Charging the iPhone 3GS when visiting France

Using the 30-pin Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C power adapter to recharge your iPhone 3GS with a French power outlet and how to power the iPhone 3GS using a 2 pin Type E power charger.

French power outlet

Varying different region codes and voltages can all lead to confusion when planning to stay in another country for the first time traveller. This page was written to help assist visitors wanting to power their iPhone 3GS abroad.These step by step instructions shows exactly what you'll need to power your iPhone 3GS when staying in France using their standard E or C type French 230 volt 50Hz power outlets, Type E wall outlets are normally used by a majority of French. You'll discover that power supplies are different depending on which region you are in therefore we recommend reading the Europe page for a complete list of regions and countries. When visiting France from a different region ensure your iPhone 3GS can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 120v make sure the device is dual voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) otherwise you may need to use an additional transformer to prevent the device from overheating whilst powering it. These instructions assume that you are running Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in France

Can you use the iPhone 3GS in France?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 3GS to a French power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 3GS in France?

If you are travelling to more than one country then the best travel charger for France to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different types of power outlets that French use (E and C) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type C. As these chargers come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the supplied plugs over. If your iPhone 3GS can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times by using one of these USB power adapters along with compatibility with certain power hungry devices like tablets. Having a four port adapter means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to pack multiple power adapters. By only packing a single lightweight USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand baggage while travelling as well as being suitable for charging your iPhone 3GS at the airport or on your flight. Due to their versatility these types of chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, phones and e-readers using just a single power outlet.

For those travelling to France we suggest searching for an adaptable travel charger of this nature at your preferred electronics retailer - the travel charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for France

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 3GS, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected devices. These travel adapters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from America going to France.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs. This is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 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 France. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 3GS in France?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a French power outlet

Using the 30-pin Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C power adapter to recharge your iPhone 3GS with a French power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to your iPhone 3GS using a French power outlet you'll need a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - Apple will normally supply the cable with the iPhone 3GS.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type C USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify the power supply by the two adjacent holes for live and neutral pins.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Turn on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 3GS is powering up taking roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 3GS from a French power outlet

How to use a Type E power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a French power outlet

Using a 30-pin Apple cable and a 2 pin Type E power adapter to recharge your iPhone 3GS with a French power outlet.

  1. If you want to power the iPhone 3GS from a French power outlet you'll need a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - this USB cable is typically supplied with your iPhone 3GS.
  2. Start by taking the Type E USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the wall supply. The circular power supply can be recognised by two circular holes 19mm apart from each other where the two plug outlet pins slide into with a metal earth pin protruding in the top in a triangular configuration.
  3. Connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the USB power adapter and the other end into the dock connector on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS dock connector can be found at bottom of the iPhone 3GS.
  4. Turn on the French power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 3GS is charging which typically takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type E power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a French power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - French country wikipedia page
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS 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 30 pin cable - This connects compatible iPhones, iPods and iPads to a USB port for charging, syncing and playing music.
  6. iec.ch - Type E power outlet
  7. Type E USB power plug adapter - Meeting CEE 7/5 and CEE 7/6 standards, the Type E USB power plug adapter uses the Schuko standard with two round pins and an earthing hole. It adapts European outlets such as Germany to USB-standard ports for USB device charging..
  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..