What is the likelihood of electric outlets on airplanes in the future?
Mar 1, 2015, 10:41 am
#16
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the problem is not the voltage. 110V is ok. 10 amps is too much power to pipe to all the seats. 10 amps to 400 seats is 4000 amps, which is 400kva. that enough to heat a couple houses, or fry a few passengers
Mar 1, 2015, 12:36 pm
#17
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What type of appliance are you plugging in which draws 10A @ 110V?? 
That's like putting a toaster at every seat, not a computer.
Much more common is .75-1.75A at 110V. Still a lot of power to push to every seat but not nearly as crazy as 10A.
That's like putting a toaster at every seat, not a computer.
Much more common is .75-1.75A at 110V. Still a lot of power to push to every seat but not nearly as crazy as 10A.
Mar 1, 2015, 5:30 pm
#19
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well, 2 amps a seat is more than a toaster a row.
Mar 1, 2015, 5:51 pm
#20
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Mar 1, 2015, 7:57 pm
#21
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On narrow-body planes the US carriers are split a bit. But most have at least some planes with power and are moving to add more.
Mar 2, 2015, 4:22 am
#24
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It's not as straightforward as it might sound, as other transport operators, like rail, have found. The main problem is that people plug unsuitable items in, draw too much current, miswired, bend the power socket itself,, stick hairclips in, whatever (ask any hotel electrician), and in an aircraft you can't risk having an electrical fire resulting from this. So there are all sorts of fuses, circuit breakers, and other protections needed. This then gives the problem that if the cutout operates, how do you reset it, or even find it needs doing. You can't automatically reset before every flight because the fault may be in the installation itself (the hairclips one etc). It's all ultimately fixable but it's weight, expense, something more to maintain, and the source of complaints if it's cut out because of what somebody did the previous flight.
Mar 2, 2015, 4:37 am
#25
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It's not as straightforward as it might sound, as other transport operators, like rail, have found. The main problem is that people plug unsuitable items in, draw too much current, miswired, bend the power socket itself,, stick hairclips in, whatever (ask any hotel electrician), and in an aircraft you can't risk having an electrical fire resulting from this. So there are all sorts of fuses, circuit breakers, and other protections needed. This then gives the problem that if the cutout operates, how do you reset it, or even find it needs doing. You can't automatically reset before every flight because the fault may be in the installation itself (the hairclips one etc). It's all ultimately fixable but it's weight, expense, something more to maintain, and the source of complaints if it's cut out because of what somebody did the previous flight.
Seriously, though, I hadn't thought of all those issues which I can see will be beyond the abilities of the cleaning crew to find or fix.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:29 am
#26
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With more and more of the population being diagnosed with sleep apnea, the long haul flights are going to need outlets to power CPAP machines. A friend of mine recently took a red eye flight, and he picked his flight based on which plane had power outlets. I'm sure he's not the only one who does that.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:45 am
#27
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Yes, you don't give this work to a bottom-bidder cleaning company, that's for the base engineer. We don't have flight engineers any more.
Those from the UK will be familiar with "PAT testing", that is Portable Appliance Testing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_appliance_testing which is exactly designed to test anything "portable" before it is connected to the power at a workplace (think cabin crew). The whole reason behind this was all the electrical fires such devices traditionally caused. A rental company that hires out electric items will always test each one before each rental. The aircraft electrical supply has to effectively self-test everything plugged into it. Which they do. But it's expensive.
Those from the UK will be familiar with "PAT testing", that is Portable Appliance Testing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_appliance_testing which is exactly designed to test anything "portable" before it is connected to the power at a workplace (think cabin crew). The whole reason behind this was all the electrical fires such devices traditionally caused. A rental company that hires out electric items will always test each one before each rental. The aircraft electrical supply has to effectively self-test everything plugged into it. Which they do. But it's expensive.
Mar 2, 2015, 10:39 am
#28
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It's not as straightforward as it might sound, as other transport operators, like rail, have found. The main problem is that people plug unsuitable items in, draw too much current, miswired, bend the power socket itself,, stick hairclips in, whatever (ask any hotel electrician), and in an aircraft you can't risk having an electrical fire resulting from this. So there are all sorts of fuses, circuit breakers, and other protections needed. This then gives the problem that if the cutout operates, how do you reset it, or even find it needs doing. You can't automatically reset before every flight because the fault may be in the installation itself (the hairclips one etc). It's all ultimately fixable but it's weight, expense, something more to maintain, and the source of complaints if it's cut out because of what somebody did the previous flight.
More than once I've been in this seat and had an attendant ask me to get up so he/she could reset the circuit.
Mar 4, 2015, 8:02 am
#29
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I'm remember seeing that propaganda as part of their "New American" campaign a couple years back. Still have yet to sit in a 738 with USB or universal plugs in steerage.