How to charge the iPhone 5S when staying in Eritrea

Instructions showing you how to charge the iPhone 5S with an Eritrean power outlet by using a USB Lightning cable with a Europlug Type C power charger and powering the iPhone 5S using a Type L power charger.

Eritrean power outlet

Varying different combinations of standards and plugs can all be daunting when planning on travelling to a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. These instructions were written to prevent you worrying if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 5S when going abroad.When you're visiting Eritrea the following instructions show charging your iPhone 5S using their Type L or C 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets. You will find that most power sockets will vary regionally so we recommend reading our Wiki Connections travel power sockets guide where you'll find a complete list of powering devices in different regions. If travelling to Eritrea from another country please ensure that the iPhone 5S can be charged using a 240 volt supply. If the iPhone 5S came from a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110v check that your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional transformer to stop the device from overheating when charging it. If you plan on travelling to a place like Asmara please read the Eritrean page on wikipedia.org [1] for more information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5S.

Charging the iPhone 5S in Eritrea

Can the iPhone 5S be used in Eritrea?

You can use the iPhone 5S in Eritrea.

What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5S in Eritrea?

If travelling to more than one country the best travel charger for Eritrea is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of power outlets in Eritrea (types L and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by switching the plugs. If your iPhone 5S is compatible with Fast Charge (not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from much faster recharging times by using one of these types of USB travel adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger means you can power multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers or occupying additional power outlets. By only needing to pack a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to fold up in hand luggage whilst travelling. Due to their flexibility these types of adapters can be used when back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel frequently we recommend searching for a multipurpose power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Eritrea

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 5S, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power adapters offer surge protection which can be useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power grids. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both Eritrea and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Eritrea using 3 pinned type B US plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This offers almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet for almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Eritrea. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for the iPhone 5S in Eritrea?

Powering the iPhone 5S with an Eritrean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Instructions on how to recharge your iPhone 5S from an Eritrean power outlet with the Lightning Apple connector and a Type C power charger.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 5S from the Eritrean power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally include the USB cable with your iPhone 5S).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type C USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This unearthed power outlet, sometimes known as the Europlug, is recognised by the two round adjacent holes.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 5S Lightning connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 5S under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Eritrean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone 5S is recharging and takes between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5S with an Eritrean power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type C Europlug USB adapter

Charging the iPhone 5S from an Eritrean power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type L USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable with a Type L power charger to power your iPhone 5S from an Eritrean power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 5S from the Eritrean power outlet you'll need to use a Type L USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple will typically include the USB cable with your iPhone 5S).
  2. Begin by inserting the Type L USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. This hexagon shaped wall supply, sometimes called a Type L power outlet [6], can be recognised by the three large circular adjecent holes forming a line. You'll find there are two variations of Type L wall supply rated for 10 amps and 16 amps. A 10 amp wall supply has 4mm pins which are spaced 5.5mm apart, whilst the 16 amp version has slightly larger 5mm thick round pins that are spaced 8mm apart.
  3. Then connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning charging cable into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5S. You can find the Lightning connector on your iPhone 5S situated at the bottom of the iPhone 5S.
  4. Switch on the Eritrean power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is charging which takes around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Charging the iPhone 5S from an Eritrean power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type L USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Eritrean page on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  4. Type C USB power plug adapter - Conforming to Europlug specifications, the Type C USB power plug adapter incorporates two 4 mm rounded pins spaced 19 mm apart. It is engineered to adapt electrical outlets commonly found in Europe, converting them to USB-compatible charging ports..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type L power outlet
  7. Type L USB power plug adapter - Earthed Type L USB chargers comprise of three 4mm pins placed in parallel 5.5mm apart used in Italy.
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..