a mere 12 miles or so.

Samsung Gear VR

As far as phone accessories go, the Samsung Gear VR has always been one of the best. But now, paired with a motion controller, you owe this to yourself if you own a Samsung smartphone.

The revised Gear VR touts a streamlined, slightly improved design and features a USB-C connector that hooks directly into the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus. However, the big draw here is the included wireless controller.

It’s a small remote that looks similar to an HTC Vive controller, elevated touchpad, punchy trigger and all. And while it may not get points for originality, it just works. Placed in either the right or left hand, this controller is simple to pair to your phone and the motion controls add a new level of interactivity that was sorely missing from the Gear VR suite.

While the amount of titles that support motion controls are slim at the moment, what is there is actually a pretty good start. The Google Daydream View is a step ahead in that regard, as it launched last year, but I’d expect Samsung and Oculus to catch up rather quickly.

Altogether, with the robust and ever-growing collection of VR content and the new controller, the new Gear VR is a painless recommendation. It’s lighter, more comfortable and cross-compatible with older Samsung phones, too. However, if you already own a previous version of the headset, you can pick up the controller separately.

Buy Samsung Gear VR (2017) at Amazon for $99
Samsung Gear VR price and release date

The new Samsung Gear VR will release April 21 to the tune of $129 (about £100, AU$117) and includes both the updated headset and its new accompanying controller.

For those already rocking a Gear VR headset, Samsung plans on selling the controller separately for $39 (about £30, AU$50).

Comparatively, the 2015 version of the headset originally cost $99 (£80, about AU$130) but dropped down to a price of about $60 or £50 from some sources.
Design

The look of the new versus the old Samsung Gear VR isn’t night and day, though it has shed about a quarter pound in weight. When compared to the sleeker, smaller Google Daydream View, it’s still rather monstrous, but its size advantage yields unique benefits over Google’s one-size-fits-all headset.

First off, the optics inside can be adjusted using the top-mounted dial to make the picture easier to see for your eyes. Google’s headset comes at a fixed position and it may take some extra effort to see a clear image.

Keeping the light out is something that the Gear VR has always been good at and the new model is no exception. A welcome area of improvement is the breathability of the headset. On the first iteration, things would get steamy after a few minutes of use, rendering the lenses foggy like a mirror after a hot shower. But by adding a few more air vents beneath the eyes, I no longer find this to be an issue.

Compared to the older model, the cushion that rests around your eyes and nose is noticeably cozier and more supportive. Included in the box is a controller holder that can be installed into the head strap for easy storage.






The buttons and port location are familiar on the new headset, though they have received some tweaking. To match the layout of the new controller, the new headset’s touchpad now features a home button to take you straight out of any app or game that using you’re using.

Confusingly, Samsung steamrolled the directional pad-shaped indicators on the touchpad. Sure, if you’ve used the Gear VR before, you’ll probably adjust easily to the change. But VR first timers might be put off, as the new solution doesn’t present the most intuitive control scheme.

Instead of the microUSB port found on bottom of the original Gear VR that was used for keeping your phone charged, the new headset features a USB-C port that can do the same. Samsung touts it as a multifunction port, so it’s very likely that we’ll see more accessories coming that expand its capabilities, much like how the controller has done.

Samsung includes a swappable microUSB connector, which enables compatibility with the following devices:
Samsung Galaxy S7
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
And likely, the refurbished Samsung Galaxy Note 7, whenever that shows up.




The little controller is certainly the highlight of the show, so let’s dig into it. The motion-enabled wand matches the dark aesthetic of the new Gear VR, though it also goes nicely with the older model.

Powered by two AAA batteries, the small controller features a volume rocker, as well as a circular touchpad and the back and home button duo to mimic what’s found on the side of the headset. On its back, there’s a single trigger, which is nice to have for the inevitable onslaught of first-person shooters.

There are a handful of games that offer controller compatibility and they work in a manner that you’d expect if you’ve played anything on Google’s Daydream headset or even the Nintendo Wii. You can aim the controller around in the virtual reality world to select, shoot or pick up objects. Compared to other experiences, Samsung’s controller feels and performs on par.



For many early pre-order adopters of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, the new headset and its controller will come free. But even at $39 (about £30, AU$50), the controller is a welcome, well built addition to the Gear VR family.

