Cigarette Lighter socket as USB power source

[LANCECASPER]

5 hours ago, hazek said:

I'd like to use Starlink in my Bravo. I have the cigar lighter socket but how do I know it can support the power required for Starlink?

You won't know for sure until you try it, but the people over on Beechtalk use these and have success with them:

https://www.amazon.com/Starlink-Cigarette-Dissipation-Waterproof-Protections/dp/B0DMNPGRZN/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2M89JT7R8C1RQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4FFoQB6iP0a2VqCcJVbDTtVbry2BNhi5wnBRZ_xLqgJU9dw2PvUc1lwi1LSKI9c1OpsZqCAs5W0gU4caB_SxdB2ZwdEBBibNgdaTbMPLwI-QjmMNFSY1ekqt5UxJS9XoXukn0ACD1kCWTeGBMKA3JgB8wsmkPle32kYwCIuIwsnJ5Auo2ZrC73menScqOYkGz444kfFbF4upjp3VofZmF-mFBwr4-u6KMDKxcoTW6aM.1hxfH60mruFMLFWUC2C8qRxXvJq467LwRao_xQrEhfQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=starlink%2Bcigarette%2Blighter%2Badapter&qid=1758458470&sprefix=STARLINK%2BCIG%2Caps%2C363&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

[hazek]

1 hour ago, LANCECASPER said:

You won't know for sure until you try it

Surely there's a way to know in advance?

[Jerry 5TJ]

The Starlink mini draws about 60 watts.  If you’re comfortable pulling 5+ amps (12 volt system assumed) through the cigarette lighter socket and the socket’s CB is rated for 10 amps, it should work.  
If you want to test first, wire a 2 ohm 100 watt resistor to a cigarette lighter plug and see.  As your Bravo is a 24 volt airplane, use an 8 ohm resistor.  
As for me, I’d wire in a USB port rated for the power level and delete that lighter socket.  

[Ragsf15e]

2 hours ago, hazek said:

Surely there's a way to know in advance?

As an aded bonus, you can test your CB!  I tested my G5 in my F… circuit breaker worked as advertised!  I ended up using a different power source.

[LANCECASPER]

21 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

You won't know for sure until you try it, but the people over on Beechtalk use these and have success with them:

https://www.amazon.com/Starlink-Cigarette-Dissipation-Waterproof-Protections/dp/B0DMNPGRZN/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2M89JT7R8C1RQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4FFoQB6iP0a2VqCcJVbDTtVbry2BNhi5wnBRZ_xLqgJU9dw2PvUc1lwi1LSKI9c1OpsZqCAs5W0gU4caB_SxdB2ZwdEBBibNgdaTbMPLwI-QjmMNFSY1ekqt5UxJS9XoXukn0ACD1kCWTeGBMKA3JgB8wsmkPle32kYwCIuIwsnJ5Auo2ZrC73menScqOYkGz444kfFbF4upjp3VofZmF-mFBwr4-u6KMDKxcoTW6aM.1hxfH60mruFMLFWUC2C8qRxXvJq467LwRao_xQrEhfQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=starlink%2Bcigarette%2Blighter%2Badapter&qid=1758458470&sprefix=STARLINK%2BCIG%2Caps%2C363&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

19 hours ago, hazek said:

Surely there's a way to know in advance?

 

Not really, for sure. That's a little like demanding that I tell you exactly what the weather will be tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. local time. I can give you a good probability, but there are too many variables to know for sure.

How would someone know for sure, with absolute certainty,  that what is in their individual airplane would work with the device unless they actually try it? Is your M20M an early serial number that had a 24v lighter socket or a later one that had it stepped down to 12v? Or has it been modified since it was built to another standard? Does your breaker still perform at the rated amperage or maybe not still after all of those years? Does heat play a factor, depending on where you place the Starlink, on how much amperage it will take, or does it "throttle down" if it gets too hot? And more variables I'm sure than what I can think of.

The device I mentioned has worked for others, but since it is sold by Amazon you can see if it works for you and if it doesn't, return it. That is the only way to know for sure, just like checking the weather tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. is the only way for sure to know what it will be.

[Shadrach]

On 10/7/2024 at 9:57 AM, PeterRus said:

I have something that looks like a standard cigarette lighter socket in the airplane and I was thinking that a USB-C power source is a better option for my purposes. I can see there are several options available that hopefully would fit in the space: remove the socket and replace with neat nice TSOd unit from the well-known company. List price is about $400 + avionics shop rate to install and wire + extra fuse in the panel. Let's call in an even $1k.

Another option is to buy a well-made USB-C adapter that fits in the cigarette light socket. Price is ~$15 for an USB-C that delivers about 20W per port -- should suffice for an iPad or iPhone. Simultaneously. 

The question: Are there any safety concerns with the $15 dollars of monies approach vs biting the $1k bullet? I  think the cigarette lighter does not a fuse for example. 

TIA.

 Just get a high capacity power bank like this. I run a Starlink mini and charge all devices on it simultaneously. I have a smaller power bank in my kneeboard pocket that plugs into my iPad  with a 6 inch cord.

[Shadrach]

9 hours ago, Jerry 5TJ said:

The Starlink mini draws about 60 watts.  If you’re comfortable pulling 5+ amps (12 volt system assumed) through the cigarette lighter socket and the socket’s CB is rated for 10 amps, it should work.  
If you want to test first, wire a 2 ohm 100 watt resistor to a cigarette lighter plug and see.  As your Bravo is a 24 volt airplane, use an 8 ohm resistor.  
As for me, I’d wire in a USB port rated for the power level and delete that lighter socket.  

Starlink Mini requires a minimum of a 60W power source but actual draw is more like 30W-40W while in use and quite a bit less when idle.

[hazek]

7 hours ago, Shadrach said:

Just get a high capacity power bank like this.

I would rather avoid even more fire hazards in my plane.

[ArtVandelay]

I put a Garmin USB in the right side of the panel for passengers when I redid my panel. But I didn’t fancy loose wires running around for my yoke-mounted iPad so had a True Blue aircraft charger mounted behind the panel and ran a USB cable below the yoke shaft where it is out of the way.

I put in a second lighter socket on left side, so only a short 1’ cable is needed. This is also far away from the radio, the right one is right next to my radio stack. No interference issues. My PS radio also has a UCB-C power port as well.
I like the idea of sockets, in case USB-X becomes the new standard, or I want to use a non USB device (starlink, laptop, etc)

[Pinecone]

12 volts at 5 amps is 60 watts.  That is what is needed at start up.

If you plane has a 24 volt outlet, 5 amps is 120 watts.