Popular Gadget | Roadpro RPIC-1291 LCD Ice Alert Compass & Volt Meter | Plugs Into Your Cigarette Lighter SocketCardinal and Numeric Digital Direction ReadingOutside Sensor with 10' CableInside and Outside C degrees /F degrees Temperature ReadingDigital Voltage Meter and Battery Level IndicatorAlert Warns Driver of Black-Ice Road Conditions by Alarm & Flashing LEDsIncludes One CR2032 Lithium BatteryAdhesive Hook'n Loop Tape for Mounting.
This is the second unit I purchased. The first one worked perfectly, but I unfortunately "fried" it when attempting to replace the unit's cable. (More on that below.) The second unit works "OK" but seemed to have difficulty calibrating. The direction indicator does not function over all 360-degrees. It's response to direction changes is also much slower than the first unit. There may be a QC problem here, or it may just be a "weak" performer.
I have three suggestions for any re-design. First, allow the unit to tilt more downward. The display would be more readable on my dash if it could tilt down another 10- to 15-degrees.
I have three suggestions for any re-design. First, allow the unit to tilt more downward. The display would be more readable on my dash if it could tilt down another 10- to 15-degrees.
Second, provide a detachable cable (especially for the sensor). This would facilitate storing the unit when not in use. I replaced the cables on mine with standard flat telephone cord and RJ11C connectors. This arrangement works well in the Kia, and permits power from and disconnect in the (unused) ash tray compartment - without removing any dash panels. The sensor cable was easily routed to the driver front door cavity by removing the driver kick panel. (I "fried" the first unit when attempting to attach power and sensor cables directly to the RJ11: a loose connection allowed the sensor and power wires to short. Lesson learned, I brought a short length of telephone cable out from the connector on the second unit, and attached power and sensor cables to that.)Third, the unit is not adequately filtered for R.F. When transmitting with a 30-Watt amateur 2-meter radio with a mag-mount antenna centered on the roof, the display went "crazy", and calibration eventually failed. A few well-placed capacitors (total OEM cost about 10-cents) would avoid this problem. Truckers with CB radios might also experience this issue.
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