i have an iPod that i listen to in the car. if i'm just listening to the iPod itself, everything sounds great, albeit a little quiet. problem is, the battery doesn't last long enough. so, i went out and bought a DLO Transpod. aside from being stylish and matching my black iPod, it holds the iPod right in-line with my headunit, which makes it easier (and safer) to access. it also charges the iPod, and allows me to plug my headphone jack (going to the radio) into a plug on the Transpod that gets signal from the line-out on the iPod's dock connector, greatly improving sound clarity. but when i have the iPod plugged into the Transpod, i get a lot of really bad alternator interference.

i know it has to be the cigarette lighter, because if the engine is off, everything is great. and everything is great with the engine on, if the iPod isn't charging.

i know they sell DC/DC filters that are supposed to go in-line with the headunits +12V power, but i don't need that. the headunit isn't the problem. so, what i'm wondering is, can i use that same filter on the power lead to the cigarette lighter? will that solve my problem? i've also seen one filter that plugs in-line with the audio cable, and another specifically stated to be made for the cigarette lighter, but it was only rated at 10 amps. (my power outlets are at 20 amps)

what do you guys think would be the easiest (as well as cheapest) way to CORRECTLY solve the problem? (no band-aids, or partial reduction, i want it all gone!)

thank you all in advance!

 

okay...one way to fix this problem..hopefully is to make sure you have a really clean chassis ground. unhook the ground wire from the back of the cigarette lighter and relocate it to a very clean metal source nearby. another is to get "noise cancelling clips" i dont know what they are actually called but my XM radio came with them...its like the magnet things at the end of xbox or ps2 controller cords.. you put one at the end of the headphone wire that goes from your ipod to radio.. that shoud work

 

A power wire filter should work just fine. As ted said though, I would see what the ground for the cigarette lighter looks like and maybe beef that up first.