12 volt iPod docking station

Thanks Bucky, have spent this morning doing the rounds of Dick Smith, WOW, Good Guys, 'Hardly Normal' and no-one had a direct 12vdc docking station with speakers and a radio...many converted via a powerpack from 240v to 18v, 14v, even 6volt. No-one could tell me if I just cut off the powerpack and connected a cig lighter plug to the standard cable, if it would work. I think it would, but don't want to spend the money only to find out it doesn't!
Cheers, Ian

dickies shouls have a cigerette voltage adapter

ciggie adapter.

dickies stuff

one of these two adapters has a higher amperage then the other, can't remeber.

about a docking station, you may have to search.

not sure if this helps or not.

Thanks pt. Yeah, I've got an iPod compatible stereo in the car and that works well. I don't have to take dozens of CD's with me! But don't want to play music too loud while we're eating/sleeping in the camper-trailer. Nothing worse than having noisey neighbours!
Cheers

pt_nomad
We have that, with all 3,700 songs, and believe me, it can be a pain, just running it off the vehicle sterio, especially when parked up.
Better with something independant

I ended up in Dick Smith's in Cranbourne (Vic), and I specifically checked them out.. There were 5 models I could have brought.

Keep looking mate, you will find them..

One interesting one was actually shaped like a white bucket. Can't remember the make, but it looked interesting.

Cheers
Bucky

Hi Bucky,
I guess its horses for courses. We are running a clarion double din touch screen head and find it to be very adequate for manageing the iPod. The unit has an infrared remote, initially I though it was a useless gimmick. I bought and built a JayKar IR remote extender kit and have this mouted in the rear of the wagon.
The remote gives a range of 20-30m from the rear of the car for stereo control. I find that with the remote, we are able to use the vehicle stereo effectively with out disturbing others or cranking up / skipping songs when flying solo.
This set up does not give you iPod in the tent when every thing is pach up for the night. We have a 240v dock for that and only use it during the chrissie brake in a CVP, main puropse is the negate the neghoubour hood noise.
I'm currently using mgtek's doisp to mange the 9046 songs on the Ipod and associated play lists.

I'm currently looking at a single din ipod stereo to put in the second vehicle, your post is a timely reminder that all ipod stereo's are not equal.
Cheers
Paul.

By the way, forgot to mention that ipod runs on 5v not 12v, be careful.

Should note this above may only applicable if your using genuine Apple gear.

All Apple stuff uses USB.

olcoolone, if only you were right about all Apple gear using USB. The earlier generation used firewire If you have a docking station for the early version firewire charging, it doesn't work with later generation USB iPods.

Thanks CJ.....that's just what I want to do. Can you let me know how you go with the mod? I'd appreciate it. Have a good weekend. Ian

As per my previous post, most genuine Ipod stuff runs of 5vDC.

12v and 240v chargers convert the output to 5vDC and then the docking station converts it to 3.3vDC

In other words 240v get converted down to 5v and then down to 3.3v from the docking station. 240v-5v-3.3v
12v ones get converted down to 5v and then down to 3.3v from the docking station. 12v-5v-3.3v

I don't know if the docking station would be able to accept 12vDC direct and then convert it down to 3.3vDC.

You can try it and if you get smoke them I would say more then likely it can't be done!

Has your docking station have a USB plug on the end of the cable?

Thanks olcoone. The docking station has a '12vDC input' label on the power socket, so I'm assuming the docking station itself will drop the voltage to the correct voltage at the iPod connection. I hope so anyway :). BTW...I haven't actually bought the docking station yet,; I'm asking these questions so I don't waste my money by buying one and then finding out I can't do what i want! Cheers.

If you use the genuine Apple ones they all have a USB plug on the end so you can plug them into 240v, 12v or a computer USB port to charge.

Another good thing is if something breaks you don't have to replace the whole thing.

I can't comment of after market ones.

We went with genuine Apple stuff for ease of use and being able to use over a large voltage range.....Apple is about twice the price of the good quality after market gear.

Thanks CJ...sounds the way to go. I'm sure I've got an old charger around the place somewhere, so I'll probably cut the end off that and keep the new one for the docking station on the occasions we're overnighting in a caravan park and do have access to 240volts.
thanks everyone else who took the time to answer my question too.
Safe travelling.
Ian