How to charge the iPhone 5 when planning a trip to Burkina Faso

A guide showing you how to recharge your iPhone 5 from a Burkinabe power outlet by using a USB Lightning Apple connector with a Europlug Type C USB adapter and how to charge the iPhone 5 using a two pinned Type E power charger.

Burkinabe power outlet

Varying different combinations of voltages and standards can all be confusing when planning to travel to another country especially to the first time traveller. This page was specifically written to stop you worrying if you'll be able to charge your iPhone 5 abroad.When you're visiting Burkina Faso this page has useful instructions showing how to charge your iPhone 5 by using the E or C type Burkinabe 220 volt 50Hz wall outlets. When travelling to Burkina Faso from another region double check the iPhone 5 can be charged using a 240v supply. If it originated in a country which uses a lower voltage (for example 110 volts) check your iPhone 5 is dual voltage (marked with 100-240 volts) else you may need to use an additional power transformer to prevent the device from over-heating when charging it. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 5.

Charging the iPhone 5 in Burkina Faso

Can the iPhone 5 be used in Burkina Faso?

Yes, you can use the iPhone 5 in Burkina Faso by using the correct power convertor.

What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5 in Burkina Faso?

If travelling with more than just your iPhone 5 then the best travel adapter for Burkina Faso to buy is a multiple USB port charger which includes swappable plugs such as a 4 port USB travel charger. Burkinabe use two different standards of wall outlets (E and C) and using a power adapter like this ensures that you are covered for type C.

As these chargers are supplied with interchangeable pins and can handle from 100 - 240 volts will mean that you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by changing the plugs over. If your iPhone 5 is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much faster charging times with one of these types of USB travel chargers along with additional support for certain power hungry devices like tablets.

Unlike other chargers having a 4 port adapter means you can recharge more than one device at once without needing to pack individual travel adapters for your trip or using up additional wall outlets. Only needing a single international travel charger will help keep the overall size and weight down, making it perfect to store in hand luggage as well as being suitable for recharging your iPhone 5 at an airport or on a plane. Due to their versatility these types of power adapters can be used when back at home as well as abroad so when you’re not travelling they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets, smartphones and e-readers and using only a single wall outlet.

We recommend searching for this type of flexible power adapter at your preferred electronics retailer; the multipurpose power charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries around the world.

Alternative travel adapter for Burkina Faso

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from around the world wanting to recharge devices via USB, however for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is crucial when visiting counties with unreliable power grids to prevent damage to any connected appliances from voltage spikes. These travel converters come supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering Europe, North America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular compact power converter for travellers originating from North America going to Burkina Faso using type B American plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Similarly having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from the US using type B plugs and gives almost the same set of features as the BESTEK with just one less AC outlet for almost half 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 suitable for most travellers from around the world visiting Burkina Faso. [8] [AD]
What is the best travel adapter for recharging the iPhone 5 in Burkina Faso?

How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Burkinabe power outlet

Instructions on how to charge your iPhone 5 from a Burkinabe power outlet using a USB Lightning Apple connector and a Type C USB adapter.

  1. If you want to charge your iPhone 5 using a Burkinabe power outlet you'll need to use a Type C USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (Apple normally supply this USB cable when you buy the iPhone 5).
  2. First you'll need to insert the Type C USB power plug adapter into the Burkinabe power outlet. This unearthed power outlet, sometimes called a Type C power outlet [3], is identified by two adjacent holes next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the Apple USB cable into the USB 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. Turn on the Burkinabe power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that appears in the top right corner of your cell will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is powering up and takes between 60-240 minutes to completely recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type C power charger for recharging your iPhone 5 from a Burkinabe power outlet

Powering the iPhone 5 with a Burkinabe power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

Using a USB Lightning cable and a double pin Type E USB charger to power the iPhone 5 with a Burkinabe power outlet.

  1. In order to power the iPhone 5 using the Burkinabe power outlet you'll need a Type E USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], typically already supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Plug in the Type E USB power plug adapter in the power supply. You can identify this plug outlet by two 4.8mm circular holes 19mm adjacent to each other and one long metal earth pin protruding in the top forming a triangle configuration.
  3. Then connect one end of the Lightning charging cord into the bottom of the mains USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 5 under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Burkinabe power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the iPhone 5 screen will display a charge icon to indicate that the mobile is recharging taking around one-four hours to fully recharge. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 5 with a Burkinabe power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type E USB adapter

See also

  1. Wikipedia - Wikipedia.org entry about Burkina Faso
  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 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..