Best Laser Level

How We Picked


Considering the following criteria, we chose the best laser level:

What is the accuracy range of the laser level? The accuracy of any laser level is usually expressed in +- xx millimeters at xx meters or feet. This determines how accurate the laser level is on farther distances and when used in extensive measurements.

Does the laser level have a decent price? Most laser levels are not that pricey but it all depends on what you buy. Most will be around $50 but some will be much more expensive.


What do the reviews say about the laser level? The laser level should have more pros than cons and the disadvantages should not be troublesome at all as a whole.


How far can the laser level measure? Know the farthest distance that the laser level can measure so you can know if it is suitable for small scale or large scale projects which require a laser level.


What other features does the laser level have? Most of them have additional tape measures as well as traditional bubble vials for better accuracy and some even have backlit LCD screens that work like calculators.


Is the laser level portable in its design? Most laser levels are pocket sized so you do not need to worry about its size but nonetheless, still do consider the best and most portable of them all.


Can the laser level measure in all possible units of measurement? Whether you generally use meters or feet or inches, it should be able to give you the most accurate measurement as a laser level.
Best Pythagorean Laser Level





The Suaoki S9 200ft Portable Laser Measure can measure up to 200 feet and is also available in 330 feet version. The unique thing about this laser level is that it has a Pythagorean mode as well as a range finder .


As for its accuracy, the Suaoki S9 Laser Measure is highly accurate to +/- 1.5 mm which is greater than 1/16 inches and as for its display, it has a backlit display that is 4-line. For its memory, it can store up to 20 measurements which eliminated the need to write down previous measurements.


For its size, it is truly and very compact at only the size of 4 inches by 1 inch by 2 inches and for portability, it comes with a sturdy nylon case for carrying. The visual design is a bright color orange finish with black that is sleek looking and it has an extremely portable design. In addition to that, it is multipurpose and also works as a digital tape measure.


With the S9 Laser Measure, you are able to do area and volume calculations and in addition, you can use up to 3 optional reference points that will suit almost any kind of condition. You can measure with continuous and single distances with a min and max distance as well as area and volume. The Pythagorean measurement is for triangular areas and height and the laser level also has a function for addition and subtraction.


For its capability, the max range is about 197 feet or 60 meters and for the battery power, it runs on replaceable 1.5 volts AAA batteries x 2 as up to 5,000 measurements can be made with its battery life. Additionally, the bubble levels can be either horizontal or vertical and it has a very bright backlit display.


For its measuring units, the laser level can be on meters, feet or inches. For power saving, it has an auto off feature for the laser of 30 seconds and 180 seconds auto off for the device and its operating temperature is around 40 degrees F and storage temperature is about 60 degrees F or -10 degrees C. This laser level weighs 0.27 lbs and the carrying case comes with a lanyard. The package includes a user’s manual as well as a flat tip screwdriver and the batteries for the laser level.

Newest solar cells underperform in cloudy countries

To determine how efficient new solar cells convert sunlight into electricity, small sample cells are tested under ideal conditions. However, the reported efficiency is not very representative of the actual annual yield when the cells are placed onto a rooftop and exposed to the Dutch weather. In an article published in ACS Energy Letters on August 22, 2017, AMOLF researchers present a model that predicts how the next generation of solar cells will perform under realistic conditions.

New types of solar cells (for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 100 ) will more than likely consist partly of perovskites. Eight years ago perovskites emerged as a new and promising material to absorb sunlight and generate electricity, stirring up the entire research field. Today perovskites are almost equally efficient as the silicon solar cells that have been developed over a time span of 60 years. Since perovskites absorb a different part of the spectrum than silicon, combining both materials in a so-called tandem solar cell should in theory lead to the conversion of a much larger part of the sun's emitted energy and hence to the generation of more electricity.

