iPad mini iPad and USB on planes

[jerichotung]

Hi fellas.

I will be on some long flights, and I will be using taking my iPad along for entertainment.

However I was wondering if the USB port on the plane is good enough to charge the iPad, or at least keep the iPad powered via USB without decreasing the battery life.

Its the iPad Mini 1st gen, 32GB, Wifi + LTE.

Thanks for reading

 

[Aspasia]

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

 

[awair]

It should charge, however this might be slower than normal, and may not indicate charging on the iOS device.

Also note that sometimes these connections add the iDevice to the aircraft seat-back entertainment system: so you can use the superior aircraft headset, instead of your own 'buds'.

This causes the additional worry of how to safely 'eject' your device without data corruption.

I believe you can get a (third-party) cable/adapter that permits charging only over USB, and inhibits data transfer.

 

[luvmymbpr]

It should charge, however this might be slower than normal, and may not indicate charging on the iOS device.

Also note that sometimes these connections add the iDevice to the aircraft seat-back entertainment system: so you can use the superior aircraft headset, instead of your own 'buds'.

This causes the additional worry of how to safely 'eject' your device without data corruption.

I believe you can get a (third-party) cable/adapter that permits charging only over USB, and inhibits data transfer.

can't you just say "don't trust this device" when you first plug it in?

 

[jerichotung]

Hi Fellas, thanks for the replies.

I don't really need to charge; all I need is to make sure it doesn't drain the battery.

A slightly off topic question,
Is there any way to strap the iPad onto the flight entertainment system? My neck hurts when I tilt my head down for too long, yet my arms ache when holding it for too long.

Is there any makeshift, DIY solutions? I was thinking of using some velcro straps. (Assuming if the screen of the inflight entertainment system is tiltable, so i will some space to wrap the velcro strap around the iPad and the Inflight screen)

And just out of curiosity, is it possible to hook up an iPad with a Bluetooth Mouse?

Thanks for reading and bigger thanks for any responses!!!

 

[Night Spring]

A slightly off topic question,
Is there any way to strap the iPad onto the flight entertainment system? My neck hurts when I tilt my head down for too long, yet my arms ache when holding it for too long.

Is there any makeshift, DIY solutions? I was thinking of using some velcro straps. (Assuming if the screen of the inflight entertainment system is tiltable, so i will some space to wrap the velcro strap around the iPad and the Inflight screen)

And just out of curiosity, is it possible to hook up an iPad with a Bluetooth Mouse?

I tried googling "hang ipad on airplane seat" and got some interesting results.

As for Bluetooth Mouse, I believe there are tweaks for that if you jailbreak your ioad. Without a jailbreak, no way.

 

[ftaok]

The plane's USB should provide at least the minimum current for USB, which is 500 mA. iPhone chargers are 1 A, and iPads are 2.1A.

I'd say that if the seat is providing the minimum, you wouldn't be able to use and charge. If it provides, 1A, you'd be OK, unless you were playing 3D games or something.

Why don't you buy portable battery. Get a 20,000 mAh battery and you'd be set.

Also, if you're worried about hooking into the plane's entertainment system and leaving your phone exposed, just get a Charging Condom. Basically, it's a USB adapter that has it's data pins cut.

ft

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Hi fellas.

I will be on some long flights, and I will be using taking my iPad along for entertainment.

However I was wondering if the USB port on the plane is good enough to charge the iPad, or at least keep the iPad powered via USB without decreasing the battery life.

Its the iPad Mini 1st gen, 32GB, Wifi + LTE.

Thanks for reading

I flew to/from OZ, and the USB ports on the plane were not capable of charging my iPad while I was using it. It just didn't charge at all.

That has been common on every plane I've been on, so far.

Also, I have been on planes where the USB power is shutdown and nonfunctional.

I was contemplating getting a 'power brick' for the long flights so I didn't have to rely on the USB ports, having read on SeatGuru that the ports aren't very powerful at all.

There is a KickStarter fund for a USB power only limiter that sounds incredibly amazing. It only connects the power leads on the pinouts for the port. It might be a little paranoid, but, having been in hotels and discovered wide open systems, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Enjoy the flights. Vacation? Enjoy...

Oh, and Seatguru is an awesome site to explore seats when confronted with the 'pick your seat' part on the website.

 

[12091449]

it depends,..
if it's airbus A380, or Boeing 747 (will probably be 1 of these two if your flight is above 9 hours), power socket is provided at the back of each seat instead of USB socket.