Customer Reviews

Black & Decker StormStation All-In-One Rechargeable Power Source/Radio/Light #SS925

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

One of the previous reviewers misunderstood the directions for the Storm Station. The Storm Station is designed to be left plugged in.

The confusion comes from the directions themselves. Here is what they say: NOTE: AFTER THE MAIN BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, SWITCH THE MAIN POWER SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVE THE AC ADAPTOR IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE STORM STATION RIGHT AWAY. ALWAYS REMOVE THE AC ADAPTOR DURING STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION OR DURING PERIODS WHEN IT IS NOT BEING USED.

Apparently, though, that means that you should only unplug it if you don't want to use it as a backup power source (i.e. if you are simply storing it or transporting it).

A better clarification comes from the Black and Decker Web Page itself: To be prepared for a power outage, keep the Storm Station plugged into an electrical outlet to maintain 100 percent of its charge. That way when the power goes out the Storm Station will have all of its battery power to help you during a power outage.

So leave it plugged in! I got mine on Christmas Eve and we had a power outage on Christmas at 10pm. The kids were scared, and I simply grabbed the Storm Station (the Find Me Light had already activated), turned on the High Powered Room Light, lit a kerosene lantern, turned off the High Powered Room Light, and charged my cell phone. We used the rechargeable flashlight as well (the other flashlight by our bed died within 5 minutes). I then called the power company to report the outage. After the power came on an hour later, I plugged the Storm Station back in. I'm going to keep it plugged in and rely on it again!

I'm very happy with the Black and Decker Power Station. Thanks to my girls for giving it to me!

This product has everything you need for a power outage. I was out of power for a week and the batteries lasted the whole time. When you do lose power everything you need is right there, no more searching through a dark house. The great thing about this is that you get TV stations to listen to so you can hear the local weatherman and know what is going on. It also has a spot to plug in things like cell phone chargers. It made the inconvenience of a power outage much easier.

Last Christmas, I bought 5 of these. While most of our friends and family here in St. Pete have just started using them for the hurricane season, we have had ours plugged in since day 1. Although we have had no hurricanes yet, our electricity has gone out twice in the early morning hours, and the Storm Station light came on and awoke me once, and I noticed it one time on an middle-of-the-night trip to the bathroom. This unit warned us of the outage, and saved us from sleeping past our wake up time, being late for work, etc. I disagree with the post w/ only one star. When the electricity goes out, one needs light, and communication (cell phone AND radio/TV band). Who cares if you have to go w/o coffee for one morning? During a hurricane, I want a cocktail anyway, not coffee. I have a very high regard for this product.

I ordered one of these this week because I found it $30 less on Amazon than in WalMart. However, after receiving the product, I made some interesting discoveries that caused me to return it.

1. The item appears well built. However, after a complete charge, the DC to AC converter would only put out ~100VAC instead of 120VAC as described.

2. I could not bring in any weather channels. Other weather radios in the house work fine. However, this does not.

3. I also discovered that the 120VAC and 12VDC outlets will not work unless there is an actual power outage. I assumed that there was a pass-through for them (like a UPS can have items plugged into it while it charges the UPS) so you could keep a spare cell phone and car adapter plugged in the 12VDC and it would charge both the storm station and the phone at the same time.

All in all, I am disappointed in this. I'm not sure what the problem was with the 120VAC, but I really didn't like the idea of the 120VAC and 12VDC outlets not working unless there is NO power to the unit.

Just my .02

Call me "preparedness girl." Because of my family situation over the last years I have become, if not obsessed with preparing for problems and disasters, then at least highly concerned. And over the last years I have been forced to deal with more than my share of power failures. So when I saw this item advertised on television I decided that if it did half of what it promised it'd still be a good thing to have in the house. As it turns out, it does everything as promised.

I won't say that it will give you a lot of power, but it does give you light enough to work by, will power small appliances such as a home phone, and has a recharging outlet for things like cell phones. It also provides a radio with several useful bands as well as standard AM/FM ones. this makes it an all-around great item to have standing by if you live in an area where storms can knock out your power for several hours or even a day. The charge won't last forever, so if you're in a place where outages can be long-term, this is more like a band-aid. But it's a pretty nice one. Seems sturdy, and provides a detachable flashlight that's handy to have around all the time, not just during outages. You always know where to find it and that it'll work for you. Provided you've remembered to put it back on the unit!

