Monthly Archives: December 2012
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- December 27, 2012
Memorable advertising is essential in a market that has many competitors. It is sometimes not enough for a company simply to make an outstanding product; they need a good ad campaign to promote what they offer. Below are some of the more memorable battery ad campaigns that have withstood the test of time.
Energizer
Who doesn’t recognize the pink bunny with the bass drum? The mascot and the ad campaign just keeps going and going and going . . . because it’s a battery ad that works. The company’s best campaign was when it partnered with Lucas Films in 1994 for a Darth Vader vs. The Energizer Bunny commercial.
Duracell
When Morpheus held up a battery with a bronze-colored top in The Matrix, everyone knew which brand of battery it was: Duracell, the “copper top.” While its slogan is “no battery is stronger longer,” it is the battery’s appearance and the two-word description that made it memorable. In fact, Duracell’s most famous commercials outside the U.S. were a series of pink bunny commercials.
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- December 27, 2012
Electric cars have been hailed as an answer to civilization's reliance on fossil fuels for a few years now. By itself, electricity produces no air pollution or greenhouse gases. It's cheaper to transport electricity on power lines than it is to drill, ship, refine, and transport gasoline to fill stations around the country.
Unfortunately, electric vehicles have some flaws that will need to be addressed in the next few years. Some of these issues stem from fundamental problems in the United States' energy infrastructure, and they will be difficult and costly to fix.
Initial Cost and Extended Savings
Electric cars may cost too much for the average driver. With an entry point of $27,700 after the federal tax credit, the base Nissan Leaf model is out of reach for many people. For comparison, a gasoline-powered Nissan Versa starts at just $11,990 and gets up to 40 highway mpg.
However, electric vehicles shine when it comes to operational cost. For somebody who drives an average of 15,000 miles
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- December 26, 2012
Motorcycles are notoriously hard on the batteries required to start them. The constant vibrations inherent with bike riding and bike recharging systems can cause batteries to wear out in one to two years, especially with the cheaper brands. That is why it is imperative to purchase quality motorcycle batteries instead of those at the bottom of the barrel.
An article published by the Greater Atlanta British Motorcycle Association corroborates the prevailing expectation that traditional motorcycle batteries are on the way out and will soon be totally replaced by a new breed of battery that requires no maintenance, resists vibrations and holds a charge for several years in all conditions.
A few brands are known to stand out as the top motorcycle batteries, and these brands are worth considering before any others.
Antigravity Batteries
Antigravity batteries use some of the most advanced technology available to produce motorcycle batteries that are among the highest quality in the world. Antigravity’s
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- December 21, 2012
If you're in the market for a new boat battery, you've probably discovered that the marketplace is filled with a bewildering selection of boat batteries. New boat batteries can be expensive, and low-quality batteries might not even last a year before forcing you to replace them. It's important to only select quality batteries that will justify your investment. Although it can be difficult to separate the good batteries from the poor batteries, there are specific battery models that stand out for their power, durability, reliability or affordability.
Die Hard PM-1
The Die Hard PM-1 is a long-lasting and dependable battery. Although this battery isn't cheap, it does carry a 36-month warranty. This battery is sealed and is built with absorbent glass mat technology, or AGM technology, helping the battery to remain secure and functional no matter the conditions. This battery features an operational reserve time of 205 minutes, providing enough reserve power to return safely in an emergency.
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- December 19, 2012
The battery is one of the most important parts of a functioning car. Unfortunately, batteries have the uncanny ability to die at the least expected and most inconvenient moments. For this reason, all drivers should be familiar with the process of replacing a car battery.
Find the Battery
Fortunately, most car batteries are easy to find. If the battery is not visible when you open the hood, consult your owner's manual. Some vehicles have the battery in other locations, such as under a rear seat or in the left front fender. This guide will focus on batteries that are located under the hood. For specifics about other locations, consult your owner's manual.
Does the Battery Need to be Changed?
Before deciding to replace a car battery, it is important to determine if the battery is really the problem. Other problems, such as a blown fuse or a bad alternator, may trick some motorists.
