With regard to flying, there has recently been a great deal of uncertainty. Items that were once permitted in a carry-on are now prohibited and must be checked in. Tablets and laptops are currently prohibited when flying from a number of nations to the US or the UK. This includes well-known locations like Turkey.
You will not be able to use your laptops to work during these lengthy flights, so this is the case. Smartphones are still permitted on all flights, but what about phones? Your battery’s durability is the question. Your phone battery doesn’t really last very long, does it? Most notably not during lengthy flights.
Are Portable Chargers Allowed On Plane?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has banned or placed restrictions on many common products, making it challenging to know what is and is not permitted.
As for portable chargers, the answer is Yes, you can bring them on board, but there are caveats about their capacity and where they must be stored.
Can You Take a 20,000 mAh Power Bank on a Plane?
It’s simple to pack your batteries in your carry-on, but if you’re carrying an energy source that could power a small village, that might not be enough to get you past security. Even though most power packs fall under the 100 Watt-hour (Wh) limit set by most airlines, it’s a good idea to check.
Your power pack most likely measures its output in milliamp hours, or mAh, as you may have noticed. The Watt-hours are frequently listed on power packs as well, but in case yours is missing them, here is the formula to convert between them:
- Learn the mAh of your battery.
- Find the voltage, which is typically between 3.6 and 3.7 volts.
- To convert a mAh value to amp hours (Ah), divide it by 1,000.
- The Watt-hours are calculated by multiplying the Ah number by the voltage.
Power Bank Capacity Matters
The Wh that a portable charger is rated at is the most crucial factor in determining whether you can bring it with you or not. Wh, which stands for watt-hours, is a more precise measurement than mAh, which doesn’t always accurately depict your battery’s capacity.
You may use a portable charger with a maximum wattage of 100 watt-hours. Anything beyond that requires airline permission.
Some businesses alter labels to give the impression that they are providing you with more power capacity than they actually are. For a detailed look at battery capacity, visit the ultimate guide to capacity.
Read More: How Long Does A Portable Charger/Power Bank Last?
How To Calculate Watt Hours In Power Banks
Watt Hours are calculated using the formula Milliamp Hours/1000 x Voltage. (MAh)/1000 X (V) = (Wh)
For instance, if you want to bring a portable charger with 10,000mAh on a plane:
10,000mAh/1000 x 3.7V = 37 Wh
Fortunately, we at Zendure make things simple for you and print the Wh right on your portable charger or power bank. If in doubt, simply present the Wh to airport security.
Storage Of Your Portable Charger
Power banks can be accepted in carry-on bags but not checked bags according to TSA regulations. The reason for this ban is that power banks have the potential to be hazardous due to the presence of fire risks, explosives, and even the possibility of in-flight explosions.
It is simpler for crew members to put out fires in the cabin than in the cargo area because there are fire extinguishers available there.
If you put an extra battery pack in your checked luggage, you might be asked to take it out later, or even worse, airport security might seize and confiscate it. Don’t forget to pack yours in your carry-on if you don’t want any of this to happen.
In order to protect them from potential short circuits, portable batteries must be stored. Using retail packaging to store extra batteries is effective.
How To Choose The Right Portable Charger
The Zendure A3PD portable charger, for example, is one of the smaller portable chargers that can be used to keep your phone charged while you’re flying and is exempt from the requirement to be checked. These smaller power banks are definitely operating below capacity. Even something larger, like the Zendure A6PD Portable Charger with 20,100mAh (74.3Wh), won’t pose any issues. And that device should last you for a quick weekend trip on a single charge.
The Zendure SuperTank is a good option and is allowed on airplanes with a capacity of 27,000 mAh if you’re looking for a power bank with a higher capacity to charge multiple devices or your friends’ devices as well.
With a 3.7V and a 100Wh rating, this power bank complies with the regulations. At the maximum airline safe battery capacity permitted for air travel by TSA/EASA, this is barely enough to avoid requiring approval from a carrier.
Its high Wh capacity makes it a great travel companion because you can bring it without worrying. You don’t have to prioritize which device to charge first with the SuperTank because it has four USB ports and 100W USB-C Power Delivery and USB-A Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0!
What The Airlines Say
The FAA states that “with airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium-ion batteries (101-160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (between 2 and 8 grams). This size includes some larger professional audio/visual equipment batteries and some larger aftermarket extended-life laptop batteries.”
If you have a larger power bank, do you really need to call the airline and request permission?
Let’s look at the major US airlines and see what they actually say about portable chargers between 101 and 160-watt hours to find out.
Why Are Power Banks Not Allowed In Checked Baggage?
For the sake of your safety, airlines forbid checking power banks in with your cargo luggage.
Nowadays, it appears that the majority of portable electronic devices are powered by lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. They can be found in a wide variety of items, such as your smartphone, digital camera, hearing aids, and remote-controlled toys.
These batteries have the capacity to catch fire in dire circumstances. Although extremely rare, there is still a significant chance that this could occur at any time. Airlines would rather manage the risk of lithium-ion batteries in the passenger area than in the luggage area, where no one will be able to tell if an incident, such as a fire, has occurred.
Conclusion
On a plane, you are permitted to bring your portable charger, external battery pack, or power bank. It must be transported in carry-on luggage. They are handled similarly to an extra, uninstalled lithium-ion battery. Your portable charger must be packed in your carry-on bag; checked bags are not permitted to contain them. To find out how to bring a portable charger and a phone charger on a plane, continue reading.