frappant

Of course people will use their devices on flights.


And they'll charge them on board too ...

ToSRQ

Link to a story?

Bandicoot

Link: https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2...isk-of-a-fire/

This seems like something that will be completely ignored and completely unenforceable too...

I'm sure I'm not alone in being the kind of person who diligently charges all devices to 100% before setting off on a trip - had too many incidents in the past where I couldn't charge my device en route or at the destination and absolutely needed phone navigation or communication at the destination. Last thing I'd want to do at a strange new location in a country I'm not familiar with, perhaps late at night, is to go searching for a charging outlet instead of being on my way to my hotel room...

ToSRQ

This is similar to "turn off all electronic devices before takeoff"

frappant

Embedded tweet not showing up.

Need

Not exactly. It is "recommended" to not charge to full. It is more like "Even when the seat belt is off, it is recommended that you still fasten your seatbelt." BTW, unless you are charging the phone at by the gate or in the lounge, it is not possible to have your phone at 100% during takeoff. When I am sitting by the gate, 80% of the people are looking at their phones or listening to music from their phones.

HDQDD

Not sure how reliable a blog is...but in general it's never a good idea to charge a Li-Ion battery to 100% (or discharge it to 0%). It stresses the battery. I have my laptop set to only charge to 90%. My EV set to 85%. My phone and tablet still charge to 100%, mostly because I have no control over Apple's walled children's playground. I don't really care on my phone because I just need it to last 2 years until I can get a new one. I'd like to think that manufacturers leave some overhead that isn't always used, but I doubt it.

KRSW

If you have something with a rechargeable battery, it needs to be in the cabin with you, preferably within view for the duration of the flight.
There's at least one lithium battery overheating event per week in the USA: https://explore.dot.gov/t/FAA/views/...ncidentDetails

We've been lucky so far., BUT at some point, one of these fires will happen in the cargo hold and a few hundred people will die. When I fly, all of our devices with lithium batteries AND spares are within view and within reach at all times. I probably should pick up a LiIon fire containment bag at some point. I believe many airlines are carrying these now, but they're not required to.

mozilla

This is also one of the reasons why new devices with Li-Ion batteries aren't fully charged when leaving the factory. It's not just to save money (better: that's not the only reason).

AFAIK this is less of an issue in modern devices, which have much better battery protection algorithms. In these devices, when the software says "100%," it will actually be lower than 100% in the battery, and "0%" will actually be higher than 0%.

Well, they have happened in cargo holds; just ask UPS. IIRC until this day only cargo pilots have perished as a result, although a Li-Ion fire has been mentioned as a possible cause for the disappearance of MH370.

HDQDD

Sometimes, there are buffers, but they are minimal and usually only on the lower end. It's not really in the interest of electronics manufacturers to make battery capacity that isn't used.

FWIW: Apple tapers charging beginning at 80% on iPhones and 90% on iPads to dissipate heat. They also "optimize charging at 80%" until an hour or so before they think you wake up. Almost all manufacturers have some version of that.

My EV warns me every time I set the charge target over 90% Paraphrase: "Charging the battery over 90% should only be used for long trips. Continuous charging to 90% can shorten the life of your battery".


I don't profess to know what happened on MH370 (but I'd love an answer to that mystery). However, a fire that manages to kill/incapacitate everyone onboard...disable tracking systems...change heading to fly somewhere without radar coverage...and continue flying for 6 more hours is highly unlikely.

frappant

Remember the plan a few years ago by DHS to require checking all bags, because they could all be run through scanners?

People had to point out that it wouldn't be a good idea to put lithium batteries or devices in the cargo hold.

izint

Most of my devices won't even stay at 100% for long, so it isn't really too big of a deal to keep it below 100

docbert

I flew several times during the window when electronics devices larger than a cell phone were not allowed in the cabin from certain countries - including flying from Turkey to the US on either the first or second day of those rules being in place, which was pretty much pure chaos at the boarding gate.

Thankfully, to be best of my knowledge, we made it through that window without anything catching alight in the cargo hold of any aircraft.

draver

My personal experience with iPhones is that they report battery % at a higher level than it's true charge. For the past 3-4 years with the latest model iPhone each year, I have used an ammeter in my charging circuit. When the phone display meter hits 100%, the charge current drops gradually from 1.6 amps at 95% to around .8-1A at 100%. It then tapers off slowly for about 30-45 minutes to .5A or so. This trickle will power the screen (Set to 50% brightness per Siri), cellular, gps, etc. continuously until removed from the wireless stand. I suspect this is for several reasons, but mostly so that people don't have to wait as long to hit the "Full 100%" charge level before unplugging, and also to protect the battery to some degree I suppose.

Here is a link to an updated meter from Amazon I'm using. Mine is older, and does not have the mode switch and only reads Volt, Amps.

flyer.yvr

Had this same thought