Originally Posted by
phkc070408
When flying EWR-ORD in F on the 737-900 and ORD-PEK on the upper deck of the 747, I was having problems charging my devices. It seams that sometimes, not always, when I plugged my charger into the AC power, the green light would go off, and it would come back on when I pulled it out. It happened more on the second half of both flights. I was only trying to charge my iPad with a 2.1 Amp charger. Thankfully in J they had the USB plug as well. While that did not provide enough power to charge my iPad, it definitely kept it from draining as fast.
Flying home, we will be on the sCO 777-200ER NRT-EWR in Y. We are taking codeshare NQ or NH from CAN to NRT and we only have about two hours on the ground, so I may not get everything fully recharged. We are returning in Y so we won’t have the USB plug.
Are there any tricks or idiosyncrasies with the power that would prevent it from failing halfway through the flight? Is there anything I can do to prevent the green light from turning off when I plug something in? Is there anything the FA’s can do if I have that problem?
Thanks in advanced.
The physical plug itself is also "checked" to avoid anything besides an accepted plug type. This system can be particularly finicky with two-pronged adapters and one power is cut it will remain cut until the device is completely removed an reinserted. That may have been your issue, my suggestion would be to grab a something with a ground plug (a good example would be
or a short extension cord, although your local hardware store should have it at a much better price).
Originally Posted by
phkc070408
So why would UA design a system that is unable to handle the load that one can reasonably expect it to be used at?
Then again, why would they buy a wifi system that can't handle capacity either. I guess I just answered my own question.
$$$$$$$$$$$
Actually every power system has almost the exact same design due to the safety regulations (which are a
very good idea). Electricity is both the life-blood of complex avionics (and in the case of the 787 used extensively in the flight controls) and of extreme potential danger to the aircraft. Both of those needs come before the outlet under your seat and require complex systems (with very conservative limits) to service.