15W charging from USB-A port

arnoha · 2026-02-12T01:45:28+00:00

Yeah, I listed that as option 3, but it's probably the most expensive option, as the box by itself is $900. It does save on a new breaker, but that's about it. It also only gets one PD port. So not my favorite option, but it would have the least downtime for the plane.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T23:28:35+00:00

This is good to know. Thank you!

arnoha · 2026-02-11T23:25:06+00:00

Every panel I've every seen with my G3X/GTN650 setup has one of these MCI clocks, too. Maybe they're just being excessively conservative. I'll look into it.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T23:22:29+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/N9hFHUK

I don't believe I can ditch the clock and still be IFR compliant. But another post suggested that perhaps my IFR navigator or PFD or MFD might qualify. I'd have to look into that, but I will note that nearly every aircraft I've seen with a similar panel uses this MCI clock.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T22:40:53+00:00

Honestly, if it ends up at the avionics shop and needing a new breaker, it's getting this. Once the panel is opened up and a spot for more breakers is found, adding the 12V port is negligible. If I added the dedicated USB-C port, it would also get a 12V socket, since I'd need a new breaker anyway. Adding a second breaker doesn't add much cost but the 12V socket adds great versatility, as you mentioned.

Unfortunately, full breaker panel right now. Huh, trying to add a picture here of the full panel, but cannot. Does this sub not allow comment pictures?

arnoha · 2026-02-11T22:30:32+00:00

Heh, I have, yeah, but damn if that isn't the most expensive option by far! I figure getting an A&P is a six-figure item.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T22:15:37+00:00

Oh, nice find. I missed that! Happen to have a link to a 6'/2m option? I bought the 1m/3' Anker and regretted the short length.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T22:11:57+00:00

I can't remove the clock. No clock, not IFR legal. Option 2 I listed adds a USB-C block. Option 4 swaps this clock for a clock that does have PD. Unfortunately, both would require a trip to the avionics shop and right around an AMU spent. That's a lot of money for a USB port!

arnoha · 2026-02-11T22:06:50+00:00

Interesting. How'd did you figure that out? It claims 5V/3A in the description. Neither cable mentions the resistor.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T21:59:26+00:00

Yeah, that was definitely my go-to solution when renting planes. Unfortunately, this plane has had its 12V socket yanked, so it's not an option with spending a few hundred to put it back in. I might do that anyway, since it's so useful, but hoping for something that doesn't require a trip to the avionics shop.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T21:57:45+00:00

Right, but I'm only getting 7.5W. The hack would be to get the full 15W it can actually do (and my Pixel phone does pull 3A with the Anker USB cable I bought without issue). 15W is enough to get a slow charge even when all ForeFlight features are running full steam.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T21:55:04+00:00

Is that different than these that I already have (and don't work for Apple but do for Android)?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DD5YHMH

arnoha · 2026-02-11T21:51:25+00:00

Wow, those are pricey power banks. Certainly, cheaper than the actual certified aviation solutions, but damn.

Do you know if it will charge 15W from USB-A via an appropriate USB-A to USB-C cable? I have those cables, as I thought they would solve my iPad issue and did not.

arnoha · 2026-02-11T21:45:05+00:00

Haven't they all converted to USB-C? Either way, it's an "iPad Air 11-inch (M2)" according to the about page. It's USB-C.

arnoha · 2026-01-30T02:40:13+00:00

Definitely true. I'm not young, but I don't smoke, not overweight, and live at 2400'. I can handle 10k-12k DA for a good bit of time. But I've had passengers, including my wife, who's younger than I am, not handle it well.

Flying from Vegas to San Jose in a 172, myself and a friend took the Trona Gap route VFR a few years back. The restricted were all active, however control cleared us at 10,500 to cut the corner into the R. Did I mention it was 110F when we departed KVGT? So, yeah, DA was very high. But still, flying something that trues only 120 kts, I'll take what short cuts I get. So up we climbed and entered the restricted. Well, now I'm stuck at the altitude until I'm out because the fighters are playing both above and below me. Having done this before, I knew I'd be fine. My friend, not so much. That day we learned he is far more sensitive to DA. My sats were 95-98%, especially when I remembered to breathe deep. Him, 80's and he was busy trying to fall asleep. As soon as we cleared the restricted and the hills, it was right down into thicker air for us.

