security – cspierdowis' Product Review Blog https://cspierdowis.com Wed, 17 Apr 2019 22:03:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9 83694181 Tryazon’s Merkury Innovations Smart Home TryaBox https://cspierdowis.com/tryazons-merkury-innovations-smart-home-tryabox/ https://cspierdowis.com/tryazons-merkury-innovations-smart-home-tryabox/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2019 21:34:47 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=8018  

I don’t about you, but I love smart home gadgets. We have them sprinkled throughout our home, and truly believe they have both enhanced our daily lives, as well as give us a true sense of security. I was so excited to be chosen as part of the Merkury Innovations Smart Home TryaBox campaign. I couldn’t wait for my box to arrive. What we were all being sent was a surprise. When my box arrived, I couldn’t wait to tear into it. I received their Indoor Wi-Fi Plug, their 720P WIFI CAM, and their Smart Wi-Fi Bulb – White. Definitely a great box of goodies!

These products can be run by one app. It is free and availabe on IOS and Android. I have an Android phone. It is a Samsung Note 9. The app you download is Geeni. Once downloaded, you add your home (name it), and location. These run off a 2G network. Most homes are 5G with new higher speed cable. We have a router that does 2G in our home as well, so we can operate some smart home products that we use. The home page of the app has categories. If you are attaching a smart plug, just click on that option, and it walks you through the steps, which is nice. Pretty user friendly. I can’t state enough though. Have your 2G password ready, lol. I started with my 5G out of habit, and had to reinstall the app with my husbands phone number. After that, and a few curse words from my husband, lol, we have been connected and up and running without issue. Now, once you have your smart home item connected, and you use Amazon’s Alexa, go to your Amazon account and enable the Geeni app. You can operate all of these gadgets from the app, but it is a lot of fun to just ask Alexa to do it.

The Merkury Innovations Smart Plug was the first item I tested out. It just plugs into your existing outlet. It has a great size to it, and does not block the other outlet, which is key to us. We have a lot of plugs, lol. I already stated how we connected it to the app. We use our Alexa to operate it on a daily basis, though. This smart plug can handle a 3-prong plug. We chose to plug in a decorative light that I love, my flamingo light, lol. But, we also use this outlet for our Christmas tree. I can’t wait to be able to use Alexa for our Christmas tree, with this smart plug. I can’t wait! It’s going to be so much easier with all the items I place around my tree. Our plug has been working flawlessly so far. We are very pleased with it.

Merkury Innovations Smart Plug (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, Wi-Fi is built in

-Plug in, download the free Geeni app and start controlling your lights and appliances from anywhere in the world

-Slim and compact design will blend into your power outlet without blocking adjacent slots

-Works with Amazon Alexa, The Google Assistant and Microsoft Cortana

Geenie App Set Up Page

The Merkury 800 White Dimmable A19 Smart LED Bulb was the 2nd item we installed. We placed it over our kitchen island. We keep that light on 24/7 pretty much. This LED light bulb is bright at 800 lumens, which I love, and it is dimmable. It does not need a separate hub either. You can dim it from the app, but yes, it is also dimmable with Alexa. How cool is that! Just say, Alexa (whatever you named your light with Alexa) at 25%. It will adjust your light down to 25%. This is perfect for when we head to bed. It is also operable with Google Assistant or Microsoft Cortana, according to Merkury Innovations. The light, even when it’s on full brightness, is still pleasant to the eyes. It’s outer covering is white plastic, which is what my family seems to prefer. I also like that it won’t shatter if I drop it. Overall, we are loving this bulb. We cannot find any negatives with it, and love being able to operate it remotely. Even when traveling, no more timer needed for your lighting. You can operate this remotely which is a dream.

