Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 66
 Value for Money December 5, 2007
S. Lee
9 out of 16 found this review helpful
I would rate this product value for money. I did expect it to be more powerful but it certainly serves the purpose that I require it for. I think that this would be a tremendous asset in the event of a powercut.Duracell DPP-600HD Powerpack 600
It works fine. And you can add external capacity easily. May 6, 2008
D. Doyle
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Tried it a few times in the few weeks I've had it and found it to be terrific. I have a few of the smaller Black and Decker (10 and 20 VA) powered inverter modules that were clearanced for $10 at our neighborhood Home store that got me curious about this thing. Heck no, it's not a generator, and yeah, it's basically a flashlight about the size and weight of a cinder block, but the combination of radio, flashlight, clock and THREE 120 outlets would certainly be handy in a blackout. The Mfr recommends leaving it plugged in (charged by a little wall-wart transformer) all the time to keep the battery topped off.
Did somebody really say they wished the LCD clock could be turned off to save power? Nah, even an AGM battery will discharge with no draw at all WAY more than that little clock would - the difference has to be insignificant. And far outweighed by the convenience of having the clock stay set.
Now how about some superbright LED's in the handle? Now those could be normally-on so you could find it in the dark, but switched so the light wouldn't bother you if you were sleeping near it or something like that. They say the built-in 5-watt flashlight will run FIFTY hours straight on a full charge, so I'd guess that a few 20,000 mcd LED's would draw 5 ma each, and the unit would last for months (maybe years) between recharges. Of course, an AGM battery shouldn't be stored discharged (thus the directions say to leave it plugged in with the little charger going all the time) but if one stayed lit while it was charging, you could find it, and if the power went out, the bank could go on full by default and actually light up the area around the unit.
 super power supply July 8, 2008
Douglas Schifter (Thornhurst, Pa. USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I got stuck last week with my car's alternator and battery being dead. This unit started my car 4 times that night and I actually used the supply to power the car so I could drive it an extra block to avoid paying a tow charge. It powers my hungry laptop for up to 4 hours between charges. I can't reccomend this power supply more....all aces
It is NOT SAFE to leave this unit in your car trunk August 5, 2008
Glenn (New Jersey, USA)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
An important item that the marketing materials leave out is that this unit must not be used or stored above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a warning in the owners' manual about this. I contacted the manufacturer by email and asked if it was OK to store the unit in the trunk of a vehicle, which could get up to 150 degrees or so in the summer sun, as long as you let it cool down below 104 degrees before using it. The representative checked with their engineering department and responded to me that it is not safe to do so. Seems you can't allow the unit to get below 32 degrees Fahrenheit either, according to the manual. So much for leaving the unit in your car as an emergency backup.
Another thing that is not mentioned is that the AC outlets provide power that is a "simulated sine wave;" simply stated, this means it is not as "clean" as power from a regular AC outlet. Therefore, I would not recommend that expensive computers and other electronic equipment be plugged into the AC outlet. Use the 12V DC "cigarette lighter" outlet for this type of equipment, using the appropriate adapter for your cell phone or computer, and it is perfectly fine.
Otherwise, generally speaking, a good unit to have around, in your climate controlled garage, in case the power fails.
Versatile Power Source May 10, 2008
J. Palmeri
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I spent a long time searching for a portable power supply and this was the most versatile one that I could find. It has excellent jump-start power and also provides both AC and DC outlets. Other nice features are the radio and light, although it would have been better if the light were LED. The available power closely matches the times listed in the specs. In camp, it worked great for recharging cell phones, Gameboys, camera batteries. At home, it works great for powering a cable modem during a power outage to keep the house phone working.
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