Merconnet Portable Mini Car MP3/CD Adapter

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

December 17, 2003

Product Requirements:
Will power most portable cassette players, radios, CD players, MiniDisc players, hand-held games, keyboards, calculators, and many other battery operated appliances

One of the joys of having a teenager is that when we go on trips, she likes to keep herself entertained with her own collection of portable electronic devices. Whether Sarah is listening to her favorite CDs or playing on her Gameboy, one thing is for certain - we go through AA batteries like no one's business. That's why when I saw the Portable Mini Car MP3 / CD Adapter avaiable from Merconnet, I knew that this could be a match made in heaven.

It wasn't that long ago that I reviewed the NextBase SDV17-A DVD with integrated LCD (also from Merconnet), and since it didn't come with an in-car adapter, I was pleased to learn that this multi-talented kit would also work with that product.

In the box, you get the power adapter, a set of adapter plugs, and a cassette audio adapter...

This adapter is a 1000mA regulated DC car converter that allows you to power all sorts of portable electronics through what used to be known as a car cigarette lighter, and is now generally called a "power point" in these progressive times.

On the front of the adapter is a yellow dial that you can adjust to 3V, 4.5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, or 12V. The adapter also has reversible polarity which allows one to "use it with products that have either a negative or positive center pin," to quote the packaging.

There are also six adapter plugs included that can be matched to the external power supply jack on the device needing power.

For this review, I am going to test the adapter with my SDV17-A Tablet DVD player. With any electronic device, there are a couple of steps and precautions that you must take.

1. You need to determine the correct output voltage setting for the device you wish to power. According to the adapters packaging, you can usually find this information on the devices rating plate or by the number of batteries used in the product (One AA = 1.5V). For my purposes, the Tablet DVD needs 12V.

2. Once the proper voltage is determined, then you adjust the selector switch on the front of the adapter accordingly.

3. Then you determine the adapter plug that will best fit your device. If you have an electric adapter, that can be the easiest way to compare the plug sizes, or you can simply insert them until you find the one that best fits. Each adapter plug has two prongs on it's rear to attach them to the adapter or that can also be used for storage on the included strip when they are not in use.

Each plug is marked with a + or - symbol on the black rubber casing. I am not sure if you can make it out, but there is a small + raised in the black plastic on this side of the plug...

4. Before you insert the prongs of the adapter plug into the power jack on your device, you should check for reverse polarity. It is important to make sure that you align the tip of the plug's positive or negative side in accordance with the diagram near your electronic devices DC plug. On the Tablet DVD, it looks like this...

   

So I aligned the adapter plug so that it's positive side was on the flat side of the adapter sleeve.

5. Next you plug it in...and wait to see if anything starts smoking! Just kidding. ;0) But seriously, if the electronic device isn't working properly then you need to disconnect it immediately, or you risk frying the device. The most likely possibility is that you will have somehow reversed your polarity, so check that and also make sure that you have selected the correct Voltage while you are at it.

In both cases, the Portable Mini Adapter powered up the device and I managed not to blow anything up. ☺

To finish off the package, a cassette adapter is included so that you can play audio output over the vehicle's sound system.

Granted, not every vehicle even has a cassette player anymore, but consider it a bonus if yours does. Of course, it would have been even better if the adapter had included an FM linker, such as the Digiana (also by Merconnet), but that would have driven the price up on what is a very reasonably marked item. I know that most people complain about being able to hear the wheels inside the cassette adapter turn while it is being used (because they are obviously not cranking their sound loud enough), but I look at it as a trade-off for the fact that the adapter will never need a single battery...the old "glass is half full instead of half-empty" routine.

This adapter is such a handy item to keep in the glove box of any vehicle. You never know when you might need it, and it is always better to be prepared. At this price, you can keep one in every car.

Come to think of it, the Portable Mini Car MP3 / CD Adapter would be a stocking stuffer for anyone currently going through AA batteries at an alarming rate. I know that there isn't much time left before Christmas, but then...this would make a great birthday and "just because" gift, too.

Price: $12.50

Pros:
Inexpensive
Multiple Voltages and multiple adapter plugs allow for use by multiple devices
Comes with a cassette adapter so that you can hear audio over vehicle's sound system

Cons:
None