Merkury 800lm (60W Equivalent) White Dimmable A19 Smart LED Bulb (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, works out of the box with your home Wi-Fi. (2.4ghz wifi network required)

-9-Watt, 800 Lumens, equivalent to a traditional 60-Watt incandescent bulb

-Control your lights from anywhere with your smartphone using the Geeni app (iOS, Android)

-Easily control your lights with Amazon Alexa, your Google Assistant or Microsoft Cortana

The third item we received to test is the The Merkury Innovations WiFi 720P Smart Camera. We had no trouble connecting this to the app, or our Alexa. It has worked flawlessly since we plugged it in. It comes with the camera, a detachable power cord, and a USB adapter to be able to plug it into a regular outlet, in case you don’t have a USB outlet, and a round piece of double sided sticky tape, in case you want to mount it to your furniture or wall. The base, or stem, if you may, is unique. It is flexible, so you can turn it to eh desired angle you need. I really like this feature. It’s our first camera with that option. The image comes up pretty clear. The only downfall we have found with this camera, is the volume when speaking through it. If there is a lot of noise in the room where the camera is, and you are trying to speak through it via the app, you can barely hear the person. For us, there is a 5 second delay in the speech feature as well, which is not a real negative for us. Since we use our camera for security, to see what’s going on, the speech issue is not a major issue. If there was a break in at night, then that room would be quiet at that time anyhow. From the app you can press an alarm, press and hold to speak, record, and take photos, and playback. The alarm feature, when pressed on the app brings up a motion detector setting You can choose from low, medium, and high. This is a nice feature, because you can set it on, once everyone is in bed.

I have an Alexa Show, so I can actually ask Alexa to show me that room (You name the room for Alexa), and it brings up the camera view. I love being able to do that. Smart home technology to me, is a fun and positive option. We placed the camera, for now on our desk, so it faces our door into our garage. It captures most of the room there. At night time, the IR takes a few minutes to get adjusted to the dark. It’s not as fast as some cameras, but hopefully a break in doesn’t occur the second you turn the lights out. That, so far, is the main negative we have found with this camera. You can overcome this negative, however, if you have a nightlight in the room. Our room that we placed it in, is a pretty dark room at night. IR needs some light source to be effective. Here’s a photo of the night view on the Alexa Show:

We are going to continue to use it, as it is a pretty nice camera to use. The alarm is not an audible alarm that the camera emits. What it does is sends you a notification to your phone. It comes up as an alarm symbol. I like this feature. It will give you time to act, before melee breaks out, hopefully. You can also enable the notifications from your Alexa, Google, or Cortana device as well.

Merkury Innovations Smart WiFi 720P Camera (From the manufacturer)

-No hub required, Wi-Fi is built in

-24/7 live video streaming: see your home on your phone in 720p HD and control vision from anywhere  

-Alerts on your phone: get motion alerts so you know if anything happens

 -Night vision done right: see the whole room at night

-Talk and listen: hear the baby or talk back to get someone’s attention

-Flexible stem to bend and mount at any angle

-Turn alerts on and off by voice with Amazon Alexa, your Google Assistant & Microsoft Cortana 

Over all, we are very pleased with both the Merkury Innovations products and their Geeni app. Since we have been up and running, everything has been working very well, and these products have enhanced our lives in a positive way. I love having the added security camera. We have been needing to add one to that room. I suffer from frequent anaphylactic reactions, and being able to operate my lights remotely, actually make my life easier. Not to mention, when we are out of town, we can both access and operate these new features to our home, remotely. A win, win, win, all around. Definitely check out what this company has to offer.

Availabe to purchase here:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-Smart-WiFi-720P-Camera/835969619

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-A19-Smart-Light-Bulb-60W-Dimmable-White-LED-1-Pack/512088827?athcpid=512088827&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=0957a8b7-516-169a5c0bfa591e&athena=true#https://www.walmart.com/ip/Merkury-Innovations-Smart-Plug-1-Pack/126201995?athcpid=126201995&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=d54623a0-18b-169a5c25aa9fcc&athena=true 

I received these products to test. All opinions are my own. I do not profit monetarily at all from this review or from any sales of these products. All product facts come straight from Merkury Innovations.