Weather conditions

The researchers developed their own model to predict the expected electricity yield of these tandem solar cells under realistic weather conditions. Standard test conditions for solar cells mimic a sunny summer day in the northern hemisphere, with an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. However, many solar cells operate in cloudy climates, such as the Dutch one. In these weather conditions the combination of current record cells turns out to be hardly more efficient than cells consisting solely of silicon. The researchers used measured temperatures, irradiances, and solar spectra to predict the performance of these cells in Utrecht (the Netherlands) and Denver (United States). The model also predicts which improvements are necessary for perovskites to live up to their promise of reaching solar cell efficiencies higher than 30 percent in combination with silicon.
Crystal structure of the hybrid lead-halide perovskite material. The inorganic lead (red) iodide (white) framework encloses an organic cation (blue). Credit: AMOLF

Too cloudy for a tandem

Thus, the researchers have shown that in the Netherlands, a country with many rainy and cloudy days even in the summer, tandem cells turn out to be hardly more efficient than current conventional silicon solar cells. This is true even when the cells are made from the best perovskite and silicon solar cells currently available. 'This has been a surprising finding,' Moritz Futscher, lead author of the study, says. 'We have always thought that tandem cells operate at lower efficiency under low-light conditions, but we were surprised that the effect is this large.'

Besides this slightly distressing finding, the researchers also report how the perovskite cells could be improved to actually make tandem solar cells much more efficient than cells consisting solely of silicon. Their model shows that an efficiency increase of up to 14 percent could be realised by further optimisation of the perovskite quality, the electrical contacts, and by optimising light management in the stacked perovskite/silicon cell. 'In the light of the rapid developments in the past few years, I am very optimistic that we will see largely improved perovskite cells, but it does require a large, concerted, and focussed research effort,' says Bruno Ehrler, who directed the study.

Dangers of Cracked Sidewalks

When the sidewalk repair contractors in Manhattan New York around your residence or company are broken and crumbling, you'd probably agree they may be an eyesore. But, cracked sidewalk repair contractor Manhattan are far more than simply an eyesore. They pose dangers to anybody who walks. In case you have fractures or crumbles on your DOT sidewalk violation Manhattan, then you ought to be aware of precisely what you could be in for! Here's some more info on the hazards of cracked DOT sidewalk violation Manhattan and also everything you could do to fix them.

Injuries -

If a pavement is damaged or cracked, anyone who walks it's subject to harm. It is very simple for the foot of a shoe to become caught in a fracture and then ship the person tripping or falling ahead. Likewise, if a fracture is big enough, someone may easily spin their ankle or be hurt in another way. Quite often, when a pavement is broken, parts of it's going to slough off, leaving the possibility for most people to damage themselves. If the Manhattan sidewalk repair is with a commercial construction, it might pose a problem for people in wheelchairs or with disabilities.

Lawsuits -

Another significant concern for businesses and residential places equally is suited. If someone has been fall and trip - there's a risk they might be greatly hurt. If somebody is hurt badly enough, then there's nothing stopping them from filing suit against you personally! When it could be odd to think about someone filing a lawsuit over a cracked pavement, the simple truth is that individuals have filed suit over less. Additionally, there's a real likelihood that somebody might get hurt. The final thing you'll need, whether you're an individual or the operator or manager of a company, is a litigation because someone was hurt in your cracked sidewalk repair contractor Manhattan.

Repairing sidewalk repair Manhattan NY -

Fortunately, all it can take to avoid someone getting hurt or using a litigation would be to repair the cracks and crumbles from the sidewalk repair Manhattan. If you need to suddenly realize that there's a hole, crack or other damage to the sidewalk repair Manhattan, then you can get it repaired straight away. In actuality, come paving businesses, have a 24-hour emergency repair service only for things like this. By obtaining the sidewalk repair contractor Manhattan repaired quickly, you can avoid lawsuits or accidents from occurring.

By understanding the risks of cracked sidewalk repair Manhattan and understanding what you could do in order to repair them you can protect against something a lot more serious from occurring. Follow the ideas and suggestions in this report to prevent the hazards of cracked sidewalks.

MOULTRIE M-888

If you don't need a camera to detect past 50 ft., the MOULTRIE M-888 was a solid option. It excels at taking bright night photos and has very fast picture detection.

Pros
Great picture recovery time
Excellent pictures, especially at night
Great night videos

Cons
7-second video recovery
Only detects out to 50 ft.

The Moultrie M-888i is a no glow IR trail camera. Since the human eye can't see the camera take a picture at night, this camera is ideal for security or wildlife surveillance.

