737ng plug above FO's head

[rarechip]

Hi all

Anyone know what adapter you need to connect to this socket ? Wana charge my iPhone up etc

Thanks

Rarechip

[B737900er]

It's a flat pin, just as the yanks use BUT I remember reading somewhere ( FCOM I believe) that the plug can only be used if the electronic device has been approved to use it and can't be used for every day use.

I've used it a few times to charge company phones and EFB's but make sure you use the right socket!!

[violator]

Your iPhone is not approved for charging in flight.

Investigation: AO-2011-149 - Smoke event - SAAB 340B, VH-PRX, Sydney Airport, NSW, 25 November 2011 (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-149.aspx)

[de facto]

Damn,all my fos use it to charge their iphones,never got smoke out of it..yet.

[Flying Wild]

Your iPhone is not approved for charging in flight.

Investigation: AO-2011-149 - Smoke event - SAAB 340B, VH-PRX, Sydney Airport, NSW, 25 November 2011 (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-149.aspx)

What has that article got to do with charging in flight? It's about a battery going awry due to an incompetent repair.

[Denti]

Depends what kind of plugs you have there. We have two, one 115v 400Hz AC and a 28v DC. Both have the exact same design. the AC plus is used to charge the EFBs (and yes, they're certified for that) and occasionally the aircraft mobile. Another AC plug for the same purpose exists behind the CPT. The DC plus is usually not used, no idea why it is there in the first place.

[eagleflier]

Never seen the one behind the captain, they always use the one behind me. (737- 300/400/700/800)

[GarageYears]

I found the following on the Phihong website (they manufacturer a high proportion of the worlds switching power supplies):

AC Input Frequency – The nominal range of 47 to 63 Hz is important in linear power supplies, but most switchers are insensitive to input frequency and can operate from DC to 400Hz. This is especially important in countries where the power may be of poor quality.

(Ref: Technical Glossary (http://www.phihong.com/html/technical_glossary.html))

So long as the device you are connecting has a supply that states it will take 110-240V (without you having to select anything) then you can pretty safely assume it is a switching supply and will work on connected to a 115V/400Hz source.

- GY

[violator]

What has that article got to do with charging in flight?

Doesn't it make you even more worried? It had a thermal runaway just sat on its own. And you want this happening in your cockpit?

FAA's battery incident chart (http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/aircarrier_info/media/Battery_incident_chart.pdf)

I wouldn't like my crew covered in "molten burning lithium" or "flammable electrolyte", to quote the FAA.

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos/media/2009/SAFO09013.pdf

So, I repeat, charging your iPhone is not certified. By doing so you are at least doing something unapproved, at worst you are endangering the aircraft.

[b737NGyyc]

I have always been afraid to plug in any sensitive electronics into that plug as typical North American voltage is 115V 60Hz and that socket is 115V 400Hz. I have seen the groomers on the aircraft and they use a BIG stepdown transformer when plugging in their vacuum cleaners.

I wont plug my $500+ phone or iPad in there.

[EEngr]

I wont plug my $500+ phone or iPad in there.Its the wall wart that will fail. As GarageYears has stated, a switch-mode power supply will most likely tolerate 400 Hz. The iPad/Phone/Whatever will be OK regardless. I'd still want some assurance from the manufacturer (of the wall wart) that it is good for that frequency/voltage. Just to CYA in the event it does drip hot plastic.

But then I guess that's why they put in over the FO's head.;)

[Dougie_diesel]

Remember seeing this advertised somewhere, possibly on this site......

http://globalnavigationsciences.com/Docs/USB_Spec_C_r1a.pdf

[AAIGUY]

I've used it on B737 and now on the A330 for my iDevices. Never a problem

[Flightaddict]

The adapter for the IPad is very usefull because when using the Jeppsen FD the battery last maybe 2/3 hours with the gps always updating the position..

Hope becoming standard by Boeing :}:}:}:}

[EEngr]

Remember seeing this advertised somewhere, possibly on this site......

http://globalnavigationsciences.co/Docs/USB_Spec_C_r1a.pdf
Not bad. But I suspect that this probably contains a switch-mode power supply. If a linear supply at the higher end of its input rating (34 Volts), it could be dissipating close to 90 Watts. I doubt that would be acceptable.

From that link:

Because the source is DC, the charger circuitry is EMI silent and does not have the concerns of shielding a
115VAC/400Hz device to be DO-160 compliant.
Not at all true if its a switcher. Even with a DC input, these things (if poorly designed) can throw out quite a bit of ~100 kHz plus harmonics noise. The object lesson here is to have the appropriate EMI testing done on anything plugged into an aircraft system. A device running on batteries may emit some radiated r.f. But conducted interference (from stuff plugged in) can be far worse. :8

[ross_M]

I have always been afraid to plug in any sensitive electronics into that plug as typical North American voltage is 115V 60Hz and that socket is 115V 400Hz. I have seen the groomers on the aircraft and they use a BIG stepdown transformer when plugging in their vacuum cleaners.


How would a step-down transformer help change the frequency? :confused:

We have two, one 115v 400Hz AC and a 28v DC. Both have the exact same design.


Some pretty smart design that. To give those two different plugs identical designs. :rolleyes:

[STBYRUD]

Just to be clear, on the 737 the DC connector is 90° turned in relation to the AC outlet, the DC outlet is a NEMA 6-15. It looks similar at first glance to a normal US 5-15 in this configuration because the pins are all oriented vertically, but they are different sockets nonetheless.

On a different note I've never seen the cleaners use a transformer (which as was pointed out already would not do anything to the frequency), the ones I have seen all plugged in directly to the galley outlets.