 

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Solar diamonds for your garden. – SolarDuke’s Solar Diamond Shaped Color Changing Landscape Lighting. https://cspierdowis.com/solar-diamonds-for-your-garden-solardukes-solar-diamond-shaped-color-changing-landscape-lighting/ https://cspierdowis.com/solar-diamonds-for-your-garden-solardukes-solar-diamond-shaped-color-changing-landscape-lighting/#respond Wed, 02 Nov 2016 02:31:39 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=6467

These lights are so pretty in person. I’m glad I took the chance. You get the four in a set, and I thin it is so unique that you can either use them tabletop or attach the stakes, and use them that way. I place mine in some potted plants on the deck, and they look so pretty in them, both during the day, and at night when the lights come on. Be very, very careful when removing them from the box upon arrival. That is literally my only negative with this product. When I opened them up, the solar panel tops look like their attached to the body of the lights. They are not. I had a couple fall down to the ground, and I am glad they didn’t break. I was on my deck when I opened them up, and my house is on piers, so I was happy they didn’t roll off. You do need to turn each light on upon arrival too. The power switch is clearly labeled, and it is on the underside of this solar panel top. Then, screw the tops on, and either set them out on your table to charge, or attach the stakes to them and set them out. The stakes just push onto the bottom of each light. They hold firmly too. First pull the plastic part of the stake out, and turn it around and reattach it to the pole.

The solar panels are very receptive. I have had no trouble with them charging from my covered deck. They are waterproof, so I do not need to remove them with it’s pouring, or when I water the plants. I live on the coast, and even though it’s a covered deck, water comes in and drenches everything anyhow, lol. The lights have a diamond shape to them, and not only are very pretty to look at, but really throw a really pretty light when they are on. They having been going on at dusk, and have lasted till sun up. My mom gets up early, and when she hits the deck around 6:30 a.m., they are still on, she tells me. I’m not up at that hour, lol. I absolutely love the soft colors these throw off. I normally like lights that stay on solid. These gently roll through different colors. Since they change so slowly, and gently on the eyes, I am really enjoying this set. Even though they are on stakes, they could get lost in your landscaping. I highly recommend them being in a flat border time of situation, or in potted plants, where they can be the star of the show. So far my lights have put up with the wind and weather. They are charging well, and operating like they should. These are really pretty lights.

I really lucked out and bought these lights on a flash sale, with my own money. – SolarDuke’s Solar Diamond Shaped Color Changing Landscape Lighting.

If you would like to purchase these lights, they are available here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LYS46R2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

diamond-lights-15

#Elite1Reviews

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A great self defense tool. – Smart Security’s Brand New Survival Tactical Pen. https://cspierdowis.com/a-great-self-defense-tool-smart-securitys-brand-new-survival-tactical-pen/ https://cspierdowis.com/a-great-self-defense-tool-smart-securitys-brand-new-survival-tactical-pen/#respond Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:00:44 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=6113 tactical-pen-with-case-6

Tactical pens are a great tool to have on you. You can pretty much always have one on you too, be it in your purse, brief case, or on your person. It spans almost all jobs, including being a student. After all, it is a pen. My guys have used a tactical pen for a few years now, so I have claimed this one for myself. A tactical pen is much more than a pen. It is also a means to defend yourself, if in need to do so. The end of the pen has a Tungsten steel tip. You can use this to defend yourself easily, as well as, use it to free yourself from your car in an accident. This will act just like a glass breaker since it can be used to slam an attackers’ head very well. I slammed it into a piece of plywood several times without issue, to test it out. You can’t even tell I tried to rough it up. The actual pen itself is made out of aircraft aluminum alloy. That is what a lot of flashlights are made out of too, for comparison. It is very durable pen! It arrives in a plastic container, that is foam lined and reusable. It was recycled from past flashlights they used to sell. I like seeing things being recycled. The pen actually comes with a refill, which is not usual from the tactical pens we have purchased in the past. The pen writes very smoothly out of the box. The cap is a screw on cap, and there is also a pocket clip. The pocket clip holds pretty well. It is silver in color, and can be removed if you choose to. The top unscrews off, and then you can take the pocket clip off, and then screw the top cap back on. This is not as heavy as some tactical pens, but not as light as a regular pen either. You can take this pen on an airplane, which is good to know. that even there, it will be there for you. Overall, this is a well-made pen. It writes smoothly, and is pretty durable. The pocket clip is not the strongest of pocket clips, but if you are not rough on pens, like my guys can be, it works just fine. With the Tungsten tip, and the strong body, this pen can be trusted to be able to defend yourself with it.

