Charging your iPad from a power outlet in The Philippines

Instructions showing how to power the iPad from a Filipino power outlet using the USB 30-pin Apple cable with a three pinned Type B power adapter, how to charge the iPad using a Type A USB charger and recharging the iPad using a Type C USB plug

Filipino power outlet

If you are organizing a trip to The Philippines it can be helpful to know if you can use your gadgets such as mobiles and tablets that you'll be bringing with you. By not knowing which power socket is being used you may end up either bringing unnecessary adaptors or bring the wrong power charger, therefore needing to purchase a potentially expensive power adaptor when you're there which might not be compatible and cause damage to the device. Different standards and sockets can all be daunting when planning on visiting another country, especially to the first time traveller. These instructions have been written to help assist travellers wanting to power the iPad when they are visiting abroad.This simple guide tells you how to supply power to your iPad when staying in The Philippines using their standard Type C, A or B 220 volt 60Hz wall outlets, Type C plug outlets will be used by a majority of Filipinos. You will discover that power will change from region to region so we suggest reading the power supplies and Asia page for a full list of regions and countries. If you are visiting The Philippines from another region please check the iPad can be charged using a 240v supply. If the iPad was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) ensure your iPad is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power converter to stop the device from overloading during charging. If you intend on taking a trip to a destination such as Quezon City or Manila we recommend referring to the The Philippines wikipedia page [1] for more details. This page details the original iPad first generation, visit the Apple category page for the latest range of Apple iPads. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 5 or greater on the iPad.

Charging the iPad in The Philippines

Can you use the iPad in The Philippines?

You can connect the iPad to a Filipino power outlet by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPad in The Philippines?

If you are travelling with more than your iPad the best international travel charger for The Philippines to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are three standards of power outlets in The Philippines (C, A and B) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for both types A and C.

Because these chargers come with interchangeable pins and handle from 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by changing the included plugs over. If your iPad can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times by using one of these types of travel adapters along with additional support for more power hungry devices.

Unlike other travel chargers having a 4 port adapter means you can charge more than one device at once without needing to buy multiple power chargers on your Filipino trip. Only bringing a single international travel charger will help keep the overall size down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage as well as being suitable for recharging your iPad at an airport or on the flight. Because of their versatility these types of travel adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets using only a single power outlet.

We suggest searching for an adaptable power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer; the power adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for The Philippines

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices using USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial for visitors of counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering both The Philippines and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power converter for travellers originating from North America visiting The Philippines.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs. This gives the same set of features as the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half the 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting The Philippines. [10] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPad in The Philippines?

Charging the iPad from a Filipino power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a 30 pin connector and a Type A USB charger to recharge the iPad from a Filipino power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPad from a Filipino power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (Apple typically supply the USB cable with the iPad).
  2. Plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. The wall supply, technically called a Type A power outlet [3], can be identified by the 2 adjacent slots next to each other where the live and neutral plug outlet blades go. Please note that power cables used with type A plugs which are rated at less that 240 V shouldn't be used so please check first.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple 30 pin cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad.
  4. Switch on the Filipino power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right hand corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is recharging, typically taking roughly 60-240 minutes to fully recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad from a Filipino power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPad with a Filipino power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Using a 30-pin connector with a 3 pin Type B USB charger to recharge the iPad from a Filipino power outlet.

  1. If you want to supply power to the iPad from a Filipino power outlet you'll need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], usually included with the device.
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type B USB power plug adapter into the power supply. You can recognise this power outlet by two slots next to each other where the blades go with a single semicircular hole below for the long ground pin. Please note power cables used with type B sockets which are rated at less that 240 V shouldn't be used so please check first.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cable into the bottom of the mains power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad.
  4. Turn on the Filipino power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging, typically taking between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad with a Filipino power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad from a Filipino power outlet

Instructions showing how to power your iPad with a Filipino power outlet with the 30-pin Apple connector with a 2 pin Type C USB charger.

  1. In order to power the iPad from the Filipino power outlet you will need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [9] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] (this USB cable is usually supplied with the device by Apple).
  2. Start by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Filipino power outlet. You can identify the power supply by the 2 circular holes next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple cable into the bottom of the mains power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPad. The iPad dock connector can be found at the base of the iPad.
  4. Turn on the Filipino power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging, typically taking between one to four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPad from a Filipino power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - The Philippines wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPad user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  5. USB to Apple 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. iec.ch - Type C power outlet
  9. 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..
  10. 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..