AA Boeing 777 DC power source under seat

[2007 May]

Yesterday, I flew American Airline flight #137 on a Boeing 777 from
London Heathrow to LAX on economy seats.
On the overhead compartment door, there is a label "DC power source under
seat". I looked but was unable to find this power source.

Can you tell me what is the DC power voltage of this power source & max
current or wattage?
What is the sharp of this plug should be?
Can I use it to charge laptop and cell phone and use for portable DVD
players?
Is this power source for all domestic and international airlines?
How can I find more info? Thank you.

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Can you tell me what is the DC power voltage of this power source & max
current or wattage?

It's ~15V at up to ~75W in most cases. See more here:
http://www.seatguru.com/articles/in-seat_laptop_power.php

If you walk into a Frys or CompUSA and purchase a Targus or iGo "automobile"
power adapter for your laptop, it'll most likely be usable with the Empower
connector as well: The 12V cigarette lighter plug snaps onto the Empower plug.
(Check out their web sites for more info as well.)

Can I use it to charge laptop and cell phone and use for portable DVD
players?
Yes.

Is this power source for all domestic and international airlines?

No, of course not.

---Joel

 

[James Robinson]

Yesterday, I flew American Airline flight #137 on a Boeing 777 from
London Heathrow to LAX on economy seats.
On the overhead compartment door, there is a label "DC power source
under seat". I looked but was unable to find this power source.

Can you tell me what is the DC power voltage of this power source &
max current or wattage?
What is the sharp of this plug should be?
Can I use it to charge laptop and cell phone and use for portable DVD
players?
Is this power source for all domestic and international airlines?
How can I find more info? Thank you.

Each airline makes their own decision on the type of power source they
provide, and where they place the outlets in their aircraft. Seatguru
is a good place to see what is available on various aircraft and
airlines. Here is the link to a typical arrangment in American
Airlines' 777 fleet:

http://tinyurl.com/bmdo4

You can tell where the power points are by the dots on the seat chart.
You can get more information on the type by clicking on the image of the
plug toward the top of the page.

Here is a link to a general discussion of the various types of onboard
power sources:

http://www.seatguru.com/articles/in-seat_laptop_power.php

In the case of American's 777, they offer a standard cigarette style
jack, like you would find in an automobile. It is rated at 15 volts DC,
and 75 Watts. Therefore, anything that you could plug into your car
cigarette lighter, that draws less than 75 Watts (5 Amps), can be used
on the aircraft.

 

[Joerg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISPSS

Can you just plug in or do you have to slide your credit card first?

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Yesterday, I flew American Airline flight #137 on a Boeing 777 from
London Heathrow to LAX on economy seats.
On the overhead compartment door, there is a label "DC power source under
seat". I looked but was unable to find this power source.

Can you tell me what is the DC power voltage of this power source & max
current or wattage?
What is the sharp of this plug should be?
Can I use it to charge laptop and cell phone and use for portable DVD
players?
Is this power source for all domestic and international airlines?
How can I find more info? Thank you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISPSS

 

[Jan Panteltje]

It's ~15V at up to ~75W in most cases. See more here:
http://www.seatguru.com/articles/in-seat_laptop_power.php

Ooops, you mean 75W DC power, so people can do electrolysis on their water bottle
and then DETONATE the H / O2??


Water bottles forbiden from now on, oops, thea and coffee too....

Osamama

 

[James Robinson]

Can you just plug in or do you have to slide your credit card first?

At the moment, they are free, though the thought of charging probably
hasn't escaped the attention of the airline.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Water bottles forbiden from now on, oops, thea and coffee too....

And on SkyBus you have to pay for all of those - and it isn't cheap. AND you
can't bring your own food on board (which IMO sucks and is a deal breaker)!!

 

[Joerg]

At the moment, they are free, though the thought of charging probably
hasn't escaped the attention of the airline.

Maybe like the showers in cheap hotel in the UK. When I was a kid I had
my sobering experience there. The boiler was at the end of the hallway.
So you had to insert a coin and then run back to the shower. Almost when
finished the dang thing suddenly turned ice-cold.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

And on SkyBus you have to pay for all of those - and it isn't cheap. AND you
can't bring your own food on board (which IMO sucks and is a deal breaker)!!

Sounds like an advantage to me, except for bottled water. I'd rather
bring along an Angus beef sandwich or a nice bagel with cream cheese
and lox than have to suffer airline food on short flights (say 8 hours
or less).

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Maybe like the showers in cheap hotel in the UK. When I was a kid I had
my sobering experience there. The boiler was at the end of the hallway.
So you had to insert a coin and then run back to the shower. Almost when
finished the dang thing suddenly turned ice-cold.

Reminds me of this "heating on demand" water heater mounted in a
shower in a fairly modern China residence type hotel:
http://server2.hostingplex.com/~zstoretr/shower.jpg

Note the 240V electric outlet and open gas flame (showing through the
slots), gas exhaust, metal parts etc. *inside* the shower. Some
exclamation marks after the characters in the photocopied instructions
too. Lots of ways to die from that contraption.

Electronic ignition. Shut the water off and the gas flame is
immediately extinguished. The left knob says big/small flame, and the
right knob says big/small water flow. I forget what the middle one did
(a rotary switch, I thing).