I received this for free. I was under no obligation to leave my unbiased and honest review. – Smart Security’s Brand New Survival Emergency Self Defense Protective Stinger Weapons Tactical Pen.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWTU3LC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Bell anyone? – Emdmaks’ Dog Bell Potty Training Bell Doorbell for Housebreaking & Housetraining https://cspierdowis.com/bell-anyone-emdmaks-dog-bell-potty-training-bell-doorbell-for-housebreaking-housetraining/ https://cspierdowis.com/bell-anyone-emdmaks-dog-bell-potty-training-bell-doorbell-for-housebreaking-housetraining/#respond Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:25:16 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=5853

This is a great idea. I’ve had cats and horses in the past, and they really respond well to bell training. I do not have a dog, myself, right now, but have many, many, many friends who do, lol. One good friend is even a professional dog sitter, walker. Although, I think this would be great to use high up on a door, to let you know when people enter or leave. That is essential with little kids. No matter where you install it on your door, they do include the hardware to install it with. It only requires two screws. Now, if you want to install this on a glass door or metal door, you can get commercial strength double sided sticky tape, at your local hardware store, and still be able to use this. The bell unit is well made, and made out of all metal. It’s pretty attractive too, which is good, since it is now a fixture in your home. If you have cats, this would make a great toy for them, as well. My cats have always loved bells. It seems to be a favorite for most. The springiness of the bell is pretty nice. It’s a well-made product, and I feel, can be used for many purposes.

I received this at a discount. I was under no obligation to post my unbiased and honest review. – EMDMAK Dog Bell Potty Training Bell Doorbell for Housebreaking & Housetraining

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M15ZO9N/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#Elite1Reviews #AtADiscount

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A great security measure for your home. – Innovative Home’s Wireless Remote Control Outlet Switch. https://cspierdowis.com/a-great-security-measure-for-your-home-innovative-homes-wireless-remote-control-outlet-switch/ https://cspierdowis.com/a-great-security-measure-for-your-home-innovative-homes-wireless-remote-control-outlet-switch/#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2016 05:05:09 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=5480

I got really excited about this product, when I first read about it. I’ve always wanted a way to turn my lights on from outside of the house, when I come home at night. It’s not only for safety, but I also have a son who is terrified of the dark. Safety, though, is my main concern. You hear about people coming home, only to find a criminal still in their house. That is a terrifying thought. Being able to walk into the lit environment, allows you to be able to react faster, and more safely. There are a lot of app related products now, but anything like that can be hacked, and then people can just mess with you, and that’s not something I feel like dealing with. This set from Innovative Home is pretty simple to set up. They have two options available. You can get 5 outlets with 2 remotes, or the version I bought. I bought the version that comes with 1 remote and three outlets. I went back and forth over my decision. Since I am a stay at home mom, I decided we really only need one remote for when we all go out together in the evening. Then, at night, we can keep the remote in our bedroom. If we hear a noise, we can turn on the main house lights with our remote, before heading into the rooms to see what it was. Yet, again, another important safety measure.

