In recent months, there has been a great deal of uncertainty regarding flying. A carry-on bag no longer is permitted to contain certain items; they must now be checked. Tablets and laptops are now prohibited when flying from a number of nations to the US or the UK. Popular places like Turkey are included in this.
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? Will your battery last, that is the question. The battery in your phone probably won’t, since it never really does. specifically on lengthy flights. Fortunately, there are a few “ifs” if you want to bring your portable charger on the plane.”
Portable Charger: Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration, also known as the FAA, is the body in charge of deciding what is allowed and what is prohibited for passengers in the US when it comes to carry-on and checked luggage. Additionally, other governments do likewise in most cases.
However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for enforcing these regulations at airports and has the final say regarding which portable chargers are acceptable.
To pass through the airport security checkpoint and board your flight, the TSA officer will probably ask you to comply with the regulations established by the FAA.
We will therefore provide you with the information you require to ensure that your power bank is accepted on your upcoming flight.
Portable Charger: International Airports And Non-Us Airlines Regulations
Aviation regulations outside of the United States, such as those in Asia or Europe, may be different. While 100Wh limits may be imposed by some international airlines, backup batteries with capacities up to 160Wh are typically acceptable. Therefore, you should check the restrictions of those airlines and airports in advance before flying or making a reservation.
Energy storage batteries that are used as backup batteries must be shielded from harm, per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) document on “airline passengers carrying lithium batteries,” which was released in February 2019. Regardless of size, they are only permitted in carry-on luggage.
Each passenger is also only allowed 20 spare batteries of any kind, with a capacity of no more than or equal to 100Wh, without prior permission. Operator approval may be required before transporting more than 20 batteries.
Passengers may bring up to 2 pieces of backup batteries with a capacity of 100 to 160Wh, but they must be kept in hand luggage. In accordance with the Dangerous Goods Regulations of the IAIA, 60th Edition (DGR), carriers of spare batteries with a capacity greater than 160Wh must be ready to transport them in their cargo.
You Must Bring A Portable Charger In Your Carry-On
All significant battery types are typically permitted on a plane, with the exception of spare lithium batteries or car batteries. For more information on your airline’s policies, be sure to visit their website.
You must pack your batteries in your carry-on for safety reasons. On most airlines, this is now required by new regulations. You will also need your charger in the cabin with you if you plan to use it.
But why do you need to keep a portable battery or power bank in your carry-on? Some battery types have the potential to ignite a fire due to an internal chemical reaction. Even though not all batteries behave in this manner, airlines have imposed a restriction on all batteries as a safety precaution.
If a fire breaks out inside a cabin rather than a cargo hold, it is much simpler to contain and extinguish. especially since all liquids larger than 100 ml that might also be flammable would be kept in the cargo hold. Because of this, airlines take precautions to make sure all batteries, including those in portable chargers and power banks, are in the cabin.
What Size Portable Charger Is Permitted For Travel?
Actually, the size is not an important factor, despite the fact that this is a common question. Your portable charger’s or power bank’s capacity is what counts.
You may bring a power bank on your upcoming flight if its capacity is 100 Watt-hours (Wh) or less.
The FAA rule is very specific in this regard and states that any battery brought on board an airplane should not have a capacity greater than 100 Watt-hours (Wh), or 27000 milliamp-hours (mAh), which is the equivalent. Power bank manufacturers frequently use mAh as a measure of battery capacity.
The FAA rule also states that any battery (or power bank) or portable charger with a capacity between 101 Watt-hours and 160 Watt-hours will be permitted with airline approval.
They conclude by stating that any battery, portable charger, or power bank with a capacity greater than 160 Watt-hours is totally prohibited and is not permitted to be brought on board the aircraft.
To put it simply, you need to make sure your power bank does not exceed the 100 Watt-hours or 27000 milliamp-hours (mAh) capacity to avoid trouble, or at least be able to defend your case against the TSA official at the airport, who is the one with the final decision, as stated before
How Can I Calculate A Portable Battery’s Capacity?
Most modern portable chargers now display watt-hours on their packaging. If your battery pack’s label does not specify the Wh, you can estimate it.
Here is a simple calculation:
Milliamp Hours / 1000 x Voltage = Watt Hours
(mAh) / 1000 X (V) = (Wh)
mAh (millimeters of an hour): indicates the capacity of your portable charger, i.e., how much electricity it can deliver in one hour.
The potential difference between a battery’s two ends, when it is fully charged and discharged, is known as V (nominal voltage).
For instance, the math is 40000mAh / 1000 x 3 if you want to bring a power bank with 40000mAh on board.7V = 148 Wh
Due to the fact that lithium-ion batteries have a 3.7 volts, this number is always used when calculating voltage and applies to most power banks.
A license from the airline is required in this instance because the 40,000mAh capacity equates to 148Wh, which is higher than 100Wh.
Search for manufacturers who display Wh information right on their portable chargers or power banks for convenience. The best option is a portable charger with a safe capacity approved by TSA and EASA for air travel (less than 100Wh).
Conclusion
Therefore, is it allowed to bring a portable charger on a plane? Your external battery pack, travel charger, or power bank is acceptable. However, keep in mind that it needs to fit in your carry-on luggage.
They are dealt with just like a backup lithium-ion battery that isn’t mounted. The backup battery’s allowed capacity cannot be greater than 160Wh.
Hopefully, this article has allayed your concerns, and you are now able to travel with the appropriate charger to keep your electronics charged.