music

[Lizard]

Can someone give an old lady some advice please? I am not of the ipod generation but I wanted to listen to music during load-shedding so I bought a Sanyo portable radio/CD player to play with AC power in the good times and with 8 x D/R 20 batteries during power outages.
This was not a good idea as the batteries are expensive and don't last very long playing CDs.
What I would like to know is - is there any sort of adapter/converter or gizmo that would let me plug the end of the AC lead into the cigarette lighter socket of my car to play CDs from my car battery when travelling. I do have a car radio/tape deck (broken) but no CD player in my car.
Any advice appreciated.

 

[antowan]

You can go to MAKRO and buy an inverter for this purpose. You get small ones built to charge laptops and other electronic devices in the multimedia/computer section that will do just fine....

 

[kronoSX]

Most times you can get a cig lighter adapter with the 12v female plug at the end which fits in your cd player,first try before you buy.

 

[DJ...]

The fact that you own a pc and can post in a forum suggests you are somewhat technically inclined. I would therefore suggest you buy an Ipod as it is relatively simple to work and you will probably find yourself enjoying it much more than the portable radio/cd player.

 

[Flipside]

I remember we used to connect the dc current from the cig socket direct to the battery terminals.

Maybe if you have an old car cellphone charger or something lying around you can try that

 

[.Froot.]

I suggest the iPod idea. A lot simpler and will save you a little effort too...

 

[howardb]

If you're looking for something to run the portable radio off the car batter, then I'd suggest a small inverter - possibly a 150w should be fine for this purpose (like antowan mentioned)

Alternatively, although may be expensive initially, purchase 8 rechargeable D/R20 batteries that fit your unit and a charger...

...not sure what sort of time you'd get from a computer UPS, but you may think about that too... a 1000va or 1500va unit ?

What model Sanyo is it? If you post the model number, I'll have a look at the DC power specs and see if it can take a cigarette lighter adapter of some sort...

 

[JohnnyQ]

If it uses 8 of D/R20 batteries then a 12 volt supply (like coming from the car cigarette lighter socket) will do. I have never seen an adapter like that (8 x D/R20 battery adapter), but you could have a cigarette lighter adapter soldered to the positive and negative connectors where the batteries goes. It wont be pretty, but with some planning could work well.

As for the batteries themselves, get two sets of UNIROSS rechargeable batteries (that means 16), it might seem expensive at first, but they will last you very long. You can get them at Pick n Pay.

 

[Lizard]

Thanks for all the useful advice. I will try to answer in one message. I live down the South Coast so no Makro but will try Lucky's at Shelly Centre for an inverter.
I did consider an ipod but if I got one it would have to have speakers so it worked out a bit pricey. I spent 31 years of my working life as a transcriptionist, working with ear-piece in my ears so I really don't want to listen to music that way.
I had considered rechargable batteries but it's a battle to find ordinary batteries at our PnP, never mind rechargeable ones. It's a good idea though.
My computer UPS is a 800 VA but I don't fancy using that.
Not sure if I am technically inclined but the CD player plays MP3 and I have enjoyed creating MP3 CDs with up to 250 tracks on each CD. To howardb, who asked what the model is, it's a MCD-ZX280M (the one with a remote).
Now I am going to phone around to see if I can get an inverter in this part of the world. Otherwise I will try on the Net. Many thanks again.

 

[Lizard]

Great! Luckys Electronics say that they have an inverter and I must just come in with my CD player and they will check that it works.