I am so happy how easy this set is to operate. I mean, the instruction pamphlet is literally a fold out sheet, less than 4 inches tall, lol. On the bottom of each plug in device there is a black button. You press the button, once it’s plugged into the outlet, and hold it. When it flashes, press the number button on the remote that you want it to be paired with. That is it. That is all you have to do. Before you can use the remote, you will need to pull out the plastic tab. It comes ready to go with batteries already installed in it. They designed this item, so when it is plugged into an outlet, you can still use the outlet underneath it. Sometimes these things are so large, that is not possible. The remote has two rows of buttons on it. They are clearly labeled as well. On the left side of the remote, you have the on buttons for 1,2,3, and All. On the right side of the remote, you have the off buttons for 1,2,3, and all. At first I wondered why they separated the on and off functions. After thinking about it, I decided it was a good thing for most people. In an emergency a lot of people can’t think straight. They might press the same button more than once, actually turning the lights back off on themselves. This way, that accident can’t really happen. This remote has a distance of up to 100ft away from the source. Being behind a bunch of walls is an issue. I couldn’t turn on the far away table lamp from behind my bedroom door. If I pointed it out of my bedroom door, then I could turn it on. There were too many obstacles. I still had a long hallway and wall in my way, from behind my bedroom door. I did not have to step out of my bedroom though. Which was a good sign. You can also turn the lights on as you enter the home, as long as those lights are in the main area you are entering. Not only is this a great safety measure, but it helps you conserve energy as well. We try and remember to leave a light on when we go out. Leaving a light on while you aren’t home all day costs money. So, this device can actually save you on your electrical bill as well. Overall, a great working product. It is simple to set up and use. It is a great and affordable safety measure to implement in the home.

I received this, at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Innovative Home’s Wireless Remote Control Outlet Switch – Best Electrical Smart Plug On/Off Control – Perfect For Household Appliances/Devices.

If you would like to order this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GTYSIPO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Security time. – Tsing Sricam SP009 P2P Wireless Wifi IP Camera Monitor with HD 720P. https://cspierdowis.com/security-time-tsing-sricam-sp009-p2p-wireless-wifi-ip-camera-monitor-with-hd-720p/ https://cspierdowis.com/security-time-tsing-sricam-sp009-p2p-wireless-wifi-ip-camera-monitor-with-hd-720p/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2016 23:01:32 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=4675

I love security cameras. After getting my first one, I was hooked. It is such a simple way to stay connected while you are away, as well as to ensure the safety of your family and home. This is a quick set up styled camera. I was plugged in and synced up within my phone in under 5 minutes. I mean, wow, that is always awesome. I already have a QR scanner app in my phone, so I was able to scan the barcode for the Android immediately, and then downloaded the Sricam App for free. The instruction pamphlet is actually very easy to follow. Then plug the camera in, and follow the instructions in the book. You’ll register yourself, and the camera through the app, and get to modify your password after hooked up. Once connected, you can play with the settings. Click the settings icon, and then turn on the motion detector. If you turn on the buzzer alarm, and enforce alarm, when there is movement where the camera is positioned, the alarm rings through that room, lol. I scared my son to death. Poor thing was screaming, “TURN IT OFF”. You can capture pictures through your camera. To capture video, you need to make sure you have your own micro SD card. It slips into the slot on the side of the camera. The buttons are on the view screen of your phone or tablet. There is also a speaker button on the view screen. When you press this you can talk through the security camera. You can always hear through the app what going on, unless you forget to turn the media volume on. I did that, lol. You can actually have conversations with family when out of town that way. The video has an approx. 4-5 second delay, which isn’t too bad. The video is pretty clear. Even in the dark, the video is pretty clear. I am very, very pleased. It’s not grainy at all. I do have Samsung products, and have great resolution too, though. One negative is that even though the camera is positional in the vertical manner, the camera itself doesn’t have a tight fit, and tends to slip downward if not positioned just right. You can easily find your position, and use some hot glue, that could be removed, or tape, to keep it in place. The do include hardware so you can mount it. One feature that I like, is that you can mount it with the camera all the way down, so it looks upside down. On your app, you can change the camera view by pressing the triangle icon on the view screen. They do not go over all the operations in the set up pamphlet, but they do give you a website to check out in the pamphlet, as well as a customer service to call. The operations are so easy to figure out yourself though, and the camera is very forgiving, lol.