Corrosion can lead to battery problems. A white or blue residue on the battery terminals is an indicator of corrosion.
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- December 18, 2012
Disposing of batteries can be a tricky process when dangerous materials are a concern. The impact that battery disposal has on the environment can also be an important point to remember when getting rid of battery waste, so anyone who would like to get rid of old batteries should understand the disposal process and know where to properly recycle batteries.
Proper Battery Recycling Procedures
The first step in battery recycling is ensuring that a battery is properly disposed of once it has lost its charge. Many households simply throw old batteries in the household garbage can, but this is a practice that is both wasteful and potentially dangerous if non-alkaline batteries are involved.
Batteries that are no longer able to power a device still have a small amount of charge left in them, so it is important to avoid disposing of more than one battery in the same waste receptacle at the same time. This is most important to remember in regards to alkaline batteries, which can be disposed of
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- December 17, 2012
Batteries are the heart of the UPS system that protects your computers and other electronic equipment from power fluctuations. UPS units use high-current batteries that can handle power spikes, dips, blackouts and line noise. Most UPS batteries are sealed lead acid and designed to last from five to eight years.
UPS Battery Life
A UPS battery reaches the end of its useful life when it can no longer supply 80 percent of rated capacity. After this point, capacity and backup time degrade quickly. For example, a battery that normally provides 15 minutes of backup may have seven minutes at 80-percent capacity. This degradation is most often due to corrosion of the positive grid's inner wires. You can prolong your battery's life by keeping it clean, maintaining connectors and cables, and regularly checking performance.
Sealed Lead Acid Batteries
Sealed UPS batteries don’t require you to add water although they do need preventive maintenance. Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are ideal for UPS
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- December 17, 2012
One of the first parts of a car to go bad is the battery, and over the course of a decade, a car may require more than one replacement. In most cases, the car battery simply passes its usual lifespan. One solution to this problem is to buy a new battery, but locating the best car batteries is often a difficult task. While certain brands of batteries are better than others, each brand also offers several options that must be considered.
Top Brands of Car Batteries
Following are five of the top-rated and most popular brands of top car batteries available today:
1. ACDelco – ACDelco is one of the most recognizable names in auto parts, and auto batteries are no exception. All ACDelco batteries are vigorously tested for quality and reliability. One of the best features of these batteries is their large electrolyte reservoirs, which ensure a long lifetime. ACDelco’s Professional Gold battery is top of the line, requires no maintenance and comes with a 4-year warranty.
2. DieHard – DieHard representatives
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- December 12, 2012
Car batteries do not last forever. Most of them have useful lifespans that range from three to five years. Although the technology used for automotive batteries has vastly improved over the years, the electric consumption of the average vehicle has also dramatically increased. All of the power equipment that is standard in new cars puts a great strain on the battery and can potentially reduce its lifespan. On the other side of the spectrum are vehicles in storage. When a car is not being used, it can drain a battery more than a heavily used car. However, it is possible to preserve a car battery in either situation by following a few simple rules.
Is It On?
The first step that will help preserve a car battery is to make sure that it is not being used unnecessarily. While being driven, this is not usually a problem because the battery is constantly being recharged by the alternator. However, it can still help to turn down the air conditioning when it is not that hot outside and to use the
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- December 10, 2012
Some people believe that motorcycles have a substantially smaller carbon footprint than cars. Others think that compact cars don't harm the environment as much as SUVs or pickup trucks. It stands to reason that a motorcycle would generate even less pollution. However, the reality is much more complicated.
Motorcycles use significantly less fuel than cars as Some bikes travel over 50 miles per gallon and most 2012 models achieve 35 to 50 MPG. While some motorcycles can travel as far as 75 or 130 miles per gallon, new cars still average less than 30 MPG.
However, better fuel economy doesn't always result in fewer emissions. Most motorcycles create more air pollution and smog than cars. Bikes produce less carbon dioxide, but they release more carbon monoxide.
Motorcycles don't hold as much cargo as other vehicles. This could make a person visit stores more often, effectively reducing the fuel economy and increasing emissions. Bikes also hold fewer passengers than most cars. Using two