WEN 56200i review

With a weight of just 48 pounds, the WEN 56200i is a fantastic choice for portable generators and is an easy-to-recommend option right off the bat. Featuring an extremely quiet operating level (51 decibels) that is softer than the standard volume output of two conversing people, the WEN offers 2,000 surge watts and 1,600 running watts for powering your items and devices. With two three-prong 120V inputs, one 12V DC input and one 5V USB port, there are more than enough plugs to keep your appliances, as well as your portable electronics, charged up.

Also see: COLEMAN GENERATOR Review

Overall, the single-gallon tank can provide six hours of power to gadgets and appliances at a 50 percent load run time. Additionally, the WEN offers both low-oil and low-fuel automatic shutdown to help prevent the generator and your electronics from any damage while plugged in. To further maximize the generator’s power, switching on Eco-Mode will help allow the generator's motor to automatically adjust its fuel consumption. That will help extend the generator’s life to maximize its fuel capacity while still powering any item that’s plugged in.

Suaoki Flexible Solar Panel

This is a very short and to-the-point guide, with information included in a Suaoki Flexible Solar Panel review.

Suaoki is one the newer brands and introduce SUAOKI SOLAR  panels to the flexible solar panel range. We discuss the 100 watt solar panel in particular, including uses, benefits, and drawbacks.
Suaoki 100W 18V Flexible Solar Panel
Film material is bendable up to a stated 30 degrees > better for curved and uneven surfaces than solid panels

What’s Good About This 100 Watt Panel?

One of the cheaper flexible solar panels on the market
Water resistant
Suaoki claim a maximum 23-25% efficiency of this panel
Has pre fabricated metal ring mounts that you can put temporary, or permanent fixings through
Easier than solid 100 watt panels to transport, hang, and remove – can even hang on a camping tent > VERY portable
Can be used in a number of applications – boats, cabins, tents, cars/SUV’s, vans, motorbikes and Rv’s
100 Watt panel – good size for most singular 12 volt batteries which need 12.6 volts max charge
Made of thin PET, EVA and TPT material – very lightweight at 4.85lbs
18 volt panel – will need a solar controller/regulator to charge a 12 volt battery
Make sure you have enough space on the surface you want to hang or fix it – dimensions are 43.3 x 22.4 x 0.1 inches
Has 31.5 inch long cables with MC4 connectors
CE and ROHS certifications
Can be used with a cheaper PWM solar controller

What Isn’t So Great, And Could Be Improved?

Thin film material is more susceptible to sharp objects and rough surfaces than the solid panels – but, it’s still fairly durable to general surfaces
Can’t mount this panel on an adjustable tilt rack, or a pole mount > this is more a surface mounting panel
Pay attention to the key specifications of this panel – particularly the limitations on the maximum system voltage at 600volts
Suaoki are not a company that specialise in only solar – they aren’t as established as a company like Renogy for example. This isn’t an issue in itself – but it will be interesting to see how long they offer their solar product for, and whether they develop them any further

Who Are Suaoki?

Suaoki are a company that offer products in automotive, solar, laser and various other accessories.


What Do They Do Well With Their Solar Panels?

Suaoki do a good job of three things in particular with their flexible solar panels:
They are relatively cheap compared to their competitors in the flexible solar panel market
Their customer service are quite responsive
They offer a range of panels of different sizes – between 20 watts to 100 watts


This is not necessarily a problem with Suaoki, it’s an issue with all all flexible solar panel manufacturers.

Flexible solar panels are much newer technology that the rigid/solid solar panels. With this in mind, the companies manufacturing them have not had as much time to develop them and establish a high quality product.

The panels will certainly charge your 12 volt battery, or batteries, if that is your main purpose.

But, there’s definitely room for improvement in overall quality of this product and others on the market.

Potential issues can include bubbles appearing in the plastic, loose cables in the junction box, inconsistent packing/delivery – but these aren’t regular issues.

Also, be mindful of who you purchase the product from. Suaoki offer a 1 year warranty – so make sure that is guaranteed for you.

Azuri Technologies to Deploy PayGo Solar Systems to 1m Homes

Azuris Technologies’General Manager in charge of the West African region, Mrs Vera Nwanze has stated that the company targets to deploy its PayGo solar systems to one million rural homes in Nigeria in line with the federal government’s commitment to increase access to renewable energy.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had while inaugurating Azuri’s programme to deliver 20,000 solar power systems to rural homes across 10 states in the north, promised that most Nigerian homes and offices would soon no longer require electricity from the national grid.

The federal government’s renewable energy policy seeks to increase energy production from renewable energy sources from 13 per cent of total electricity generation in 2015, to 23 per cent in 2025 and 36 per cent in 2030.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos at the weekend, Nwanze, who disclosed that the company entered Nigeria in 2016, added that the federal government mandated it to deploy 20,000 units of the PayGo solar systems to off-grid communities in 10 states in the north in one year.
“We are discussing to expand the programme to other states. The plan is to deploy one million of our flagship product, Quad, across Nigeria. We are in Kano at the moment and we have deployed over 1,000 units. When we deploy a unit, we register the customer and the payment is spread over a period of three years,” she explained.

According to her, the company’s flag-ship product, Azuri Quad under the PayGo solar systems has made it easy and affordable for rural off-grid communities to have access to electricity.
Nwanze stated that over 300 people subscribed to the PayGo solar system in the first three weeks of the launch in Kano, adding that over 100,000 people spread across the sub-saharan Africa are already enjoying the services of the firm.

“We have impacted over 100,000 households with our solar systems. Azuri’s vision statement is to change lives with our technology in every home. So, we don’t want to live anybody behind, no matter how remote or how rural they are located. And this is also in line with the federal government’s policy on renewable energy, which is to ensure that they increase accessibility and the renewable sources from 13 per cent in 2015 to three times the figure in the next 15 years. Azuri’s goal is to deploy the PayGo system across Nigeria and this we believe will improve the energy access of over 55 per cent of Nigerians living in the off-grid regions. It will save households the fund spent on kerosene and diesel, as well as reduce the health hazards associated with the use of kerosene and diesel. Of course, we believe it will also create a safer night-time environment because the environment will be lightened up and children can study,” Nwanze explained.

She added that the firm’s PayGo solar system has made it possible for students in rural areas of the country to study at night, while the system has also helped parents save money as well as reduce health hazards associated with kerosene explosions and others.

Also speaking, the company’s Vice President in charge of Market Development, Mr Paul Foster, disclosed that subscribers can have their battery box (Azuri Quad) changed if faulty.
The PayGo system, the 10W Azuri Quad, has a lithium battery, a solar panel (for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 13 ) and four individually-powered high brighteness LED lamps to illuminate the home.

How to Avoid Sidewalk Damage and What to Do When It Happens

Trees damaged sidewalk repair contractors in Bronx New York! Trees which are planted too close to sidewalk repair Bronx have the possibility of damaging those sidewalks and potentially hurt the trees themselves. Nearly all sidewalk repair contractor Bronx damage occurs when tree roots are too restricted, typically when trees have been planted too close to them. These constricted roots cause the sidewalk repair contractor Bronx to crack and be irregular which may result in accidental mishaps. Most of the damage to trees stems from cutting too near the primary trunk. This reduces the quantity of water and nutrients the tree receives. Awareness and prevention are best ways to prevent problems but here are a few suggestions which could help mitigate problems before they occur.

Planting new trees? Do not plant them less than three feet from paved areas. Try to plant trees no more than 30 feet when the adult in the event the areas between the Bronx sidewalk repair are far less than 3-4 feet. For trees 50 feet and bigger, attempt to have an area a minimum of 8 feet or more between DOT sidewalk violation . Install root barriers, typically vinyl or woven geotextile fabric. This may drive roots deeper into the dirt and away from the walkway.

Be very careful when trimming roots. Larger roots help support the tree and supply essential water and nutrients, so try not to cut roots larger than two inches. Cut as far from the trunk as possible. Cut cleanly and mulch well. Bear in mind, roots provide support to the back, in addition, to supply the tree the nutrients that it requires. Cutting roots can cause the tree to topple more readily by winds and even kill older trees in three to five decades.

If you are concerned about cutting roots and the tree remains in good shape, consider curved sidewalk repair Bronx. Don't forget to leave enough room around the trunk and roots. If the tree is in bad condition, you may want to think about removing the tree and repairing the pavement.

For small sidewalk repair Bronx displacement of an inch, it's possible to consider grinding the raised edge down to level. For larger displacement, you can try patching the pavement with a cement wedge. Another option to consider is to remove some of the sidewalk repair Bronx, re-pour the concrete, and create a bridge over the roots. Sometimes it's best to simply replace the entire sidewalk repair Bronx with other materials. Asphalt is more affordable and more flexible than concrete. Landscape pavers, although more attractive and expensive, nevertheless may fall to root harm but are simple to adjust and level. Rubber sidewalk repair Bronx NY are a new, greener alternative made from recycled tires and can be both porous and flexible.

MOULTRIE M 1100I GAME CAMERA

Considered to be the most powerful camera in Moultrie’s lineup, the medium priced MOULTRIE M 1100I GAME CAMERA is what everyone has been asking for from the company. It is a huge step in the right direction, and should provide a big blow to other companies that are offering the same technology at a higher price. Moultrie already leads the market in high quality budget cams, so how do they fare against the bigger name brands and their powerful cams? This is going to be an interesting battle that Moultrie just might win with the right resources.

Style

The style is a modernized version of the camo that has become famous with Moultrie over the years. The updated camo is a lot less pronounced than their previous versions and can possibly be used for home security without standing out to much. It is definitely a go for trail hunting as few will really be able to tell it apart from the trees in the wilderness.

Weight & Dimensions

There is some extra weight to it when compared to other cameras, and it is a little bit bigger but not by much. The weight is 1.4 pounds, and feels just right when you take it out of the box. Dimensions are 7.5 9.5×5 and won’t really interfere with any of your major placement spots that you used with old cameras. It is just as easy to place this one as the rest, with the added benefit of the Moultrie having a little more weight for stability.

Recommended Level

As the highest tier in Moultrie’s lineup, it still maintains the easy to use but deep customization features of all of their other cameras. All users will be able to adapt to this camera in no time, so beginners and even power users will eventually be on the same playing field. The most complex settings are available and easy to set for beginners which is a plus, as they don’t have to worry about constantly tinkering with the camera to get the best configuration.

Durability

Like all other Moultrie products, they are set from the beginning to be able to withstand a lot of punishment. Drops, knocks and weather doesn’t bother this camera. The casing is heavy duty enough, but the added weight adds a special depth to the camera that is unlike anything they have produced before. The amount of work put into it was tremendous, and anyone that appreciates fine craftsmanship will love this little device.

Pictures and Video

This is Moultrie’s best yet, and is a powerful 12MP and can deliver full 1080p video. The pictures look absolutely astounding from any angle. The customization in the resolutions is deep, and can be set at 0.9MP, 2.0MP, 4MP and 12MP. All modes even down to the 0.9 look really good and is the prime reason that this is their best HD camera. Video is equally as impressive and has two modes of 720p and 1080p.

Battery Usage

Up to 10,000 images can be taken with the full charge of 8AA batteries, with that time lengthened if you decide to use variable settings with the resolution and video. Power saving features are top notch and can compete with the top tier of any camera. There is even an optional 12v external adapter if you want to keep it powered without eating up batteries.

Pros

An incredible 12MP camera that take the best photos and videos of Moultrie’s entire lineup. The output is gorgeous and looks great on any sized television set. A half second trigger speed is one of the tops in the industry and will make sure that you never miss anything important when the time comes.

Detection range is about 50ft. with the no glow flash range covering 80ft. total. The flash won’t set off the alarms of prey or intruders as it uses a no glow illumination flash, undetectable unless you’re specifically looking for it. A huge 2 inch color display was another step in the right direction for the company, letting users go through and admire all of their media in one place. There is no other camera in their lineup that has a more vibrant and lively display.

Cons

There really aren’t a lot of cons to this camera, only slight annoyances. Beginners will experience most of these, like not realize how to maximize their batteries by customizing the camera to go on different resolutions rather than staying at the default 12MP. This will eat up the battery and isn’t a performance setting by any means if you want it to operate on one set of batteries for a full year. The flash range is 20ft. shy of their best for the no glow, but nothing too major. Setting up a Wi-Fi adapter like the EYE-Fi Connect with it can be a hassle for first time users, with complicated instructions that will require a little bit of technical knowledge.

How Do People View It?

A lot of customers describe this as their favorite Moultrie camera of all time. Some customers that weren’t even Moultrie followers have found this to be the best camera they have ever owned. The strong 12MP is everyone’s favorite feature, and it is right up there in quality with any Bushnell or Covert product when it comes to picture and video quality. Owners of high definition television sets love that that don’t have to worry about grainy pictures or videos being displayed across the screen when they want to show it off to friends.

Value

This is the best value on the market right now if you’re looking to upgrade or buy a new trail camera. The power of the unit is unlike anything Moultrie has ever released, and hopefully it is something that they keep building on. The price is perfect, and if they went any lower it would be like giving away the camera.

Lasting Appeal

There is a massive amount of lasting appeal in this product, as it is futureproof on all levels. Getting a decade of use out of it is pretty much expected, especially with the hardened casing from the Moultrie brand. For many this will be the only camera they ever need for trail hunting or home security, with an upgrade coming only after the original has been retired or broken. Additional pieces that can be added to the unit like 

Their best yet, Moultrie did everything in their power to give the customers what they have been asking for. This was an important step in the revolution of the brand, and will serve as the foundation for their future models. There is no better deal available in the industry, and there won’t be for a while-unless Moultrie decides to release another model, that is.

Bad waterproofing kept pioneering Maine tidal project off the grid

Bad waterproofing kept pioneering Maine tidal project off the grid

PORTLAND, Maine — In April 2013, the first tidal generator in the Western Hemisphere to connect to the power grid stopped working.

By August, developers knew they could not fix the waterlogged generation unit.

Since then, the pioneering Ocean Renewable Power Co. has kept its tidal generator out of the Gulf of Maine near Eastport. Now ORPC wants to make sure the delays don’t jeopardize its 20-year power contract.