I received this for free in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Tsing Sricam SP009 P2P Wireless Wifi IP Camera Monitor with HD 720P

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E50DJ5S/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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A smaller way to wallet. – Shyne Brands’ World-famous 100% genuine leather handcrafted slim wallet from León, Mexico. https://cspierdowis.com/a-smaller-way-to-wallet-shyne-brands-world-famous-100-genuine-leather-handcrafted-slim-wallet-from-leon-mexico/ https://cspierdowis.com/a-smaller-way-to-wallet-shyne-brands-world-famous-100-genuine-leather-handcrafted-slim-wallet-from-leon-mexico/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2016 02:44:26 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=4645

It’s so scary, and aggravating, how easy it is for criminals to steal your financial information from you. They just have to walk by you, and they are able to steal your credit card information. You can lose everything in a matter of minutes. I am so glad that they are coming out with so many different RFID wallet options now. This particular wallet from Shyne Brands on Amazon, is a smallet style wallet. We all use one in my family. It’s such a convenient way to carry only what you need on you. This particular one is made out of a soft Lamb Leather, and was made in Mexico. Mine arrived in perfect condition. There was no odor to it upon arrival either. I have received many a leather item in the mail that has reeked of chemicals. I was quite relieved that this one arrived odor free. Even though it is the size of a smallet, it can carry 6 cards and a little bit of cash. There are three card slots on each side, and a center opening. The center opening is not wide enough to put more cards into it. It is just a smidge too small to do that. You can definitely fold up some cash though, and store it in there. Lol, I do not have even close to 6 credit cards, but every store seems to have an awards card, so you can fill the extra slots up with those. I do have to say, that the more cards you put into the wallet, the tighter the slots are. They will loosen with use though, since this wallet was made out of a soft leather. It is fully lined, and does offer the all-important and necessary, RFID protection. The stitching on my smallet was also done well. Overall, I am really happy with it. It fits comfortably in a front pocket as well as a back pocket. I recommend the front pocket for further protection. It is also small enough to throw in my epi-pen bag, when that is all I want to carry into a store. Overall this is a well-made, and convenient carry wallet. It carries only what you need, while providing some security from today’s thieves.

I received this for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Shyne Brands’ World-famous 100% genuine leather handcrafted slim wallet from León, Mexico.

If you would like to purchase this wallet, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HHBSTX4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Light up your home with Arui’s Solar Lights,Syhonic 2-in-1 Waterproof 4 LED Solar Spotlights. https://cspierdowis.com/light-up-your-home-with-aruis-solar-lightssyhonic-2-in-1-waterproof-4-led-solar-spotlights/ https://cspierdowis.com/light-up-your-home-with-aruis-solar-lightssyhonic-2-in-1-waterproof-4-led-solar-spotlights/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2016 02:28:40 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=4640

