Problems using DC power supply on airlines

[tgiovanetti]

I have a T60p laptop, and I have the Lenovo 90 watt AC/DC combo adapter (P/N 40Y7649).

Problem is, it doesn't work on airplanes. It never has.

My guess is that somehow the power demands for this laptop or power supply exceed what American Airlines sends to the seat power outlets. Is that right?

I can't be the only person who has encountered this. I suppose it's possible that this power supply is faulty . . .

Thanks.

[RealBlackStuff]

AA only supplies 15V DC at 75Watts.
A Thinkpad needs 16V/72W or 20V/90W for the newer ones.
That outlet should keep you going (just) under normal circumstances.

[andrzej]

The Ultimate Guide to In-Seat Laptop Power Ports
http://www.seatguru.com/articles/in-sea ... _power.php
...Find an airline/airplane with laptop power before you book
Use our Comparison Charts to identify the airlines and airplanes
that offer in-seat laptop power...
Laptop Power Port Type:
- AC Power -110V AC
- Cigarette DC Power -15V DC up to 75W
- EmPower DC Power -15V DC up to 75W

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_connector DC connector
...Airline in-seat power supply system
Two different airline in-seat power supply system (ISPSS) standards
for DC power have been used in the past.

American Airlines has in the past used an automotive cigar lighter socket,
but using 14.7 V instead of the automotive 12 V.

Most other airlines that provide DC power use the EmPower system,
which has a 4-pin Hypertronics' D-series connector smaller in diameter
and overall size than a cigar lighter plug...

[tgiovanetti]

AA only supplies 15V DC at 75Watts.
A Thinkpad needs 16V/72W or 20V/90W for the newer ones.
That outlet should keep you going (just) under normal circumstances.

Well, it doesn't <g>. I have one of the newer ones.

Why do you think it should work? Will doing something like removing the battery help?

[bill bolton]

- Cigarette DC Power -15V DC up to 75W
- EmPower DC Power -15V DC up to 75W

The up to is signifcant. The way low voltage DC at-seat power is delivered is from a underseat unit that typically feeds two or three seats and has a rating which is less than required to deliver 75W to all the seats simultaneously. You will only get 75W if the other users are using somewhat less power and there is 75W or capacity left in the underseat unit.

Most of the 110V AC at-seat power systems have a similar issue with the total available power across a set of seats.

Cheers,

Bill

[RealBlackStuff]

That outlet should keep you going (just) under normal circumstances...<snip>
Why do you think it should work?

IMO, when you run the laptop from battery and charger, that charger should trickle-feed your battery enough, even at lower capacity, to last you through an intercontinental flight.
You would not be using the TP continuously anyway, unless you're a [censored] masochist and a workaholic all-in-one.

[tgiovanetti]

That outlet should keep you going (just) under normal circumstances...<snip>
Why do you think it should work?

IMO, when you run the laptop from battery and charger, that charger should trickle-feed your battery enough, even at lower capacity, to last you through an intercontinental flight.
You would not be using the TP continuously anyway, unless you're a [censored] masochist and a workaholic all-in-one.

But that's not what happens. The Lenovo power supply stops trying to feed power to the laptop. The green light on the power supply goes off. Apparently the power supply itself can't draw enough power from the airline power supply.

The power supply I'm using is the one Lenovo sells for this purpose. It's the ONLY DC power supply Lenovo sells for 90 watt laptops. I don't understand how I'm supposed to use a laptop on an extended flight when the power supply cannot work within the parameters of the laptop itself, and the power supplied by the airline. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[ekincam]

I'm not certain if this helps or not:

I have used the DC power outlet on one of American's MD-80s before to power my T23. I used a Kensington AC/DC input power supply that can be used with different systems by changing the tip.

I only used it so I can watch DVDs though.