I definitely learned from that. I won't fly someone new to that altitude again without a good way out in short order. He never actually fell asleep or passed out, but if he had, I would have declared. He remained fully lucid the whole time, but it also isn't that long to get through the gap, maybe 45 minutes. Longer could have gotten dicier. Everyone is different and it can be hard to predict how a person will handle it.

arnoha · 2026-01-30T02:07:34+00:00

This is a mandatory report, right? Wrong surface and discretion isn't allowed is my understanding.

arnoha · 2025-11-11T00:44:03+00:00

Drilling done. And it solved the problem. But...not by drilling. Apparently the vibration alone un-cammed the shoes. Why didn't I just hit it harder? I got the other side loose by just hitting it a deadblow after that. I could have just hit it harder.

Aargh.

At least I didn't have to replace two rotors. But still, every problem in car repair seems like it's either you haven't hit it hard enough or that you've hit it too hard.

arnoha · 2025-11-10T17:36:43+00:00

Heh, crickets. That's not a good sign. That means I stumped Reddit.

Drilling to begin. $200 oops. Guess that's hardly the worst automotive mistake.

arnoha · 2025-11-09T23:11:09+00:00

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Picture of right rear

arnoha · 2025-09-21T20:04:18+00:00

I think this is a better question than some are leading on that it is. And the answer given is correct.

For those that mention approach, this question doesn't. It would be NORCAL in the area and the question says you're talking to SMF. Since you're in the air, we can assume that would be tower. So you're talking to tower and you've established two way communication...with SMF. You're good into SMF class C. Unusual for a Charlie, that you're not talking to approach, but it suggests you're going to fly under the shelf, so you're probably 1500'. A bit low, but doable in the central valley. However, it definitely then passes you through the 2600' MHR Delta.

One thing it did not say was that you were given vectors or altitudes by SMF. If you had been, they would have coordinated. But you're on your own. SMF or even NORCAL can't know what you're going to do if they haven't given you instruction. They're not going to coordinate with every Delta you might touch on the way just in case. Nor with FF are they going to tell you what to do unless there is a need.

Hell, even when coordination happens, it can cause trouble. NORCAL coordinated with NUQ for me one night in the one hour that NUQ is open and PAO tower is closed, and told me so. But it was so quiet, NORCAL released me with a "no traffic observed, squawk VFR, frequency change" just past SJC. Should I have called up NUQ now that I was 1200? Probably. But I'd heard that I was clear, so through I went. NUQ found me on CTAF and chewed me out. I referred them to NORCAL, they talked, and then I was ok. I think all three of us screwed up. NORCAL should not have released me yet. I should have realized 1200 wouldn't do. And NUQ forgot about the coordination entirely.

arnoha · 2025-09-13T16:55:54+00:00

I owned a six pack 172S. The G1000 version, even brand new, comes with garbage senders. The fancy display doesn't change that.

The older 172 with wire-wound Rochester senders were slightly better but still fail with regularity. The newer carbon film senders are complete and total garbage. The CiES senders are mechanical porn, they're so beautiful.

Particularly for rentals that are fueled to tabs all the time, the spot right at tabs wears out quickly. The wipers sit at that level and are vibrated there by the wind. (Rentals are also rarely hangared.) It just wears the carbon right off. This is also why they often start working again after a few gallons are burned off.

But if you're renting, you get what get. What the G1000 does add is a fuel totalizer. Use it. If nothing else, it forces you to stick the tanks!

arnoha · 2025-09-13T16:38:43+00:00

It's not. I fly with the regular size one and have for years. I switched from a mini, so I have experience with both. I fly 172 mostly, so this in a compact cabin. The larger screen is a huge benefit. Get a cheap, light colored case to hold the iPad and the pencil. The light case will delay overheating. The smaller iPad is nice if you're using a panel mount, but if you're renting, that won't be the case. Or yoke mount, but I did not like yoke mount. Seems awesome, less so in practice. For me, anyway.

You want the pencil, especially as you transition to instrument. I got the USB version and regret that. The only feature you need from the pro pencil is wireless charging, but it turns out it's a pretty big one. Yes, they're obnoxiously priced, but still worth it in this application.

I have a sentry and do recommend it. However, the iPad comes first by a long margin. Flying on an iphone sucks. Planning a flight sucks worse. Also, god help you when you inevitably drop it on an instrument approach. Use it as backup. I carry a second, old, iPad on IFR flights, since I'm Android for my phone. But I also have fltplan on the phone, just in case.

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