The company said in a recent filing with Maine regulators that it expects to get its new generator online by mid-2019. That’s a longer period offline than its contract with Emera Maine allows. The current agreement otherwise would expire April 21.

Company representatives are asking regulators to amend that contract, allowing the generator to be offline for 90 months instead of 48.

While the generation unit has been out of the water, ORPC President and COO John Ferland said the company has continued to improve components of its technology.

“There’s a bit of adventure to it that you try to structure to the best of your professional ability,” Ferland said in a telephone interview.

In the request, the company detailed challenges not previously reported publicly about its tidal generation project.

After a design flaw took the generator offline in 2013, the company went after the manufacturer who made it. A third-party review found they had a valid warranty claim, ORPC wrote.

But before they could get a new generator, its manufacturer Comprehensive Power Inc. filed for Ch. 7 bankruptcy.

“This left ORPC without access to manufacturing or technical support for the generator design and, since the generator design was unique, without an alternative supplier,” the company wrote.

ORPC began the search for another supplier, which would need to build a replacement. By December 2014, its first effort with Maryland manufacturer RCT Systems had fallen apart.

ORPC moved on to the Norway-based Rolls-Royce Marine. ORPC plans to test the new generator this year.

Meanwhile, ORPC continued work on a smaller river-driven version of its generator. Ferland said work has improved its tidal generation designs, too.

“We have reduced a lot of the numbers of surprises or underperforming components,” Ferland said. “They haven’t all gone away, but our experience level has provided us with greater assurances of success.”

The company plans to deploy the first commercial version of its river generator in 2019, he said.

ORPC is still working toward deployment of a 7.5-megawatt commercial tidal power project northeast of Eastport in Western Passage. The company in July received a preliminary permit from federal regulators to study the area.

Its pilot project site will play a role in that, helping to test different components and designs for its tidal generator.

Its sister company, ORPC Solutions, will help federal researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory study energy potential in Western Passage later this year.

The company also added to its total of federal grants this year, receiving about $5.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve its tidal generation system.

The University of Maine is also testing some components of its tidal generation system, Ferland said.

Creating social media content that keeps followers engaged

To say social content has become a part of doing business is an understatement. These days, every brand who seeks relevance has a Facebook account and corresponding Twitter feed to deliver continuous content to customers. Unfortunately, social media users "unlike" or stop following the majority of pages they originally engage. How do you avoid this fate? By posting social media content that continuously keeps followers interested.

Only post when you create value

With all the social media clutter, businesses face a tremendous challenge in holding followers' attention. The best way to make sure they are listening is to maintain high content standards. Even if you run a standard schedule for posting on social media accounts — generally a good idea — do not rush content out for consumption. Customers are being bombarded with social materials. Make sure your posts create value for them while retaining relevance for your business.

Defining value for your followers is one of the big challenges of social media marketing. It may be something as simple as making them smile, which always has high value, or something immediately useful, such as giving them tax tips when the annual deadline is coming. Take the time to study analytics so you know what your Facebook fans like, then tailor every post to that audience.

Visualize success

The quickest way to lose followers' interest is to bore them with words. Since they often discover social content on mobile devices during breaks at work or on commutes home from the office, pictures and images are the best tools to gain their attention. Visual content on Facebook draws in 84 percent more click-throughs and 104 percent more comments than mere words, according to KISSmetrics. Furthermore, posts with the fewest number of words receive far more engagement than long-winded posts.

If you are having trouble in the art department, tools to create great visuals for social sites are available, as is help from social media marketers.

Make followers the center of social media content

Another common mistake business owners make on social media is forgetting that followers should be the center of attention. Running contests involving user photos accompanied by hashtags is a surefire way to engage customers and get them posting on your social pages. Asking followers an interesting question also encourages responses and generates buzz around your business accounts.

KISSmetrics noted that questions receive 100 percent more engagement than non-question posts on Facebook. People love to express their individuality and be heard online, so ask questions relevant to your business. For example, a florist might ask which flowers followers prefer in the summer, while an event planner might create a poll about users' favorite songs for outdoor fun. Tailor your questions to a particular season and try to respond to every comment so your followers see that you appreciate their passion.

Be unique at all costs

Fans and followers allow your social media content to reach them because you originally created standout value. They will continue the relationship if you honor that promise by continuing to offer unique content. Whatever you can do to separate yourself from the pack online, do so at all costs.

To get started, recall the strategy you used to attract followers and fans in the first place. If it was an offer for a product, consider launching a follow-up promotion. If funny posts or attractive visuals caught your audience's eye, continue to push the envelope and remind them you are the only one who can provide this content. Whatever you do, avoid posting content that makes you easy to dismiss; social accounts are so cluttered your followers won't think twice.