As a sidebar here, I'd like to suggest two things that might make this item even more useful: First, get a hand-cranked radio just for entertainment purposes. Don't waste the charge on this if you think the power outage is going to be long-term. Second, always have a good, basic telephone on hand somewhere. Just one that will run on the current provided by the phone line. Again, why waste the charge on this unit just for a phone? Let this be part of your lifeline for emergencies and use it wisely.

I purchased this Power Source on the basis of a review in the ARRL magazine, QST. As an amateur radio operator I am concerned with having a reliable power source for emergency situations. This rechargeble power source helps to fill that need. It is also useful in preparing a home for other natural diasters where lighting, communications and powering a cell phone are critical. Upon witnessing the "find me" light feature my wife asked for one to put in her office. What I've used most is the flash light which is attached and always at the ready. What is lacking for me is sensitivity in the radio receiver. I don't seem to be able to "pull in" some of the radio stations I usually listen to. In a time of emergency though, most all local broadcasters will be heard so this shouldn't be a problem. This storm station is an asset to my home.

We bought several of these for gifts for the holidays, but when using the one we got for ourselves a couple of issues became obvious. Primarily, it's not as "set it and forget it" as it should be. Once the battery is fully charged, you are then supposed to uplug it and turn it off -- which makes its automatic "find me" light pointless. If you know in advance that the power is going to go out, it might be OK, but then how is that different from having to get some flashlights and candles ready?

Secondly, it's construction reminds me of a child's fireman toy.

It has its uses, but these design oversights prevent me from actually recomending the product.

I only gave this product 1 star for the following reasons:

1. The instructions are extremely confusing. Leave plugged in or not? Finally, I decided to go with this tiny sticker under the handle that says "To be prepared, leave plugged in all the time." This is contradicting what the instruction booklet seems to say.

2. The 25 watt limit is just that--a limit. I plugged in every thing in my house and the only thing it will run is a small clock. Anything that makes heat will not work. This includes a coffeemaker (850 watts), tea maker, toaster, hair dryer, etc. Big disappointment. Small appliances use alot more electricity than 25 watts.

3. The thing is UGLY. If you leave it plugged in, it is so ugly that you want to stick it under a counter somewhere behind closed doors. This defeats the use of the "find me" light if it's hidden because it's too ugly to look at.

4. The AM/FM radio works nice. However, the other three bands appear to be static--no help there.

5. I can recharge my cell phone with it. But if you recharge the cell before the storm and have a 3-5 day battery in your phone, hopefully, you won't be stuck somewhere longer than it takes to run the battery down in your cell. But if you do, you can recharge it--if you haven't used all the juice running your clock in the meantime.

6. The rechargable flashlight works nice. It's basically a $100 radio/rechargeable flashlight.

There might be a better product out there that could do more. For the price, you just don't get much from this Black & Decker product.

This product is fantastic to have available. While I understand it doesn't power my house it will recharge my cell phone, has a radio attached, a flashlight right at hand and a "find me" light when the power does go out. In the area of St. Louis that we live in it's been an unexpected blessing this past week. I do not understand why hardware stores have quit carrying it, but I'm greatful to Amazon.com for carrying it.

I had great hopes for this product, as it combines several devices I want to keep on hand for emergencies -- an always charged flashlight, a multi-band radio, and a small power supply. And the locator light, on power down, is a great idea.

Unfortunately, I think this product looked *much* better on paper than in reality.

First, the flashlight *never* held a charge. And I don't mean it holds a charge for a short time, then dims -- the flashlight was dim out of the box, and was dim on pulling it out of the charging cradle after sitting plugged in for a month. Ugh.

The radio seems inadequate for most purposes. Reception was spotty for me, and I wasn't able to pull in some stations I wanted. The tuning is awfully sensitive too -- jostle it and it changes. It seems to drift over time as well, requiring constant readjustment.

The battery power -- adequate. I was able to run a discharged cell phone for about 30 minutes with the radio going as well.

I think it is telling that the original retail price of $168 keeps being undercut.

Can't depend on this in an emergency. I replaced it with other, separate pieces. Wish they could have made it work...