Amazing utility and capacity in a small package
Ordered this as a replacement for an older and much, much larger (and way heavier) sealed lead/acid battery powered version that finally gave up. I actually didn't take note of the physical dimensions of this when I ordered since I was just focused on its function, but I was a little surprised and a bit skeptical once it arrived, it was so much smaller. Turns out that has nothing to do with how it performs. This new one takes up pribably less than a quarter of the space in the car, so that all proved out to be a bonus, and the difference is practically the difference between carrying a tablet vs. an old lead/acid car battery itself, so extra bonus points for that. The smooth case design integrates all of the controls and attachment points in such a way that there's nothing left sticking out or dangling to get caught on stuff or bumped into and bent or damaged. For as simple as it all looks, this is the result of some very well thought through industrial engineering. I judge that by asking myself how I might have made something better, without simply adding stuff that made it more expensive as well, and I see no glaring spots where I'd try changing anything. The attachment for airing up a tire, ball or an inflatable just screws into a flush mounted brass female socket, and the port for plugging in the jumper cables is located on the unit's opposite, protected by a captive silicone plug to keep it clean and dry. There's even a set of airline adapters to allow you air up each of the aforementioned items, and the locking Schrader valve equipped hose is long enough that it should reach most tire valve stems while left sitting comfortably on the ground. But even if it can't reach, it's weight is so negligible that your arm won't go to sleep if you do have to hold it up in the air to reach. The light is built-in to the wider adjacent unit face and folds out for aiming and exposing its hidden side, making it a double sided affair for even better illumination. It can be left in its stored position to carry about as a directional lantern that can light a very wide path to the point where it could be carried in front of a vehicle to light its way in an emergency setting. The provided light is quite substantial, as we just discovered when we lost power in a bad wind storm. This lit up our great room pretty significantly, to such an extent that I'd compare it to a typical camp site. We left it on for a few hours after the power returned just to see how well it held up and after 6 hours it was still able to charge a phone, so plenty of useful power reserve. And speaking of power, there's also a flush mounted digotal power level meter on the case side opposite the LED light that gives you a constant readout of remaining power % in 1" tall LCD numerals. Just below the power meter is a sort of unified switch module with a central master power button covered with another silicone dust seal. The seal has an embossed pattern that allows you to find what you're looking for in total darkness. There's an adjacent button to power on the light and cycle it through its a five well thought out functions. Thete are three white light intensity levels, an all red beacon setting that repeatedly cycles flashing an SOS Morse Code signal. And then there's an emergency alternating red and white light rapidly flashing beacon that you might deploy at the scene of a roadside incident. All extremely useful and thought through in terms ofvpractical real world use. Then there's the remaining case side, which houses the covered USB ports and the connecting port for the included jumper cables. On the USB port there's a USB-C charging input for the onboard battery, and then two USB-A outputs below that. The jumper cable connection is dummy proof with a square profile on one side and a rounded profile opposite. The whole unit, plus ut's accessories, can fit into the included drawstring storage bag, and the main unit itself has a very practical, non-conductive nylon carrying strap across the top. The case sits upright on its broadened base, and is built tough enough to take the rough and tumble of daily carry in your trunk. This is a very smartly designed, quality built nulti-function device that can prove invaluable if you find yourself stranded somewhere, so value wise it's impossible to guage relative to that, but compared to other alternatives this is very comparable. I certainly feel better that my wife has this in her vehicle than if she did not. Read more
