How to charge the iPad Air when staying in Panama

Using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger to power your iPad Air from a Panamanian power outlet and how to recharge the iPad Air using a Type B power plug.

Panamanian power outlet

Differing frequencies and region codes can often be daunting when planning to stay in a foreign country especially if you've never visited before. This page has been specifically written to stop you needing to worry if you'll be able to charge your iPad Air when you're travelling abroad.This page contains step-by-step instructions demonstrating exactly how to power the iPad Air when visiting Panama by using the standard types B or A Panamanian 120 volt 60Hz wall outlets. When travelling anywhere you'll find that most power sockets will vary regionally so please read the WikiConnections world power supplies page for a full list showing regions and countries. If your iPad Air charges slowly or does not power up when travelling to Panama from another country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which originated from a country which use a higher voltage such as 220 volts may take longer to charge or won't power up, so check that the iPad Air is a dual voltage device (normally marked with a 100-240 volt notation) otherwise you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. If you are planning to stay at a Panamanian destination like Panama City please read the wikipedia.org page about Panama [1] for more information on visiting the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPad Air.

Charging the iPad Air in Panama

Can the iPad Air be used in Panama?

You can connect the iPad Air to a Panamanian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Panama?

When you are travelling with more than just your iPad Air or visiting multiple countries then the best international travel power adapter for Panama to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of power outlets in Panama (types B and A) and bringing this will ensure that you are covered for type A.

As these types of chargers come with interchangeable plugs and can handle from 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 supplied heads over. If your model of iPad Air can support Fast Charge (please note that not all USB devices do) 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.

Unlike other travel adapters this will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters on your trip to Panama 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 and suitable for recharging your iPad Air at the airport or on the plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple smartphones and tablets without using up an additional power outlet.

If you travel on a regular basis we recommend searching for this type of versatile travel adapter online - the multipurpose travel adapter illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully for recharging multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Panama

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPad Air, however for those also wishing to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which can be useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These power adapters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover 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 power converter for travellers originating from America visiting Panama.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs and is a more cost effective 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 most travellers from around the world visiting Panama. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPad Air in Panama?

Powering the iPad Air with a Panamanian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type A power charger to power your iPad Air from a Panamanian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Air from the Panamanian power outlet you'll need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this cable is typically already supplied with the iPad Air by Apple).
  2. Start the process by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the power supply. You can identify this power supply by 2 adjacent slots where the twin blades slide into.
  3. Connect the USB end of the power cord into the USB power charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the base of the iPad Air.
  4. Switch on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPad Air will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPad Air is recharging taking between 60-240 minutes to recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a Panamanian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

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

Using the Lightning Apple connector and a Type B power charger to power your iPad Air from a Panamanian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPad Air from the Panamanian power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this cable is usually already supplied with the iPad Air by Apple).
  2. Start the process by taking the Type B USB power plug adapter and plugging it into the Panamanian power outlet. The plug outlet, technically known as the Type B power outlet [6], is recognised by the two thin slots next to each other where the short twin plug outlet blades slide into with a single semicircle shaped hole below for the slightly longer earthed pin.
  3. Connect one end of the Apple USB Lightning power cable into the bottom of the mains USB adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad Air. The iPad Air lightning connector is found at the bottom of the iPad Air.
  4. Turn on the Panamanian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which you'll find in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPad is charging which should take roughly one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPad Air with a Panamanian power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - wikipedia.org page about Panama
  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 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 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. 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..