Charging the iPhone 5 when planning a trip to Switzerland

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 5 with a Swiss power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C USB charger and how to power the iPhone 5 using a 3 pin Type J power adapter.

Swiss power outlet

If planning to travel to Switzerland it can often be helpful to know in advance if you'll be able to charge all your devices like cell phones or tablets at your hotel. However, by not knowing which power supply is used in Switzerland you are more likely to bring the wrong adaptor, therefore needing to buy or borrow a suitable adaptor when you're there which might be incompatible and cause damage to your iPhone 5. Various combinations of region codes and voltages can all lead to confusion when planning to visit a foreign country especially for the first time traveller. When you are planning a holiday to Switzerland this page contains useful instructions showing powering the iPhone 5 by using their standard Type J or C 230 volt 50Hz plug outlets, you will discover a majority of Swiss typically use Type J plugs in their wall outlets. If you are travelling to Switzerland from another region please check that the iPhone 5 can accept a 240 volt supply. If your iPhone 5 was purchased in a country which uses a lower voltage such as 110 volts check 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 you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Switzerland

Can you use the iPhone 5 in Switzerland?

You can connect the iPhone 5 to a Swiss power outlet.

What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Switzerland?

When travelling to multiple countries and bringing along more than your iPhone 5 then the best travel charger for Switzerland to buy is a multiple USB adapter which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two standards of wall outlets that Swiss use (J and C) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type C.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world simply by changing the included heads. If your iPhone 5 can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers, and compatibility with certain power hungry devices.

This means you can recharge multiple devices at the same time without needing to buy individual power adapters. By only bringing a single international travel charger will also keep the size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage while travelling. Because of their versatility these types of chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple smartphones, tablets and speakers without using up an additional plug socket.

We recommend buying an adaptable travel charger like this online - the travel charger illustrated below is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested for powering multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Switzerland

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which can be crucial when visiting regions with unreliable or unstable power grids to prevent damage to any connected appliances. 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 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 option for travellers originating from America going to Switzerland using 3 pin type B plug sockets.
  • 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 America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only 1 less AC outlet for almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 Switzerland. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel charger for the iPhone 5 in Switzerland?

How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPhone 5 from a Swiss power outlet

A page showing how to charge your iPhone 5 with a Swiss power outlet using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a 2 pin Type C USB charger.

  1. If you want to power your iPhone 5 from a Swiss power outlet you'll need to buy a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this USB cable is normally already included with the device by Apple).
  2. Begin the process by taking the Type C USB power plug adapter and inserting it in the wall supply. This ungrounded power supply is identified by the 2 circular holes next to each other where the twin plug outlet pins slide into.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Swiss 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 5 is powering up taking roughly one to four hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Europlug Type C power charger for charging your iPhone 5 from a Swiss power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

Using the USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type J USB charger to recharge your iPhone 5 with a Swiss power outlet.

  1. To charge the iPhone 5 from a Swiss power outlet you'll need a Type J USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], usually supplied with your iPhone 5.
  2. Start by taking the Type J USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the Swiss power outlet. This flattened hexagon shaped plug supply, technically called the Type J power outlet [6], looks like 3 large holes forming a triangular configuration for live, neutral and earth.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB charging cord into the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector is situated at bottom of the iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Swiss power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of the mobile will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging which typically takes roughly 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Swiss power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type J USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Swiss page on Wikipedia
  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 J power outlet
  7. Type J USB power plug adapter - Type J USB chargers have three rounded pins placed in a flattened triangular pattern with the top pin acting as an earth.
  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..