JwWright57
Well Known Member
Hi all. Anyone know how much juice the USB power outlets put out? Just curious.
Hi all. Anyone know how much juice the USB power outlets put out? Just curious.
Hi all. Anyone know how much juice the USB power outlets put out? Just curious.
I replaced by USB power outlet today with one that supports USB PD. Here's the 5 minute video of the job:
https://youtu.be/TvemvXvWWTc
I just checked on my 12iS and it is the same outlet shown in post #2.
So the answer is each jack puts out 5 volts 2.4 amps.
View attachment 20432
I mean, all these things are made in China on the cheap all the while advertising perfect specifications.
I believe the standard is 1.2A. I would install one the puts out 2.4A. These provide better power to Ipads and other power hungry items. The 1.2A ones barely charge the cell phones when not being used and take FOREVER to fully charge. That's my current experience anyways.
Stein has good one like these:
https://www.steinair.com/product/dual-usb-panel-jack/
View attachment 19947
Bringing back an old thread...
I was recently at Airventure and saw the Garmin USB A & C power supplies. What do you get for $425 vs $17? I'm sure it's higher quality, but $400+ higher quality? Additional safety?
Garmin GSB 15 USB Power Supply
Amazon USB A & C Power Supply
Bringing back an old thread...
I was recently at Airventure and saw the Garmin USB A & C power supplies. What do you get for $425 vs $17? I'm sure it's higher quality, but $400+ higher quality? Additional safety?
You get to proudly display the Garmin name on the part. Best I can tell, that is all the extra $400 gets you.
You get a TSO'd part vs a "who knows what the performance specs are" part.
Yes, the Garmin part is stupidly expensive, unless you are talking about needing a TSO'd part for installation in a type certificated airplane.....and then it doesn't look so bad at 0.4 AMUs (aircraft monetary units.....aka: $1000).
I had two different types of the cheap ones in a power outlet to USB power adapter to iPad setup. Most of the time they worked fine....until they didn't, as in would not charge the iPad. I don't know if it was heat related, or something else causing it. After about the third time it happened with the second power adapter, I decided it lost the right to be in my airplane. I sprung for the Garmin replacement. I can now charge two ipads while in flight without ANY issues.
As for the price....check Aircraft Spruce. There are three versions of the GSB 15 (with different USB port configurations). The different configurations come at different prices. Maybe, the one you want is less expensive.
These work well in my 14 zero noise. Used by multiple OEM's. Lit around each USB port. 40 To 50 USD. Comes in USB A and C.
Do you have a link for a source for these?
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Molex/79540-5067?qs=wnTfsH77Xs7SC2h5Ofd/uQ==
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/molex/0795405067/11195061
I got mine from Digi but looks like Mouser also has.
Those look very nice! One difference I notice is that they show an output voltage of 5V. The Garmin does up to 12V.
The Garmin device supports USB PD, which allows the device to negotiate with the power supply to arrange a voltage higher than 5 volts, if the device asks for it. The Molex charger provides a max of 15 watts (5 volts at 3 amps), while the Garmin provides up to 27 watts (9 volts 3 amps, or 12 volts 2.25 amps). Is that worth an extra $350+? Maybe, but probably not to me... 15 watts is still plenty to keep an iPad mini running without draining its battery.
My wife’s IPad Air draws 10 watts (I think that what the spec read) and the Molex output is 15 watts. Seems to charge well in the aircraft. Are there other devices that 15 watts would not charge it? Could be a consideration for the future but it seems 3 amps @ 5 volts would be plenty. Since most of our portable systems have a one cell battery 5 volts should be optimal to charge but possibly charging a one cell at 12 volts is ok? Obviously I’m not a EE.
My wife’s IPad Air draws 10 watts (I think that what the spec read) and the Molex output is 15 watts. Seems to charge well in the aircraft. Are there other devices that 15 watts would not charge it? Could be a consideration for the future but it seems 3 amps @ 5 volts would be plenty. Since most of our portable systems have a one cell battery 5 volts should be optimal to charge but possibly charging a one cell at 12 volts is ok? Obviously I’m not a EE.
No matter which one you choose, take a handheld radio and hold it close to check for RFI. The first one I bought was extremely noisy. The second one was quiet until I held the antenna on it.