We are big fans of solar lights. We use them all of the time. It’s a proven fact that a well-lit home has a lower chance of being robbed that a poorly lit home. And who doesn’t love a lower electricity bill! I know I do. I hate wasting money on an electricity bill. Solar panels, even these little ones, are so much better nowadays too. They really do provide enough power to light these lights. To top it off, these are LED lights. Another thing I love. LEDs are so much more durable and longer lasting, than regular bulbs. Combine these two things together, and really, how can you go wrong. The key to using lights like this, is to make sure you position the panels so they get full sun during the day. They can illuminate the night for up to 8 hours on a full charge on high. Each light has an internal 200mAh battery. They have a high and a low mode. High is 200 lumens, and low is 100 lumens. Both settings are pretty bright. Both the light and the solar panel are adjustable. You actually have to assemble the lights upon arrival. They did it that way to make the box smaller. Normally they aren’t too hard to assemble, but these need a little patience, and steady hands. You have to almost press the nut into the opening with a finger, while screwing in the screw cap with the other. It eventual catches enough to tighten up the light. But, once it’s done, it’s done, lol. No worries about inclement weather bothering these lights. They have an IP65 waterproof rating. They can handle anything but being submerged. These lights are great for illuminating the outside of your home, pathways, and landscaping. They are very easy to operate. Each light has an off/on button on the back of the solar panel. Press it once for the low setting, and twice for the high setting. They can either be staked into the ground, or mounted on a wall, fence or tree. They include mounting hardware and the stakes, too.  The stakes literally just push in, so they are very easy to do. The lights throw a pretty good beam too. It all depends on the angle you set the light. Each light has 4 LEDs in it. These are actually fully on lights, not motion activated lights. They will come on at dusk, and be off by morning. You can set them on low for a longer lasting light time frame, and then put them on high on nights you know you will be coming in late, or having company over. The lights are steady on and won’t flicker on you. Even on days with no sun, you’ll still get some charge; not enough to light up all night, but enough to come on at dusk. I am really happy with this set. I love being able to buy them as a set. One is never enough, or appear balanced, visually. With the two you can light up both sides of your driveway, pathway, or both back corners of your yard. Solar is really a great way to go for outdoor lighting.

I received these for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Arui’s Solar Lights,Syhonic 2-in-1 Waterproof 4 LED Solar Spotlight.

If you would like to purchase these lights, they can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Syhonic-Waterproof-Spotlight-Adjustable-Landscape/dp/B01E9PXX8M?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

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Biometric Safe from Ivation. Perfect firearm storage, and more safe. https://cspierdowis.com/biometric-safe-from-ivation-perfect-firearm-and-more-safe/ https://cspierdowis.com/biometric-safe-from-ivation-perfect-firearm-and-more-safe/#respond Fri, 01 Jul 2016 20:32:05 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=4432

Every home should have a safe. There are many different reasons to own one, from personal collections, special family mementos, fire arms, important paperwork, and more. I love the added security measure of being fingerprint enabled. That really adds another layer of protection to the safe. My mom immediately stated, that can be picked up and carried out of the home. Yes, it can if the criminal could find it, lol, but you can bolt it to the ground, and wall as well. My husband has installed many a safe into homeowner’s homes. It’s quite doable. In case you plan on storing your firearm in here, just check your state laws regarding fire arm storage laws along with ammunition storage. I like this as my handgun safe. I’ve been wanting one like this for that particular reason. I used to be a pharmaceutical nurse, and we signed in with our fingerprints. The safe runs off of 4 AA batteries. The battery compartment is located on the inside of the safe door. Be proactive on checking the battery power as an added safety measure for yourself. There is an emergency key entrance located on the underside of the front panel. You’ll see the grooves on the panel to open. You can register up to 32 fingerprints. I can see in some cases, more business related, how that many fingerprints can be needed. The small pamphlet of directions is actually very clear to follow. They include the emergency battery pack and the bolts to mount it to the floor and wall. These areas are predrilled for you already. The felt lining on the bottom is loose, so it’s easily removed and replaced as needed. There was no funky odor to the inside of the safe when I first opened it. I was so excited to see how easy it is to set the fingerprint. Press the reset button on the inside of the door, until you hear a beep. The fingerprint scanner will turn red. Press your finger against it until you hear a solid beep. Now it’s set. Just close the door and test it out. When you lock the door, wait a second until you hear the click. It does not lock right away. You need to wait about 3 seconds. If you hear three short beeps while setting it, it means registration failure. Now to set the pin. With the door open press your chosen number, and then press the reset button. After a very quick two beeps, press the number in again, and the reset button again. You should see the light turn green, and you’ll be good to go. Now, when you press the number to open it, press the # sign after pressing your code in. There is a metal shelf inside the safe as well. That also comes out if you do not want it in there. I’m amazed at how roomy this safe is in person. In my head, the measurements given, looked smaller in my head, lol. The measurements on the ad page are: 13.75″ x 10″ x 10″.  The inside measured out at 9 ¾” by 13.5” with my ruler. You can fit several handguns in here for sure, or a lot of jewelry, stamps, personal papers, receipts, and more in this safe. I have to say that my least favorite part of the safe, is the access panel on the front. That is where the emergency key entrance is, and backup battery access port it. The cover is hard to get off. That literally is my only issue with the safe. I am really impressed by the usability of the safe, and all the different options to access it. I love the fingerprint access; it’s awesome.

