that is alarming, i can imagine the number of attacks that could be launched through such a connection. massive noise or voltage spikes being the most obvious. somehow i doubt this bus is isolated from the rest of the aircraft's power (not like a modems phone connection is from the pc, which lightning still gets through), and that alone makes me uncomfortable given the many possible accidental failure modes, even if the socket is supposedly smart, when it's working properly (any one paying attention knows the sorry state of commercial aircraft maintenance, and that it is often seen as a good place to cut cost). lets not forget that an oxygen generator may be good hooked up to a drop down mask (personally i don't think they are good for anything other than starting fires, but that's my opinion and i'm not paying for cylinders) and tragic in a baggage compartment. i.e., something may have some use when all is well and as it should be, but when it's not it may likely bite you squarely where the sun rarely shines. geez, like having to plead with people to turn them off during take off and landing when things are already interesting but letting laptops buzz along the rest of the time wasn't bad enough. then again, if at all possible i will never, never fly again unless i can see the pilot and preferably talk to them before the flight, i.e. not on a commercial jet where passengers are treated only slightly better than cattle once they manage to get on. does anybody sleep any more? ever? "Alan B. Pearce" wrote: > > Does anyone know what the voltage and pin connections are on the power > connections available on aircraft for plugging a laptop in? > > Just received a cable from Lind purporting to be for this purpose, and the > plug is about 1/2" diameter, with two fat pins, which apparently supply the > power, and two thin pins which are jumpered, apparently to turn on the > socket once the plug is inserted. There are a number of other fine pin > positions as well, but these are unpopulated. > > Appreciate any info around, before I start making planes drop out of the sky > while I'm on them :)) --------- -- proof that the U.S. media is now state controlled! Ask your' local tv station why the hell they aren't airing the news any more! Our system of government requires an informed public, with their eyes open. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu