How to charge the mobile phone from a power outlet in Taiwan

A page on how to power your mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet with Type B Micro USB cord and a Type A power charger and recharging any mobile phone using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter.

Taiwanese power outlet

Complicated voltages and sockets can all be daunting when planning to visit a different country if you've never visited before. When you're going to travel to Taiwan these useful instructions show powering your mobile phone using their B or A type 110 volt 60Hz plug outlets, Type B power outlets are used by most Taiwanese. If the mobile phone slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are visiting Taiwan from a different country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Devices which come from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) either take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the mobile phone is a dual voltage device (usually marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you plan on staying in a Taiwanese destination such as Taipei City or Keelung we suggest referring to the Wikipedia entry about Taiwan [1] for further information on visiting the area.

This how-to guide is for a generic mobile phone and assume the phone has a standard micro USB port, Bluetooth connectivity and a headphone socket. For all the latest phones please visit the Mobile phones page for a full list of makes and models.

Charging any mobile phone in Taiwan

Can the mobile phone be used in Taiwan?

Yes, you can use any mobile phone in Taiwan.

What is the best power charger for any mobile phone in Taiwan?

If travelling with more than your mobile phone or visiting multiple countries then the best travel charger for Taiwan is a multiple USB charger which includes swappable plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of power outlets in Taiwan (types B and A) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type A. Because these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and handle 100 volts to 240 volts will mean that you can travel to over 100 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa just by changing the included plugs. If your mobile phone 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 and support for certain power demanding devices. Unlike other adapters this means you can charge multiple devices at once without needing to pack seperate power chargers for your trip or occupying additional power outlets. By only packing a single travel charger will help keep the weight down, making it perfect to store 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 travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and speakers with only a single wall outlet.

For those travelling on a regular basis we recommend searching for a flexible power charger similar to this at an electronics retailer. The travel adapter illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Taiwan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices via USB, but for visitors also wanting 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 necessary when visiting counties with unreliable power grids. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact option for travellers originating from America visiting Taiwan.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from North America using type B plugs. This is a much cheaper alternative to 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 ideal for a wide range of travellers from around the world visiting Taiwan. [7] [AD]
What is the best power charger for any mobile phone in Taiwan?

Charging any mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

A page on how to power your mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet with Type B Micro USB cord and a Type A power charger.

  1. If you want to supply power to any mobile phone using a Taiwanese power outlet you will need a Type A USB power plug adapter [3] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [4].
  2. Begin by inserting the Type A USB power plug adapter in the Taiwanese power outlet. The plug outlet (sometimes called a Type A power outlet [2]) can be identified by two thin slots adjacent to each other.
  3. Then connect one end of the Type B USB cord into the USB adapter and the other end into the USB charging port on any mobile phone. These instructions assume your phone uses a Micro USB type B port. Please refer to the instructions supplied with your mobile to check this is correct and visit the Mobile phones page to see if your model is listed (please note that you can usually connect the cable which came with your mobile phone to charge with any USB adapter).
  4. The USB charging port is normally located either on along one side or on the bottom of the mobile.
  5. Switch on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  6. The battery indicator on the mobile phone will indicate that the device is charging, refer to the phone`s instruction manual to find out how long it will typically take. [AD]
Charging any mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet by using a two pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet

Using USB type B cable with a Type B power charger to power your mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet.

  1. If you want to power your mobile phone from the Taiwanese power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [6] and a USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable [4].
  2. Start the process by inserting the Type B USB power plug adapter in the Taiwanese power outlet. You can recognise the plug outlet by the 2 slots parallel to each other where the two blades sit with a single hole below for the ground pin.
  3. Plug in the USB end of the Type B Micro USB connector into the power charger and the other end into the USB charging port on any mobile phone. These instructions assume your phone uses a Micro USB type B port. Please refer to the instructions supplied with your mobile to check this is correct and visit the Mobile phones page to see if your model is listed (please note that you can usually connect the cable which came with your mobile phone to charge with any USB charger).
  4. The USB charging port is typically located either on the bottom or side of the mobile phone.
  5. Turn on the Taiwanese power outlet.
  6. The battery indicator on the mobile phone will indicate that the device is charging, refer to the phone`s instruction manual to find out how long it will take. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your mobile phone from a Taiwanese power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia entry about Taiwan
  2. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  3. 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..
  4. USB 2.0 A Male to Micro B cable - Used to connect USB devices which have a USB Mini-B port to computers, power supplies and other devices.
  5. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  6. 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..
  7. 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..