EA Manufacturing has introduced a new smart version of its 4.2A panel mount USB charger.
EA Manufacturing has sold more than 5,000 of its original versions of the 4.2A panel mount charger to customers looking to add a USB power outlet to their aircraft instrument panel, boat, car, or motorcycle, according to company officials.
The new Smart charger model now has circuitry built in to autodetect Apple, Android and different brand devices to allow them to charge at the higher rate that the charger is capable of, company officials note.
The older model was seen as a generic low power charger to some devices so they would not take advantage of the full power available from the charger. With today’s cockpits relying on many USB powered devices such as tablets, EFBs, phones, and ADS-B receivers, a high power and reliable USB charger is needed, company officials said.
Price: $29.95.
Everybody thinks that you cannot install something like this in a certificated airplane … NOT true. An airplane operated in Part 91 service can have it installed legally as long as it has the proper fuse or circuit breaker protection installed ahead of it. This is not a primary system and isn’t replacing a primary system. It’s not like you’re installing a small block engine in place of your Lycoming. Mike Busch has an excellent discussion on the subject on one of his webinars for anyone so interested. Installing one requires just a logbook entry by an A&P. Problem is, some don’t know the rules and are afraid to do that. If you have a guy like that, find another one.
Now I’ve heard that SOME cheap cigar plug adapters generate noise in radios. I haven’t heard it myself but I’ll assume it’s true. The SAD part of this whole USB power thing is that a device like this one is available for $30 while something which has the magic “TSO” moniker attached costs nearly $400. RIDICULOUS! That’s highway robbery … pure and simple. The TSO’ed units have been tested for RFI and other factors but at more than 10 times the cost … give me a break.
Beyond that — and as this article talks about — some chargers fool the various devices because they aren’t an “authorized” power source and the devices recognize that. So what? So your device is running at less than 2.1A. Is that worse than no external power for it? Either way, this updated design fixes that.
IF you’re worried about installing something like this or your mechanic is a “fraidy cat,” buy yourself the biggest battery charger unit you can find and forget installing something into the airplane. Or… use one of the cigar lighter devices which are perfectly legal. I use a dual USB cigar lighter device with a built in voltmeter which is a feature my airplane doesn’t have. I even use ’em in my vehicles.
It appears you left out one word, experimental in front of aircraft. If you look at EA’s website and Aircraft Spruce has ad for same it says experimental aircraft.