PIREP: ForeFlight - charging devices in flight

TangoWhiskey

TangoWhiskey

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
14,210
Location
Midlothian, TX
Display Name
3Green
Home Airfield
KJWY - Mid-Way Regional
Most of the planes I fly have a 12V cigarette lighter adapter... but a few in the rental fleet do not, and there's always the possibility of a charger / adapter failure. I also travel a lot for business, and sometimes don't have a place to easily charge a phone (which would require stopping to plug in).

Since I'm using my iPad for primary charts now (with ForeFlight), and an XGPS150 (which also charges via USB connector), I picked up a couple of these New Trent 11000 mAH charging bricks. So far, so good! I can charge my phone in my backpack, on the move... or recharge my iPad or GPS during a stop or layover or inflight, without needing a wall outlet or 12V auto outlet.

41pNAAGWI3L._SS400_.jpg
 
I got a couple of them too, but haven't used them in flight yet. Have you found any issues with interference? I noted that I heard noise on our FM radio at home when using it.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
How much are they? Is there a similar device that just uses batteries?
Click to expand...

This uses batteries, Kimberley... You charge the "brick" at home and then use it on the road to recharge other devices. Size is under 4" square, 3/4"-1" thick. Weight is .62 pounds. Takes 7 hours to recharge on A/C power if empty, and it can last about 500 cycles per the documentation. Delivers 11.1 Amp Hours at 3.7V. I wouldn't charge them up all the time, I think I'll just plan to charge them both the night before a long flying trip, and then at hotels or wherever I can after. And yes, when I connect it to my iPad using the white iPad charging USB cable that normally plugs into the white A/C power plug, I get a battery with an A/C plug indication on my iPad... it thinks I'm charging off a wall outlet. It runs cool, too--case doesn't get hot or even mildly warm.
 
gprellwitz said:
I got a couple of them too, but haven't used them in flight yet. Have you found any issues with interference? I noted that I heard noise on our FM radio at home when using it.
Click to expand...

When charging, or when using to power a device?

I haven't tried it in flight yet... I'll be careful to note on the ground any change in breaking squelch, affecting compass, headsets, avionics....
 
TangoWhiskey said:
When charging, or when using to power a device?

I haven't tried it in flight yet... I'll be careful to note on the ground any change in breaking squelch, affecting compass, headsets, avionics....
Click to expand...
When using it to power a device.

And just to clarify for Kimberly, it uses built-in rechargeable batteries. You can't replace them.
 
to ditto Dan above on the solar panel, but I use this for my battery pack:

41NM6LysMWL._SS500_.jpg


mostly used to power my cpap for camping and power outages
 
gprellwitz said:
When using it to power a device.

And just to clarify for Kimberly, it uses built-in rechargeable batteries. You can't replace them.
Click to expand...

No no no. I mean batteries. I have seen devices where you don't even need a wall outlet. Like a long XC where you know you won't have those "seven hours" to charge the brick. I realize using AA's sounds wasteful but I've seen chargers like that sold at Costco for about $30.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
No no no. I mean batteries. I have seen devices where you don't even need a wall outlet. Like a long XC where you know you won't have those "seven hours" to charge the brick. I realize using AA's sounds wasteful but I've seen chargers like that sold at Costco for about $30.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's why I meant to clarify Troy's post where he said that these took batteries. These do not take anything that you can pick up already charged at a corner store!
 
Last edited:
Does anybody use the car charger for the iPad in the cigarette lighter of their airplane? If not, why not?
 
Pa28-140 said:
Does anybody use the car charger for the iPad in the cigarette lighter of their airplane? If not, why not?
Click to expand...

Yes.

My first line backup though is a fully charged Iphone, should the Ipad go South. I like the idea of the battery pack but it's overkill for most of my needs.
 
Pa28-140 said:
Does anybody use the car charger for the iPad in the cigarette lighter of their airplane? If not, why not?
Click to expand...
I know Scott has run a 12v power up to his iPad, and I think it was using a standard car charger.
 
I haven't used any of the other devices, but I picked up the New Trent last year for a flight down to TX (11 hours flight time down, and 7.5 back). It did a fine job of powering the iPad, and it may have even recharged the iPad battery a little while in use. I did each trip in three legs, with an hour on the ground for rest, during which I recharged everything from an AC outlet in the FBO. With full charges on the iPad and the brick, I had more than enough power for the trip.

TangoWhiskey said:
Most of the planes I fly have a 12V cigarette lighter adapter... but a few in the rental fleet do not, and there's always the possibility of a charger / adapter failure. I also travel a lot for business, and sometimes don't have a place to easily charge a phone (which would require stopping to plug in).

Since I'm using my iPad for primary charts now (with ForeFlight), and an XGPS150 (which also charges via USB connector), I picked up a couple of these New Trent 11000 mAH charging bricks. So far, so good! I can charge my phone in my backpack, on the move... or recharge my iPad or GPS during a stop or layover or inflight, without needing a wall outlet or 12V auto outlet.

41pNAAGWI3L._SS400_.jpg
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top