Just bought online/Amazon, a new Schumacher 15 amp Charger/Maintainer for our boat batteries. Have a 12 amp one, but the green light doesn't come on automatically when battery fully charged. Have to unplug the unit and plug back in for the green (full-charge) light to come on. Have had this one for 5 1/2 years. Also, bought a set of Boundery Roadside LED Safety Flares. Seen these on Facebook. Battery operated and boy do they light up! Better than regular flares.
I'd like to hear how well you like those LEDs. I was looking at them when I bought my new car but could find no comments on how long those batteries might "stay ready" sitting out in a car during the temp extremes. I got flares mainly because I knew that if they stayed dry they would light (and would be visible during daylight hours), but really wanted a set of those LEDs.
We bought two packs of them, with three in each pack. They operate off of three AAA batteries, but it can be a real pain opening the area where the batteries go. Each one has an airtight/waterproof rubber seal on it, that has to be unsealed to lift off the part where the batteries go. I finally, with a little help of a flathead screwdriver, got the two sections apart. I was very, very careful not to break any part of the flare. We keep our Durango in a garage, that has a remote operated door on it. As far as keeping the batteries "ok" when in the flare, not sure. Wouldn't want a battery leaking inside a flare. But, then again, I'm sure there are those that have these and keep batteries in them with no problems. Also, I'm not sure I'd want to attach these to the side of a new car's paint job. Ours is a 2005, with original paint, so I doubt the paint would be hurt. Now, if a person does use these at night, for a flat tire or related thing, they must remember to pick them up off of the street/highway. They aren't road flares can be just put out with something. If attached to a vehicle, the driver, or a passenger, needs to remember they are attached to the vehicle. Don't know when we will use them, but, like auto insurance, if needed, we have them. And, they are extremely visible...........very much so!
I wasn't thinking of batteries leaking (and these days, they seep an alkaline solution, not an acidic one), I was thinking that they may be dead years later when you need to use the flares. I'm not one of those guys who will remember to test them occasionally, best intentions notwithstanding. It's stand-by battery life I could find no comments on. And I had read comments regarding the difficulty of getting to the battery compartment. Everyone was impressed with how water-tight they are. I had also read people say that they had no issue with damaged paint...it's not like they are affixed while you drive, or for any length of time. In any event, at least we're both smart to carry something with us. I also carry a fire extinguisher. Before I bought one, I went round & round contacting the manufacturers on how long they will stay good in the back of a car. The rated storage temp range for a car fire extinguisher is much narrower than what the interior of a car experiences. It's a dirty little secret no one's supposed to poke at...they made that clear. Like your battery flares, I just hope it works when I need it. You can only do but so much. And having a new car, I mostly carry this stuff in case I see someone else in need.
That's one thing, dead batteries, I don't have to worry about much, but I did say "much". Our Roku remote wouldn't work yesterday and I found out that both AAA batteries inside were definitely dead. We have a First Aid Kit, fire extinguisher, flashlight and road flares in our vehicle, as well as our boat. Have the same things, minus the road flares, in our apartment. To be perfectly honest, John, neither wife or myself will stop to help someone with a car problem. Way to many horror stores of robbery and murder dealing with this. If we have a problem, and our battery is ok, we lift our vehicle hood, put on our emergency flashers and call our local Auto Club that we have been members of for 14 years. Today is the "good old days" of being a Good Samaritan. If at night, would also put out a flare or two. Unless absolutely necessary, won't stop for an accident either, even though I'm a former EMT. I don't want to do the wrong thing (medically) to someone hurt and get sued for it. There are plenty of nurses and doctors out driving around that can stop.
John, we just bought 24 Energizer Lithium Batteries for the flares. Energizer guarantees them they won't leak and they are they longest-lasting battery on the market. I was able to pry open each flare and it was much easier than the first one I did. After I opened each one, I closed each one, but didn't fully screw in the two screws until the batteries come in. We were thinking about putting one or two on our boat, in case we get stuck out on the water for some engine reason. They are for at night, but I'll bet they can be seen during the day as well.
Lithium are a good choice. I have one of those small weather stations (temp & humidity) that receives data from up to 3 remote senders. I've had this set for over 11 years, and only one of the senders has crapped out because of sitting in water in the crawlspace (the insides rusted.) I keep one sender outside and use Lithium batteries because they survive weather extremes better than alkaline...they won't rupture when they freeze and they last a few years of temperature extremes. They're worth the cost. I've had good luck with them The other option is NiMH (nickel metal hydride) which really survives the elements, but these rechargeables are not cheap. I was gonna buy some for my game cams (to survive the elements and to be able to recharge them) but it seems that all rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCD) are 1.2 volts versus the 1.5 volts that alkaline and lithium are, so they won't drive the electronics (4 rechargeables = 4.8 volts total versus 6 volts for non-rechargeables.) NiMH would work for lights, though.
I was thinking of buying this until I read some of the reviews: $12.62/gallon sounded like a pretty good deal for water.
I've been doing PT exercises for range of motion in my right shoulder. I saw this "shoulder pulley gadget" on a youtube video and decided to order one. It hooks over the top of a door and actually works very well. I can use it standing up or sitting, and the length of the cord is easily adjustable.
I have been buying insane amounts of stuff from amazon but I may quit as I have everything in the world I can possibly want. I have been having drip problems from a fancy shower unit that came with the house. I have replaced its guts twice already. (No washer) So I went online and ordered two old fashioned shower sets to allow a real plumber a choice and finally fix the thing. I am willing to punch out the wall as there is no access door. We got FOUR new tires from Walmart online for my hubby's 4wd which we have needed since we bought the thing. But I just sold my awd Vibe because we did not need so many cars if hubby will let me use his in inclement weather (and because it got crappy mileage compared to my manual transmission matrix. It truly is amazing that we can buy anything while sitting on our butts. My daughter asked me, when she was 4, if there was such a thing as a real magic wand. I think I found it, with the help of a credit card.
Bought some minor odds & ends from Amazon (cloth diapers to use as kitchen linens, car flashlight, extra set of kitchen shears) and vitamins & supplements from Walmart to carry me for the next year.
A ball head for my monopod, shown below. It's an unobtrusive camera mount than can go on either a tripod of monopod.
Ordered some 65 gallon x 3 mil trash bags from Lowes website. I keep my kitchen garbage bags in a large can in the garage to protect it from bears, and then haul it to the drop-off point every few weeks. By the time the can is full, the oldest stuff has started to decompose in the heat. The 55 gallon x 1 mil just don't cut it. Hopefully these bags will be as advertised. (Note to Lowes: 22 micron ≠ "heavy duty")