Sansa Clip+: can't play audio and charge simultaneously

[Pete7874]

Hello,

I've got Clip+ running Rockbox 3.13.  I am unable to force the device to play audio while being charged.  Tried using a data-only USB cable.  Tried pressing the center button (or any other button) while connecting the device to a power source.  None of this works.  After connecting the device to power source, the display on the device still continues to show that the audio is playing (song playing time is advancing), but there is just no signal coming out of the headphone/audio jack.  When I disconnect the USB cable, audio comes back.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

EDIT: Correction:  if I plug in headphones to the audio port on the device, there is sound.  But if I connect that audio port to an external powered speaker or receiver, then the sound disappears.

[saratoga]

The ground on the headphone jack on the clip is not the same as ground on the USB connector.  Your stereo AUX port and DC power supply are probably shorting their grounds together, which shorts out the Clip's headphone jack.  The player then shuts down the audio in order to avoid burning out the amp.

You need something like this that can isolate DC:

http://www.amazon.com/PAC-SNI-1-3-5-3-5-mm-Isolator/dp/B001EAQTRI

(never used that specific model so I can't comment on if its the best one)

[Pete7874]

Whoa!  Thanks very much.  I actually have one of these ground loop isolators (not the same one as you linked to).  I just plugged it inline and voila: there is simultaneous charging and sound! 

Thank you!