gregcampbellusa(at)gmail.
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 Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:17 am Post subject: Cigarette Lighter Alternatives -> EmPower ARINC 628, PowerLe |
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ISPSS ==> In-Seat Power Supply System (ISPSS) - a fancy acronym for power ports in airplanes.
Cigarette Lighter sockets in a plane or other vehicle make it easy to connect 12v Accessories,
but the plugs are bulky, the connections are unreliable and easily disrupted, and sometimes even
hot or dangerous! See...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_plug
http://www.powerletproducts.com/documentation/glossary.html
EmPower is the name for the in seat power system used by most airlines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EmPower
They have AC and DC versions, but the most common is the 15v DC version.
The original "EmPower Classic" put out 15vdc.
The second generation "EmPower" standardized on the ARINC 628 "Part Two" connector.
It's supposed to power laptops up to 150 Watts according to:
http://www.astronicsaes.com/products/empower.asp
I searched for ARINC 628 connectors and found the power plugs are rated at 8 Amps.
[url=http://www.hypertronics.com/PDFs/ARINC 628.pdf]http://www.hypertronics.com/PDFs/ARINC 628.pdf[/url]
Perhaps there are "better" connectors that are rated at 10 Amps.
(EmPower says the max is 150 Watts = 15 vDC (at) 10 Amps.)
This is adequate for my GPS, cell phone, portable DVD player, etc..,
but my Kensington "Universal 120 Watt AC/DC Power Adpater" says it
takes in up to 11 Amps input when being powered from 12 to 16 vdc.
My HP "Airline Charger" specifically cautions against using the higher current
"charge" mode when plugged into an airliner power jack. (It has a button -
in one mode it will run the laptop but not charge it, the other will charge it.)
So... I can only assume that 11 Amps is more than most airline seats can (safely) put out,
and that makes sense since the ARINC 628 power conductors are only rated at 8 to 10 Amps.
For higher Amp requirements - there is the elegant: "PowerLet" connections.
http://www.powerletproducts.com/products.php?mid=1
These are compact, single handed, reliable connections that will handle higher loads.
Typically they are used in Europe and are standard on BMW motorcycles.
Many of the "heated clothing" things that bikers wear will plug into these gizmos.
A 15 Amp connection is easily accommodated. Check for these online or at a motorcycle shop.
Avoid the cheaper plastic connectors for high amp connections - as they may get warm.
For special and limited purposes - there is also the "2 wire trailer plug".
These pop up on most of the new crop of trickle chargers.
The trickle charger ends in one terminal and then you plug in
either a set of ring terminals, a cigarette plug, or battery clips using another terminal.
These can work for reasonable currents - but it depends on the size of the wire
as much as the connector. Plus - it's possible to botch the polarity and fry something.
I have one of the ring terminal types hard wired into my plane so I can use the trickle charger,
but otherwise I haven't used these connectors extensively.
These connectors are frequently available at Radio Shack and auto part stores.
The size & quality of the wire used varies widely.
Anyway - I thought I'd toss this bit of research out there. I'm going to be adding a few
ARINC 628 Part Two sockets to my plane - and possibly to my cars. If it avoids a single
"bump induced" bout of "The DVD went off!!!" it will be well worth it. 
Greg
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