The case design is a touch larger than other cameras but feels very sturdy. The latch is huge, which has made opening and closing with cold fingers quite easy.


"The latch is huge... easier to open with cold fingers"


The python lock bracket is an extremely poor design. The loops are angled which makes the camera sit poorly on a tree if you are only using the python lock and not the security case. It would also be pretty easy to torque the camera in a way to easily snap the brackets. We don't like this design at all, the only way to truly correct this is to use the camera with a security case.

"Python lock bracket is an extremely poor design"

The programming definitely takes some getting used to but after playing with it for several minutes we got the hang of it. Whether we magically got smarter in 2016 or just more accustomed to the new Moultrie programming, the learning curve wasn't a steep as the 2015 Moultrie cameras.


The higher end Moultrie game cameras, like the M880 and M888i, have not experienced any durability problems the last year. No major complaints or warranties.


Detection Circuit


Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.65 s. / 0.7 s.


Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.46 s. / 7.3 s.


Detection Range: 60 ft.


Picture recovery is outstanding and well under 1 second. Trigger speed is above average for both pictures and videos. 7-second video recovery time is very slow, though.

Detection range is 60 ft. This is an average range. The slower video times keep this detection circuit from scoring higher.


Picture Quality


Photo resolution: 14 mpxl (interpolated)


Video Resolution: 1280 x 720 (no audio)


| Flash Type: No Glow Infrared


Day pictures are exceptionally colorful with good, not great clarity. It does tend to struggle with the color black in heavy shade, but overall, we like these day pictures.


The M-888i is the no glow IR sister to the red glow M-888. Red glow cameras typically produce a bright, better night photo. In this case, we actually like the night pictures from the M-888i quite a bit more. The more subdued flash gives a better appearance and doesn't white out close objects like the 888.

We feel the night pictures on the M-888i are outstanding and among the best we have seen on a no glow game camera.

Video resolution is 1280 x 720 video. The videos lack the clarity that you see on some of the higher resolution cameras, but overall, these are good videos. Night videos are outstanding and capture nocturnal movement very well. You can see in the bear videos the lack of white out on a close object. These are very good night videos.


Megapixel Ratings:

In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.


The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.

Coldspring students build ramp for San Jacinto County veteran

Under the supervision of Coldspring-Oakhurst High School instructor Charles "Chuck" Cotton, students in the COHS construction management class volunteered to build a wheelchair ramp for Leo Runnels, a disabled veteran in San Jacinto County, after he was featured in the Cleveland Advocate and Eastex Advocate.

The students involved in the project designed and constructed the wooden ramp to meet American Disability Act (ADA) standards. They figured out the amount and sizes of building materials needed, and comprised a bid sheet for material costs. The materials were donated by San Jacinto County Adult Protective Services. The completed wheelchair ramp measured 64 feet and took a total of three days to build.

"The majority of the first day was spent prepping the area, calculating elevations and slope, and setting post," said Cotton. "One of the biggest challenges was an existing concrete sidewalk with steps."

He said students met the challenge with sledge hammers and crow bars. After a few hours of intensive labor, they busted out and removed 20 feet of concrete sidewalk and steps to accommodate the new ramp. The students pushed through two more days of construction, even choosing to skip lunch the third day in order to complete the ramp.

"COCISD is proud of these students and Mr. Cotton for caring about our community and working so hard to help someone in need," the district statement reads.

Successful seasonal promotions: How to use timing to grow your business

Whether you arrange flowers for weddings, sell sporting equipment, or design custom motorcycles, there is always a time of year described as the "busy season." You should consider these particular points in the year as opportunities to build sales volumes and win new clients. Among the different techniques to use in a business, seasonal promotions offer a major boost for any company when run successfully. Here are some tips on how to run successful seasonal promos that will grow your business.

Pick the product

Though your signature product may be tailored to your busy season, there is no point in giving away profit at the most productive time of year. Instead, focus on free consultations or complimentary shipping as the hook in the deal. These auxiliary services add up, so customers will appreciate the bonus when they would already be in the market for your company's goods.