Samsung has made the controller compatible with the backlog of apps and games that are already available to users. Both the trigger and touchpad execute the same simple “confirm” command, but the motion capabilities are otherwise turned off.

Roofing - Under the Shingles

Imagine, you are standing on the sidewalk, considering a mean residence. You find the siding, the windows, the front doorway, and way up over, you find the roof. Does the roofing contractors NYC have asphalt shingles? Wood shakes maybe? Perhaps it's made from rubber or metal tiles? Everything you see is where the attention goes, but it is what you do not find that actually matters. There is much more to roofing contractors NYC than meets the eye. So let us discuss what goes on, below the shingles.

The Roof Deck

We all learn to crawl before we walk, so when speaking about roofing let us begin with square one, the surface area of your New York roofing that's constructed from wood. Your timber roof deck is similar to a cars metal body. It's installed in addition to the simple house frame to provide a surface area where to set up Shingles. With no roof deck installed in your residence, there will be nowhere to put in your Shingles. And of course with no shingles, then your roof deck will rust off as a result of exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, snow and ice hockey and etc.. Not a cozy home at all!

On Newer Houses, sheets of plywood or OSB planks are secured on top of wooden trusses on your loft to make the roof deck. Plywood or OSB boards are set up in a staggered formation with little spaces between them allowing the wood to expand and contract because the wood heats at the summer time and cools from the winter. Older homes frequently have spans of 2" x 6" installed rather than plywood or OSB board. When the time comes for one to replace your commercial roofing NYC, don't forget to get your roofers New York replace any and all damaged wood.

Bear in mind, if a roof deck is either rotting or damaged at all, people walking on your roof might possibly crack or split through the timber, causing additional harm to the commercial roofing NYC, for example concerning the shingles...and to the man who walked onto it! But most roof decks may defy a tiny bit of exposure to ice or water until it has to be replaced.

Steel: Drip Edge and Rake Edge

Drip advantage and Rake edge is the initial portion of this Roof System to be set up. It's a long and narrow piece of metal that's installed together each end of your commercial roofing NYC, ie: combined the eaves trough and across the gable ends.

Some neighborhood local building codes require that the setup of Drip Edge and Rake Edge and other construction codes don't. Check with the local city construction offices to discover. In Alberta for instance, the Building Code does not require the setup of Drip border or Rake border. Therefore many new houses and/or very low budget New York roofer systems don't have drip edge installed to be able to allow for cheaper roof rates. We recommend however that Drip advantage and Rake edge be set up on each roofing contractors NYC, no exceptions.

Drip and Rake edge is offered in a number of different colors and sizes and can be custom built to your requirements of your roof system. Installing a suitable drip border often saves hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars as soon as your roof system demands replaced.

If your roofing companies NYC doesn't currently have a trickle or rake border installed, don't panic, you survive nicely enough. Just take note that if your roof has to be substituted, the roofing contractor NYC that you might want to replace a few of your timber NYC roofing contractors on an as needed basis.

Steel: Chimneys and Skylights

Potentially the most significant part of every comprehensive roofing company NYC. The alloy set up in the valleys, chimneys, and skylights require the brunt of water stream on each roof. Poorly set up, a completely new roof system may earn a waterfall from your living space.

Each chimney and skylight require what's known as "a rear pan", which contains sheet metal brushed at approximately a 90-degree angle (based on the slope of your roof) and tucks beneath the shingles and up beneath the siding, stucco or counter flashing onto the chimney or skylight. Every back pain requires a little 2" part of metal sticking out 1" or more from both sides of the chimney or skylight to divert water away in the corners. Water must hit on the metal back pan and also be steered off on both sides where it could continue its run to the eaves trough.

Top Stub Checks - Top Stub Checks Are Becoming the Most Popular

Top check stubs checks are now popular and provide a little tab located on the peak of each check stubs that's used to get an immediate record trade. The advantage of them is the convenience which you can record your transaction. It typically eliminates the need to keep up with your check stubs register in addition to in finding the proper location to input every check that you've written.

