How to charge the iPhone 3GS when staying in Colombia

A page on how to recharge the iPhone 3GS with a Colombian power outlet by using a 30 pin Apple connector and a Type A power charger and charging the iPhone 3GS using a 3 pinned Type B power plug.

Colombian power outlet

Varying different combinations of region codes and plugs can often be confusing when planning to travel to a different country especially for the first time traveller. This page has been specifically written to prevent people worrying if they can charge their iPhone 3GS abroad.If you are staying in Colombia the following instructions show charging your iPhone 3GS using the standard types B or A Colombian 110 volt 60Hz wall outlets. If the iPhone 3GS slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when you are travelling to Colombia from another region please 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 your device is dual-voltage (indicated by 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you intend to stay at a Colombian destination like Bogotá we suggest referring to the Colombia country entry on wikipedia.org [1] for more indepth details prior to travelling to the area. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 6 or greater on the iPhone 3GS.

Charging the iPhone 3GS in Colombia

Can the iPhone 3GS be used in Colombia?

You can connect the iPhone 3GS to a Colombian power outlet by using a power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Colombia?

When you are travelling with more than your iPhone 3GS then the best international travel power adapter for Colombia to buy is a multiple USB port adapter which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. Colombians use two different types of plug sockets (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 100 - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world simply by changing the included heads over. If your model of iPhone 3GS can support Fast Charge then you'll benefit from quicker charging times with one of these travel adapters, along with additional compatibility with more power hungry devices like tablets.

Having a four port charger will also allow you to recharge more than one device at the same time without needing to bring multiple travel adapters. Only needing to pack a single international USB travel charger will also keep the overall size and weight down, making it ideal to store in hand baggage as well as being on hand for charging your iPhone 3GS at an airport or on a plane. Because of their space saving versatility these types of power chargers can be used back at home so when you’re not on holiday they can be used overnight charging multiple phones and tablets without using up an additional wall outlet.

We suggest buying this type of flexible power charger online - the power charger illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been successfully tested with multiple USB devices in numerous different countries around the world on a daily basis.

Alternative travel adapter for Colombia

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, however for visitors also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power strips provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power strips offer surge protection which is crucial 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 covering both Colombia and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling portable option for travellers originating from North America going to Colombia using 3 pinned type B US plug sockets.
  • 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 gives the same functionality as the BESTEK with just 1 less AC outlet at almost half the price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 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 perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Colombia. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 3GS in Colombia?

Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Colombian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Using a USB 30-pin cable with a Type A power charger to power your iPhone 3GS from a Colombian power outlet.

  1. In order to charge the iPhone 3GS from the Colombian power outlet you'll need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5] - Apple should usually supply this cable when you first purchase your iPhone 3GS.
  2. Plug in the Type A USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. You can identify this wall supply by 2 thin adjacent slots next to each other.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the mains USB 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 Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the iPhone 3GS will display a charging icon to indicate that the iPhone is charging which should take around 1 to 4 hours to fully recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 3GS with a Colombian power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a Colombian power outlet

Instructions showing how to charge the iPhone 3GS with a Colombian power outlet by using the 30 pin Apple connector and a three pin Type B USB adapter.

  1. If you want to charge the iPhone 3GS from the Colombian power outlet you'll need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple 30 pin cable [5], normally included with your device.
  2. Plug in the Type B USB power plug adapter in the wall outlet. You can recognise this wall supply by 2 slots parallel to each other where the live and neutral plug outlet blades slide into with a hole below for the grounded pin.
  3. Then connect one end of the USB to Apple 30 pin cable into the bottom of the USB power charger 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. Switch on the Colombian power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right hand corner of the cellphone screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is powering up, typically taking around one to four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for charging your iPhone 3GS from a Colombian power outlet

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Colombia country entry on wikipedia.org
  2. Apple - official iPhone 3GS 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. 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..