Another idea is to make the target deal one of your less popular products. Whether you offer early-bird specials to keep a cafe humming all night or drop prices to clear out overstocked merchandise, discounted products can deliver results if you time your pitch accurately.

Plan your pitch

For summer deals, you will want to start building momentum in mid-spring so consumers are ready to pounce once the calendar turns over into June. Likewise, you should get the word out about winter holiday deals as early as Halloween. No matter when you decide to launch promotions for your business, timing should be your top priority. You cannot execute a successful strategy unless you have a plan in place that you are ready to launch well ahead of the promotional season.

Services like Vionic (available through The UPS Store Small Business Solutions) are able to manage seasonal deals for your business by using social media to get the word out. Professional marketers eliminate any potential confusion or concerns regarding how you will get paid or what image you are presenting. Before you launch any deal, you have the chance to build a solid foundation through your many social network channels.

Promote with a multi-channel approach

Whether you are launching a business, presenting a deal or managing a company's reputation, a multi-channel approach always works best. Today's consumers expect to find you on Facebook and Twitter, but email newsletters and contests can work just as well. The point is to get as many tools working to your advantage as possible. Your intent may be to attract Facebook followers and build "likes" or spark a conversation on Twitter. No matter the goal, you should have an approach that translates to each of the different channels.

Whatever method you employ online, remember that it is just as likely to be viewed on a smartphone or tablet as it is on a laptop or home computer these days. Smartphone screens have become so large that many users have no reason to switch over to a computer unless watching movies or television. Your pitch should go out in a format that works on any platform.

Be clear about closing

Promotional goals range from building social networks to hard sales; you need to be clear about that goal when you message customers. Create a deadline and a benefit (access to lower prices, promotional merchandise, etc.) for meeting that deadline. Without a reason to act, people will continue to wait and comb through other deals. Save your best copy for the call to action.

Somewhere near your call to action, explain why consumers can feel confident in purchasing your product or joining your network. By displaying safety certifications, such as antivirus symbols and certified privacy icons, you will foster a level of trust you want associated with your brand. Every few months, there seems to be a data breach in the news. Differentiate your business from those with poor Internet security.

By pulling off successful seasonal promotions, you will fortify your sales sheet while gaining new clients in the process. Isolate your ideal promotional period, draw up a plan of attack, and get ready for a steady influx of business.

How location-based services can boost your small business

It is officially a mobile world, and location-based services are becoming ever more important for small businesses. February 2014 marked the first month ever that U.S. Internet users went online using mobile apps more than desktop computers. Built into every smartphone that can access the Internet is an opportunity: with a GPS in most smartphones and consumers getting recommendations on the go, you have a way to reach more people than ever by utilizing location-based services. Here is how to execute an effective marketing strategy that zeroes in on customers in your area.

Becoming part of the index

Anyone who has used Yahoo! or Google to search for information on a mobile device has seen location-based services in action. Whether you are searching for the address of a corner store, boutique, or laundromat, a map will appear along with reviews of the establishment in question. Search engines index everything these days, which means you should have your business recognized for the specific services or products it provides.

Business profiles appear on social sites in search engines whether or not you set them up, but there is usually an option asking for the owners of the establishment to claim the listing. To get started with location services, look for your business on all major search engines and find the option to manage your listing. Once you fill in the proper information, consumers will know exactly where to find you, your proper hours, and what services you offer.

Online reviews and location-based services

Even though the concept of reviewing a neighborhood laundromat may sound odd, the ratings (on a scale of one to five stars) say more than any words can. Sites such as Yelp and Google+ collect details about restaurants and bars while allowing users to post photos and leave reviews. Studies have proven that businesses gain an extra five to nine percent in revenue for every star they receive on aggregate Yelp reviews, so there is no way you can ignore the power of online reviews.

You are probably used to promoting your small business already, so here are some ways to spread the word you're on Yelp:

Put a badge and link to your Yelp listing on your website using Yelp's review badges - they provide the code, you just paste it into your website. The review averages and counts even update automatically as new reviews come in!

Put a "Find us on Yelp" sign in your place of business, on the front counter or window. These have even been spotted on business-branded vehicles. You can find some images on our Flickr page. (Don't alter these images or imply sponsorship, endorsement, or false association with Yelp, Inc.)