Employing these lets you balance your checkbook without any registration or duplicate copies. That is because the spiral bound register is appropriately placed above them. In basic registries, it is possible to even maintain a working balance on the check stub, however, offer critical tax information and much more. Many sites offer a large assortment of them to suit most any style or match a character. They are the very best method to keep real check stubs of your bank deposit and any other transactions. Additionally, it contains handy modest tabs on top of each check which allows you to simply input the paystub generator transaction. This kind of pay stub generator also allows you to maintain a running total of your personal bank accounts and lets you know how much you have at all times.

There are lots of websites available out there which will supply you your desired styles. You may often get their discounted cost of about 50 percent under what you would pay for the checks from some of your own banks. It would be wise ordering create a pay stub online because it is the best approach to have create pay stubs at a cheaper price and great quality. Keep in mind that purchasing them online is quite safe. Its ordering procedures are done via a secure server in order to maintain private information confidential. create pay stub on the internet can surpass the quality standards used by your financial institution.

Purchasing top realpay stubs checks online is really inexpensive. So why wait when you can buy now? You will surely enjoy countless real pay stubs layouts on the web.

FERC Chair Nominee Could Set Direction on ‘Significant Issues’ for Renewables

President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would be able to set policy and direction for “several significant issues that will impact renewables, including on interconnection, frequency response and wholesale market rules,” according to Ruta Skučas, a partner at Pierce Atwood.

Trump yesterday announced he will nominate Kevin McIntyre to lead FERC. McIntyre is a partner with the law firm Jones Day and is the co-leader of the firm’s global energy practice.

In early February, former Chairman Norman Bay resigned his appointment. Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur was appointed Acting Chairman.

Skučas said in an email that FERC has an open Notice of Proposed Rulemaking—Docket RM16-23, November 2016—on distributed energy resources RENOGY 100 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT and energy storage that “will likely be significant for renewables.”

“Also, the new Chairman will need to address the wholesale market and state policy issues that FERC began to openly consider at the May technical conference, which are often closely linked to state [renewable portfolio] standards and renewable policies,” she said.




Commissioner Colette Honorable resigned from FERC last month, leaving LaFleur as the only commissioner. In a June 30 letter, Honorable said that FERC has worked to improve its analysis of the wholesale energy markets.

“It is incumbent upon the regulator to understand and accommodate new technologies, economic realities, policies and much more,” she said. “The last few years have made clear that the energy sector is no longer on the cusp of profound change, but is indeed in the midst of it. … More electricity is being produced by renewable resources in the U.S. than ever before. Recently on June 14, wind and solar exceeded 10 percent of our total monthly electric generation in the U.S. This is indeed a new day for us, and we must take advantage of these opportunities in new and different ways.”

President Trump on June 29 announced he will nominate Richard Glick to be a member of FERC. Glick is General Counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

8 Things Every Startup Needs to Know

The startup phase of your new business is likely the most exciting and exasperating time you'll experience over the life of your new enterprise. Nothing beats the magic of creating something new from scratch, overcoming the naysayers and obstacles in your way. But equally, nothing is as frustrating as running headfirst into a wall — which, some days, it feels like you're doing repeatedly when all you want to do is move ahead.
From the vantage point of someone who's been through the startup stage several times, here's what everyone contemplating their own business startup should know.

Best Small Business Ideas to Prosper in Tough Times

Belt tightening is always bad news for small businesses. But small businesses do not suffer equally in tough economic times; while some will be hit severely, other small businesses will only experience a slight dip and still others will actually prosper.

So when you're looking for small business ideas, whether because you want to invest in one or because you want to start a small business of your own, the state of the economy will play a significant role in your decision.
Here are what I think are the best small business ideas for small businesses to start or invest in tough economic times.

The Worst 10 Mistakes When Starting a Business

If you want to start a business, read through the following list of business mistakes and take them to heart. Any one of them could sabotage your new business venture and turn it into a failure rather than a success.

These are the big mistakes to avoid when you're starting out:

1) Not doing a business plan.

If I had even just fifty cents for every time someone asked me “Is this a good business idea?” over the years, I’d be a wealthy woman.
The problem is, unless I write a business plan, I have no idea – and you won’t, either. That’s the main purpose of a business plan. There are other good reasons, too; see 5 Reasons for Writing a Business Plan to learn more.
Yes, it’s time-consuming and demands a lot of research, but investing time now will save you so much time and money later.