Gfyuki

Which kind of appliances can one connect to electric sockets located in an airplane's toilet?

I have read/heard conflicting information:

http://asiaspirit.com/lavatory.html (mirror):

The electric socket in the toilet is for shaver only, do no try to power up your notebook computer.

-> Why shaver only? What happens if one tries to power up one's notebook computer?

Quote from a United Airlines flight attendant:

Don't use electric sockets located in a plane's toilet otherwise it'll create a short circuit.

A shaver socket is designed to deliver a very limited current - typically 200mA, or 20 to 40 watts, depending on voltage. What happens if you plug something else in depends on the 'something else', and the circuit supporting the socket.

For low power devices they'll probably work just fine. However, even phone chargers can draw more than 200mA, and laptop or notebook computers much more.

Plugging in a high-power device will probably trip a fuse or circuit breaker somewhere. In the case of an airline toilet it'll probably light a warning light in the cockpit or flight attendant's station, either of which could prompt an invasion of your privacy

And in any case, if you do manage to plug your notebook in and browse Facebook for thirty minutes in an airline toilet, do you really want to face the wrath of the assembled queue waiting for increasingly urgent use of the facility?

^{I gathered some of the source material here}

I was assigned to work as a cabin crew on very long ferry flights before (12+ hrs flights with no passengers) at the times when passenger seats didn't have electric sockets, it was boring flights and laptops were the gadgets of the choice at the time, usually the old Boeing 747, and I have tried using the sockets inside the lavatories and I remember very well that it didn't work. The charging light would go on then off, and keeps doing so while not charging.

I also remember trying checking out the sockets next to doors (on the side of the doors in older planes too), which are used for special vacuum cleaners, but it had some big figures written on it (for watts or something, can't remember), it made me worried so I decided not to.

If it says for shavers only, it means it's for shavers only. If it's in the toilet, then for sure it's not meant for laptops even if it did't say "shavers only".

I asked the pilots once, they advised me not to, and let me use the socket inside the cockpit, which was a regular one.

My advice, follow whatever instructions are written there, especially in older airplanes. Do not cause some confusion among the crew by giving them a popped out circuit breaker, it's not fun. I personally hate popped out circuit breakers and makes me think something is really wrong, whether it's in a cabin galley or when I visit the cockpit and see one.