The Targus I've got will run, but not charge, the D620 and D630. I don't have the adapter here to check the model, but I would trust their compatibility checker to give you something that will, in fact work:
http://www.targus.com/us/tipconfigur....aspx?region=1

Just realized that the new UA 747 C cabin have a slot for 2 US prongs, and the FA and my seatmate said I don't need any special converters or adapters.

Anyone know if it is bad to plug a laptop with an OEM AC Adapter (60W 20V; the one I use on land) into a plane? Will the lower power or the fluctuations on board damage the laptop?

Thanks.

Don't worry - won't be a problem.

True, such power isn't as clean as what you'd normally get on land (as it's quite likely coming off the plane's power inverter that has choppier voltage; the resulting "AC" voltage isn't a super nice sine wave).

Yet OTOH, it's your AC adapter's job to convert AC to DC and it does it pretty well. Trust it. Internal electronics limit the voltage to a steady value that is much lower than the input, capacitors accumulate charge to slightly compensate when needed and low-pass filtering removes some unwanted spikes and noise.

This choppy type of AC you get from such a setup would probably be a no-go for any equipment that was sensitive to line noise, but a laptop AC adapter definitely isn't such a device.

View it like a funnel: Does the agitation of the water surface matter on the steadiness of the output flow? It doesn't (unless it becomes quite catastrophic) - well, same thing with your AC adapter. As long as your laptop requires less than the adapter's rated output power (and less than what the airline provides, at all times :-)), you will be OK.

2 Port USB Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter Dual Plug for iPod MP3 Players Charger - Color White
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CC6I5W?

Or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Power-compatib...ef=pd_sbs_ol_6

Thanks!

the review of the second one seems a bit scary

Broke after a year and shorted out every cigarette lighter it got plugged into

Should work.

This one is likely to cause the outlet to shut down; the wattage is too high:
300 watts of surge capacity, 175 watts peak power, 150 watts continuous power.
The empower/lighter style outlets might handle a 75-watt inverter. Definitely NOT a 150 watt. You're much better off with a direct DC-to-DC.

I've read the entire thread. It appears that neither my OEM adapter nor Kensington 120W slim unit will work with many planes, which provide ~75W only.

On many flights (747s on DL), I've had the laptop not charge properly because 2 seconds after I plug it in, the power "goes out". I unplug the adapter from the laptop, and the seat outlet, then plug the adapter back in (without laptop), the light comes on. However, 2 seconds after I plug the laptop in, the light goes away. I guess this is the outlet tripping out.

I've yet to try some of the solutions proposed here: (turning off the seat massage-er, turning off the IFE (TV screen) and lights.

2 questions:

1. Does anyone know if Dell E6400 (14-15" laptops) will charge (powered down) with ~75W?

2. Any recommendations on a 75W or lower universal adapter/charger? Or at least one that will TAKE 75W and not "trip out" the plane's outlet?

I have been on I-GO website trying to figure out what to get to have power from the airline seat, I don't understand how the I go juice fits into the power plug on airline seats?? Is it the car charger you user for that????

I have not been able to find the In flight usp power unit that was also mentioned (article in a gadget review) I have searched for it. It was from 2006 so there may not be that particular device anymore

I am wanting to have power for my small portable dvd player (multi region), cheapo (Philips) that has as basic DC 9.5V/12V in (with the pin type adaptor for the charger). The battery lasts only about 2 hrs, and the battery that fits on it is heavy. I cant play those dvds on my Apple 17' laptop. We have a 7 hr flight.

I like the I-go stuff, and want to order the juice, but need to know if I will be able to use it for the DVD player

thanks
JK

You mention the BA 777 and the charging of batteries, well, actually the power source on board is just that, a power source and is not to be used to recharge or charge batteries... If the laptop ( which BY THE WAY is all it is to be used for ) is no longer in use, it is to be unplugged...

Right. Small devices such as cell phone might be charged of on board power, but it's not meant to charge more power hungry gadgets such as a laptop, which can be run off on-board power. It's a good idea to ensure your laptop is fully charged at home or office.

Does anyone know of an external battery for MacBook Pro Laptops?

I feel like I can get 3 to 3.5 hours out of my laptop battery, but end up needing more on a transcon flights to LAX or SFO.

Any recommendations?

Was flying Biz First on a re-configured 777-200 I think with the power outlets and those outlets could not power my XPS laptop at all.

Any ideas?

5/21 Update: Upon further research, I just realized that my seating had the Empower in-flight power, but I was not using an appropriate adapter for Empower, hence my laptop's AC adapter would not work with it.