I've been using an Anker 40-watt charger with dual USB-C ports shoved into the cigarette lighter between the seats for the last year with zero issues. One port to keep my device charged, and the other goes to a Peltier cooler which prevents my devices from thermal-throttling in the sun (screen dims, CPU throttles, charging on hold).
USB-C Power Delivery (PD) negotiation can be complex, as both sides have to communicate and agree what voltage/current is needed. The most recent spec has features such as allowing specifying the exact voltage you need within a 100mV range, and being able to switch the direction of power flow. No-name companies have a history of skimping on parts, which means you're more likely to get a charger with a chipset that is buggy or doesn't support certain voltages.
I have found some USB-C devices that don't like all this fancy negotiation, and if you try to use a port that does this, it doesn't charge. So, best to test on the ground to make sure it will work. The particular device that I had this problem with was the uavionix skyecho 2. Now I keep a "dumb" charger on hand for that device. Thankfully it lasts 12 hours on a charge.
Would anyone have thoughts regarding this product (of course, it would need to be tested for radio interference, etc.)?
https://amzn.eu/d/1DsPGbZ
I do apologise for this link refers to a product description in German, couldn't find this very product on the US website, perhaps someone could help out.
It appears tempting to me for its metal case which I hope will help to avoid cooling and EMC issues and for supporting many different PD profiles. This all needs to be proven, of course.
Thanks for your input!
Would anyone have thoughts regarding this product (of course, it would need to be tested for radio interference, etc.)?
https://amzn.eu/d/1DsPGbZ
I do apologise for this link refers to a product description in German, couldn't find this very product on the US website, perhaps someone could help out.
It appears tempting to me for its metal case which I hope will help to avoid cooling and EMC issues and for supporting many different PD profiles. This all needs to be proven, of course.
Thanks for your input!
Not saying that the uAvionix product has this problem, but I've had personal experiences with devices (including the controller for an insulin pump) that either through ignorance or extreme cheapness omit these resistors
The amusing thing is that the uAvionix docs actually say it supports QC 3.0. So the fact that it doesn't leads me to believe something else was going wrong. Its been on the market for a long time now.. so I'd think they'd either update the docs if they found it to be non-compatible.. or.. fix the circuit.
It is important to choose an appropriate power supply and cable to ensure proper charging of SkyEcho.
1. It is recommended for fastest charging that the chosen USB power supply should be compliant with the Quick Charge 3 (QC3) standard. Use one which provides at least 18W. SkyEcho will not adequately charge at less than 2.5 amps.
2. SkyEcho has a high-capacity battery that will permit up to 12 hours of use. It is recommended that, where practical, charging is conducted at least monthly on the power supply until full.
3. Regardless of adapter output, it is not recommended that the SkyEcho be used permanently in-aircraft using a 12V USB adapter as the SkyEcho will consume more power than can be provided by the adapter.
4. While SkyEcho is fitted with a USB-C charging socket, it is not USB PD compliant. USB PD chargers will not properly handshake with and charge the SkyEcho. Instead, use only chargers equipped with USBA output ports, and utilize the supplied USB-A to USB-C cable.
5. Computer USB ports (Mac or PC) cannot deliver sufficient power to charge a SkyEcho.
Revisiting this, got to thinking that a aux power outlet (what us old dogs used to call a cigarette lighter plug) with a portable USB plug-in might be more useful than a dedicated USB plug, that way you could plug external power thingys like an air mattress inflator or a heated seat pad or.... into it.
Thoughts?
Revisiting this, got to thinking that a aux power outlet (what us old dogs used to call a cigarette lighter plug) with a portable USB plug-in might be more useful than a dedicated USB plug, that way you could plug external power thingys like an air mattress inflator or a heated seat pad or.... into it.
Thoughts?
The amusing thing is that the uAvionix docs actually say it supports QC 3.0. So the fact that it doesn't leads me to believe something else was going wrong. Its been on the market for a long time now.. so I'd think they'd either update the docs if they found it to be non-compatible.. or.. fix the circuit.
No matter which one you choose, take a handheld radio and hold it close to check for RFI. The first one I bought was extremely noisy. The second one was quiet until I held the antenna on it.