Product review: Memoscan U380 OBDII Car Diagnostic Scanner

   

This review for Memoscan U380 OBDII Car Diagnostic Scanner Trouble Code Reader







I tried two units of this scanner.  I received a replacement because the first one did not work, but the same scanner worked the same.





Memoscan scanner did not work with either of our cars even thought both were listed as compatible.



Both Honda CRV and Chrysler 300 work with another OBD II scanner but with Memoscan we get "Linking Error!" which indicates that Memoscan has trouble communicating with the vehicle.



All cars and light trucks built and sold in the United States after January 1, 1996 were required to be OBD II equipped. The connector is very distinctive looking, I am including a picture of it in my video for reference. In both of our cars this connector is located under the dash, under the steering wheel.



The scanner displays information on a small screen on the hand held unit. The scanner works as soon as car is turned on. There is no need to turn on the engine. The scanner goes through a series of messages (see video) but for both of our cars the sequence ends with "Linking error!"



Memoscan comes with an impressive manual. It is well written and easy to understand and includes 36 pages of trouble codes.



Unfortunately the replacement unit also generates "Linking Error!". It appears that the seller has a bad batch of these. I have reviewed another OBD II scanner (a bluetooth unit) and it worked it both cars, so I know the connectors are not faulty. This connector is always on according to documentation. Just in case I have tried running it with the engine off, with the engine on, and with the key on ACC setting.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link. Based on my experience I would stay away from it.



Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Eparé USB Mug Warmer

I thought this mug warmer would be really handy. However, turns out it does not provide enough heat to make a difference.



I conducted four experiments. I measured the tea temperature in several different cups after 30 minutes and after 60 minutes. I the "control" test I did not use the warmer, just let the tea cool naturally. In the first test, I used my favorite mug (this mug does not have a flat bottom). In the second test I was using a narrow cup that makes full contact with the heated surface. The third test was the using the same narrow cup without the heater. Finally, in the forth test I used a paper cup.



The most conclusive experiment was using the same narrow cup with and without the warmer. The heater made no difference, the tea cooled by approximately the same percentage. The cooled cooled off 41% while on the warming plate, and 40% without a warming plate. What made a bigger difference was the type of cup I used. The mug cooled off slower than a glass cup or paper cup.



~ At start of the first experiment the tea temperature is 136 degrees (mug)

~ 30 minutes later the tea temperature is 113 degrees

~ 60 minutes later the tea temperature is 104 degrees

~ In 60 mins temperature went down by 23.5%



~ At start of the second experiment the tea temperature is 179 degrees (narrow cup with heater)

~ 30 minutes later the tea temperature is 123 degrees

~ 60 minutes later the tea temperature is 105 degrees

~ In 60 mins temperature went down by 41%



~ At start of the third experiment the tea temperature is 163 degrees (narrow cup no heater)

~ 30 minutes later the tea temperature is 118 degrees

~ 60 minutes later the tea temperature is 98 degrees

~ In 60 mins temperature went down by 40%



~ At start of the forth experiment the tea temperature is 185 degrees (paper cup)

~ 30 minutes later the tea temperature is 129 degrees

~ 60 minutes later the tea temperature is 109 degrees

~ In 60 mins temperature went down by 41%



This mug warmer is slightly under 3" wide. It does not fit most of my mugs. It fits my favorite mug because the mug does not have a flat bottom but rahter a raised ring which is narrow enough to fit the warmer. Despite making limited contact with the mug warmer this mug did best in my tests just because its material held the heat better. The mug warmer does fit tea cups. The documentation indicates that it fits most cup and mugs under 12 oz, all the mugs I tried are under 12 oz. So measure the base to determine the if this warmer fits your favorite mug, not the capacity.



I took 1 minute and 40 seconds for the warmer to become hot (the switch is on the back next to the cord). The warmer has a green power indicator and a red heat indicator. The green power light turns on as soon as USB is plugged in, red indicator turns on when you press the switch on the back to turn on the heat. Note that documentation has the position of the two indcators reversed.



I my experiments using the warmer with different cups and mugs it did not keep the tea any warmer than not using it. I received this warmer for evaluation and review as part of the new product introduction. Getting a free review product does not effect what I say. I leave critical reviews when the product deserves it and unfortunately this is the case this time.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: KINGSO E27 12w LED Infrared Motion Detection Light Sensor PIR Warm White Bulb

This is bright LED bulb (on par with a 60 watt CFL bulb). Its unique feature is that it is motion activation, but unfortunately motion activation does not work reliably in my bulb. I did see it come on a few times but most of the time I can wave my hand in front of it and nothing happens. When it turns on it does not stay on for a long time (less than a minute) even if I am constantly moving under the light. So the motion detector does not work if the light is on, and most of the time does not detect motion when the light is off. Flipping the switch seems to help sometimes but not all the time.



I liked its brightness, but since motion detection does not work reliably I did not find this bulb performance acceptable.



Update October 30, 2016.

I received a replacement bulb which works reliably when plugged into the desk lamp.  The desk lamp is 8 to 10 inches away from the motion. However, when I moved the bulb to the tall floor lamp that lights the living room where I wanted it to light up when someone entered the room it did not work.  This lamp is tall so the motion is always several feet away from it.  I am upgrading the rating from 1 star to 2 stars from "I hate it" to "I don't like it".



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