I got two of them and they both didn't work. Thank you B&D.
Written: Feb 10 '09 (Updated Feb 10 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Decent battery power to charge small devices; appearance.
Cons: High failure rate; difficult to open side compartment; never actually worked in my situation.
The Bottom Line: Great in theory; failure in execution.
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| hyundai_fan's Full Review: Black & Decker Black Decker Simple Start Battery B... |
It has been a cold winter to say the least. With temperatures hovering around zero, it is safe to assume that batteries everywhere are having a tough time keeping their charge. The battery that came in my Subaru has been a trusty companion, but my mother thought I should get a battery booster just in case there's a day I cannot start my vehicle.
Convinced I may need one in the future, I got the Black & Decker BB7B Battery Booster for $52 on sale at Sears as a Christmas gift (they are open about how much they paid for stuff). I was initially excited because the idea of charging your car's battery by yourself (and through the car's power outlet, might I add) sounds like something that would save me from flagging down a stranger.
Exterior
The exterior is simple. On the top are four buttons; On/Off, Battery Boost, Battery Charge, and Area Light. Next to the power button is a 12V outlet for things such as in-car cell phone chargers. On the side is a black panel containing the 12V cord for boosting or charging via car. On the right is a 2 LED light for illumination.
The first thing you do with the BB7B is charge the device itself. You can either plug the 12V cord into your car's outlet and charge it that way (yet it requires 15 hours to charge--just think about how far you'd have to drive to keep it charging). The other option is charge it using the included AC plug.
One major gripe I have with the design is the awfully stiff cover protecting the 12V cord. A couple times it took both hands to press the little tab in, and then I'd end up pinching my thumb. This once caused me to bleed from underneath one of my fingernails. That hurt.
Secondly, while the two LEDs in the light are placed horizontally, the beam comes out vertically against whatever surface you shine it on. It's not extremely bright, but it helped when my car needed to be worked on in the middle of the night. Busted radiator hose. Long story.
The First BB7B
Within minutes of opening the perfectly sealed package, I went to charge it in the living room. I plugged it in, turned it on, and pressed "Battery Charge". If it is working correctly, it will beep just once to tell you it's on, then once again to say it's charging (a blinking green light above the button should visually show it as well). But this Black & Decker seemed to be half-charged already, and every time I went to charge it, it would either beep constantly for the duration of the charge, or maintain a long, steady shriek as the green LED stayed lit constantly. It drove my mother nuts after five minutes, and I knew something was wrong.
Was the cord defective? No. I went out to my car to see if it would charge "normally" through the car adapter. That did not work, either. The buzzer sounded drunk, with a warbily "BEEEEeeeeeeeEEEEEEEeeeee", and the green light stayed constant.
I returned it and got my money back.
The Second BB7B
I tried out a new BB7B before buying it (the Sears associate was rude and said if it wasn't opened then it must be fine, but thirty seconds of moaning got him to oblige). It acted OK when it was plugged in so I bought it for the current price of $65.
I brought it home, plugged it into the wall, and it took a few wiggles of the AC adapter before it started to charge correctly. Weird beeps and shrieks emitted from it, and then it finally quieted down and charged. I thought my problems were over.
Because it appeared to finally be acting OK, and because there was absolutely no way I would encounter a dead battery soon, I figured I would charge a few of my devices. I plugged in my Virgin Mobile cell phone, my Nintendo DS, and my Mio Digiwalker C720t navigation system on three different occasions. They all charged fine. And, with a non-related AC inverter, I got an alarm clock turned on with no problem.
Well, I ended up eating my words about a week later. My parents went grocery shopping, came home, parked out front to unload groceries (on a hill), and realized their Toyota Camry wouldn't start afterwards. I had the BB7B fully charged and grabbed it. However, no matter how many times we pressed the "Battery Boost" button, it never even seemed to acknowledge the request. It was like telling your dog to fetch when all it does is sit there and stare at your finger. We let it sit and the car still wouldn't start.
Irritated, I ended up chucking it into the trunk as I had to get in my own vehicle and attempt to jump start the Camry with good old fashioned jumper cables. Considering how they're about a fifth of the price and it took only five minutes to fully jump start the Camry, I can say without hesitation you'd be much better off making friends with someone you don't know than depending on something that's anything but helpful.
Upon closer inspection of the manual, it recommends charging it once every thirty days to keep the internal battery fully charged. At the same time, however, the manual warns not to "over charge". When was the last time anything could be over charged? Last I knew any portable device will stop charging once it doesn't need to be charged any further. The BB7B just beeps three times to say it's charged and--I assume from the manual--keeps on going despite knowing it's charged.
So let me get this straight: I cannot charge it at home while I sleep because it'll over charge when it's full, yet I have to charge it every thirty days or else I can't boost my battery? Does this mean the only way I can properly charge it is sit next to it and wait?
Secondly, the battery booster is in no way a jump-starting device. Assuming it's fully charged and even works, it takes about 15 minutes for the battery in the booster to charge the car's battery via accessory outlet/cigarette lighter. To reiterate, in the case of the dead battery, I tried this and it never did anything.
Overall
I find little value in the Black & Decker BB7B. In the time I have had the displeasure of owning one, the only use I can find is powering my alarm clock in case the lights go out in my house. If that's the only positive I can think of in that period of time, then do I think it's worth your time and money? NO. Keep a pair of cables in your car. Occasionally check your battery's condition. Do everything in your willpower to avoid this device.
~Scott
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
hyundai_fan
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Member: Scott K
Reviews written: 107
Trusted by: 26 members
About Me:
A gay, Subaru-driving Vermonter.
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