I received this in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Dbroth’s Ivation FP15 Secure Star Home Safe – 13.75″ x 10″ x 10″ Digital Safe w/Biometric Fingerprint Reader, PIN Code & Manual Key.

If you would like to purchase this safe, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GBUC54Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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There’s always room for another flashlight. – https://cspierdowis.com/theres-always-room-for-another-flashlight/ https://cspierdowis.com/theres-always-room-for-another-flashlight/#respond Tue, 28 Jun 2016 17:02:30 +0000 https://cspierdowis.com/?p=4426

Flashlights are an essential that every home and vehicle should have stored in them. Emergencies seem to always happen at night, and the first thing to go out, is the power. I’ve seen the toughest men, become useless in the dark, lol. I believe that every home should have 1 flashlight, 1 headlamp, and 1 lantern, per person, in your household, and then an extra set for a guest, or backup for a family member. This set from Diatelity is a well thought out kit. It has everything for you to set your flashlight up, and even to store it in. The case isn’t the strongest case, but it snaps shut around the three open sides, and makes it great to store. In this flashlight kit you will get 1 flashlight, 1 AAA battery adapter, 1 mini solar flashlight LED keychain, 1 battery sleeve, 2 rechargeable 18650 (2200mAH)batteries, 1 2-battery charger, 1 flashlight holster, and 1 storage case. This flashlight only requires 1 18650 battery, so, you can always have a backup battery available. That’s always handy. Let’s say you forgot to charge your batteries, but you need the flashlight. Well, it comes with a AAA adapter, so just insert 3 AAA batteries into the adapter, and drop it into the flashlight. It’s great to have that option. In case you have never used a battery sleeve, just insert the 18650 into the sleeve, and drop it into the flashlight. It ensures a great fit, and a silent light. When I shake this flashlight, I don’t hear any noise at all. It arrives with the wrist strap already attached. It is Zoomable by pulling out on the bezel, or top end of the flashlight. This is a 5 mode light. I have issues with fully turning the light off and back on again. Frequently, if I full turn it off, it may take me 3 tries to actually get it to turn back on, which is annoying. Once on, I can soft press it through its modes easily. It has high, medium, low, strobe, and SOS mode. So, mode wise, it has everything you need. It’s pretty bright. I do not have a way to measure lumens. They state that it is 900 lumens, which if it were true, would really light your way at night. They do state that it has a XML T6 Cree LED bulb in it. I love Cree bulbs. They always offer bright, clear light. This bulb is rated for the amount they say. I found this website that rates the Cree bulbs with the mAh battery power used. It actually helps to determine the output.: http://flashlightwiki.com/Cree. I can honestly say I have name brand lights, that are brighter and sate a lower lumen count. It is bright though, and you can’t beat the price for everything you get. It is also rated for 100,000 hours of life. I love that about LEDS. LEDs are so durable as well. You can drop this light over and over, and it won’t break the bulb. It is water resistant. You can get caught in the rain, and you will be ok. It is not waterproof or submersible though. I ran my 18650 fully charged in the flashlight. It lasted approx.. 6 hours before it started to get dim and become finicky to operate. But, like I stated earlier since I had another fully charged battery, I was good to go. Overall, it’s a bright flashlight that comes in a well rounded kit. It’s not the best flashlight out there, obviously, but it does a solid job at a great price.

I received this for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Diateklity Bright LED Flashlight Kit with 5 Modes – Includes Wireless Charger, 2 Rechargeable Batteries, Storage Box & Mini Key Chain.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FVUDIJI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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