HDQDD

This. I've never used onboard power. And I would never plug anything into a random USB outlet. Bad OPSEC.

ajGoes

Why not use a USB condom like ? It doesn't connect the data pins so there's no path for malware to enter your device.

Craig6z

While I see this solves the potential malware problem, AFAIK the USB ports on planes are 0.5 amps. At that low current flow, very few devices other than a smartphone will benefit from the miniscule 2.5 watt output. Even a smartphone (in airplane mode) may draw more current than being replaced, depending on what you are doing with it

Mike Rivers

Honestly, I didn't realize that the airplane outlets even had a hole for a ground pin. It's not necessary for safety on an airplane since neither of the two power pins are "grounded," and all of the wall-wart style chargers I've seen don't have a grounding pin, though I used to have a laptop computer that had a power supply with a grounded plug. As far as the weight is concerned, those are fairly heavily insulated 16 gauge wire and can act as a pretty good lever on a flimsy outlet. I think you've just been lucky with the support gained from the third pin.

Anything that increases the length extending out from the socket increases the risk that, even with a reasonably snug fit, it will get knocked out by an inadvertent kick when you or your seat neighbor moves a leg, or crosses your plug when getting out of their seat. Power at the seat is a nice perk when it works, but I've learned not to depend on it being there.

I carry a 6 foot lighter gauge extension cord with me in my laptop bag, in addition to a three-outlet tap with the grounding pin. Now that I've been made aware that the airplane outlets accommodate a three-pin plug, I'll give my triple tap a try next time I encounter a loose outlet. It might help, though I'm going to look for a European-pinned charger, a less haywire solution.

I have an adapter, but (as above) it adds about another inch and a half to the "level" attempting to pry the plug out of the socket.

HDQDD

This. I carry an inline meter to see how many amps I'm pulling (they're like $7 on Amazon). I did check a DL plane once and it was 500mA (0.5A) which takes forever to charge most devices. iPhone for example pulls about 1.5A at peak then drops down to about 1.1 and then lower as it reaches 100%. iPad ~2.3A peak. IIRC, an iPad will not even charge off of 500mA.

500mA was the original spec for USB power Eons ago, but there are still many devices out there that only support 500mA. My power bank provides 4A, so that's plenty to charge either an iPad or iPhone. My laptop usually lasts 6-8hr so I just charge it prior to flight.

Points Scrounger

Sorry, but I can't link from Amazon shopping on my phone, so here are the keywords. Granted, no grounding, but it's available at a reasonable price in the States, with a Europlug (Type C) as default. I keep it in a large soft pencil case, along with a spare USB cable, my Kindle Fire fast charger and the included C to A (for Japanese and N. American sockets) piece.



ROAD WARRIOR 3-Outlet Travel Universal Power Strip, Designed in JAPAN - Go!Con Tap RW47BK-US [Black]

Mike Rivers

I know that this is Flyer Talk, but being on an airplane isn't like being at home. I don't expect a full recharge from near-dead even on a 4 hour flight. I use my phone to listen to pre-loaded music and start out with a full charge. Having power on board lets me keep up with the relatively small power demand and I can leave the flight at near what I started out with. If I watched a movie on the phone, as it seems is the trend on airplanes these days, with the screen and WiFi on all the time, I can understand why a 500 mA-Hr charge wouldn't quite keep up.

I ran across that Road Warrior when looking for a European USB charger, but it was too large for me to want to carry. I already have my computer bag stuffed to the gills with cables, adapters, headphones (I hate "buds), mouse, a book, a snack, etc. This one is more my speed. Ten bucks for two, and it has two outlets so you can share it with a seat mate whose US adapter keeps falling out of the outlet.

HDQDD

Thanks for that "insight"...?

Me either, which is why I suggested (and subscribe to) bringing your own power. Even if an airline has higher Amperage power outlets, there's always the chance it could be INOP at your seat.

kennycrudup

I use one of those 99-cent 3-prong-to-2-prong adapters (the kind like you'd use for plugging in a grounded device into a very old home). They have flexible prongs(? tines?) that I can spread as necessary to get it to fit; works well in the hotel room case as well. But thanks for the British adapter Pro-Tip for plane usage!