Include a link to your Yelp business listing in your email signature with the words, "Check us out on Yelp!"

Social check-ins and couponing

Location-based services allow you to access a wide range of social media site tools, including the check-in feature found on Facebook. The overwhelming majority of mobile Internet users also have Facebook accounts and mobile apps. On the home page of someone's Facebook profile, there is the option to "check in" and let the users in the person's network know where that person is. Like other Facebook status updates, users publicize where they are to keep friends in the know. Your business will benefit from this type of exposure.

To get the most out of location-based services, customers have to use check-in features with regularity. Simply encouraging them to do so may drive numbers slightly, but offering them discounts or other incentives for checking in at your business will yield the best results. Groupon, the coupon site that has benefited largely from its strong mobile presence, is another useful tool. Consumers who are tired of "daily deals" flooding their inboxes have warmed to Groupon once again.

Offering coupons on sites such as Groupon can be tricky, but it is usually worth the investment and the quality reviews. Remember that while you cannot buy good reviews, you are likely to get one by offering the consumer a quality product at a discounted price. Before long, your business will have the boost it needs.

Tapping into the power of location-based marketing is essential now that mobile Internet use has exceeded desktop as the primary method of access. From managing check-ins and customer reviews to coupon offers, you hold the power in your hands.

Payment readers: Which one best suits your business?

By putting mobile payment readers to use, small business owners have incredible flexibility when making sales on the go. Rather than worrying about credit card machines, small devices can now process cards via a smartphone or tablet. Square, Intuit, and PayPal all have popular mobile payment options on the market. Here is a look at the different options and pricing models, and what type of businesses benefit most from mobile card readers.

Square's system

Though Square has not succeeded in turning the smartphone into a mobile wallet, the company's credit card readers have made it easy for business owners to expand their store's footprint. The system works by connecting the reader to your phone or tablet's headphone jack. This small device, or "dongle," works the same way a store's credit card reader does, with the only difference being that the transaction interface displays on your mobile device's screen.
Square works with Android devices as well as Apple's iPhone and iPad. Transaction fees are a flat 2.75 percent, with balances transferred to your bank account the following day. The convenience is tough to beat, although users do have complaints about the effectiveness of the card reader. Multiple swipes can create unease in customers and waste time.

Intuit GoPayment

Intuit, also responsible for QuickBooks accounting software, has released its GoPayment reader, which allows business owners to take credit card payments on any Android or Apple iOS mobile device. Fees are 2.4 percent plus $0.25 per transaction. For higher-volume businesses, they offer a plan that charges $19.95 monthly with an additional 1.75 percent plus $0.25 per transaction. Intuit GoPayment users rave about the ability of the device to read card information on the first swipe as well as its ability to sync with QuickBooks for best accounting practices.

PayPal Here

PayPal's system follows Square's lead in collecting 2.7 percent per transaction while bank transfers take a standard three business days or longer to get the money in your account. Its dongle compares to the one offered by Square with users reporting a slightly higher level of inaccurate swipes than Intuit's GoPayment.

Flexibility and ease-of-use

Since mobile payment readers take customer credit card information, the decision is more complicated than which option is most cost-effective. Repeated swipes have a way of unnerving consumers when you have their bank cards in your hands. The dongles that both PayPal and Square use are known for these complications. Typing in a card number, rather than swiping, carries a higher per-transaction fee in every payment app, so factor this in when you are deciding on the right payment system for your business.
Small business owners who have opened a small storefront and want to keep costs down benefit the most from mobile payment systems. The proliferation of pop-up stores and mini-malls gives you the opportunity to present your business in unique formats these days, which also makes it possible to test out your ideas and give the public a preview of new products before you launch them on a larger scale. Mobile payment readers are an invaluable resource when you want to make fast sales without complicating your business model.
If you have a relationship with a big bank, mobile payment systems from these institutions may provide you with added flexibility and competitive pricing. Chase Paymentech is one resource to use if you are interested in accepting credit cards in a variety of formats. special offers from Chase Paymentech are also available from The UPS Store.
You have the opportunity to make sales in any setting these days. Mobile payment services offer another excellent tool to use as you grow your business.