 

[Joerg]

Reminds me of this "heating on demand" water heater mounted in a
shower in a fairly modern China residence type hotel:
http://server2.hostingplex.com/~zstoretr/shower.jpg

Note the 240V electric outlet and open gas flame (showing through the
slots), gas exhaust, metal parts etc. *inside* the shower. Some
exclamation marks after the characters in the photocopied instructions
too. Lots of ways to die from that contraption.

Electronic ignition. Shut the water off and the gas flame is
immediately extinguished. The left knob says big/small flame, and the
right knob says big/small water flow. I forget what the middle one did
(a rotary switch, I thing).

That sure is spooky!

 

[Joerg]

Sounds like an advantage to me, except for bottled water. I'd rather
bring along an Angus beef sandwich or a nice bagel with cream cheese
and lox than have to suffer airline food on short flights (say 8 hours
or less).

I stopped bringing the real good stuff. Like burgers I barbequed the
night before. When I opened my lunch bag on a SWA flight some of the
passengers near me almost started to drool, just from the scent. One of
them said I should bring at least 15 burgers if I did that again.

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Water bottles forbiden from now on, oops, thea and coffee too....

Here in the U.S. water and other food is OK if it's been purchased in the
"secure" area... and I think *most* airport screeners would let you through
with an empty bottle that you filled from the water fountains in the secure
area.

In the U.K. I've read that you can't really take anything on board anymore...
no laptops, DVD players, food, etc... I guess books are still OK...

And they say the terrorists aren't winning?

 

[Joerg]

Figure maybe $8 per burger, you could pay for the flight!

I'd have to sell a nice Porter along with each because it's last minute
full fare, usually

 

[David Horne, _the_ chancellor]

Here in the U.S. water and other food is OK if it's been purchased in the
"secure" area... and I think *most* airport screeners would let you through
with an empty bottle that you filled from the water fountains in the secure
area.

In the U.K. I've read that you can't really take anything on board anymore...
no laptops, DVD players, food, etc... I guess books are still OK...

Of course you can. Where exactly did you read this rubbish?

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Sounds like an advantage to me, except for bottled water. I'd rather
bring along an Angus beef sandwich or a nice bagel with cream cheese
and lox than have to suffer airline food on short flights (say 8 hours
or less).

You miss the point. Like a movie theatre, you may NOT bring any of your own
food on board, you must buy it from the hostess/server or do without.

=============================================

Policy: Can I bring my own food or drinks on board?

No. Skybus fares are very, very low in part because that's all you're paying
for: your air fare. That means no free peanuts. (Actually, no one seems to
miss them). And we ask that you not bring your own food or drinks on board.
The only exception is for passengers who will need food that we're unable to
provide, for example baby formula or baby food, special food for those with
a medical condition such as diabetes or severe food allergies, or those with
dietary restrictions (Kosher, Muslim, etc).

On the other hand, Skybus flights are very, very comfortable partly because
you can buy delicious snacks and beverages you actually want during your
flight. Or not. It's your choice.

To keep everything tidy and organized, we do ask that you finish any snacks
and drinks you purchase on your own before boarding, as you are not
permitted to bring them on our aircraft.

 

[Joel Kolstad]

Of course you can. Where exactly did you read this rubbish?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778771.stm

It wasn't that particular article, of course -- I heard of it last time I
booked a flight a few months ago and it had some disclaimer about, "if you're
traveling to the U.K., you're basically screwed" (I wasn't...).

Apparently they've since rescinded the restrictions?

 

[David Horne, _the_ chancellor]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778771.stm

You're quoting a new article almost immediately after the 'plot' in
August.

It wasn't that particular article, of course -- I heard of it last time I
booked a flight a few months ago and it had some disclaimer about, "if you're
traveling to the U.K., you're basically screwed" (I wasn't...).

You were completely misinformed then. Those restrictions were rescinded
months ago- at least half a year ago. Certain liquid restrictions
remain- these are EU wide.

 

[Joerg]

Here in the U.S. water and other food is OK if it's been purchased in the
"secure" area...

I always bring the good stuff, from home. Hasn't been a problem yet.
Place in separate large clear ziplock bags and spread out openly. Got me
some kudos a couple times. "Look, folks, this here is how it's supposed
to be."

... and I think *most* airport screeners would let you through
with an empty bottle that you filled from the water fountains in the secure
area.

Worked for me, so far. But the first time I had a wee bit of water left
in it and they took it away even though it was under 3oz.

In the U.K. I've read that you can't really take anything on board anymore...
no laptops, DVD players, food, etc... I guess books are still OK...

And they say the terrorists aren't winning?

Long term they won't be winning. I grew up in Germany and they had a bad
bout with terrorism in the 70's. Really bad. Pretty frightening, I'd be
looking into the barrel of an automatic weapon every day at the border,
held by a trembling young lad from their border patrol. Did the
terrorists win? Nope. Many of them are still thinking about their
"mighty acts" behind bars. The patrol points are long gone, life went
back to normal. Except that now another set of terrorists is creeping up
and many Europeans seem blissfully unaware at this point. Or maybe they
don't want to see it, I don't know.